MUMBAI SET TO GROOVE TILL 5 AM TONIGHT

MUMBAI SET TO GROOVE TILL 5 AM TONIGHT





Folks hope this will bring the city's quintessential party mojo back...

Tonight you can let your hair down and party way past mid night to welcome the New Year as parties in Mumbai hotels, bars and pubs will be allowed to go on till 5 am.The party deadline has been extended and this has put the beat back into the city's party step. Affirms Mumbai police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni, “The 5 am deadline is in place for tonight. Clubs will also be allowed to play music till midnight, but permission for this has to be sought from the local police station.“ For revellers -who are regular party hoppers, this ruling is not just a welcome measure, but signifies the hope of a return to the good old times.

`HIGH TIME THIS HAPPENED!'

“This reminds me of what Mumbai used to be, when I came here 10 years ago,“ says VJ Andy . “I think the legendary party vibe is coming back and here's hoping it stays. Let's not forget, Mumbai is a transit city , a place where people from all over the globe connect, so it's high time this happened. I'm definitely going to be partying till 5 am,“ he declares.
For hospitality head honcho Rishi Acharya the upcoming time limit is a welcome thing. “Here's hoping this permission will change things. After all, this is what Mumbai is about.Compared to other places, it is this city that has an international flavourvibe. Delhi is more about farmhouse and restaurants, but Mumbai is about people going out, socialising and clubbing. It's all this that makes the city what it is.Maybe this is the change Mumbai needs; why restrict to just this time of the year?“ he says..

PARTYING WAS ALWAYS AN ALL-NIGHT AFFAIR

Adman and party regular Kailash Surendranath who admits he's seen the nightlife change in the city over the years recalls the difference between now and then. “Partying in Mumbai was always an all-night affair; this really was the `city that never sleeps'.“ He says, “I remember one night in December when we did clubhopping and then everyone went to eat something at Haji Ali. I have seen people having a party in the middle of the traffic island there. Cars were parked and people were dancing.Everything was just so lively and free. The whole transformation in nightlife happened after a series of unfortunate incidents, and it changed things. But crimes aren't really happening in clubs. And as far drinking and driving goes, it happens in any case. So I feel allowing an easy deadline should not just be with respect to New Year's Eve, but it should happen through the year.“

AT A GLANCE

The excise department has allowed all types of permit rooms and liquor shops to continue till 5am and 1am, respectively, on January 1.
Those partying at home will be able to buy liquor from shops till 1am instead of the usual 10.30pm.

BOAT CRUISES ARE BACK

City party planners also welcome the comeback of the `dinner cruise ferries' from Gateway of India.They are set to leave from Gateway of India post 9 pm, for the first time since 2008. “The New Year party idea was actually born on these cruises more than a decade ago. The huge barges with loudspeakers were quite a thing back then, so it's great to have them back -this is what Mumbai should be all about. The boats are a great venue to party and you can have different themes in the cruise party . People do house parties and clubbing round the year anyway , so this is a new venue to enjoy,“ says party planner Dhawal Oza.

Vulture breeding centre in turmoil

Vulture breeding centre in turmoil

Indecisive future | BNHS and forest department are unsure about its development in Thane District and Malabar Hill

Thane: The first vulture breeding centre, which was about to come up in Thane district and Malabar Hill, is in turmoil as Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the state forest department are unsure about its development. The ambitious project was approved and announced by the forest department at Dahanu and at Malabar Hill in Mumbai, in collaboration with the BNHS, which has its three vulture breeding centre, of which one is at Pinjore in Haryana. The BNHS and the forest department are in confusion regarding one of the mega moves to protect vultures as its population has declined from four crore in 80s to just a lakh in the country. The project was designed to allow vultures to breed within an aviary, from where they would be later released into the wild. The centre was to have 25 pairs each of the long-billed and white-backed vulture species. The BNHS had also proposed to manage the daily activities. As per senior officials from the forest department, the project was proposed by the BNHS and they had allotted the spots. “Of which, the Dahanu and Malabar Hill were proposed as small centres. The project’s estimated cost stood at Rs1 crore,” said an official. “We did receive correspondence and after that, we have been not intimated about its development. We will again speak to the authorities regarding the project’s development,” said Dr Mohan Jha, additional principal chief conservator of forest, western region. While BNHS officials have expressed their surety about their plans, but the vulture breeding centre is yet to get clearances. Atul Sathe, spokesperson from BNHS, said, “We cannot start the project until the assurance from the forest department. Only if they agree to fund the project and approve it, can we take a step forward.”

GVK Lounge at T2 is World’s Best First Class Lounge

GVK Lounge at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai, has been selected as the ‘World’s Leading Airport Lounge — First Class 2015’ at the recently concluded World Travel Awards in Morocco. The GVK Lounge qualified for nomination in the world category by virtue of winning the award for ‘Asia’s Leading Airport Lounge’ at the ‘World Travel Awards - Asia and Australasia’ in Hong Kong on October 29, 2015.

The 22nd edition of World Travel Awards was held in Hong Kong, with more than 500,000 unique votes cast by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers this year which led to GVK Lounge emerging as Asia’s leading Airport Lounge.

GVK Lounge is the first airport lounge to have made luxury accessible to First class and business class travellers. From concierge services to a world-class spa and more, the lounge is elegant both in its ambience and amenities.

Spread across an area of 30,000 sq. ft. across two levels, the GVK Lounge is located in Terminal 2 was inaugurated in November last year. The lounge has a seating capacity of 440 spread over lounge seating area, bar seating and dining area with live kitchen. GVK Lounge also provides passengers updated information on the Airport Flight information screens located in the Lounge.

Travel tales 2015

We track the trends that have made an impact and are likely to shape the future, too

