Hidden deep in the mountains of northern Pakistan lies a small village that lives entirely from the land. Every meal comes from what they grow or raise themselves. Milk from their goats, fish from the rivers, berries picked from the trees, and water drawn from deep underground.
The children learn in a small school built by the villagers. And every brick, every wall, every home is shaped by hand. This is a place untouched by the modern world.
And today I've been invited inside. >> Good morning from the small town of Kaplu here in very very remote Pakistan. And this is what local life is like here in the mountains.
So there's absolutely zero phone signal and obviously no Wi-Fi in this location. And all the buildings are made from these mud bricks. Look at that.
All the walls are made from mud and they've got a stream flowing through the their little village. Look, there's a boy down there washing himself in the stream. Okay, this boy's taking me to see the goats in the village.
Look, all made from mud. See the cracks here? This is mud.
>> Yeah, >> mud. Wow. And in the winter not get very cold.
>> Yeah. They uh it act like as insulation. >> Insulation.
So in the winter not cold. >> No. >> No.
Wow. Oh, he's climbing there. >> Goats are here.
>> Oh, okay. Maybe I put the the camera over. Can you see the goats?
>> You want to climb? >> Okay. You can hold.
I'm testing my uh No, bro. No chance. I don't want to rip the wall.
King of the castle. There they are. This is the the mom or the dad?
>> Uh mom. >> The mom and the baby goat. >> Baby goat.
>> And there's more in here. If I jump down, I need to jump back up. >> You can also come from the stairs.
>> Oh, yeah. There's a goat there. >> So, the goats you have for milk?
>> Yes. >> Yeah. >> How many goats do you >> uh one glass uh milk?
>> One glass per day. >> Yeah. >> You live up here?
>> This is where you live? >> And the the roof is made from wood with those mud blocks on top for insulation. What goes up must come down.
So I must jump down now. Completed it. Ah, more animals.
>> A small goat here. >> Goat. >> Yes.
>> Good. Yes. Just chilling on the ground.
>> Brown goat. >> Brown. And then a cow in here.
Look at this homemade fence with the wire and the wood. And then more goats. These are bigger ones.
And this river you you drink or no? >> Sometime we drink. >> Sometimes you drink this one.
This is like a color. It's like this color of the mud or the sand. >> Uh sand.
>> Sand. Uhhuh. >> And you're washing washing your clothes in here as well.
And then you hang them up. >> Nice. And where do you wash yourself?
>> You wash in here? >> No. No.
Bathroom. >> Oh, bathroom. Okay.
>> Not hardening. This is the washroom. >> Yes.
>> Oh, nice. So, your business goes down here. There's a basket full of poo.
>> They make a basket. >> Handmade basket. >> Handmade.
>> Handmade basket. Wow. >> This is the goat poo or cow poo?
>> Yeah. >> Goat. No cow.
>> Cow cow >> for burning. >> Yeah. Yeah.
Homemade basket. >> Very good. >> That's amazing.
>> Another hand handmade basket. >> Wow. Very good.
So he's used this. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Wow. Very talented. You should sell these.
>> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Online shop.
>> He is a local businessman. >> Oh yeah, he does sell them. >> Yes.
>> Okay. How much does one sell for? >> Manufacturer.
It's 1,000 BTR. >> 1,000. Okay.
$3. $4. Nice.
Awesome. That's cool. >> This is a warehouse.
>> Your warehouse. This is where the stock is kept. >> This stock is ready for sale.
>> Wow, there's so many. >> Got small ones. So nice.
And then big ones with a wood. Wow. How long does it take to make one of the big ones?
>> Oh, it's 3 to four hours. >> Oh, it's quite quick. >> Very quick.
>> Very quick. Wow, that's so cool. >> That's awesome.
>> Amazing. >> Reason for bread. >> Bread.
Okay. >> How many shoes? >> Oh, it's okay.
I took them off. Respect. This is someone's home.
Yes, this is some home and he make this. >> Oh, another >> manufacturing shop. >> Shop.
>> This is what mint or something? >> Uh, this is vegetable. >> Vegetable drying out there.
Oh, so many baskets. Nice. And where do people sleep?
>> Oh, people sleep here. This is a kitchen. >> A kitchen.
Can I see? >> Yeah, you can see. Oh, here we go with all the cups and bowls, pots and pans.
And the cooking takes place where? >> Yeah. >> This is a flame.
Local flame. >> Oh, okay. Right here.
>> Oh, you like the fire. And there's a chimney. >> This is a chimney.
