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Experiences from Karachi in video footage

Posted by
December 16, 2011
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

 

We spent a week altogether in Karachi, arriving there after an arduous 27-hour train ride from Quetta. A very scenic journey indeed, but one not recommended in an economy class, littered with people and garbage, and where it gets incredibly cold during the night, because some of the windows don’t close fully. Our situation was aggravated by the fact that all sleeper berths were already reserved, so we ended up on the uncomfortable seats.

Karachi is a sprawling metropolis, vast in size and with an unknown quantity of people. They say the population is around 20 million. It is Pakistan’s largest city and main seaport, therefore attracting all sorts of people from all over the country. The Pakistanis say for Karachi: “If you can make it here, you can make it everywhere.”

Instead of describing with words what we did and experienced in Karachi, we present you some footage we took there. So without further ado:

The first video is about the events on the streets during the Shia muslim holiday of Ashura:

The second is going to a gun store and enquiring about the prices and permits:

Getting a haircut and shaving:

A parody of Slavoj Žižek – but also very much a reality of Karachi:

Trying to get to Clifton beach, but ending up in an argument with the rickshaw driver (partly in English and Slovene):

Karachi Grand Prix (in Slovene):

P.S. As usual, you can see the photos from the train ride and from Karachi in our gallery.

  • Riica

    ‘To spit on him’ you had no chance against Red Bull :) )
    I wonder, did you find how far you were first time from Clifton beach?

    • Anonymous

      Quite far :) A few kilometers.

      • Blah

        Not too far, really. I know exactly where you were. The reason why he was confused was because nobody calls it “beach” here. It’s “Sea View”. Remember that on your next trip :)

        • Anonymous

          Thanks for the tip. “Sea view”, who would have thought :)
          Otherwise, it was a matter of principle.

      • Blah

        And oh, here’s a friendly tip: don’t argue with taxi (or rickshaw, for that matter) drivers over what’s essentially pennies (a 100 rupees amounts to less than an Euro now days) when you’ve no idea where you are in a foreign land. Not the smartest thing to do. Just sayin’ man

  • http://www.facebook.com/bitenc Matic Bitenc

    Haha, awesome videos guys! Loving the Žižek parody. Sorry to hear about your actual excrement problems though.
    Also glad you pointed out Max Webers little known, but successful racing career before he started dabbling with sociology. :)

    Thanks for sharing this I can really get into the spirit of things just watching it. Have fun guys!

    • Anonymous

      Haha, thanks. Yes not many people know about Max Weber’s racing career during his student years ;)

  • Polona Ratajc

    Super filmčki fanta! :) Srečno pot še naprej….se veselimo novih objav! :)

  • Mihaititienar

    Really cool Zizek parody. 

  • Bsas

    “The barber of Karachi shaves every man who doesn’t shave himself.”
    Amazingly clean blog, neat content and cool vids! top!
    greets from BA

  • Sam Hertz

    Seriously, Jure.. I think you should be a comedian! I can’t stop laughing. Reallllllly goooood!!!!!!! Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!