Travelling to a new place isn’t just about signing on for a pre-planned tours anymore. The new-age traveller wants a fulfilling experience. Something that goes beyond a few pictures clicked at popular spots. Internet has changed the way people travel. Whether it’s about getting a good deal on air tickets or finding cheap accommodation, you can do it all sitting in the comfort of your home. Here are the trends that have influenced the way we travel... Digital detox gains momentum Holidaymakers abroad have now come up with the concept of going on a digital detox vacation where you leave behind all your gadgets including your cell phone. The trend has caught on foreign shores and is slowly gaining popularity here too. And looking at the current trend, the demand for vacations where you unplug completely is only likely to grow. With holiday packages becoming more personalised, tour mangers too are encouraging people to leave their gadgets behind and enjoy the nature. Those who offer these kind of holidays also let you indulge in activities like campfires or even star-gazing that has people turning away from their gadgets. Rise and rise of the solo travellers If 2014 that saw the rise of the solo traveller, but it was 2015 that saw them scale further heights. The solo travellers explored not just the usual destinations, but also found their way into the lesser knows destination and brought them into focus. With the young stepping out to explore the culture around the world, it’s obvious that they don’t want their time off to be ruled by time-bound schedules and cursory pitstops at a few places. Looking at the current trend, 2016 is only going to see the solo traveller exploring some more destinations that are waiting to be explored. Selfie stick bans These are some of the places where tourists cannot carry their selfie sticks — all Disney parks, music festival Lollapalooza, the Sistine Chapel (Vatican City), Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada), The Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), The Palace Museum (Beijing), Garoupe Beach (France) Running of the Bulls (Pamplona) and at Rome’s Colosseum among other places. At most of these places selfie sticks were banned because of the fear that they could harm people or artefacts. Apart from this, there have been various incidents where people have harmed themselves while clicking selfies. While eight people have lost their lives because of a shark attack this year, 12 people have died using a selfie stick in the same amount of time. That should be enough to tell us why this popular device is being banned at many tourist spots as well as events. Rise of collaborative consumption We live in a world where a ride-hailing app doesn’t need to actually own any vehicles, and a home-renting service doesn’t own any hotels of their own. The sharing economy (or collaborative consumption) has made a massive impact and is changing the way we travel. And while it may not show at the moment, especially in India, but eventually it will change things for the bigger enterprises too, like hotels who may in the future offer more perks to those checking in. Be it corporate or personal travel, both Uber and Airbnb have had a huge impact on the way people tread across the globe. It has helped those with resources maximise their profits, while it has helped travellers manage the budget aspect of their journey. The tech-savvy traveller now has many reasons to love his/her gadgets. Virtual travel While some look at it armchair travel, others are hoping this will give travellers a glimpse of what they may expect when they take off. More than one company has jumped into the fray to develop devices that will help people reach different destination from the comfort of their homes. A lot of travel companies are using this very technology to encourage people to travel by giving them a glimpse of what they can expect and thereby building anticipation. Recently, a hotel used this very technology and set up a phone booth-like structure to give people a taste of this 4-D sensory experience. Experience-based tourism The new traveller doesn’t just want to go to a place, check out a few things and come back home. Those who now travel across the globe want to come back with memories that go just beyond a few photographs or souvenirs. People now look forward to trying things that won’t need them to spend too long, but at the same time would add to their experience. For example, it’s Belgium you are visiting then spending an afternoon participating a chocolate-making is a great idea. On home front, places like Sikkim, offer you week-long classes to learn to make momos, not to mention the yoga classes in Hrishikesh. They have been around for a while, but many people are now sitting up and taking note of it. It’s a WiFi world In a recent survey, around 67 per cent of guests said free WiFi would make them choose one hotel over another. In fact, free and fast WiFi, has ranked even above clean beds, room service and a quiet night’s sleep. And that’s being recognised in our country too. Tourists visiting the Taj Mahal can now access WiFi service for free for the first 30 minutes. After free usage limit of 30 minutes, a customer can continue using the service on paid basis for which subscription plans are available in various denominations. Guests who require access to WiFi said they use it for looking up directions, checking work emails, and scouting around for travel tips. BOOKING FUNDAS According to many surveys, Tuesday is a good day to book your flights as you are likely to shell out a higher sum if you buy your tickets over the weekend. This and many such theories are floating around to help decode the best way possible to avoid a huge dent in your wallet. With many private players in the fray, the demand is being met with adequate supply. And that is mainly the reason that the tickets for return trip to Delhi can be obtained for around `5,000 if you book at the right time. Besides the Tuesday factor, the current trends indicate that it’s best to book at least seven days prior to your date of travel. Tourists have realised that booking tickets and hotel room at the same time on the net may save you a bundle of cash. Keep an eye out for these deals in 2016.

Ditch the party, camp out with your partner instead





Here are some interesting outdoor options for couples this New Year's Eve

If party-hopping isn't on your list this New Year's Eve, there are many exciting things to add to your calendar to ensure that the start of your year is as rocking as your neighbour's who has plans of dancing the night away .

 HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE

A hot air balloon ride is a great way to get the perfect view of the city and spend time away from the chaos.Not too far away from Mumbai, you can go on a balloon ride at Kamshet. The operating group offers morning rides, so ensure you have the entire day planned. The ride depends on the course of the wind on that particular day . The favourable season extends till the month of April. It's a treat to watch the sun rising and to get a bird's-eye view of the valley. If you're lucky to have a river in your route, the pilot flies low over the water to add to the experience.

CAMPING AND STARGAZING

December is a great time for stargazing since this is when the sky is clearer. And if you do not like to be stuck on a crowded dance floor, opt for outdoor trekking where you can lie down and watch the stars. And winter can turn that stargazing-camping night out into a super romantic date. We suggest a picnic under the stars -pitch a tent in a clear area, set up a campfire and blankets and have that special dinner under the sky . The serene location, coupled with good food and music, equals to an ideal date. For those wanting to pop the question too, the time is perfect. Locations you can consider for the date are Kelve, a few kilometres away from Virar and Vangani near Karjat.

BIKE RIDE

If you've been longing for a bike ride with your beau, then this is the perfect time. Pull out your leather jacket, biker boots and you're set. Besides, ditching a crowded party and going for a ride with your guy is quite romantic. The Konkan belt is a great stretch to make your ride a memorable one. And what makes it even more exciting is that every pit stop on this green belt is not less than picture-perfect, giving great opportunities to capture the moments. Plan a weekend ride to Harihareshwar or Shrivardhan, both located in Raigad district and are exciting scenic stretches.

CRUISE

A romantic dinner on a cruise is such a wonderful way to usher in the New Year.
The Gateway of India has plans of starting cruise rides this year.Book a ticket for two and sail with your beloved under the moonlight, after 9 pm. With live entertainment, food and a lot of merry making, the double-decker boat -that had been stopped since 2008 -is sure to make your night a memorable one. The boats are said to have different dinner tiers and guests have to carry photo IDs.

PAINTBALL

Want to the bid the year goodbye on a fun note? Paintball spells out exhilarating time, especially if you have great company . Since this is that time of the year to leave behind all those ill feelings, what better way than to shoot paint balls, which makes for a great `venting out' activity! The hide-and-seek with the capsule gun is a high-spirited game and a great way to ease out the pressures you've dealt with through the year -meeting deadlines, reaching targets and more. Paintball can also be played in a group, where colour capsules are aimed at the opposite team members.

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the 51-foot high, Lord Shiva statue at Shiva Mandir in Kolkata on Sunday

Lord Shiva statue at Shiva Mandir in Kolkata

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates the 51-foot high, Lord Shiva statue at Shiva Mandir in Kolkata on Sunday

Planning to hire? Here’s a website for due diligence

Fourth Force is an online platform that enables investigation and verification of the background of an individual that can help pre-empt and reduce fraud and criminal intent during recruitment and marriage. Dr. Kassim Saleem Ali, Chairman & Managing Director, Fourth Force speaks to Krishna Bahirwani about the need for Fourth Force.

What inspired you to start Fourth Force?
In a complex country like India, background verification is a key factor to avoid bad hiring across various sectors. The proportion of the background verification sector is very wide and has its impact on the economy given the number of employment opportunities that are created. A bad hire is a loss to the economy and also to the nation. It is not good for the organisation to be populated with a wrong set of people. Hence we felt that there is the need for an organisation that can bring competencies, capabilities and technology to arm the employer with 100% goof-proof background information that will help them make 100% goof-proof hires.

Why the name Fourth Force?
India has three forces which guard the nation against all odds. Fourth Force is the fourth force which will guard the nation against goof-proof hires. Our core strength of the organization is its human resources which comprises of very highly qualified and experienced retired police officers with proven integrity who have worked in premier investigating agencies of the country like Central Bureau of Investigation, RAW, IB as well as State Police for a period of over 3 to 4 decades.

How does the process of verification work? 
 It is a web based verification process where details for verification will be sent to the concerned territorial verification officer. The territorial verification officer after verification shall upload the result of verification which after scrutiny by concerned state head and zonal head sent to the customer. With a complete team of experienced ex-police officers who have served a minimum of 35 to 40 years is what makes Fourth Force effective in thorough background verification. Having a Pan-India foot print, the process of authentication is more solid and effective in mapping recruits across key industries like BFSI, Telecom, Corporate, Retail, etc.

