Language: Mandarin & French with English subtitles

Director: Ang Lee

Screenplay: Ang Lee, James Schamus & Hui-Ling Wang

Awards: Academy Award Nomination : Best Foreign Film

Cast: Sihung Lung, Kuei-Mei Yang, Wang Yu-wen, Chien-lien Wu, Sylvia Chang, Winston Chao, Chen Chao-jung

The story revolves around the Zhu family navigating the challenges of love, life, and family as they transition from tradition to modernity. The story is also about the special emphasis of food in their lives.

A widower, who works as an aging master chef at a hotel, lives a lonely life at home with his three single daughters. The old man is a great chef but a lousy communicator, and has no clue about what is going on in the lives of his daughters.However, the only way he can communicate with his daughters is via the ritualized Sunday feast he prepares every week. He would like to see them married but is too repressed to talk about it, and they would like to leave the house but don’t know how to.

The film comes alive during vivid scenes of exotic food being prepared as the chef uses cooking as an act of control, as a ritual, as the last language left to man who has lost the ability to communicate with his family. The love the father feels for his daughters is manifested in the complexities of the dishes he prepares for them. As the daughters gain strength to reveal their plans to depart from home it is the old man who instead shocks them with his own plans which frees his daughters from their obligation...

Adventure Club, Hiking & Archeology – ‘TILLA JOGIAN’ - SALT RANGE
A day trip/ hike

Alberuni in his travelogue “Kitab ul Hind” has mentioned the legendry ‘Tilla Jogian’ (Peak of Jogis) near Jhelum as the center of Jogis (Ascetics). This centuries old monastery of Jogis was in existence when Alexander the great fought the famous battle with Raja Porus near this ‘Tilla’ in 326 BC. It has also been known as ‘Tilla Gorakh Nath’ and ‘Tilla Bal Nath’ at different times. The remnants of the monastery and shrine still exist like a big pond with balconies, masonry tombs, places for meditation, and banyan trees among others.

Tilla Jogian is the highest peak in the Salt Range 3200 feet above sea level. It offers a panoramic view of the Potohar plateau and splendid scenic beauty throughout the trip. We will travel on the G T road and then about 35km off-GT road to reach (via Domaili & Gattat villages) at the village ‘Bheet’ located at the base of Tilla Jogian mountain. One-way travel time is about two hours. The hill is quite steep and after a maximum one & half hour’s moderate to strenuous hike, we shall reach at the top of hill.

Ramzan (or Ramadan) is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims globally as a time for deep spiritual reflection, prayer, fasting (from dawn to sunset), charity, and community, marking when the Quran was first revealed. Dates vary yearly as it follows the lunar cycle, often beginning with moon sighting, with festivals like Eid al-Fitr at its end.
The Dawoodi Bohras are a religious denomination within the Ismā'īlī branch of Shia Islam. They number approximately one million worldwide and have settled in over 40 countries around the world. Sizable congregations reside in Pakistan, India ,Yemen, East Africa, and the Middle East. They also have a growing presence in Europe, North America, and Australia. The community  is well-educated and professionally are traders, business persons, entrepreneurs and professionals .
The word "Bohra" comes from the Gujarati word vohrvu or vyavahar, meaning "to trade". The Bohra community during  gatherings eat in groups of eight, seated around a large steel platter called a thaal.
Programme
Owais and Munira will showcase their community’s cuisine The special Ramzan menu will include opening the ‘FAST’ with Iftar dates, biscuits and tea or shabbat followed by the traditional dinner starting with a pinch of salt, delving into Halwa, then the starters and main food. The starters will be chicken wrap, chilli poppers,mini dossa, fish Kabab, pani puri followed by chicken curry, biryani and other delicious Bohra dishes. Some dishes will be demonstrated and others served along with a cultural briefing.

Shah Allah Ditta caves and few more miles up to the Losar Baoli are two historic sites in the Margalla Hills

Archaeological evidence indicates that the caves and the platform-like formations surrounding the area were first used for meditation by Buddhist monks and later by Hindu sadhus before Muslim ascetics took over during the Mughal period.

