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PATNITOP
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: @jammutourismofficial
BHADERWAH
BHADERWAH: The Chenab Valley, 200 km from Jammu, has a beautiful landscape, vast expanses of alpine vegetation, rivulets, clear blue sky and unique mosaic of culture. Other nearby places of interest are: l KAILASH KUND, at a height of 13,067 ft, is the source of Neeru river. The sacred kund is believed to be the abode of the presiding deity of Bhaderwah, Shri Vasuki Nag Ji.
: www.jammutourism.gov.in
PATNITOP: The most popular hill resort of Jammu is perched at 2,024 m. One can also visit the 600-year-old Nag Mandir nearby. The Bagliar Hydro-Electric Project is 10 km away. During winters (January-February), one can go for amateur skiing and sledging on the slopes. Built with the latest technology, the Skyview Patnitop ropeway has one of the highest ground clearances. These are spacious avant-garde gondolas.
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DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM JAMMU
CABLE CAR AT PATNITOP
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: @jammutourism
: 0191-2520409
VALLEY at 6,500 feet has coniferous forests and the Chinta Nallah. Bagan, a grassy meadow, is a great picnic spot. The Subarnag peak with a temple at the top is located 6 km away. l JAI VALLEY is a picturesque spot just 35 km from Bhaderwah. It is surrounded by a thick deodar cover on its steep slopes and offers activities like rock climbing, trekking, hiking and many more for adventure lovers.
l CHINTA
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FROM THE EDITOR
Editor-in-Chief CHANDAN MITRA EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Saxena 09818600128 EDITORIAL Editor-in-Charge Rinku Ghosh Assistant Editor Saimi Sattar Chief Designers Anand Singh Rawat & Satish Jakhmola Production Manager Syed Nawab Raza Staff Photographer Pankaj Kumar SALES & MARKETING Vice President Jetender Rawat 9810404096 General Managers Kumar Gurudutta Jha & Sweety Verma Senior Managers Madhukar Saxena & Divyesh Kothari Managers Bharat Singh Sajwan, Prabhakar Pathak & Barun Choudhary Media Coordinator Neelu Sharma MUMBAI OFFICE General Manager Devendra Adhikari KOLKATA OFFICE Vice President Suzanna Roy HYDERABAD OFFICE V Sunil Kumar General Manager (Circulation) Rajeev Gautam Printed and published by Chandan Mitra for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd, printed at JK Offset Graphics (P) Ltd, B-278, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110020 and published at No. 6, Behind Gulab Bhawan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002. Editor: Chandan Mitra. Entire Contents Copyright (C) 2006 CMYK Printech Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction or translation in any language in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Requests for permission should be directed to CMYK Printech Ltd. Opinions carried in Exotica are the writers’ and not necessarily endorsed by CMYK Printech Ltd. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material or for material lost or damaged in transit. All correspondence should be addressed to CMYK Printech Ltd; F-31, Sector-6, NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh-201301 Phone: 0120-4879800 & 4879900 Email: exoticapioneer2016@gmail.com
BLISS IT WAS IN THAT DAWN
O
ne of my best decisions was to go ahead with the purchase of a sizeable plot of land in a place beyond a village called Satbunga on the Ramgarh-Mukteshwar Road in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district. Being an avid lover of the hills, I wanted to build a small retreat. I liked the place located at a height of around 7,200 ft, approximately the same as Shimla. There was no human habitation in a 2 km radius, except for TERI’s potato research centre located directly above. When I went for the first recce, the sky was overcast and I had to take my broker’s word that the snow-capped Himalayas were clearly visible from there. I had insisted that I would not buy any place which did not have an uninterrupted view of the snowy ranges. On my next visit, I discovered that the broker had not duped me, although the burly, hot-headed Ghaziabad-based owner drove a hard bargain, refusing to negotiate his asking price. It was intended to be a small cottage but building a house on the slope of a hill posed considerable structural challenges. The architect, my friend Harsh Trivedi, brought all his grandiose schemes to bear, eventually making it a much larger house than originally conceived. But he and his wife Anasuya constructed a fantastic double-storey building, except it massively overshot my meagre budget. But now that it is ready, I feel it has been worth every rupee spent — a perfect round-the-year retreat as well as a superb post-retirement home. On all previous trips, I was unlucky to get rained out each time. In fact, I was there on the fateful June 15, when disaster struck Kedarnath and the entire Garhwal region. But Kumaon, where my house is located, escaped nature’s fury although it rained incessantly. On subsequent visits too, the sky was overcast and it wasn’t possible to glimpse the ranges. But I have been lucky to have had golden sunshine for all five days too. The sky was so clear that the snow-covered sentinels of India were visible from dawn to dusk and even beyond. Sipping tea on the balcony as I glanced at the mesmerising sight, I recalled the time I first determined to own a place in the mountains. In my youth, I had to travel to Landour in Mussoorie to visit my college Principal, Rev. WS Rajpal, who had refused to sign a document applying for Entertainment Tax exemption for the premiere of Manoj Kumar’s Roti, Kapda aur Makaan. The St. Stephen’s College Union (of which I was the Secretary) was to stage it. I had managed to get the rights from the actor-producer with some difficulty but our Principal felt it was unbecoming of an elite college to host a Hindi film premiere. As advised by history teacher Mohd. Amin — that I would find Rajpal Saab in a good mood in the hills — I took an overnight bus to reach his cottage, Kilmarnock, an old Scottish-built bungalow. Mrs Rajpal extended a motherly welcome much to my relief and took me to meet the Principal who was sipping tea on the lawns gazing at the ranges. I told him how I hoped to build something similar for myself some day; indeed, I nursed this ambition for 40 years before it could become a reality. The sub-Himalayan ranges have lost much of their original charm due to reckless construction and overcrowding. But compared to the cities, they are still idyllic retreats. And in my place it is pleasant enough throughout the year for me not to have provided for installation of fans but build two fireplaces instead. I hope it stays that way at least for as long as I live.
[CHANDAN MITRA] Editor-in-Chief EXOTICA [2] NOVEMBER 2019
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Little black book [p08] Kriti Sanon: A quick peek into her style file Globe trotter [p14] Cruising the good life Celeb talk [p24] The reluctant actor: Purab Kohli Season special [p34] White knights of a winter dawn: Christmas destinations Travel Bug [p46] Gold rush: Kolar Gold Field
I N S I D E
[p52]
DECEMBER 2019 VOLUME 14 NO 2
[p24]
COVER: NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE, VILNIUS, LITHUANIA PHOTO: AP
Wedding special [p52] Voyage of vows Festive spread [p60] Twist in taste: Christmas dishes Photo feature [p76] Spread the cheer
CONTRIBUTORS Sri Sri Ravi Shankar [p66] GURUSPEAK: Finding happiness Bharat Thakur [p70] FITNESS: The essence Kushan Mitra [p72] HOT WHEELS: The ABC of reviewing cars Sanjay Jumaani [p81] NUMBER GAME: Count your fate
TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES 84 INCLUDING COVER
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FAVOURITE HAUNTS OF STYLISH PEOPLE
It’s very hard to choose my favourite film but there’s Jab We Met, DDLJ, 3 Idiots, Andaz Apna Apna. And in Hollywood, I love Before Sunrise, PS I love you and Notebook.
I love Narciso Rodriguez as it has that fresh vibe.
I’m not much of a reader but I really like Palace of Illusions, which reconstructs the Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi.
KRITI SANON made her acting debut in 2014 with Sukumar’s Telugu film, Nenokkadine, a psychological thriller. Since then, she has made her presence felt in the Hindi film industry belting out hits
I love to dig into Butter chicken and Rajma chawal. I think these two dishes are loved by Delhiites.
I like vacationing in London but I also love Maldives. I find Turkey beautiful.
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TRAVEL NEWS
SANTA MONICA SOJOURN Where LA meets the sea, you’ll find the beach community of Santa Monica. Year-round warm weather, proximity to LA, picturesque beachside setting, friendly locals, lively cultural scene, this is a coastal paradise. Not convinced yet? Here are 10 reasons why Santa Monica must be in your bucket list the next time you are in the area 300 DAYS OF SUNSHINE A YEAR: Does cold and gloomy weather have you singing the blues? These long, chilly months are the ideal time to plan an escape to sunny Santa Monica. It averages more than 300 days of warm, soul-healing sunshine a year and offers some of the best sunsets on the West Coast. Temperatures rarely dip below 16°C, providing the ideal climate for getting physically active, shopping or dining al fresco. LOCATION: Less than an hour from Hollywood and even closer from downtown Los Angeles, the place is an excellent base from which you can enjoy the rest of California, including Malibu, Santa Barbara and San Diego. ICONIC BEACHES: Many visitors to Santa Monica come because of the beach. The 8.3 square-mile city offers a variety of activities such as sunbathing, biking and volleyball. Don’t forget the Original Muscle beach. Located just south of Santa Monica pier, where you can rub shoulders with athletes. FRESH FOOD: Santa Monica has deep ties to California farmers and has been named as the place hosting the
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best farmers’ market in the county. The four weekly versions attract residents and local chefs with fresh produce, flowers, meats, cheeses, nuts, fish, and more. BEST WINDOW-SHOPPING MECCA: Santa Monica’s walkable neighbourhoods and celebrated outdoor retail destinations make it a shopper’s paradise, all set near one of Southern California’s most iconic coastlines. Honouring the city’s laidback spirit and wealth of options, it was recently named as the best “Window Shopping Mecca” by a magazine. HUB FOR ART LOVERS: Santa Monica has a robust gallery scene. But there’s no need to head inside to be inspired by artists’ works. Visitors and locals alike are treated to more than 150 notable sculptures, murals and other creative endeavours found all around town. GREEN SPACES: When many hear “green travel”, they think of camping in the wilderness, but in Santa Monica you don’t have to sacrifice the indulgences of luxury travel in order to “go green.” There are many eco-friendly restaurants, hotels, attractions and transportation alternatives so you can travel guilt-free and protect the destination you love to visit. ECO-FRIENDLY FERRIS WHEEL: Named by a travel magazine as one of the “World’s Coolest Ferris Wheels,” the 13-story Pacific Wheel is the world’s first and only solar-powered one. Visitors and locals can grab a seat and take in panoramic views of the Los
Angeles coastline and mountains from more than 185 feet above the Santa Monica Pier. The Ferris wheel’s 1,74,000 energy-efficient LED lights create a 85-foot high computer-generated light show for night-time beach-goers to enjoy. EXCELLENT ODDS OF SEEING SOMEONE FAMOUS: Santa Monica is a city with high concentration of famous people. There are several restaurants where celebrities occasionally dine like The Bungalow, Ivy at the Shore, The Penthouse, Tar and Roses, among others. LGBT-FRIENDLY: Not only is Santa Monica home to some of the country’s most beloved beaches, it is also home to one of Los Angeles’ most open-minded and fun-loving communities. From the locals who have called it home their entire lives to newer residents, Santa Monica is a vibrant and growing community made up of people from all walks of life, making it the perfect place to stay as an LGBT traveller.