Are individuals made aware of the fact that they are being verified?
Yes they would be aware. What kind of a team do you have in place in Mumbai and Maharashtra?
We have zonal head at Maharashtra looking after Maharashtra and Gujarat. We have state heads for both the states and corresponding number of territorial verification officers in both the states.

National Transplant Games ’15 sees 200 participants display flexibility

Just seven months after his kidney transplant, 10-year-old Adil Shaikh from the city not only participated in the National Transplant Games 2015 but also won the second position in the 100m race in children’s category.

The game, in its seventh year, saw the participation of over 200 liver and kidney transplant recipients and donors on Sunday morning. The event was conducted by Dadar-based Narmada Kidney Foundation Trust.

Adil’s father Arif said he suffered from kidney dysfunction from a very early age. The problem got aggravated last year and he had to to be kept on dialysis for six months. On May 23, 2015, he underwent kidney transplant surgery. His grandmother Khurshid (60) was the donor and the surgery took place at Bombay Hospital. “It is happy to see Adil win the competition. Before the transplant, he couldn’t play like a normal child,” said Arif.

At the event, games such as race, table tennis, carrom and rifle shooting were organised. According to the organisers, the aim of the event was to show that life could be normal after the transplant, both for the donor and the recipient.

Riya Parekh (14), who secured 1st position in the 100m race in under-20 category, had undergone kidney transplant four years ago. Her mother Shruti (38), who donated the kidney to her, also participated and won first position in 21-50 category.

“Riya faced this problem due to a high polio vaccine dose. After proper detection, it was found that she was suffering from weakness due to calcium deficiency. After the transplant, we both are fine and take a healthy diet. She gave her exams three months after the surgery and did very well. We both go to swimming classes and Riya actively participates in various outdoor events,” said Shruti.

The Narmada Kidney Foundation Trust has been conducting prevention camps to create awareness about kidney and liver problems and the ways to deal with them. Dr Bharat Shah, founder of the trust, said, “The objective of these games is to demonstrate the success of organ transplants and to show how donors continue to remain fit afterwards. People are scared to undergo surgery. This event is also a platform for interaction among kidney and liver transplant patients and their families.”

Open space-starved Mumbai city may have artificial beach

Open space-starved city may have artificial beach

Life’s a beach | If the plan works out, reclamation will be resorted to for the sole purpose of creating an aesthetic public space

If this plan manages to make that leap from the drawing board to reality, open space-starved Mumbai may soon have an artificial beach off the iconic Queen’s Necklace for people to relax and recreate. The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) is considering developing an artificial beach in Mumbai off the Marine Drive promenade. If the plan bears fruition, it may be for the first time in recent years that reclamation is being resorted to for the sole purpose of creating public spaces such as a beach and for adding to its aesthetics. Mumbai, originally made up of seven islands, has seen waves of reclamations, both legal and illegal. However, most of these projects, such as the controversial post-Independence Backbay Reclamation scheme, were to house the city’s burgeoning population and commercial purposes. Mumbai’s area has increased from 437.37 sq km in 1991 to 482 sq km now due to the reclamations and years of silting by the sea. An official said the beach could come up after the Girgaon Chowpatty stretch just off the Marine Drive. “This has been suggested by our consultants and further approvals will be needed,” he said. The tetrapods that currently dot the shoreline on the stretch can be replaced with an artificially nourished beach and soft solutions such as geobags containing a mixture of sand and water can be put up at a distance of around half to 1 km from the shore to break the wave flow and prevent shore erosion. These geobags, which break the force of currents and reduce wave pressure on the coastline, are environment-friendly and last longer than the conventional solutions such as tetrapods. Alternative solutions may include a reef bay being laid on the seabed to prevent waves from eating into the sea shore by reducing their impact. “The construction of this artificial beach can be undertaken from the sea side without disturbing traffic on the busy and arterial Marine Drive stretch,” the official said, adding that the proposed beach would have a lot of entry and exit points and ramps to allow access to people. Despite being an emerging international city and global financial hub, Mumbai is woefully short when it comes to open spaces. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, with 2,968 hectares of open space, Mumbai has per capita open space of 2.48 sqm, which is lower when compared to global cities such as New York. This figure dwindles further down to 0.88 sqm in some areas, since most open spaces are built upon, not in use, or allow only restricted entry.

Real Photograph of Mastani

Real Photograph of Mastani

Real Photograph of Mastani

 Bajirao Mastani yet to be released, but Pabal’s already a hit

In Love with history | Lots of people are flocking to the village where Mastani’s tomb is situated | Watching movie after seeing the place will be exciting, says a visitor



Drive a few kilometres ahead of Pune on the road to Nagar and ask the way to Pabal.

You’ll get clear directions to Mastani’s tomb, which the village houses. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani is yet to hit the screens, but it has already turned this quaint village on the outskirts of Pune into a hit.

As the release date of the Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone starrer nears, the number of people visiting the place has shot up so much that villagers tell any outsider entering Pabal: “Mastani’s dargah is this way.”

“People are coming from all over. With the movie making so much buzz, people want to know more about Mastani. This grave has shot Pabal into the limelight, too,” says Mohammad Inamdar, whose family has been looking after the tomb for generations.

Located around 60 km from Pune, Mastani’s 275-year-old tomb is housed in the middle of a courtyard, surrounded by a boundary wall and three doors.

One end of the courtyard has an elevated platform, which is used for namaz. One of the walls has Mastani’s painting, too. According to local villagers, Muslims call the place ‘Mastani chi Masjid’ and Hindus ‘Mastani’s Samadhi’.

The courtyard is still under renovation and recently got a fresh coat of paint. In the middle of the courtyard is a stone tomb, where Mastani was buried over two centuries ago. Next to the tomb stands a diya kund (lamp), which Inamdar lights every day.

“Since the movie is making so much buzz, I thought of visiting Mastani’s grave. It’s fascinating that such an old love story is still alive. The painting and the grave rekindle the mystery around Mastani. Watching the movie after visiting Pabal will be more exciting,” says Vaibhav Saklani, an entrepreneur from Hrishikesh.

Historians say Mastani was the second wife of Peshwa Bajirao I of the Maratha Empire. Legend goes that the king of Bundelkhand, Maharaja Chhatrasal was attacked by Mohammad Khan Bangash. Chhatrasal sought the help of Bajirao I, who rescued the king.

In return, Chhatrasal gifted Bajirao I, a third of his empire as well as his daughter, Mastani, born of his Persian wife Ruhani Bai.

Though Bajirao was already married to Kashi Bai, he married Mastani, too. However, since she was a Muslim, she was not welcomed by the Bajirao family. Though she stayed at Mastani Mahal in Pune’s Shaniwarwada, she was later shifted to a palace, specially made for her in Pabal.

While the grave was in complete ruins, the state archaeology department started restoration work after miscreants dug it up in 2009.

“Some records also say that Mastani was on her way to meet Bajirao, who was holed up further north. It’s true that she died at Pabal, where her samadhi/tomb stands today,” says Pandurang Balkawde, a Pune-based historian.

Locals said the tomb was dug up when people tried to find a diamond that Mastani swallowed to commit suicide.

Testimony to an ever-lasting love story, Mastani’s tomb is now a weekend getaway, too.

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Venice, Italy - LA BEFANA

LA BEFANA
When: January 6, 2016
Where: Venice, Italy
Italy's traditional celebration includes the tale of a witch known as La Befana who arrives on her broomstick during the night of January 5 and fills the stockings with toys and sweets for the good children and lumps of coal for the bad ones.According to the legend, the night before the three Wise Men arrived (the 12th day post Christmas) at the manger they stopped at the shack of an old woman to ask directions. They invited her to come along but she replied that she was too busy . Then a shepherd asked her to join him but again she refused. Later that night, she saw a great light in the sky and decided to join the Wise Men and the shepherd bearing gifts that had belonged to her child who had died. 

