The Express Tribune hi five - August 9

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on earth Pakistan: Heaven PAGE 2-3

Pakistan’s flag PAGE 4

The fall of pride PAGE 6

e slush Grape and appl 8 PAGE

Your Proofness: Dilaira Dubash Master Storyteller: Hurmat Majid Creativity Analysts: Jamal Khurshid, Essa Malik, Talha Ahmed Khan, Mohsin Alam, Eesha Azam, Maryam Rashid, Hira Fareed and Umar Waqas

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

Hi light

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By Symra Suhail Did you know that Pakistan is actually blessed with several amazing sites and stunning landscape? It is very much true that Pakistan has some of the world’s most beautiful places, especially in the northern areas and Kashmir region where natural beauty is at its best. This part of the world is famous for its lush valleys, serene rivers, gigantic mountains, gorgeous lakes and incredible wildlife. The beauty of Pakistan cannot be found anywhere else in the world making it popular among tourists who are able to see these attractions up close and marvel at them.

Numerous adventure-seekers come to Pakistan hoping to climb the mighty mountains and have other great adventures. Pakistan also holds many historical forts and districts representing the history and architecture of the area.

The Kalasha Valley is in the Chitral District in northern Pakistan. There are three main valleys, Brir, Rambur and Bumburet, the largest and most populated valley being Bumburet. They are inhabited by the Kalash people, who have customs and language which are quite different from their neighbours, and historically they have practiced a different religion. They live in small villages built on the hillsides near the banks of streams. Kalash are very lively people and are famous for their religious festivals. The Kalash love music and their instruments are drums and flutes. Their colorful dances convey a feeling of peace, joy and contentment. If you join them in their dance, they understand it as a sign of friendship and will open their hearts to you and reveal some of their mysteries, their joys and sorrows.

Along with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Kashmir region, Balochistan provides many tourist sites as well, one of them being Ziarat. It is a famous holiday resort of Balochistan and attracts many travellers as no trip to Quetta is complete without stopping first at Ziarat. The hills around the area are scenic and beautiful and the climate there is ideal with nice, cool summers and snow in the winters. Ziarat is also famous for its juniper forests, with Pakistan’s largest juniper forest being located in this reserve. Ziarat and the juniper valleys around offer good opportunities for hiking and trekking. Various gorges provide adventure and fun during the summer while the district is also becoming popular with those seeking a taste of snowfall during the winter.

Murree is a hillstation popular both in summer and winter. People from all over Pakistan go there in the summer to enjoy its beauty and in winter to experience the astonishing snowfall. One of the most popular tourist spots of Murree is the Galliat hill tract with its greenery and beautiful scenery. Islam is the main religion of Murree, however churches from the British era can still be found in Murree and Nathia Gali. Murree has cold, snowy winters and relatively cool summers with frequent fog. In the area, many attractions can be found such as the Murree Wildlife Park. Common animals include the rhesus monkey, wild boar, fox and various species of birds. A variety of rare animal species can be found in Murree, including the leopard.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

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Shandur, located between Chitral and Gilgit, is the highest polo ground in the world, making it a famous attraction. Each summer a huge event called the Shandur polo festival is organised here, which is a big attraction for tourists and annually a polo match is played between a team from Chitral and a team from Gilgit. The polo ground is about 168km from the main town Chitral and is accessible. However, despite the beauty and greenery of the Shandur pass, it is generally unpopulated and passing through its snowcovered slopes in winters is a remarkably difficult feat.

Ranikot fort is located in Jamshoro district, Sindh and is known as the Great Wall of Sindh. It’s presumed to be the biggest fort in the world with a perimeter of sixteen miles.

Even from several kilometers away you can still see Ranikot Fort‘s enormous rolling walls twisting and dipping over the hills. Its walls are made of gypsum and lime cut sandstone.

It seemed to be originally constructed for bow and arrow combat but afterwards was extended to withstand weaponised attacks.

There is no trace of any old city inside the fort and there is little evidence of prehistoric origins. Interestingly enough archaeologists still haven’t found out the original purpose of the fort’s construction, therefore it remains a mystery.

Swat is a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It is, the upper valley of the Swat River, which rises in the Hindu Kush range. Swat valley is known as the ‘mini Switzerland’ of Pakistan as it houses numerous tourist attractions, such as the Swat museum, Miandam, a small summer resort which is an hour’s drive from Saidu Sharif and Malam Jabba, a holiday resort that holds great fascination for tourists and holds the remains of ancient civilisation as well as the only ski resort in Pakistan with modern equipment.

Hi light

This valley is situated at the north and north-east of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir. As it runs through the lesser Himalayas, the Neelam River valley has, striking views, towering hills on both sides of the noisy Neelum River, green forests, entrancing streams and beautiful surroundings. These make the valley look like a dream come true. The valley is connected from Muzaffarabad by Neelam road and there are lots of beautiful and historical places here. For example, Sharda Peeth is one of the most beautiful and historical places in Neelam valley.

