https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/vpvavgdu
Whenever we go on a trip, we try to gather as much information as possible about the destination. Believe me, we learn a lot from this. Not only does our knowledge increase, but we also get a chance to experience history and tales firsthand when we visit these places.

The city I want to talk about today is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Sweden. But this city also has a history that is unforgettable. I am talking about Sundsvall.

The city center of Sundsvall is called "Stenstan" in Swedish, which means "City of Stone." You might wonder why it’s called that and that’s where my research began. I discovered a painful event in history.

Around noon, a spark from a steamboat on the river ignited the dry grass and soon flames were rising. The church bells started ringing, but despite all efforts the entire city was reduced to ashes in a few hours. The fire spread so fast that everything was destroyed in just nine hours. Five people lost their lives and 9,000 people became homeless.

After learning about this tragic event, we decided to visit Sundsvall and see the city from a different perspective.

The property damage at that time was estimated at around 30 million Swedish krona, making it the biggest fire in Sweden’s history. Sundsvall was rebuilt using stone, which is why it is now known as "Stenstan" or "City of Stone."

This event is a reminder that if a nation is determined and courageous, it can rebuild itself after any difficulty. If you want to know more about the incident, search for "Sundsvallsbranden" on Google.

After exploring the city, we headed to Norra Berget, a hilly area where you can see the entire city of Sundsvall from a height. The view was breathtaking and gave us a sense of the city's resilience and beauty.

It was an interesting and beautiful trip to start the summer. Sundsvall’s history and its stunning views made it a memorable journey.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/dtpzyzgc
We went to Indian Kingdom on Valhallavägen in Stockholm. Before visiting we called and booked a table because we were very hungry after a long day out. A really nice waitress welcomed us. There was plenty of space outside and inside.

Inside the restaurant, it was decorated in an Indian style, with colorful curtains, lamps and things that reminded us of India. Everyone, even the chef who was the owner was very friendly and asked us how the food tasted several times.

Honestly, the visit changed my mind about the restaurant. I didn't expect the food to be good but now I don't regret trying it at all.

We ordered four different dishes:

1. Malai Chicken Garlic Sizzler: It was very tender with a perfect garlic taste. It came with stir-fried veggies like bell peppers, zucchini and onions. The sauce was a bit sweet which we usually don't like but strangely, it tasted good with our garlic chicken.

3. Chicken Karahi: It was a tasty, spicy curry with veggies and grilled chicken pieces in the sauce. It had a different taste, not too sweet and not too spicy.

4. My favorite was the Papaya lamb curry. It had a rich, thick curry sauce with authentic Indian flavors. It was a bit spicy, but the mix of lamb and papaya made it incredibly fantastic.

I also want to mention the naan bread—they were big and well-cooked, so they didn't get dry while we were eating.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/igrvzsbf
This year, I explored Karachi's food streets and restaurants and guess what I found everywhere? MOMOs! Many people think MOMOs are Indian, but they're not. In reality, what we're enjoying in Karachi are steamed dumplings. Dumplings are a part of many countries' food cultures and go by different names. Poland has Pierogi, Japan has Gyoza, Korea has Mandu, Afghanistan has Mantu, and in Pakistan, Gilgit people enjoy dumplings called Mamdu. But MOMO is a symbol of Nepal and a famous street food there. Sadly, I couldn't find the real MOMO taste and its amazing chutney in Karachi.

MOMOs here are often deep-fried and the thick dough didn't excite me after steaming. In Karachi they are selling dumplings, but they're not real MOMOs. It's like serving Pilaf in the name of Biryani.

Fortunately, I came across a food stall in Hussainabad, H&H, run by Mr. Jamil where they served the best MOMOs in the city. However, there was one thing missing “the authentic MOMO chutney”. On my first visit I noticed that even though he had the best MOMOs, his stall wasn't as busy as others. The excitement and action were missing.

I made a choice and shared my mom's chutney recipe with H&H's Jamil bhai. They had the best MOMOs, and if they had this chutney, it would be perfect. We prepared the chutney at home, offered free tastings and people loved it. Finally, I shared the recipe with Jamil bhai. Hoping that when I return to Pakistan next year, this chutney will be available all over Karachi.