>> Chimney. Wow. >> This is under.
>> Wow. Okay. Big water tank.
Everything's so organized. We got the cheese grater here. Microwave.
>> Microwave. >> It works. >> It's It is It is work.
Yes, it is work. >> So, the electricity here is good. >> Exactly.
>> Or sometimes off, sometimes on. >> Uh, it's good. >> Mhm.
>> Yeah. Better than Scaroo. >> Yeah.
Better than Scaroo. Wow. So, what do you the people do do during the day here?
uh early in the morning then uh uh I can't explain or what way they are doing but uh very busy in >> like working with animals and doing jobs >> animals sometime yes doing on jobs >> so how many people live in this small village >> I think it's uh approximately 15 to 2,000 population Yes. >> And how do most people make money? >> It's agriculture >> and these of uh baskets baskets.
>> Some of the people doing their job in the cities. >> Then they send they send money back. >> Yes.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> That's it.
>> So you're working in Karach now or you >> I'm I'm working in Karach. >> Okay. >> And uh my family here.
I have six brothers. One is family uh living in Lahore. I'm in Karachi.
One in Escardu. >> Okay. >> And two here.
>> And your parents are here? >> Yeah. >> And you send money back?
>> I website. Exactly. >> Yeah.
Wow. Amazing. Okay.
Perfect. Thank you. >> Oh, don't be scared.
>> It's okay. >> How old is the calf? >> This thing is won't make.
That's why this uh safety uh >> so it's got the plastic around it neck for >> for so she can't take their own milk right now. >> We remove that neck guard then she uh drink own milk. >> She drinks her own milk >> own milk.
That's why we >> So they put a plastic neck guard. That is common. The cows drink their own milk.
>> Uh no >> no I've never heard that before. >> Wow. And you this is where you get your milk >> to drink.
Yeah. >> Oh, amazing. >> This is the local dish.
Local pizza. You can >> local pizza. >> Making a milk and eggs.
>> Like a pancake. >> Yes. >> Oh, I recognize those biscuits.
>> Thank you. >> Milk from the cow. Doesn't get fresher than that.
dry and >> Oh, wow. These are growing in the in the trees here. >> Okay.
In the middle. >> We put water from here into this and take it from baskets. >> Oh, okay.
when water is shortage. >> Oh, when it's short. >> Yeah.
This is for just storage of water. >> Okay. >> Yeah.
>> So, we store the water in this hole here. This is sometimes dry. >> Yeah.
This dried up then we take water from this. >> Ah, okay. Like in the winter this is dry.
>> Yeah. In spring and autumn uh this water is crystal clear. In summer due to uh melt up of glacier this water become muddy.
Ah, I see. And also, uh, in the winter all this is snow. >> Yes, snow.
>> Really, really cold. >> Yes, >> cuz right now it's very hot. >> - 20° >> - 20?
>> Yeah. >> Oh my god. >> This is a school over here.
>> Yeah. >> Wow. How many people go to school here?
uh almost every student from every home >> like 100 or 200 or >> uh 90 students are 90 student >> there is also school here so that's why uh students are uh only 90 >> oh okay this is where you went to primary went to school here >> yeah and now what what is your role here you live here >> no I live in Karachi >> karaj study there >> oh okay what are you studying >> yeah uh Medical. >> Medical. Wow.
Must be very smart. >> You like Karachi? >> No, I like >> You like it here?
It's very different from uh living here >> compared to Karachi. >> There's a hand pump there. >> Oh, okay.
>> From which we take uh our drinking water. >> Ah, okay. >> Ah, this is the hand pump.
>> Yes. >> So, where is this coming from? Under >> underground water.
underground. >> This is good to drink. >> Yes.
>> Yeah. >> It's probably ice cold. Let's check the temperature.
Oh, lovely. >> Nice mountain water. >> Hello.
I like your uniform. You speak some English. >> Little bit.
No. >> Yeah. I finished school for the day.
They have finished. >> No. >> Oh, no.
Still in the school. Just escaped. >> Just escaped from the classroom.
>> Break time. >> Break time. Oh, okay.
Coming to hang out >> by the water pump. So the whole village gets their water from here. >> And how do you carry it back in like big >> in a basket?
>> In baskets. Oh, okay. So every day you come and collect more twice in a day.
>> Twice a day. So 2,000 people use this pump. >> 300.
>> 300. Okay. >> This is grinder >> for spices.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. Oh, it's got a pistol and mortar mortar.
>> People use this one. >> The whole village uses this one. >> Amazing.