DESIGN BY EESHA AZAM What would you like to see in Hi Five? Send an email to hifive@tribune.com.pk and let us know!

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

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en Fun facts about the colour gre The colour green signifies nature, life, youth, safety and hope. Green is the second most favourite colour in the world.

How did the farmer fix his jeans?

With a cabbage patch

How do you know if your clock is crazy?

It goes ‘cuckoo’

Green represents ‘go’ in traffic signals, railway signals and ship signals.

It is known as a safe colour worldwide which is why first-aid equipment is often green. Fire escape exit signs are green in most countries, although some are red.

Green is the colour used for night vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive and able to distinguish the most shades in that colour.

Before the 1950’s Santa’s suit was green until Coca-Cola created a very famous campaign and changed the colour of his suit to red.

What do you get when you cross a parrot and a centipede?

A walkie-talkie

Green was a sacred colour to the Egyptians, representing the hope and joy of spring. The floors of their temples were green.

The solid green flag of Libya is currently the only national flag of a single color.

What is gray, has four legs, a tail, and a trunk?

A mouse on vacation

In Aztec culture, green was considered to be a royal colour because it was the colour of the quetzal plumes used by the Aztec chieftains.

In Portugal, green is the color of hope because of its association with spring.

What nails do carpenters hate hammering?

Fingernails

In the Scottish highlands, people used to wear green as a mark of honour.

Did you know?

Pakistan’s Flag A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design and is usually rectangular in shape. It is used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term ‘flag’ is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.

The first flags were used to assist military coordination on battlefields, and flags have since evolved into a general tool for rudimentary signalling and identification, especially in environments where communication is similarly challenging. National flags are potent patriotic symbols with varied wide-ranging interpretations, often including strong military associations due to their original and ongoing military uses. Flags are also used in advertising, or for other decorative purposes. The study of flags is known as ‘vexillology’, from the Latin word ‘vexillum’ meaning ‘flag or banner’.

The national flag of Pakistan was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, just three days before the country’s independence, when it became the official flag of the Dominion of Pakistan. It was retained by the present Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The flag was designed by Amiruddin Kidwai, and is based on the All-India Muslim League flag.

The green represents the majority Muslim community in Pakistan, whereas the white stripe represents religious minorities. In the centre, the crescent and star symbolise progress and light respectively. The flag symbolises Pakistan’s commitment to Islam, the Islamic world, and the rights of religious minorities.

Pakistan Flag Rules 2002 • No other flag must fly higher except the United Nations flag at United Nations buildings.

• When displayed or flown alongside other national flags, the national flag must be displayed or flown at the same height as the other national flags, never lower.

• When displayed alongside provincial, military or corporate flags, the national flag must be higher.

• When tied to a mast, it must be tied only at the left (at the beginning of the white bar) and left to fly freely without any obstruction.

• The flag must not touch the ground, shoes or feet and must not be hoisted in the darkness.

• The flag must be raised at dawn and lowered at dusk, except at Parliament, which is the only official building on which the flag is never lowered. When flown over the Parliament at night, it must always remain lit with artificial light.

• The flag must not be marked with anything (including words or pictures).

• When a flag is being raised, it must be saluted to by all uniformed personnel, and all others must stand in respect.

• The flag must never be displayed vertically. When on display the white strip must always be at the left, with the green field on the right. The flag must not fly or be displayed upside down or with the crescent and star facing left.

• The flag must not be set on fire or trampled upon.

• It must not be buried or lowered into a grave (when burying a flag-bearing casket, the flag must be detached from the casket and held above the grave as the casket is lowered or removed from the casket before burial).

• If there are two flags or colours the Pakistan flag should be flown at the right. In case the number of flags is more than two and odd, the Pakistan flag should be placed in the centre and if the number of flags is even it should be flown the first to the right of the centre.

SOURCE: DEFENSE.PK

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

Get your weekly dose of unusual and funny news from across the globe!

101 years of traffic lights The first ever traffic lights were unveiled in London in the late 19th century 101 years ago. They were placed outside the Houses of Parliament. Non-electric and gas-operated, police officers had to work the lights by hand. More than 30 years later an American enjoyed greater success with some eletronic lights that focused on a similar system of red and green lights. Lester Wire came up with the revolutionary idea in 1912, and traffic lights began springing up across the United States shortly after. In 1920 bells were added to traffic light systems to alert motorists when the lights were about to change — they were later placed with the amber light now seen on all traffic light systems today. TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

World wide weird

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Potato Duck

Dorothea Clinton thought she was growing vegetables in her garden, not birds. She managed to get a little bit of both when one of her potatoes ended up looking like a duck. Clinton, 73, was a little quacked when she discovered the mallard-shaped tuber in her garden in Peaton, Great Britain.

