December2016

Corporate

December 2016 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 12 • ` 50

Meghalaya Abode of clouds

London

the Modern Babylon

Chanch Come Back Richer

December 2016 | Corporate Outbound 1

Contents

24 Other Stories

Managing Editor: Anurag Gupta Editorial: Garima Singhal Marketing: Don Jose Creative: Raj Toppo Printed, Published & Owned by Anurag Gupta @ 348, Amarjyoti Layout, Domlur Bangalore - 560 071 Ph: +91 80 41224331 Email: corporateoutbound@gmail.com Printed at Cosmos Printers & Publishers, Wilson Garden, Bangalore - 560 027

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Aviation News

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Hospitality News

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Yatra’s survey shows rise in plastic money

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Meghalaya, Abode of clouds

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Kerala Tourism Minister greets visitors at virtual reality kiosk at airport

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Chanch- Come back Richer

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Savour Corner

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08 London, the Modern Babylon 2 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

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Buzz

Aviation

AirAsia India introduces additional flight to connect Bengaluru to Goa and Pune

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irAsia India announced an additional flight connecting Bengaluru to Goa and Pune. The airline currently operates one daily connection between Bengaluru and Pune, and with this additional flight, the airline will operate two daily flights connecting the two cities.

There is an immense demand in this sector.

Garuda Indonesia introduces services to Mumbai via Bangkok

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aruda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, will provide the first direct link between Indonesia and India by operating a new route from Jakarta to Mumbai through Bangkok three times a week by the airline's Boeing 738 aircraft. With Mumbai, Garuda Indonesia adds the Indian subcontinent to its network. Garuda Indonesia will serve the Jakarta-Mumbai route via Bangkok route on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Indonesia is currently one of the largest markets to India with 350,000 people currently travelling to the region on both business and leisure.

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Oman Air introduces the new Oman Air Pass

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o celebrate National Day in Oman, Oman Air the ‘National Carrier of the Sultanate of Oman’ is delighted to announce the introduction of the new Oman Air Pass.

The brand new Oman Air Pass will offer regular travellers between Muscat and Salalah the chance to pre-purchase an online booklet containing eight one-way tickets with discounts of up to 30% off the standard fare for travel in economy. Customers can use the tickets on either Muscat to Salalah or Salalah to Muscat Flights and can be gifted or used by all the family and friends. The tickets must be booked online on Oman Air’s website 48 hours prior to flight. In addition to this, Oman Air has increased capacity between Salalah and Dubai by 42% in 2016 to a record 71,176 seats with six daily flights.

These unprecedented increases will see Oman Air offer a total of 317,600 seats to and from Salalah in 2016.

Jet Airways to add six new international destinations

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et Airways will add six new international destinations and create new international gateways at Singapore, London and Paris, apart from its existing gateways in Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam. The full-fare airline has entered into a codeshare agreement with Air France, KLM and Delta to expand its international business.

One in 10 Jet flight connects from/to a partner airline. Overall, Jet Airways now has 19 code-share partner airlines. The code-shares will also include bus services from Delhi to Punjab and in Abu Dhabi. On domestic routes, Jet is looking at increasing capacity by introducing larger or widebody aircraft such as Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 on Mumbai-Delhi, DelhiKolkata, Mumbai-Chennai and Mumbai-Bengaluru routes.

Air India eyes new connections to Europe & Africa

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ational carrier Air India started off nonstop thrice a week flights connecting Delhi to Madrid (Spain) on the state-of-the-art aircraft Boeing 787, with 18 seats in Business Class and 238 seats in Economy Class. Madrid is Air India's ninth destination in Europe. Air India would soon commence flights either to Stockholm (Sweden) or Copenhagen (Denmark) apart from tapping Kenya and Tanzania in Africa. Besides, the carrier will also be raising the frequency of Sydney and Melbourne flights and Mumbai-Shanghai flights to daily.

