Duration: 1 hr 54 min

Director: Mira Nair

Screenplay: Sabrina Dhawan

Award: Venice Film Festival: Best Picture Golden Lion Award

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah, Vijay Raaz, Tillotama Shome, Vasundhara Das, Parvin Dabas, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajat Kapoor, Randeep Hooda, Roshan Seth,Soni Razdan, Ram Kapoor & Renuka

Monsoon wedding is an International co production invoving production companies from several countries.Though shot on location in Delhi , it can be considered an Indo-US-French-Dutch Co-Production reflecting its diverse funding and production sources.

Mira Nair plunges the audience straight into the joys and chaos of a Subcontinent wedding where things get tense among the family members when hidden agendas, secrets, and fears threaten to cause disruption and destroy family relationships for good.

Set in present day Delhi, this comedy-drama focuses on the Punjabi Verma family – led by the harassed father (Naseeruddin Shah) and mother (Lillete Dubey) - who are about to celebrate their daughter's marriage. With days to go, the final preparations are chaotically put in place amidst the arrival of the extended family.

The main theme is the healing power of unconditional love- the struggle between modern and traditional ways is one of the primary undercurrents ...the director cleverly uses the wedding as a guide to examine the stresses and strains that families can face- based in any part of the world!

Mira Nair directs with unflagging energy, style and pizzazz, periodically whisking her crew out into the teeming streets for external locations and using the real-life crowds as a seamlessly integrated real backdrop for her family drama. The screen is filled with blooming marigolds, blossoming romances... but every time "Monsoon Wedding" starts to seem candy-coated, Nair mixes romantic optimism and conflict, with the movie mirroring the violent weather season during which it is set...

• In collaboration with Alliance Francaise

Self Drive

Butterflies rely on gardens for survival, while gardens benefit from the ecological services butterflies provide. It's a beautiful example of symbiosis!

Butterflies and gardens have a mutually beneficial relationship.

Butterflies need gardens for:

• *Food*: Nectar from flowers for energy and host plants for caterpillars to feed on.
• *Shelter*: Plants provide shelter from wind, rain, and predators.
• *Breeding*: Gardens offer a place for butterflies to mate and lay eggs.

Gardens need butterflies for:

• *Pollination*: Like bees, butterflies transfer pollen between flowers, aiding plant reproduction.
• *Pest control*: Some butterfly caterpillars feed on pests, like aphids and whiteflies, helping to regulate their populations.
• *Ecosystem balance*: Butterflies contribute to the overall health and biodiversity of the garden ecosystem.

By creating butterfly-friendly gardens, we can support these magnificent creatures and enjoy the beauty and benefits they bring to our outdoor spaces!

After a successful project in Karachi the "Butterfly Effect" project has come to Islamabad! We will have the exclusive opportunity to visit the brand new 'Butterfly Conservatory' in the Islamabad Model School for Girls (NIH branch). These important pollinators are not only good for your garden, they have also helped with the development of young students!

• Please bring along refreshments!

'Poetry in English from Pakistan, A 21st Century Anthology' by Alhamra Publishing, showcases the work of sixty eight contemporary Pakistani poets writing in English. In this volume with its extensive representation of contemporary local and diaspora poets, readers will discern the changing trajectory in metre, rhythm, tone and theme of this often-neglected genre. The collection, featuring poems written from the year 2000 to date, moves from senior, established voices to young, emerging poets. The editor’s notes at the end of the book give novice readers a rough guide to English poetry in Pakistan, which existed from the country’s birth (and before, as part of the Subcontinent).

Readers familiar with the genre will note a recent return to traditional poetic form, a movement initiated by diaspora poets, now taken up by the local writing community. The large representation of the former group is testament to the scale of migrations westwards from Pakistan.

In scope and size, this twenty first century anthology endeavours to give students and readers of poetry an overview of the poetic scene and documentation of work which does not always reach publication!

