January 2016

Corporate

January 2016 • VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 1 • ` 50

Trains not to miss!

Chilling Places to Cherish Winter

Bekal

Nostalgia of a Bygone Era

January 2016 | Corporate Outbound 1

Contents

24 Other Stories

Managing Editor: Anurag Gupta 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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Bekal – Nostalgia of a Bygone Era

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FUNtastic Fiestas

12 18 Chilling Places to Cherish Winter 2 Corporate Outbound | January 2016

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Buzz

Aviation

Turkish Airlines to introduce B777 on Delhi-Istanbul route from January

Jet Airways to launch daily flights to Amsterdam from Mumbai and Delhi

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urkish Airlines will deploy their higher capacity B777-300 aircraft on the Istanbul - Delhi route from January 26, 2016. The airline has been operating A-330’s on the route so far. And, on Istanbul – Mumbai sector, the airline is already operating B777’s. Turkish Airlines offers excellent connectivity to major European cities via Istanbul.

et Airways, one of India’s premier airlines, has announced the launch of daily non-stop services between India and Amsterdam. With effect from 27th March 2016, the airline will operate two daily non-stop flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one each from Mumbai and New Delhi. Jet Airways will deploy its modern Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 34 seats in Premiere and 259 seats in Economy class.

Air India to start second Delhi-Dehradun flight

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ir India started a second flight to Dehradun from New Delhi beginning January 1 using a 70-seater CRJ-700 aircraft. The flight will leave Delhi at 1230 hrs and reach at 1315 hrs - on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The return flight will leave the Uttarakhand capital at 1345 hrs. Air India already operates a daily ATR flight to Dehradun from New Delhi.

Air India has launched a new service connecting Ahmedabad with London

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ir India is operating the new route using its 256-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which offers 18 seats in business class and 238 in economy. Initially, flights will stop in Mumbai in both directions. The outbound flight, AI131, will depart Ahmedabad daily at 0430 and arrive in Mumbai at 0545. From Mumbai the flight then takes off at 0705 and arrives at Heathrow Airport at 1130. The return flight, AI130, leaves London at 1330 and arrives in Mumbai at 0400 the next morning. It leaves Mumbai at 0530 and arrives back in Ahmedabad at 0645.

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Buzz

Hospitality

Vivanta by Taj debuts in North East

The Gateway Hotel Gir Forest re-opens

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aj Hotels Resorts & Palaces announced its newest addition with the opening of Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati, Assam. Spread over 5 acres Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati features 150 beautifully appointed guestrooms along with one of the largest banqueting spaces in the North East with over 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible conference space, including a pillar-less ballroom of over 6,000 sq. ft. The distinct architecture and design has been done by Singapore based ‘eco.id’. The main pavilion building is inspired by the famed Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.

Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati also has the Jiva Spa, a salon, a well-equipped fitness centre, a large outdoor pool with manicured lawns and a bar set in green spaces. The hotel’s signature oriental restaurant Umami, serves Japanese and Chinese cuisine with all-day dining at Seven is an ode to the seven sister states. The Tea Lounge at Vivanta by Taj - Guwahati promises the finest exploratory tea experience.

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he Gateway Hotel Gir Forest, located close to the renowned Gir Forest, is re-opened for guests. It offers 26 Standard Rooms, 1 Deluxe Suite and 1 Executive Suite, with views of the forest and river. It also houses a Banquet Hall to accommodate up to 40 guests for business meetings and informal gatherings, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and provides Multi-cuisine all-day dinner. The hotel, set in a calm environment, is perfect for a relaxed break. It faces the Hiran River to offer a picturesque atmosphere outside. Also, integral to the experience are the jungle safaris provided by the hotel to its guests.

1st Park Inn By Radisson in Amritsar

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ark Inn By Radisson opened its doors to welcome the guests in Amritsar.