THAI Smile Airways inaugurates non-stop JaipurBangkok route

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HAI Smile Airways recently expanded the international routes by launching Jaipur – Bangkok flight on the all new A320-200 Airbus. The new flight aims at accommodating those targeted groups who are looking for convenient travelling from a full service airline, while opening a new window of adventure for the Thai passengers to explore the Pink City of India. THAI Smile operates three flights a week from Bangkok to Jaipur, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. It also operates three flights a week from Jaipur to Bangkok, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight from Bangkok to Jaipur commenced for two classes; Smile Plus (Premium Economy) and Smile Class (Economy), with prices start at 4,510 baht. The new flight will operate with A320200 aircraft which will offer a Premium Economy Class (12 seats) and Economy Class (150 seats) and host of features for passengers, such as the in-flight entertainment experience and specially designed Indian cuisine & beverages to passengers. And for those who love shopping in Bangkok, the city of lights, they can shop as many as they want because THAI Smile offers free of charge baggage allowance of 40 kilograms for Premium Economy or Smile PLUS and 30 kilograms for Economy or Smile Class.

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Buzz

Hospitality

Royal Orchid Hotels introduces ‘Marry Now Pay Later’ scheme

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oyal Orchid Hotels introduces ‘Marry Now Pay Later’ scheme to financially assist people organising weddings. When demonetisation is hitting wedding plans across the country, the most popular leisure properties of Royal Orchid Hotels is allowing people to host their weddings without worrying about the cash crunch. In a revolutionary move, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd will take care of the venue, decorations, catering, stay, music and transport with % down payments and the first EMI being paid only after 30 days of the booking.

The Marry Now Pay Later offer is being made available in association with Bajaj Finance. Currently the offer is applicable at the leisure properties located in Bengaluru, Goa, Mussoorie and Jaipur.

StayWell Hospitality Group enters Goa with Park Regis

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tayWell Hospitality Group has officially opened its fifth and largest property in India with Park Regis Goa. Spread over an area of 5 acres in Arpora, Park Regis Goa boasts a magnificent location featuring 96 Rooms & Suites each spread across 5500 sqft with modern-décor, soothing warm colors, plush duvets, international standard mattresses and high quality bathroom amenities. The 96 room resort-style hotel is located in a prime position north of the main city of Goa, within close proximity to Goa’s iconic attractions Baga, Calangute and Anjuna Beaches. Boasting a large outdoor alfresco pool bar, cafe, restaurant, conference facilities, pool and gymnasium, Park Regis Goa will become a new class of accommodation in North Goa.

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Efcee Sarovar Portico debuts in Bhavnagar, Gujarat

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arovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., a hotel chain in India, announced the opening of Efcee Sarovar Portico Bhavnagar with 99-rooms in one of the prime areas of the city. Efcee Sarovar Portico offers a calm and peaceful oasis for both business and leisure travellers. The elegant and well-appointed rooms and suites, categorised into Deluxe Rooms, Premium Rooms, Executive Suites and Leela Suite, offer contemporary amenities and personalized service.

With state of the art meeting and banqueting facilities, it is an ideal venue for corporate and social events, workshops, exhibitions and weddings. The open air lawn, perhaps the biggest space in the city, is perfect for weddings and can accommodate up to 2000 people. A well designed swimming pool promises a quiet and peaceful relaxation. The gym and a spa, the first hotel spa in the city, ensure the best rejuvenation. Efcee Sarovar Portico is conveniently located on SH – 8E Road making it easily accessible to the main city, airport and railway station.

Airbnb partners with SEWA for tech-enabled rural livelihood opportunities

The first Radisson Blu Hotel opens in Coimbatore, India

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irbnb, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA) to help them share their homes with Airbnb’s community of international and domestic guests, creating economic opportunities for women in rural areas and promoting tourism spend in parts of India that have not traditionally benefited from tourism and hospitality. By partnering with SEWA members to offer homestays on Airbnb, it will offer a unique and authentic experience of rural India for travellers while ensuring that the benefits of tourism flow back to the rural community.

The partnership will help members become powerful microentrepreneurs, best placed to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in India and bridge the gap between urban and rural communities by exposing them to the rural way of life through Airbnb hosting.

entrally located on Avinashi Road and a mere seven kilometres away from Coimbatore International Airport and Coimbatore Junction the hotel is close to textile and engineering industries, educational institutions and multi-specialty hospitals.Radisson Blu Coimbatore is set to raise the bar on the city’s upper-upscale hospitality landscape and bring new hospitality standards to the city. Radisson Blu Coimbatore offers 135 rooms and suites with amenities, a well-appointed retreat for corporate and leisure guests. The hotel has an array of meeting spaces including a 9,400-sq. ft. banquet hall with additional prefunction area and a lawn for pre-event entertainment.

