Join us for a delightful session at a beautiful farm located in the outskirts of Islamabad!

Peaches are predominantly harvested in Swat, but recently a few good varieties of peach trees have been introduced in the region of Islamabad. These are early fruiting varities which give fruit before the start of the monsoon season.We will be visiting a peach orchard in Islamabad to pluck fruit directly from the trees for a fresh tasting of the seasons offering! The farm specialises in growing peaches, apricots and citrus fruit, all grown and harvested using organic techniques. Other seasonal crops like garlic and onions are also grown on the farm.

Please note:Freshly picked peaches will also be available for sale at the farm.This is a self drive trip. The farm is located near the Chakshahzad farms. We will gather at a suitable venue nearby and drive in a convoy to the farm located 15 minutes away.The presentation will be followed by light refreshments.

A family trip /self-drive

As winter gives way to spring, enjoy the outdoors and join us to pick some fresh organic strawberries. These will also be available for purchase. You will be able to hand pick strawberries and take them home.... and for those observing Ramzan, a perfect opportunity for making delicious ‘fruit chaat’ or strawberry milk shake for 'Iftari' ! If you have any special recipes, do share them with us!

📷This is also an opportunity to learn the technique of growing and taking care of strawberry plants in your own homes: site selection, growth habits, plant requirements, propagation and harvesting techniques will be discussed.

Director: Hany Abu-Assad

Screenplay: Hanu Abu-Assad, Bero Beyer & Pierre Hodgson

Cast: Lubna Azabel, Hamza Abu-Aiaash, Kais Nashif, Lutuf Nouasser, Ali Suliman, Mohammad Bustami, Ahmad Fares, Waleed On-Allah

Academy Award: Nomination for Best Foreign Film

Tense, thoughtful and emotional drama that is as absorbing as it is relevant.

Inside the mind of a Palestinian suicide bomber is this story which involves two days in the lives of Said (Kais Nashef) and Khaled (Ali Suliman), two Palestinians, garage mechanics and best friends, who are recruited to cross into Israel and blow themselves up. This thoughtfully constructed film attempts to examine why people would be driven to such extremes. The two men are not shown as fanatics. They prepare for their task as one would prepare for any difficult assignment. The organization that supports them provides training, encouragement, praise, shaves and haircuts, suits and ties, a ceremonial dinner, and a chance to make videos that will be shown on television.

Despite the grim nature of the story, the screenplay finds room for moments of black humour. Instead of a penetrating psychological study, the film is fashioned as a thriller. Conviction mingles with vacillation, and once an unexpected hitch in the suicide plan arises, all bets are off. The film continues to twist and turn until the very end, keeping us guessing as to what the would-be martyrs will do. Ultimately action speaks louder than words, even for men who walk softly but carry big sticks of dynamite.

Riding at night gives a whole new perspective to the city, so step out and become part of the scene- an experience not to be missed...and for those of you interested in 'Comparative Cultures' coupled with a bit of adventure, this is an opportunity for you to join in on our very special ‘Pre- Sehri’ ride!

‘Ramzan/Ramadan’ is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting , reflection and community. The annual observance of ‘Ramzan/Ramadan’ is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam[ and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. Fasting from dawn to sunset is considered obligatory for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, travelling, elderly etc.

The predawn meal is referred to as ‘Sehri' and the evening meal that breaks the fast is called ‘Iftari'. Both periods are characterised by hustle and bustle. Homes & markets are a buzz with activilty and festivity!

For the more adventurous amongst you, we can even stop for a 'Sehri' break at a suitable place!

Director: Wong Kar-Wei

Screenplay: Wong Kar-Wei

Cast: Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Siu Ping-Lam, Tung Cho "Joe" Cheung, Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen, Man-Lei Chan

Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor - Tony Leung

Visually beautiful and emotionally moving film about an understated romance. The film provides profound and moving reflections on life's fundamentals as it takes on the themes of love, betrayal, loss, missed opportunities, memory, the brutality of time's passage and loneliness.

In 1962 British Hong Kong, Shanghai expatriates, a journalist (Tony Leung), and a secretary (Maggie Cheung) at a shipping company, rent rooms in adjacent apartments. Each has a spouse who works and often leaves them alone on overtime shifts. Although they are initially friendly to each other they grow closer as they realize that their spouses are having an affair. As time passes, they acknowledge that they have developed feelings for each other but are forced to keep their relationship platonic in order to do the 'correct thing'.

