Jan 27 2010
I Have Some Tough Travel Choices Ahead
I am in a travel dilemma at the moment and am not sure what to do with my life over the next three or four months. It had all be settled: work in Sumatra until the end of the project on February 27th and then go to South Africa.
But things have changed drastically in the past few weeks and I’m not sure what I want to do anymore. The earthquake in Haiti has got me looking at flights to go there, a visit from a friend who is living in Islamabad has me trying to find a way to get a visa for Pakistan and an extension on the volunteering project in Sumatra has be wanting to stay until the end.
Haiti
Everyone will know by now that Haiti has been screwed by an earthquake. I left Haiti less than a year ago and, to be honest, the thought of going back there so soon fills me with dread. But the thought of being able to lend a hand outweighs that and I am finding myself looking for flights to Miami and on to Port-au-Prince when I should be doing work. I don’t have any useful skills for right now and I’m not about to head over there on my own only to become a burden. Hands On have an assessment team there and I am waiting to see if they plan to launch a project. I have been told that it’s unlikely that they won’t work in Haiti, it’s just a matter of when. In the meantime I am thinking a lot about the country and spending a lot of time looking at airfares that I can’t afford.
Islamabad
A friend of mine is working in Islamabad and I am intrigued by the place. It sounds like he has a great group of friends and he is really loving living there. He has even found a place for me to stay with a friend of his for US$350 a month. It comes with wifi, a cook, a cleaner and even a guard. I love doing relief work but I am going to need to work on my websites sooner rather than later as things seem to be sliding a bit lately. I can’t think of a better place for a bit of location independent living than Islamabad! Ok, I can… but I am suddenly extremely curious about the city. I have wanted to go to Pakistan for awhile and what better time to do it that when I already have a good friend living there? Of course there are the security concerns and all that stuff but lets just ignore those for now. The main problem I’m having is getting a tourist visa and I might have to fly back to the UK to get one. This might seem crazy but I have family and friends I haven’t seen in awhile and also need to sort out some tax things so it wouldn’t be a complete waste of time trip - just an expensive one.
Sumatra
I have been in Sumatra for about three months now and have loved it. The work we’ve done so far has been very physical and mundane but necessary. We’re removing unsafe homes from the owner’s foundations by dropping them safely to the ground and the salvaging any useful materials like tin, wood, bricks and even river rock. The work is hard and not the most exciting thing in the world and after three months it is getting a bit old, even though I know its important. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we’ve started building things instead of just wrecking things. Yay! We’ve begun building homes and they’re fun and have a great design and I am learning some new skills. The project has been extended until April 9th and I would like to see the project through to the end. Plus this is the only option that I can really afford.
Can anyone offer any advice? The only plan that makes any sense is staying in Sumatra but that’s third on what I want to do. I think the leader is heading to Pakistan but the visa issue is a problem. Haiti is a crazy plan and until Hands On decide what they will do there, I don’t want to make any moves. But I don’t want to wait around for too long, either. I have some tough choices to make.
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I've been travelling since January 2008 living off earnings from the web. Follow me as I bum around Asia and beyond, getting up to mischief and working online as I go. 
I really know the feeling when you are paralysed by indecision when travelling about where to go next. It feels awful at the time, and then afterwards you wonder what you were worrying about. Keep in mind that there is no wrong decision, whatever you do will be an amazing experience.
It seems like Pakistan is your first choice, so you should pursue the visa some more. I can’t offer any advice on that I’m afraid. It would be a fascinating country to spend some time in, and now is a good time as you have contacts there.
Good luck with it!
Sounds like you have a big decision to make. When I hit those points, it helped to realize there’s no wrong choice, just different paths. And whichever way you go will be amazing and exciting, and probably anxiety-provoking to some degree.
If you want some tips on travel in Pakistan, check with Boris at http://travel-junkie.com as he passed through there and more briefly, Iran, in 2009. He narrowly missed some bombings too, so the security situation is serious there.
I’d say head for Pakistan. I’m always a believer to go to countries where your mates are….in fact I should rephrase that….if you have mates in weird and wonderful countries then head out while they are there!
I’ve been lucky over the last few years as my sister has lived in Poland, Philippines, and Oman. I went and visited friends in Afghanistan and got the chance to take photos for a magazine there - that would never have happened if they weren’t there. I never went to a wedding in Borneo last year and I’ve been kicking myself since (even though I’ve been there for 3 months….a wedding!! From another culture!).
I’ve a friend in Mozambique who I can’t believe I haven’t visited yet, and I’m maybe going to make plans for a trip to a friend wedding in the bloody Falkland Islands!!
Pakistan. It has to be!
Pakistan sounds good to me, probably because it has shot up my list of places to go but for us reading it will also be something pretty unique. Whatever you choose just make sure you cover your bases and give yourself that oppurtunity to do the website work you need to do.
I was in Haiti for two months prior to the Earthquake, and left five days before it happened. I stayed three weeks in the center of Port-au-Prince on Rue Lamarre. If you go back, I would appreciate if you would check on my friends.
Rue Lamarre goes directly into the Champs de Mar park, it is in the middle of problems.
