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Day 7: Red eye to Karachi

We assumed HSBC head quarters would be in Islamabad – turns out to be Karachi. I guess it can’t all go smooth all the time. We book flights and hit the airport.

Through security… notice anything strange about this passengers luggage choice?

HSBC – our long time partner in the Offscreen Expedition comes to the rescue once again

We meet Jenny Blinkhorn for lunch. Invaluable insight into the government schools system. She invites us to Kabul – naturally.

And drop by for coffee and favour farming with Shakir at Creative Chaos – the dude of Karachi!

And back to Islamabad – all in a day

Day 6: ABC News & Faizal Mosque

We’re staying at the ABC News head quarters  in Islamabad – thanks Ella & Nick.

The power fails all the time but the internet connection is rock solid thanks to a generator in the yard

British Council meeting today, can they help us? Yes they can!

Martin Daltry in a top draw British gentleman, he’s also full of excellent advice on where to explore for the expedition.
Taxila sounds interesting – a major Buddhist art site.

Faizal Mosque at sunset

Day 5: 1st Class to Rawalpindi

Up at 5am to catch the train to Pindi – destination Islamabad.

The thinnest & strongest man i have ever meet

It leaves half and hour early – while i’m buying junk food on the platform!
Luckily it’s really slow so i just jump on. The look on Steve face was brilliant,

“I thought i’d lost u man…”

We’re staying at the ABC News headquarters in Islamabad – thanks Ella & Nick.

Day 4: The Prophets Birthday

We’re attempting to relax today. After breakfast Ahmad calls – he’s organized a meeting for us with Salima Hashmi the Dean of the Beacon House University.

She lives in a leafy suburb of Lahore.

We chat with her in the art gallery that is attached to her house. We learn loads about the university and schools system.

The reason so many businesses people understand and care so much about Pakistans education system is that they fund much of the private schools system. The government schools just aren’t working – apparently many teachers just don’t turn up and foundations and charities are taking over the worst affected schools.

The government health and housing sectors are suffering similar problems.

Time to really see what the Old City has to offer at the processions of Mohammad’s Birthday celebrations.

Day 3: Mosque to Madame

After another visit to the nice people at Mobile Jazz our new Nokia’s are fully operational with standard issue Punjab beats ringtones.

Time to serious get stuck into what Lahore has to offer our British youth – Mr Mukta takes us straight to the Badshahi Mosque and Old Fort.

We meet loads of people and get a few interviews

Mosques are public spaces in Pakistan so we hang out and take it all in. The atmosphere is very chilled and friendly. Everyone wants to shake hands and chat…

Next stop meeting Farjad

A very laid back film maker – he’s going to be helping us get some more shots for the expedition sting films.

His edit suite is hooked up to a huge lorry battery under his desk. Power cuts – no problem here.

His family grow all their owe food in the centre of Lahore – notice the tractor!

We’ve gate crashed a family get together.

Rafay and Ayesha have a radio show so they tell us all about the radio business in Pakistan and how it could help the expedition.

Ahmad at Cocos Den

It’s a former brothel on the edge of the Old City. Run now by the artist son of the former Madame.

Ahmad is a brilliant guy and insanely well connected.

He’s surprised that I’ve heard of the Pakistan indy movie Slackistan – again he’s straight on his blackberry organizing a meeting… it’s 12:30 on Friday night!

Day2: Publicis to House of Chops

Jet-lagged but ecstatic to be in Lahore we ventured out with our taxi driver Mr Muktar – mission No. 1 – Pakistani mobiles.

It’s a bigger mission than we realize and after passport photocopies, finger prints and loads of help from everyone we’re still running around with just Stephens Blackberry. Orange iPhone 0 T-mobile Blackberry 1

Our first meeting: Publicis and Creative Chaos

Masood and Shakir introduced us to the team – steak sarnies and coffee flowed freely. Stephen and I explained what we’re trying to do and they immediately got it. In the following hour we downloaded a constant stream of excellent ideas, sponsorship links, potential partners, in kind support and advice.

They seem to have a much stronger understanding if the social and cultural landscape than UK commerical media – a stunning observation from my vast experience of half a day!

Masood invited us to his house that evening for dinner. We said our goodbyes and caught the end of a quick cricket match that was being played opposite the Publicis office.

So it turns out that Masood’s son is the awesome fusion guitarist Mekaal Hasan and we enter the house straight into his recording studio. We watch his latest video and chat about ways that he could help on the expedition – music video? workshops with the band in the studio?

http://www.pakium.com/2009/10/12/download-now-mekaal-hassan-bands-saptak

Street food in the Old City

Tak Atak man

Chop negotiations with Masood – the poor guy didn’t stand a chance!

House of Chops in the Old City.

Day 1: Bricklane to Lahore

The visas are finally through and we’re off – an early start from East London, 2hrs stop over in Doha and we’ll be in Lahore. The visas came through so last minute Stephen and I are still in shock as we get on the flight from Gatwick

We made it…!

The visas came through and Marty + Stephen finally made it over to Lahore this week. They are busy making contacts for the main expedition, scouting locations and eating ice cream, and coke apparently…

Stand down…

Well, we had more problems getting those formalities sorted that we thought. Unfortunately our visas have been held up so it looks like the recce is off for the moment. Gutted. Bags are packed and ready to go.

Oh well, on the bright side, we know how long the official stuff takes now so we’ll make sure we get the ball rolling early for the next recce. The trip is definitely still on, the website is being built as we speak and our recruiting strategy for getting the young people on board is taking shape…

GV