LAHORE: An Australian couple on a quest to drive from London to Melbourne in a 102-year-old car were forced to put the brakes on their journey because of an unlikely obstacle: Pakistan’s heat wave.
Langley Kidby, 77, and Beverley Kidby, 71, are veteran motor adventurists who have driven through over 80 countries and covered tens of thousands of miles on a journey that aims to emulate legendary Australian cyclist, adventurer and filmmaker Francis Birtles who became the first man in 1927 to drive from London to Melbourne.
The Kidbys were so committed to emulating Birtles they even bought the 1922 Bean car from a museum that the late Australian cyclist drove.
The husband-wife duo began their journey on April 1 and crossed Europe, driving from Turkiye to Iran from where they entered Pakistan through its southwestern Balochistan province. The plan was to drive all the way to Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore and then travel onwards to India through the Wagah border.
But the scorching temperature in Sukkur in the southern Sindh province threw a spanner in the works.
Temperatures have risen this month above 125.6 degrees Fahrenheit (52 degrees Celsius) in Sindh, the highest reading of the summer and close to the country’s record high amid an ongoing heat wave.
“When we crossed into Pakistan, we had a heatwave here and we had 55 degrees,” Langley told Arab News, explaining that the Bean did not have air conditioning. “And the car got very hot … So, it was a very, very grueling few days, all the way to Sukkur, and then on to Lahore.”
Beyond this point, the heat made it difficult to drive through Sibi city in Balochistan and Sukkur in Sindh and the couple decided to have the car towed from Sukkur to Lahore via a truck from where it will continue the journey onwards to India, Malaysia, Singapore and then finally back to Australia.
‘FANTASTIC PEOPLE’
Mohsin Ikram, the president of the30-year-old Vintage and Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP) that pays homage to “automobiles of a bygone era,” was the chief coordinator for the Australian couple’s car ride across Pakistan.
Speaking to Arab News, Ikram said his organization was affiliated with the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), the worldwide federative association of historic automobile clubs.
“So FIVA got in touch with me and said this couple wants to do this journey and Pakistan is on their route,” Ikram told Arab News. “But they are a bit concerned about people advising them not to go.”
Ikram assured the couple they would remain safe on their journey through Pakistan and sure enough, the Kidbys leave Pakistan today, Friday, as happy customers.
“Oh, it’s fantastic, these are some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met,” Beverley said. “That to me is the best part of the trip, meeting the people and finding out how welcoming and lovely they are.”
She said the couple traveled with security and were escorted at different locations by the paramilitary Levies forces, army and police until they arrived in Lahore.
The couple were also all praise for Pakistani mechanics.
“In several countries, we found mechanics who can fix almost anything at all and because we can’t get spare parts for this car, so they make some spare parts for us,” Langley said. “And we found this in Iran, we found this in Pakistan, very, very smart mechanics.”
Sitting next to her husband as they drove off once again in Lahore, Beverley said she would take a positive message about Pakistan wherever she went in the future.
“I would like to recommend [to other foreigners] to come here and see for themselves what a wonderful country it is and the people, how friendly they are,” she said.
Ikram urged the government to review its policies on tourism.
“If [the government] can make things easier [and safer] for them,” he said, “we can raise motoring tourism by such a large amount, Pakistan can benefit a lot from this.”
Pakistan heat wave puts brakes on Aussie couple’s world tour on 102-year-old car
https://arab.news/ya8mz
Pakistan heat wave puts brakes on Aussie couple’s world tour on 102-year-old car
- Couple were driving vintage Bean car from London to Melbourne to emulate 1927 journey by Australian cyclist
- In Pakistan’s Sindh, in grips of heat wave, Kidbys had to abandon driving plans and get car towed to Lahore city
Bundoo Khan: How one restaurant parlayed barbeque into a Karachi landmark
- Founded in 1948, Bundoo Khan Restaurant is a mainstay for politicians, celebrities, and residents of the port city
- Eatery first gained prominence when its barbeque caught the eye of ex-president Ayub Khan at a local exhibition
KARACHI: For over seven decades, the Bundoo Khan Restaurant has been a culinary landmark in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, delighting generations of food lovers with its signature kebabs, sizzling chicken tikkas and crunchy parathas.
