World Tourist Destinations

`I WAS VERY PROUD WHEN PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL PRAISED MY COMPERING ON HER LAST VISIT HERE' ANIL & SUSHMITA KAUSHIK (WITH SON KULSOBHAN) BUREAUCRAT, UNION TERRITORY OF DIU
HE DID A PH.D IN HINDI literature from Punjab University, Chandigarh, and always aspired to teach Hindi poetry in the interiors of Himachal. But fate decided otherwise. Dr Anil Kaushik now finds himself in the former Portuguese colony of Diu, as an assistant director (official language) in the collectorate. Anil attributes this change in his life to fate: “Every moment is pre-decided, so I accept everything that life offers,“ he says. Standing in the magnificent 16th century Diu fort, the 38-year-old native of Haryana explains that his job requires him to train government employees in developing their Hindi language skills. Anil moved to Diu in 1996, when he joined government service, and admits he would never have thought of settling in this former Portuguese colony otherwise. His wife Sushmita is a teacher in a private school, and their only son, nineyear-old Kulshobhan, studies in class 4.
Anil, an avid reader of writers like Premchand, Dinkar and Nirala, feels that Hindi literature is a mirror that reflects Indian life as it is, which no other literary works and certainly not anything in English, do. “True India, its people and its life, are reflected in our literature, so I wanted to teach it,“ he explains. “I still dream of teaching the novels of Premchand, and the poetry of Dinkar and Nirala in the US if I get a chance.“
However, Diu is not really second-best.
Sipping coffee in his sea-facing government residence, Anil says: “I am thankful to this job which brought me here. Walking in the morning along the serene coastline is an immense pleasure one would never get elsewhere.“
Anil and Sushmita were married in 2000, without meeting each other even once. “He didn't come to see me as our engagement was decided by our families,“ explains Sushmita. “However, after marriage we realised that we share good chemistry. We are content with whatever God has given us,“ she adds.
The Kaushiks have not really savoured the joys of travelling to all parts of India, primarily because, come vacations, they return to their hometown every year. “Anil has not taken us to many places,“ explains Sushmita.
“But I want to go to Kerala, because I read that it's one of the 50 most beautiful places in the world.“ About Diu, she says it's a wonderful place though a little far-flung and isolated. “I also miss north Indian sweets and sarson da saag, because I grew up eating those in Pinjore,“ says Sushmita. However, the Kaushiks make the most of their location when it comes to food. “We eat many different types of vegetables, sugar-laden Gujarati food, and even north Indian sabzis,“ says Anil.
Despite being in such an `isolated' place, the couple once had a chance to be upfront in a Bollywood movie. “During the shooting of the movie Aakrosh in Diu, we were asked to sit with actress Bipasha Basu in an icecream parlour,“ recalls Sushmita. “But Anil refused because he is very camera shy.“ She sighs. “I very much wanted to feature in the shooting but we missed an opportunity to be seen in the film.“
However, there have been other times when the couple has been in the limelight.
Anil is a regular compere at official events like Independence Day, Republic Day or during the visit of state dignitaries. “It was a proud moment for me when President Pratibha Patil praised my compering during her last visit to the union territory last January,“ says Anil.
But no matter where they live, the Kaushiks stay positive about India's future.
“The country has made progress in the last few years but without corruption, the benefits of development will not reach the farflung interiors,“ they say.