I am in Sosua, Dominican Republic January 28, 2010
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I’d head to Pakistan. Islamabad wasn’t one of my favorite places, basically cause it’s just a planned city, not so much going on, but if you have a friend there already, then you’ve got a winner there.
Also, you can get to Lahore from Islamabad within 4 hours and maybe 6 hours (or so, can’t really remember) to Peshawar. Both cities are amazing, but you’d have to be a bit careful in Peshawar. Bombs go off there quite regularly. They’re not targeted at foreigners, but it pays to watch your back.
You also won’t be far away from the Karakorum Highway, which is an amazing (and sometimes agonizing) experience. Along the way there’s loads of hidden gems, like Skardu and the Hunza Valley.
I could get a one-month visa without any problems in India. Had to go for an interview at the embassy and it took 4 days or so, but altogether I got it without a hitch. Once you’re in the country you can generally extend it for free for up to 6 months, I think.
If you choose Pakistan then do your research well re: dress code, local customs and the security situation. You say ignore it for now but I think it should be a factor in your decision. If you go to areas such as Peshawar that Western governments advise against visiting, be aware that you also may not be covered by your insurance.
Is the friend of your friend you’d be thinking of sharing with female? Strictly, unmarried “couples” co-habiting is illegal in Pakistan. Whether it’s detectable or enforced for foreigners is another matter, but it’s an example of needing to do the legwork before you rock up for a visa.
Kirsty, while there has been some excellent advice shared, I can only offer you one thing: what does your gut tell you to do?
Go for a long walk or sit and relax with a cup of tea in a quiet space and ask yourself that question.
You’ll find the answer. I have a little faith.
Good advice from the poster above.
I would have thought it would be quite a while before Hands On would be able to deploy in Haiti looking at the severity of the situation there.
I can see you ending up working for some kind of disaster charity or NGO, you definitely seem to have found your heart and passion lies. Good on you for that.
Thanks for all of the advice everyone.
My gut says Pakistan but unfortunately it’s the most expensive, risky and complicated option. I’m considering heading to the UK to apply there. I’ve got a cheap flight but the flight onwards to Islamabad is pricey and then I need to get from there to South Africa which is surprisingly cheap. I’m not totally sure if I will be able to get a visa in the UK since the application process is fairly involved but it seems like my best chance.
But London is not a bad place to be stuck in if the visa doesn’t happen. I have family and friends in the UK, some tax loose ends to tie up, and I will still be able to consider a trip to Haiti from there or I can just shoot right down to South Africa.
I’m looking at the end of February so I will still get another month in of house building and I won’t feel like I’m jumping ship.
I have lots to consider but I think I will have something decided in a week or so. I will keep you posted! Thanks again for all your comments.
Kirsty- you called your friend in Pakistan “he” - that’s not trivial. I’ve travelled a lot of places (but not Pakistan) solo - Syria was one of my favourites. But I met a Medeicnes Sans Fronteires (sp) nurse in India who had been working in Pakistan (not travelling working) - she was late 40’s dressed modesty - looked like someone’s grandmother basically. She had come very,very close to being raped and had to leave the country in a hurry. Basically she had travelled the world with MSF for most of her life and she had never come across the level of hostility to her as a woman as she got in Pakistan - and she was an emergency nurse - that didn’t count - she was a woman first!
The comment above re not living iwth a man who is not a relative is relevant too. I have Pakistan on a very short list of places i probably wouldn’t go to - its not a muslim thing - as I said Syria was a delight, and I had more hassel in Italy than Egypt - it seems to be a Pakistan thing for WOMEN. Suggest you try to connect with a woman who has been there recently to get the real insight
Yes, it’s really tough travel choices, I think haiti is good option for you.
Kirtsy it seems like you have quite a few choices on what to do with the next 3 months of your life. Go with your gut instinct and what you think is best. I wish you all the best.
Isn’t the security situation in Pakistan a bit dodgy at the moment too or is that confined to just one area?
I would still tread carefully but I suspect the more people tell you not to go, the more you’ll want to go…
If you do go to Pakistan, just be careful. With the current fighting against insurgents going on there, you can never tell where there might be trouble.
Till then,
Jean
Yes care must needed if you’ll go for Pakistan, but Haiti might be good option for you if you can do help them.
@lissie Thanks for the heads up. I continually hear that people in Pakistan are super friendly. There are rape or near-rape stories from everywhere, unfortunately. My friend has a lot of women friends who live and work there so I’m not worried.
@workingnomad The more worrisome thing is the security situation and I am aware of that but not totally educated on what is going on right now. I will size up the situation in March when I am about to decide what to do.
I do know that Islamabad is rarely a target, at least not compared to the rest of the country.
I’ve bought a ticket to London for March 1st. I will try for the visa and if that doesn’t happen then I will go to Haiti. I am still up in the air if I want to head to Haiti and forget Pakistan for now or if I want to go to Pakistan. If I go to Haiti in March I will only get 2.5 months in before the World Cup in June. If I go after that, I can stay as long as I want.
The choice has been made tougher since http://www.hodr.org announced a project and a bunch of my friends are heading there now or soon.
Haiti surely needs all hands that are willing to help, but witch such low lever of organization any help could be very difficult. Going there must mean something to you and to those people who are in need, so I hope that it will succeed.