Delectable dining options include Seasons, an all-day-dining restaurant serving international cuisine, The Great Kebab Factory, Coimbatore’s first signature Indian concept restaurant and The Lounge Bar where guests can unwind and enjoy a tipple of two. To meet the needs of discerning guests, the hotel provides 24-hour In-Room Dining and other facilities that include a Business Class Lounge, business centre, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre

Micromax users get simplified access to book OYO hotels across 200 cities

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icromax Informatics, a mobile brand and OYO, a branded network of hotels, announced a strategic partnership to deliver OYO’s tech-enabled hotel-booking experience to Micromax customers. Aimed at providing a unique on-device native experience, OYO and Micromax will work together to provide simplified user interface, special discount offers, and a seamless booking experience right through the device itself.

Under this partnership, Micromax users will be able to avail exclusive deals through their Micromax handsets and also get instant updates for exclusive OYO offers. Micromax users can also enjoy the recently introduced feature on OYO which will assure early check-ins at hotels across the country along with exclusive offers - 25% instant discount and 100% cashback on checkout and optimize their travel-planning.

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London, the Modern Babylon 8 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

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ne of the world’s most visited cities, London has something for everyone, from history to culture to fine food and an assortment of good times. Like most tourists, it is easy to revel in the familiarity of the Big Ben, Tower Bridge, the murky water of the Thames and the London eye. The choice of restaurants, bars and clubs is one of a kind and the vast area of the city is covered by lush parkland, more than any world capital. The government has made some of the greatest museums and art galleries in the world free to all, and what’s not to love a city like that!

In addition to the picture postcard attractions of London, the hotspots if you will, there are also the odd spots, by day and night, from high art to wildlife, and they must be on your list of things to do around London. Anish Kapoor’s curiously curvaceous Arcelor Mittal Orbit is an unexpected sight at the Olympic park, and a good hurtle down the slide that now winds around the tower all the way to the ground is a thrilling experience and will set all roller coasters you have been to until now in the background. Take on the crystal maze, as in the old TV show that used to be presented by Richard O’Brien. The puzzle-oriented games create a new kind of experience for people who love quizzing.

London is the tale of two cities, the much open vistas and leafy landscapes in the gardens, and the high density, sight packed urban explorations. Central London is where majority of the museums, galleries and iconic sights congregate, but a visit to Hampstead Heath or the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will tell you where to go if you wish to flee the crowds and the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. Venture a little further to the Kew Gardens, the Richmond palace and get beautiful vistas of the riverside London and then later, grab

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a pint of warn ale at a local waterside pub. London is the city of possibilities and things to do as long as you have the imagination and moolah to go with it.

The city is deeply multicultural, and there are over 300 nationalities represented amongst the Londoners. What unites this diversity is the Queen’s tongue, for this is where English was born, and thrives at its epicenter. The variety of cultures also flavors the culinary view of London and the city is a delight for anyone even mildly gastronomically inclined.

The diversity of residents also penetrates, what are known as intrinsically British institutions, such as the British museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, who have collections as varied, as they are magnificent.

Art and Culture: London is a city of ideas and imagination. The Londoners are fiercely independent thinkers and this reflects in nearly everything around the city. A tireless innovator of art and culture, London is a haven for upcoming artists, sculptors and anyone who has a new seed that hasn’t yet become a fully fledged, all consuming passionate idea. As time grows, Londoners become less suspicious of anything they considered avant-garde, and now the city’s creative milieu is streaked with left-field attitude in theatre, contemporary and modern art, groundbreaking music, poetry, writing, architecture and design, and not to forget, food. But this is not to say that they don’t preserve their art and culture of the bygone era. The world’s first underwater crossing, the Brunel museum at the southern entrance of the Thames tunnel is the hottest tourist attraction for the groundbreaking feat of civil engineering, and it still is a working railway tunnel. The

museum hosts subterranean dining and clubbing events, and also campfire cocktails. Or if you would like the live the lives painted by the old masters. Walk into the Dennis Severs house in Spitalfield, and that is exactly what you will feel.