Big thanks to @shrazi @rosecane @nazneen-ansari and Mehreen for helping me to execute this experiment.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/dfavyrat
Every year I make it a point to surprise my wife on her birthday. It has become a tradition for me to go above and beyond, planning something special that she could never imagine or suspect. And each time I have succeeded in surprising her by surpassing all her expectations.

This year things were different. I found myself swamped with work projects, making it nearly impossible to dedicate the time needed to plan the grand surprise I had envisioned. I can't reveal my original plan here because my wife is an avid reader of my blog. What I managed to do this year was still incredibly special and I am excited to share the unforgettable weekend experience with all of you.

With only four days left before her birthday, I made a spontaneous decision to organise a surprise grill party in a serene and natural setting.

A friend and colleague of mine suggested a spot in Hässelby, a location I was initially sceptical about since I was familiar with its bustling crowds on weekends. But he assured me that he knew of a hidden gem, a truly beautiful place untouched by the usual crowds. I decided to check it out. After work that same day we headed to the location he recommended. The place had everything we needed for the perfect celebration: a designated barbecue area, a picturesque tree, comfortable benches, and even a serene waterside view. Despite its charm, a nagging sixth sense cautioned me about the difficulty of securing such a coveted spot on a busy weekend. Despite my reservations I reached out to my closest friends and extended them invitations to the surprise birthday party and to my delight they all confirmed their attendance without hesitation.

Once we had finalised the party location, we headed to Vinsta Gross, an oriental grocery shop conveniently located near my residence. Knowing they had a meat section, I approached them with a special request to prepare ready-to-barbecue chicken and kebab skewers. I also placed an order for Pakistani salad from Anmol, a local restaurant known for its delicious offerings.

To ensure everything was fresh, we decided to buy the coal, wood, and any other necessary supplies on the same day when we picked up the skewers. Excitement filled the air as we anticipated the flavoursome feast that awaited us at the surprise grill party.

On Saturday, I informed my wife and kids that we would be celebrating her birthday on Sunday in a beautiful natural setting near the waterside, where we would enjoy Pakistani tea made over a wood fire. But on Sunday when just as my family was ready to leave I informed them that I received a client call who had urgent issues with their digital signage and I needed to address it. This kind of situation was not uncommon for my family as they were aware of the demands of my work, so nobody suspected anything unusual. I asked my sons, Hamza and Saif, to accompany me, which was also normal since I often took them to my workplace and meetings.

In order to carry out the surprise party, I left home under the pretence of attending to the client's issue. I made a stop at Vinsta Gross, where my friend met me, and together we picked up the prepared skewers and gathered the necessary supplies such as coal, wood, drinks, and disposable plates and cups. I also called another friend and requested his help in bringing the salad from Anmol restaurant, which I had previously ordered.

Everything was going according to plan. But I was disappointed to find that our chosen spot was occupied. When we reached our chosen spot we were disappointed to find it was already occupied. My mood quickly shifted to frustration and anger. I asked them respectfully if they would agree to share the space, but they reacted aggressively, making it obvious that sitting next to them was not an option. It was already 10:30 am and I had invited my friends to arrive here at 11 am. I immediately told them where we had to go after changing the plan.

Fortunately, my colleague was familiar with another peaceful and beautiful spot just 15 minutes away from our current location. I shared the new coordinates with everyone and hurriedly set up everything at the new site, hoping that the unexpected change wouldn't dampen the excitement and joy of the surprise birthday party.

Finding myself in an awkward situation, especially with two of my friends lacking transportation, presented a challenge. One friend had already arrived at the previous location by taxi. Anyway, everyone was able to get to the new location after some coordination and a little bit of a rush.

I called my wife and told her that on my way home I found a great place but I don't have a car. So, better you come here and I shared my live location with her. It was only a 10 minute drive from our flat.

As she walked a mere three minutes from the parking area, she spotted familiar faces and a smile instantly illuminated her face. Everyone was surprised at how I had managed to arrange the food, crockery, and everything else secretly, adding an extra element of wonder to the surprise.