The property conveniently located on Airport Road features 89 rooms, The Sky Lounge, RBG Restaurant, swimming pool, fitness centre as well as 53 square meters of meeting space. The hotel has rooms under different categories such as Superior, Premium, Deluxe, Executive suite and Premier suite with well-appointed amenities.The Sky Lounge is particularly designed for guests staying in the Premier suites and is suitable for small customized parties.

Taj opens new luxury hotel in Bangalore

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aj Hotels Resorts and Palaces opened Taj Bangalore, the latest property under the group’s luxury portfolio and the sixth Taj group hotel in the IT hub. It is located close to the Kempegowda International Airport. Taj Bangalore has over 25,000 sq.ft. of banqueting space, comprising an array of private multifunctional indoor spaces from elegant ballrooms to intimate boardrooms to suit all requirements. It has 154 spacious rooms, 12 luxury suites and a presidential suite. The hotel has 2 restaurants namely Tamarind for authentic Indian food and the Asian restaurant, Soi & Sake, for Chinese and Japanese delicacies. The tasting room is the venue for sampling local and international wines. The hotel also houses Taj Group’s own signature Jiva Spa.

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Bekal

Nostalgia of a Bygone Era

Bekal is one of Kerala’s unique, historic and less frequented beach destinations.

On the northern tip of the coastal state, Bekal is located 16km south from the town of Kasargod. Easily accessible via road as well as by air, train and bus, the historic place doesn’t boast of a string of tourist sites. Yet, it evokes the nostalgia of a bygone era and stands as a witness to several wars fought and the changes of reigns over the centuries…

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dian er In rt – h t o o e Unlik in Bekal F ains , m forts are no re nsion a there palace, m ative y tr of an minis s to be d a h c g or su or buildin s block seen.

Forts:

Kerala’s biggest and one of India’s largest as well as most maintained forts is the famous Bekal Fort.

The visit to the fort takes you back into the wartorn centuries, thanks to the absence of modern buildings appearing anywhere near it.

The 300 years old fort is spread amid 40 acres of land and is 130 meters high from the sea-level.

The Arabian Sea that embraces its laterite stone walls with the waves – makes the view inexplicably memorable. From Kelady Nayakas to Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan and then to the British – the fort changed hands of different rulers but stands strong with its secular architecture, with both a Hanuman Temple and a Mosque at the fort. It has seen numerous battles with good and bad days of the place over the centuries – and welcomes visitors as a silent witness of endless unwritten history.

Bekal Fort’s specialty is its giant key-hole shape that makes it unique. There are some steep stairs which have to be climbed to reach the top. At the centre of the fort, there is an Observation Tower built by Tipu Sultan, which offers a magnificent view. The timing of visit to the fort is between 8am and 5-30pm every day. Entry for Indians and citizens of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) is Rs. 5 per head, while for other foreign tourists it is Rs. 100.

Nearby a few other forts and remains of forts are also there for history-lovers, which includes 10 Corporate Outbound | January 2016

Chandragiri Fort (7km), Hosdurg Fort (16km), Povval Fort (18km) and Kumbala Fort (23km).

Beaches:

The shallow beach, clean and pure, near the Bekal Fort – is also popularly called Bekal Fort Beach.

With a fort in the backdrop and the Arabian Sea at the front, the beach presents a strikingly unusual beach-experience.

To have a picturesque view of the coast as well as the fort, Bekal Resorts Development Corporation

More - in & around Bekal:

If one has some more time than a weekend, there is – • Ranipuram, at the highest peak of Kasargod district, 750m above sea-level and 55km from Bekal (1 to 1½ hours’ drive).

• Valiyaparamba backwaters is where a group of 9 islands in River Tejeswini, known as Valiyaparamba islands, form a scenic region.

The boat cruise in the traditional ‘Kettuvallam’ (Houseboat) offers panoramic view of the coconut groves.

• Kottanchery is a rain forest at 66km and is ideal for trekking. It adjoins the Karnataka reserve forests.

• For spiritual experiences, there are a few decent pilgrim spots like Madhur Temple, Ananthapuram Lake Temple, Adoor Temple, Malik Deenar Mosque, Bela Church and Chathurmukha Vathayan Jain Temple.

