Kalash Valley (Chitral District) Pakistan

One of the major attractions for the tourists, historians, sociologists and anthropologists, professional photographers and archeologists of the world, is the Kalash valleys (Chitral district) in the North-West part of Pakistan. Kalash valleys, which have earned world fame because of their specific culture, are the home of Kafir Kalash or wearers of the black robes, a primitive pagan tribe. The Kalash people live in the three sub-valleys of Kalash; Bumboret, Rumbor and Birir. The Kalasha are ancient tribe of Pakistan and they have their own way of life, their own religion, language, rituals and their own identity.

Pakistan is considered to be a well preserved ethnic and cultural museum. Owing to this value, Kalasha culture has been listed by UNESCO for consideration as World Heritage Site. The Kalasha culture is unique as well as amazing one, from all over the world tourist come here to see their natural beauty and unique culture and each year many historians, anthropologists and photographers from all over the world focus the Kalasha society.

The Kalasha tribe is observing the great demographic change; their population is under threats for many years. Their population was 10,000 in 1959 showed 63% decrease per annum due to the pressure of people from the urban centers of the country, shrinking it to 3700 souls in 2009.

Mohammad Irfan wants to win WC for Pakistan

 

The lanky paceman was injured during the Twenty20 series against South Africa in November.

LAHORE (AFP) - The world s tallest cricketer Mohammad Irfan Tuesday said he could win next year s World Cup for Pakistan single-handedly after regaining full fitness from a hip bone injury which had sidelined him for six months.

Irfan, who is seven-feet and one-inch (2.16 metres) tall, was speaking at a training camp in the eastern city of Lahore following his long lay-off.

"I am feeling good fitness and of course the target is to win the World Cup for Pakistan," said Irfan, who turns 32 on Friday.

"It s a big event, every player feels honoured to play it. In Australia pitches are very bouncy and are suitable for me and obviously I got a height factor and I can do well.

"If I managed to sustain my 100 per cent fitness I can win everything all alone, single handedly," he added.

The lanky paceman was injured during the Twenty20 series against South Africa in November last year in Dubai, missing Pakistan s series against Sri Lanka, tour to South Africa, Asia Cup and the World Twenty20.

Irfan said it was disappointing to miss six months of cricket, but said he would strive to avoid further injuries.

"I am working so hard on my fitness and I am ensuring this time that I should go (a) long way," he said.

Irfan broke into the national team in 2010 at the relatively late age of 28 but has so far played just four Tests, 27 one-day internationals and seven T20.

"I know I have to manage my workload and playing Tests is an added pressure hence I decided to play T20 and one-dayers only. I have to get myself tied up for a longer run this time and will ensure that I won t get dropped."

The selectors are not likely to take a chance on Irfan for their August tour of Sri Lanka, with the all-important series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October-November a more realistic target for a comeback.

Pakistan then play New Zealand in the UAE, and tour New Zealand for a short limited over series before the World Cup in 2015.

Uli Biaho Tower, Gilgit Baltistan

Uli Biaho Tower, Gilgit Baltistan (Pakistan)

It is a Mountain near trango towers and Baltoro glacier near Gilgit Baltistan.

Chogori - K2 a fantastic view of K2 mountain

                        Chogori - K2a fantastic view of K2 mountain (Pakistan)

Biafo Glacier, Karakoram

                                  Biafo Glacier, Karakoram (Pakistan)

Manthoka Waterfalls

                                      Manthoka Waterfalls, Baltistan (Pakistan)

Tarbela Dam

                                        Tarbela Dam, Haripur District (Pakistan)

Railway Tunnel

                                    Railway Tunnels, Bolan, Balochistan (Pakistan)

Markhor

The Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.

A famous Saif Al Malok Lake of Pakistan, Kaghan

                        A famous Saif Al Malok Lake of Pakistan, Kaghan (Pakistan)

Bull Race Traditional Bull Race in Punjab.

Bull Race

Traditional Bull Race in Punjab.

