I Explored PESHAWAR with an Armed POLICE Escort (Required!): WEAPONS Factory, Bazaars & Crazy Buses

🔒 We explored Peshawar. This is a journey through one of South Asia’s oldest living cities, but modern realities mean we experienced it under the close protection of a Pakistani police escort. From the surprising reason for the security to the breathtaking beauty hidden behind fortress-like walls.

In This Episode, You Will Witness:

🛡️ Unusual Start: Meeting our police detail and understanding the protocol for exploring the city.

⚙️ Weapons Industry: Visiting local workshops (with strict permissions). We see the skill and craft behind traditional trades, gaining insight into an important part of the region’s economy and craftsmanship.

🤝 Connections: Meeting warm and proud locals, from chai walas to craftsmen.

🛒 Bazaar: Navigating the sensory overload of Qissa Khwani Bazaar (the Storytellers’ Market), and feeling the city’s relentless energy.

🏰 Sethi House: Stepping back in time inside the magnificent Sethi House, a 19th-century merchant mansion.

⛰️ Layers of History at Gor Khattri: Our first deep dive is into Gor Khattri, the ancient heart of Peshawar. We explore this incredible archaeological site that has been a Buddhist monastery, a Hindu temple, a Sikh gurdwara, and a Mughal caravanserai. We stand in the sacred tank and unravel 2,500 years of history in one spot.

🎨 The Moving Canvases of Peshawar: Hitting the streets to find the city’s famous “artistic buses.” We discover how these ordinary vehicles are transformed into rolling galleries of vibrant folk art, adorned with epic scenes, poetic calligraphy, and sparkling mirrors—a unique form of Pashtun expression on wheels.

Why the Police Escort?
The escort was a protocol for certain foreign visitors, allowing us to explore deeply and safely. It added a unique layer to the experience, reminding us of the complex narratives that define this frontier region.
A special thank you to the authorities who facilitated our visit and to the incredible people of Peshawar for their unforgettable hospitality.

USEFUL LINKS
– Train from Peshawar to Islamabad: https://youtu.be/9woUAJ8kof8
– Border ceremony between India and Pakistan: https://youtu.be/yvtX2IdKiHk
– Traveling by bus in Pakistan: https://youtu.be/SwrqQzQ-DkM
– Exploring Lahore (Pakistan’s most liberal city): coming soon
– Lahore locals’ tour to Hiram Minar: coming soon

CHAPTERS
0:00 – Introduction
3:06 – Leaving the hotel and taking a taxi
8:00 – Trying to use the ATM
9:32 – Visiting a weapons factory
24:41 – In the taxi to the next stop…
26:06 – Qissa Khawani Bazaar
29:13 – Chowk Yadgar Square
29:36 – Back to the streets of old Peshawar
30:20 – Cunningham Clock Tower
30:37 – Back to old Peshawar
31:06 – Sethi Mohallah
32:45 – Gor Khatri
37:39 – Suffering with the spicy food
39:42 – Decorated buses of Peshawar
43:02 – Back to the hotel
44:26 – Final thoughts

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Welcome to Out of Your Comfort Zone! I’m Rodrigo G. de Souza — a Brazilian guy obsessed with travel and geopolitics who has spent the last two decades traveling the world.

Since leaving my home country many years ago, I’ve lived, worked, studied, and volunteered in more than 15 countries on 6 continents – and have visited more than 160 countries and overseas territories all across the globe.

Alongside my wife Nikki, my trusted camerawoman and support system, I’m on a mission to visit all 193 UN-recognized countries and most overseas territories. This mission led me to creating Out of Your Comfort Zone so I could share my knowledge of travel (particularly on a budget!) to encourage others to explore the world as well.

On this channel, I also share my insights on geopolitics—a field I’m deeply involved in thanks to my 20 years of international experience, my background in business, finance, political policy advising, and International Relations, and a stint working in the diplomatic service of the European Union.

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#pakistan #Peshawar #PakistanTravel #TravelPakistan #TravelVlog