This home, restored in the style of east London’s Huguenot period is open for tours throughout the year. The visitors pass through its ‘still life drama’ and see the evidence of an 18th century silk weaver’s family life. Islington’s little angel theatre presents its own shows where all sorts of puppets come to life and the place also runs education programs where children and adults can enter the world of fairy tales and learn how to make their own puppets at the workshop next door. Forage for antiques on Bermondsey Square, a few blocks south of the tower bridge. It has developed as a classy enclave for bars and artsy hangouts. Furniture, jewelry, home ware, the hardcore buyers show up and bargain hard and get the best deals. Go beyond the west end and find a pub that is maintaining the freedom of the fringe arts, and you’ll find the award winning Finborough theatre company, still managing to compete with the bigger players for quality. Climb aboard a book barge, and find yourself calmly flicking through a volume at the Word on The Water, a 1920s Dutch barge that serves as a floating bookshop.

Food: Slurp on some scientific ice-cream at the Camden market.

The stalls and stores around Camden high street and the lock might not be quite so weirdly varied as they once were but there is still plenty of out there things to be done and curios to be held. From ice-cream to ChinChin labs to food frozen in liquid nitrogen, appease your gastronomic curiosity and come back satiated. Or you can tuck into London’s best fish

and chips head for hook in Camden. Sustainable fish cooked to perfection and offered in classic and modern forms, sea bass in a lime, mint and wasabi! batter or Cajun spiced hake will satisfy you. And never miss out on the culinary delights of the Brick Lane. Suspiciously cheap Indian food and the salt beef beigel are served at the charmingly scruffy bakery since 1977. This has been the place for the party people to show up to, after having a drink on the tube at the Cahoots, a theme bar, but an impossibly cool one, housed in a former air-raid shelter in Soho. If you are an early riser, get a bag of doughnuts from St. John’s baker at Maltby street market.

Actually, you don’t need to be an early riser. You could be on your way home from an all night’s clubbing, or your baby could have waked you at 5 am, and this glorious, golden hued, deep fried pastry, or a little Proustian, fresh and fragrant Madeleines are your reward.

Outdoorsy activities: Well, London has got you covered. Dine out at the Kerb, where the street food stallholders keep up excellent quality and flair, and bring gourmet to the streets. Get a taste of China at the heart of the west end. Bilingual street signs, pagodas, lion statues and grand red and gold gates will welcome you, between Leicester square and Shaftsbury Avenue. See a movie under the starts at the rooftop film club or the Luna cinemas. See the pelicans at the St James park, the Greenwich Park and Richmond park have deer, Clissold park has goats and the Holland park has peacocks. At the Holland Park, discover the tranquil Kyoto Garden, designed in the traditional Japanese style. The Notting hill carnival is a celebration of the west Indian culture and is Europe’s biggest street party, which takes place on August bank holiday. Hire December 2016 | Corporate Outbound 11

Express Info Top Choice for Domestic Destinations Goa (28.8%) Rajasthan(15%) Kerala(11.2%) Andamans(12.5%)

Getting there: yourself a pedalo in Crystal Palace Park and you’ll be able to admire the Victorian, though anatomically incorrect concrete dinosaurs. Take a selfie with one of these marvels and you might win instagram hearts. Dive off the Royal Victoria dock and enjoy the frigid Thames waters even in the summer. Play in the fountains at the Granary square, where you will be looked down upon by the sophisticated, high brow students of the University of the Arts and seriously posh restaurants, but you will be the one without a care in the world. Visit Karl Marx’s final resting place, and while it sounds like a macabre way to spend an afternoon, the chaotically grown Highgate Cemetery really is something special.

You will also find Douglas Adams, Patrick Caulfield (who’s headstone spells DEAD in big, bold letters) and Karl Marx resting here. Go birding at the London Wetland center, there’s a whole lot more to birdlife in England than the pigeons at the Trafalgar square. Experience the late night animal magic at the London zoo or play footie, or footgolf at Chiswick. The possibilities really are endless. The city is yours to discover and from lunch hour wonders to day outs, you’ll always have London, the modern Babylon.

By Air: Most commercial airlines that operate out of almost all major cities out of India fly to London with fares starting at Rs. 35,000.

Boarding: Hotels, hostels, AirBnB and couch surfing are all good options when looking at staying in London. The prices start from as low as Rs. 1000 per night for AirBnB and can go all the way where imagination will take you, if you are looking at luxury.

