On a lighter note, so how's your HVAC working? Front Driveshaft looking okay? Power Steering Pump whine incessantly? Stay dry when it rains? Etc, Etc.. 
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HVAC is actually ok at the moment. Front driveshaft is also ok. Power steering is whining, always has done. Staying dry when wet, all has been good! After the replacement door locks, we've still got one dodgy one, but it's ok if you clean it out regularly. 
Has you vehicle done any off-road work @Matt P?
We’ve encountered a few pebbles, a number of puddles, climbed over a couple of hills, through the odd sandpit and had splash of mud here and there. Preventative maintenance is our game.Has you vehicle done any off-road work @Matt P?
Down to Earth, well down to Wild EarthYou make some fair points, it’s also why I made it clear in the post above, and always add this caveat “You still have to keep your wits about you as it’s not all sunshine and roses (I meant to say rainbows), as we all know”. Anyone who reads that surely knows that my intention is not what you’re suggesting…
“Come on everyone, what are you worrying about, everyone is lovely over here, wonder round freely and you will be 100% ok, it's just as safe as Spain”
I’d hoped what I wrote was enough for people to read between the lines and realise that we are also watching what’s going on around the world, including the U.K. as you mentioned. There is, unfortunately, a dark underbelly to many cultures and religions around the world, whether we like it or not. You realise this even more so if you study history and what has happened around the world over the centuries. There’s dark and light, good and bad, and there always will be.
I’m merely saying, don’t believe everything you read in the media, do your own research, listen to people who have actually been to the country, met the people, watch the videos yourself, and you’ll see it’s nowhere near what you might think. That doesn’t mean there aren’t dangerous areas or bad apples, because there are, and that’s why you don’t go to those places. E.g. Balochistan You can apply this to almost anywhere in the world though. Some places are not advisable to go to, especially at night, so don’t go..
As you’ve read my bio, you’ve seen I’ve been doing this for decades. (130+ countries) We research each region we plan to visit and are well-connected on the ground. We take our safety very seriously. We’ve not been everywhere, but we have a good idea of what the world is actually like, and developed a good sixth sense. So far, it's very clear that it’s not what we’re told it’s like, that’s for sure… Some pockets fit the narrative for sure, but that’s what they are, small pockets that have been amplified for whatever reason…
Armoury - that’s just what it is like in this area of the world. There’s a history of conflict; they want to have the ability to defend themselves and their families. These things flare up sometimes, but it’s not a constant state that they’re in. You have to talk to people and find out what the situation is on the ground, just like anywhere else. Things are always evolving and changing, but there are always warning signs if you look closely, and so you just have to be observant and not put yourself in a deteriorating situation.
Armed guards - There are a lot of games played in Pakistan; I’ll leave it at that. In all countries, there are certain ways of doing things. If you want to visit, you have to accept how things are done. The fact that there are armed guards for visitors in certain areas can be used to your advantage. They speak the language (important in Pakistan as there are many) and they know the area and communities well. (As you saw in the video) They obviously don’t want anything happening to us, and so it’s a deterrent. It could be argued that it draws more attention, but driving a Grenadier towing an X3, through Pakistan kind of does that anyway, even if we try to remain discreet and cover them in dust and mud!
In Pakistan, the security services are constantly communicating. The ISI (Pakistan’s intelligence service) monitors everything; they have a very good idea where you are at all times. The police, military, intelligence services, homestays, and local communities all work together to ensure your safety. It’s in all of their interests to do so. With this in mind, I’d argue you’re actually a lot safer here than you are in Spain. They don’t want an international incident; the negative media attention would set them back years, and they know that.
“There are more normal decent people otherwise civilisation would not have advanced as it has.” Do you mean in Pakistan or outside Pakistan? Just so I understand the context of what you’re saying here.
This is a bit of a generalisation, but I would say that this region of our planet we’re talking about, from a hospitality point of view, is one of the best in the world. The Iranian people are another great example of this. This is not just our opinion; you can see this reflected in reports from other people’s experiences online. To be clear, I’m not talking about governments, I’m talking about the people of the country.
“The reality is there are some very nasty and evil people also and where there is poverty then evil finds it easier to recruit.” This is true, but Pakistan has a population of 240,000,000 people. There are some “some very nasty and evil people” everywhere. I’d love for there to be no poverty in the world, but unfortunately, it’s everywhere, including the countries we all live in. Poverty is the root of a lot of issues.. (Desperate people do desperate things) There’s also a flip side. (This is well beyond just Pakistan) At a community level, it means people rely on each other a lot more, they live in a more community-based society, and they’re a lot more giving and kind - they ultimately help each other to survive. This permeates through all areas of their lives. If you have a negative or fixed view of the world, that’s how it will be for you. If you’re more open-minded and understanding, you may well be surprised… (That doesn’t mean you’re naive)
“I have shown my wife some of your videos and she worries for you and your family, as do I.” There’s no need to worry. While we can’t ensure 100% safety, that’s true of almost anywhere in the world. There’s always going to be an element of risk in everything we do, wherever we go. We’ve been travelling like this and wild camping for over two years now and have never had an issue. You can draw your own conclusions from that.
Taking my wife and kids with me does increase the risk in some ways, but you could also argue it makes things safer. It’s very rare for anyone to touch a family; in almost all cultures and societies around the world, this is a no-go. It would also attract a lot of attention. (UK and US family, it’s a big risk for them) Kids melt people's hearts; they can’t help it. It’s like being in nature or looking up at the stars - it’s one of those things that bonds us all. People naturally want to care for and protect kids. That’s not to say it doesn’t happen, but if you apply common sense, do your research, and keep your wits about you, it’s extremely unlikely. In our case, this means staying away from known areas of high risk. That doesn’t necessarily mean you rule out entire countries, although some you can; it’s more nuanced than that. For example, it’s wise to avoid a specific area in the north of country X.
Perspective is always welcome. I hope you’d agree that you actually get a much greater perspective, the more you’re exposed to. This is one of the reasons we make the videos we do: to help broaden those horizons. I’m sure you’re not the only one who has these thoughts, which is why I’ve taken the time to reply like this. We felt the negative side of all of this is already very well documented and the default opinion, and so we just wanted to balance the scales a bit with our experiences. Everything you’re saying is valid and, true to some extent, and deserves thought, but it’s not true to say that a whole nation is a certain way. Especially in Pakistan, it’s incredibly complex.
“I would love to hear more about what you have done to ensure you and your families safety.” I hope you feel I’ve covered this above, but an example of changing plans based on safety - we changed our mind on going to Afghanistan for a month, based on events at the time. We saw this as an isolated incident, and the Taliban significantly increased security after this, which would've made it safer, but we decided it wasn’t worth the risk with the kids. Lastly, we are well ahead of what you see online with our actual journey. We never reveal where we are and generally keep a low profile. As a general rule, we always stay well away from any sort of urban area when setting up camp. For sure, we meet people on the road, but in general, we’re way out in nature, away from everyone.
“If you feel what I have said is wrong, please feel free to ask me to delete and I will and will not mention it.” It’s your opinion, and you’re entitled to it, and as I say at the start, you make some fair points.
Sort of a variation on ''to finish first , fisrt you have to finish''. The overlanding creed I guess.We’ve encountered a few pebbles, a number of puddles, climbed over a couple of hills, through the odd sandpit and had splash of mud here and there. Preventative maintenance is our game.