`MADHYA PRADESH IS LIKE AN INDIA WITHIN INDIA.
PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTED' ARUNESHWAR AND SAPNA SINGHDEO BUSINESSMAN, MADHYA PRADESH
INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLDS A special meaning for someone belonging o the erstwhile royal families of India.
That's because while most people were gaining a nation, they were losing theirs. However, Aruneshwar Saran Singhdeo, who hails from the erstwhile ruling family of Surguja in modern-day Chattisgarh, has a different take on the transition. “It is true that at a personal level, the princes lost a lot in terms of wealth and power at the time of independence,“ says the 46-year-old. “But some princes also played a role in fostering democracy, and many of them ended up as political or administrative leaders.“
Since independence, it has been a continuing process of integration for the erstwhile princes. For Arun, his marriage to Sapna, a year younger than him and in some senses his childhood sweetheart, also signified integration. “I come from a Punjabi business family while Arun hails from a princely background. So there was a lot of resistance to our marriage,“ explains Sapna.
Arun and Sapna were in the same class at Bhopal's St Joseph's Convent for a few years before Arun joined the all-boys Campion School. Later, she was sent to Simla to do a BA at St Beed's, while Arun pursued an MA in Economics at the Bhopal School of Social Sciences. They got married in 1988, and have two kids, Aaditeshwar, 21, who is studying engineering in Delhi, and Aishwarya, 17, who is in class 11.
While Surguja smoothly integrated with the Indian Union, Arun's father took his process of integration into independent India a step further. The late MS Singhdeo was a 1954 batch IAS officer and a former chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh. “He studied at Allahabad University and took the exam after being influenced by his father-in-law, Raja Digvijaya Singh of Jubbal, an ICS officer of the 1942 batch,“ says Arun.
Arun is keen to dispel any notion that he was brought up with a sense of entitlement.
“My upbringing was more like a civil servant's child,“ he explains. He's also proud to point out that, “Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh are like an India within India ­ there are numerous stories of integration. People who've come from other states have always been accepted.“ Arun's ancestors too, came from Palamu in modern day Jharkhand in 902 AD and set up Surguja state.
Arun and Sapna are a regular couple. They love holidaying together, even if, like many couples, they disagree about the choice of destination. “My ideal holiday would be a wildlife lodge in Africa, but we haven't been able to do it,“ says Arun ruefully. The `compromise' destination is either the beaches of South East Asia or an urban setting in the US or Europe, he explains.
Within India, the family is much-travelled, having covered almost the entire country except the North East. Their favourite destinations are wildlife reserves, as Arun, besides having a stake in the housing sector, has also diversified in jungle lodges at Kanha and Bandhavgarh. “Himachal and Kashmir are our favourite destinations, and we would like to visit the North East now,“ says Arun.
“Though we both love food, cuisine is a major point of disagreement,“ says Sapna.
While Arun likes to cook and relishes Indian food, followed only by Chinese, Sapna is fond of eating out and loves seafood. “My favourite restaurant is China Kitchen at the Hyatt, while Arun loves Karim's at Nizamuddin,“ she says.
But the couple have much in common, just like the country they live in. “Both of us like meeting new people,“ says Sapna. They also share similar views about the India of the future.
“I think my generation let down the country in some ways. If you speak to old people in the villages ­ in spite of the apparent prosperity that's come about in the last few years, people are not happy,“ says Arun. “Our next hope is the youth, our children's generation as they are truly global and independent thinking and will earn India her rightful place.“

Ours is a huge country.
Almost a continent in itself.
Filled with so many cultures.
But as five families, one each from the north, south, east, west and centre, testify, it's all India. All oursOURS IS A HUGE country. Almost a continent in itself.
Filled with so many cultures. But as five families, one each from the north, south, east, west and centre, testify, it's all India. All ours IN SHILLONG The Japanese Wife KENNETH PALA & CAROLINE MUKHIM (WITH DAUGHTER ALETHEA AND SON BRENDON) UN OFFICIAL AND DOCTOR, MEGHALAYA `THAT WE LIVE IN THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTRY ON EARTH MAKES OUR EXISTENCE ALL THE MORE MEANINGFUL'
IF YOU SNIFF GUJARATI VAGHAAR at 4,900 ft, it is likely wafting in from quarter number L10 in Shillong's North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) complex. And it will be 39-year-old Caroline Mukhim preparing panchkutiya shaak (fivevegetable curry) to go with khatta-meetha bhaat (sour-sweet rice). Caroline agrees that Gujarati khana needs a lot of getting used to. The three years she spent in Ahmedabad when her husband Kenneth Pala was transferred there in 1998 made her so accustomed to the cuisine that she often gives her family a Gujarati break from jadoh, a pilaf-like Khasi staple, and dohkhleh (pork) or dohsiar (chicken).
Kenneth, 41, prefers Maharashtrian cuisine; he developed the taste via his local guardians during an earlier stint in Ahmedabad. But food should be relished, not fought over. So the couple and their daughter Alethea, 9, and son Brendon, 8, discovered a `middle path' ­ south Indian food ­ thanks to their Tamil neighbour.
Caroline, a doctor in NEHU, and Kenneth, a Shillong-based monitoring and evaluation manager at the UN-affiliated International Fund for Agriculture Development, encountered the indigestible while adapting to `mainland' fare. In Gujarat, people would often confuse Shillong with Ceylon. The height was when a nationalised bank manager turned down their home loan application because he thought Caroline was Japanese. “I took a long time convincing him we were as Indian as he was, but I couldn't buy a flat in Ahmedabad,“ says Kenneth. “But there are no hard feelings; as much as other Indians need to be more sensitive about the country's fringes, the onus is on us to sensitise them.“
The couple attribute their adaptability to their schooling and their liberalism to their families. “Most schools in Shillong don't allow you to mingle with your own kind during breaks,“ says Caroline. Their children have Hindi as their second language and not Khasi because `Hindi offers more opportunities'.
Caroline is good in Hindi English, Khasi and Assamese; Kenneth's Hindi is kaam-chalau and his Gujarati has suffered in 10 years away from the state.
Plus, adds Caroline, “We socialise a lot, visiting kin, friends and acquaintances.“ Socialising adds `a bit of music' to the rhythm of their life.
“Shillong offers that extra bit beyond responsibilities. We drive to Mawphlang (a nature trail in a sacred grove 30 km from Shillong or Umiam (a lake 20 km from Shillong) occasionally. And we make it a point to go on a long vacation at least once a year,“ says Kenneth.
Their last trip was to Kerala. “We have gone everywhere except Kashmir and Haryana, but we prefer southern India because the people there are nicer and we freak out on south Indian food,“ says Caroline. On a trip to Kolkata, Kenneth was indoctrinated to the world of Hindi films. The family watched 3 Idiots, their first Hindi film together. “We like Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor,“ she says.
Caroline and Kenneth are proud to be Khasis as well as Indians. They feel their uniqueness as a matrilineal community enriches India's multi-ethnic tapestry. “That we live in the most diverse country on earth makes our existence all the more meaningful,“ says Kenneth.
Of course Meghalaya has long experienced rebel-imposed boycotts on Independence Day. “But things are changing; a local organisation has been promoting intra-state tourism on that day,“ says Kenneth. India has changed too in the last couple of decades.
“Blame it on communication and the change in mindset of the younger generation exposed to globalisation,“ he adds.