(BRDC) has made a nice walkway for the tourists. BRDC also has developed it by making it illuminated during the evenings so that visitors can have a longer leisurely stay at the beach.

There is a 7000sq.mts parking area for visitors near the beach too. The entry fee is at its minimum for just Rs.1 per head.

Besides, a couple of more beaches are there too, for beach explorers – Kappil Beach and Kanwatheertha Beach, which are within a vicinity of 2-3kms.

Want a real silent place to escape from the huff and puff of urban life? Plan Bekal!

Picture & Information Courtesy: Bekaltourism.com

Express Info Time to visit : Between November and March.

Other months, it is highly humid.

Accessibility:

By Road: Excellent roads connect Bekal with major towns of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is 381km from Bangalore (5-6 hours’ drive), 235 km from Mysore, 174 km from Kozhikode and 354km from both Kochi and Coimbatore.

By Rail: Nearest stations are Kasargod (15km) & Kanhangad (11km). Direct trains connect Kasargod with Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Ernakulum.

By Air: Nearest airport is Mangalore which is just 80 km from Bekal and is well connected to major airports in India.

Stay: Best accommodation options are – Vivanta by Taj - Bekal (www.vivantabytaj.com), The Lalit Resort & Spa Bekal (www.thelalit.com) and Nirvana@Bekal (www.nirvanabekal.com).

Besides, there are other accommodation options of 3 & 4 star category - Nileswar Hermitage, Malabar Ocean Front Resort, Thattil Heritage, Neelambari Resorts & Spa, Nalanda Resorts.

Also some nice home-stay options are Gitanjali Heritage, Chandralayam and Kamala Garden.

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Trains

not to miss!

To view the diversity of landscapes, or to have a relaxed chat with your travel companions, and not to be in hurry to reach a destination in just a few hours – train is undoubtedly the best mode for you. It is refreshingly timeless, spacious enough to roam around sometimes, sleep and eat at luxury – what more can be a cozy thing for a holidayer?

The best part of a train travel is – it exposes the interiors of a country to you. It takes you through the places that have the unseen views, less photographed, usually excluded in the regular tour itinerary.

No matter which continent you are in, there is a train which is truly un-missable!

VENICE SIMPLON ORIENT-EXPRESS (Europe)

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ne of world’s most elegant and luxury trains, Venice Simplon Orient-Express is a piece of art in itself! Its vintage ‘Art-Deco cars’ have seen several decades, those of the golden era of trains, the World-Wars and that of the Agatha Christie novel ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. More interestingly, it takes you to some of Europe’s finest places, just name it – London, Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, Venice!

The gastronomic part of it gets the travelers spellbound for more. As the train passes through the different cultures across the continent, comes the special ingredients for some special brunch from each. The service is of top-level and the food is five-star quality. There is no air-conditioning, with coal-heated cabins and the windows which open to the fresh-air outside.

The train offers one-night journeys like LondonBerlin (and Berlin-London) and Paris-Berlin (and Berlin-Paris). One-night journeys are also offered in the route – London-Paris-Venice. The five-night signature journey, however, offers you the similar route of its inaugural run in 1883 – Paris-Istanbul and Istanbul-Venice.

Fare: Starts from INR 2, 17,230; Visit: www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express Picture Courtesy: Belmond.com

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SHINKANSEN – THE BULLET TRAIN OF JAPAN (Asia)

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apan always had the pride of making the fastest bullet trains, which are there for the last fifty years. In 2015, the newest version ‘Maglev’ already created headlines, running at 603 km per hour, becoming the fastest running bullet train.

And, when such an insanely fast train also provides a smooth ride with business-class like seating inside – it’s icing on the cake!

The bullet train takes you through the stunning views of Mt. Fuji, between Tokyo and Osaka.

Besides, it crosses many cities and you can watch the smart and clean urban Japan from the windows. Running at speeds up to 320 km per hour, Shinkansen has several routes, the main being the Tokaido Shinkansen, starting at Tokyo and connecting familiar city names like Kyoto, Osaka, Sanyo and Hiroshima. For tourists, Japan Railways provides rail passes which are quite cost-effective.