NEW ZEALAND ARTS FESTIVAL
When: February 26March 20, 2016
Where: Wellington, New Zealand
The New Zealand International Arts Festival is a biennial multi-arts festival held in the nation's capital, Wellington. It is New Zealand's premier and largest cultural event and exists to celebrate the best arts entertainment from around the world and within New Zealand. The biennial arts festival presents local and international artistic events with theatre, opera, music, dance, literature and other performing and visual arts. As the organisers prepare to celebrate their 30th birthday, there are some exciting and interesting artists lineup and events. Wellington enjoys more cafés, bars and restaurants per capita than New York City, so you can fuel your festival experience with the tastiest local food, craft beers and wine. 


MUMMERS PARADE
When: January 1, 2016
Where: Philadelphia, USA
The Philadelphia Mummers Parade features unique costumes, music and pageantry .Crowds line Broad Street, from South Philadelphia straight through Centre City . The climax of the parade takes place at City Hall and the PA Convention Center where the official judging takes place. The parade itself is one of the longest running traditions in the country . The parade began in 1900s as an official event for the city; however the parade has been going on since the 1800s as a way to celebrate the New Year. Watch this annual Philadelphia tradition as the unique and charismatic Mummers strut along Broad Street celebrating the New Year. The colourful and extravagant costumes and performances are judged at the Fancy Brigade at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Lillehammer, Norway WINTER YOUTH OLYMPICS

WINTER YOUTH OLYMPICS
When: February 1221, 2016
Where: Lillehammer, Norway
The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) is an international multi-sport event organised by the International Olympic Committee. The games are held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format. In Lillehammer, the twin ski jumping hill of Lysgårdsbakken has a spectator capacity of 35,000. Lysgårdsbakken has a hill size of 138 and a K-point of 120, while the normal hill has a hill size of 100 and a K-point of 90. Birkebeineren Ski Stadium will host cross-country skiing, biathlon and Nordic combined, with the stadium itself having a capacity for 31,000 spectators during cross-country skiing and 13,500 during biathlon. In addition, spectators could watch from along the tracks. 

Osaka LIGHT FESTIVAL

 
LIGHT FESTIVAL
When: Till January 17, 2016
Where: Osaka 

During the `Festival of the light in Osaka', various programs will be held, including cruises on an illuminated boat, a fountain in a port, and a music and light show, in addition to the two core programs of `Osaka Hikari-Renaissance, a colourful illumination held in the Nakanoshima area, and the `Midosuji Illumination', which decorates Midosuji Street with illuminations in various colours. Osaka City Central Public Hall will become the stage of light and music show. The magnificent sight of the large-scale 3D images projected on the wall of the neo-renaissance styled historic architecture will take your breath away . So get ready to be enthralled by what Osaka has to offer. 

Empire State Building in NY has tourists flocking during sunset hour

Empire State Building in NY has tourists flocking during sunset hour

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING PREMISE Region: New York
Viewing the sunset at the top of the Empire State Building is considered spectacular by tourists who visit New York and surely, there's reason to follow suit.
We suggest you either watch the building begin to light up during sunset from the premises or move right in and stand at the 86th Floor Observatory 1,050 feet above Manhattan, and imbibe the vibe around. There will be many other tourists, so you can exchange notes.
Brace the winds and make a note of the sunset time (which can be early in the winter months).Once here, take a nice walk around the Observation Deck for 360 degree views of the city. Keep your camera ready as when the sun would melt down the horizon, mesmerising display of burnt oranges and reds will spread across the skyline. Stay there and as darkness falls, the lights of New York's skyscrapers and buildings will flicker on. You can enjoy both the sunset and post sunset's twinkling night lights.
The Empire State is an observatory . You can take a moment to admire the Art Deco interior of the foyer. Indian tourists are known to liven up their touristy experiences with natural settings. When you visit New York, include the Empire State visit in your itinerary during sunset. This way , you can get to see the New York City skyline in daylight, at dusk and at night time, giving you the best of both worlds.





GET FIT AMIDST NATURE Region: Kuta, Jakarta

GET FIT AMIDST NATURE Region: Kuta, Jakarta
How about working your muscles at sunset time by leisurely strolling on a soft-sand beach. Now do this each day of your holiday . You will be surprised with the resistance that sand can build up whilst also toning your muscles. That's how the Health Retreats in Kuta get you to complement sunset beach walks with a game of Beach Volleyball. Walk as much as possible and have an active swim once a day . Of course, a relaxing Balinese massage follows... Jakarta's leading wellness gurus believe that the sun's movements hold the secret to good health.They preach what the locals do -Swim, hike, surf, do yoga and take a circuitous scenic heritage route in sync with the sunrise and sunset.

angkor vat temple sunset picturesque

angkor vat temple sunset picturesque

Vivek Razdan

 Stories from a legend’s debut

It was on 15th November, 1989, that maestro made his first Test appearance against Pakistan in Karachi. It was also pacer Vivek Razdan’s international beginning. The fast bowler relives the tour that saw the birth of a megastar

In a team that had some of the big stars of Indian cricket including Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and K Srikkanth, three debutants made the squad for the all-important tour of Pakistan in November-December 1989.

Fast bowlers Vivek Razdan, Salil Ankola and 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who had by then made a record of sorts by scoring a century in each of his Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup debuts, went different directions as far as their international careers were concerned since that tour across the border.

While Ankola’s only Test appearance was also Tendulkar’s debut match in Karachi from November 15-19, Razdan played in only two Tests (in Faisalabad and Sialkot). And, Tendulkar went on to play for almost 25 years, setting nearly every batting record that one can imagine.

Razdan first met Tendulkar at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 1987-88 and the manner in which the little teenager batted in the nets, he knew that here was someone special.

“The way he batted against us when some of the senior (Tamil Nadu) cricketers avoided to face us at the Pace Foundation, we knew he was different to all other boys of his age at that time,” Razdan, 46 and a commentator in domestic matches, recalls.

The Pakistani public was curious to look at a 16-year-old boy who was out to take on the giants like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Abdul Qadir among others.

“The day after we landed in Lahore, we played a benefit game to raise funds for Imran Khan’s hospital. Wherever we went, the buzz was around because everybody was so anxious to look at the 16-year-old schoolboy who was picked for that tour of Pakistan, which probably was one of the best teams ever. The buzz was equally about India having three debutants. We could feel it,” says Razdan.

From boy to man

After intensely-fought first three Tests, all ending in draws, Pakistan were desperate to win the fourth and final game at Sialkot, where Tendulkar was felled by a Waqar Younis bouncer. Razdan remembers how Tendulkar even rejected Imran’s offer to go inside, take rest and come back to bat again.

“Pakistan were hell-bent on winning the final Test and the series. A green wicket was prepared in Sialkot. There was a lot of juice on the surface. For the first time in the series, we were able to take the first innings lead. India made 324 and Pakistan, 250. In no time, we were 38/4 in the second innings and we a day to bat. That’s when the Waqar incident happened.

“Those days, Sachin did not wear a visor. He was lucky. The ball could have hit him straight on the face. Luckily, it hit the flap of the helmet and went right on to the nose. He started bleeding. Salil was the 12th man. He and the doctor rushed in.

