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Our accommodation in Ghandruk, Nepal.

In 1988 we did a 5 day hike in the Pokhara region of Nepal to Poon Hill via Chandrakot and Ulleri and returned via Ghandruk and back through Chandrakot. The scenery was magnificent.

We started our walk in Pokhara, though I think people now catch transport to the start of the trek. Roads were being built while we were there. The walk to Poon Hill is part of the Annapurna Circuit.

Our route was Pokhara - Hyangia - Suikhet - Phedi - Nagdanda - Lumle - Chandrakot - Birethanti - Ulleri - Nayathanti - Ghorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani - Ghandruk - Modi Khola (the river valley) - Chandrakot - Phedi. We caught a bus back into Pokhara.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

New inner cage.

New litter tray.

New rugs.

accommodation = Lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or prisoners, etc

The Postcard

 

A Valentine's Series postcard that was posted in Margate on the 1st. September 1910 to:

 

Miss W. Betts,

190, Lavender Hill,

Clapham Junction,

London.

 

The message on the back of the card was as follows:

 

"'The Mulberry Tree',

Dane Road,

Margate.

Dear Winn,

I am having a grand time.

The weather has been

unsettled until today, now

it is simply great.

Love from Bert".

 

The Mulberry Tree at 53 Dane Road is still going strong as a pub, although it doesn't appear to offer accommodation any more.

 

Margate

 

Margate is a seaside town in Thanet, Kent, England, 24 km north-east of Canterbury. It includes Cliftonville, Garlinge, Palm Bay and Westbrook.

 

The town has been a significant maritime port since the Middle Ages, and was associated with Dover as part of the Cinque Ports in the 15th. century. It became a popular place for holidaymakers in the 18th. century, owing to easy access via the Thames, and later with the arrival of the railways.

 

Popular landmarks include the sandy beaches and the Dreamland amusement park. During the late 20th. century the town went into decline along with other British seaside resorts, but attempts are being made (2021) to revitalise the economy.

 

History of Margate

 

Margate was recorded as "Meregate" in 1264 and as "Margate" in 1299, but the spelling continued to vary into modern times. The name is thought to refer to a pool gate or gap in a cliff where pools of water are found, often allowing swimmers to jump in.

 

Margate gives its name to the relatively unknown yet influential Battle of Margate. It started on the 24th. March 1387, and was the last major naval battle of the Caroline War phase of the Hundred Years' War.

 

Despite the battle being named after Margate, very little actually happened near the coastal town - the battle is named after Margate as this was where an English fleet of 51 vessels was anchored.

 

Margate has been a leading seaside resort for at least 250 years. Like its neighbour Ramsgate, it has been a traditional holiday destination for Londoners drawn to its sandy beaches. Margate had a Victorian jetty which was largely destroyed by a storm in 1978.

 

In the late 18th. century, the town was chosen by the physician John Coakley Lettsom as the location for the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, which was the first of its kind in Great Britain.

 

Like Brighton and Southend, Margate was infamous for gang violence between mods and rockers in the 1960's, and mods and skinheads in the 1980's.

 

The Turner Contemporary Art Gallery occupies a prominent position next to the harbour, and was constructed there with the specific aim of revitalising the town. The Thanet Offshore Wind Project, completed in 2010, is visible from the seafront.

 

Margate Tourism

 

For at least 250 years Margate has been drawing Londoners to its beaches, Margate Sands. The bathing machines in use at Margate were described in 1805 as:

 

"Four-wheeled carriages, covered with canvas, and

having at one end of them an umbrella of the same

materials which is let down to the surface of the water,

so that the bather descending from the machine by a

few steps is concealed from the public view, whereby

the most refined female is enabled to enjoy the

advantages of the sea with the strictest delicacy".

 

The Dreamland Amusement Park (featured in "The Jolly Boys' Outing" episode of the TV series Only Fools and Horses) is situated in the centre of Margate. After its closure in 2006, it reopened in 2015 following a lengthy campaign by the "Save Dreamland" Campaign Group.

 

The Scenic Railway roller coaster at Dreamland, which opened in 1920, is Grade II* Listed, and is the second oldest in the world. It was severely damaged by fire on the 7th. April 2008, but has now been fully restored and reopened to the public.

 

Cliftonville, next to Margate, had an Arnold Palmer mini golf course. It closed, and was illegally converted into a skate park, which was later shut down by the council amid safety concerns.