'Poetry in English from Pakistan, A 21st Century Anthology' by Alhamra Publishing, showcases the work of sixty eight contemporary Pakistani poets writing in English. In this volume with its extensive representation of contemporary local and diaspora poets, readers will discern the changing trajectory in metre, rhythm, tone and theme of this often-neglected genre. The collection, featuring poems written from the year 2000 to date, moves from senior, established voices to young, emerging poets. The editor’s notes at the end of the book give novice readers a rough guide to English poetry in Pakistan, which existed from the country’s birth (and before, as part of the Subcontinent).

Readers familiar with the genre will note a recent return to traditional poetic form, a movement initiated by diaspora poets, now taken up by the local writing community. The large representation of the former group is testament to the scale of migrations westwards from Pakistan.

In scope and size, this twenty first century anthology endeavours to give students and readers of poetry an overview of the poetic scene and documentation of work which does not always reach publication!

The mesmerizing mountainous territory of Gilgit- Baltistan is renowned for its history and and stunning scenery!

With their own unique traditions and languages the cusine of Gilgit -Baltistan mirrors the region's cultural mosaic, reflecting a vibrant blend of influences from Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia... each dish carries a story of tradition , heritage and centuries old practices...

We will start with 'Balay soup' - a traditional soup with homemade noodles, followed by 'Sharte Chap Shorro'-

a delicious pastry filled with meat. The main dishes will be 'Chap Ulu Alo' and 'Channa Pulao'...winding up with the delicious 'Rabri Pasta' dessert!

• Our guest Chef Musarrat is originally from the valley and runs a small catering business offering a taste of her local cusine.

Adventure Club & Trips –KHEWRA SALT MINES & KETAS, KALLAR KAHAR

Day Trip

Foreign members: Please apply for their NOC well in time.

-The Salt Range comprises of two rows of low lying rugged hills that run east to west between the Soan and Jhelum rivers from the Grand Trunk Road near Jhelum city to the River Indus near Kalabagh. This area is said to record 600 million years of the earth’s history. Its name comes from the vast deposits of rock salt exposed and mined at Khewra. The salt was left behind when the sea, which extended over the Indus plains and the Potohar plateau, evaporated 600 million years ago. The rocks and fossils found around the salt range provide a complete record of the history of the Earth.

-The Salt Range Wetlands Complexcomprises of a series of adjacent lakes – Kallar Kahar, Khabbeki, Ucchali, Jhalar and Namal.These lakes provide an important wintering ground for migratory birds and are core habitat for the endemic Punjab Urial. –

The ‘Katas Raj’ temple complex is located in the Potohar Plateau-. The temples' pond is said to have been created from the teardrops of Lord Shiva, after he wandered the Earth inconsolable after the death of his wife Sati. .The temples play a role in the Hindu epic poem, the Mahābhārata, where the temples are traditionally believed to have been the site where the Pandava brothers spent a significant portion of their exile. Another tradition states that the Hindu deity Krishna laid the foundation of the temple…

Historically this region is also very rich…Alexander the Great passed through the Salt Range on his way to fight battle with King Porus on the banks of the Jhelum River in 326 BC. In the 3rd century BC, this area became part of Ashoka’s Buddhist Empire. Towards the end of the Buddhist period, in the 6th century AD, there was a kingdom in the Salt Range called Singhapura,probably centered at Ketas. From 7thto 10th centuries, the Salt Range was part of powerful Kashmiri Hindu kingdom. Mahmood Ghazni invaded the region in the early 11thcentury. The local tribes were converted to Islam at this time...

Pl. Note: Wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately. Bring refreshments.

TRIP ITINERARY

· Departure from Islamabad at 08:00 am.

· Travel on Motorway M-2 and enjoy the dramatic scenery of Salt Range

· Visit Khewra Salt Mines

· Visit fhe historical temples of Ketas Raj

· Drive to Kallar Kahar

· Short stay at Kallar Kahar(for tea and enjoying scenic beauty of this area)

· Return travel to Islamabad

· Arrival at Islamabad at around 7:00 pm.

