A few random observations from my day in Islamabad, Pakistan, where I’m traveling with a group of eight American journalists:

” Most houses of any decent size in Islamabad have a large cement or iron wall surrounding their property, and a locked iron or steel gate to enter the driveway. It’s like a gated community in America, except each home has its own individual gate.

” If you think that’s weird, try this: Probably one-third of the houses have security guards at the front of the driveway gate. Some even have a little hut built for the guard next to the driveway to provide some shade. Other guards just stand there, or some find a chair to sit on. Most of the guards have guns. Big guns.

” We had a reception Monday night at the home of a U.S. State Department employee. She said her three guards are there 24/7, ’round the clock, and they live upstairs in her two-story home. “They’re the nicest guys, and so loyal,” she said. “I don’t know what they get paid, but if they had to, I absolutely know they would take a bullet for me.”

” Police checkpoints have advertising. Yup, Pepsi has its logo and name on a couple of police checkpoints we passed, and some local businesses are highlighted at other checkpoints. (And there are LOTS of police checkpoints in this town). Jerry Garner and Bryce Jacobson, are you listening? If Greeley police decide to go with checkpoints, the Greeley Tribune should get first dibs on being able to sell the ads. And since it was my idea, we’d use the revenue to hire two more reporters.

” Who’s with me on this? We should begin a business selling concrete and scooters in Pakistan. There are a million (and yes, I counted them one by one) concrete barriers on the streets of Islamabad, directing traffic down to one lane. Sometimes it is for good reason, such as a checkpoint with a Pepsi ad, and sometimes there is no apparent reason. And there are 2 million scooters in this town (just an estimate … I gave up counting). These little scooter motorcycles go whipping by vehicles, sometimes in between vehicles, changing lanes and dodging pedestrians, and it’s better entertainment than a motocross race, in my humble opinion. I saw an entire family of five riding on one … a kid in front of dad, a kid between mom and dad, and another kid behind mom, hanging on for dear life. And there was a family of four on another scooter; the woman was riding side-saddle behind her husband, with a young kid in between them, and she had one arm wrapped around her baby like she was holding a watermelon.

” The hotel in which we’re staying, Serena Hotel, is incredible. Marble floors and high ceilings and a beautiful landscaped courtyard, and multiple restaurants and more security guards than the Broncos roster in preseason. I called down asking for an ironing board and iron Monday morning. I think the iron is from the 1950s. It gets hot, sometimes.

” And here’s my “I-sure-am-lucky-to-live-in-America” moment. It’s one of many such moments, and I’m sure I’ll have more. Since 2000, 109 journalists have died while doing their job in Pakistan, according to an organization called Media Matters for Democracy. Only four times has the shooter been arrested and only twice has there been a successful prosecution. While we worry in Greeley about making sure our local elected officials uphold state open records and open meetings laws, journalists in Pakistan can get killed. And routinely do get killed. Now that’s courage and standing up for the right to free speech.

– Randy Bangert is the editor of The Greeley Tribune. He is taking part in a two-week international journalism exchange program with Pakistan, sponsored by the International Center for Journalists. You can follow him on Twitter during his Pakistani trip @randybangert.