Founded in 1948 by Al Hajj Bundoo Khan, a migrant from Meerut in present day India, the restaurant began as a humble barbecue stall on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, then known as Bandar Road, using family recipes passed down from a maternal uncle.
While the eatery was a hit from the beginning, it gained visibility when its innovative approach to grilling and marinating caught the eye of General Ayub Khan, who served as the president of Pakistan from 1958 until his resignation in 1969. Becoming a favorite of the president turned the small eatery into the talk of the town, and it began to draw large crowds from all walks of life.
“My father can be called the founder of barbecue [in Karachi],” Akber Bundoo Khan, the founder’s 62-year-old son, told Arab News.
“No one knew how to make tikka [like him], how kebabs were made, how parathas were made or how halwa was made.”
Indeed, barbeque has become synonymous with the Bundoo Khan name in Karachi, cementing its reputation as a must-visit destination for the city’s residents and a gathering place for politicians, government officials, actors and singers.
“This brand has been around for 76 years,” said Waqar Mehmood, Bundoo Khan’s grandson who oversees a branch in the city’s Sindhi Muslim area.
“When we first set up an exhibition [during the first few decades], the first person to visit was [Pakistan’s former president] Ayub Khan who gave us the first prize and a gold medal for our barbecue.”
Mehmood spoke about visits to the restaurant by General Ayub Khan’s family, as well as Pakistan’s former first lady Ranaa Liaquat Ali Khan, ex-premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the now jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Legendary Pakistani actors like Muhammad Ali, Zeba and Waheed Murad were also loyal patrons and iconic singer Noor Jehan continued to request Bundoo Khan’s food until her last days before she passed away in 2000.
“Every day, I would personally take her double-spiced chicken tikka and six kebabs to the hospital,” he said.
The restaurant’s influence has also been immortalized in Pakistani music, with songs like Ahmed Rushdi’s 1954 hit “Bandar Road Se Keamari” and Mehdi Hassan’s 1977 track “Makhan Jesi Larki,” both mentioning the eatery.
Pakistani TV and film actor Behroze Sabzwari recalled childhood memories of visiting the original branch on MA Jinnah Road and meeting the restaurant’s founder, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 105.
“I lived and grew up in the area right behind the Bundoo Khan [Restaurant] in Jacob Line,” he told Arab News. “It wasn’t much, but you could get tikka for just 10 or 15 rupees [$0.05] and everything else as well. And believe me, the taste from those days of that halwa, that tikka, those kebabs, that paratha still lingers with me to this day.”
Asad Sohail, an engineer and regular customer, also recalled visiting Bundoo Khan as a child with his father and grandfather, saying dinner at the restaurant was a must after a night out at the movies.
“We used to come here with my grandfather, wearing shorts, when we were little. Then, as kids, we came with our father,” he said.
“Their barbecue, I haven’t tasted anything like it anywhere in Pakistan. It’s truly unique. Their kebabs are so tender, the marination is perfect, and the tikka, what can I say? It’s completely different from anything else.”
Today, while the restaurant keeps attracting new customers at all its branches in Karachi and across Pakistan as well as in Dubai and Madinah, the first branch on MA Jinnah Road has seen a decline in clients in recent years due to a rise in crime in the area.
Still, Akber Bundoo Khan’s son insists the original location will never shut down.
“This is our asset,” he said. “The flavor that started here has spread all over the world. It’s because of this taste that we’re famous ... Our identity, our entire legacy, has been built from here.”
Prominent artworks at Riyadh Metro stations blend daily life, creativity
- Masterpieces transform the daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture and creativity
- Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has seamlessly integrated art into the urban fabric
RIYADH: Riyadh Art, one of the world’s largest public art programs, has unveiled four monumental public artworks with the launch of the Riyadh Metro, transforming stations into cultural landmarks.
At the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, designed by the internationally acclaimed Zaha Hadid Architects, Alexander Calder’s “Janey Waney” takes center stage.