Fare: INR 10,253 (Tokyo-Hiroshima one-way); Visit: english.jr-central.co.jp

PRIDE OF AFRICA – ROVOS RAIL (Africa)

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otswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and of course South Africa – Rovos Rail takes you to the most scenic countries of Africa. From game-safaris to a visit to the mighty Victoria Falls – the train journey offers you everything that Africa is known for.

The train runs on various routes and offers the topclass luxury to its travelers. While it can accommodate only 72 on board, you have options of three different categories of suites – Royal, Deluxe and Pullman. There are complimentary mini bars in each cabin, which are filled with the requested drinks of the guests. Its dining cars serve you the finest of South African wine, along with cuisines made of seasonal fresh ingredients that is accompanied by crisp linen, shining glass and silver in a true Victorian setting. With Edwardian features in its interior, traditional decorations, wood paneling, modern fittings and facilities – the train is fully air-conditioned and is a train-travelers’ ultimate soul-satisfaction!

The train has lounge cars where you can sit and watch the world’s most natural sceneries and the rear of the observation car is the most amazing one, giving you the feel of being outside, while the train keeps pacing ahead. The last leg of Rovos Rail itinerary reaches to Victoria Falls. Here, the station is adjacent to the Edwardian building - The Victoria Falls Hotel.

Fare: Starts from INR 70,343; Visit: www.rovos.com Picture Courtesy: rovos.com

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ROCKY MOUNTANEER – 360º VIEW OF GLACIERS (North America)

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ocky Mountaineer presents an unforgettable train journey experience to you.

In its Gold Leaf service, that offers double-level glass domed coaches, with full length windows, you really get the 360º view of glaciers. It also provides exclusive dining rooms in it. Silver Leaf is another service that has single-level glass domed coaches and large size windows.

Complimentary beverages with gourmet snacks are served at both the services.

The famous Canadian hospitality also includes the Rocky Mountaineer Hosts who keep familiarizing you to different mountains with the exciting tales of this spectacular land.

The train runs in four routes in Canada and the routes are – Vancouver-Banf (traveling over the famous Canadian Pacific Railway line), VancouverJasper (Formerly called the Yellowhead route, as it passes through the Rockies) and North Vancouver-Whistler-Quesnel-Jasper (Fraser Discovery Route that takes you from Rainforest to Goldrush route).

The timings are adjusted in such a way that you get the best daylight views of – Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon featuring the Hell’s Gate waterfalls into the Fraser river, the fascinating Continental Divide and the Spiral Tunnels cut through the Cathedral Mountain and Mount Robson.

THE GHAN – JOURNEY TO THE RED CENTRE (Australia)

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he unsurpassed sights of the kangaroo land are best viewed in this 2 night’s train trip from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south, via Alice Springs in the central Australia.

Covering a whopping 2979 kms through the enormously stunning landscapes of Australia’s Red Centre, The Ghan runs once a week in both directions. The journey covers the rusty central parts of the country that was once the route of camel-drivers from Afghanistan who supplied to these parts of Australia - before the railways came into existence. In fact, the naming of it also refers to that era and is a shorter form of ‘The Afghan Express’ as it was nicknamed back in 1920’s.

The Ghan has two types of services – Platinum and Gold. Excursions are offered at Alice Springs and Katherine (included in both Platinum & Gold services) and provide the chance to explore the Outback Australia.

Fare: INR 21,130 (one-night, till Alice Springs); Visit: www.railaustralia.com.au/ theGhan.php

Fare: INR 57,720 (Vancouver-Banf one-way); Visit: www.rockymountaineer.com

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Chilling Places to Cherish Winter Accessibility

DHARAMSALA

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inter days in the Dharamsala are indeed very chilling, but if you enjoy the cold and snowwhite mountains combined with the charm of the Tibetan culture that this town has embraced for the Tibetan Government-in-exile, led by the Dalai Lama – then this is a beautiful time to visit. It snows here during this time but you will get to see Dharamsala in a better way, as the crowd hits this destination only during summers. Remember to carry lots of woolens and protection against chilly winds in this freezing town!