“I just pulled it out the ground and I thought, ‘Oooh, it’s a duck,’” she said “We normally eat everything we produce from the garden but I can’t bring myself to eat this one, it’s got a kind of strange sentimental value to me now.” She’s keeping the potato in her garden shed instead. “It’s got pride of place in the shed, where it will stay until it rots away, I can’t bring myself to eat it,” she said. “To me it isn’t really a potato, it is a duck. I think it’s absolutely wonderful.”

Clinton isn’t the first person to grow a duck-shaped potato. Back in June, Chinese farmer Hu Xianglu dug up a spud that looked like a baby duck reaching up for food. Like Clinton, he couldn’t bring himself to eat it. “As it looks like the popular rubber duck, I then put it on my desk hoping to bring me good luck,” he said.

HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

Purr-fect mustache Sporting a perfectly symmetrical moustache, Citronelle the cat must be the envy of hipsters everywhere. The British shorthair was born with the strange fur pattern, which makes it look as though she has a large white ‘tache right below her nose.

Regal-looking Citronelle lives with her owner, Clementine, in Paris, France, and has seen her Instagram followers rise to more than 30,000. Clementine posts daily pictures of the lovable cat, which, she says, usually get a positive response. Clementine said that the intention is not to make Citronelle famous — she uploads the pictures for others to enjoy. She said: “We didn’t notice her moustache at first, but loved her attitude. I guess it’s her moustache that gives her so much charisma, as she’s always looking classy and elegant — a high society cat.” MIRROR.CO.UK

Late bloomer After staying dormant for at least 40 years, a rare American Agave plant has shot up nearly 35ft in just three months and is now so tall it has burst through the roof of its Grade II listed greenhouse. But if that was not causing enough problems for custodians Phil and Janice Dabbs, the plant is set to erupt into a profusion of flowers before rapidly dying, leaving the couple with a giant-sized removal problem.

Mr and Mrs Dabbs have already been forced to take out roof panels from the 19th century Italianate Greenhouse in Ramsgate, Kent, to allow the insuppressible stalk to pass through.

Now they face having to hire a crane or cherry-picker to extract the deceased plant. And a second American Agave in the greenhouse is showing signs that is also about to start an unstoppable growth spurt. Both plants were brought from a house in nearby Cliftonville around 1975 but have shown little signs of activity in the last four decades. It is thought to be the first time an American Agave has bloomed in Britain for 14 years. The last time it happened was at Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh in 2001.

NBCNEWS.COM

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

Reading corner

6 Alee Saqib

The fall of pride

By Saim Zahra There was once a strong teak tree called Mighty, it stood tall in the middle of the forest and looked down upon everyone.

Mighty was so full of pride that he often made jokes about the herbs and grass all around his trunk, calling them weak and spineless. The herbs were wise and often advised the tree not to feel too proud, as pride often leads to doom.

Mighty’s smugness had no bounds in winter, when snow fell, burying the herbs under its think white coat. He was often heard laughing as the wind blew and was especially smug in the rain. Then one day even the sand had had enough of Mighty and it decided to teach him a lesson.

When it started to rain, the sand started shifting from around its roots. Mighty felt the tickles as roots started being exposed to the rain, soon there was a huge puddle around the roots and for the first time Mighty felt afraid. He prayed and prayed for the rain to stop but it only poured down harder. Then, to Mighty’s horror, strong gusts of wind started blowing, making the tree tremble. And then the inevitable happened. With one particularly strong gust of wind, Mighty fell to the ground with a deafening crash.

The next morning when the sun rose, the herbs and sand woke up to see that Mighty had fallen. They wished he had listened to them and been grateful for the gifts of strength bestowed upon him, rather than feeling arrogant.

Share your short stories with us. Email them to hifive@tribune.com.pk

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

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Artwork

Amna Ashraf Winner

Faryal

Larib Ali

Munannza Taj Winner

Konain

M Sami

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

Material

Ingredients: Green grapes Apple Mint Lemon juice Water Ice

1/2 bowl 1, peeled and cubed 5 leaves, chopped 2 tbsp 200 ml 4 cubes

• A few old pennies • White vinegar 1/4 cup • Salt 1 teaspoon • Non-metal bowl • Paper towels

Directions: • Pour the vinegar into the bowl and add the salt — stir it up.

• Put about 5 pennies into the bowl and count to 30 slowly.

• Take out the pennies and rinse them out in some water. You will notice that the pennies are now shiny.

You’re not done yet, though. Lets try another experiment: • Add more pennies to the bowl for 30 seconds, don’t rinse them off.

• Place them on a paper towel to dry off.

• In time the pennies will turn greenish-blue as a chemical called malachite forms on your pennies.

Method: • Blend together the apple, grapes, mint and water using a blender.

• Pop four ice cubes in a tall glass and pour the slush over them.

• Drizzle on the lemon juice and serve.

Remember kids, always get permission from your parents before you start.

It’s always a good idea to have a helper nearby.

What is happening: The acid in the vinegar reacts with the salt to remove what chemists call copper oxide, a material which was making your pennies dull.

SOURCE: SCIENCEBOB.COM