Even Imran said, ‘chote, chot lag gayi hain. Chalo, baad mein aajana (Boy, you are hurt. Go in and come later). Sachin insisted that this was not the time to go out. ‘My team needs me outside at the moment’. The way he and Sherry (Navjot Singh Sidhu made 97) batted, despatching Waqar for a couple of boundaries was remarkable. Sachin made 57 and that was a special knock in the drawn encounter. That was an indication that something big was about to happen.

“In our families, 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds are spoon-fed by parents and here was a 16-year-old away from his family, all alone, with that passion and thought process of ‘the team needing me’ instead of thinking about blood. That moment transformed the boy into a man. The grit and determination he showed gave us enough indication of what was to come. Obviously at that time we did not know he would go on to play 200 Tests. But we knew he was a special talent, a special boy,” Razdan, who took 5//79 in that Sialkot Test and was never to play again, says.

If Tendulkar had passed the baptism by fire in flying colours, he showed the world that he meant business in that exhibition match in Peshawar after the scheduled ODI had to be called off.

Razdan recollects: “Before Sachin took on Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over en route to 18-ball 53, it was 19-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed, who was hit for two sixes in an over earlier. And, Sachin could really hit long, even for a 16-year-old.

One of the sixes landed in the second tier of the stadium. Qadir then said “Bachche ko kya marte ho? Mujhe marke dikhao.” (Why are you hitting a youngster? Hit me). When Qadir came to bowl, he hit him for four sixes in an over. Qadir clapped at him at the end of the over, took his cap and came out of the ground. Such kind of a knock was unheard of in those days. These were glimpses that showed you this guy was different.”

Doubts after failure

Tendulkar has often said that after making 15 on his Test debut, he had doubts if he’d play another Test. But Razdan says that the feeling one got in the team was that Tendulkar would play all the four Tests.

“The best thing about Sachin was right from the first day he knew he would be in the playing XI. That gives you a lot of confidence, regardless of what happens. Right from the word go, the team was formed with Sachin in it. He made 15 in his debut innings and probably as a cricketer, he’d be thinking he’d not play again. But the feeling in the dressing room was that when you take a 16-year-old, there is no point in keeping him out. With all the buzz and the atmosphere, it would be unfair to drop a player after scoring just 15 in the first innings,” remembers Razdan.

Getting better each time

Within a month of returning from Pakistan, Razdan was on the flight to New Zealand with Tendulkar and the rest of the Indian team led by Mohammed Azharuddin.

Tendulkar came close to becoming the youngest to score a Test hundred. At McClean Park, Napier, Tendulkar fell for 88. Razdan remembers how inconsolable Tendulkar was at missing the chance of scoring his maiden Test 100 in only his sixth Test.

“You could see how hurt he was feeling on missing out on the opportunity. Even Kapil paaji tried to console him. After that, however, in his next tour to England, he scored his first 100 at Old Trafford. With each series, he was much tougher and gaining experience,” says Razdan, who played in the tour games in New Zealand.

Razdan, who is seen carrying Tendulkar off the ground during one of the games in New Zealand, says he was heavier than he actually looks.

“In an one-dayer in New Zealand, Sachin had cramps. As I was not playing, I rushed to help him out. We called for a stretcher but it took a long time to come. As Sachin was limping, he said to me ‘why don’t you lift me up’. He was very heavy, bone heavy. When I was taking him halfway down the ground, I saw the stretcher coming and said ‘I’ll put you on the stretcher’. He said, ‘No, no, I am comfortable’. I said, ‘you may be comfortable but I am not, and if I carry you further, I will need the stretcher.’ He put his arm around my neck and was so comfortably sitting in my arms,” says Razdan.

Another memorable incident that Razdan remembers involving Tendulkar is when he bowled captain Azharuddin a bouncer during nets.

“We went for practice one day and the pitch was a little damp. Bedi paaji (cricket manager) said the fast bowlers will have an off day and the part-timers would bowl. Azzubhai went out to bat without a helmet. The new ball was given to Sachin. Off the second ball, he bowled a bouncer and Azzu fell on the wicket. Sachin’s response was, ‘why call me a part-timer’. At that point, the practice was called off with only people knocking against spinners. He patted on his bat and said, ‘I’ve got strength in my shoulders’,” Razdan reminisces.

And it is on these shoulders that Tendulkar carried the hopes of a billion fans for the next two-and-a-half decades. And it all began on this date, 26 years ago.

Wisdom of the Nords

Embracing new cultures while following old customs, loving life and giving public space a new meaning are just a few Swedish things falls in love with



Asterix and the Great Crossing, which I read as kid, introduced me to the Vikings. Intrigued by their culture—particularly the names of characters such as Here end the lessen and Hunting seassen—I looked them up in the World Book Encyclopaedia to discover that they lived in Sweden, Norway and Finland. Now, at 33, on a recent trip to Sweden, I expect to encounter the Viking culture for real, only to learn that Christianity, which came to Sweden in the 10th century, has taken over.

The New

“Christians were smart. They built churches over Viking burial grounds, so the transition of believers of Viking traditions to Christianity was seamless,” explains an educational institute's senior advisor that I meet in Stockholm.

“However, we still observe both traditions,” she adds.

The earliest sign of Christian influence in Scandinavia was seen at the ancient town of Lund in the form of a cathedral. Cobbled streets, providing more space to pedestrians and cyclists than anything I've seen in India, lead to this magnificent structure, now part of Lund University's campus. A tall tower, the cathedral may have once been white, but a tonne of soot has blotted the exterior with patches of black. Inside, as per our guide, Jacques Schultz, one will find a sculpture of a giant hugging a beam. “Legend has it that the giant, agreed to help

St Lawerence build the cathedral quickly, but on one condition: He must guess the giant's name once the structure was built. If St Lawrence failed to do so, the giant would eat him up. On the final day, St Lawrence followed the giant back to his cave and overheard his wife telling the kids, 'Finn will bring Lawrence's head back tomorrow'. Overjoyed, the next day, St Lawrence called the giant by his name, enraging him. Finn rushed to a piller to destroy the cathedral, but was turned into stone,” says Schultz.

I'm perplexed to find the doors shut; a couple of church workers open them at not-so-regular intervals. So I'm guessing that though the Swedes have adopted the religion, they are either not religious or consider it a private affair. In stores you won't find religious memorabilia; the most popular souvenirs are crystals, Absolut Vodka, Swedish flag magnets and stuffed reindeer toys.

The Old

But traces of Viking culture still remain. Stockholm has several Viking museums, one being the Nordic Museum. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to go in. But I manage to admire its tall, tower-like structures with sharp-tipped, cone-shaped roofs, resembling Gothic architecture. However, these buildings are black or dark grey, unlike the brown BMC headquarters or Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai.

While Christmas and Easter are celebrated grandly, Midsummer's Eve (a Viking festival that falls on June 21—the longest day of the year) is just as popular. I'm told, everything closes. "The streets are spookily deserted” and “people sing, dance, eat, and drink a lot of schnapps!”. Other Viking fetes are enjoyed too, such as Walpurgis Eve, when college closes at April's end; students don their characteristic white caps and sing songs to welcome spring, the budding greenery and a brighter future. On All Saints Day and St Lucia's Day, both Christian and Viking festivities prevail.

The Obscure

There's a day for everything! I'm starving and want to try the local food the day I land in Sweden. At the first bakery I enter, the girl behind the counter tells me it's National Cinnamon Bun Day and insists I have a bun. I expect it to be like what you get in Mumbai—traces of cinnamon overpowered by maida. But instead, it's like freshly baked bread, cinnamon gets to be the hero and its custard-like centre melts in my mouth. I haven't tasted anything like this and am pleased to know that it's a staple in Sweden. I've been sent with strict instructions to carry back alcohol available at grocery stores, since its “what locals would drink”, but I discover that hard liquor can only be bought from government-run stores (with a proper permit) that shut by 7 pm. Beer with less than 2 per cent alcohol is the only spirit available in stores.