Getting around: For unlimited travel in Central London, get a day London Pass and an Oyster travelcard for the cheapest travel around the city. The Oyster travel card journeys on London’s public transport network including the underground or the tube, buses, over ground trains and the DLR, any time of the day and all seven days of the week.

London buses are the iconic double-decker buses, which are quick, convenient and a cheap way to travel around, and they provide plenty of sightseeing opportunities along the way. A single bus fare costs 1.50 pounds, but you can’t pay using cash.

The Oyster card will come in handy here.

The waterways: The Thames flows through central London and provides a stunning backdrop to many of the city’s top attractions. The river bus services are popular with the visitors and commuters and are a great way of beating the traffic and enjoying fantastic views. The Oyster card can get discounts and alternative routes.

Currency: 1 UK Pound = 85.16INR

Pictures courtesy: Veer Daga. Contact him on veerdaga@gmail.com or Follow on Insta: @veer987 12 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

Visa: As per the regulations.

Yatra’s survey shows rise in plastic money over cash after demonetization People more keen on opting for budget accommodation over luxury accommodation Yatra.com recently conducted their annual winter survey which showcases the outlook of Indian travellers planning their holidays this season post demonetization. One of the key findings is the inclination of Indians travellers to use credit/ debit card over cash. 37.4% travellers choose plastic money over cash for making bookings and while travelling. The ban on old 500 and 1000 rupee notes has further led to a significant 57.9% travellers booking through the desktop and a drastic dip in booking through offline agents.

Top Choice for International Destinations Thailand/ Singapore/ Malaysia(24.2%) Dubai(18.2%) USA(15.2%)

Key Highlights: • • •

Anotherobservation was that people are preferring to choose budget accommodation over luxury accommodation. Over 38percent people opted for lodging options under Rs. 4,000, while only 35 percent chose luxury accommodation. The advance booking streak continues with most people looking at finalizing their plans 15 days to 1 month in advance.

Demonetization does not seem to have impacted the spending capacity of travellers, with over 60% willing to spend between Rs. 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

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One of the key findings of the survey is a substantial drop in international travel with over 74% respondents willing to travel to domestic destinations. While the deserts and Goa have been highlighted as top choices amongst domestic destinations, Thailand and other islands, top the list of most favoured international destinations.Contrary to last year’s winter survey, spouses/partner was the more obvious choice as travel partners followed by family, friends and solo travel. With the smart phone revolution, there has also been a marked increase in mobile bookings this winter as well.

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A “relaxed” winter holiday is on the mind of 71.3 per cent of the travelers.

Owing to the impact of demonetization, there is a drop in payment made by cash 43.4 per cent of the travelers say they take more than 2 vacations in a year.

Over 58 per cent of the travelers prefer desktop as their mode of booking 54 per cent say sightseeing is their favorite activity 40 per cent of respondents said that they would like to travel with Shri Narendra Modi 74.1 per cent respondents prefer traveling to a domestic destination Around 55% travelers said that they don’t go for travel insurance While Goa is the preferred domestic destination, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are the top international destinations Budget accommodation has seen a significant high and is the preferred choice of most of the travelers More than 60% people are looking to travel for less than a week during the season Around 41% are looking to travel with their partners/spouses December 2016 | Corporate Outbound 13

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Meghalaya,

Abode of clouds S eparating the Assam valley from the plains of Bangladesh is the hilly Meghalaya, literally translating from Sanskrit to the ‘Abode of Clouds’. This is a cool, pine-fresh mountain state, set on dramatic horse rocky cliffs with waterfalls cascading down the cliff fronts. The regular, and incessant rains that beat down the state create a watery beauty that is not found elsewhere in the world. Cherrapunjee and Mawsynram are statistically the wettest places on earth. These create impressive waterfalls and carve out some of Asia’s longest caves.

The state’s population predominantly comprises the Jaintia, Khasi and Garo tribes, and these live in the eastern, central and western parts of the Meghalaya foothills respectively. A very good time to be in Meghalaya is the time of the Wangala festival, in the Garo hills in the autumn. The people of the state are cheerful, sociable and hardworking. The tribes of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia have matrilineal and matriarchal societies.

