~70% of the population use traditional medicine and they have been accepted and integrated into the national health system in Pakistan.


Stopping outside a shop that was selling fresh kheer.


Two large bowls of kheer made with vermicelli, milk and sugar.


Cunningham Clock Tower covered in scaffolding in Ghanta Ghar Chowk. The tower was built in 1900 and was named after the former British governor Sir George Cunningham.


خاندان


And back in the carparking garage where Ashfaq was catching a few winks.


Driving past the historic Bala Hissar (High Fort). The fort currently serves as headquarters for Pakistan's Frontier Corps, and hence I was restricted to taking a photograph from our moving car.


We then started the drive back to Islamabad.


Just after 2pm we stopped for a rest and some fried fish for lunch.


About 20 kilometres out from Islamabad we stopped in the town of Taxila, which means City of Cut Stone.


The town had numerous rock cutting workshops. A man making a pestle on a spinning lathe.


And the finishing touches of paint. They were also making gravestones and garden ornaments.


Stopping for an afternoon drink of fresh sugar cane juice.


Served along with lime, ginger and salt.


Ancient Taxila dates back to 1000 BC. Due to its strategic location at the junction of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia it changed hands many times between various empires vying for its control.

At the main entrance to the ancient Jaulian, a ruined Buddhist monastery dating from the second century AD. It was interesting seeing the logo of Thai Airways that fly three times weekly from Bangkok to Islamabad.


Jaulian, along with other ruins of Taxila, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.


It was very interesting seeing Bhuddist relics in Pakistan, the world's first Islamic Republic.


The pool for ritual washings.


An interior wall of the monastery.


A line visible on the wall, delineating where the original wall (below) and the restored wall (above) meet.


And thanking Mohammed for the insightful tour of the ancient monastery.


Back at the Envoy Hotel where my room had been changed to one with a double bed.


After the late night and long day I was too lazy to go far for dinner so just opted for the ~100 metre walk to the nearby Domino's Pizza Restaurant.


I figured I had better have something passably local though so opted for the 'Pakistani Hot' pizza.


And enjoyed a surprisingly tasty and delicious pizza at the end of day five.