KARACHI: They call themselves the Harley Owners Group (HOG) Pakistan, a community of 120 bikers brought together by their shared love for riding Harley-Davidsons, the ubiquitous symbol of motorcycling.
Last week, the group of Pakistani adventurers embarked on the journey of a lifetime, riding their iconic Harley-Davidson motorbikes through the country’s picturesque northern regions against a backdrop of towering mountains, glacial lakes and lush valleys.
“We call ourselves Harley District, we call ourselves HOG Pakistan Headquarters as well,” the club’s founder Shiraz Qureshi told Arab News in an interview in Karachi this week.
“HOG is promoting a certain sort of a lifestyle, it’s like a biker’s lifestyle. None of the biking groups, none of the bikers’ groups, has this rich of a history.”
Unlike the United States and European countries, Pakistan does not have an extensive biking culture but motorcycle enthusiasts keep the passion alive through private clubs like HOG. Qureshi founded the group ten years ago and since then it has attracted over 100 new members brought together by their love for the iconic bike and the culture surrounding riding it.
“Biking in itself is kind of a meditation,” said Humayun Mir, a 29-year-old member of HOG. “I started off riding with HOG Pakistan and what really attracted me was the environment and how they actually ride their bikes. It’s very disciplined. You’re not allowed to overtake each other, you’re not allowed to mess around, you’re not allowed to do any stunts of any sort.”
Qureshi explained that the main difference between a Harley rider or owner compared to enthusiasts of other bikes was the focus on longer journeys.
“Each time we head out it is never less than 100 kilometers,” the club’s founder said. “We head out to the super highway, we head out to national highway, we head out toward Balochistan [province], the coastal highway.”
The group’s latest long journey was to Gilgit-Baltistan, home to some of the highest peaks in the world, including K2, the second tallest mountain globally.
“The roads they have, the kind of terrain and the beauty in the mountains and the snowcapped mountains with the rivers flowing in the jungles on your side, this kind of a scenery with this kind of mix, I don’t think that anybody can see anywhere in the world,” Qureshi said.
“I have been there [in the northern region] about four or five times before,” Mir said. “But on a motorcycle, it was like a new experience for me. Because with the 360-degree view, I could see everything in just one glance.”
Mir said the experience was “so surreal” he teared up a number of times during the journey.
“I had been dreaming of doing this all my life, all my childhood. And I finally got a chance to actually do it.”
Qureshi added:
“It was the most satisfying ride in the world … This is the journey that probably each and every biker in this world would die for.”
But financial difficulties are making these types of journeys more and difficult as Pakistan reels from high fuel and energy prices.
Reforms required by a $3 billion IMF bailout, including an easing of import restrictions and a demand that subsidies be removed, have already fueled annual inflation, which rose to a record 38.0 percent in May. Interest rates have also risen to their highest at 22 percent, and the rupee hit all-time lows in August before recovering in September. Pakistan also raised petrol and diesel prices to a record high last month.
“Harleys have been very expensive, they are still considered very expensive,” Qureshi lamented.
“And with the recent fall of the rupee vis a vis the dollar, the cost has gone really up.”
Pakistani bikers rev up Harley-Davidsons for ‘most satisfying ride in the world’
https://arab.news/pk4wt
Pakistani bikers rev up Harley-Davidsons for ‘most satisfying ride in the world’
- Harley Owners Group Pakistan is a community of 120 brought together by shared love for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles
- Last week, the club embarked on journey of a lifetime, riding the iconic motorbikes through the country’s picturesque north
Simi, Haze Khadra thank Saudi fans after beauty masterclass
DUBAI: US Palestinian beauty moguls Simi and Haze Khadra concluded their beauty masterclass sessions in Riyadh this week, before flying to Dubai.
The masterclass sessions celebrate the Middle East launch of their eponymous label SimiHaze Beauty, with their products now available to purchase at Sephora stores in the region.
“Best day with all the amazing people in Riyadh. Thank you so much for all the love and so happy you all love everything,” the sisters posted on Instagram Stories.
The twins launched their US-born cosmetics brand in 2021 with a range of stick-on makeup designs that can be placed on the face for a bold beauty look achievable within seconds. The sticker book features an array of edgy designs inspired by their favorite DJ looks from the past, such as chrome wings, neon negative space eyeliner and holographic cat-eyes.
SimiHaze Beauty has expanded to include a range of products, including lipsticks, bronzing powders, a lifting mascara and more.
‘Chicago’ musical to hit the stage in the UAE
DUBAI: “Chicago,” the American musical with the longest Broadway tenure, is set to be performed in the UAE in September.
The musical will hit the stage at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena for a limited run from Sept.12-22.
“Chicago” is a tale of passion, murder, greed, betrayal and redemption through the journey of two competitive women – an aspiring jazz performer, Roxie Hart, and a former vaudeville star, Velma Kelly.
The production spawned numerous beloved tunes such as “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and "Razzle Dazzle.”
Since its premiere on Broadway New York 27 years ago, “Chicago” has played in major cities around the world like London, Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul, Paris, Berlin and Madrid.
Floris London’s Edward Bodenham on designing scents for the Middle East
DUBAI: Established in 1730, British perfume label Floris London is the only perfumer to hold royal warrants in the UK. With a historic client list that includes British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, the storied label is also particularly interested in the Arab world — besides designing bespoke fragrances for clientele in the region, the brand has released a men’s scent that is exclusive to the Middle East.