Stylish and very moving film is sumptuously mounted with gorgeous cinematography, sets and costumes. Both stars give superb performances in a film of stolen glances and fleeting touches, as they both master this quiet and chaste dance.

The Tila Charauni, at 1490m, is the highest peak of the Margalla Hills ridge adjacent to Islamabad. On a clear day, the views of the mountains in the north are amazing!

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 the meeting point and will use our own cars to reach Pir Sohawa, from where we start the hike.

Bring refreshments. Wear sturdy shoes & it may become windy so dress accordingly!

Two days/one night

Swat is without doubt one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the northern Pakistan. It has a rich historical past. Described as “Udyana” (the garden) in ancient Hindu epics , it is where (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 lower Swat. The area is full of 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 two days archaeological exploration trip to lower Swat when the area looks beautiful with spring blossoms . Some easy hiking to reach to the view points on archaeological sites is involved.Wear comfortable walking shoes and appropriate clothing. Detailed trip joining instructions will be issued to participants well in time.

Trip Itinerary

Day-1

Departure from Islamabad at 08:00 am

Travel on M-1 Motorway and onward to Swat Expressway

En-route commentary about sites of tourist interest .

Visit

-The archaeological site of Bazira near Barikot. (In 327 BC, Alexander the Great captured this city).

Lunch: (carry pack lunch/snacks)

Continue towards Mingora/Saidu Sharif

Visit

-Shingardar Stupa on the way

-Archaeological sites of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi’s 11thcentury Mosque at Udegram

-Remains of Raja Gira’s Castle of Hindu Shahia period (short hike involved)

Arrival at Mingora/Saidu Sharif

-In the evening visit shops of handicrafts at Mingora.

Dinner and night stay at hotel.

Day-2

Breakfast at hotel

Visit

-Swat Museum (one of the finest collection of Gandhara artifacts)

-Batkara Stupa (one of the main Buddhist Stupa built in this region)

Checkout from hotel. Departure for return travel

Visit

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

-Amluk-dara Stupa (one of the most important site of Buddhism in Swat)

Lunch: At Afghani Cuisine restaurant (Khorak Mahal) near Chakdara

Return travel to Islamabad

Estimated time of arrival of group at Islamabad : 7:00 pm

Self drive. Travel in convoy.

We will visit a beautifully landscaped, private farmhouse located at Tumair (within Islamabad Capital Territory) approximately 25 k.m. from the Chak Shahzad area. The drive to the farm is 30-45 minutes.

With a stream running through it, circling the immaculately manicured lawns…a wide variety of flowers and an extensive collection of fruiting trees, the garden is at its peak in early spring with all its highlighted features at their best!

This is an outdoor event, but do please follow Covid related SOPs.

Details and directions to the venue by SMS/Whatsapp after registration.

Set in the heart of Islamabad is one of the oldest villages of Pakistan... said to be more than five hundred years old , it is known for its rich heritage, culture, history and folklore. It is home to a Mosque, a Sikh Gurdwara and a small 16th century temple called "Rama Mandir" or "Ram Kund Temple", dedicated to Hindu God Rama . Now a bustling village catering to local cuisines, it has become a prime tourist hub...

A charming little cafe 'Sada Bahaar'. has opened up in the Behbud complex.Stop by for some refreshments on the way back!

It is an easy ride for everyone to join and it’s on the road so all kinds of bicycle can join. Please do observe Covid SOP's.

Join us for a very special presentation comprising comparative cultures/photography & history...a journey through time, preserving history & exploring Pakistan's coming of age through visual storytelling!

Zaidis Photographers is a fourth generation Photography business established in 1904 at Allahbad and Benaras in India.The studio on the Mall in Lahore has been there since 1930 and has photographed more than half a million people to date.

The studio hosts an extensive archive of negatives that capture Lahore's vibrant history. Working actively on preserving this legacy for future generations, Shahid Zaidi, the studio's owner, and his team have painstakingly created digital versions of the images that his father started capturing at his studio in Lahore, almost 92 years ago!

His eventual aim is to to put the complete collection online.

And yes... its quite possible that some of us may find our very own ancestors represented in this fabulous collection of images, from the pre/post Partition decades!