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MICE VENUES AT ST MORITZ
NESTLED
in the Swiss Alps, the town of St.Moritz is an ideal destination for business and corporate getaways. High in the mountains, there are event spaces and locations with stunning views of the snowy mountains and the Engadin valley. It has a unique selection of MICE offers to suit any corporate event including bleisure packages that promise fun and adventure. The Adventure Day package has a wide choice of activities available, ranging from the cultural to hiking, mountain biking and snow sports. The participants can end the day with a dinner at Piz Nair which is 3,057 above sea level. Muottas Muragl is the ideal location for smallscale meetings. The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl has a seminar room designed to accommodate up to 14 participants. During a break, guests can enjoy the spectacular views of the Engadin lake plateau or indulge in great culinary delights.
The small seminar room on Piz Nair boasts stunning views of St Moritz. The ride up to Piz Nair on the funicular and gondola car makes for a unique experience. The seminar room can accommodate up to 20 people. Right in the heart of the Corviglia region is the Chesa Marguns renowned for its biking and hiking in summer and skiing in winter. This exclusive event location is perfect for staging select, private parties with a rustic flair. The Chesa is located at 2,278 metres above sea level and accommodates a lounge with a fireplace, as well as a dining area and veranda. The Villa Lyss is in a former mountain pasture hut. The rustic party restaurant is perfect for all kinds of social happenings for a group of 15-24 persons. Celebrate your special events in an exclusive, informal and relaxed atmosphere. The fireplace is ablaze, the firewood is crackling, the party in your very own private restaurant can begin.
ROYAL DINING AT JAIPUR
CANDLE
- lit dinners are passÊ. Imagine a dinner setting illuminated by just the light of candles, reflecting in 3.5 lakh mirrors (approx) and a serene ambience created by live music and the mellow rhythm of dainty indoor fountains in the background. Mohan Mahal at JW Marriott Jaipur Resort & Spa’s restaurant has been nominated in the Top 52 Restaurants and Bars by Marriott Bonvoy. It is a curated F&B list showcasing one-of-a-kind dining experiences at unforgettable destinations across the Asia Pacific region. The Sheesh Mahal inspired Mohan Mahal honours the traditions and culture of Rajasthan, fusing modernity with heritage. Highlighting the culinary prowess of Chef Rajendra Shekhawat, the extensive set menu encompasses a variety of decadent Rajasthani delights in vegetarian, non vegetarian options and desserts.
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GLOBE TROTTER
Cruising the
life
good
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GUSTASP and JEROO IRANI hit the waves where each of the ships they board takes the word luxury to the next level
LONG
gone are the days when gracious ocean liners were modes of transport, a means of getting from here to there. Today, cruise vacations are pulling in young and not-so-young revellers, looking for excitement on board modern cruise ships. These floating hotels not only ferry guests to exotic locations but also pamper them with indulgences of the finest kind: spas, fine dining options, entertainment‌. We explore a few of these luxe ships on which we set sail.
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QUANTUM OF THE SEAS
IT
may not be the biggest ocean liner to sail the Seven Seas but Quantum of the Seas is no ordinary ship. The 1,68,666-ton vessel features bells and whistles not seen in the cruise industry earlier and is certainly brag-worthy. The Quantum has given concrete contours to creative, almost outlandish ideas and ways to lure new cruisers and repeat ones. Take the Bionic Bar, for instance, where you punch in your favourite cocktail on an iPad and a robot concocts it for you. Or the sky diving simulator where guests may free fall into the middle of the sea. The vessel has the capacity to ferry 5,000
passengers in 2,090 tastefully decorated staterooms (cabins) spread across 18 decks. The real masterstroke is inside the cabins where, instead of blank walls, large LED screens reflect the moving seascape so that you feel that you have a stateroom with a view. There are other whimsical design touches — a wall of butterflies and a lively Royal Esplanade with a line-up of cafes, restaurants, bars, chic boutiques and the swinging old-world Music Hall. Of its 18 restaurants, five full-service ones are complimentary and some speciality ones come with a nominal charge. This is the Quantum concept of Dynamic Dining where cruisers don’t
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have to dine in one main dining room at prewould like to channel the Tarzan in you and swing determined seating times but have flexibility and on a trapeze, the Quantum has a circus school immense choice, from pizzas to sushi and even which will teach you how to do just that. one where the fare features choices that are under This ship has the works in every respect and 500 calories. Then there are multiple bars and the even pulls off entertainment that has cruisers first gastro pub at sea, a state-of-the-art gym, a hanging on to the edge of their seats. For instance, cutting-edge spa and swimming pools with the two 70-degree lounges with its three-storey outdoor jacuzzis. high windows (they also function as digital The R&R on board raises the bar for other ships screens) is transformed at night for a show of — SeaPlex indoor entertainment centre is another dazzling costumes, soul-stirring voices and first which throbs with bumper cars and skaters talented dancers who contort their bodies gliding on a skating rink which can convert to a spectacularly against the backdrop of special basketball court at the press of a button. And if you effects that would have done Hollywood proud. Contact: www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/quantum-of-the-seas
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COSTA FASCINOSA
THE
colours of the Seven Seas and the vibrant hues of the exotic Isles to which it sails are reflected in the DNA of Costa Fascinosa, one of the largest Italian-flagged cruise ship afloat. The 17-deck ship, which is part of the Costa Crociere group, is as enticing as the destinations it sails to, with the natural light and the eye-popping colours of the Mediterranean filtering through the skylight of the Amarcord Atrium or from its glass-walled public areas and its sun-splashed decks. Guests plunge into a heady round of fun on the ship as soon as it sets sail. Bubble lifts flitter up
and down like multi-hued butterflies and there are many magical spaces where cruisers may relax after a day of sightseeing or spend quiet evenings post sumptuous dinners and nights of hectic dancing at the Babylon Discotheque. The Costa Fascinosa, which can carry 3,000 passengers, exudes a sunny vibe in its 13 bars and restaurants included. Music and laughter ripple across the ship, with guests cavorting away into the night. This is a happening ship for people who like to have fun and the interiors, too, give a hint of this. These evoke memorable films and operas and the life-like faces of movie stars and icons
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of the good life who stare at guests in the world’s most famous courses; a real Grand Prix elevators and corridors along with the paintings race car on the ship’s highest deck simulates races that have a twisted Salvador Dali-type slant add an on some of the best international tracks. outré touch. There are colossal buffets for breakfast and On the pool deck (the Costa Fascinosa has four lunch, while the plush Il Gattopardo Restaurant swimming pools), instructors conduct yoga, resonates with the rich strains of old Italian songs stretches, muscle wake-up and other classes while when wait staff dance and sing with guests. at the Samsara Spa (one of the largest spas on the Evenings on board the ship reach a crescendo at ocean), seminars keep fitness buffs limbered up. the mirror-studded Bel Ami Theatre, where Indeed, the Fascinosa has enough on its daily boisterous musicals are showcased and singers, agenda to keep the entire family engaged in dancers and even ventriloquists entertain guests. between sightseeing forays. The latest-generation Occasionally, the all-embracing sea reminds Golf Simulator enables one to play on 37 of the cruisers that experiences are about the ocean, too. Contact: www.costacruises.com/fleet/fascinosa/v1.html
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OASIS OF THE SEAS
OASIS
of the Seas is a diva and, at one time, was the largest ship afloat. She likes to show off her assets: 16 decks, with space to accommodate 5,400 passengers. The colossal ship is no lightweight; it weighs 2,25,000 tons. The gargantuan vessel if stood upright from bow to stern would dwarf the Chrysler building in New York. And all that expanse of space is tastefully designed so that everyone on board gets to revel in the pleasures of sailing on this floating city. When Royal Caribbean International built this ship, they did not cut corners. So the Oasis is all about state-of-the-art design. There are distinct
neighbourhoods here — dubbed the Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Entertainment Place, Pool and Sports Zone, Central Park — all abuzz and throbbing with life. And it is easy to get lost on this behemoth but computerised signposting helps guests to get a feel of the ship. However, size is not an end in itself but a platform to pack the Oasis with indulgences that satisfy every whim of its guests. The Boardwalk, for instance, is dotted with cafes and restaurants, tattoo bars, trendy kids’ stores and even a hand-carved carousel. Or the Royal Promenade which is an eyeful, buzzing with street performers and parades and families looking for Insta-worthy photographs. Occasionally, they duck into restaurants, bars and
EXOTICA [20] DECEMBER 2019
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glitzy shops to check out what’s on offer. The openof the largest and deepest fresh water pools on the air Central Park neighbourhood, the size of a seven seas that converts to a 750-seat Aqua Theatre football pitch, rings with the cries of boisterous kids where acrobatics, synchronised swimming and high having fun while parents chill on wood benches. diving by Olympic athletes elicit oohs and aahs from Indeed, the bundle of perks are extended to the audience. children who have 15,000 sq ft of dedicated space all Entertainment Place is the stage for Broadway to themselves. The Adventure Ocean programme musicals; an artfully choreographed ice-skating (for 6 months to 11-year-olds) and the Teen show at Studio B, late-night jazz at the Jazz on 4 Programme (for 12 to 17-year-olds) have agelounge, and stand-up comedy at Comedy Live. In appropriate activities that keep boredom at bay. In the midst of all this foot-tapping entertainment and the meantime, the parents can savour a romantic over-the-top choices, guests drift to the open decks dinner or a spot of hectic sightseeing at the to soak up the simple pleasures of a cruise — gazing different ports of call. at a limitless ocean reflecting the stars in an equally Getting bored on a cruise is passé. Oasis has one limitless sky. Contact: www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/oasis-of-the-seas
EXOTICA [21] DECEMBER 2019
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AZAMARA QUEST
THE