After working non-stop for over a year, Kajal Aggarwal take off to Paris for holiday
er recent film in Bollywood turned out to be quite a Hblockbuster. And that's probably why newbie Kajal Aggarwal decided to take a breather. Post the success of the Ajay Devgn-starrer, Singham, Kajal has gifted herself a vacation after a long time. The actor was initially busy shooting back-toback for her Tamil and Telugu projects for a year and then came along her debut in Bollywood. So even as makers rake in the moolah back in Mumbai, Kajal has made her way to Paris and Nice in France along with her friends. And she's excited because Kajal has wanted to visit Paris ever since she was a child.
“I took a break because I was working round-theclock for almost a year,“ she says. “I seriously needed to rejuvenate. It's a fabulous holiday and I feel recharged to start work again.“
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Kajal has shot for over 21 films in a span of four-odd years.
She made her film debut in the 2004 Hindi movie, Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na before entering the Telugu film industry with Lakshmi Kalyanam (2007). She has also been part of several successful films like Magadheera (2009), Darling (2010), Brindaavanam (2010) and Mr Perfect (2011) apart from others.
Ask Kajal if her break is special in many ways since Singham has become the latest blockbuster and she says with a smile, “Of course it is. One always feels deserving after their hard work is appreciated.
And with Singham being such a huge success, I felt my vacation was totally worth it. I've been delighted throughout my travel!“ Though currently, Kajal is yet to sign the dotted line for any other Hindi project, she has reportedly been signed on for The Business Man, an upcoming Telugu film, which will be directed by Puri Jagannadh.
The film stars south India star Mahesh Babu.
The actor returns to India early next week.

Q I want to take my kids to Corbett. Is it an enjoyable place for kids? Will they have fun over there? After visiting the national park, are there places around to visit? Where else can I take them? Vaibhav Corbett is an excellent A choice of destination to take your kids to, since they will love the open forest and may even be lucky to spot some wildlife, which could be a once-in-alifetime experience for some.
However, right now it is not a good time, as the monsoon season has started. You won't be able to access a large part of the forest. The interesting parts of the forest are closed at this point anyway and will be open only from November.
I suggest that you plan a trip to Corbett either in November or between February and March. Also, after Corbett, you could take the kids to Nainital for a couple of days. It is a beautiful hill station with many tals (lakes) around, for the kids to enjoy.
Also, there is quite a lot for kids to enjoy in Nainital itself like a boat ride, a sail boat, cable car, the mall, horse riding etc.
Enjoy! Q Which are the places to visit in Puri apart from the beach? Where can I head next, after the enjoyment at the beach?
Bhargav Puri is a great place to A explore. There are many attractive places you should visit. The most famous is Lord Jagannath Temple. It is a great place to spend four-five hours.
You will enjoy the entire temple and find many interesting features and story about the temple.
You can take an autorickshaw from your hotel to reach the temple.
The next place to visit is the Konarak Temple. This is one of the most beautiful temples in India. You can reach by a car or you can go by a tourist bus.
You can also see Nandan Kanan along with the Konarak Temple. The Konarak Temple is dedicated to Lord Surya and offers glimpses of Indian history. Nandan Kanan is a zoo, where you can spot wild animals. These two places will take you a day to explore.