The Refreshing

One thing I notice across the country—travelling north to Umea and south to Lund—is the sheer number of men pushing prams. A local tells me, “Seeing this, an American journalist went back and wrote, 'Sweden has a number of gay male nannies.'” Hilarious! Sweden is among the few countries that give long paternity leave and its new rule of six-hour weekdays for better productivity, shows that even companies value work-life balance. Even more fascinating is the Right of Public Access that lets you walk, cycle, ride, ski or camp on any land, except private gardens near a dwelling or land under cultivation. So Sweden, as you see, is charming and you're sure to come back changed if you truly explore its culture.

Velbekomme with the Danes

 Velbekomme with the Danes

On a recent trip to Copenhagen, Amy Fernandes discovers a whole different world of smorgasbord and other delightful Danish delicacies

I never knew I had eaten smorgasbord until I visited Copenhagen. It's at every street corner, food court, supermarket, cafe, canteen and even fine-dining restaurant. There are wide window displays of smorgasbord, making you wonder whether you’ve got the meaning of the word wrong. Smorgasbord, the dictionary informs us, is a representation of a buffet meal of hot and cold bites. It also informs us that the Swedish originally meant it to be an open sandwich: a slice of bread on which you could pile on anything your heart desires. So, like everything, as also in food, smorgasbord is an evolutionary thing. I was right about the word and so were the Swedes, who invented it.

What’s different about the Scandinavian smorgasbord as we know it from the rest of the world, is that the toppings here offer you a wide variety of meats in various forms: pork, lamb, quail, smoked, carpaccio, cooked, salami... the list is endless. You can choose to mix meat with cheese, vegetables, herbs or like we tried in one place, even fruit. I tried a boring combination of potato, cheese and herbs at the Copenhagen Street Food (a large warehouse turned into a street-food area) and then topped it with a cod and meat combination. And for the rest of my trip, I remembered to stick to the bounty that the Alantic Ocean throws up.

And what bounty it is. Every restaurant we ate in gave us memorable meals. Kähler inside the Tivoli Gardens produced the most unforgettable fish served on a bed of herbed potatoes and vegetables. Sounds simple, but when was the last time you ate something this simple, that was this good? For a panoramic view of the city and modern Scandinavian menu you have to visit The Tower, which rests on the top of Copenhagen’s Parliament. Do not miss the chocolate desserts there or the bacon chips or everything on the menu. The city boasts one of the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants and you can see why. Noma (toping the top 50 restaurants of the world) housed in a quiet, almost nondescript warehouse area is located there. Every restaurant you visit has something unique for you to come away with. Take the restaurant 'simpleRaw' for instance. This is a small, only vegan eatery that has simple, raw, 100% plant-based food as promised. Gorge on salads, juices (beetroot and ginger if you dare), and a host of other exotica that’s mind boggling to remember. Another time, we visited Restaurant Sletten, by the harbour in a cosy fisherman village in Humlebaek en route the Kokkedal (Hamlet's) Castle. What a lovely way to have sliced haddock on your plate—as you watch the ocean roar, fishermen bring in boats laden with leaping fish that will soon be a gourmet dish.

In Copenhagen you can’t go wrong with food, whether it’s the humble staple, smorgasbord or the complicated Æbleflæsk (apple pork)

So, Where Are You Headed This Winter Holiday?

2016, features the top ten countries, cities and regions to visit next year.

Interestingly, Mumbai features sixth on the list of top cities for 2016, coming in ahead of Manchester in the UK and Rome in Italy. According to the book, "2016 is set to be the year that this powerhouse of fashion, finance and film [Mumbai] comes of age.” Kotor in Montenegro takes the top spot thanks to offering a “picture-perfect visage from virtually every angle”.

The book includes 17 inspirational travel-themed lists ranging from the best value destinations for 2016, to the best animal adventures for families, best places to seek silence and the best places to elope.

“With Bali as the top destination this festive season, we expect to see an increased interest to other parts of Indonesia especially with the recent free visa facilities for Indian travellers, says Kavitha Gnanamurthy of Skyscanner India, a search engine.

Rajeev Nangia, COO at TRAC Representations, says a European vacation shouldn’t only be synonymous with the Alpine slopes of Switzerland. At a time when both north India and Switzerland will be reeling under the cold, you could enjoy the luxury of a European holiday minus the bonechilling cold in the Mediterranean. “Think Monaco and Cannes in the French Riviera,” suggests Nangia.

According to Ankur Bhatia of Bird Group, many more Indians are looking at travelling to slightly off-beat destinations such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Muscat and Krabi in southern Thailand.

There is renewed interest this season for Europe, Dubai, Thailand and HongKong, says Ranjeet Oak of MakeMyTrip. “With the growing popularity of adventure tourism, winter snow sports have become a hot tourist attraction. Gulmarg in Kashmir is considered to be one of the best skiing destinations in the world,” he adds.

Ways to beat the vacation rush this Christmas and New Year

Far From The Madding Crowd



IT’S THAT time of the year when you want to indulge in a well-deserved holiday. It is all very well to plan an excursion on your own or with your loved ones in the last week of December or during the New Year break. But you are not alone. The world and their uncle are also headed for that jam-packed hill station, crowded beach resort or not-so-deserted desert safari, during this vacation season.

Chances are, you’ll run into vacationers jostling to get ahead of you at the adventure park or elbowing you out of the drinks queue at the bar. Plus, finding secluded and good accommodation in peak season may cost the earth. Therefore, it might be a good idea to get tips from travel professionals on beating the vacation rush.

Half the battle is won, says Ranjeet Oak, chief business officer-holidays, MakeMyTrip, if you choose the timing of your holiday well. “Europe is cheaper in the winter and one can also get better rates during early spring and late fall. It is most expensive during the summer. This applies to hotel rooms as well as air fares,” explains Oak. “Theme parks are busy over Christmas and New Year’s and again in February, but business is slower in January. So, if you can postpone your holiday by a few days in order to save a bundle of money, where is the harm?” he asks.

Apart from getting the timing of your holiday right, one good way to beat the vacation rush, says Abraham Alapatt, chief innovation officer and head – marketing and service quality, Thomas Cook India, is to take the road less travelled. “Consider flexible and economical accommodation such as village/ local stays, bed and breakfast places, youth hostels and self-drive vacations that give one time to discover the locales at a leisurely pace. It makes for better value for money, too.”

HOW EARLY BIRDS GAIN

Because of heightened demand, December is also the most expensive period to travel compared to other periods throughout the year, warns Kavitha Gnanamurthy, the Singapore-based India head of market development operations with Skyscanner, a search engine that helps people compare flights, hotels and car hiring options.

After analysing data over the last three years, Gnanamurthy says travellers should consider booking on average 18 weeks in advance, to get the lowest price on a flight from India. “Search parameters this year compared to 2014 showed that some destinations see a surge in searches by Indian travellers in December. These included Bangkok (50 per cent year-on-year increase), Dubai (47 per cent) and Singapore (46 per cent),” she says.

While planning multi-city itineraries, try booking ‘Open-Jaw’ tickets, recommends Ranjeet Oak of MakeMyTrip. “This kind of ticket, where the traveller doesn’t fly back from the same city where he first landed, is a better idea I think than a round ticket. Say, on a multi-city trip to Italy, if you buy a Delhi-Rome and Milan-Delhi ticket instead of a round ticket like Delhi-Rome-Delhi, it will turn out to be cheaper,” says Oak.