Winter, no doubts, is a challenging time to get adventurous and test your guts. If not any exotic foreign location, India has a few exciting places that are best to visit in winters!

Snow, fog, shorter days and chilling air – these destinations have it all, for a visit with your friends or like-minded partners in crime.

It’s a good idea to plan your trip around the Buddhist Losar Festival (Tibetan New Year) that takes place in February. This year, it is scheduled during February 9 to 11.

By Air: Dharamsala has its own airport (Gaggal Airport), which has direct flights of Alliance Air and SpiceJet from New Delhi and flights from other major cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh etc. with 1-stop.

By Rail: Kangra, a Himachal Pradesh town can be reached from Pathankot (94km) and from there cabs are available to reach Dharamsala.

By Road: Well developed roads connect Dharamsala to Delhi (491km), Chandigarh (247km) and Shimla, Himachal’s capital (239km).

Among things you can do there, a heritage walk in this quaint town will be a profound experience - from Norbulingka Institute to Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which has been founded by the 14th Dalai Lama. The rugged terrain of the jagged mountains of Kangra comes across as the perfect platform for trekkers, mountaineers and rock-climbers to venture out for some action. From easy walks to grueling mountaineering sessions, hiking is a popular activity in Dharamsala. Treks to Bhagsu Falls, Dal Lake, Indrahar Falls and Triund are the most popular ones!

Further, this year cricket lovers will have another reason to visit Dharamsala, as there is a string of World T20 matches scheduled in the scenic HPCA stadium.

Temperature during winter: -2º to 7º Celsius

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Accessibility

ZULUK

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ouching a towering height of 10,000ft, Zuluk is one of the least discovered destinations in the entire of Sikkim. Located on the ancient ‘Silk Route’, this quaint Sikkimese village takes the pride of being a vintage point to enjoy panoramic views of the Mt. Kanchenjunga.

LADAKH

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winter-traveler’s dream, Ladakh is an amazingly refreshing destination with vast diversity of cultures in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Its altitudes range from 2700 to 4500 meters. While winter can be monstrous with heavy snowfall and chilling temperatures going down till -15º to -20º Celsius, there is something very interesting and adventurous - if you are game for it!.

In addition to the magical beauty of this hamlet, it is also popular among the adventure lovers as the ride to Zuluk takes them through 32 hair-pin bends.

Take a car and enjoy the drive in the extreme zigzags of Zuluk!

By Air: Both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways operate daily flights from New Delhi to Leh. Jet Airways operates 2 daily flights between Delhi and Leh during summer and 1 daily flight in winter.

Trek to the snow-bound villages and walk on top of the frozen rivers. Although it’s extremely adventurous, it is not as risky.

Temperature during winter: -5° to 2° Celsius

Accessibility

By Air: Bagdogra Airport, connected with daily flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati and Bangalore, is only a 4-hour-drive away (165km).

By Rail: New Jalpaiguri, well-connected with direct trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Bangalore & Chennai – is hardly 3 hours’ drive away (154km).

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By Road: In winter, by road is impossible.

Two roads - one via the 434 Km SrinagarLeh Highway and the other one - the 475 Km long, more favored, Manali-Leh Highway (the highest motor-able road in the world) are open by middle of June and remain open till mid October only.

Among winter-special activities, the Chadartrek is a popular route connecting villages in Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley. The route has been used for centuries for trade, and is best for visitors during February - when the ice gets steady.

Temperature during winter: -15º to -6º Celsius

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PATNITOP

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tunning views of the Pir Panjal range welcomes you at Patnitop, one of the most exciting winter destinations of Kashmir.

Patnitop hosts several adventure activities in the winters - like paragliding, trekking, hiking, camping and rock climbing. Paragliding is really tough and tests your tolerance of flying in the freezing air. Besides, camping and relaxing nature-walks in the vicinity of Sansar Lake (20km from Patnitop) are equally popular.

