Karachi

Shopping: Zainab Market: great for bargains. The trick however is to make sure you have a local person with you so that you are not charged double the normal price. Haggling is the norm!

Juma Bazar: a very "traditional" open air market is the Juma(friday bazar)- you can get EVERYTHING there but beware of pickpockets Urdu Bazaar: a wonderfully huge bazaar for books. The collections there are wonderful, though about 80% are in Urdu or Arabic Sadar: ahh, the true flavor of shopping/haggling in Karachi. Don't forget to visit the jewelry stores Tariq Road: Something for everything kind of shops Try and go crabbing or for camel rides on the beaches. There are private beaches available for non-Pakistanis [or for very wealthy Pakistanis!]

Quick Tips:

Women should be careful about traveling alone.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving is perhaps the easiest if you know the roads and can stand maniacal driving- people do not follow traffic signals very closely, and dont ever try to cross the road at a cross-walk. You'll be safer weaving between the traffic. Taxis are available but it's better if you dont travel in them alone. Try the rickshaws rather than the buses- and you can't beat the put-putting sounds they make.

Awesome kabobs and parathas! Make sure you try the boti kabab. Drink some lassi with your meal to quench the spiciness of the delicious food.

This place specializes in Nihari- a spicy meat curry. It is by far the BEST nihari you can get in the country. Eat it with the naan bread for a sumptious feast. Traditionally it is eaten for brunch, followed by halwa and cholay.