Mumbai youth start travel company, take people to lesser-known destinations along Konkan route
I f Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara has you convinced that a road trip with pals is a must-do event, then there is a cheaper, more convenient option available than Spain. Two Mumbai-based youth have started a travel company that specialises in tours of the Konkan region, that too on motorcycles.
Called Konkan Moto Travels, the tours organised by this company focus on the natural beauty, culture and history of the lesserknown areas of this coastal region of India.“We are into riding and started taking trips to these areas about two years ago. The Konkan region is an upcoming market and offers rich culture, beautiful places to explore and virgin beaches. And we also realised that no one was operating motorcycle tours in this region,“ says Abhishek Kadam, a passionate biker, who started the company with friend and partner Pratish Ambekar six months ago.
Konkan Moto Tours offers customised and scheduled tours. Anyone with a 150 cc bike and above can participate. “Those who do not have bikes can rent one from us. We have several options, including Royal Enfield and Avengers. We also have a mechanic who comes along on scheduled tours to take care of minor problems that may crop up along the way,“ says Kadam, who adds that they wanted to break the myth that only those with Royal Enfields could go on “cool road trips“.
The prices of the tours differ according to the number of days and the package you opt for. Also, considering the logistics involved, the group size is restricted to only 20-25 people. Customised car tours are available too for those interested, but Kadam insists that their “focus is on the motorcycle tours“.
Up next is the Tour of Ecstasy of Raigad on August 27 and 28 that offers adventure along with a glimpse of the local culture of the Konkan. To be a part of their tours, i call 9167143439 or you could also email them at konkanmototours@gmail.com

Honeymoon travels

Actor Shruti Seth shares memories from her honeymoon trip to NYC, Miami and Orlando



Actor Shruti Seth recently went for a lavish three-week long honeymoon, with hubby Danish, to New York, Miami and Orlando. A hardcore U2 fan, Shruti even saw them perform for the first time. "It was like fulfilling a lifelong dream of watching our favourite band U2 play live in Miami," says Shruti.

The couple got married in October last year. However the honeymoon was put on hold as both Shruti and Danish were tied up with work. "But it was blessing in disguise. It gave us the opportunity to do what we'd always planned on doing to celebrate our wedding — watch our absolute favourite band in the world (U2) play live, which they happened to be doing in America."

"New York was all about walking, eating awesome food (Brazilian, Argentinian, French, Korean, the list goes on), walking, movies, Cirque du Soliel and did I mention, walking? I think we wore out two pairs of shoes each in two weeks, but if there's any way to explore New York, it's on foot," says Shruti. The couple stayed at a friend's place in New York before they moved on to their next stop — Miami. "Compared to NYC, Miami was a lot more laid back. It's a lot warmer too." This leg consisted mainly partying in the famous Miami club, getting tanned on Hollywood Beach and some sumptuous food from all over the world. "The selection of cuisine plays a very important part in all our holidays."
Next in line was Orlando, the theme park capital of the world. "We spent the first day in Disney World and the next in the new Universal Park named Islands of Adventure. It was a complete blast, to put it mildly," she recalls.

The high point of Shruti's trip was marked by New York, Disney World, the Islands of Adventure in Orlando and of course U2. "Watching U2 in Miami was amazing! Euphemistically speaking, this was probably the single-most spiritual experience of our collective lives. Seeing 75,000 people sing in one voice and jump as one person tends to do that to you."
Though the honeymoon was long overdue (it was almost a year after they got married), neither Shruti nor Danish have any regrets about it. Afterall, they had the time of their life as they shopped, walked, enjoyed thre local flavour and of course, watched U2 play. Exhausted, exhilarated and elevated, the couple returned to Mumbai, bringing with them memories to cherish forever.