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.

Real Photograph of Mastani

bajirao mastani real images

mastani photo

bajirao mastani story

bajirao mastani songs

bajirao mastani cast

mastani bhabhi photo

photos of mastani mahal

bajirao mastani trailer

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