The lofty and colorful sculpture exemplifies Calder’s pioneering spirit in kinetic art, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors.
Nearby, Robert Indiana’s “LOVE (Red Outside Blue Inside)” — one of the world’s most recognizable artworks — captivates visitors with its vibrant interplay of color and universal themes of connection and hope.
Together, these masterpieces transform the daily commute into a celebration of art, architecture and creativity.
At the Qasr Al-Hokm Downtown Metro Station, designed by the renowned architectural firm Snohetta, Ugo Rondinone’s “The Sun” makes a striking golden centerpiece, symbolizing energy and renewal.
Complementing this is Zaman Jassim’s “When the Moon is Full,” a reflective and poetic piece inspired by Riyadh’s cultural heritage.
“These permanent artworks embody our vision of transforming Riyadh into an open-air gallery that enriches the quality of life and fosters a deeper connection between people and art,” said architect Khalid Al-Hazani, executive director of Riyadh Art.
“By collaborating with some of the most creative minds of our time, we’re not just adding art to public spaces — we’re creating cultural landmarks that inspire and engage generations,” he added.
Al-Hazani told Arab News: “The beautiful thing is that there is a specialized program under Riyadh Art dedicated to installing artworks in all 85 stations that we’ve already selected, which will be produced and placed within the upcoming year.”
Led by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Riyadh Art is championing cultural innovation and economic diversification, and positioning the Kingdom’s capital as a global center for contemporary art and culture.
Since its launch in 2019, Riyadh Art has seamlessly integrated art into the urban fabric, displaying over 500 artworks by more than 500 local and international artists, hosting more than 6,000 community engagement activities, and engaging more than 6 million visitors.
As the program continues to expand, the number of artworks and initiatives is expected to grow significantly, fostering a sense of community, enriching the city’s identity, and elevating Riyadh’s standing as a global arts destination.
Billboard Arabia Music Awards to present more than 40 prizes in Riyadh this month
DUBAI: The inaugural edition of the Billboard Arabia Music Awards — which will take place on Dec. 11 at the King Fahad Cultural Centre, as part of the first edition of Riyadh Music Week — will present awards in more than 40 categories, organizers announced.
Some of the categories include Top Artist, Song of the Year, Best in Dialect Charts, and Top New Artist of the Year.
With 210 nominations and 96 artists covering top songs, artists, composers, songwriters, and producers, Al Shami leads the nomination count with 14, while other prominent stars such as Assala Nasri, Ahmad Saad, Tamer Ashour, alongside Elissa, Dystinct, Ayed and Tul8te, are also nominated.
The event will feature musical performances by some of the most prominent artists in the region and the world, including Elissa, Dystinct, Ahmed Saad, Ayed and Tul8te, among others.
The event celebrates established and emerging regional talents, as well as the songs that have gained wide popularity on the trusted Billboard Arabia charts, including the “100 Artists” and “Hot 100” charts, and genre-specific and dialect-specific charts.
Billboard Arabia and the inaugral Billboard Arabia Music Awards is a result of a partnership between SRMG and Billboard. With Saudi Arabia’s live events market projected to surpass $1 billion by 2025 and streaming platforms in the region experiencing annual growth rates of between 10 percent and 15 percent, Billboard Arabia is poised to shape the regional and global music scene, driving economic growth and fostering creative expression.
Mike Van, the president of Billboard, expressed pride in the strategic partnership with SRMG, saying in a statement: “The Billboard Music Awards is globally recognized as the pinnacle of musical achievement, celebrating artists for their chart success and industry impact. We are excited to bring this legacy and vision to the MENA region, shining a spotlight on the incredible talent and musical excellence of local artists. This collaboration provides them with a unique platform to amplify their presence on a global stage.
“Winning a Billboard Arabia Music Award is a significant milestone in an artist’s career, one that can significantly accelerate their journey and open new doors for success,” he added.
Rami Zeidan, managing director of Billboard Arabia, described the event as historic: “Shaping new cultural trends in music has always been a fundamental part of Billboard’s pioneering philosophy.”
He highlighted that “the Billboard Arabia charts reflect our steadfast commitment to empowering the next generation of musical talent and celebrating the music that deeply influences listeners’ tastes and shapes the evolving music landscape.”