 

Margate Theatres and Exhibitions

 

There are two notable theatres, the Theatre Royal in Addington Street – the second oldest theatre in the country – and the Tom Thumb Theatre, the second smallest in the country, in addition to the Winter Gardens.

 

The Theatre Royal was built in 1787, burned down in 1829 and was remodelled in 1879. From 1885 to 1899, actor-manager Sarah Thorne ran a school for acting at the Theatre Royal which is regarded as Britain's first formal drama school.

 

Actors who received their initial theatrical training there include Harley Granville-Barker, Evelyn Millard, Louis Calvert, George Thorne, Janet Achurch, Adelaide Neilson and Irene and Violet Vanbrugh.

 

An annual jazz festival takes place in June.

 

In September, an annual car show commences known as "Oh So Retro" featuring classic and retro vehicles, trade stalls and family-friendly entertainment.

 

Margate Museum in Market Place explores the town's seaside heritage in a range of exhibits and displays.

 

The Margate Grotto and Caves

 

The Shell Grotto, has walls and roof covered in elaborate decorations of over four million shells. These cover 2,000 square feet (190 m2) in complex patterns. It was discovered in 1835, and is of unknown age and origin. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.

 

First discovered in 1798, the Margate Caves (also known as the Vortigern Caves) are situated at the bottom of Northdown Road.

 

The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool

 

The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is a Grade 2 listed tidal sea bathing pool built in 1937. The pool covers over four acres, and its dimensions are 450 ft long, 300 ft wide at the seaward end and 550 ft long at the landward end. The water in the pool is refreshed by the incoming tide twice a day, and fresh water springs rise from the beach within the walls.

 

The Turner Contemporary Gallery

 

The former chairman of the Margate Civic Society, John Crofts, had a plan to develop a centre that would show the link that the painter JMW Turner shared with Margate. Turner described the Thanet skies as "The loveliest in all Europe."

 

Crofts became increasingly determined to create such a gallery, and in 1998 the Leader of Kent County Council met a number of people from the art world to discuss the idea.

 

They hoped that the centre would regenerate the once-thriving town of Margate and offer an alternative to Margate's traditional tourist trade. The County Council offered to partly fund the building of the Turner Gallery. In 2001 the Turner Contemporary was officially established. The view from the gallery is similar to that seen by Turner from his lodging house.

 

To reduce the cost, Thanet District Council chose a new site inland from the harbour wall. The scheme was supported by the artist Tracey Emin, who was brought up in Margate. The building itself was designed by David Chipperfield Architects after the abandonment of the design by Snøhetta + Spence.

 

Building work started in 2008, but the project's initiator, John Crofts, died in 2009. The Turner Contemporary Gallery officially opened on the 16th. April 2011.

 

Historic Sites in Margate

 

There is a 16th.-century, two-storey timber-framed Tudor house built on a flint plinth in King Street.

 

Margate's Jubilee Clock Tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, although not completed until 1889. It had a Time Ball mechanism, mounted on a mast atop the tower, which was raised a few minutes before 1 pm each day and dropped at precisely 1 pm, thereby allowing residents, visitors and ships to know the exact time.

 

The Time Ball fell out of use many years ago, but the Margate Civic Society raised funds to have the Time Ball repaired and brought back into use. This was successful, and a civic ceremony celebrated the restoration on the 24th. May 2014, Queen Victoria's birthday, and the 125th. anniversary of the Clock Tower's official opening. The Time Ball now drops at 1 pm each day, and is one of only a handful of working time balls in the world.

 

Draper's Mill is a smock mill built in 1845 by John Holman. It was working by wind until 1916 and by engine until the late 1930's. It was saved from demolition, and is now restored and open to the public.

 

Cultural References to Margate

 

Margate features at the start and as a recurrent theme in Margate writer Iain Aitch's travelogue, A Fete Worse Than Death. The author was born in the town.

 

T. S. Eliot, who in 1921 recuperated after a mental breakdown in the suburb of Cliftonville, commented in his poem The Waste Land Part III - The Fire Sermon:

 

"On Margate sands.

I can connect

Nothing with nothing".

 

Margate features as a destination in Graham Swift's novel Last Orders and its film adaptation. The character Jack Dodds had asked to have his remains scattered at Margate, and the book tells the tale of the drive to Margate and the memories evoked on the way.

 

The Victorian author William Thackeray used out-of-season Margate as the setting for his early unfinished novel 'A Shabby Genteel Story'.

 

"Margate" is the title of a UK single released by Chas & Dave in 1982.

