Tuesday, December 25, 2012

‘1962 war: Kennedy wanted to nuke China’ New book claims the then US prez wanted to avoid communist state attacking India again

‘1962 war: Kennedy wanted to nuke China’

New book claims the then US prez wanted to avoid communist state attacking India again

Washington: Six months after the 1962 Chinese aggression on India, the US had contemplated using nuclear weapons in the event of another attack from Beijing as it was determined to prevent an Indian defeat at the hands of the Communists.
The then president John F Kennedy, at a meeting with his top military aides on May 9, 1963, had expressed clear determination not to let Beijing defeat New Delhi, with his defence secretary even talking about using nuclear weapons against China if it launched another attack against India.
These disclosures have come in a just released book Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F Kennedy co-authored by Ted Widmer and Caroline Kennedy.
“I gather we’re coming to the defence of Israel and Saudi Arabia. What I think we ought to think about is, (unclear) it’s desirable (?) for us, to give India a guarantee which actually we would carry out. I don’t think there’s any doubt that this country is determined that we couldn’t permit the Chinese to defeat the Indians,” Kennedy said.
“If we would, we might as well get out of South Korea and South Vietnam. So I think that’s what we’ll decide at the time. Now, therefore, I don’t mind making, seeing us make some commitments. Now, if it is politically important,” he said.
Kennedy was quoted by the book as making these remarks in the White House meeting with his Defence Secretary Robert McNamara and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Maxwell Davenport “Max” Taylor.
Kennedy was US President from 1961 until his death in 1963. The book is a selection of audio recordings of Kennedy’s conversations at the White House. The recordings have been selected from the hidden recording systems in the Oval Office and in the Cabinet Room installed by Kennedy in July 1962, in an effort to preserve an accurate record of Presidential decision-making. —PTI

Monday, December 24, 2012

A musical fiesta The Windsong festival that will be held in Goa next week will bring together some of the best Indian artistes

A musical fiesta

The Windsong festival that will be held in Goa next week will bring together some of the best Indian artistes

For those who swear by pop and rock, and can make little or no sense of EDM (electronic dance music) here is a newly crafted festival — Windsong. A two-day long gala to be held at Baga beach, Goa on December 24 and 25, it includes only indigenous acts from across a plethora of musical genres such as folk, jazz, rock, funk and soul music. A total of 22 acts and artistes will be performing live at the festival. The highlights for day one, include performances by soul singer Shefali Alvares (of Tu Mera Hero fame), Soulmate, Shkabang (Anushka Manchanda and band), Strings, Agnee (Mohan and Koko), and Remo Fernandes amongst others. Day two, will be marked by eminent names like Shantanu Pandit, Ankur Tewari, Sid Coutto, Menwhopause, Shaa’ir Func, Papon & The East India Co, Remo & The Microwave, Rabbi Shergill, Lucky Ali and others. “We hope it is a great success,” says Shailendra Singh, Joint MD, Percept Ltd. “We are delighted to support the live space with this new festival that has a stellar line-up of renowned artists like Remo, Lucky Ali, Rabbi Strings,” he adds, emphasising that this will be a one of its kind Christmas gala.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

NASA is so sure the world won't come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012, that they already released a video for the day after.

Friday, December 21, 2012

21-12-12 The end?

As ‘doomsday’ dawns, rumours that the tiny French hamlet of Pic de Bugarach, at the foothills of the Pyrenees, will be spared has sparked a storm of media interest