Azamara Quest is all about sailing to virtually off-the-grid destinations and exotic little ports that are not accessible to larger ships. The Azamara tag line: “You’ll love where we take you” is more than just a marketing gimmick. The 10-deck 30,277 ton-vessel drops anchor at places less travelled to. This is not a ship for those who like over-thetop glitz and glamour — glittering atrium lobbies, glam shows, rock-climbing walls and zip lines. This is intimate old-fashioned cruising where the Captain interacts with his 686 guests; the guest crew ratio is 2:1 and the staff snaps and clicks their heels to fulfil guests’ whims and fancies. Staterooms sport fresh flowers, a platter of fruits, an inviting double bed and a pillow menu. Best of all, private balconies invite the outdoors — with their vistas of a boundless ocean and glimpses of bucket list lands — indoors. The fact that the ship is mid-sized does not diminish its understated style-gilded and casual restaurants, bars and lounges, state-of-the-art Astral Spa with an acupuncture suite, casino, glitzy entertainment by a talented cast of dancers and singers and upbeat dance bands, fitness classes and enrichment lectures. But what makes the Azamara cruises a lure for travel junkies is that the destination takes centre-stage and the ship plays second fiddle in what is called “destination immersion.” With longer stays in port and more overnights too, there is time to get under the skin of the destination. In addition, each cruise has an evening when a local performance, a show or sporting event is held for guests so that they get to plug into the destination at a deeper level. Each day becomes a blur of sights, gourmet cuisine and fine wines and absorbing the history of faraway lands The Azamara Quest is for the cruiser who wants to discover realms on the edge of fantasy, mirages almost, on a heaving sea. Contact: www.azamara.com/int/our-ships/azamara-quest
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C E L E B TA L K Actor and former VJ PURAB KOHLI connects over a WhatsApp call from London, where he is based, to talk about his latest outing, Out of Love. Rather than it turning out to be an interview, it becomes more of a discussion where he frequently digresses and takes off on a different tangent before deciding to make a course correction. The free-wheeling chat with SAIMI SATTAR reveals that the actor, who has been a part of some path-breaking films like My Brother Nikhil, Rock On and shows like Hip Hip Hurray and Typewriter, has interests which extend beyond the glitz and glamour of the industry
The
reluctant actor What made you take on the show? The first thing that you look at is the writing. In this case, I had the reference of the original Doctor Foster. It is an interesting part and I haven’t done anything similar before. Adultery has been dealt with in films, TV shows and web series. Was there a reason you felt the treatment was unique? I think it was because of the stance that the protagonist takes and the way she deals with it. And treating it like a thriller is quite a unique way of dealing with the subject, which hasn’t been done before. You can say in Khoon Bhari Maang, the treatment was similar. But if you see the show, it has been dealt with very differently. You play a 40 something father in the show and you are roughly the same age. Why does the idea of eternal youth not enamour you unlike most celebrities? (Guffaws) I don’t think that it is celebrities alone. It affects everyone now. I find it largely annoying that everyone around me wants to stay young and youthful. There is a great joy in accepting who you are and how you are and it is nice to have the same energy and buzz
EXOTICA [24] DECEMBER 2019
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which you had at a younger age. Only that it is a different kind of a buzz. It is energy with maturity. If you are holding on to what you were at 18 or 19, it is a recipe for stagnation. If we are looking at evolution, then you have to look at maturity. That is how I look at it rather than as getting old.
then we tried to see how much higher we could take it.
Web series means uncensored content. Often people try to use that to grab eyeballs by using titillation and unprecedented violence. Does it call for some amount of self-censorship on the part of the makers? I think that it is essential for the audience to choose What is the character like? the makers of the show wisely. I don’t agree that (Laughs) Having just spoken of maturity, this censorship should exist in any form. What should character is quite immature. He is someone who is exist is viewer’s discernment to choose what to trying to hold on to that age and trying to feel young. watch. If I want to watch crass, then I will. There are He wants to experience the first flush of love. He is creative people in the business and then there are involved with a younger woman. Even in the people who claim to be creative and want to make interactions with his son, he is more like a buddy money. Of course, it can also be their idea of than a father. Akarsh has that thing about wanting to creativity. Censorship implies treating the audience be 18 or 19 again and have that youthfulness without like children. Ye to bachcha hai, usey taking up the responsibility that I DON’T THINK THAT samajh nahin aayega. Humein isey yeh comes with age. He tries hard to be CELEBRITIES ALONE nahin dikhana chahiye violent ho a good father and a husband. He has ARE OBSESSED WITH jayega (A child should not be exposed a loving relationship with his wife YOUTH. IT AFFECTS EVERYONE NOW. I to such content). An audience that where they have a great physical and FIND IT LARGELY has been treated like an imbecile romantic chemistry but he feels that ANNOYING THAT EVERYONE AROUND becomes like that. You have to he has too much of love to offer. And ME WANTS TO STAY nurture and push creative thought. he has it for more than one person YOUNG AND People who do that will have a so he wants to disburse it. YOUTHFUL. THERE IS A GREAT JOY IN following of people who want to ACCEPTING WHO watch such shows. Moreover, you as A co-star is someone who can inspire a YOU ARE AND HOW YOU ARE a journalist will talk about the shows better performance. What does Rasika that you enjoyed watching or found (Dugal) add to your character? crass as you are the medium through which If there is one reason that one should see the show, it creativity ultimately reaches the reader and the is Rasika. She is fantastic! She is a powerful actor consumer. Censorship should lie with people who and this is a perfect role for one and she has done make informed choices. justice to it. She is an absolute joy to work with. Moreover, a filmmaker might use sex in context When you are two actors on a set, it is a dance of and not just for titillation. Or maybe even to titillate sorts. You throw something at each other, react to it because it is a creative process as he wants the and take it forward. When you have a great co-star, viewer to be sexually aroused. For me, anything that then you really enjoy giving back and doing things is creative where a good writer and director are in tandem. trying to take the audience on an emotional journey, Coming back to your question, I think nobody which has many layers, should not be censored by an could have made for a better Dr Meera Kapoor and it external agency. Even when the emotions are is a big responsibility to play the title part. I look at negative like anger, arousal or hate, these media help her as the protagonist and Akarsh, my character, as release them. If someone is feeling aggressive, they the conflict of the show. Both are important and see that emotion on screen which can help them would fall flat without each other. On the set, we release that emotion. If I feel like shedding a tear were starting from a level that was quite high and
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creativity because there is a lot of money involved. Two, people are trying to make content that is great. Three, they are trying to capture an audience that had not had representation for a long time so they are trying to discover who this audience is and what they want. This is the viewer that had stopped going to theatres because they were so disappointed with the kind of films that were being made. Suddenly, there is a platform where they can be entertained in Content in the past two years has seen a drastic large numbers, especially in India with its 1.3 billion improvement. Is star power not enough to make any people. So creativity is being pushed and they are film a hit? trying new things. In the next few years, people will All through eternity, star power has not carried a go into little niches and see what works or find their film through. What it does is get the numbers. That own audience and try to keep them. is what star power is used for cleverly. I heard a story In the 22 years that I have worked, I have had a recently. I don’t know if it is true or not. Studios are very consistent graph in terms of the amount of looking at Instagram followers and casting people. It work that I do. I got some really good roles in films doesn’t matter if they are actors or not. in the past. The web is for eternity Having said that, many stars are THERE ARE CREATIVE unlike a film, where there is always great actors and that is why they are PEOPLE IN THE the fear that if it does fail, it will be successful. For me, a star is a face BUSINESS AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE replaced on a Monday or a that makes it easier for marketing. I WHO CLAIM TO BE Thursday. People can watch a web am bringing its reference to your CREATIVE AND WANT TO MAKE MONEY. series any time. So there is more industry also. When you have a EXPLICIT CONTENT possibility of people seeing my work known person, it is easier for the PR CAN ALSO BE THEIR on the web. I see it as a plus point. to bring in the journalists as the IDEA OF CREATIVITY. CENSORSHIP IMPLIES I am pushing the creativity a bit readers want to see them on the TREATING THE on web. But then I have not done cover. Carrying a project forward AUDIENCE LIKE CHILDREN films which are run-of-the-mill needs content and a lot of intelligent stuff. Creativity is such a thing that stars in our country move with the when you see something or are exposed to trends. If something is working, they position something, it opens up your mind. My Brother Nikhil themselves in those films. was released in 2005 and it had a very large impact in a positive way. I remember my very traditional You have been a VJ and have also done films, TV and uncle coming out of the film and saying, “I really web series. How have the different media contributed to enjoyed it.” He was taken by the friendship that Onir the journey? (the director) had displayed more than the love I enjoy watching films more than anything else relationship. Today, you have a country which has because there is some sort of closure. In series, legalised homosexual relationships. The film set the because they are trying to engage you for longer, ball rolling. (Pauses) I’ve gone on chatting so much it seems never-ending. I am not complaining on that I’ve lost my train of thought. (Guffaws). the career front (laughs) but I am talking in terms of I will come back to the original question that a viewer. what is the difference between the three. As an actor, But yes, I do get absorbed in a series. For whether you are acting in films, web or TV, you are instance, Doctor Foster, on which this is based, is a acting as someone else. I think about the medium series I watched in one night. It was so good. On the that I am performing for to decide the level of internet, the content is pushing the bar in terms of and watching a great show or performance that takes me through an emotional journey which I connect with, I feel “Wow, that has helped me.” Monitoring and trying to control is wrong. The scary bit is that often you realise that people are getting the entertainment they want to see. Creative people have to accept that.