 

"Margate Fhtagn" is a song by UK steampunk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing. The story related in the song combines the Victorian tradition of the seaside holiday with the works of H. P. Lovecraft, specifically the Cthulhu Mythos, to tell the tale of a Victorian family going on a seaside holiday to Margate, which gets interrupted by Cthulhu rising from the sea.

 

It is thought that Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote his Lark Ascending whilst walking along the cliffs in Margate.

 

Margate in Film and Television

 

J. M. W. Turner's long-term relationship with Mrs. Sophia Booth of Margate was featured in the film Mr. Turner (2014).

 

The railway station and Dreamland feature prominently in the Only Fools & Horses episode "The Jolly Boys' Outing" (1989).

 

In series 4 (2017) of the British television crime drama Peaky Blinders, the character Alfie Solomons chooses to reside at Margate, where he's shot on the beach by Tommy Shelby.

 

The town appeared on BBC TV's The Apprentice in May 2009.

 

The 2012 BBC television drama series True Love was set and filmed in Margate. The show had its first public screening at the Turner Contemporary.

 

The 2014 ITV sitcom Edge of Heaven was set in a 1980's-themed bed and breakfast establishment in Margate.

 

The Sacrorum Antistitum

 

So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?

 

Well, on the 1st. September 1910, Pope Pius X promulgated the Sacrorum Antistitum (Oath against Modernism).

 

The Oath directed that all Roman Catholic bishops, priests and teachers take an oath against the Modernist movement, which called for a departure from following traditional teachings of the Church.

 

The requirement was mandatory until 1967.

 

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

 

Also on that day, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's music was recorded commercially for the first time. The choir's records and CD's have sold millions of copies since then.

StarCity Nha Trang Hotel has 204 rooms divided into 3 levels: Premium Deluxe, Deluxe and Superior.

Refurbished in 2013. Photography by Phil Boorman.

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

2GO Travel, M/V Saint Francis Xavier

Our shared living areas offer you plenty of space to relax with flatmates or study.

50 days to the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup!!!! There is accommodation for everyone ..... and if we go a bit short ....not a problem ... we will just knock up a few more shacks!!! Everyone is welcome!!!

Image Disclaimer - Please note that all of the images shown are for illustrative purposes only. The rooms pictured are not necessarily typical of the accommodation available at Student Apartments, which can vary in terms of size, configuration, and finish.

 

Norwich Hall accommodation with trees and greenery at the front.

2GO Travel, M/S Saint Michael the Archangel

2GO Travel, M/V Saint Pope John Paul-II

Water & Light at Sassi Mazar Balochistan May30, 2015

 

SUN SHINES IN THE NIGHT

Sassi punnu mausoleum got Solar Energy

Every year thousands of peoples from various parts of Sindh, Baluchistan and Punjab gather at the shrine of Sassi and Punnu in Singher village to attend a 3 days carnival. Singher village is , 52 Kilometers away from Hub town. Singher means chain, as the village is surrounded by the chain of hills where it is believed that Sassi and Punnu were buried under a landslide.

Before the monsoon a carnival organizing committee receives donation from the Baloch tribal chiefs of Sindh and Balochistan to bear the expenditures of the event. Collected funds are mostly used for providing food, water and accommodation to all the devotees there. Sufi Faqirs (singers) from Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab travel to perform songs on the occasion to pay homage to Sassi Punnu, the popular tragic romance of Sindh and Balochistan. Besides folk songs, a traditional Sindhi game malakhro similar to Japanese wrestling sumo also attracts a large number of the people to come there.

 

Lands from mountains with old graves scattered in the area and rainy water ways are quite difficult to cross for the travellers. Despite this, devotees, males and females, travel long distance to visit the site the entire year. For the local people, camel is the only means of transport and people gather there during the occasion.

 

There is only one well, which is useful for the communities otherwise the entire area underground water level is unsafe for human consumption. In case the area receives monsoon rains the people use rainy water from ponds.

 

For the benefit of peoples living in surroundings as well as devotees who visit during carnival and over the year, Masood Lohar, country Manager UNDP, GEF small grant program decided to use solar energy for providing clean and safe water and lighting on the mausoleum.

 

On 30th May 2015, Shaan Technologies Private Limited installed a 3 HP Solar Powered pump on a 250 ft deep well that is located near the tomb. Operating on a 3 kilowatt solar panel bank this pump provide 30 Gallon water per minutes & eliminates requirement of diesel generator operated pump that organizing committee previously used to supply water during the festival.