Rumours the tiny French hamlet of Bugarach will be spared by a looming Apocalypse have sparked a storm of media interest, with journalists flocking in search of Doomsday believers who are so far proving few and far between.
Less than a day before the world is due to end according to an ancient Mayan prophecy, there were no survivalists to be found in the picturesque village or on its rocky outcrop, the Pic de Bugarach, nestled at the foothills of the Pyrenees.
At last count some 250 journalists were accredited for the much-anticipated event, outnumbering the 200 or so locals, who were becoming increasingly irate.
Mayor Jean-Pierre Delord said he expected Bugarach to still be standing next week, along with the rest of the world.
His message: Don’t show up, not even if you’re curious. “Don’t come here. You’ll only be making things hard for yourself, and there’s even a risk of physical danger. So just don’t come,” he told reporters.
The origins of Bugarach’s supposed immunity are unclear, although the area has been steeped in legend for centuries. It was once inhabited by the mysterious medieval heretics the Cathars, and is even said to be the burial site of Jesus and possibly Mary of Magdalene.
The Pic de Bugarach, meanwhile, is said to be upside down, containing older layers of rock at the top than at the bottom.
More recently those myths have morphed into claims the mountain shelters an alien spaceship that will take off on Judgment Day, or even that it conceals a door to another world. In 2011, the government’s anti-sect watchdog Miviludes warned of a possible influx of New Age believers, after spotting six settlements in the area and noting that messianic groups had been holding conferences at local hotels.
Since then, media speculation has raged. As a precaution for Friday authorities have closed off access to the village and mountain and drafted in extra police.
Some locals are even cashing in on the exposure, setting up a makeshift “End of the World” bar and selling a local wine labelled “Bugarach - The End of the World - I Was There.”
Just in case the world does end, however, they’ve thoughtfully laid on a first-aid tent. Judging by appearances though, if the prophecy does come true the only people saved will be locals and the hordes of international media. Whether they will make a fitting post-apocalyptic population, only time will tell.
Meanwhile in Mexico, the celebration of the cosmic dawn began with a fumbling of the sacred fire meant to honour Friday’s end of the Mayan long count calendar.
Gabriel Lemus, the white-haired guardian of the flame, burned his finger on the kindling and later somebody knocked a burning log out of the ceremonial brazier onto the wooden stage, before he quickly scooped it up. Still, the white-clad Lemus, like about 1,000 other shamans, seers, stargazers, crystal enthusiasts, yogis, sufis and swamis in a Merida convention center about an hour and a half from the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, was convinced that it was a good start to the coming “New Era” supposed to begin around 5:00 a.m. on Friday.
“It is a cosmic dawn,” said Lemus. “We will recover the ability to communicate telepathically and levitate objects ... like our ancestors did.” —Agencies

Talks on for Disney park, film studio at Ganpatipule

Walt Disney and Paramount Pictures are in talks with a private township developer for creating a world class amusement park and a film studio near Ganpatipule along the Konkan coast.
Officials from the two companies are expected to visit Ganpatipule next month. Sources said if everything goes according to plan, a contract agreement will be signed by both parties by the end of January.
Ganpatipule, which is around 375kms from Mumbai, boasts of spectacular beaches and is a popular getaway. More than five lakh tourists visit the region every year.
“The two companies have shown interest and talks are on. If the plan materialises, then it would be a huge achievement for the Konkan region and tourism will get a boost,” said Mahesh Navathe, MD, Utopia City Ltd, during Global Kokan Festival, which was held in the city on Thursday.
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), which partnered the event, has been promoting the region with a special interest due to its tourism potential and had recently initiated a luxury bus service.
The two projects, which will be developed by the private developer, are expected to be part of a 2,000 acre mega township about 7kms away from Ganpatipule beach.
US-based Walt Disney is a pioneer in the construction of amusement, theme parks and resorts. Paramount Pictures Corporation is one of the largest film and television production/distribution companies in the world.
“A major chunk of the Indian film industry is concentrated in Mumbai and to a certain extent in south India. There are many places yet to be explored. If Paramount Pictures sets up a studio in Ganpatipule, it will help to showcase the beauty of the region through films,” said Sanjay Yadavrao, president, Kokan Bhumi Pratishthan, an umbrella organisation promoting the region with the support of political parties and the MTDC.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Atop the roof of the world Fashion designer Arjun Khanna, recounts his experience of riding to Ladakh

Atop the roof of the world

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna, recounts his experience of riding to Ladakh

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna is an inveterate globetrotter who recently travelled to Ladakh. He says, “It was the most beautiful experience I have ever had. It was a complete biking trip so not only was it super challenging but was also the most humbling experience ever.”
The 15-day trip saw Arjun travel extensively across the plateau terrain. As he puts it, “It is only when one goes biking on a terrain like this that one realises how insignificant one is — almost like a drop in the ocean. One gets to see an enchanted view of the mountains which have been under the sea for millions of years. It is a place so remote and isolated from the modern world.”
Arjun travelled about 300-400 kilometers within Ladakh each day, and had a memorable time riding up to the highest motorable pass Khardung La which lies in northern Leh. “It is a high mountain pass with a beautiful landscape and a rugged terrain, which leads down to Pangong Tso with its huge mountain lake in the south east of Ladakh,” he says.
During his biking trips, he always kept Leh — the centre of the city — as his base. Indulging in many day trips including trekking from the mornings till late at night, road trips to truly remote areas like Lamayuru Gompa — one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh, as well as trying out the amazing food and mingling with the locals there.
The designer who’s now happily ensconced in his workshop in Mumbai says, “During my trip to Ladakh the weather was sunny with clear skies during the day. At night, the temperature was freezing and specially windy while riding a bike. The whole experience was a life changing one.”

