Lots of new old tires. Probably re-used many times more than we do, here in the most modern west.

Views along the Indus valley. In these surroundings I advised Ronald Hulsebosch -the other doctor- to peel his apple to prevent intestinal disease (diarrhoea, Delhi-belley etc).

Tasty (but dangerous!?) Pakistan food. Our first evening in Pakistan Major Zia welcomed us warmly by inviting us to his very traditional custom curry restaurant in Islamabad.

The food looked very tasty indeed and we all ate well. Only one didn't get well.

Indus valley view. Dusty and dry. Here Ronald Hulsebosch, peeling an apple with his brand-new Swiss army pocket-knife (like I advised a little earlier), cut off his little finger bending-tendon. I was the only one other doctor to suture the wound. It took an unpleasant lot of time to rediscover the outstanding medical equipment in all the stowed-away gear.

Indus valley with Nanga Parbat, the Naked Mountain (8125m). Then, in these wind-blown, dust-rich surroundings, with a very brave patient who was a more experienced doctor, who wouldn't have any anaesthesia, with a television-camera over my shoulder, I sutured that wound. Quite nervously trembling and not very neatly of course. I was ashamed of myself.

That same afternoon we arrived in Gilgit. At night, hardly 48 hours in Pakistan, I got very sick: Abdominal cramps, fever, body fluids leaving from several sides at almost the same time. Expedition had hardly started and already I got very ill. The next day all team-members had a relaxing day visiting a polo-match (traditional sport there!), while I had to stay in bed capable of nothing else than staying in my bed.

Another day later, me still feeling far from well, we leave for Skardu. Skardu is in the background.

Karakoram expeditions traditionally stay in the K2-Motel in Skardu, conveniently situated besides Indus River. Here Joost uses the Satellite-phone; probably to call one of his lovers.

Here all the gear is checked, tested and repacked.

The loads had to be split in packs of no more than 25 kilo's each. That's the maximum load a porter may carry.

Skardu market is full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Seasalt and iodine on the other hand are relatively scarce here.

Goiter may thus remain common here.

Fresh, fresh, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Fresh, fresh, fresh meat.....

Main street like anywhere. Yellow and black remain preferred colours here. I don't know why.

Barber like anywhere? Wilco dares for a shave here.

Welding like anywhere? In Skardu the mask is not necessary. Availability of ultra-violet light is no problem at these elevations.

The porters wait in front of the motel to get a hard job with a year's salary earned in 1 week. The work should be equally divided between the porters from Skardu and the ones on the road to the expedition's destination.

The trail from Skardu to Chongo is jeep-trail for about 110 km; from Chongo the walk goes to K2-basecamp (another 100 km). The government once tried to take the road way to Askole, the most far-away permanent settlement, but this road-part suffered big damages each winter and could not be preserved.

The road first leads over Indus River, then along Shigar River. A little later we cross a side river from Shigar river. First we waited a long time because the guards of the bridge considered our papers not valid. Military strategic property; no pictures allowed!

The good major Zia arranged this. Then we waited a long time again because only one jeep at a time may cross the bridge. Here you see why. Military strategic property; no pictures allowed!

Major Zia with his hands in their favorite position. Every now and than we halt; most of the time nobody knows why. Sometimes we stop for the camera-crew to make a shot of the passing caravane.

Oasis along Shigar River between sand, stones, dust everywhere.