Marked on the ground close to the caves the location where Alexander arrived and was received by Raja Ambi, King of Taxila. The road next to the caves that leads to the main top of the mountain, Shah Allah Ditta road, is said to be built on the exact path followed by Pashtun emperor Sher Shah Suri during his visit.

Moving up the mountain from the caves, there is a stepwell called Losar Baoli. The Baoli is thought to have been constructed by the Emperor Sher Shah Suri in order to facilitate the caravans moving towards Kabul via Taxila. The Ride is a slightly tough but very scenic on the uphill stretch towards Losar Baoli.

Those who don’t want to attempt the last uphill part can wait or return from the Shah Allah Ditta caves. Do inform the coordinators if you are turning back.

Discover Paper Miracles & Sunny Miracles!

Come and experience the inspiring work of Miracles Trust through its flagship initiatives: Paper Miracles and Sunny Miracles where creativity, sustainability, and livelihoods come together.

Learn how waste paper is transformed into beautiful handmade paper bead products through Paper Miracles, and about these very special women whose skills and creativity bring these pieces to life. You will also get to try your own hand at making paper beads!

At the same time, discover how Sunny Miracles is changing lives through innovative green technology, using solar dryers to preserve fruits and vegetables. Enjoy a tasting of delicious solar-dried produce and treats, including halva and pakoras made from solar-dried fruits and vegetables!

Event Programme

Part 1: Miracles Overview, Tour & Experience

Sunny Miracles overview:

Introduction & tasting of solar-dried fruits and vegetables

Paper Miracles introduction

• Screening of the Paper Miracles Beneficiaries Documentary
• Paper beads making demonstration
• Introduction to Colours of Pakistan
• Guided tour of the Paper Miracles workshop

Part 2: Optional Creative Workshop

Bracelet Making Workshop

Design and create your own one-of-a-kind paper bead bracelet using Paper Miracles beads. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this is a perfect opportunity to make a thoughtful, handmade gift for a loved one, or a meaningful keepsake for yourself.

Workshop Fee: PKR 1,200 ( Please register separately for this with Mehreen Jaswal +447951571539 (Whatsapp) or 0300 0559625.

Film: House of Flying Daggers (2004) – China
Language: Mandarin with English subtitles
Director: Zhang Yimou
Screenplay: Feng Li, Bin Wang & Zhang Yimou
Awards: Academy Award Nomination for Cinematography
Cast: Takesh Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Ziyi Zhang, Dandan Song, Hongfei Zhao, Jun Guo
An epic romance inflamed with breathless sensuality and jaw-dropping visuals focuses on the process of love, emotions and feelings under the guise of a martial arts movie.A film that is a wild riot of colour, music, passion, action, mystery, pure old-fashioned thrills, and even dancing.
A blind revolutionary (Ziyi Zhang) is caught in a love triangle between two policemen (Andy Lau and Takeshi Kaneshiro) who enlist her in the hunt to track down a gang of secret assassins known as the Flying Daggers. The two men close in on the blind girl, and their triangulated relationship is a fraught drama of double-cross and triple-cross, where nothing is as it seems, and whose impostures conceal a passionate, tragic love story. The trio trek across the ravaged beauty of Tang Dynasty China (actually shot in the Ukraine) and it sets the scene for some truly incredible action scenes as CGI daggers cut through the air at improbable speeds, cavalry charge through fields of flowers and a bamboo forest erupts into a gloriously intricate vertical battle. The director uses landscape as a mirror of the predicament of his characters confusion. A snow storm suggests ruthless, icy intentions. Martial arts have rarely been filmed with such artistry.

In a historic move, the Islamabad High Court ordered the closure of the Islamabad Zoo in 2020, marking the beginning of a transformative new chapter. The site was reimagined as a Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, offering a critical sanctuary for poached, injured, and orphaned wildlife from across Pakistan. Since its establishment, the Centre has rescued and rehabilitated more than 300 animals and birds, including black and brown bears, leopards, lions, tigers, monkeys, eagles, owls, and falcons.