The joy and astonishment on their faces made all the effort and unexpected challenges worthwhile, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for successfully orchestrating such a memorable surprise for my wife's birthday.

The kebabs and chicken turned out to be absolutely delicious, exceeding everyone's expectations. Amidst the excitement, I had completely forgotten to bring a cake for the birthday celebration. However, my relief was palpable when I spotted my colleague approaching with a beautifully decorated cake in hand.

We all indulged in the scrumptious food, savoring every bite. The cake brought an extra element of sweetness to the occasion.

As we enjoyed our meal, tea, and cake, a remarkable incident caught my attention. I noticed a talented individual passing by with a Saaz, a traditional musical instrument. I asked my son Saif to approach him and see if he is interested in playing for us. Surprisingly, he agreed wholeheartedly and began to serenade us with his mesmerizing music.

In a heartfelt gesture, he even composed a song on the spot, incorporating my wife's name into the lyrics. It was a truly enchanting moment that added a unique touch to the birthday celebration.

The rest of the day was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations and memorable moments shared among friends and family. The surprise grill party turned out to be a resounding success, surpassing all expectations despite the initial hurdles.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/gozczrgm

We interviewed Prashant at the premiere of Pathan in Stockholm. Watch to learn more about Prashant’s journey and his mission of bringing Bollywood to Sweden!

Prashant Jain is a young entrepreneur who made his debut as film distributor in the Indian film industry nine years ago with the movie Doctor Cabbie. Today, he is screening his 100th film, Pathaan, through Bollywood Bio Sweden, a distribution company he founded in 2014 that specialises in distributing Bollywood films throughout Europe. Prashant is a focused young man who has a clear vision for his future.

I am excited to see how far he has come and what he has accomplished at such a young age.

His dedication and hard work have paid off, and he is now one of the most successful young entrepreneurs in the Bollywood film industry in Sweden. I had the pleasure of meeting Prashant when he first approached me to promote his first bollywood movie exhibition of Dr. Cabbie in Sweden. I was running the South East Asian online portal iDesi where we promoted desi businesses and events. I was immediately impressed by his professionalism and drive. He has continued to impress me over the years with his dedication to his work and his commitment to promoting Bollywood movies in Sweden. I am proud to know him and to have been able to support him in his journey to success.

Prashant's love for Bollywood films has had a positive impact on the Swedish public's perception of India. Through his efforts, more and more people in Sweden are getting interested in Indian cinema and culture.

Prashant is an inspiring figure who has shown what can be achieved with hard work and dedication. He is a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, and we are proud to have him as part of our community.

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It has been a long time since I have done any domestic carpentry work 😄 . My wife has been wanting to do some home improvement projects, so I will be getting back into it soon. In the meantime, I thought I would share a post in the DIYHub community. There was a time when we were organizing our house. Every single thing was made by hand because in Sweden you have to make everything yourself be it IKEA furniture or lamps. But no work has been done for a long time. Yes, an idea is brewing in my wife's mind, so I will do carpentry work again soon 😋. But I found one video to post into the @diyhub community.

It has been a year since we moved into our new apartment, and our children finally have their own rooms. But in our previous apartment my 3 children shared one room and it was starting to feel cramped. We wanted to provide a space that was comfortable and functional for three kids, but we were limited in terms of what we could do because we were on rent. We had an idea for a custom built bed that would maximise the space in the room, but we didn't think it would be possible to make it a reality.

However, we ended up finding a company that specialises in custom-made furniture and they were able to create the perfect bed for our children's room. It was exactly what we wanted and it made the room feel so much more spacious.

As parents, we want our children to have everything they need to thrive in life including a comfortable and stylish bedroom. Luckily, the team at Golden Ark are experts in woodwork and were able to bring our vision to life. We started by sketching out a rough idea of what we wanted the room to look like and then presented it to Golden Ark. They listened carefully to our ideas and took measurements and diagrams accordingly. Our views and opinions were taken seriously throughout the process. The most important thing for us was that our children had enough space and comfortable beds. We also wanted them to have their own corner where they could relax and play. Golden Ark came up with a brilliant solution that met all of our needs and more. We couldn't be happier with the final result. Thanks Golden Ark!