Chitral Valley, KPK (Pakistan)

                                       Chitral Valley, KPK (Pakistan)

Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura

                               Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura Lahore Pakistan

Astore Valley, Gilgit

Wall of Sindh in Rainkot

                                            Wall of Sindh in Rainkot

Katas Raj, Chakwaal

                                             Katas Raj, Chakwaal

Saidpur Village, Islamabad Enter Website

Saidpur Village, Islamabad

Enter Website

Railway Track Bolan Pass,Balochistan (Pakistan)

Railway Track Bolan Pass,Balochistan (Pakistan)

Chakor Red-legged partridge, Chakor, happens to be the national bird of Pakistan.

Chakor

Red-legged partridge, Chakor, happens to be the national bird of Pakistan.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi

                                   Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Karachi

K2 Glacier, Gligit Baltistan region Highest peak of Pakistan and World second Highest peak.

K2 Glacier, Gligit Baltistan region

Highest peak of Pakistan and World second Highest peak.

Arror Rock, Rohri Sakhur (Pakistan)

                                  Arror Rock, Rohri Sakhur (Pakistan)

Bahauddin Zakaria Multan (Pakistan)

Bahauddin Zakaria Multan (Pakistan)

Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (Pakistan)

Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (Pakistan)

Trapped by floods Partially submerged cars are trapped on a heavily flooded street in Shenzen,China

Trapped  by floods

        Partially submerged cars are trapped on a heavily flooded street inShenzen, 

south China’s Guangdong  province

Love is a fickle thing—even in barn owls. These normally monogamous birds sometimes call it quits and move on to new partners.

Love is a fickle thing—even in barn owls. These normally monogamous birds sometimes call it quits and move on to new partners.
 

bird migration experiment

Mystery Unraveled in Migration Interference

From a glitch in a bird migration experiment, a scientist gains startling insight into the effects of weak broadband waves.

Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums

 

 

Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums and most prominent monuments in the world in terms of art and the history of architecture. It has also been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century.

It was used as a church for 916 years but, following the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the Hagia Sophia was converted into mosque. Afterwards, it was used as a mosque for 482 years. Under the order of Atatürk and the decision of the Council of Ministers, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935.

photo location

istanbul/Turkey

Western Mosque of Taj Mahal at Sunset

 

 

  photo location Agra, India

After spending hours previously touring the Taj Mahal amongst a flood of both Indian and foreign tourists, I decided to return at sunset to catch a glimpse of the beautiful marble in a softer light. I was grateful that there were less people since they were about to close after the sun went down. Walking around the base of the Taj Mahal, past the eastern mosque and the Yamuna River, I was stunned to see the western mosque adorned with such an incredible backdrop of color. By far, one of the most peaceful moments I've experienced in India.

            

Shanghai, China from the deck of The Pearl tower

 

This was taken of a a massive pedestrian bridge and rotary in Shanghai, China from the deck of The Pearl tower. The concentric circles of traffic keep my eyes tracing movement patterns.

photo location

Shanghai, China

A man is carrying a jar full of water through Bundi alleys.

 

A man is carrying a jar full of water through Bundi alleys.

photo location Bundi, Rajasthan, India.

 

The Matterhorn 4478 m at full moon.

 

 

 

 

 

The Matterhorn 4478 m at full moon.

photo location Zermatt, Switzerland

A female Amur tiger, Iris, licks its 7-week-old cub during one of their first walks in an open-air cage at the Royev Ruchey zoo in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

A female Amur tiger, Iris, licks its 7-week-old cub during one of their first walks in an open-air cage at the Royev Ruchey zoo in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The Amur tiger is an endangered species.

A buffalo cools off in a pond in the outskirts of Jammu in Kashmir.

                                             A buffalo cools off in a pond in the outskirts of Jammu in Kashmir.

Swallowed by the Sea: Amazing Underwater Pictures

The Rainbow Warrior sunk after being bombed off Auckland harbor in 1985, and because Greenpeace demonstrators were using the boat as part of a protest of French nuclear testing, the French Secret Service was implicated in the bombing. Although there was an attempt to fix the ship, it was deemed beyond repair and was resunk in the ocean.