Little Kashmiri villages - Kud and Batote, nearby, surrounded by thickly wooded Pines, make you soak in the charming Kashmir winter.

Temperature during winter: -3° to 18° Celsius Accessibility:

By Air: Jammu Airport is the nearest airport (112 Km); cabs can be taken from there to Patnitop

By Rail: Jammu Railway Station (108km) is nearest; cabs are available there to reach Patnitop

By Road: Patnitop is well connected through roads with Srinagar (184km), Jammu & Kashmir’s capital and also with other cities like Jammu (111km), Amritsar (284km) and Chandigarh (410km)

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INGREDIENTS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Fresh fettuccine -150 gms Extra virgin olive oil - 2 tbs Parsley - 5 gms Garlic - 2 cloves Butter - 25 gms Chili flakes - ½ tsp Peeled tomatoes - 200 gms Onion - 1 no Curry Powder - 2 tsp Cream -100 ml Capsicum - 1 no Carrot - 1 no Radish leaves - for garnish Shelled shrimps - 50 gms Black peppercorn - 5 gms Salt - To Taste Parmesan cheese - 5 gms

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.

Fettuccine with curried shrimp sauce Fusion food is that which combines elements of different culinary traditions. Cuisines of this type are not categorized according to any one particular cuisine style. Asian fusion restaurants, which combine the various cuisines of different countries, have become popular in many parts of the Europe.

This fusion recipe came about from one of those uncommon situations where one fancied an italian pasta dish and the other fancied a curry. A good-quality mild curry powder is always a friend. It adds a cheeky kick to this dish of prawn, scallop, squid and salmon pasta. Feel free to substitute chicken for shrimps or if you take both of those out you have a simple and wonderful vegan recipe. Also make your own fresh favorite pasta using eggs and durum wheat flour or, if you’re short on time, just buy them from market.

Method 1. Melt butter and saute garlic and chilli flakes (optional) until soft. Add shrimps and cook until pink.

Remove shrimps from heat and set aside. Add chopped onion, tomatoes, seasonings, cream and cheese. Simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, prepare pasta: bring a large pan of water and the oil to the boil. Add spaghetti and cook until tender but still firm. Drain, rinse under warm water and drain again. Return to pan.

Sauté pasta with some extra virgin olive oil and same chopped garlic. Season with salt and pepper, blanched vegetables and sprinkle with some grated parmesan cheese.

3. Arrange in a plate topped with some shrimp sauce and garnished with some celery curls and radish greens. Serve hot.

Note: Chilli is optional as there will still be a kick from the curry powder.

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SPLORE February 19 - 21, 2016 - Tapapakanga Regional Park, New Zealand

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fun-filled music festival that has you floating the entire day till night, costumed, in the south-pacific and soak in endless entertainment – that’s Splore! The word “splore” (meaning carousing) first appeared in the mid18th century in Scotland. It’s an apt name for a festival that celebrates the fine art of frolicking.

Splore takes place every two years in a regional park named Tapapakanga - south of Auckland.

The park is home to important ancient Maori settlements first indicated by the carved totems at the reserve’s entrance.

FUNtastic Fiestas

New Zealanders enjoy to the fullest with an opportunity to dance through the days and evenings with lively music setting the tempers high.

Splore combines live musical performances, caravan and tent camping with a family-friendly atmosphere, sunny beaches and artist-designed trails.

HADAKA MATSURI February 20, 2016 - Nara, Japan

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art spiritual, part adventurous – this bizarrely celebrated festival is for the men who have the guts for some ‘dareto-do’ acts. The age-old traditional festival is celebrated across Japan in cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Inazawa City, and Sendai. However, the most famous of the celebrations is the Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri in the city of Okayama. This Hadaka Matsuri has really stood up to legendary level where 10,000 fundoshi-wearing (loin-clothed) participants gather at the Saidai-ji temple to battle it out for the title of “the lucky man,” an honor that they can get by catching the shingi (sacred lucky sticks). The lucky man then has to successfully defend himself against 10,000 contending men before thrusting those into a container filled with rice. His feat is well rewarded afterwards, with a cash prize, and bragging rights for an entire year.