 

Now solar pump serves as a continuous source of clean water without any additional cost. A water tank is provided to store pumped water. This tank helped as a 24 hours ready source of water for the local people.

 

In addition to that 2 solar powered floodlights were also installed in front yard of tomb. These 14 watt LED lights runs on a 35 watt solar panel that provide sufficient power to run LED lamps up to 12 hours. Dusk to Dawn photo sensors is also used in the system that automatically turns on the light just before the sunset and turns off at dawn. This project was financed by the UNDP GEF Small grant program. Lodhie foundation contributed 10% cost of the project under its poverty alleviation initiative.

  

Project Summary

 

Location: Sassi Punnu Moseleum, Singher Village, Near Hub Dam, Baluchistan

Coordinates: 25°18'41"N 66°53'21"E

Nearby cities: Karachi, Hub City, Sonmiani / Winder city

Initiated By: UNDP, GEF Small Grant Program in association of Lodhie Foundation

Implemented by: Shaan Technologies Private Limited Karachi

Implantation Date: 30Th May 2015

Equipment installed:

(1) One 3HP DC Submersible water pump with 3KW Solar panels and Pump Controller

(2) Two Solar Powered LED Floodlights

Beneficiaries: Up to 2500 people living in the Singher village and surroundings

    

Folktale of Sassi & Punnu

 

Sassi Punnu is a famous folktale of love told in the length and breadth of Sindh, Pakistan. The story is about a faithful wife who is ready to undergo all kinds of troubles that would come her way while seeking her beloved husband who was separated from her by the rivals

Sassi was the daughter of a Brahman Hindu Rajah from Rohri . Upon Sassui's birth, astrologers predicted that she was a curse for the royal family’s prestige. The Raja ordered that the child be put in a wooden box and thrown in the Sindhu, present day’s river Indus. However, she was saved by a washer-man belonging to Bhanbhor, near Gharo district, Thatta . The washer-man raised her as his own daughter.

When Sassui became a young girl, she was as beautiful as the fairies of heaven. Stories of her beauty reached Punhun a prince from Kech Makran Balochistan and he became desperate to meet Sassi. The handsome young Prince therefore travelled to Bhambore. He sent his clothes to Sassi's father (a washerman) so that he could catch a glimpse of Sassi. When he visited the washerman's house, they fell in love at first sight. Sassui's father was dispirited, hoping that Sassi would marry a washerman and no one else. He asked Punnhun to prove that he was worthy of Sassui by passing the test as a washerman. Punnhun agreed to prove his love. While washing, he tore all the clothes as, being a prince, he had never washed any clothes; he thus failed the agreement. But before he returned those clothes, he hid gold coins in the pockets of all the clothes, hoping this would keep the villagers quiet. The trick worked, and Sassui's father agreed to the marriage.

At last Punnu (Punhoon) married her. However, his father, Ari, the King of Ketch, did not like his son getting married to a low-caste girl, so he instructed his other sons to go to Bhanbhor and bring back Punnu at any cost. They visited Punnu as his guests and during the night they intoxicated him and his wife. Later, they put their brother on one of the camels and left. When Sassi woke up in the morning, she was shocked to find Punnu missing and all his brothers gone. She understood their trickery. She left Bhambhor immediately to Kech Makran on foot in search of him. The Kech Makran is located along the Makran Coastal Highway in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

After crossing Pab Mountain, she reached the Harho range. She could not proceed further when her path was blocked by the Phor River. So she started retracing her steps. Soon she was accosted by a beastly goatherd who intended to molest her. Sassi prayed to God for protection. Immediately the ground below her feet started caving in like quicksand and she disappeared within seconds. Seeing the miracle, the goatherd repented sincerely, and to make amends for his misconduct, he made a grave in the site and became its custodian.

Punnu found no peace of mind at Kech. He languished and soon became an invalid. Under the circumstances, his father allowed him to return to Bhambhor.

During his return journey, Punnu happened to pass by the site where Sassi had met her death. When the goatherd came to know his story, he told him as to what had happened to Sassi. Punnu was beside himself on hearing the horrible news.

He prayed to God to unite him with Sassi. Again the ground became quicksand and he soon disappeared into the bowels of the earth. So came to an end the tragic love story of Sassi and Punnu. The legendary grave still exists in this valley.

The famous Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai sings this historic tale in his sufi poetry “Shah jo Risalo” as an example of eternal love and union with Divine.