The programme will feature the screening of a specially curated short documentary that takes audiences on a moving journey through the lives of rescued wildlife. Highlighting stories of recovery, care, and hope, the film traces the transformation of animals once subjected to abuse and neglect as they find safety and healing at the pioneering rescue centre managed by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board—the only facility of its kind in Pakistan. The documentary also shines a light on the unwavering commitment of the Centre’s caregivers and the extraordinary resilience of the animals in their care.

Following the screening, participants will join an interactive, guided tour of the Rescue Centre led by IWMB wildlife experts. During the tour, visitors will learn about the individual stories of rescued animals, the threats wildlife faces in the wild, and the vital role the Centre plays in conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

In an effort to support the vital conservation initiatives, a generous donation of Rs. 1000 will be made by each participant joining the event, ensuring that your presence not only enriches your experience but also contributes directly to the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve our precious wildlife!

Please Note: The area is outside Islamabad: Foreigners/ diplomats will require an NOC to participate.
Miranjani at 2980m (9800ft) is the highest mountain of the Galiyat region. The hike is around 5Km long (one way) and can become challenging in snow. It has stunning views of the beautiful valleys and the Himalayas of Kashmir.

If lucky, we may get a glimpse of the mighty Nanga Parbat from the top. We will take the road via Murree and it will take us about an hour and a half to reach Nathia gali from where the hike will start. Our transport will be a coaster with limited seats.

• Please come fully prepared- Some tips that will help you with the hike.

1) Footwear is important. 'Gaiters' can be a good addition to such adventures.

2) Dress in layers.

3) When you are cold, it is tempting to not drink as much, or only drink coffee and hot chocolate. But you’re still sweating under all those layers, and your body needs water and electrolytes. Be sure to take sips of water when you stop. Keep enough water with you.

4) Hiking poles are handy on snow hikes.

Along with the necessary precautions, don't forget to bring cameras as the views will be amazing!

It is recommended to bring your own refreshments and not rely on the local vendor

Hike Rating is Hard (the same as Trail 3 hike and added difficulty due to snow) with a distance of around 10 Km for the complete loop.

Foreigners are requested to arrange their NOCs in advance.

Experience the shared soul of our land by joining a visiting group of Sikh pilgrims from the USA for a day as they trace their roots in present day Pakistan. This interfaith journey begins at Attock Khurd, where lunch will be arranged by the banks of the River Indus. The next destination will be the site of the Battle of Nowshera 1823, which decded the fate of the Peshawar valley.

The day culminates at Gurdwara Panja Sahib, home to Guru Nanak’s sacred handprint. By walking together, we celebrate the cross-cultural heritage, humanity and traditions that unite us all.

Please Note:

The bus will depart the PC hotel at 9:00 am and the expected time of return is 6:00 pm. Only six slots available. Payment covers 1 meal, transport and guide for the day.

Special Instructions: No smoking or tobacco use throughout the day. Pick and drop will be at the Rawalpindi Pearl Continental Hotel.

Join us for this exclusive programme-the guided tour is a rare opportunity for nature enthusiasts . Unique insights -by experts in the field -regarding leopards and their habitat !

The 'Leopard Trail’ in the Leopard Preservation Zone is a unique biodiversity spot nestled in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) Islamabad. With scenic views, serene nature and a barely touched ecosystem, this trail is located in the heart of leopard territory, which means that there are good chances of spotting leopards, deer and other wildlife!

Since we intend to witness wildlife up close, we will be accompanied and guided by trained staff of MHNP who will tell us about their experiences with the leopards, their nature, habitat and recordings from trap cameras and about the other wildlife in the newly formed Leopard Preservation Zone. The programme will end with a projector documentary about the new trail and wildlife in MHNP.

The hike is approximately 2 Km, we suggest that you use a mosquito repellant, wear full-sleeved clothes and sturdy walking shoes.