It all started on the night of 3rd October 2024—a Thursday, when we decided to take our much-awaited boys’ trip to Naran. The plan? Avoid traffic, dodge responsibilities, and create unforgettable memories (and maybe some BBQ mishaps) with a group of old friends: Salman Khan, Rehan, Faizan, Salman Sheikh, and the legendary Safdar Mamu.
The Midnight Move
While most people would be in bed, dreaming of their next vacation, we were already on ours. Safdar Mamu and I were already at Mabali Island, getting things sorted. Meanwhile, Faizan, Salman Khan, and Salman Sheikh drove in from Taxila and Wah Cantt. Faizan, clearly following the unwritten rule of ‘Never Drive When You Can Let Someone Else Do It,’ parked his car at Mabali and joined the rest of us. We stuffed our luggage, BBQ gear, and Rehan’s secret camping equipment into Safdar Mamu’s trusty Prado, which had now changed into an off-road adventure-mobile.
The clock struck 1 AM, and off we went, like a bunch of high school kids sneaking out for a midnight snack, but this time, it was for an adventure. The road ahead was empty, smooth, and slightly mysterious in the way that makes you feel like you’re on a secret mission.
Pit Stop in Abbottabad
After about 1.5 hours, we reached Rehan’s place in Abbottabad—our next pick-up point. Rehan moved out like the camp master, fully equipped with camp, BBQ gear, and the aura of someone who had meticulously planned this entire trip. Once everything was loaded into the Prado, we were back on the road. Balakot, here we come!
We reached Balakot just in time for Fajr prayers and took a brief spiritual pause at the Cordillera Resort. This wasn’t your regular stop—no, no! It was a mini break where we just chilled for a bit and stretching our legs before the real fun began.
Arriving in Naran – Breakfast and Beyond
By 8 AM, we were in Naran, eyes half-open but souls fully awake because, well, the views were spectacular. Rehan had, of course, already arranged our hotel like a true boss from his link, so we dumped our bags and immediately set off to Moon Restaurant for breakfast. Now, if you haven’t been to Moon Restaurant in Naran, let me tell you—it’s a famous restaurant in the middle of Naran Bazar. The kind of breakfast where even the “alloo bhujia” makes you feel like a king. We devoured omelettes, channay, parathas, naan, and finished it all off with lassi and tea. Needless to say, it was one of those meals that makes you rethink your life decisions—like why aren’t you eating this every day?
After stuffing ourselves, we went back to the hotel to crash for a bit. That breakfast coma hit us hard, so we took a solid nap till Jumma prayers.
BBQ by the River: Rehan’s Secret Spot
Post-Jumma, it was time to get serious. By serious, I mean BBQ time! Safdar Mamu and Rehan hit Naran Bazaar to pick up some last-minute essentials, mostly for our upcoming feast. Rehan, with a twinkle in his eye, took us to his secret BBQ spot, a place tucked near a river on the way to Jheel Saif-ul-Malook. Picture this: a peaceful spot, the sound of the river flowing beside us, surrounded by forest—basically, heaven for guys who just want to grill some meat and smoke cigars.
We set up the BBQ pit like pros (or at least we pretended to be), grilled the chicken, and sat around, joking, reminiscing, and throwing professional gup shup into the mix. As the sun dipped, the air filled with the aroma of sizzling BBQ, and we had our fill of laughs, memories, and some excellent chai. Oh, and don’t forget the cigars. Because what’s a BBQ without cigars by a river?
Back to Base – Hotel Planning and Hilarity
After Maghrib prayers, we packed up our gear and headed back to the hotel, where the planning for Day 2 began. We discussed heading to Jalkhand for camping the next day, throwing in our usual banter, and poking fun at whoever was the most tired from the day. Between the laughter, the jabs, and the memories, we realized that these were the moments we lived for. Our trip was already off to a perfect start—filled with the kind of college memories, professional talk, and just downright hilarious conversations that make trips like these unforgettable.
And this is only Day 1. Stay tuned. Because trust me, it gets even crazier.
To be continued… Read Here >
