The first in a series of 3 ski-travel episodes, skiers Chad Sayers and Tobin Seagel travel halfway around the world to Kashmir to ski the high altitude Gulmarg gondola, only to find the snow pack is a ticking time bomb. Never the less, they find safe areas to ski and discover the beauty of Kashmir and the Himalaya – its people and its landscape.
The second and third episodes of ‘A Skier’s Journey’ can be viewed here and here respectively.
This incredible performance by Paul Potts on Britain’s Got Talent back in 2007 is never going to go old. The 90 seconds spirit-lifting performance in this clip by Paul Potts is not only inspiring but motivational as well.
I spend a lot of time thinking about the way memory and sight work together. I don’t think we remember in “pictures” or long videos… but something in between. Perhaps we also sense, at times, more than 30 fps, and unexpected parts of the brain fire when we are presented with certain objects and forms.
I wrote about Pakistani folk music before. Here comes a fusion of classical Pakistani folk and Sufi music with modern strings. I’m extremely sceptical when it comes to remixing classical folk with modern tunes but what is done at the Coke Studio below by Rohail Hyatt is so full of life, vibrant, refreshing and soul warming that I want to stand up and applaud, and applaud, and applaud…
The tracks below are in Seraiki, Sindhi, Punjabi and Urdu languages, featuring legendry Sufi kalam and folklore. Pakistani music is very diverse at its core, with heavy influences from South Asian, Central Asian, Turkish, Persian, Arab and modern western music especially American Rock resulting in a very distinct and signature sound.
Coke Studio prides itself on providing a musical platform which bridges barriers, celebrates diversity, encourages unity and instils a sense of Pakistani pride. Coke Studio is an inspired step by Coca-Cola for having created a platform where renowned as well as upcoming and less mainstream musicians from various genres can collaborate musically.
Mai Ni Main by Atif Aslam
Aik Alif by Noori & Saieen Zahoor
Aj Latha Naeeo by Javed Bashir
Toomba by Saieen Zahoor
And, this post wouldn’t be complete without a nice pop song by Zeb and Haniya.