23 Dec. In search of an authentic Christian Christmas in Pakistan: an epic two day journey across the country in search of a drink

‘This is an emergency – I need to speak to someone.’ It was late in the morning of December 23 1978. I was in Rawalpindi on the phone to the British Embassy . . .

Emergencies are relative. There’s the Chicxulub asteroid that smashed into the Yucatan 66 million years ago, delivering the equivalent of 900 billion Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs, and ending the reign of the dinosaurs. Then there’s COVID-19 which has killed over 1.8 million people up to 23rd December 2020.

And then there’s four young backpackers on their way around the world without a care in the world (except anxious to obtain alcohol for traditional Christmas celebrations). This MP3 is the true story of that emergency.

Recording and sound design by John Laidler.