Culture of Meghalaya Song, dance and rhythm permeate the soul and culture of the people of Meghalaya. They live their lives to the rhythm of nature. Even educated in the modern system, they have not bid goodbye to their traditions, and this is evident in the way they dress, sing and speak. The Garo women are expert weavers and the Dakbanda, a kind of saree, or wrap- an unstitched short cloth tied around the waste, and is decorated with woven designs.

Other crafts that make memorable souvenirs, in addition to the

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into a bland stew and often spiced up with fish or ghost chilli (bhootjhalokiachilli, the hottest in the world). They use a kind of potash in their food, which is obtained by burning plantain stems or young bamboo, locally known as Kalchi or Katchi, and it imparts the distinct taste and flavor to the pork dish Jadoh. The people drink a lot of locally brewed rice beer called Kyat. Alcohol is the flavor of the people in Meghalaya and features in everyday life as well as every festive occasion. They chew unripe betel nut with tobacco, betel leaf and lime, and try this with caution, as this potent blend of nicotine is bound to give a novice a headache and even vertigo.

Tribal festivals Festivals are a significant occasion to celebrate and make merry. The Nongkrem dance, Wangala dance and Behdienkhlam are major festivals celebrated by the Khasi, Garo and the Jaintia tribes respectively. Nongkrem, held in October/November is a thanksgiving to the almighty for the beautiful harvest. Young men and women perform he dance in the open, wearing expensive silk costumes with heavy gold, silver and coral ornaments. Wangala is also called the dance of the hundred dunks, and marks the end of a period of toil and heralds a good harvest and yield.

The week long festival, held in November is performed to Satyong, the god of fertility. The Behdienkhlam is celebrated in July every year, right after sowing of the crop. Young men beat the rooftops of every house with bamboo poles, a symbolic gesture to drive away the evil spirits, plague and pestilence. Long bamboo poles are held perpendicular to each other, with people dancing to the beat of drums amidst these poles, and trying to avoid injury, and this makes for a magnificent sight.

Things to do Take a trip to the picturesque Shillong, the capital of the state, and visit the innumerable waterfalls, lakes, parks and churches. The Barapanilake and the enchanting caves of Siju, carved out by seasonal waterfalls are worth a visit. There is much to do in this state for the adventure enthusiast. Angling, boating, caving, golfing, trekking and various water sports of every description and denomination are a

Dakbanda are the intricate bamboo and cane work. Handmade orange honey and shawls are beautiful collectibles too.

Unlike other Indian states, Shillong is identified across the country for its rich metal and rock music tradition. Youngsters, while keeping alive their heritage, are widely embracing the culture of the world, and different genres of music, and as a result, artists from around the world are invited for live performances. The crowds assemble and work hard to make a historical note in the metal and rock music world. Attend any of the famous bands from Shillong, such as Prisoners of Chaos, Native rules, Nemesis and many others.

Culture and cuisine entwined The cuisine of Meghalaya is mostly rice, dried fish and meat.

The food is bland, compared to the rest of the Indian palate, but is seasoned with a hot fish chutney. One of the local favorites, and a must try preparation is Jadoh, a dish prepared with pork and rice. The population of this state is largely nonvegetarian, and wild game such as deer, bison, wild pigs, fish, prawns, crabs, eels and dry fish are widely consumed. Apart from rice, millet and tapioca stews are also must try for the visiting vegetarian. Bamboo shoot is the primary, and most favorite vegetable of the people of Meghalaya, which is turned 16 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

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Madurai th th th 16 , 17 , 18 Dec 2016

Nagpur th th th 27 , 28 , 29 Jan 2017

Vijayawada th th 24 , 25 , 26 Feb 2017

Bhubaneshwar th th 24 , 25 , 26 Mar 2017

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possibility in this state and various clubs and agencies organize these activities. Anglers go to the Dawki lake look for the carp, Mahseer, Catfish and other abundant fresh water fish. The scenic lake of Umiam also houses enormous and rare fish, often seen swimming with their brilliant and lively colors. Trek along the calm and composite trails of low granite and sandstone cliffs amongst rolling hills. Often, one comes upon a serpentine stream, and green carpet of grass and moss. The living foot bridge- in the most ecofriendly village in the world, the Kyllang Rock and the SophetBneng are brilliant trekking opportunities.