EXPLORE NEW TERRAIN

Thanks to Yash Chopra films, most Indian travellers to Europe end up boarding flights to Switzerland en masse come December. Sesh Seshadri, director, Lonely Planet India, says a good way to zero in on a not-so-obvious destination is to identify a cultural event, activity or experience that a city or country has to offer in a particular year. That is how Seshadri and his team arrived at the recommendations for the Best in Travel 2016 books. “For instance, on top of our best places to visit next year is Botswana that will celebrate its 50th independence year in 2016. Apart from its national parks and natural beauty (a combination of desert and delta), Botswana’s wilderness promises unique experiences such as being helmed in a boat by an African gondolier and cruising past sunbathing hippos.”

To avoid being swamped by vacationers, Nikhil Ganju, India country manager of TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel portal, checks in into properties outside city limits. Even as he loves to spend New Year’s Eve in Goa, which is abuzz with revellers, Ganju avoids the congested Calangute and Baga beaches to stay further north near the beach. “It gives me a more authentic flavour of the way Goans live. Similarly, when I head to the hills, I skip high-end properties such as Wildflower Hall and prefer private villas in Mashobra, near Shimla that offer more personalised service and hospitality.”

RELY ON TECH

It may be a nice idea to use technology in your quest for better deals during peak season. “Apart from travel agencies, one can depend on destination management companies, or popular e-commerce travel portals,” says travel writer and photographer Amit Sengupta, founder-editor of Travelflat.in. “Most winter package deals begin appearing October onwards,” says  Sengupta.

Ankur Bhatia, executive director of Bird Group, advises looking up hotel consolidators to get the best deals on rooms. “The best time to book is either much in advance or at the last minute.”

You could even sign up for a price-alert service to receive notifications in your inbox as soon as prices drop for a destination. “This can help travellers find the best time to get the optimum price,” suggests Gnanamurthy of Skyscanner. “One can find a good deal in the unlikeliest of places. For a vacation to Bali for instance, after looking at budget airlines, I discovered that KLM had a flight to Bali from Singapore priced at just 200 Singapore dollars,” she adds.

Now you can indulge your wanderlust and be rupee-wise at the same time!

A Nation In Search Of The Next Destination

Flying for pleasure, road-tripping for thrills or cruising for kicks. Indian travel has been a long journey from the days of modest trips to hill stations

CRUISING ON ships has caught on with Indian travellers with disposable income. Trips to Dubai and Singapore are now passé and you can do Europe and America only so many times. Getting on board luxury ships that more or less go nowhere for seven or ten days at sea is the latest craze. Zoya Akhtar’s film, Dil Dhadakne Do, has a lot to answer for. Cruising was catching on, but seeing Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Anushka Sharma having a ball in the waters of the Mediterranean, in insanely expensive designer outfits, has sent many Indians scurrying to the nearest travel agent.

You will also find an Indian who will turn up his nose at such comfort travel. His idea of a vacation is a trek in Ladakh or Nepal. There are Indians who consider it beneath them to carry their own suitcases. This guy will carry a pack on his back loaded with essentials, he will sleep in unheated tents and dig a hole for a makeshift latrine. It doesn’t bother him that he hasn’t had a wash for a week, or had a drink for that matter. This is eco-travel. I am told it builds character. The man, not always young, will dine out on his stories for months to come. It’s catching on with women too. Sometimes there are more women than men on these arduous treks.

Instead of lying on a beach in Goa or Kerala, the young executive in Gurgaon now prefers to go white-water rafting in inflatable boats down the rapids of upper Ganges or the mighty Brahmaputra from the point it leaves China and enters India after discreetly changing its name. Those with money to burn and the nature-minded take time off to go to the Galapagos in the Pacific Ocean, the world’s foremost destination for wildlife viewing.

Since this is a travel piece, let me get back to the Indians’ reluctance to carry their own suitcases. Once, when I was on the plane, I saw a senior Indian bureaucrat get on board with a peon in tow carrying his briefcase. It was an Air India plane. The bureaucrat took his seat and the peon placed the briefcase in the bin above him and got off the aircraft. At another time I saw the British Foreign Secretary get out of a car outside the Oberoi in Delhi, pick up his bag from the boot and walk to the reception to check in. No one from the British High Commission accompanied him. Indians like to think they are different from other people. True, but not always in a nice way.

We have come a long way. Traditionally we are not vacation-taking people. When we travelled, it was for a purpose, to attend a wedding, a funeral or on business. The Indian was content to stay put at home. I can't remember my parents ever taking a vacation. A little later, the affluent started heading for the hills in summer with their families; Simla, Mussoorie, Nainital or, in the south, Ooty or Kodaikanal. Goa did not catch on as a holiday destination until several years after the Portuguese were sent packing.

Those with modest budgets took trains to visit relatives in the provincial towns or villages during the school holidays. There, the children would be pampered by relatives, play gilli danda, climb up trees and get into all kinds of mischief. All in all, they probably had more fun than their well-off friends in hill stations.

For a long time after Independence, travelling abroad was cumbersome and prohibitively expensive for most people. There was the hassle of getting an income-tax clearance before you were allowed to go abroad. The amount of foreign exchange you were entitled to take with you was laughable; it would barely cover the costs of two or three nights in a decent hotel in the West. Citizens, otherwise law abiding, bought their dollars illegally from touts hanging around Connaught Place in Delhi and Flora Fountain in Bombay. Others depended on the kindness and hospitality of friends and relatives living abroad.

The only people who travelled frequently were airline employees and their spouses. Free tickets were doled out to them annually as a perk. Today you may find this difficult to believe, but there was a time when working for Air India was considered glamorous. The staff went to exotic destinations that the rest of us could only dream of. These tickets were subject to availability of seats but no one lost sleep on that account. Flights were rarely full in those days. As for accommodation, Air India staff would stay with their colleagues posted abroad. Often this was an imposition.

Until 50 years ago, before the jet age, travel to England and continental Europe by ship was the preferred mode of travel. It was leisurely, but no one was in any particular hurry. The maharajas would sail out of the Ballard Estate docks in Bombay on P&O ships with names like Strathnaver, wherever that is, and Mooltan. They would be heading for their villas on the French Riviera in first-class cabins, confident that they would not have to rub shoulders with students going to Oxford and Cambridge at the back of the ship in cattle class. (By the way, do you know where the word ‘posh’ comes from? It is from the initials of port out, starboard home. These were preferred berths for Brits between England and India. This way, they avoided the heat of the sun before air-conditioning was invented.)
THE WAY IT IS Indians soon got tired of visiting Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street and Madame Tussauds on Baker Street. The arrival of cable television transported them to exotic places they had not heard of before

I took one such ship, travelling alone, still a teenager, in 1956. I was coming from Fiji to study in Delhi's Shri Ram College of Commerce. I am a bania from a shopkeeping family. I boarded Stratheden in Sydney and it took me three weeks to reach Bombay. All meals were included and yet it was far cheaper than if I had flown on a propeller-driven plane, hopping from city to city for fuelling or change of aircraft.

On the Stratheden I found myself seated at the dining table with three white guys digging into their steaks. At that time, I was still a pukka vegetarian and had not yet quite mastered the art of manipulating a fork and a knife. I was served boiled potatoes and string beans. In Bombay I was put on board the Frontier Mail. When I reached Delhi I had not the foggiest idea where Shri Ram College of Commerce was located. How I got there is a story for another time.