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was the first non-government airlines that had one flight a week. It was ridiculous. And then Vayudoot had shut down. It was a very fragile time in the airline business which seems to have carried on forever (laughs). It is very sad to see the collapse of Jet Airways because when I started travelling and flying around, it was an airline that people were You have anchored shows on Channel V, which at proud about as it was something that was really the time was a purely music channel. What would Indian with international standards. you say about the way such channels have changed But then, this is besides the point as this is not their formats? what the interview is about. I was training to become I am not from the business end of the channels so a pilot. I realised it was going to be very tough to get maybe I am the wrong person to comment. But yes, I a job after the very expensive course. I was very know how it works. I remember having a chat with conscious at a young age about taking too much my boss who said that Channel V never made money money from home. I wanted to go out and do my but was seen adding value to a bouquet of channels own thing. It was at this time that my aunt, who is and was sold as a youthful, trend-setting, fashionable very close to my family, said that “a music channel, which made the I DON’T THINK THAT friend who is a budding director is entire package look great. But when IT IS CELEBRITIES looking for new faces and you are a that shifted and they wanted to ALONE. IT AFFECTS EVERYONE NOW. I decent looking guy. Why don’t you make money out of the channels, FIND IT LARGELY go and just meet her?” So I decided they became mini-GECs (General ANNOYING THAT EVERYONE AROUND to do just that. Nupur Asthana, the Entertainment Channels). These ME WANTS TO STAY director, called me to the UTV office were no longer trendsetting YOUNG AND for audition. I thought I would just channels. Also, with the birth of YOUTHFUL. THERE IS A GREAT JOY IN go and chat with them. During the internet, Instagram moved cool ACCEPTING WHO audition, there were two people people to the web, you find many of YOU ARE AND HOW YOU ARE AND IT IS including Nilanjana Sharma, who them there and you don’t find NICE TO HAVE THE later played Mona. We did some people like us on television. Also, a SAME ENERGY improvisations and jigs, I don’t even larger audience has become ‘cool’. AND BUZZ WHICH YOU HAD AT A know what we were doing. But we Satellite TV came to India in 1993-94 YOUNGER AGE were certainly having fun. After 10 and in 1999, we joined Channel V as days, I was called for a second round to Nupur’s the first bunch of Indian VJs as earlier, there were house. I took along two friends and told them that I only foreigners. We were the door openers to that will quickly go in and say that I don’t want to do it as ‘cool’ space. Let us not call it cool as it means I am not interested. When I reached, the entire cast different things to different people. We can rather was there. I was probably the last one to arrive. I call it the unexplored space. That gateway is now walked in and realised that I couldn’t say this in wide-open and there are a lot of gate-keepers who front of everyone. So my friends were out there are all on Instagram. waiting for me for a good 45 minutes to an hour. These were pre-mobile phone days and I couldn’t call How did Hip Hip Hurray happen? them to tell them that I was stuck. During that time, It was very random. I come from a film family. I started chatting with some of them. One or two of Actors, directors and technicians have always been them were with me in school or college and I realised around me while I was growing up. But I never they are not a bad bunch of people. I don’t mind wanted to be an actor. I wanted to be a pilot. This hanging out with them. It will be like a weekend was in 1995-96 when Jet Airways had just started and performance or how I want to play things out. When you are hosting a show, you are really being yourself and not anyone else. You are really functioning from being Purab Kohli. That is the straightforward answer to your question. (Laughs)
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When did you finally decide that you wanted to be an actor? After My Brother Nikhil. I remember watching it at a screening that Onir had done for a very suppressed community, that of HIV+ people, in the theatre. And they were so moved by the film that it broke my heart. I said to myself, “What a powerful medium!” That is the moment I started growing up. Today, when we speak about them, I don’t know how many of them are alive. And to see their representation in the film and a story being told about them, I really felt the power of cinema. Even now as I am telling you this story, it is giving me goosebumps. I was lucky to have that experience. Most people who come from a film family usually have That is when I sat back and said that “this is what I a huge launch. You didn’t want to take that route? can do because this is the impact that it can have on Like I said, I never wanted to be an actor. In people. And if I have been given the skill by this fact, when I did Hip Hip Hurray, my lovely grand universe, I need to exercise it as uncle, who was very close to my THE SHOOT OF HIP much as I can.” family, called me and asked me to HIP HURRAY WAS A I live in London and work in meet him. PARTY AND I NEVER LOOKED AT IT AS India so everything becomes very WORK. THERE WAS calculated as every project means Yes, Dev sa’ab was known to launch THIS ENERGY WHICH leaving my family behind for long newcomers... CAN NEVER BE RECREATED. WE periods. There is so much No, this was not Dev sa’ab. It was WERE 12 INNOCENT happening now that it is easy to his brother Goldie Uncle, Vijay KIDS, WHO WERE HAVING A GREAT get stuck in the wave of doing a Anand, who was very close to my TIME AND THAT IS lot of work and I have never done family. I remember him calling me WHAT TRANSLATED that. I tend to sit back and watch and telling me, “Tu bohot acha lagta ON SCREEN AS WELL. WHEN WE MOVED what is happening. Out of Love is a hai screen pe (You look very good OUT INTO THE great show which is quite impactful on screen). You are quite a good WORLD, THE ENERGY STARTED CHANGING in its storytelling. It is a good actor but you need to loosen up a representation of the female story bit. Why don’t you come and work though I hope they all don’t go out and start doing with me?” But I did not want to be an actor. I what she does. (Guffaws) But none the less, it is was so caught up having fun that I told him, quite empowering. “Uncle, I don’t really want to act. I am doing that because I am having fun and making some money. What do you do when you are not working? All my friends have gone to America to study. And There is a little tech business that I am involved in. I want to do the same.” And with that, my I give some time there. I am also a father of two opportunity to work with one of the greatest children and I try to spend as much time with them directors went down the drain. I had some great as possible because once I am at a shoot, it extends interactions with him as grand uncle. But not the for long hours. Even if they are at the location, I get opportunity to actually sit down and work with very little time with them. There is also some them. Now I have the maturity to look at it. That is writing that I do. These three things take my time why I don’t want to be stuck at 18! (Guffaws) besides reading 150 scripts a day. (Laughs) It all connects. shooting and I could still go to college from Monday to Friday. Moreover, it would mean extra money. I was getting `800 from my father and this would give me `5,000, which sounded really good. The shoot was a party and I never looked at it as work. There was this energy which can never be recreated. We were 12 innocent kids, who were having a great time and that is what translated on screen as well. When we moved out into the world, we were bitten by the television bug and got famous. The energy started changing. Nupur realised it and decided to end the show.
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SEASON SPECIAL
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Snowflakes floating around your noses and eyelashes. Brown paper packets tied up with strings... these are certainly a few of our favourite things around holiday season. And to actually get into the thick of things, a white Christmas is what it should be. Here are a few places where the Yuletide spirit is best experienced
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NEW YORK CITY
York City is likely to see seven million visitors during the 2019–2020 holiday season. From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Centre and the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, the Big Apple offers several ways to celebrate the holidays with performances, tours, lightings and more.
EVENT IN THE CITY ROCKEFELLER CENTRE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre has been a tradition for more than eight decades. The ceremony features performances and classic Christmas songs. The tree arrived on November 9, was lit up on December 4 and will be on view through early to mid-January. LIGHTING OF THE LARGEST MENORAH IN BROOKLYN AND LIGHTING OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MENORAH: Both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Grand Army Plazas compete in the race for the World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah. The largest menorah in Brooklyn has been lit since 1985 and the annual concert to kick off the holiday will be held on December 22. NEW YEAR’S EVE TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP: Every year, millions of viewers watch the Times Square Ball Drop from New York City and around the globe. The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball sparkles in Times Square all season but its descent is a once-in-alifetime spectacle.
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NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS AT PROSPECT PARK: The Grand Army Plaza’s iconic New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Prospect Park offer an alternative to the frenzy of Times Square. This spectacular celebration includes live music, followed by a fireworks show at midnight. NYC WINTER LANTERN FESTIVAL: Sponsored by Empire Outlets and venue partner Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, the festival will see eight acres lit up by more than 50 LED installations, accompanied by live performances of traditional Chinese dance and art. HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE BRONX ZOO: Returning for the first time since 2007, the stunning light displays at the Bronx Zoo will cover several acres in a walkthrough experience with wildlife-themed LED displays, custom lanterns and animated light shows. LUMINOCITY FESTIVAL: Sixteen acres of lights will illuminate themed worlds during this inaugural festival, creating an immersive journey for visitors that includes a castle, skating unicorn and enchanted forest. BROOKFIELD PLACE LIGHT UP LUMINARIES: This light installation kicked off on December 3 with an evening of free ice skating, snacks and live performances.
HELLO PANDA FESTIVAL AT CITI FIELD: The debut of this international lantern, food and art festival will include 60 global cuisine vendors, arts experiences, live performances and a holiday market. HOLIDAY MARKETS: New York City is full of incredible holiday markets, with must-buy gifts, sweets, drinks and winter activities. This year, the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park opened earlier than ever on October 31. Other popular markets include the Union Square Holiday Market, Columbus Circle Holiday Market, Brooklyn Flea and Astoria Market. ICONIC HOLIDAY WINDOWS: The window displays at stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s Herald Square and the new Nordstrom Women’s Store sparkle and invite visitors to explore the magic of New York City shopping. EMPIRE OUTLETS: New York City’s first-ever outlet destination, Empire Outlets, will ring in the holiday season with a special Black Friday sale and its first annual tree lighting ceremony. The outlets will be adorned with thousands of lights, garland wraps and a 40-foot tree. DAYS OF FLATIRON CHEER: The 23 Days of Flatiron Cheer will include free, holiday-themed events showcasing the intersection of shopping, dining and culture in this vibrant neighbourhood.
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SHOP AT YOUR HOTEL Grand Hyatt New York is partnering with Macy’s Herald Square for a pop-up located behind the check-in desk, featuring New York City-themed gifts, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade apparel and novel gift items till January 1. Loews Regency New York Hotel and Bloomingdale’s are teaming up to bring a curated selection of holiday gifts to the lobby lounge till December 24, including on-site monogramming of leather gifts by ROYCE New York. Conrad New York Midtown is launching the first FAO Schwarz Holiday Suite, with shoppable toys, stuffed animals and gifts that will be restocked for visitors who book a stay in the suite till January 5. Additionally, all guests during this time period will be able to order gifts on demand to their suite or home address.
CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE CITY THE ORIGAMI HOLIDAY TREE AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: This tradition includes a 13-foot tree and 1,000 origami models. The signature Origami Holiday Tree, themed “Oceans of Origami” this season, has been a part of the celebrations for more than 40 years. GINGERBREAD LANE AT NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE: This stretch has a vast collection of gingerbread structures embellished with candy canes, chocolate and frosting. NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW: The New York Botanical Garden is enchanting with model trains zipping through a display of more than 175 NYC landmarks, each recreated with natural materials. BELMONT BID ARTHUR AVENUE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY: Experience Christmas in the Bronx’s Little Italy at the Belmont BID Arthur Avenue Tree
Lighting. The annual event features a visit from Santa, cookies and hot chocolate among the twinkling lights. SEAPORT DISTRICT NYC CELEBRATIONS: Festivities in this neighborhood include menorah lighting on December 22, a pop-up tree farm, ice skating and a light display at Pier 17. HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN CANDLELIGHT TOURS: Experience the tastes and scents of centuries past at Historic Richmond Town. Step back in time while touring the unique New York City which is illuminated by candles and oil lamps. 11TH ANNUAL LATKE FESTIVAL AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM: One of New York City’s most unique and delicious holiday tasting events, the Latke Festival is a charity event that celebrates the best and most creative potato pancakes.
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LIVE PERFORMANCES RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES: The group, Radio City Rockettes, returns to Radio City Music Hall dazzling audiences of all ages with costumes, festive songs and synchronised high kicks. FOUR RENDITIONS OF THE CLASSIC A CHRISTMAS CAROL n Experience A Christmas Carol at the Lyceum Theatre which will run till January 5 with a new, interpretation of this holiday masterpiece. Head to the 1832 Merchant’s House Museum in Greenwich Village as an actor portraying Charles Dickens shares this memorable story till January 4. n The Players Theatre will stage Charles Dickens’ tale in their 11th annual, A Christmas Carol, the musical, till December 20 in Greenwich Village. n It is also being staged at the Queens Theatre where the audience will be transported to Victorian England to experience Scrooge’s iconic journey till December 22. THREE VERSIONS OF THE NUTCRACKER n George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center Plaza brings the Christmas Eve tale to life with breathtaking music and choreography till January 5.
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n The Salzburg Marionette Theatre's The Nutcracker is coming to Flushing Town Hall in Queens on December 4 with a puppet-cast which will entertain children and adults alike. n The Brooklyn Nutcracker at Kings Theatre transforms familiar characters and scenes to represent the diverse traditions and vibrant culture of Brooklyn on December 14. ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE AT NEW YORK CITY CENTRE: Its holiday season opens with premieres, new productions and repertory favourites, including the masterpiece Revelations. On till January 4. HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES AT APOLLO THEATRE: The Apollo Theatre, celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2019, hosts holiday events including a Harlem gospel choir performance at Coca-Cola Winter Wonderland on December 14, followed by the Amateur Night Holiday Special. GOSPEL LEGENDS YOLANDA ADAMS AND DONALD LAWRENCE HEADLINE ANNUAL CONCERT HOLIDAY JOY: A Gospel celebration takes place on December 21. As a grand finale, the annual Kwanzaa Celebration on December 28 features Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and guest performances.
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ROVANIEMI [FINLAND]
WHAT
was once a snowy, Arctic region known for spectacular summers has climbed up the popularity charts among travellers around the world who are looking for the perfect place to celebrate Christmas. Besides being a winter wonderland, what makes Christmas in Rovaniemi special is that it is the home of the man in the red suit. Santa Claus has his home in Rovaniemi, Finland, which is open to visitors. Yes, he grants you an audience and fulfills your wishes.
ZURICH [SWITZERLAND]
STROLLING
through a Christmas market in Zurich is nothing short of magic. There are about 10 of these markets to choose from, each of which is beautifully decorated. The largest one is at Sechseläutenplatz in front of the Opera House with 100 market stalls and an ice rink, while the oldest and most romantic market is located in the picturesque old town of Altstadt. Load up on gifts and confectionaries with mouthwatering raclette or fondue and sip on mulled wine at any of these.
A
PRAGUE [CZECH REPUBLIC]
visit to the city is like travelling back in time. The chances for snow in Prague on Christmas are high, which means snow flakes floating around the Gothic architecture and medieval streets, making for an ethereal scene. There are Christmas markets which complete the picture and the chill can be easily driven away with a hot sausage or some Czech version of mulled wine.
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BHUTAN
TRAVELLERS
often find this to be the ideal season to explore the country as most major cities and metro areas are adorned with celebratory lights and decor. Further, the inhabitants of all religions perk up the environment. A stay at Amankora is a celebration of life's uncomplicated pleasures, where a carpet of pine trees in the valley, the crackle of a fire in a traditional bukhari stove, a sip of warm apple cider tea infused with cinnamon and cloves and a light dusting of Himalayan snow make for an out of the world experience. Guests can begin Christmas day by hiking up to the Tiger's Nest Monastery in Paro, visiting Bhutanese artisans in training at the National Institute for ZorigChusum in Thimphu, exploring the impressive Punakha Dzong and offering alms to the monks of the Monastery in Gangtey or wandering the grounds of Wangdichholing Palace in Bumthang.
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LONDON
IF
you’re looking for a guaranteed white Christmas, head to London. The temperature falls below zero in December and it often snows. Also, tourists really enjoy the Christmas spirit and its many markets lay out traditional presents and delicacies like KurtosKalacs and Beigli. The city is beautifully lit up and you can hear Christmas carols everywhere. Winter sports enthusiasts can ice-skate in these markets. You can even celebrate Christmas at Shangri-La Hotel, at the Shard, where guests are invited to blow their own glass Christmas bauble at London Glass Blowing Studio. Inspired by The Shard’s incredible architecture, one of
COURCHEVEL FRANCE
THERE
can be few things more magical than celebrating Christmas in a ski resort and Courchevel seems like a perfect pick. On December 27, there is Courchevel le Praz where children can meet Santa Claus over hot drinks, snacks and gifts. The next day visitors can embark on a guided tour of the village while waiting for Santa’s arrival and discover some magical stories of Christmas in the mountains. On December 23, there is the Gospel concert, a torchlit descent and arrival of Santa Claus in his sleigh followed by fireworks. On Christmas day, one can discover the Santa Claus village and meet his friends. In the morning, visitors can arrange for Santa to present gifts to their children in person (reservation necessary at the La Tania Tourist Office as there are limited places). In the evening there is ski descent by torchlight and lanterns followed by Christmas fireworks. The next day Christmas festivities continue before Santa returns home to the North Pole. One can stay at the Aman Le Melezin, with its unrivalled ski-in, ski-out facilities. On Christmas Eve, it offers festive face painting for the resort's younger guests in the Library in the late afternoon.
LISBON
FOR
the festive season, Lisbon sparkles with Christmas lights and decorations. The capital city centre comes alive with several markets where you can pick up some original gifts, witness live music performances, participate in cookouts and find entertainment for children. The highlight is a 30-metre-tall Christmas tree displayed in all its glory at the riverside Praça do Comércio. From books, toys, food, pottery, jewellery, knick-knacks and several activities and workshops for all family, the Christmas Market at Campo Pequeno is the place to head to. The Wonderland Parque Eduardo VII is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the city with stalls selling food, clothes and gifts from local artisans though the main attractions are the Ferris Wheel, the Santa’s house, the ice rink and
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London’s most iconic buildings made from glass, the hotel is offering a show-stopping line up of experiences this festive season. There are decorations in metallic silver, white and millennial pink at the hotel as the scent of cinnamon and pine wafts through the air. You can even celebrate the spirit of Christmas with a theatre performance in the clouds, which is presented by ‘Revels in Hand’. Commissioned especially for the festive period, Four Calling Birds transports guests to the midwinter soirée of Richard Bleak whose festive preparations are about to take a turn for the hilarious. The hotel will also have Christmas Tree with a difference. The ginkgo tree, a species native to China, is the base for the seasonal installation to symbolise the meeting of East and West. Hundreds of glass bottles were recycled from the hotel’s restaurants and integrated into the design to promote sustainability in a season of excess.
a stage where bands perform all day long. Rossio, one of the main squares of Lisbon, comes alive with the delicious smells of mulled wine and the aroma of freshly baked pies and other sweet treats. Óbidos, a small town which is about an hour’s drive north of Lisbon, is worth seeing as it transforms itself into a Christmas village with ice-skating, an ice slide, inflatables, face painting and Santa’s house. It resembles Santa's home in the North Pole. Funchal Christmas Market is listed as one of the best in Europe. In the heart of the Madeira Islands, one can discover a wide variety of products, including exotic flowers and other traditional souvenirs, while sampling some of the typical dishes and drinks and listening to choirs sing Christmas Carols. Folk dance groups perform every night. The Christmas market at Rossio square in Viseu has warm drinks, regional products for sale,
handicrafts and chocolates. Aldeia De Natal, Vila Real De Santo António hosts a Christmas village at the Praça Marquês de Pombal. Expect an ice rink, a fair with handicrafts, traditional food, live music and a visit from Santa himself. This year Portugal will have the first Christmas Fun Park at Passeio Marítimo de Algés. This event will feature light shows, ice sculptures, a recreation of Lapland, the land of Santa Claus, made in ice, and snow. There is even an Elf Grove and an Elf School where visitors will be able to perform various family fun activities. This will continue till January 12 next year. Vale Do Lobo Charity Christmas Market takes place at the beginning of December and has stalls selling Christmas trees, books, cakes, jewellery, and other great Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers. It combines a luxury gift with a food and wine fair.