The world of Dubai Shopping Festival 2013

The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2013 is aimed at family entertainment with events jam-packed on its calendar

The opening ceremony of the 18th Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) which begins on January 3 2013 and goes on for a month will reflect the theme ‘One World, One Family, One Festival’. The 32-day shopping extravaganza will showcase the festive spirit of Dubai as the city dresses up to welcome visitors from all over the world. Fireworks will light up Dubai every day of the festival for the course of the month and various mega events, as well as cultural and amusement items will highlight the visitors’ calendars. Since it is a government sponsored festival, the authorities go all-out to make it as pleasurable and entertaining an experience for visitors as as possible.
One of the most entertaining highlights of the DSF is the Carnival which is held during every weekend of the festival. In it, performers — musicians, jugglers, unicyclists, stilt walkers etc. are set to entertain the public with celebratory displays of their talent. Visitors will also be able to enjoy jazz events and live concerts performed by well-known artists. DSF 2013 will also witness a unique parade with performances by renowned international artists, apart from shows by acrobats, percussionists, dancers and more.
The Global Village is another major attraction during the DSF 2013 for visitors to explore the cultures of different countries around the world. The Global Village which commenced on October 21 this year, will continue for the duration of the festival and beyond it till March 30, 2013. Aiming to bring the entire globe under one roof it is an attempt to accurately reproduce various ethnic cultures within a single large location. Every country is given space to set up its own pavillion, and the most famous products from their home countries are being showcased. Apart from the sale of products, the Global Village also offers entertainment events, food stalls, children’s rides, sports activities and lucky draws on a daily basis.
The ‘Big Boys Toys 2013’, a Middle East premier luxury show, will be another highlight of the 18th edition of the DSF. The three-day luxury and lifestyle exhibition will start on January 31, 2013 at the Atlantis Hotel and will be one of the main attractions of the 32-day festival, with the best of products from a wide spectrum. The products scheduled for DSF 2013 include those from the adventure, aviation, digital, drive, fashion, lifestyle, marine, off road, sports cars, bikes and wellness sectors including the likes of the Soleil motor luxury supercar, the Znug electric motorcycle and the Aurum 79 limited edition, the most expensive water bottle in the world. There will also be a chance for shoppers to win grand prizes. in the ‘Big Boy Mega Raffle’.
For children, the Dubai Dolphinarium will organise an exclusive show. Other events such as the Children of World Olympiad, cartoon and circus shows are set to keep them happily occupied.
Racing at Meydan on January 3 and the Wild Wadi’s Swim at the Burj Al Arab on February 1 are set to further fuel the excitement.
Of course the main excitement for many will still be the shopping. During this time, retailers have announced up to a 75 per cent discount on electronics, jewellery, watches, perfumes, textiles and carpets. Also lucky draws will see 100,000 dh cash and free gold given away every day from the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Pack some warm clothes, zip to one of these destinations and enjoy the cold – just a couple of hours from Mumbai

Cool Runnings

Pack some warm clothes, zip to one of these destinations and enjoy the cold – just a couple of hours from Mumbai

M UMBAI’S WINTER lasts for all of a week when a fortunate cold spell has us reaching for our winter wear that have been stored away with mothballs. For that week, we preen in our woolies and everyone reports on the state of the weather. But in truth, even during that week it’s colder when you open your refrigerator door. So where do you escape for a quick winter weekend getaway from Mumbai?

FROSTY HAMLET on fresh air in Panchgani overdosing Spend a weekend

PANCHGANI

Since most people rush off to neighbouring Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani still retains a relative sense of calm. Being at the centre of five (panch) Hills (gani), the name is derived from its location.
Located 250km from Mumbai via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Panchgani nestles in the Sahyadri ranges and winter mornings often see frost. A weekend spent there might have you dizzy by an overdose of fresh air.
No trip to Panchgani is complete without a visit to Roach Bakery or one of the strawberriesand-cream centres. Also, check out the Il Palazzo hotel. Their specialty is Parsi food – from akuri to brain cutlets.
Stay at: There’s no shortage of hotels in Panchgani. One homestay option is Dala Rooster, run by Leena & Capt. Vikas Gokhale.

SAPUTARA

A four-hour drive from Mumbai via Nashik, Saputara is actually in Gujarat and is situated at an elevation of 1,000m. This means that it is positively crisp and cold during the winter. Saputara sits on a plateau of the Sahyadri range in the Dang forest area. The main draw is the Saputara Lake, and the popular Sunset Point around town is Gandhi Shikhar – a one-kilometre walk from the main town.
Apart from that, Saputara has been developed with a number of gardens and are also major tourist attractions – they include the Rose Garden, Step Garden and Lake Garden. There is also an artist village that features traditional pottery, metalwork and bamboo art. Visitors are encouraged to try their hands at making artefacts too.
Stay at: There are a few resorts to choose from, but most are vegetarian. And Gujarat is a dry state, so…