Having designed custom fragrances for individuals in the region before, Edward Bodenham, brand director of Floris London, told Arab News that that the perfumery team “noted a trend in warm, comforting, deep fragrances. Definitely, a strong connection to rose, patchouli and precious Cambodian oud oil … a particular highlight to the forward-thinking taste of these clients is their interest in dynamic notes like cashmere and smoke.”
The untrained nose will be able to detect the vast differences in typically European scents and those that are popular across the Middle East, and Bodenham made further distinctions between British perfumes and those found in mainland Europe.
“The differences between traditionally English or British fragrances and those that are popular in the Gulf is that our classic scents generally tend to be lighter in comparison. I would say that French and Italian fragrances, generally speaking, tend to be more intense though, so more similar to fragrances popular in the Gulf,” he said.
With regard to their latest regional offering, Santal Intense, Bodenham explained that it builds on the same notes found in the Santal Eau de Toilette that was released in the early 2000s.
“When creating the original Santal we wanted to compose a sandalwood themed fragrance for a new generation. We created a scent with a reassuring fougere theme, but with some modern and unexpected twists, like the inclusion of notes of green grass, black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and tonka bean,” he said, using the term “fougere” that means “fern-like” in French and describes one of the main fragrance families.
“When creating Santal Intense we focused on increasing the levels of amber, woody amber and frankincense within the fragrance, which provided a greater depth and longevity as well as increasing the sillage of the scent,” he explained, referring to the scent trail that a perfume leaves behind as it evaporates.
Floris London’s royal warrants give the label the right to be named as an official supplier to the British royal family and use the royal coat of arms on their products.
“I think that, to some extent, holding royal warrants and having a connection to the British royal family does have an appeal, because, unlike a sponsorship from a celebrity who is paid to use and endorse a fragrance, the royal family remain impartial and are free to choose and support fragrances from any fragrance house they prefer,” Bodenham commented on the company’s royal connection.
Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling laud stunt performers in ‘The Fall Guy’
TEXAS: Hollywood stars Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling pay tribute to stunt actors in a film by director David Leitch, who himself started as a stunt actor. Loosely based on the 1980s TV series about stunt performers, “The Fall Guy,” which releases in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, is billed as blending humor, romance, mystery, and action.
“It's a celebration of our incredible industry and this film is about that, but it's really to just broadcast the incredible and indelible work of stunt performers and what they've done for cinema,” Blunt said in an interview with Arab News.
“What they've done for people's entertainment … they've risked life and limb to give people that crackling sense of wonder that you feel in movies and it's time they got their outing,” she added.
In a challenge to the invasion of digital effects in film, not only is “The Fall Guy’ packed with stunts but it has officially set a Guinness World Record for the most cannon rolls in a car, performed by stunt driver Logan Holladay. Eight-and-a-half rolls broke the previous record of seven, set by Adam Kirley for 2006’s “Casino Royale.”
Gosling praised the film for giving a platform to stunt performer.
“I had a stunt double my whole life. And it's always been this strange dynamic where they come in, they do all the cool stuff, and then they go and hide and you pretend like you did it and it's not cool, it's about time that recognize (their work),” he said.
The film follows the story of Colt Sievers, a stuntman who left his job to focus on his own health. When the star of a big-budget movie directed by his ex-girlfriend goes missing, he is recalled to active duty.
“Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham also stars in the film. The British actress shed light on what the movie means to her.
“You know, we shot it this time last year in Sydney. Starting in late November, October time. So to finally be here, I feel like I've had to keep a lid on it for so long. And my brother and I were obsessed with “The Fall Guy” when I was little, when I was like ten years old so it's so lovely,” she said.
Model Imaan Hammam walks for Ralph Lauren in New York
DUBAI: Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model Imaan Hammam hit the runway in New York City on Monday at the Ralph Lauren Fall/Holiday 2024 show.
Hammam graced the catwalk in a soft, ethereal button-down silk dress in a radiant metallic cream hue. Her ensemble also featured a beige cardigan that was buttoned at the center.
Completing her look, a matching purse was draped over her shoulder and she flaunted shoulder-grazing dangling earrings.
The show, which was minimal in Ralph Lauren terms, was inspired by Lauren’s first women’s fashion show in 1972, where he displayed his wares to editors and friends in his own office.
In front of a typically starry front row that included actors Glenn Close, Jessica Chastain, Kerry Washington, Rebecca Hall and Jodie Turner-Smith, Lauren opened his show on a note of timelessness — his longtime ethos — with the appearance of muse and supermodel Christy Turlington, now 55, in a sleek beige wool coat.
The collection featured a series of designs in soothing neutral tones — tans, browns, grays, black and metallics. The soft palette characterized both daytime garments like tailored jackets and sweaters with trousers, and evening wear like slinky, sequined gowns. There were roomy sweaters, lots of boots and wide leather belts with “RL” buckles.
There were Lauren’s familiar Western accents, like long fringes on coats and jacket sleeves. And especially the occasional cowboy hat, which accompanied not only casual ensembles but, to close out the show with a memorable look, a backless gown dress in sparkly gold.
Lauren, 84, appeared briefly at the end, in well-worn jeans, to cheers from the crowd.
Close wore a white Lauren pantsuit. “This is a very, very special suit,” the actor said at the event. “It was made especially for me. Custom. Five years ago. I won a SAG award in it. So here I am. It looks just as beautiful. It’s a shame to wear something like this only once.”
Close added that growing up in New England, “the mentality was, you buy something that has great quality and then you wear it until it wears out. That’s how I was brought up.”