Sassi’s resting place is said to be about 45 miles away in the Pub range to the west of Karachi. A local man of some importance constructed a simple mausoleum in 1980 over the joint grave of Sassi and Punnu. It is often visited by tourists.

www.thalassaspahotel.gr

"Thalassa Hotel & Spa" is located in Paleros, a famous ancient village in Etoloakarnania, opposite of Lefkas, which can please also the lovers of the sea as well as the lovers of the mountains. Situated on an exclusive location next to the sea and with absolute respect to the natural environment, "Thalassa Hotel & Spa" offers ideal moments of relaxation and rejuvenation. With its friendly and experienced staff, our hotel offers every comfort and facility to the guests of all ages, to ensure an idyllic vacation. The guests of our property can enjoy modern facilities in an area of 17.000m2, in combination with the magnificent view to the endless blue of the Ionian Sea. When you book a room or an event at "Thalassa Hotel & Spa", your needs will be met and your expectations exceeded.

Upgraded accommodation since Semester 2-2020.

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Sinclair House (annexe of Manor Hall)

by Jon Jerome.

Our living spaces are safe and secure with a close-knit community that will enable you to make friends for life.

Mansion One has been newly refurbished for September 2013.

© Alexander Reiser

With its sumptuous black décor, imaginative artisan style and dark sleek ambiance, Le Noir stands out as a sublime cocoon of relaxation.

Good news to all you spa buffs and lovers out there!

Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay is offering something new for you. With the ‘Cold Indulging Weekdays’ and ‘Cold Indulging Weekends’ promo, they are offering a new round of packages for both the weekdays and the weekends. Need a break from the daily hassle of work life? Want to get away with a special someone, or simply bond with your best friend? Whatever it is, these great value packages will be sure to fulfill your needs.

Curious yet? Well, let’s have a rundown, shall we:

First off, we have the Cold Indulging Weekday Packages. These are perfect for those weekdays off when you just want to bond with the bf or the bff. ;) Yup, these treats are for two!

The INDULGE package, at Php5600nett, gets you both a stay in the beautiful Garden View Rooms, a Magsing Irog therapeutic massage (which is a signature treat—definitely not to be missed!) and a sumptuous breakfast, good for the two of you. Sounds good, huh?

The PLEASURE package, on the other hand, lets you stay in our authentic Ifugao huts, and an Aruga therapeutic massage (another signature treat!), with a bountiful breakfast to greet you in the morning. It’s on for Php5040nett; definitely not a bad deal, I’d say!

Lastly, but definitely not the least in the bunch, we’ve got the DELIGHT package up for grabs. Again, you have a chance to stay in our lovely Ifugao huts, a Hilot Kagalingan therapeutic treatment (especially for those with an ailment, this one is for you!), an a rewarding, delicious breakfast for two. How much? Php4640nett. Definitely a taker! ;)

The complimentary snacks that come with them are delicious, by the way. ;)

What a bunch to take in, I’m sure. ;) With all those lovely treats, how can you decide? But wait—what about the weekends, you may be asking. Don’t worry, here they are, in all their relaxing glory:

First off, we have something for the romantics. Trying to woo the girl (or boy!) of your dreams? An anniversary or monthsary, perhaps? Whether in celebration or in preparation, the ROMANTIKO package is sure to win that girl over. ;) At 9800nett it sounds a bit pricey, but definitely well-worth it. What does it include, you ask? Well for starters, you get a fully air-conditioned room with a set breakfast, a snack and a full romantic dinner. The dinner is set up with flowers, two glasses of wine and candles, plus a Magsing-Irog massage. Just the treat for you and your special someone! Isn’t it lovely? ;)

Up next you’ve got the ULAYAW PLUS package at Php8100nett. Included in this delightful package is overnight accommodation in an air-conditioned room with a full set menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a soothing Magsing-Irog massage. Good for two persons, so bring your loved ones along!

And last, but not least!, we’ve got the MAGKASINTAHAN package. This is for you guys who want to spend some time alone but don’t have all day to do it. At Php7770nett, you get treated to a Mutya Natural facial, with a full set meal and snacks. You also get to use a fully air-conditioned room for half the day (4 hours). Definitely a treat for lovers who want a day out together. ; )

That’s a full set of treats for you spa lovers to choose, and what’s wonderful is that you can share it with that special someone or that best friend to make it even better. So get started—these lovely packages are waiting just for you! ;)

 

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