NASHIK AND SULA VINEYARDS

Snuck in the interiors of Maharashtra, Nashik gets very hot during the summer as it is not tempered by the sea. This means that it also get deliciously cold during winter.
Near Nashik and 160km from Mumbai are the Sula Vineyards. If you’re interested in wine, you’ll have a fantastic weekend and even if you’re not, a visit here will pique your interest.
An interesting tour takes you around the wine-producing facilities, and an artistically designed tasting room is where you can sample the produce, as you look out at the neat rows of vines. You can eat at the two restaurants on the premises: Little Italy and Soma.
Five kilometres away are the Someshwar falls, which are at their supple best even after the monsoon. You can also drive 24km from Sula and visit Trimbakeshwar, which is the source of the Godavari River. It enshrines one of the 12 jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered the main jyotirlinga.
Stay at: Nashik’s hotels run a gamut of budget options including a Ginger property. You can also stay in style at the Taj Gateway resort. Also, Sula Vineyards is home to Beyond, a luxurious property.

CHIPLUN

This little town, which most people use as a stop over on a drive to Goa, is 224km from Mumbai and should take a shade over four hours to reach.
It’s a quaint place with splendid river views. The fact that it is at an elevation and faces a river means that the temperature is always a few degrees below the places around. Visit the 700-year-old Parshuram Temple, which is a walking distance from the Riverview Resort. The walk here is easy and the temple itself, though now gaudily painted, is a showcase of ancient architecture.
The Sawatsada waterfall does not trickle out until after winter. So, it’s still a sight to see.
The Walavalkar Shivaji Museum has unique displays of the life and history of Shivaji. This is located at a distance of 30km from the Riverview Hotel towards Goa on the Mumbai-Goa highway. It’s a great place to experience and nature and history.
Stay at: Quality Resorts, The Riverview is a good place to call home for the weekend. There are also several budget options in the area.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Where do Thanekars love to chill out?

The quiet city of Thane boasts of several hangouts that are popular with both the youth and the elderly. Varsha Dugar visits four such places, which also offer a variety of entertainment options

Talao Pali

Located right in the heart of the city, this place offers a clean lake and boating as well. The shining horse carts, usually found in the evenings, give a retro feel to the place. Add a few small wheel rides for the kids and the place becomes a perfect evening destination for families.
On any given day, particularly on weekends, Talao Pali is teeming with people of all age groups. While the kids love to take rides and the young prefer boating, the elderly take a seat on one of the benches and enjoy the evening breeze.
The lovebirds too enjoy here as there are quite a few secluded spots on the Jambhlinaka side of Talao Pali. Restaurants, small eateries and stalls along the perimeter of the lake make Talao Pali a perfect hangout with your friends and family.

Panchpakhadi

For Thanekars, Panchpakhadi means food. Apart from food joints like Dominoes to Naturals and Café Coffee Day, this area also has restaurants that offer Chinese, North Indian, Italian and Mughlai cuisine. Thirty-year-old Thane resident Deepika Salgaokar says, “I like Panchpakhadi as it is a small secluded area with so many eateries around. I love the feel of the place.”

Hiranandani Meadows

This place is a hot favourite with youngsters in the city. While families prefer restaurants such as Kareem's, youngsters hang out at Aromas, the Coffee Lounge, Cafe Coffee Day and Subway. College student Sharleen Philips says,"This is a nice place for youngsters like me to spend the evenings."

Korum Mall

This mall on the Eastern Express Highway is a one-stop leisure destination. With its sprawling food court, restaurants, gaming zone and shops, Korum ranks high on the popularity chart. Within this mall, Pop Tate's is a favourite with those who like to have a drink in style. 'The unrestaurant' as its tagline says, is air-conditioned and part al fresco.

Friday, November 30, 2012

TOP 10 REGRETS

Not travelling enough top regret of our lives

Most people spend more than two hours a week dwelling on their regrets, finds study

    A study has found that there are six things that all of us would love to change in our lives, with the most common cause of remorse being not having travelled enough.
    More than half of those surveyed admitted that they wished they had made a different life choice at some point, like having a different career, living somewhere else or marrying someone else. A fifth of women regretted wasting time with the wrong partner as compared to 10% of men. But a quarter of the 2,000 participants said they did not believe it was possible to live a life without regrets, perhaps explaining why, on average, we spend 19 minutes per day — or more than two hours a week — thinking about things we could have done differently.
    More than a third of them blamed lack of cash for preventing them from fulfilling our dreams, while 25% think loved ones held them back. But 32% admitted that the blame lay with their own lack of courage, according to the research by the British Heart Foundation. “There seems to be a certain air of resignation amongst us that living out our dreams may simply not be possible for a variety of reasons,” Dr Gayle Brewer said.