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FRANKFURT
THE
wine that is served warm — are up for sale. The Artists Christmas market is a major art exhibition at the St Paul's church and the Römer. The exhibits in this market consist of paintings, sculpture, jewellery and trinkets that make for great Christmas presents. Another highlight during the festive season is the Chiming of the Church bells. The city’s famous Pealing of the Bells takes place four times every year. Two of these half-hour performances are perfectly timed for visitors during the festive season. The bells of Frankfurt's downtown churches ring in harmony for half an hour on December 1 and December 24. Guests can also explore the Christmas Markets with special guided tours. On advance booking, a group of 20 guests can witness a Christmas marvel in a one-and-a-halfhour tour. It begins at the main entrance and takes you through the market's culinary specialities and traditions. In terms of visitor numbers, the Frankfurt Christmas market is the largest in Germany with over three million visitors.
tradition of Frankfurt Christmas Market stretches back to the 14th century, making it the oldest in Germany. It lures the region with historical settings, traditional food and handcrafted souvenirs. The scenic surroundings on the Römerbergand St Paul’s Square houses more than 200 stands with people selling colourful Christmas tree decorations, candles, sweets, candy and traditional German cuisines. This year, the Christmas markets will continue till December 22. During this time, the historic town is illuminated by thousands of fairy lights, which reflect on the window panes of the traditional half- timbered houses. The scent of baked apples, gingerbread and mulled wine fills the air. This spectacular market stretches from Frankfurt's Hauptwache all the way to the Main riverbank. A 104-feet tall Christmas tree adorns the centre of the market square. Local specialities, such as the Bethmännchen, Lebkuchen, Christmas cookies with marzipan and almond and glühwein — a traditional spiced
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LANDOUR
A
charming old-world hill station, it is an experience to witness white Christmas here. The snow-covered meadows and mountains make
WHAT
for a a beautiful destination. Located above Mussoorie, it has all the charms of the hills minus the crowds.
GULMARG
is a better white Christmas than the one at a wooden cottage amid the snowfields of Gulmarg? There are snow-covered meadows for as far as eyes can see making it a picture-perfect destination.
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TRAVEL BUG
AGAINST
the evening sky, the tall shaft looks somewhat sinister. The town is slow. There is nothing much to see or do, I am told. But someone asks me if I had seen the movie KGF (2018) which was shot here. My head goes in a vigorous ‘no’. For me, the Kolar Gold Fields aka KGF are somewhat of a surprise. However much you hear of abandoned places or mines, seeing the crumbling buildings, the broken walls, the empty homes and thick shrubs overtaking human habitation is somewhat shattering. Today, Kolar is just another wayside story in our country but in 1902 it was the first town in India to get electricity. "This is little England," a villager informs me in fluent English. Only one person tells me he has been down 16,000 ft into the earth to see the world of gold. Dark it was, lit only by the lamps that the miners had. Thanks to the legacy left behind by the British, people here can speak three languages quite well — English, Hindi and Kannada. The town is close to the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, so many are fluent in Tamil and Telugu too. It could truly be a case of national integration.
Once a thriving town set alight by the glitter of the yellow metal, KGF, on which an eponymous movie was based, is now a quiet place, says AMBICA GULATI
GOLD
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I see Christian schools and churches every few metres but I need more time to explore the place. The more turns I take, the quieter the town becomes. Big houses left by the British are inhabited by senior government officials, I am told. Each has a big garden and a lot of space between two houses is visible, no clear walls though. It is only in the smaller villages of Kolar district that people live at close quarters. And those are quaint, colourful homes. The open sky speaks of a simple life, nothing ostentatious about anyone or anything here. The gold has gone but the tales live on.
A SOLDIER’S ADVENTURE
KOLAR
thrived on gold once, maybe it is there now too, but only in fragmented deposits. We go back to 1871 when Michael Fitzgerald Lavelle, a retired Irish soldier from the British Army, lived in Bangalore Cantonment. By the way, there is a Lavelle road in the city and we stayed in a beautiful hotel, called The Chancery, there. Retirement bored this soldier whose last posting had been fighting the Maori wars in New Zealand. He had now
RUSH
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picked up the good habit of reading. And in the Asiatic Journal he came across a four-page article, which excited him enough to take a 60-mile journey to this town in a bullock cart. The 67-year-old article, dated to 1804, by a Lt John Warren talked about the possibility of gold reserves in Kolar. Lt Warren got an inkling about the gold mines in 1799 when he was sent to survey the lands here. The then ruler, Tipu Sultan, had been killed by the British in the battle of Srirangapatnam. Tipu’s territories were to be handed over to the Mysore princely state. And Lt Warren, serving in his Majesty’s 33rd regiment of foot, on his arrival for the survey heard rumours of people digging gold with their hands. The curious Lt Warren announced a reward for anyone who would show him the location of the coveted yellow metal. Soon villagers landed at his home and office. They had carts full of mud and washed this to isolate the gold powder. The excited Lt Warren came to the conclusion that for
every 56 kg of earth, one grain of gold could be extracted. And this was on the basis of the crude methods that the villagers used. He could imagine large gold reserves being extracted out by professionals. In his article, he wrote, “Should we still fancy for the belief that gold occurs only on a narrow region? Why can’t the gold veins under the ground near Maarikuppam extend far beyond?” The gold rush continued from 1804 to 1860, all to no avail. But the daring Lavelle spent two years trying to find the exact locations and was lucky enough to find traces of gold deposits. In 1873, he wrote to the Maharaja of Mysore for a licence to mine. He got permission to mine coal but he insisted on searching for gold, telling the chief commissioner of Mysore and Coorg that the benefits would go to the government. He managed to secure a 20-year lease to mine on February 2, 1875. And that can be called the day when modern mining started in the country.
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Lavelle did not have money for deep mining, and soon his savings depleted. In the meantime, author FE Penny wrote a book, Living Dangerously, based on his quest for gold fields and Lavelle had become popular by then. By 1877, he desperately needed funds. Then another army man, Maj Gen Beresford of the Madras staff corps in Bengaluru along with McKenzie, Sir William and Col William Arbuthnot formed a syndicate. Several Army officers joined this and it was called ‘The Colar Concessionaries Company Limited’. The syndicate, under pressure from the investors, was compelled to approach a big company — John Taylor and Sons. This company brought in mining engineers from Norwich, England. The game changed and operations in KGF gained speed. Then the British planned India’s first power plant in Kolar. In 1900, officers from the Royal Engineers approached the Maharaja of Mysore with a proposal to build a hydroelectric plant in the Cauvery river. This would be the second power plant in Asia. For this, Central Electric Company from New York and Eicher Wyss from Switzerland were taken on board to build a 148-km transmission line-then the longest in the world. Machinery was imported from Britain, America and Germany. It was transported in elephant and horse carts to this town. A new era began. By 1902, KGF became the first town in India to have uninterrupted power supply. Gone were the days of candles and kerosene lamps.
REMAINS OF THE DAY
SEEING
the crumbling structures, the corroded shafts, it is slightly difficult to imagine the days when Kolar was shining. It makes one reflect and realise that neither the good nor the bad are permanent. Now the clubs and homes left by the British are under the government. On one side of the road are the big homes and on the other, the broken homes, the small round spaces where the miners lived. Some call them the
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GETTINGTHERE You can hire a taxi from Bengaluru as it is around 50 km from there. The only exploration is a walk around the area as one is not allowed inside the buildings and near the shafts. Bengaluru is easily accessible by road, air and bus from all major cities of India.
‘coolie lines’. Most of these were migrants from Tamil Nadu. And more than one family occupied one shed. This was also the space rats invaded and it is said that the workers killed over 50,000 rats every year. The hospital is abandoned, too, and in a building some boys are idling away their time. We walk in though a broken part of the wall to take some pictures, somewhat scared of being caught. Bats slept on tree branches — is the place haunted or just abandoned? But whatever it is, the place, the ghostly silence of the evening is somewhat eerie. With the passage of decades, the gold reserves began to deplete. The senior British officers left in search of greener pastures. The Central
government took over all the mines in 1956 but the nationalised mines no longer had enough gold. In 2001, Kolar Gold Fields are shut down permanently. No one can enter the mines, the guard says. You can get special permission to enter but I have just an hour with me and I know no officer would allow me at such a short notice. They say the mines are flooded with water and unsafe. But I can’t say for sure as I don’t see them. The precious metal hasn’t entirely disappeared but the cost of extraction vis-a-vis the amount that comes out is not worth the effort. Even Earth needs its share of peace, I say to myself as the car takes the road to the Bengaluru airport.
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TEMPLE RUN
say there were once many temples in this area. Among the famous religious spots are Somnatheshwar Temple, Kolaramma Temple and Antaragange. Some say Maharishi Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, lived here. Others trace the roots of sage Jamadagni to this place. The story of Antaragange is very interesting. To the west of Kolar is a hill called Shatasringa Parvata or Hundred Peaked Mountain. Legend says that King Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrarjuna) and his army visited Jamadagni, Parasurama’s father. The king was struck by the magical cow, Surabhi, which Jamadagni had. He wanted the cow but the sage refused to give it. Then the king sent his soldiers to get it but Parasurama killed them all, including the king, with his axe. Now, the king’s sons beheaded Jamadagni. Parasurama took an oath to behead the entire Kshatriya race and his battle took place on this hill. This has a temple now which gets water through an underground path and it comes out of the mouth of a stone bull. History says the roots of Kolar lie in the Western Ganga dynasty. Konganivarman Madhava built it as his capital around 350 CE and ruled for around 20 years. His son Madhava I succeeded him. Kolar was also known as Kuvalalapura or Kolahala Pura. The Ganga kings built the temple of Sri Uttameshwara temple in Uttanur Mulbagal Talluk. There are more interesting tales and more interesting people but maybe another visit with more time would open that treasure trove.
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WEDDING SPECIAL
VOYAGEOFVOWS Begin the new journey of your life at a destination hitherto unexplored. From white sand beaches to medieval castles, there are as many different places to say ‘I do’ as there are ways to express your love
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CAMBODIA
GREEN
mountains, bustling villages and ancient Khmer temples provide a unique backdrop to any wedding. The rich cultural identity complements the culture and tradition of Indian weddings which can make the occasion special. Moreover, there are beautiful hotels and restaurants to ensure a smooth, hasslefree wedding. An added bonus of course is the fact that the capital Phnom Penh is just a short seven-hour flight away from Delhi and Mumbai.
THE
MALTA
largest in an archipelago of beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta gets over 300 days of sunshine a year, illuminating the spectacular natural beauty of the island. The country is home to 365 beautiful churches, from humble chapels to ornate cathedrals. Whether it’s a charming villa, a quaint farmhouse or a grand castle, it has a large choice of options for wedding venues.
S WITH
MALDIVES
its white sand beaches, crystal clear blue sea, beautiful reefs and splendid weather, what better place to tie the knot than at the islands. A traditional wedding ceremony here sees around 20 drummers play Bodu Beru (drums) dressed in clothing, leading the happy couple down the aisle to their wedding ceremony. A local gazi (judge) presides over the ceremony which is conducted in the local Divehi dialect. From sunset cruise weddings to exchanging vows on the beach, there is no doubt that a wedding in the Maldives will be unforgettable.
