Adventures with Julia

September 21, 2019

As there was no urgency to get to Lehore, we did not depart Islamabad until 9:30 and by 10:15 we stopped at the painted truck repair facility.  Having seen many painted trucks along the highway, we wanted to learn how the trucks were converted into moving paintings.  It was fascinating to see how and under what conditions the detail work was accomplished.

A truck waiting to be repaired.

The entire super structure is made of wood with painted metal parts

Nailing metal pieces onto a wooden frame built over the original truck.

An artist completing a painting.

The lower panel was painted by the same artist .

Detail of painted metal trim.

THe ceiling and walls inside a cab.

The inside front of a cab, complete with bracelet bangles.

2nd generation owner of the repair business. His children are studying computer science and not following in his footsteps.

Working on the crazy wiring under the steering wheel.

The dashboard of a cab. Contains only a speedometer, a tachometer and an ampmeter.

Another inside shot reveals how little exterior viewing there is.

On the inside of a cab looking out.

The upholstery shop

A designer sketches his next painting.

Even the wheel well is painted.

After a pleasant hour checking out the trucks being repaired, we continued toward Lehore with one more stop before Lehore–the Khewra Salt Mine.  It was opened in 1838 and is the 2nd largest salt mine in the world.  We learned it has 17 levels; five above ground, one at ground level and 11 below ground.  An electric train took us into the ground level tunnel for about 2500 feet.  I thought it would get cool in the mine, but the temperature never got below 64 degrees.  Then we walked down one level and saw a bit there before exiting the way we came in.  Hundreds of other Pakistani tourists were there to visit the mine too.  We learned that the mine produces 1200-1500 metric tones of rock salt a day.  It ha been developed in what is known as “room and pillar” construction.  This construction kept the tunnels from collapsing.  1000 people work in the mines 6 days a week from 6am-7pm.  The work day is broken up into two 6-hour shifts per day.   We saw none of them as they enter the mine from a completely different location.  We were told they receive $300/man/month.

A cemetery on the side road to the Salt Mine.

Friendly Pakistani tourists joined us at the entrance of the Khewra salt mine.

THe electric train enters the mine.

Thee ladies were pleased to let me take their photo. They spoke some English too.

The three kinds of salt–white (sodium Chloride), pink(magnesium) and dark red (iron).

Water seeping from the mine is collected in internal ponds and then pumped out. The liquid is used for painting and soda ash.

The ground level tunnel curves down 50 feet to the 7th level so tourists can get there. There are no elevators for tourists.

Here we are on the 7th level of the mine, 50 feet below ground

A 150 year old stalactite with colored lights.

After the tour these ladies asked me for a group photo. I think the scarf made a difference. Should have been wearing it all along.

There are three kinds of salt harvested in the mine; white, pink and red.  The white salt is sodium chloride, the pink is magnesium and the dark red is iron.  The pink salt is the most expensive.  It is called Himalayan salt and is considered good for one’s health.  The history of the mine is that Alexander the Great’s horses were found licking salt on the ground.  Only hand mining was used until the British arrived in 1878.  They introduced machine mining in the early 20th century.   Now there is even a hospital on the 7th level and workers rarely get hurt.

This tour took 2.5 hours including the 30 minute drive away from the main highway and back.  By the time we reached Lehore, it was past 6pm.  Shifa told us it would take 9 hours and it sure did.  At least the roads were in good condition most of the way.  We had a bite in the hotel dining room and ended the day.  We are both really tired of Pakistani food, even when it is well prepared.  Too many saucy dishes and way too many overcooked chicken and mutton dishes, including kabobs.