Fake Scientists We (Maybe) Wish Were Real – in Pictures

Ghosts of the Old World: Ancient Artifact Pictures to Make Your Hair

The chilling gold leaf death mask now known as the "Mask of Agamemnon" was unearthed from an ancient shaft tomb in Mycenae in the 1870s by an archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann. Though the origin and ownership of the mask have been called into question -- for example, it is believed to be from the 16th century B.C., making it too old to belong to the true Greek king Agamemnon, if there was such a person -- it is an intriguing clue into how the ancient Mycenaeans felt about death and the afterlife. The outer shape of the skull is pressed nearly flat. The eyes appear at once both opened and closed. In short, it's worth a shiver or two. Read on to see more of the creepiest and most unexplainable traces left behind by the unfathomable people of the distant past.

June 5, 1908 photo, the Manhattan Bridge Washington Street

In this June 5, 1908 photo, the Manhattan Bridge is less than a shell, seen from Washington Street. It wouldn't be opened for another 18 months and wouldn't be completed for another four years

News York city 42nd Street.1890 Photo

In this circa 1890 photo, a pair of girls walk east along 42nd Street. Acker, Merrall and Condit wine shop delivery wagons are on the right and the C.C. Shayne Furrier sign can be seen on the roof overhead.

May 18, 1940 photo

Moment in history: The headline of the newspaper the man in this May 18, 1940 photo reads: 'Nazi Army Now 75 Miles From Paris.' This picture shows the corner of Sixth Avenue and 40th Street in Manhattan

Cat (whats look)

Hawai beautiful beach

Hawai

Surrey resident Sarwan Singh achieved a feat, he set a new Guinness Book of World Record by having the longest beard.

Surrey resident Sarwan Singh achieved a feat, which every Sikh is going to be proud of. He set a new Guinness Book of World Record by having the longest beard. 
Singh’s beard was measured at 2.36 meters or 7.7 3/4 ft, at a jam packed, Akal Academy in Surrey BC, on November 11, 2008.

di Loreto Isola with neogothic castle around year 900.

Isola di Loreto with neogothic castle around year 900. This castle was built on island the smallest island of the lake, located on the north side of Montisola, Italy.

Fort Bourtange – Groningen, Netherlands

Fort Bourtange – Groningen, Netherlands

"The Earth" and "the World", third planet from the Sun and the densest planet in the Solar System

Earth, also known as "the Earth" and "the World", is the thirdplanet from the Sun and the densest planet in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets. It is sometimes referred to as the "Blue Planet", the "Blue Marble",Terra or "Gaia".

According to evidence from sources such as radiometric dating, Earth was formed around four and a half billion years ago. Within its first billion years, life appeared in its oceans and began to affect its atmosphere and surface, promoting the proliferation ofaerobic as well as anaerobic organisms and causing the formation of the atmosphere's ozone layer. As this layer and Earth's magnetic field block the most life-threatening components of theSun's radiation, life was then able to flourish on land as well as in water.^[25] Since then, Earth's position in the Solar System, its physical properties and its geological history have allowed life to persist.

Earth's lithosphere is divided into several rigid segments, ortectonic plates, that migrate across the surface over periods ofmany millions of years. Over 70% percent of Earth's surface is covered with water,^[26] with the remainder consisting of continents and islands which together have many lakes and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere. Earth's poles are mostly covered with ice that is the solid ice of the Antarctic ice sheet and the sea ice that is the polar ice packs. The planet's interiorremains active, with a solid iron inner core, a liquid outer core that generates the magnetic field, and a thick layer of relatively solidmantle.