As soon as the sketch arrived, so did the work. Next day I bought all the equipment and started working. We were able to continuously watch the project develop and make suggestions for improvement.

The project was completed within 5 days and we were very happy with the result. We couldn't have found a better solution.

I captured the entire 5 days of work on camera and posted it on social media. After which people started getting messages and calls because this solution was needed in every home who have kids. This was also the first work of this kind by Golden Ark and after that they also got a lot of orders.

https://3speak.tv/watch?v=shahzad-ansari/hdwztuwb
As a parent, it is natural to want the best for your children. And what could be better than seeing them follow in your footsteps? Iqbal Day is an annual event celebrating the life and work of eastern philosopher and poet Muhammad Iqbal. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Sweden. Last year, I had the honor of giving a speech at the Iqbal Day event in Stockholm. This year, my son made me proud by giving his own speech at the event.

Hearing him express his thoughts on Iqbal and his philosophy was a truly special moment for me. It was also a chance for me to get to know my son a little better and understand his thinking. Parenting is one of the most difficult tasks in life, but I am grateful to have a partner like my wife @nazneen-ansari who helps me raise our children to be happy and successful adults.

As always, the audience at the conference praised the children and some women asked to my wife the secret of upbringing of children.

There is no one rule for parenting that applies to every child, because every child is different. This is something that we have learned from raising my three kids. My two sons and daughter have all been raised in the same environment, with the same values and beliefs, but they have each developed their own interests, goals, and ways of thinking. The one thing that they all have in common is love.

my wife and I had set some parenting goals before we had children. We will do our best to prepare our child for the future.

Here are some tips:

I have a lot to talk about on this topic. And I will definitely share it with you friends in my next post. But I am not an expert on it. Rather, let me confess one thing that I have been called to the Swedish Child Protection Department due to a complaint. I will share this entire incident in my blog soon.

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Lollywood is the name given to Pakistan's film industry, based in the city of Lahore. The Pakistani film industry is one of the top 10 largest film industries in the world. Although it is not as large or well-known as Bollywood, India's film industry, Lollywood produces a significant number of films each year and has a passionate following both within Pakistan and internationally.

Pakistan Information and Cultural Society has been promoting Pakistani culture as well as Pakistani cinema in Sweden. Having screened more than 50 Pakistani films in Sweden, Pakistan Information and Cultural Society has played an important role in introducing Pakistani films to mainstream cinemas in Sweden.

The increasing popularity of Pakistani films internationally is also playing a role in the industry's growth. In recent years, there have been a number of Pakistani films that have been very successful at international film festivals. This success has led to increased interest from both audiences and investors alike.

Well, excitement is mounting as the movie is scheduled to hit theatres in Sweden on November 25th. With a well-known director and star cast, this film promises to be an audience pleaser.

Zarrar is an upcoming Pakistani action-thriller film directed by Shaan Shahid and written by himself.

There are many actors in the movie, but some of the main ones are:

Shaan Shahid as Zarrar

The movie Zarrar is set to release in Sweden on November 25th. Tickets can be bought online through the official Filmstaden’s website. Filmstaden website will have links to different cities options, and it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines at the theater on the day of the release.

I am responsible for the PR of Pakistani films in Sweden, so the film posters, teasers and trailers I have used in this post are directly from the film distributor.

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# BACKGROUND

Originally from Jönköping, Abbas Kapasi now resides in Stockholm. He was raised on Bollywood films, and as the only Bollywood DJ in Sweden, he spins upbeat, dancing, and remixed Bollywood music.

On June 1 2013, Bollywood Dhamaka Vol. 3 took place in Olles Krog, Kista north of Stockholm. After the last two successful events, Bollywood Dhamaka organised its third party. This party was unique and bigger than the previous two parties as it featured a live performance by arguably one of the world's best Punjabi entertainers, Juggi D.

Juggi D has collaborated with many top names in the music industry. Among them are the names of Madonna, Craig David, Ricky Martin, Veronica, Jay Sean and Richie Rich.