GREECE
THE
site of an ancient civilisation, it is the perfect place for a destination wedding. From churches to the beaches, the place offers authentic locations and delicious seafood for both a grand wedding or a private party. The beautiful weather ensures sun-kissed photographs for the album.
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SARDINIA
bucolic villages in the centre of Sardinia and the beautiful coast in Costa Smeralda, a wedding here incorporates centuries-old wedding rites, both civil and religious. The atmosphere is romantic as well as magical. Faro di Capo Spartivento and a Lighthouse in the Bay of Chia are the two most popular wedding locations that will give life-long memories to treasure.
NEVIS
KNOWN
as the “Queen of the Caribbees,” Nevis is where the high-end weddings are organised. It is home to some of the Caribbean’s best-preserved beaches, rain forests and reefs. There are world-class resorts to host the event. Moreover, you won’t have to worry about your guests having fun — from exploring the rain forest and climbing the Nevis Peak (3,232 feet tall) to horseback riding or simply relaxing on the pristine sand, there is plenty of activities to choose from.
THIS
THE BAHAMAS
collection of 700 islands has something for everyone — you can have complete privacy by renting your own island or host hundreds of your favourite people at a mega-resort. Nassau and Paradise Island are the most visited and activity-packed destinations while Harbour Island and the Exumas are more remote and laid-back. Guests can even go scuba-diving around Andros Island which has the third-largest barrier reef in the world, strolling the white-sand beaches, touring the historic homes of Nassau and sipping Goombay Smashes, a signature cocktail.
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IF
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BERMUDA
you love the idea of a Caribbean destination wedding but also want something formal and elegant, consider Bermuda. It has tranquil pink-sand beaches, iconic pastel-hued houses and a history that is British. Guests can spend days teeing off on one of the country’s eight golf courses, visiting the botanical garden or scuba diving among reefs and shipwrecks.
CAYMAN ISLANDS
DISCERNING
couples, who want more than a destination wedding, head to the Cayman Islands for the ultimate in hospitality and tropical romance. Both, smaller resort and five-star hotels have the resources to cater to every couple’s personal style and guest-list size. The backdrop, with its tranquil turquoise waters and sugary white-sand beaches dotted with palm and pine trees, is certainly apt. All three islands are home to a number of wedding venues and organisers. Guests also have plenty of options for how to spend their downtime, including swimming, snorkelling and visiting historic George Town.
FOR
IRELAND
a wedding that can be described as fairy tale, head to Ireland. There are rolling hills, oceanside cliffs, quaint seaside villages, lush gardens, grand castles and country manors which create a backdrop that is mesmerising. Add to it symbolic traditions, the genuine hospitality of the people and the natural beauty of this romantic country which make it a memorable spot to say your “I dos.” There are breath-taking cliffs, Tudor-style churches and castles. The mix of culture, museums, pubs and golfing can keep the guests busy.
LOIRE VALLEY
JUST
two hours away from Paris is the chateau-rich Loire Valley with an abundance of castles, historic villages, charming people, wines and food. So all you need to do is reach the place for a dream destination wedding. Activities include heading out for a winetasting tour, paying a visit to the Chateau d’Ussé in Rigny-Ussé, said to be the setting for the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, or taste the beloved tarte tatin (upsidedown apple tart).
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AMALFI COAST, ITALY
THERE
is a reason why Amalfi Coast always features high up in the list of celebrities making a dash for their weddings. It has the Amalfi Drive, which is one of the most scenic stretches of Italian coastline with its winding cliff-top road offering dramatic views of the sea. The food, of course, is a breeze since Mediterranean fare is something that Indians love. The itinerary can include several one-of-a-kind experiences, like a visit to the ruins of Pompeii, a boat trip through the Blue Grotto off Capri or a walk through the ancient, narrow streets of Naples’s Old Spacca Quarter.
IT
SOUTH AFRICA
has often been called “a world in one country,” for very many reasons. There are towering mountains, which rise over a vibrant and trendy Cape Town, ostrich-dotted grasslands which connect quaint villages, monkey-filled forests along the deserted beaches of Natal and Stellenbosch wine routes. The area is teeming with wildlife and has stunning landscapes, wildlife preserves and pristine beaches along the 2,174 miles of coast and rolling vineyards.
IT
ANTIGUA
has 300 super-fine sandy beaches for your nuptials. Antigua’s most popular beach, Half Moon Bay, was voted one of the world’s ultimate beaches and is now a national park. Dickenson Bay is also home to hotels, restaurants and water sports facilities. There are many all-inclusive resorts offering wedding packages and planners to ensure a hassle-free day. The coconut palm fringed coastline and warm cerulean waters provide an ideal setting for a beach wedding.
NEW ZEALAND
BEACH
bums will appreciate the miles of golden beaches, while the ones who prefer terra firma can admire the country’s pristine forests. The Great Barrier Island, with its rugged landscape, frequent wildlife sightings and secluded hot springs is a great place to hold a wedding. There are also the snowcapped Southern Alps for stunning views, including waterside canyons and one of the many offshore islands, such as Waiheke Island, known for their vineyards and olive groves.
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IN
ROME
the Eternal City, history rubs shoulders with the modern metropolis creating a truly unique blend. Beautiful churches and ancient ruins provide the perfect setting for a wedding. There are centuries-old cobblestoned piazza to a baroque palace or even a rustic castle or villa just outside town.
THE
TUSCANY
green valleys, rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves and 15th-century art and architecture are what dream weddings are made of. Take the rustic route and head to the wine estates and castles in the countryside. Incorporate local specialities like olive oil, porcini, truffles, roasted meats and salami, sheep’s milk cheeses (such as pecorino and ricotta) and wines in the menu.
THERE
AUSTRALIA
are a variety of options like urban cities to the rugged outback and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as eateries influenced by Europe, Asia and homegrown spicing. There are local wines like Australian Shiraz or chardonnay. The adventurous among the guests can choose from scuba diving, snorkeling and white-water rafting to trekking through the outback and checking out the Great Barrier Reef. Australia boasts several amazing zoos, plus Kangaroo Island for wildlife lovers.
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ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
BEACH
weddings at Goa are passe. It is the one in the midst of white sand beaches at one of the islands in Bay of Bengal which is the new exotic. There are idyllic beaches and lush green forests which are perfect for pledging yourselves to each other.
THIS
MANDU
little town in Madhya Pradesh will make your heart skip a beat with the spell-binding architectural beauty of its monuments, the streets skirting history and the romantic saga of Prince Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati as the backdrop. This place is tailormade as the perfect wedding destination in India. It is set amidst the Satpura hills with the Malwa retreat and Mandu Palace serving as picture perfect venues. The nearby town of Pachmarhi provides a similar experience, leaving you spoilt for choice.
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UDAIPUR
THE
palace spells romance. The majestic palace buildings in Udaipur give it unmatched charisma that only a few cities can rival. One of the finest settings for a marriage ceremony is offered by the Jag Mandir palace which has a touch of splendour, affluence and royalty. It easily makes it one of the most popular destinations of weddings in India.
THIS
KERALA BACKWATERS
is for those who desire one of those quiet and picturesque ceremonies instead of a huge event. The backwaters are serene and pretty. The beaches fronted with coconut palm trees, the backwaters and the houseboats make for a heavenly setting in God’s own country.
JODHPUR
RAJASTHAN
makes for an enchanting wedding destination, wrapped up as it is in folklore and tales of passion and valour. Feel like royalty while tying the knot at the palace hotel, Umaid Bhavan, located on the hilltop, which has a beautiful view of the ‘blue city’. Other venue options in Jodhpur include the Ranbaka Palace, the Ajit Bhawan or the impressive Mehrangarh Fort.
LAVASA
LOCATED
near Pune, this township claims to be India’s first planned hill station modelled on a town in Italy. Waterfalls, mountains, lakes, winding roads and breathtaking views along with beautiful architecture make for an ideal wedding destination. Add to it the fact that it it has become a recent favourite for such events and has an amazing infrastructure and amenities to pull them off. A lot of hotels, as well as the Lavasa International Conventions Centre, specialise in holding such events.
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FESTIVE SPREAD
TWIST IN TASTE
What is any festival without the accompanying feast? Food is integral to any celebration so much that each occasion has patented its own menu. But tradition, too, needs a bit of a turn where it is reinterpreted to make way for contemporary tastes and requirements. Here is an assortment EXOTICA [60] DECEMBER 2019
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CHRISTMAS TURKEY SALAD SANDWICH METHOD: INGREDIENTS: o Combine all the ingredients for the filling Filling: Roast turkey meat: 150 gm; Finely together in a large bowl. Mix well until the meat is chopped onions: 2 tbsp; Finely chopped well coated with the spices. celery: 1 tsp; Mayonnaise: 2 tbsp; o Assemble the sandwich using the lettuce and Dijon mustard: As desired; Allspice powder: tomato and apply the cranberry jelly/sauce to the A pinch; Salt and ground pepper: To taste bread. To Assemble o Fill in the sandwich generously with the roast o Choice of bread turkey mixture. o Iceberg lettuce leaves o Serve immediately with potato wedges and o Sliced tomato vinaigrette tossed salad greens. o Cranberry jelly/sauce: 1 tsp — CHEF RAJESH WADHWA, Executive Chef, Taj Palace, New Delhi
GLUTEN FREE CHRISTMAS PUDDING OR PERSIAN PUDDING INGREDIENTS: Raisins: 200 gm; Bloom raisins (munaqqa): 200 gm; Tutty fruity: 200 gm; Cherry: 200 gm; Black currant: 200 gm; Apricot: 200 gm; Prunes: 200 gm; Almonds: 200 gm; Cashewnuts: 200 gm; Rum: 2 litre for soaking; Gluten free flour: 800 gm; Butter: 300 gm; Brown sugar: 250 gm; Eggs: 12; Baking powder: 40 gm; Cinnamon powder: 20 gm; Nutmeg powder: 5 gm; Cloves powder: 5 gm and Ginger powder: 5 gm METHOD: o Soak all the fruits in rum which is at least a month old. The older it is, the better the flavour. o Chop the nuts. o Mix butter and sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Add all dry fruits into this mixture and finally mix with the flour, baking powder and soda. o Pour it in a food pan or mould and bake at 180ºC for 35 minutes. Serve it warm. — ANAND PANWAR, Executive Pastry Chef, Roseate Hotels & Resorts
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GULKAND CHRISTMAS CAKE
CHRISTMAS DODA STOLEN
INGREDIENTS: Butter: 600 gm; Brown sugar: 500 gm; Eggs: 500 gm; Flour: 600 gm; Baking powder: 15 gm; Black currant: 600 gm; Cashewnut: 600 gm; Raisins: 600 gm; Orange peel: 100 gm; Lemon peel: 100 gm; Candied ginger: 100 gm; Candied rose (gulkand): 200 gm; Tutti frutti: 600 gm; Brandy/rum: 500 ml; Ginger powder: 5 gm; Cinnamon powder: 5 gm; Clove powder: 5 gm; Cardamom powder: 8 gm; Lemon zest: 20 gm and Orange zest: 20 gm METHOD: o Combine the fruits and peel, soak in rum. Cover and set aside at room temperature for up to 24 hours. o Line a 9 inch round cake tin with parchment or grease proof paper. In a large bowl mix the currants, sultanas, raisins, peel, and cherries with the flour and spices. In another large bowl cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the lemon and orange zest. Add beaten egg to the butter mixture gradually while beating well. Carefully fold in half the flour and fruit into the egg and butter mixture. Once incorporated, repeat with the remaining flour, gulkand and soaked fruit. o Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin. Smoothen the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in preheated oven. During baking avoid opening the oven door often as this may collapses the cake. The cake should be nicely risen and brown in colour. Insert a skewer or knife into the centre of the cake and if there is sticky dough on the knife when you pull it out it needs to bake longer. If it's clean the cake is done. Remove from the oven. o Leave the cake to cool in the tin on a wire rack for an hour. Remove from the tin and cool completely. Prick the surface and slowly pour two-three tablespoons of brandy.