THE TOP 10 REGRETS WERE:

Not travelling more Losing touch with pals
Not exercising enough
Not saving more money
Taking up smoking
Being lazy at school
Choice of career
Wasting years with the wrong partner
Eating unhealthily
Not asking more about our grandparents’ lives before they died

Unleash the traveller within you

Sunday, November 11, 2012

TOP 10 fire festivals around the world!

While we have our own festival of lights coming up, there are so many other places to watch the dark skies light up with colour. An online travel consultant has come up with the best fire festivals around the world.

Children play with sparklers on a fire festival

1. GUY FAWKES NIGHT (BONFIRE NIGHT) — ENGLAND Guy Fawkes Night (Nov 5) goes back to 1605 when Guy Fawkes, one of the members of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives in the House of Lords, London. With the plot to blow up the House of Lords — and kill King James I — foiled, Londoners lit bonfires around the city in celebration. This tradition continues to this day, and usually there’s an effigy of Guy Fawkes placed at the center of it.

2. DAIZENJI TAMATAREGU SHRINE’S ‘ONIYO’ — FUKUOKA, JAPAN Fukuoka hosts one of its oldest fire festivals. Daizenji Tamataregu Shrine’s ‘Oniyo’ (Fire Festival) is a ceremony to drive away evil spirits that has been practiced for 1,600 years. It's held in early January each year. A ‘devil fire’ that has been guarded at the temple is transferred — at around 9 p.m. on the seventh day (Jan. 7) — to six massive torches measuring one meter in diameter and 15 meters long. It’s considered to be good luck if embers or ash from the torches fall on them.

3. JEONGWOL DAEBOREUM DEULBUL FESTIVAL — JEJU, S. KOREA In early February, the Jeongwol Daeboreum Deulbul Festival takes place on the island of Jeju. It’s a fairly new festival, younger than 20 years old, but its origins go back to the time when families kept cows. To keep the grass grazeable, farmers set fire to the fields in the mountains to destroy old grass and kill harmful insects. Today, a hilltop is set alight to pray for health and a good harvest in the coming year. There's a torchlight march, strawrope making competition and deumdol (rock) lifting.

4. DIWALI — INDIA The best-known Hindu festival is known as the “Festival of Lights.” Diwali (or Deepavali) means ‘rows of lighted lamps’ and, during this time, houses, shops and public places are decorated with diyas (small earthenware oil lamps), elaborate feasts are prepared and spectacular fireworks displays light up the skies. The five-day festival (Nov. 13-17 this year) celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated throughout India and around the world.

5.. SAMHAIN 2012 Out of the Darkness — Altoona, Florida, USA. More than 500 pagans gather in Florida for the state's largest pagan festival. Running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 at Camp Ocala, each day is filled with feasting, rituals, drumming, dancing and live entertainment. The main ritual in 2012 is centered around the ‘Burning Times’ when so-called ‘witches’ were put to death.

6. QUEMA DEL DIABLO (BURNING OF THE DEVIL) — GUATEMALA In early December Guatemalans ready themselves for the Christmas season by...driving the devil from their homes and burning him in the streets! For centuries, the traditional ceremony has been performed to chase bad spirits from homes and neighborhoods. By watching bonfires, firework displays and burning devil figures in the streets, locals say they are spiritually cleansing themselves.

7. OTTERY ST MARY — DEVON, ENGLAND In the small town of Ottery St Mary, the bonfire and fireworks are not the focal point of the community’s celebrations. The local townspeople carry flaming barrels of tar through the streets. Traditionally, the barrels are set on fire at pubs and hotels around the town and a strict schedule is followed until midnight when the final barrel is carried in the square.

8. UP HELLY AA, LERWICK — SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND This festival is held on the last Tuesday of January (Jan 29 in 2013). Nearly 1,000 men march in ranks, carrying fencing posts topped in paraffin-soaked sacking. At 7.30 pm a rocket cresting over the Town Hall marks the start. Torches are lit, bands start playing and the men march with the Guizer Jarl (the head of the festival) who stands at the helm of a longship. Dragged to the burning site, the Guizer Jarl will leave his ship for it to be set alight. As the longship is engulfed by flames, the Vikings sing The Norseman's Home before heading to halls for feasts and warming drinks.

9. BONFIRE NIGHT — NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA When English and Irish people, in search of a better life, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Canada, they took their traditions with them. The English took Guy Fawkes Night, the Irish took Samhain and over time the traditions merged into Mischief Week. With a belief that certain types of naughty behavior (soaping windows, taking pins from gate hinges or stealing old tires for bonfires) is permitted at this time, many of Newfoundland & Labrador's close-knit communities hold bonfires and celebrations.