River rafting in Ranikor, an offbeat destination around Shillong and offers one of the best white water rafting experiences in the country. Kayaking at the Kynshiriver will satisfy even the most ardent of water babies. The elephant falls, while known widely for their scenic beauty, also offer opportunity for waterfall rappelling, which is slippery and risky, but enough to satiate any adventure hungry soul. And if not, waterfall hopping at the spread eagle falls, sweet falls and Crinoline falls are just for you.

Tucked away in the northeast, this is a state where you will see clouds cradling hills, grass glistening with dewdrops and azure blue skies. Pine groves will whisper to you and the streets with winding lanes of English style cottage will enchant you. It will feel like you are in Scotland, but it is actually picture postcard perfect Meghalaya.

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Express Info Getting there By air The most important airport of Meghalaya is the Barapani airport at Umrol in Shillong, which is serviced by Air India and some of the important commercial airlines, with round trip fares starting at Rs. 11,000. Another convenient airport is the Gopinath Bardoloi airport in Guwahati, about 128 kms from Shillong.

By road: The MTC bus service runs regular buses between Umrol and Shillong. Shared cabs are larger SUVs from Guwahati are available too. They take less than 3 and a half hour to reach Shillong. For places within city limits, city buses are a good option. Taxis, the black and yellow un-metered ones ply within city limits too.

Train: There are no regular rail lines in Meghalaya, and the nearest railway station is in Guwahati, which is well connected to the rest of the country by the railways.

Best time of visit is anything except the rainy season, which is June to September, when torrential rainfall pummels the state. The other season is winter, and temperature ranges between 10 and 30 degree Celsius.

Picture courtesy: Akshay Gururaj photography 18 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

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Kerala Tourism Minister greets visitors at virtual reality kiosk at airport

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erala's Tourism Minister Shri. Kadakampally Surendran took on the role of a gracious host and guide at a unique virtual reality platform set up by his department at the international airport here to give air passengers a taste of cruising through the state's famed backwaters.

The minister spent the entire day on Friday at the kiosk set up by Kerala Tourism at the Indira Gandhi International airport greeting curious passengers drawn to the novelty of a life-size "kettuvallam" (houseboat) placed in the airport departure area and explaining how the technology works.

The backwaters have been brought to life through a two-minute film – specially shot using 360 degree technology using six cameras simultaneously. Visitors can don a VR headset and be instantly transported 2,000 km away to a boat floating on the tranquil waters, listening in to conversations of locals going about their daily lives and watching the picturesque coconut palms, rolling paddy fields, birds, the sunset and other vistas from an actual cruise passing by.

The VR zone at the IGI airport is part of the department’s ‘Out of Home’ marketing campaign to promote ‘Brand Kerala’ and is targeted at high net worth individuals in the domestic market.

Besides Mumbai, Kerala Tourism is planning to take the "experience site" to other airports, including Bengaluru.For greater engagement, visitors to the zone are being asked to tweet their experience with the hashtag #Greatbackwaters. A dispensing machine at the site captures their tweets and rewards random tweeters with a picturesque postcard they can mail from the spot.

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Weekend Getaway

Chanch- Come Back Richer Tucked away in a serene corner of the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Chanch is a little haven for anyone wishing to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Located in the Kumaon region, this is a sight for the city tired, sore eyes. The little village of Chanch is home to only a few hundred people but abundant natural beauty, both flora and fauna. There isn’t much human inference around, and one can sit and enjoy the planet, as nature intended us to.

Few destinations in India promise of a completely refreshing vacation, and Chanch is one among them. It is a small village perched amidst the quietness of hills in the district of Almora. Once the journey up the hill starts from Ramnagar through Jim Corbett National Park, it immediately awakens the adventurer inside you.The village of Chanch is about 2 hours scenic drive from the extraordinary Jim Corbett National Park and one can make a day trip to the park, if one can manage to tear oneself away from the beauty that lies within the village.

One of the best parts about Chanch is its relatively small population of about 300 people who're ever willing to guide you around the best spots in the Himalayan foothils. And if you're a foodie, you're bound to find here different yet all amusing flavors. The homestays offer great deals on weekend and longer stays. You can camp all night around a bonfine, and hike, trek, climb the mountains, go for a walk in the wilderness or go bird watching or looking for tigers at the Jim Corbett National park. The homestays are prepared for most sort of climbing and hiking equipment you might need, but if you have something specific in mind, it is best to go prepared. Cool and misty in the morning, pleasantly warm in the noon, then the evening breeze sets in.Make sure to bring extra clothes though, for both summery and cold weather, shoes, and plenty of socks, as the weather can change unpredictably, accompanied with precipitation. Even though the village is equipped with a basic dispensary, it’s best to bring your own first aid kit as well.

