Join us for an exciting 'tasting' trip to Hungary- Mrs. Grafi & Dr. István GRAFJODI (serving as a Diplomat with the Hungarian Embassy, in Islamabad) have very kindly extended an invitation to share their rich heritage with us!

Hungarian food is a reflection of Hungary's continental climate.

Primarily a blend of Ottoman, Eastern , Central and Southern European influences over a base of traditional elements from Central Asia, the cuisine can be considered a melting pot-with a culinary base formed from its own, original Magyar background!

Traditional Hungarian dishes are primarily based on meats, vegetables (especially potatoes), fruits, bread, and dairy products, paprika and spices. For centuries, noodles have been central to the cuisine. The ever popular Goulash, is recognized as the quintessential Hungarian dish.Dishes like stuffed peppers, schnitzel, and cholent have gradually seeped into the mainstream thanks to the Ottoman and Austrian influences.

Also notable are the countless dessert dishes that originated in Austria-Hungary. They are served warm. The most common dessert in Hungary is 'Palacsinta' - a crepe-like unyeasted pancake rolled with fruit jam, cottage cheese, or cinnamon sugar...

Non- Members: For further information contact ASG Office: 051-2802343 Thursday- Saturday: 11 am- 2 pm

In conversation with Yasser Latif Hamdani, a Human Right's barrister and Advocate of the High Courts of Pakistan.

How did the leader of the All-India Muslim League become the figurehead of the creation of a separate independant country for Muslims? And what are the roots of the different facets of Jinnah’s personality, steely determination, and political views, including secularism?

With his book “Jinnah- A Life”, Yasser Latif Hamdani presents a thoroughly researched biography of Muhamed Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan and a central figure in recent history of South Asia and the shaping of the Sub Continent.

This comprehensive and well-documented biography based on new material gives insights into of Jinnah’s life that cristallized him as the central figure in the recent history of South Asia and the shaping of the sub-continent .

Hamdani in his book, explores how Jinnah’s early life and life events shaped his complex personality. His unshakable will and determination to achieve his goals and his gradual shift from being a staunch nationalist advocating for the protection of Muslim rights and achieving greater political influence for Muslims inside an independant India, to demanding the creation of separate Muslim state in 1947...

Non- Members: For further information contact ASG Office: 051-2802343 Thursday- Saturday : 11 am- 2 pm

Saturday

Guests Welcome!

Join us in celebrating ASG's 50th. year in Islamabad

with Arieb Azhar- as he introduces us to the famous Sufi Saints of the Punjab through a presentation/ renditions and music!

Punjab- the land of 5 rivers has been a crucible for culture, philosophy and poetry through the ages. Much of the folk music in this area developed around the poetry of the Sufi saints who presented the essence of diverse cultures in a unified expression of poetic thought.

Their profound yet simple message has been resonating for over eight centuries and their verses can still be heard on the lips of every balladeer from the Punjab!

Guest Presenter: Arieb Azhar is an acclaimed musician, writer and producer with over thirty five years of experience in the Performing Arts. A pioneer of performing and interpreting Sufi poetry for contemporary audiences , he has been featured in all the leading music platforms of the country, including three seasons of 'Coke Studio'. He has been featured in the US/ Pakistani film 'Without Shepherds', and has produced several documentary films including the Award- Winning feature 'Indus Blues' about Pakistan's endangered musical instruments. Recently he has written and produced a theatre play 'The River's Daughter' which has one wide critical acclaim locally and abroad!

Non- Members: For further information contact ASG Office: 051-2802343 Thursday- Saturday : 11 am- 2 pm

SaturdayDay Trip

Foreign members interested to join this trip are requested to apply for their NOC well in time.

Pakistan is now included in the list of good quality olive oil producing countries. The area of the Salt Range is perfect for olive cultivation and farmers have planted a large number of trees on their land in this area.

Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan (STFP) is working on the idea of promoting Sustainable Olive Tourism in the rural areas of Salt Range by involving the local community .

ASG in collaboration with STFP has planned a day trip to the area of Kallar Kahar and Chakawal to visit an olive farm at a very scenic location. On this Sunday the farmers of this area are organizing an Olive Festival, where the visitors will be able to participate in olive -picking activites and also buy various products :Fresh olives , extra virgin olive oil, olive pickles, olive tea, olive cosmetics, soap and many other items.

Trip Itinerary

• Departure from Islamabad at 07:30 am.
• Travel on Motorway M-2 and enjoy the scenery of salt range
• Visit an Olive Farm at Kallar Kahar and participate in different activities
• Enjoy a traditional lunch at a rural location
• Walking tour of olive farm and an opportunity to purchase different products .
• Return travel to Islamabad
• Arrival at Islamabad at around 7:00 pm.

Non- Members: For further information contact ASG Office: 051-2802343 Thursday- Saturday : 11 am- 2 pm

Tila Charauni, at 1490m, is the highest peak of the Margalla Hills ridge adjacent to Islamabad. Hike to this peak has been one of the most regular hikes in our ASG calendar. Get ready for another awesome one!