Pl. Note: NOC will be required for foreigners/ diplomats

Patriata and Kotli Sattian on the eastern side of Murree Hills present some of the most beautiful places for exploring nature. Due to the close proximity to Murree which is the central point of activity for tourists, this area has fortunately remained less explored!

There is an old track that connects the Kotli Sattian to Patriata through the hills. The track passes through the Phofandi -a hill top near Kotli Sattian and on a clear day it presents spectacular views of the Himalayas in the East.

The coaster will drop us off at Burj - near Kotli Sattian- and pick us up at the Patriata top.

Wear sturdy shoes; bring sufficient refreshments/ water.We will picnic at the Phofandi Top!

Hike Rating: Moderate with a distance of around 8Km.

A family ride

Come join us on this relaxing ride to investigate the 'Jungle Track'

- an exciting addition to the Shakarparian Park!

An off-road track that- within minutes- takes you away from the hustle and bustle of city life to a calm and remote silence as you wind your way through trees and foliage!

Director/ Screen Play: Celine Song

Awards: Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Original Screenplay

Cast: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah, Leem Seung-min, Yun Ji-hye

'The Korean belief of "in-yeon" says if you meet someone- even briefly- it means you also met in a past life, and lovers are people who have met over and over in their past lives...'

A boy and a girl- 12-year old school friends in South Korea- develop a crush on each other. However, she immigrates to Canada with her parents and they lose touch with each other. Twelve years later - she (Greta Lee) is living in New York while he (Teo Yoo) has finished military school. By chance they reconnect via Facebook and start chatting on Skype- although after sometime- feeling her focus on becoming a writer is waning, she suggests they move on with their lives...

Time goes by and she is now a playwright married to a Jewish-American writer (John Magaro), while he is in China learning Mandarin, and with a girlfriend. He visits New York on the pretext of a vacation, but in reality to meet her. They connect again, and she eventually introduces him to her husband . During a conversation, the three characters each discover what the universe planned for them, and what plans it has for their future...

A deeply felt humane film, it has deep currents running through each layer ,which first-time director Celine Song presents in a very simple matter-of-fact manner. The perceptive screenplay focuses on how culture plays such a huge role in a person's psyche. The superbly shot film has many moments captured during the outdoors in New York ,as well as in the end at the restaurant ,where the camera placement captures the three characters in both isolation ,as well as with a strong sense of intimacy...

• In collaboration with Alliance Francaise

*** NOC is required for foreigners ***

Friday to Sunday

23 - 25 Aug

Shogran, one of the most beautiful plateaus in Kaghan Valley is situated 219 km from Islamabad. It takes about five hours to reach here via Mansehra, Balakot and Kawai. Surrounded by thick pine forests and with an altitude of 2,362m, the early summer climate of Shogran is pleasantly cold in May.

From Shogran you have a breathtaking view of Kaghan Valley’s snow covered peaks such as Musa Ka Musalla (4,419m), Makra (3,885m) and Malika Parbat (5,290m). We have planned two options within the same trip.

Option-I

For participants that are interested in easy walks Shogran and day excursion trip to Sari Paya by Jeep.

Option-II

For hardcore hikers who will climb Makra Mountain from Paya.

Programme:

On Friday morning we will drive in a van to Shogran with couple of photo/refreshment stops en route. Shogran will be our base station where we will stay for two nights in a comfortable hotel. Afternoon will be free to walk around Shogran to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.

On Saturday, we will go by 4x4 jeep to Sari and Paya. Group members interested in Option-Iwill walk around the place and enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of mountains from the ridge of Paya, Paya at 3,079 is a lush green meadow with spectacular view of Malika Parbat and other snow covered mountains of Kaghan Valley. This group will come back to Shogran by 4x4 jeeps in the afternoon will be free for rest and recreation.

The hikers group (availing option-II) will go to Paya by 4x4 jeep and climb Makra Mountain (3,885m). They will return to Shogran in late afternoon and spend the night at the hotel.

On Sunday, morning will be free for rest and recreation in Shogran till 11.am. We will leave for Islamabad at around 11.30 am and reach Islamabad in the afternoon with a lunch stop at Abbottabad.