10. SADEH — IRAN Sadeh (or Jashn-e Sadeh) is an ancient Zoroastrian festival. It honors the discovery of fire that defeated the forces of darkness and cold. Traditionally, festivities went on for three days and gifts of food were given to the poor. Today, Zoroastrians light bonfires, perform religious rituals around them and thank God for his blessings. It's usually celebrated in the Kushk-e Varjavand gardens in Karaj.

Fireworks light up Guy Fawkes’ Night

Ping pong bars are the new craze in Britain

Several celebrities have become fans of a new tipsy table tennis fad, imported from America.
The fans of the ping pong bar include celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Mike Myers, Elle Macpherson, Scarlett Johansson and Pippa Middleton, who has even been to one on a date. In the heart of London, Bounce has 17 table tennis tables, a 40-feet-long bar, restaurant seating for 130 people, as well as a private members’ room. At £26 an hour for a table during peak times, it sounds pricey, but discounted prices are available for members. Well, it could be the next big hit in the social scene. Played at trendy club bars across Britain, it seems to enjoy a nicer profile than table tennis.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

In a first-of-its-kind event, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) in association with Times Innovative Media Ltd. (TIM) hosted a soirée in Cannes on October 22nd, 2012, which presented the advertising opportunities available at the airport

A flying start

DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LTD. MAKES ITS PRESENCE FELT AT CANNES

In a first-of-its-kind event, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) in association with Times Innovative Media Ltd. (TIM) hosted a soirée in Cannes on October 22nd, 2012, which presented the advertising opportunities available at the airport. The event that was held at the prestigious Hotel Majestic Barrière was attended by representatives of some of the world’s most renowned luxury brands.
    In recent years, the Indian economy has gained prominence on the world stage. The purchasing power of the middle class has grown by leaps and bounds. According to the Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study by Bain & Company 2012, luxury sales in India have grown by 25 per cent making it the new hotbed for luxury consumers.
    In such a booming scenario, DIAL has also emerged as a highly profitable retail space. A recent research report shows that sales at the airport have crossed USD 240 million in 2011, making it one of the biggest retail spaces in India. It also offers access to the ideal luxury consumer. Approximately, 80 per cent of the travellers are within the age group of 18-35 years of which 60 per cent are between 25-35 years. Out of the total number of travellers, 36 per cent are mid-tosenior level officers while 30 per cent represent businessmen and industrialists. “Over the last couple of years, we've realised that the success of the airport is based on a customer’s experience,” says Romy Juneja, Chief Commercial Officer, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited. “It’s become very product-centric. So, to make it experience-centric, we thought of developing a trinity function, i.e. the airport, the advertising/promotion company and the brand. If all three are in sync, it would be a win-win for us,” he says. Activities for the brands include activations for existing players in terms of new product launches or ongoing promotions, as well as presenting new brands at the airport.
    With the event at Cannes, the first of its kind organised by any airport in the world, one expects that more and more brands will explore India for business opportunities. Rohit Chopra, CEO, TIMDAA (a joint venture company incorporated by Delhi International Airport Ltd. and Times Innovative Media Ltd.) said, “In line with the long-term strategy to establish a forum to connect with global audiences, Times OOH showcased to global luxury brands the merits and opportunities available to advertise at Delhi International Airport Ltd. We are extremely pleased with the interest shown by the brands and expect to see their presence at the airport in the near future.”
OPTIONS GALORE 164 display options in T1 and 227 in T3 that include: Lightboxes Spectaculars Scrollers Totems Aerobridges 227 digital units 13 experience zones Sponsorshops (wall clocks and MATVs)

A view of T3

The Versace store at the airport

Romy Juneja addresses the audience

The TFWA World Exhibition 2012 heralded the start of its annual event by hosting a cocktail gathering at Palm Beach in Cannes

ATTENDED BY A RECORD NUMBER OF VISITORS, THE 28TH EDITION OF THE ANNUAL TAX FREE WORLD ASSOCIATION (TFWA) WORLD EXHIBITION HELD AT CANNES WAS AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS

The TFWA World Exhibition 2012 heralded the start of its annual event by hosting a cocktail gathering at Palm Beach in Cannes. A host of leisure activities such as golf, hiking, wine tasting, a workshop on perfumes and many more were planned for delegates on the day before the event, which served as an ideal networking platform.
    The exhibition and conference began on October 22nd at the Palais des Festivals, also the venue of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The year saw participation by 462 companies, who in turn presented an array of products across categories like fragrances and cosmetics, wine and spirits, fashion, accessories, fine foods and electronics. The event awarded visitors with an exclusive preview to a host of beauty launches set for release in 2013 including those by brands like La Prairie, Clarins, Art Deco, Guerlain, Cartier, Versace, Nina Ricci and Salvatore Ferragamo among others.
    In keeping with the latest technological advances, the venue witnessed the launch of new aids such as navigation touchscreens at exhibition villages, an online product show and various mobile apps. The number of trade visitors exceeded 6,000 rendering the exhibition and conference a grand success.
    Look out for the detailed event coverage in the December issue of
Time ’n Style Beauty.
FACT FILE A total of 462 companies exhibited at the event 70 per cent of the total exhibitors were key duty-free and travel retail operators The number of visitors surpassed 6,000 as opposed to 5,868 last year Visitors were seen from countries like France, UK, Germany, UAE, USA, Korea, Russia, Netherlands, Spain and Italy

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Gorakh Hill Station - Sindh Pakistan

Gorakh is an under-Development Hill Station of Sindh, Pakistan. It is situated at an elevation of 5,688 ft (1,734 m). in the Kirthar Mountains Range's Sindh Segment, 93 km north west of Dadu city. Gorakh Hill Station is situated on one of the highest plateaus of Sindh, spread over 2,500 acres (10 km2), and due its surroundings, a unique adventure point for nature lovers.

Funny Mice And Women

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Tourism gets a magical boost

About Magic Holidays

Magic Holidays (www.magicholidays.info) has a unique holiday programme. It is affiliated with the Resort Condominiums International (RCI) and offers access to over 4,500 destinations across the world
About Panoramic Group
The group (www.panoramicworld.biz) is a multinational conglomerate engaged in the business of hospitality, travel, tourism, and information technology since 1997
DNA Correspondent
Panoramic Group has aggressive business plans for its new vacation timeshare product, Magic Holidays.
The company has more than 21 resorts in India and abroad; seven are underconstruction.
“We are new in the Indian market, but have had a good year so far. We have grown more than five times the industry average and are now focusing on acquiring more resorts and hotels to give more options to our clients,” Hitesh Kshatriya, chief operating officer of Panoramic Group, said.
Travel experiences such as eco-tourism, adventure tourism, desert and jungle safaris will drive the growth in tourism industry. Accordingly, the group has acquired properties in Kaziranga, Pench, Kanha and Corbett National Park.
The group is upbeat about its future in the industry. It has identified more properties as part of its expansion plans.
The company, to increase its visibility, has been undertaking aggressive marketing drives.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Raghu Rai’s new exhibition has old favourites and new surprises. And all of them will click with India

Rai Here, Rai Now

Raghu Rai’s new exhibition has old favourites and new surprises. And all of them will click with India

UMBAIKARS ARE born opportunists. On a sliver of empty land in a Kala Ghoda bylane, they’ll dream up a bright, all-organic café. And 10 days later half the city, it seems, will have dropped in, chatted up a storm and polished off most of the food. Oh yes, everybody seizes the moment.
No wonder Raghu Rai feels right at home at The Pantry. The Magnum photographer, whose work has
appeared in Time, Newsweek, The
NewYorkTimes and National Geographic, didn’t get to where he was without seizing every moment too. Now nearly 70, Delhi-based Rai is in town for Tasveer and Vacheron Constantin’s show ‘Divine Moments’ at ICIA gallery. It showcases some 25 images from Rai’s 47-year career.
Seated by a window, nibbling on warm scones, almond cakes, lasagna and coffee, Rai turns time and again to the view outside. For a man who’s captured the India that Indians turn from, the Fort neighbourhood seems a good place for the mind to wander.
You’ve said you don’t like to exhibit, that people spend only five seconds with each photo. Yet here you are...
Exhibiting used to be difficult earlier. You took a few pictures, spent two months in the darkroom with each print... It was so much trouble, like marrying off your daughter. Now, everything’s digitised. You touch up your scans, press a button and a flawlessly beautiful print is made. More galleries now focus only on photography, making it easier.

Having said that, little has changed with audiences. Their mind’s eye is so pre-occupied, it doesn’t have the patience to read a photo. Read every inch of it. Why is it important? Because every little thing matters in this world. Or nothing matters.
Your first image, a shot of a donkey that won you acclaim at 23, is part of the show. What’s changed since?
I have come a long way from chasing that donkey! I am more passionate about taking pictures now than when I started. And I’ve been lucky to work with editors who’ve respected my understanding. Even my first editor at TheStatesman in 1965 (India’s most prestigious paper at the time) supported my choices because I came from the guts of reality. I spent another 10 years with
IndiaToday. Aroon Purie [the founder] and I grew together so we had a kind of intense relationship. Intense affairs are essential – without them you have nothing.
Your birthplace Jhhang, is now in Pakistan. Do you feel the need to document it with the same intensity?
I did in fact go back there, intending to take some pictures. But I was only four years old during Partition and have only a vague memory of a small lane, some 15-20 homes on either side, and our own threestorey at the end of the street. I went looking for it and I just couldn’t find it. But I had so much fun! Everybody there gave me some love and affection and chai. I think everything happened, except me discovering my house – and I absolutely loved it.
Do you remember every picture you’ve taken? Or do they all blend into one gigantic image of India?