Zeidan further stated that “the music industry in the MENA region is experiencing unprecedented growth and rapid expansion, making it a focal point for global music platforms.”
Japanese artist Takayuki Mori’s interpretation of Saudi culture on display at Noor Riyadh
RIYADH: Japanese visual artist Takayuki Mori pays homage to Saudi culture and heritage in his latest work, which can be seen at Noor Riyadh, the Kingdom’s annual festival of light and art.
In “View Tracing #5 ‘LABYRINTH’,” the artist creates a visual manipulation experience featuring prominent cultural elements such as the falcon, mabkhara (incense burner), dallah (coffee pot), and an oud musical instrument mounted on large blocks and steps.
“I designed this with the structures based on Islamic geometrical patterns, so when people see it from the top, you see the patterns. After doing some research, I selected objects inspired by Saudi Arabia and the neighboring regions … These represent the senses — taste, smell, sound,” Mori told Arab News.
All the objects on display are 3D-printed and lined with fluorescent thread which glows in the ultraviolet-lit room, the lines creating geometric shapes that resemble computer-generated graphics.
Viewers cannot physically smell, taste or hear the items, but the artist creates an experience where echoic, olfactory and taste memory come into play.
As they navigate the maze-like pathways they are challenged to test their own memory, creating a unique experience of determining what we presume to be true and what really is in both virtual and physical spaces.
“This physical sculpture and installation was made digital to explore the relationship between two and three-dimensional, the analog and digital Riyadh,” said Mori.
Previous artworks in the series use a grid pattern, but this one features triangular patterns signaling to the motifs commonly found in old houses in Diriyah, the capital of the first Saudi state.
This is Mori’s first time visiting and exhibiting his work in the Kingdom and he expressed his optimism for the region’s art scene: “It’s very powerful and energized. I’m very excited for the future here. I’ve talked with artists from Saudi and other countries and they are very motivated, so I got some inspiration from them and I’d like to continue that in my work.”
Stars Aamir Khan, Emily Blunt to be honored at Red Sea Film Festival
- They are receiving the festival’s Red Sea Honoree award in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the film industry
JEDDAH: The Red Sea International Film Festival announced on Monday that stars Aamir Khan and Emily Blunt will be honored on the opening night of the Saudi festival’s fourth edition running from Dec. 5-14 in Jeddah.
Bollywood superstar Khan is an acclaimed figure in Indian cinema and known for films such as “Dangal” and “Ghajini.”
Blunt is an Academy Award nominee recognized for roles in blockbusters including “A Quiet Place” and “Oppenheimer.”
They are receiving the festival’s Red Sea Honoree award in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the film industry, organizers said.
The pair will also take part in the festival’s “In Conversation With” series, which features distinguished industry figures discussing their careers and insights into the art of filmmaking. Other participants in the series this year include Eva Longoria, Andrew Garfield and Ranbir Kapoor.
Jomana Al-Rashid, chairwoman of the Red Sea Film Foundation, praised the honorees, saying: “We are thrilled to celebrate Aamir Khan and Emily Blunt, whose remarkable achievements and enduring contributions to cinema have left an indelible mark on the industry.”
Khan expressed his gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the festival’s role in uniting global artists.
“Cinema has been my lifelong passion, and to be amid such an inspiring group of artists from across the world is truly humbling,” he said.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Red Sea International Film festival as it celebrates the impact and magic of cinema. I look forward to sharing my experiences, learning from others and collectively celebrating the art of storytelling that unites us all,” he added.
Blunt highlighted her excitement about the festival’s efforts to support women and emerging talent in the industry.
“I’m incredibly excited to be coming to the Red Sea Film Festival and grateful to be one of this year’s honorees,” the British actress said.
“I love all that this festival is doing for innovative and emerging talent in the film industry. In particular, I’m enthused by how they are empowering women in cinema and amplifying their voices,” she added.
The festival will also honor Egyptian actress Mona Zaki during the opening ceremony, while Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis will be recognized at the awards ceremony on Dec. 12.
