Pak24

Gojal, North Pakistan. Have a bit of electricity and wifi. Thanks for all the kind and lovely responses to my letter about travelling for a while. I was very moved to receive them. I have not had internet and electricity to respond individually. I am currently in this beautiful part of the world, which I love so much. Wishing a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend. Love Diana Thanks for the visit

Just a quick post. Had the most exciting experience. This is Lovely, an orphaned snow leopard in the mountains of Pakistan. Rescued by a kind and generous man, she is now 10. She comes when called, and sits when told. She has a giant natural enclosure on a forested hillside, is loved and healthy. I was beyond thrilled to have this opportunity ..a privilege. I gave her owner a generous sum of money towards her upkeep, and that of a 4 month old snow leopard kitten which thé government asked him to care for after rescuing it from wildlife traffickers who are now in jail. Her long fur was like the softest silk. Keep well all. I am still on the move Diana ❤️

On a cold afternoon in Kashgar, China, Uighur families sit at benches on the fence lines round a park, catching the afternoon late autumn sun. Just home and starting to get organised. Have a fabulous weekend everyone. Will get back to visiting soon, promise. Diana

My friend Sher Baz ..we were at 3800 meters in Basho Valley, in Baltistan, Pakistan, looking out on the 7000+ meter peaks out towards K2. A stunning day in late autumn

In Kashgar, Chinese Xinjiang, a Uighur craftsman works painstakingly hand making traditional instruments. No power tools or modern equipment was visible. I watched in fascination for ages. Happy Tuesday and a cheerful week to all

HFF. In a previous post I told how I met a snow leopard in Pakistan. Her guardian rescued her, and has kept her for 10 years. The Pakistan Wildlife Service recently arrested and jailed 2 men in a remote valley for attempting to sell this baby snow leopard, and they asked Ghulam Rasul, the guardian of the older snow leopard to also care for this new baby, Leo. It had only been with him a week, slept in his bed, and was in a barred smaller enclosure to assimilate. It has since been introduced to the large outside enclosure. It was one of the most touching moments of my life to meet this very poor, but very selfless man, who has saved these two endangered animals. And the eyes of this animal! Have a happy Friday, and a super weekend. Diana

Fairy Meadows is at 3,300 m and is a huge grassy meadow. It is on the way to a base camp for the 8,0000+ meter Nanga Parbat ( The Killer Mountain). The huge Raikot Glacier feeds into it, and one has superb panoramas of this and of Nanga Parbat. It is very difficult to access. First, a jeepable track of 15km only driven by locals, and named by the WHO the second most dangerous road in the world. This ends at a village where there is a 5 km trek on a hair raising track which ascends 800 meters. As I am still recovering from a torn meniscus in my knee, I ended up on a horse…ascending, and descending. I have never been so scared in my life. The horse slipped occasionally and generally walked right at the edge of the precipices. All I had to hold onto was the saddle… Was it worth it? Yes…..and I will share some shots at a later stage. For now enjoy seeing me being terrified , taken by dear Sher Baz!

Fairy Meadows at over 3000m, with 8,126m Mount Nanga Parbat in the background. This is where I arrived clinging in terror to a horse as it jolted and occasionally slipped on a narrow steep track for 2 hours. A high altitude grazing pasture for locals, it was discovered by a German mountaineering party in the 50’s and given this name. It is very beautiful, and from the mountain there is a giant glacier, Raikot, which is clearly visible from these meadows. There were a number of French, Thai, Polish and sundry others here despite the dreadfully terrifying jeep track and subsequent foot or horse climb to the meadows. Very beautiful and quite dry at the end of autumn here. Have a really wonderful weekend! Diana

In Kashgar, Xinjiang, China. I stopped to talk to this lady, and she and her friends dragged me in to dance to some lively Uighur music on the street. It was wonderful fun, and she was marvellous!