Total distance of the hike is 10Km, half of which is the climb to the top. It is categorized as a moderate level hike.

We will gather at 6:00am at the Japanese Park Playland parking and will use our own cars to reach Pir Sohawa, from where we start the hike.

Wear sturdy shoes; bring refreshments

Non- Members: For further information contact ASG Office: 051-2802343 Thursday- Saturday: 11 am- 2 pm

The Asian Study Group brings you a rare opportunity to visit a lush green tea plantation in Shinkiari, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was established in 1987 and serves as an agricultural research institute of high value crops. It covers an area of 50 acres and is at an elevation of 1000 meters.

We will meet at United Bakery at 9:30am for a 10am departure. It is a self drive programme and the drive to our desitnation is 2.5 hours from Islamabad. Please bring along your own lunch, a good pair of walking shoes and hat. We plan to return to Islamabad by 5pm.

We will be given a guided tour of the premises by our hosts and will have an opportunity to see tea plants, fruit trees and high value crops such as Kiwi.

Please register at London Book Company above Table Talk restaurant in Kohsar market.

Look forward to having you join us for what will be an educational visit.

Saturday- Monday

26-28 Aug

Swat is without doubt one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the northern Pakistan. Swat has a rich historical past. It was described as “Udyana”(the garden) in ancient Hindu epics and where in 327 BC, Alexander the Great fought and won some of his major battles before crossing over to the plains of the five rivers. The famous Gandhara Buddhist civilization later flourished in this valley.

There are many remains of Buddhist stupas, monasteries and settlements in the lower Swat. This area is full of rich and amazing archaeological sites in an environment still intact and dominated by the calm majesty of Mount Ilam. In the area south of Barikot, in about 200 sq km, archeologists have documented more than 400 sites from proto-history to Islam.

Under a joint venture, Italian ACT- Field School Project and Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan is working jointly to promote community based ecotourism in the area of Lower Swat Valley. We have designed a very special three days archaeological exploration trip to lower Swat when this area looks most beautiful with spring blossom of fruit trips. The trip involve some easy hiking to reach to the view points on archaeological sites so wear good comfortable walking shoes. Detailed trip joining instructions will be issued to the confirm trip participants well in time.

Trip Itinerary

Day-1

Departure from Islamabad at 07:30 am

En-route commentary about sites of tourist interest on the way.

Visit archaeological site of Takht-e-Bahi near Mardan

Lunch: (carry pack lunch with you to save time)

Visit archaeological site of Bazira near Barikot

Continue travel towards Mingora/Saidu Sharif

Visit Shingardar Stupa.

Arrival at Mingora/Saidu Sharif in the evening.

Transfer to hotels.

Dinner and night stay at hotel.

Day-2

Breakfast at hotel.

Visit Swat Museum

Visits Batkara Stupa

Visit Jahanabad Buddha

Visit shops of handicrafts en route.

Lunch at hotel along swat river

Return to hotel for rest and freshen up

Departure for visit to Muraghzar to visit White Place of Wali-e-Swat

Return to hotel and dinner and night stay at hotel.

Day-3

Breakfast at hotel.

Check out from hotel

Departure for return travel to Islamabad.

Arrival Udegram

Visit archaeological sites of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi’s Mosque

Visit remains of Raja Gira’s Castle (short hike involve)

Visit Galeghai cave and Buddha image on rock along the road.

Departure for Amluk-dara Stupa.

Visit Amluk-dara Stupa

Carry pack Lunch to save time

Return to main road

Stop en-route for tea and freshen up

Departure for Islamabad.

Estimated time of arrival of group at Islamabad at around 6:30 pm

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Note: NOC will be required for the 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.

We meet at the United Bakery at 5:45am and hope to be on our way at 6am.

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

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

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Duration: 2 hr 5 min

Director: Guy Hamilton

Screenplay: Richard Maibaum & Tom Mankiewicz, based on the novel by Ian Fleming

Cast: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Herve Villechaize, Clifton James, Richard Loo, Soon-Tek Oh, Marc Lawrence, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn, James Cossins,

This ninth screen outing of James Bond is set in the face of the 1973 energy crisis when OAPEC, led by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, proclaimed an oil embargo targeting nations (among them Britain and the United States) that had supported Israel during the Yom Kippur War.

Bond is sent to retrieve the Solex Agitator, a breakthrough technological solution to contemporary energy shortages, which has been stolen by the dwarf henchman (Herve Villechaize) of the enigmatic assassin, Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), who is also known as the ''Man with the Golden Gun'', and can only be recognized by the three nipples on his chest. Bond and Scaramanga finally come face-to-face during the climactic duel involving a golden bullet.

The film reflects the then-popular martial arts film craze, with several kung fu action set pieces and a predominantly Asian location, being set in Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau.

Please Note:

The film starts at 6.30 pm sharp. No entries after doors close. Please switch off mobiles before entry, Limited seating.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org

Friday to Sunday

18 - 20 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.

For further information contact ASG Office Thurs-Sat: 051 2802343, e-mail: asianstudyg@gmail.com/ Online: asianstudygroup.org