Earth gravitationally interacts with other objects in space, especially the Sun and the Moon. During one orbit around the Sun, the Earth rotates about its own axis 366.26 times, creating 365.26 solar days, or one sidereal year. The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted 23.4° away from the perpendicular of its orbital plane, producing seasonal variations on the planet's surface with a period of one tropical year (365.24 solar days). The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It began orbiting the Earth about4.53 billion years ago (bya). The Moon's gravitational interaction with Earth stimulates ocean tides, stabilizes the axial tilt, and gradually slows the planet's rotation.

The planet is home to millions of species of life, includinghumans. Both the mineral resources of the planet and the products of the biosphere contribute resources that are used to support a global human population. These inhabitants are grouped into about 200 independent sovereign states, which interact through diplomacy, travel, trade, and military action.

He travels in private jets and is one of the world's highest-paid athletes, but Fernando Alonso's humble beginnings are never far away from his thoughts.

He recalls with fondness those childhood days when he used to race go-karts -- the precursor to his enormous success on the Formula One circuit -- free of any pressure. Back then he didn't have to worry about points or standings.

His passion for motorsport stemmed from his father Jose Luis, himself a former go-kart driver, and Alonso is also quick to remember the sacrifices his parents made as they drove him around Spain and Europe during his rise through the ranks.

His mother Ana Maria would even make his racing outfits, adjusting the size of his overalls as her son grew up.

"One of the most important things that I received from my parents was to have always this sense of family and to be united," the Ferrari star -- who has an older sister, Lorena -- tells CNN's Human to Hero series.

                         http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/02/sport/fernando-alonso-ferrari-f1/index.html?hpt=isp_bn9

Australian PM Tony Abbott remains confident signals are from MH370

CNN) -- Australia's Prime Minister on Saturday reiterated his "high degree of confidence" that acoustic signals picked up by searchers in the Indian Ocean are from the missing Malaysian plane's black box.

But Tony Abbott warned that locating the flight data recorders beneath nearly three miles of water would be a "massive, massive task."

"It is likely to continue for a long time to come," he told journalists in China, where he is on a diplomatic visit.

He applauded his nation's work in handling the operation, saying Chinese officials appreciate Australia's "transparency and candor" in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

"I think it's to our country's credit that we've approached it that way," Abbott said.

Optimism all around

Thirty-six days since the plane vanished, the search continues, unabated.

Up to nine military aircraft, one civil aircraft and 14 ships will assist in Saturday's search for the airliner, Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre said. The center of the 16,000 square-mile search area lies about 1,448 miles northwest of Perth.

The U.S. Navy commander leading the American effort to find Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 said he's "optimistic" about how the search is proceeding.

The pings were continuous and consistent with what a black box would emit, said Cmdr. William Marks. "We've ruled out that it was anything natural, or anything from commercial shipping, or anything like that."

"I agree with the Prime Minister," Marks said. "We're optimistic."

On Saturday, searchers looking for pinger signals will continue to drag a towed ping locator at walking pace through the water in hopes of picking up a new signal, Marks said.

"We have to stick with the TPL for just a little while longer to make sure we have exhausted every ounce of power coming from the battery through the black boxes," he said.

Once the signals cease, searchers will lower a sonar device, a Bluefin-21, into the ocean to scour for remnants of MH370.

The Bluefin's pace is even slower and more painstaking than that of the ping locator, he said. That is why it is important to analyze more pings to narrow down its search area for the black boxes.

Four pings, one dud

Over the past week, the ping locator towed by the Australian vessel Ocean Shield has picked up four pings have been detected.

It first picked up two sets of underwater pulses April 5 that were of a frequency close to that used by the locator beacons. It heard nothing more until Tuesday, when it reacquired the signals twice.

The four signals were within 17 miles of one another.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/12/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Blood moon' will be a sight to behold during total lunar eclipse

On Tuesday, April 15, there will be a total lunar eclipse that will turn the moon a coppery red, NASA says. It's called a blood moon, and it's one of four total eclipses that will take place in North America within the next year and a half. Pictured here is a blood moon seen over Gaza City in March 2007.


http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/11/tech/innovation/blood-moon/index.html?hpt=us_t5