Top Eight New Year’s Resolutions

1.  Adopt a healthy lifestyle, by aiming to lose weight, quit smoking and exercising regularly
2. Don’t spend mindlessly, instead save money for special occasions such as a family vacation to the Northern Areas
3. Overcome your fears! If you’re afraid of heights set a long term goal to hopefully hike K2
4. Explore Pakistan and reconnect with your cultural backgrounds. Many people have become increasingly Westernized drifting away from their roots
5. Volunteer and contribute to your community, making others happier and in turn helping your self
6. Aim to travel more, create a bucket list of places you’ve always wanted to visit whether it is in your hometown, nationwide or international!
7. Spend more time with your family and friends, appreciate their company and create memories with those that mean the most to you
8. Love yourself! This is the most important resolution of them all, to be content and happy with yourself, so you can spread the love to others

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Learn about K-2

K-2 is located on the border between China and Pakistan. K2, is locally also known as Chhogori/Qogir, Ketu/Kechu, and internationally Mount Godwin-Austen.

It is said to be the "Mountain of Mountains", and is considered more challenging than Mount Everest. It is the second highest mountain in the world after Mount Everest, at 8,611 meters. K2 is the highest point of the Karakoram Range and the highestpoint in Pakistan.

T.G. Montgomerie discovered the peak in 1856 when surveying India. The British initially named it Godwin Austin, however it was eventually changed to K2. The first attempt to climb K-2 was in 1902 by Oscar Eckenstein, a British chemist. His attempt along the northeast ridge was not completed and this route was not attempted again for seventy-four years.

K2 is centered in the heart of the Karakoram Range and can be seen in its entirety from Concordia. It is the largest concentration of the highest peaks anywhere on earth.

K2 has four major ridges the Abruzzi Spur to the Southeast, the Negrotto Pass and the Angel Peak in the Southwest, the Juncton Peak in theNortheast and the Savoia Pass in the Northwest.

K2 is considered to be one of the world’s greatest treks with breathtaking scenery and an amalgamation of some of the finest natural pyramids in the world.

The trek on the Baltoro Glacier is surrounded by the scenic mountains Masherbrum (7750m), Uli Biaho Tower (6190m), Trango Towers (6300m) Grand Cathedral (5228m) and Mustagh Tower (7284).

From Concordia you can see K-2 as well as Broad Peak (8044m), Gasherbrum Group, Golden Throne (7365m) and Chogolisa (7686m).

The trek up K2 is thrilling, however precautions must be taken before the execution of this journey. One of the factors that make K2 so challenging is that the climbers themselves must do all of the work of carrying and setting the ropes and high camps. Steep slopes of ice and limestone can only be tackled if climberssecure their ropes typically up to 2,500 meters of rope on the south side routes, and up to 5,000 meters of rope on the north ridge route.

Another factor to remember is when to climb! Although the weather is unpredictable the forecasted best months to climb are June, July and August. The extreme weather can differ from one side to the other, withpleasantweather on one side of the mountain, contrasted with life-threatening conditions on the other.

In order to survive K2 a diverse set of skills will be required. Information and procedures regarding medical and altitude problems will have to be memorized and practiced since there are limited possibilities for rescue or medical attention on K2.

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Facts about KPK

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also known as KPK (formerly known as North-West Frontier Province), is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the northwestern region of the country. The capital and largest city in KPK is Peshawar, followed by Mardan. KPK shares an international border with Afghanistan, and is connected via the Khyber Pass.

Some interesting facts about KPK:

1.     The second highest mountain peak in the world, K2, is located in these Northern Areas.

2.     The Karakoram Highway is the bridge between China and Pakistan, and has been constructed at a height of 15,397 ft. making it the highest paved international road in the world.

3.     The highest polo ground in the World is located in Gilgit, Baltistanon the Shandur Top commonly referred to as the roof of the world.

4.     The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa converse in a variety of languages such as Khowar, Hindko, Kohistani, Shina, Torwali, Kashmiri, Kalasha, Farsi and Kaghani.

5.     Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is spread over 74,521 sq. km, and has a population of over 22 million!

6.     The province is divided into three parts, one is composed of settled areas, the second is called FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), the third is PATA (Provincially Administered Tribal Areas).

7.     The province originally known as the North-WestFrontier Province but was renamed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2010.

8.     The literacy rate of this region was recorded in 2012 to be 60.9%

9.     Due to the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviets, Peshawar provided 3 million Afghan refugees with shelter.

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Destination of the Week- Skardu- The town of splendor:

http://www.gogi7.com/destination-of-the-week-skardu-the-town-of-splendor/

Located in in Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu is a town as well as the capital of Skardu District.Located on the junction of River Indus and Shigar, Skarduis the gateway of some ofthe world’s highest peaks that lies in Karakoram Range such as K2, the Gasherbrums, Broad Peak, and the Trango Towers.  Every year thousands of climbers visit Skarduto hike and reach the top of these peaks.The beauty of the town is exceptional, it is adorned with grey-brown colored mountains, and a trio of Upper Kachura lake, Lower Kachura Lake, and Satpara Lake.

http://www.gogi7.com/destination-of-the-week-skardu-the-town-of-splendor/

The climate of Skarduis moderate and protected from intense heat as the mountain setting blocks out the summer rain to the region.However the winters are very severe, and effect transport in and out of Skardu.

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Jovago’s top 3:

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Satpara Lake:
Satpara Lake is a natural and main stream lake of Skardu. It is located at an elevation of 2,636 meters (8,650 ft.) above the sea level. It has fresh water and tourists can go trout fishing and row boating on the lake.  In 2002, the government of Azad Kashmir decided to build a dam on the Satpara Lake which is still under construction.

http://www.gogi7.com/destination-of-the-week-skardu-the-town-of-splendor/

SkarduFort:
Skardu Fort, also known as Kharphocho Fort,is located above the town towards the east. The fort was built during the 8th century by Rmakpon dynasty rulers of Baltistan. It is an enormous landmark comprising of a seven-story building. Skardu fort is a major tourist attraction that provides a panoramic view of Skardu town, the lush green fields of the valley and the River Indus.

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Deosainational park:
The Deosai National Park is located in Skardu at the boundary of the Karakoram.It is located around 4,114m above the sea level, and is one of the highest plateaus of the world.It was established in 1993 to protect the habitat of Himalayan brown bears and now it is home for a variety of wildlife such as Himalayan ibex, red fox, golden marmot, gray wolf, the Ladakh urial, the snow leopard, and over 124 resident and migratory birds. Summers and spring are the best times to visit Deosai when it is covered by radiant wildflowers, several kinds of flora and fauna and a wide variety of butterflies.

Tips

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Restaurants

In Skardu, most of the prices at the restaurants are very affordable. Restaurants servetraditional Gilgitcuisine;Marzan, Skampo-Sha, Sha-chu, Shabaly and Khulak- a special breakfast made by using barley and butter. There is a very famous tea named looney- chathat is being served after meal.

Shopping
As Skardu is very popular for tourism, there are a lot of shopping malls where you can find traditional dresses, hats and other local souvenirs.

Hotels
Jovago Pakistan has many hotels and guest houses in Skardu with different price ranges. Book now on the No.1 online hotel booking site of Pakistan and get the best prices.

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