At the late evening, when lights are turned off and the actual prize is thrown by the priests, all hell breaks loose.

OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL February 19 - October 30, 2016 - Oregon, USA

JAISALMER DESERT FESTIVAL February 20 - 22, 2016 - Jaisalmer, India

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three-day-festivity that engulfs you into it, with the vibrant colors of Rajasthan – Desert Festival takes place at the golden sands of SAM dunes in Jaisalmer with its fort creating a dream backdrop. Crazy activities like longest moustache competition, besides many others like camel-racing, turban-tying, camel-polo, fire-dance and more. The festival begins with a Shobha Yatra (ceremonial procession), where Rajasthanis dress in their traditional attire. Men carrying swords atop horses, camels, and elephants are cheered on as they enter the Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium, one of the venues of the desert festival. The festival ends with a final musical performance by folk singers under the moonlit sky. The entire experience captures the rich folk-culture of Rajasthan and the historical city of Jaisalmer.

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or some time, leave the books behind to live the novels of the legend. Shakespeare festival at Ashland, Oregon will take you to the world of drama, music and dance on its eight-month-celebration. For many years, the Shakespeare Festival featured only Shakespearean works with only one theatre - the Allen Elizabethan Theatre but later as the festival opened two more theatres in the ‘70s, the season expanded into the spring and fall, and the festival started clubbing other classic playwrights as well. Naturally, the plays are the major factor for the crowds who flock to Ashland, but even you can take other options like the backstage tours, attending play-readings, listening lectures, and last but not the least - dine at the ‘Feast of Will’ - a dinner to celebrate the beginning of summer and the Allen Elizabethan Theatre. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will also host the fifth annual National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival from September 29 till October 9 this year.

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2015

AURANGABAD th th 15 , 16 Aug 2015

QUEBEC WINTER CARNIVAL Jan 29 - Feb 14, 2016 - Quebec City, Canada

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he Carnaval de Québec (in French), as it is also known in Canada – the festival is unique in itself because not many would try to go outdoors in the freezing temperatures of Canada, that too in winters, to have a festival. What you get to experience here are - Snow sculptures, winter sports, and traditional Québec activities like dogsled and canoe races – and it is the world’s largest winter carnival! The habitants of the New France colony brought with them the tradition of the partying - eating, drinking and celebrating before Lent. Since then, many popular events that have been taking place during Carnival seem to be ageless!

Picture Courtesy: Fest300.com

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Q T A K L A M A K A N A S E E T Y R V S

C H I K H A L D A R G X Y Z C H O P T A

T Y S R F V G Y U I A E D F F D F G S T

E F A R A F R A A A N M A N A W Q A D I

T F L Q A Z Q T S X T K S A S E W W F R

H M A W S X W A D S A I D M D R E E G T

J G R E S C E C F E R O F I F T R F H Y

F H D R D C R A G D C P G B L A C K J U

Z C E T F

X V U Y G V B T Y M A G H F V T I U H H J F F G H T Y T Y B H K L W F

C B Y U H N U S J G C B K G J U Y U E B

V T U U J N U D K T A J L G K U U I P H

A Q N I J M I F K Y F T O H K I U M A J

S D W E I A O P K L N M O O G H L R J N F S F A U H J A L R O A I I L P I N I O

F R S P L J P J T J A S D F G Y O T T P

G S I M P S O N Y I R F V G Y Y O H E S

H Y W S X X X D U O W E D C T F P J D F

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E D S H S S Y A D X E G L V T H S R D I

T F D G D W R N R C R Y A H Y Y D T F R

H M F F F E E A T V T U G H U U F Y G T

J G F D G F R A Y V Y I I U I J G U H Y

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Z C H S J

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V T A W A N G W O W O H E Y H O L P R H

A Q R D N E C E E L O Y T U J R F T T J

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