Postcard from Shigar Village - cricket, polo, goats, ducks, horses, washing and water - a wonderful walk

We needed to stretch our legs after a long time sitting in the car and so we decided to take a walk around Shigar Village.  The village sits in the beautifully green Shigar Valley, surrounded by mountains with the Shigar River running through the valley.  Shigar Village sits at an elevation of 2,230m and is inhabited by the Balti people of Tibetan descent.  It is unsure where the name Balti came from however Baltistan is Persian for land of the Baltis. 

Our walk took us through the centre of the village, past mosques (the subject of my next blog), shops, colourful houses, women washing, goats grazing and kids playing cricket.  I love that wherever we travel in Pakistan we always see children playing cricket and it reminds me of home.  We also sat and watched some children playing a version of polo.  They ran with polo mallets, expertly hitting a ball across the polo ground.  Polo is very popular in Gilgit-Baltistan with every valley seeming to have a polo ground.  

Water channels run through the village to direct water to fields and for household use.  Women sat and washed clothes or washed dishes.  It is a very conservative region and the women didn’t want their photo taken.  I did take some lovely photos though of shopkeepers, grandfathers and horse riders who stopped just for me.  

I love this colour and you can find it painted on walls and houses

The local barber shop

Washing hung above a stream

Shigar Polo Ground - cricket being played

Practicing polo

Love that he was taking his grandson around the village for a walk

Postcard from Old Altit Town

A look down on Old Altit Town from Altit Fort

A gentle walk from our hotel to Old Altit Town takes us along dusty roads, past tall poplar trees and alongside terraced farms.  Land and fuel are both in short supply so poplar trees are planted because they are fast growing and don’t give too much shade over farmland.  

As we walk along the road we hear a lot of shouting and clapping.  As we turn a corner, we see that there is a cricket match going on.  The pitch is dusty and bumpy, the bowlers fast but the batters understand the pitch and where to place the ball.  Around the edge of the pitch there is a wall that is terraced, local men and boys are sitting and encouraging their favourite players.  We stop and watch for a while.  We are asked where we are from and the answer of Australia brings smiles for another cricket loving country.  Sign language helps us understand where the boundaries lie: beyond the trees is a six; first terrace is a four.  

We continue on our walk to Old Altit Town.   The town sits below and right up against Altit Fort, the subject of my next blog.  As we walk through the town we see a courtyard with many women sitting around chatting to one another.  They are all wearing the traditional, embroidered Hunza hat, over which they place their dupatta (scarf).  Read my previous blog on the Hunza Valley if you want to see one of these hats up close.

I ask if I can take some photos.  The rest of my group, all men, are not allowed in.  I walk around smiling and saying hello, my Urdu is poor, they don’t know English.  As I point to my camera some agree to have their photo taken.  One woman points to her face and from her expression seems to say why would I want to take her photo.  I nod and smile, she smiles and agrees to have her photo taken – it is my favourite portrait that I have taken in Pakistan.  I would like to stay but my group is waiting, I say my goodbyes.  They laugh and keep talking.  After a long day working it is wonderful to see them taking a moment to sit and chat with their friends.  

Green poplars, dusty roads, surrounded by mountains

Local cricket pitch - unforgiving surface!

A fellow cricket lover who was happy to help out with questions on boundaries.

Small cobbler business

Chicken shop - didn’t stay to see a purchase

Central pond in Old Altit Town. This pond freezes over in winter.

Gateway to the women’s courtyard

Language may have been a barrier but we all smiled and laughed

Old Altit Town

Looking down into Old Altit Town from Altit Fort. You can just see part of the women’s courtyard in the top, left corner

Houses made of wood, mud and mud bricks, small courtyards and gardens, flat roofs for sitting, washing and water tanks