Oh, look at the mountain there. Absolutely incredible. What is happening here?
>> So, this is the malbury tree here. >> Oh, look. You can see the white berries >> on those stocks.
This is the local way of uh harvesting. >> So, one boy goes up the tree monkey >> and the four other guys stand here with the sheet. So, you can guess what's going to happen here.
That's giving a shake and >> and hit me in the head and mulberries fall to the ground. Look. >> This is a white berry.
>> Yeah. This is malbury. >> White malberry.
>> Wild malberry. And >> this is the black malberry >> and brown is there. >> It tastes different.
>> Different. >> Oh, okay. >> Different taste.
[Laughter] Wow. Look. >> Wow.
Amazing. Why? Why?
>> Why on earth would you pick them one by one making when you can just shake the shake the tree and now you feast? >> Can you taste? >> Okay.
Oh yeah. M. Really good.
Nice and sweet. >> It's a yak meat. >> Yak.
Biryani. >> Yak biryani. >> Wow.
Very northern and very scared. >> You can start. >> Okay.
Thank you. What is this one? >> Sami.
Samik. We call >> Sam like a yogurt. >> Yogurt.
>> Okay. This is card or raita. >> This is raita law of your mind.
>> It's a basic basic yogurt. >> Basic yogurt. It's uh uh some even some uh vegetable vegetable mix.
>> Oh, looks amazing. >> Iceber. >> Iceber.
Fresh from the garden. >> Fresh. Yes.
>> Thank you. This one is pickle or >> mixed vegetable. >> Okay, perfect.
>> Good. Yak. >> Have you traveled much in Pakistan?
>> Yes. >> Almost our old area. >> Where's your favorite place?
>> My favorite place is here. My home. >> Okay.
Biryani has been destroyed. That was absolutely delicious. And now we arrived at the river because we're going to do a spot of fishing.
Traditional fishing here. >> Bath here. >> You bath here?
>> Yeah. >> This is every day you come here to bath. >> Yes.
>> Wow. So it's also place to catch fish and also the local bath here for the village. >> We have a swimming pool.
>> Nice jacuzzi, hot tub. Oh, >> that is cold water. Tell you.
Oh, and this is the hot season here in Pakistan. And the water the water is cold. >> Yeah.
>> Oh, you bath in this water every day? >> Yeah. >> And it's this cold.
Oh my days. That is like ice bath temperature. Oh.
>> In the winter, where do you bath? >> Winter we bath here. >> So cold.
No. >> Yeah. Very cold.
>> And this is not frozen. >> Yep. Frozen.
We break the ice and we butter. >> Wow. >> And we uh take uh woods and fire.
>> Goats and fire. >> Yeah. >> Well, you bring the goats down here.
>> What do you mean? >> We take uh woods from here. >> Oh, the wood.
The wood. Oh, sorry. I thought you said goats.
You take the wood and you make fire. >> Yes. >> So, these are the handmade uh rods.
>> Yeah. This is >> And you put the string on the end. >> Nets in our >> Oh, you do nets, not string.
>> No, string. >> Ah, okay. And what is the fish that will hopefully catch?
>> Yeah. >> What is it called in the name? No.
>> Uh, milkfish. >> Milkfish. Oh, okay.
I've tried milk fish before >> in the Philippines. Maybe maybe similar. So, here comes the net.
out of the bag. So, that is going to get attached to this wooden frame here. There we go.
The net is formed. >> I'm doing a great job just watching, admiring, and filming these guys. Not a clue how this is going to work.
So I presume they're going to stand in the river maybe with the net or you fire it into the ground. So they stand with it and just wait for the fish to come. I cannot stress how cold this water is.
So the fact they're even standing in it for a minute or probably more. They're well used to it. >> Why are you throwing the rocks?
throw rocks to >> to make the fish move. >> Yes. >> Oh, there's they're chilling here.
>> Yeah, they are. >> Right. The boys are in position with the net.
These guys are throwing the stones into the mud to disturb the fish and hopefully the fish will swim down into the net. That is the idea anyway. Any fish?
>> Oh, there's a few in the bottom there. Look. Yeah.
Nice. Three big ones. Enough to feed the whole village.
>> Yeah. Done my bit. So basically what happens is these guys keep moving down the river and then the other half the team keep throwing the rocks and when you catch the fish in the net there's actually a little pocket in the net the fish can go into so they can keep on fishing.
Very smart. And after a very successful fishing trip that is the end of this video. I really hope you enjoyed my time here in the remote Pakistani village.