Also one of the most popular country DJs in London, Nills from PROFESSORS.

Along with this, Anand of Beat Evolution added more vibrancy and energy to this magical night.

This was my first opportunity to work with Abbas Kapasi and his team. Working with Bollywood Dhamaka as their media partner has been an incredible experience. I have had the opportunity to be creative and imagine different ways to capture the night club's energy and excitement. My collaboration with the Bollywood Dhamaka has allowed me to push myself artistically and explore new techniques.

Since 2012 till date Bollywood Dhamaka has thrown many parties and each party was better than the first one. In these ten years, many famous artists have performed in Bollywood Dhamaka such as Punjabi MC, PNB and Raj Bains, Imran Khan, Zack Knight and F1rstman.

It was really a mixed crowd at the party, not only desi people, but also Swedes, people from the Middle East, Iran and Arabs. Those who watch Indian movies and listen to the music.

Bollywood Dhamaka Last Night: F1rstman, Karan Channa And DJ KITKAT -The flying DJ Were Amazing

Last night was awesome, I had so much fun. DJ Kitkat - The Flying DJ did great and Karan Channa was amazing with his dhol performance. F1rstman played some great music and the floor was packed!

Last night's Bollywood Dhamaka was one for the books! DJ KITKAT - The Flying DJ, Karan Channa, and Firstman absolutely killed it with their performances. The music was great, the dancing was incredible, and the overall atmosphere was just perfect. It was truly a night to remember!

First off, let me just say that the Bollywood Dhamaka last night was amazing! The energy in the room was electric and Firstman, DJ KITKAT and Karan all brought their A-game. Each one of them had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed.

DJ KITKAT kept the energy levels high with his own unique brand of Bollywood music. His performance was engaging and entertaining, and he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. His set was packed with adrenaline-pumping tracks that had everyone dancing till they dropped. His mixing skills are on point and he knows how to keep a crowd hyped up all night long.

Firstman kicked things off with a bang and got everyone moving with his high-energy performance. He had the crowd jumping up and down and singing along to every song. His stage presence was undeniable and he really knows how to work a crowd.

Overall, the experience was amazing. Firstman, Karan Channa and DJ KITKAT were all phenomenal and really brought the party to life. The energy was electric and everyone had a great time. The music was top notch and the crowd was absolutely wild. It was an unforgettable night and we can't wait to do it again soon.

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# A memory for life!

Last year we set off on an adventure that we had been waiting for for a few years. We went to the Älgparken in Gårdsjön, which is run by Leffe and his family.

Morgongåva is situated on the national road 72 between Uppsala and Sala. When you reach Morgongåva, drive north at sign “Älgpark 6”- you will also see the painted Moose Warning Sign beside the road. Drive north about 5 km to the village of Vansjö. Turn right at the sign “Älgpark 1” and drive 1 km – and now you are here!

As usual, we arrived in good time, as early as 1 hour before we were supposed to go on a moose safari.

And the cat Gustav gave us company before everyone arrived. He followed us everywhere on the farm and also wanted to play with us.

A little way from the farm into the forest is Leffe's own fairyland.

Leffe, who owns the farm, is an incredibly funny and lively person. The tour itself becomes more like a performance as he is both funny and gets very close to his visitors. You feel welcome when you are there by every single person who works on the farm.

On a long train sit several curious nervous visitors, big and small ready to go into the enclosure where the moose roam freely.

When you go in, it's like a performance, Leffe offers food to the moose and walks around with the food bucket next to the visitors, and then you have the opportunity to see the fantastic enormous animals.

You can ask many questions and Leffe will answer everything with great joy.

On site there is a cafe and also a small shop. A very clean toilet is also available if you need to freshen up.

Finally, you can take a tour of the lodge where you can also see one or two old tools, stuffed animals which are very interesting.

A fantastic meeting with the moose man Leffe - who owns Gårdsjön. An incredibly nice person who loves his moose as much as he loves the people around him. So open and welcoming to its visitors and really tells you everything you want to know about the moose and the park.

A memory weI will always remember, the Mooseman signing the book that has been written about him.

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