The Arab-Israeli war in 1967 closed the Suez Canal and put an end to travel by ship between the East and Europe. Passenger ships stopped docking in Bombay. By the time the canal was open again more than eight years later, a new era had begun. With the introduction of jet planes, air travel became more affordable. Planes could carry more than a hundred passengers. And the government became a little more generous with foreign exchange.

Indians soon got tired of visiting Marks & Spencer on Oxford Street and Madame Tussauds on Baker Street. The arrival of cable television transported them to exotic places they had not heard of before. We became more adventurous and started flying as far as Vancouver to see the whales and explore the coast of Alaska on ships.

As for the aam admi, people who once rarely stepped out of the comfort of their towns, the diamond merchant in Surat for instance, they now go on group tours to see the lions and ostriches in South Africa. They take along with them a Jain cook who prepares three meals a day, including aloo puri for breakfast. The guy takes over a section of the hotel’s kitchen, as pre-arranged, and the local staff is instructed by the management to leave him alone. I am not sure about this, but I am told that the groups sometimes take handis with them, uncontaminated by meat, and everyone eats out of paper plates.

Vegetarians on “if it is Tuesday, this must be Belgium” bus tours of Europe do more or less the same thing. There is a herd mentality, always groups. Why not? But can you blame the Swiss when they complain that tourists from India, in search of Dilwale Dulhania locations, spend very little money when they come to their country?

The more savvy – the been there done that crowd – now go to Istanbul to visit the souks and spice markets, see the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Sophia Church and the Topkapi Palace. The Turks are friendlier towards Indians than the Europeans. They will ask you on the street if you know Amitabh Bachchan. Cities of Eastern Europe, dull and drab during the Soviet days, are also enticing the new Indian tourist. Prague has a vibrant nightlife and the best beer in the world. Budapest has the Danube river flowing through it, not blue but still beautiful. There are medicinal thermal baths that look like palaces.

It is impossible to go on a cruise in any part of the world without being in the company of other Indians. That is not necessarily a good thing but I will not get into that here. You will find them boarding ships in Argentina heading towards Antarctica to see the penguins and drink cocktails from glasses holding ice cut from glaciers hundreds of years old.

In the days when we took ships to go from one place to another, the largest ship in the world was Cunard’s Queen Mary that weighed 81,237 tonnes. Now they build ships meant for cruising that are twice that size. These are floating cities. The one I boarded two years ago in Venice had 15 floors and 3,000 passengers. There were 13 restaurants and an equal number of bars. The theatre for nightly entertainment had over a thousand seats and could match anything on Broadway in grandeur if not the quality of the productions.

All the meals were included in my fare and it was fine dining all the way with full table service. For those who preferred to eat more casually, there was a round-theclock buffet on the top deck. Lunch was international and included chicken curry, dal and naan and the menu varied daily. On board were visiting fathers and mothers of NRIs who could speak nothing but Gujarati or Punjabi. I spent the evenings in the casino – all cruises have casinos – trying to beat the dealer at the blackjack table. Did I succeed? I won’t tell you.

Cruises are good value for money. You pay about $1,000 per person for seven days for very comfortable cabins, double occupancy. Everything on board is free except for the booze and no, you can’t bring your own bottle. All cruise ships make stops. A seven-day cruise will take in four ports. But sightseeing is an option, not a requirement. You'll find passengers who don’t get off the ship till it is time to leave. It is a bargain considering what you would otherwise pay on land for seven nights’ hotel rooms and food.

Let’s get back to the guy who went trekking in hills, I mentioned earlier. Cruises are of no interest to him. Right now he is scuba-diving in the Andamans, once the dreaded Kala Pani for incarceration of hardened convicts. His girlfriend from office is with him, geared up for the dive.

Lucky man!

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME 1. Indian tourists taking pictures at the Colosseum in 1948 2. Mussoorie, 1977 3. Grazia magazine editors talking to the hostess of an Air India flight to Bangkok in 1965

Best bus daily pass new rates

Best bus daily pass new rates

Mumbai City dabbawalas to play vigilante

City dabbawalas to play vigilante





They might deliver your daily tiffin of home-cooked food on time, but they're much more than that. The city's dabbawalas have done everything from delivering health messages to taking part in civic cleanliness drives and more. Now, they're embarking on another important mission of being the eyes and ears for the Government Railway Police (GRP). The tiffin carriers confirm the news. “Yes, the Mumbai Police wants us to look out for suspicious activities and people on railway platforms and surrounding areas. If we find anything, we have to report it to the police; they have handed us a list of numbers,“ affirms Subash Talekar, spokesperson for the Mumbai dabbawalas. A year ago, the Mumbai Police asked them to take on a similar role. “We were shown a film about how a bomb might be placed anywhere and how we have to look for any suspicious happenings.“ Considering the dabbawalas are a strong force of 5,000, this is going to be quite a help to the GRP . “It is like sharing a responsibility. As citizens, all of us should always be alert.“ Adds Arjun Sawant, president of the 125-year-old Mumbai Dabbawala Association, “The dabbawalas on all three train routes -Central, Western and Harbour -will help to increase security . It is apt, as our system is closely linked to the Mumbai Railway system.“

GRASSROOT CAMPAIGNERS
In the past, dabbawalas have participated in quite a few social campaigns.
They have placed AIDS awareness messages in dabbas.
Delivered WHO (World Health Organization) messages on prevention and control of vector-borne diseases with their lunch boxes to mark World Health Day .
This year on May 1, they undertook a cleanliness drive at Pratapgad Fort near Satara to clean the plastic waste left by tourists.
They were also recently appointed as ambassadors for the Swachch Bharat mission.
The dabbawalas organised a cleanliness drive at Kalwa, Kamothe and Vikhroli with the help of school kids. 

HARVARD STUDY
Harvard Business School has done a study on their on-time delivery system in a city like Mumbai for which they have received six-stigma certification.

Novotel Imagica Khopoli Luxury resort in theme park opens today





Atheme park with the right mix of thrill, adventure and excitement, and a hotel that allows you to unwind in luxury with the choicest of dining options -it seems like a contrast of kinds to have the two adjacent to each other. But Adlabs Imagica and Aquamagica, India's only international standard theme park and water park, now have a hotel as well. Novotel Imagica, a uniquely designed luxury hotel, opens its doors today . Situated in Khopoli, just a 90-minute drive from Mumbai and Pune, off the Expressway , this is the first luxury resort in India located in a theme park. It opens with 116 stylishly designed rooms in the first phase and comprises four restaurants and a bar. The hotel boasts of having the largest meeting spaces in the Lonavala area, with a pillarless ballroom that can accommodate up to 460 people and can also be divided into three smaller rooms, making it ideal for MICE and events. It also has beautifully manicured lawns that are a great option for outdoor events set against the backdrop of the majestic Sahyadri Mountains. Besides access to Imagica and Aquamagica, Novotel Imagica offers a serene swimming pool, a gym with stateof-the-art equipment, a kids entertainment zone, a spa (opening soon) and a late check-out on Sundays, making it a perfect family destination. Kids can have a blast at the play area and enjoy the special character performance during breakfasts. As a limited period promotional offer, guests can also avail an Express theme park check-in.
Pooja Shetty of Adlabs says, “We have welcomed over 2.5 million guests at Imagica and Aquamagica since opening. Our vision of an international standard theme park with a hotel on the premises is now a reality.With this, guests from across the country can plan a themed vacation with their family and friends anytime, as a quick getaway or on long weekends.“ There are limited exciting packages with entry to both parks and stay at the hotel.