December 2016 | Corporate Outbound 21

Express Info The village boasts of producing engineers, doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers and businessmen, but the village itself is like a beautifully restore simple house on a hilltop with a tempting trail leading to a forest. Small, quaint, and delightfully footfall free.

The town feels straight 22 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

Getting there

out of a Ruskin Bond novel. The only things that will invade your privacy are little puppies or the occasional wild cub or two that ventures your way.

Chanch is a village in Molekhal tehsil of Almora district in Uttarakhand. About 180 km from Almora, the easiest means of access is via road from the district headquarter of Almora or Ramnagar. Almora is easily accessible from New Delhi by road and rail, and also by the Pant Nagar airport, about 4 hours outside of Almora. You can also make the direct drive of 333 kms from New Delhi to Chanch directly.

Some adventures lay beyond the trodden paths of popular claims, made of discoveries new and roads not tamed, and the village of Chanch will give you just that.

And you can take a detour anywhere your heart says so, and end up at a place probably never explored before.

No traffic, no honking, no WiFi, no network, no mail, no calls, no mall and nothing to shop. Wake up to a morning as fresh as a dewdrop, and sleep off to a night as beautiful as your fondest dream. Things you won’t find at Chanch are people and the luxury of a five star meal.

What you will find is inner peace and calm and the comfort of a hearty, home cooked meal from a villager. You just have to do your bit and get there. Nature will take care of the rest.

Boarding: Chanch, a small village has some delightful home stays, namely, the Mir Bahay home stay, a bungalow owned by a Delhi based couple. There’s another, named Naïve roads of India, run in collaboration with an NGO that goes by the same name. The place consists of mud huts and wooden cottages and gives off a very serene, offbeat feel. There are also some three and four-star hotels in a 50 kms radius from the village of Chanch with tariffs starting at Rs. 2000 onwards.

Picture courtesy : Jagadish Sharma

December 2016 | Corporate Outbound 23

INGREDIENTS

30 gms Butter 100 gms Refined Flour 3 gms Salt 5 gms Black Pepper 20 gms Thyme 100 gms Grain Sugar 50 gms Icing Sugar 200 gms Apples 15 gms Cinnamon Powder 70 ml Whipping Cream 20 gms Raisins 30 gms Fruit Jam 1 nos. eggs 50 gms Margarine 5 gms Castor Sugar Assembly Brush Diluted Jam Sauce on the plate and place the stewed apple carpaccio, crumble, quenelle of cinnamon cream as desired.

Chef Vipul, a Professional in Industry with over 11 years of experience in India and Abroad, specializes in South East Asian and Modern Continental Cuisine. Currently, he is inspiring and nurturing young chefs as a Chef Trainer at IHM PUSA New Delhi.

Garnish with raisins soaked in stewed apple juices, thyme and mint twigs and cinnamon dust.

Apple Pie Method • • • •

For Stewed Apple Carpaccio Caramalise 100gms Sugar and let it settle like brittle.

Grind the brittle to fine powder.

Add the caramel powder and 5gms cinnamon powder to peeled, cut wedges of apple. Transfer apple mix to a baking tray, cover with foil and bake at 180 Degree Celcius for 10-12 minutes.

• Once cooked, stack the apple wedges in a mould and let them drain excess juices.

For Cinnamon Cream • Whip the cream to stiff peak.

• Mix in 10gms of sifted cinnamon powder and refrigerate.

For Tuile curls • Cream Margarine and icing sugar together.

• Add 25gms egg white.

• Add 50gms refined flour, mix well and refrigerate.

• Spread the mix on a Silpat and bake at 175 Degree Celcius for 9-12 minutes.

• When Hot the tuile can be cut and shaped in various curls.

For Thyme Black Pepper Crumble • Make Short crust crumble with 50gms refined flour and 30gms Butter and bake it at 175 Degree Celcius for 11-12 minutes.

• Add Finely chopped thyme, Black Pepper powder , and castor sugar to the crumble and mix well.

24 Corporate Outbound | December 2016

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