Antoine Pagis, a 30-year-old Frenchman, is visiting Pakistan in his VW van fuelled by two desires: to explore the world and to find ‘Miss Right’.
Pagis has been on the road for two months, having decided on a world tour after waking up one morning fed-up with the drudgery of his daily life. He quit his job at a software company in his hometown of Montbrun les Bain, southeast France, and embarked on his dream trip. “I felt the need to feel alive,” he explained.
He also felt the nagging need to find his perfect match. Marriage and children are on his mind, and Pagis told The Express Tribune he seeks the one true love of his life — something to alert all single Francophile women in Pakistan.
What qualities is he looking for? “I’m a young man. Of course I want her to be beautiful, but it’s very important that she’s also smart,” he said.
Arriving in Karachi, he was pleased with what he saw. He said he was glad to discover that young and ‘modern-looking women’ exist in this part of the world. In Quetta, by contrast, he said he rarely saw women, except for elderly ones or children.
As of now, he rates East European girls as the prettiest, but revealed that some Iranian women were very exotic. He found Turkish women to be quite ‘hairy’. After Karachi, his next stop is Lahore. Time will tell if Pagis thinks Punjabi women have the requisite je ne sais quoi.
After ditching his life in France, Pagis had €10,000 in savings, of which he spent 4,000 to buy an old army-green-coloured Volkswagon Transporter van, which is equipped with cooking range, bed and closet — but doesn’t have an AC. He knew that the €6,000 he had left was insufficient funds, so he tried his luck at an online poker championship. “And would you believe it, I won €20,000!”
There was no turning back for Pagis, who on March 21 took the road trip from France to Italy, then Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Iran and now Pakistan.
Pagis says he spent the first night in the country at the Pak-Iran border at Taftan, since the concerned customs official whose stamp was needed on his papers was not on duty when he arrived.
The language barrier has been a persistent problem with officials, but that aside he has faced no problems. In fact, at all the 11 border crossings he has passed so far, none have even checked his van.
On driving in Pakistan, he said “the road from Taftan to Quetta is the worst I’ve ever seen. Maybe it can be compared with those I’ve seen in Africa.” However, he did get to see a number of small tornadoes along the way. He has also been accompanied by armed escorts. “I’m not used to such attention,” he said with a smile as he recalled how five police mounted motorcycles and followed him around Quetta.
He said he was warned by his friends against visiting Pakistan. “Some of them even called me crazy,” he recalled. But the love and mutual respect he has found has overwhelmed him. He was even staying at a place in Karachi with a friend he met on Facebook.
The hospitality has been extensive. He has been handed an AK-47 by a Levies Force escort to pose for a photograph. In Quetta, one policeman even gave him some hashish for the trip ahead. “Nowhere in the world will you find such a wonderful law-enforcement authority,” he said with genuine praise, declaring, “I love Quetta police.”
He has also met other foreigners in Pakistan. In Quetta, he met a Dutch drummer, whose mission was to play with musicians in Pakistan that he meets along the way. From Quetta, Pagis went to Sukkur, then down to Karachi.
He said one of things he has discovered in Pakistan is the word ‘loadshedding’. Only in Pakistan has he heard such woeful tales about power outages.
But his travels have deepened his knowledge beyond just the opposite sex. “My journey has taught me a lot. I’ve learnt that one can find friends in any corner of the world, that we are all same and all these borders are man-made and don’t exist between common people.”
Antoine Pagis is now in Lahore, from there he plans to cross the Wagah border into India and beyond.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (26)
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One of my entourage tried to do the same, he was in Iran and when he wanted to reach Pakistan he was not allowed to cross the border
This is just an excuse to feed a desire to explore the world. More and more westerners are doing it, even single women.
well he is a brave man who is completing his journey trips, well Death is in Allah's(GOD) hand, He could die in France if ALLAH (GOD) want. If u r living in White ppl countries u will like browns and if you r living in browns u will like white, its human nature that he/she will not satisfy. main problem is Language. if u cannt speak french u will not find a french lady and same he had problem in Pakistan. French ppl dont speak n understand English very good. they prefer their own language FRENCH. same like, German, Danish, Swedish. Polish etc etc
Admit, have to look at @kaalchakra with with a bit more respect. So look forwards to the book ' Three puffs of hash in a green VW bus. '......the story of finding true love.
You need to have really high standards to not find beauty and/or brains in France, believe me. :P
@Neena Zhawari: none, I am not even sure of my family's safety who live in Pakistan? How can I invite a foreigner when nothing/nobody is safe. Negative comment, yes but that's the unfortunate truth.
I wish the rest of the world can come visit and enjoy my Pakistan so my question is for all my Pakistani brothers and sisters please list one act that you have introduced or suggested that makes it safe for foreigners to come, visit and enjoy Pakistan?
@kaalchakra: If he becomes a Muslim, I can introduce him to some pretty ladies.
Maulana sahib, it seems like you have an elaborate knowledge of pretty ladies.
if you have enough money....
Pakistani girls are the most beautiful naturally
I live in Montreal, and been around North America and honestly French girls are the most beautiful in the world. Followed by Lebanese, but our Pakistani girls definitely aren't far behind. :P
Stay safe and yes be escorted at all times, please, we don't want your hunt of Ms Right ending up in Tabliban's custody instead. A French looking man looking for Ms Right in Pakistan (among other countries) is reason enough for these monsters!
Lol at the comments.. i hope his van doesn't get snatched. Im sure he'll end up all confused. Poor soul doesnt know that all women become the same wives. True love or no love.
@ Tariq, nah man, check out the Belgium girls, i rank french girls at second :D
@Tariq: Dude the grass is always greener on the other side.
@Tariq: Ever heard of the proverbs 'Duur ke Dhol Suhane Hote Hein.' and 'Ghar ki Murghi Daal Barabar.' Same applies here.
@pagis, all the best...may u find ur miss perfect..and donot forget 2 write an autobiography.
Cool. An international poondi trip.
I wish that he should be able to find the "dream girl" during his journey.
He left French Ladies to find beauty in Pakistan?? he should get his brain checked first...
This is superb! I really Appreciate Antonie for this adventure.
I just wish that he has a happy ending to his trip and that he doesn't get kidnapped in between. May ALLAH have mercy on him.
If he becomes a Muslim, I can introduce him to some pretty ladies.
Awesome
I was literally astonished when i read that Policemen not only gave him Hashish but also gave him the gun to pose with him. All Hail our Pakistani police. No wonder our people of Pakistan are so afraid of our police as there is not any difference in Drug Barons and them. Also now he is in Lahore then he should contact Famous Rishta Aunties found in every neighborhood and they could definitely find him a nice match.