I am a tough guy, you know? I shoot a lot but I am a ruthless editor and I only share with the world what I think has some magic moments, some energy. I don’t share everything with everyone. And in most cases I remember every picture. But unlike everyone else, I can’t pick a favourite. It’s like standing in front of a building, one you love and being asked, ‘Which is the most important brick in this building?’ I am a product of little and large experiences and even the little experiences matter to me. So I won’t revalue and devalue an image – each has contributed to my life.

FOCUSED ADVICE

On how to be invisible to your subject
“I’m a six-foot-tall man with a camera. I can’t hide myself. But there is something called body language. It’s a kind of stillness, a discipline you acquire so even when you’re shooting 100 people, no one looks at you.”
On how to take a good picture

“All those good pictures you’ve even seen in your life? Drop them from your memory, empty your head of them, and nature will provide you something fresh and unique. I think above all, a photograph should have the energy to live for itself.”
On how to better your talent

“Never ever be happy that you’ve found one intelligent thing in your frame. Keep at it and look for two, then three layers of meaning that compose your image. That’s when you will know you have something different from the rest.”

Nobel Memorial Wall at Delhi Metro stations The Wall will provide details of Nobel laureates and their contribution to the society

Nobel Memorial Wall at Delhi Metro stations

The Wall will provide details of Nobel laureates and their contribution to the society

New Delhi: Want to know about Nobel Laureates from India? Walk into Rajiv Chowk and Noida City Centre Metro stations before November 2.
The Embassy of Sweden and the Delhi Metro jointly inaugurated ‘The Nobel Memorial Wall’ at these stations to spread awareness about all the Nobel lLaureates from India.
The Indian Nobel laureates are being honoured as a part of the sixth edition of The Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week and a initiative undertaken by the DMRC.
DMRC chief Mangu Singh and Swedish ambassador to India Harald Sandberg unveiled the Nobel Wall.
“It is a matter of pride for us to host the Nobel Memorial Wall with the Embassy of Sweden to honour our Nobel laureates. The contributions of our Nobel laureates have given India recognition all over the world,” Singh said.
“I would like to thank DMRC for partnering with us in this initiative,” Sandberg said.
The Nobel Memorial Wall will have portraits of the seven Nobel laureates from India — Rabindranath Tagore, CV Raman, Hargobind Khorana, Mother Teresa, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Amartya Sen and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.
It also provide details about their contribution to society and a panel each on Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prizes. — PTI

Royalty to immortalise Mewar

Calling the idea of mere heritage passé , Udaipur’s reigning king Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar said, “We need to think beyond mere edifices or places and move on to thinking of an entire way of life as heritage.” He was talking to DNA soon after performing the traditional Ashwa Puja (horse worship) on Friday.
This is a tradition Mewar’s royal family has been observing since 743 AD. “Our traditions, rituals, arts, architecture, food, weaves and language are all interconnected and closely linked. Isolating any one of them can only take way from the holistic feel of them put together.”
He announced how the royal family in conjunction with UNESCO was organising a special conference by November end to look at the concept of living heritage. “We plan to organise it at the City Palace and want this to become a movement.” He also said a special performing arts concert was being planned.
According to him, unless people who are passionate about heritage come together to preserve living heritage, there is little hope for the survival of the rich legacy of a country’s heritage or its history. “The architectural splendour to ruin and history will be forgotten. It is a bounden duty of our generation to keep this going and help the youngsters establish a connect with their roots.” He felt India offers the right kind of space for the concept of living heritage.
“The moment you say something is only historical, people lose interest. It is necessary to contextualise this in as contemporary a way as possible.”
The monarch, who is a known foodie and cook, said he had plans to bring out a cook book too. When asked about the numerous scams unfolding these days he said, “I don’t want to take names. It does, however, seem silly now that royals were vilified and made to look like feudal exploiters by those who chose to abolish the privy purse. They have themselves emerged as much worse and their greed knows no bounds.”
Earlier, as a part of the Shakti Parva celebrations, a grand parade followed by a puja was organised at Udaipur’s Manak Chowk in the City Palace Complex. Ashwa puja and shastra puja were performed by the monarch who was joined by his son, prince Lakshyaraj Singh.