INGREDIENTS: Flour: 500 gm; Sugar: 80 gm; Milk: 100 gm; Fresh yeast: 15 gm; Salt: 5 gm; Egg: 100 gm; Butter: 250 gm; Bread improver: 10 gm; Raisins: 40 gm; Sultanas: 40 gm; Lemon peel: 40 gm; Orange peel: 40 gm; Rum: 200 ml; Almond: 40 gm; Cashewnut: 40 gm; Ginger powder: 1 gm; Clove powder: 1 gm; Cardamom powder: 1 gm; Cinnamon powder: 1 gm and Doda burfi: 300 gm METHOD: o Combine the fruits, peel and mix them with rum. Cover and set aside at room temperature for up to 24 hours. o Preheat the oven at 180ºC. Dissolve yeast in warm milk and add a pinch of sugar and keep aside for 10 minutes. Mix flour, eggs, yeast mixture, sugar and salt with a spoon or in a dough mixer for several minutes. The dough should just come together and not be very smooth. Add the butter, spices and mix till the dough becomes smooth. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes. o Lay out the dough on a tabletop and knead in the fruits and chopped almonds. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes. Divide the doda burfi in three portions and roll in between palms to fashion like a rope. o Return the dough to the floured table and shape into a rectangle with a depression in the middle. Fill this with a strip of doda burfi. o Fold the bread into a stollen shape and place on baking tray and let rise for 30 minutes in warm place. Now bake for 35 to 45 minutes in preheated oven until it turns golden brown. Remove from the oven and dip in melted warm clarified butter and coat with thick powdered sugar. Cool on a wire rack. — The Leela, Ambience Delhi Convention Hotel
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CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATEY EGGS INGREDIENTS: White chocolate: 500 gm; Chocolate colour (varied): drop; Choco chips: 100 gm; Sugar: 50 gm; Peanut butter: 100 gm; Raisins (chopped): 10 gm and Walnuts (crushed): 10 gm METHOD: Break white chocolate into small pieces. Melt in a double boiler and strain. Mix peanut butter, sugar, raisins, walnuts and choco chips and
keep aside. Divide into three batches. To every batch of melted chocolate add a drop of colour as per liking and mix thoroughly. Now add melted chocolate to egg mould halves. Cool and demould. Take two halves and stuff with peanut butter mix. Join both halves using white chocolate as adhesive. Enjoy these Christmas chocolicious eggs or gift them to your loved ones.
COFFEE TOFFEE CHRISTMAS CHEESE CAKE INGREDIENTS: Kwark cheese: 350 gm; Breakfast sugar: 125 gm; Whipped cream: 200 gm; Dark chocolate (melted): 125 gm and Milk: 50 ml METHOD: First mix the milk, cheese and sugar. Add the dark melted chocolate to the mix and stir. Add in the cream. Pour into star-shaped moulds and set in a deep freezer.
SANTA’S FAVORITE STRAWBERRY CRUSH MOUSSE INGREDIENTS: Strawberry crush: 2 tbsp; Chopped strawberries: 100 gm; Whipped cream, sweetened: 300 gm; Vanilla essence: 2-3drops; Sweet cookies: 60 gm and Garnish: Handful of strawberries and chocolate rice METHOD: Add all ingredients together and mix well. Place a mould(any shape and size of your choice) with silver foil and spread coarsely powdered cookies evenly to form a base. Pour the mixture into the mould on top of the cookie and allow to chill in the refrigerator for one hour. When set, garnish with sliced strawberries and chocolate rice. — Rajesh Khanna, F&B Head, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa
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CHRISTMAS MINCE PIE INGREDIENTS: For the Pastry: All purpose flour: 175 gm; Unsalted butter: 110 gm; Salt: a pinch and Egg: 1 Garnish: Confectioner's sugar For the Pie: Mince: 400 gm; Confectioner's sugar: 15 gm METHODS: Step 1: Preheat the oven at 180ºC. Mix the flour, butter and salt in a large bowl and rub all the ingredients with your hands till the mixture acquires a sandy consistency. Mix the egg slowly and knead into a dough. Freeze it for 15-20 minutes. Step 2: Grease a tray and dust it with flour. Roll the chilled dough and cut the pastry into circles as equal as the size of each mould. Fill the pastry with the mince meat. Again roll the rest of pastry to the same thickness and cut design shapes to cover the mince as a lid. Dampen the edges of the tart bases with a little cold water and seal the sides. Make a small hole in the surface of each pie with a small sharp knife to allow the steam to escape. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.
INGREDIENTS: Leek: 50 gm; Potatoes: 100 gm; Parsley: 10 gm; Poultry: 150 gm; Poultry stock: 150 ml; Pepper: 10 gm; Unsalted butter: 20 gm; All purpose flour: 20 gm; Whipping cream: 50 ml and Fennel seeds: 10 gm Garnish: Chopped parsley/fennel seeds METHOD: o Sweat the leeks in a little oil or butter until softened. Add the diced potatoes, the chopped chicken pieces and the parsley. Cook for a minute or two.
CHRISTMAS ROAST CHICKEN INGREDIENTS: For Bread Sauce Milk: 200 ml; Unsalted butter: 30 gm; Cloves: 2; Bay leaf: 1; Onion chopped: 15 gm; Nutmeg: A pinch; Double cream: 10 ml; Bread crumbs: 25 gm and Salt: To taste For Chicken Whole chicken with skin: 1; Olive oil: 20 ml; Salt & pepper: To taste; Roughly chopped chicken wings: 150 gm; Vermouth: 70 ml; Chipolata sausages: 4; Pancetta: 4 slices; Chicken stock: 150 ml and Boiled potato: 400 gm Garnish: Fresh herbs/Glazed thyme METHOD: o For the bread sauce, heat together all the ingredients until they start to bubble. Simmer for two minutes. Put on the lid and switch off. o Strain the milk through a fine sieve into a pan. Add cream and heat gently. Whisk in the breadcrumbs. Season to taste and then pour the sauce into a bowl. o Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
CREME DE VOLAILLÉ
o Pour in the poultry stock and simmer gently for half an hour. Mix well with a soup mixer, until it is creamy and has no lumps. o Add the beurre manié (a dough consisting of equal parts of soft butter and flour) and stir well. o Whip some cream with a little celery salt and pipe a large rosette into the middle of each serving, topped with a few celery or fennel seeds, to garnish. — CHEF SAURABH AGRAWAL, Jr Sous Chef, Crowne Plaza Today o We can use shredded poultry as the garnish as well. New Delhi Okhla
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o Rub half of the oil over the chicken and after trussing set it aside. Heat the remaining oil in a roomy casserole dish and lightly brown the chopped chicken wings over a medium heat. Place the prepared chicken on top of the wings. Add pepper and the vermouth. Roast for ten minutes. o Decrease the oven temperature to 180 C and cook the chicken for a further 45 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes, depending on the size and weight. o Meanwhile remove the skins from the sausages. Place into a small roasting dish and cook for about 20-25 minutes or until they are sizzling and nicely browned. Set aside and keep warm. o Remove the chicken from the oven. Transfer it to a warm plate first letting the juices drip back into the roasting pan that it was cooked in. Cover the chicken with foil and leave it somewhere warm to rest. o Add the chicken stock to the roasting pan and simmer over a medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring in all the caramelised browned bits on the roasting tin. Strain and return the gravy to the roasting tin. Place on a medium heat on the stove. o Add the cooked, peeled potatoes to the gravy and turn them to coat the juices. Transfer to the oven for at least 20 minutes or until golden-brown. o Carve the chicken onto a warmed serving dish; surround with the potatoes, grilled vegetables and sausage and bacon rolls. Serve the gravy and bread sauce at the table, in sauceboats or small jugs.
CHOCOLATE BANANA PRUNE MUFFINS INGREDIENTS: All-purpose flour: 1½ cup; Ripe bananas mashed: 2; Chopped prunes: 1 cup; Melted dark chocolate: 175 gm; Butter at room temperature: ½ cup; Eggs: 2; Sugar: ½ cup; Vanilla essence: 1 tsp; Baking powder: 1 tsp; Soda bicarb: ½ tsp and Salt: ½ tsp METHOD: Preheat oven at 170ºC. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder and soda. Cream together butter and sugar. Add 1 egg and beat until it is incorporated well. Add another egg and beat well. Add vanilla essence and mix. Now add melted chocolate and mix. Divide the mixture in three batches and fold it until mixed. Add prunes and fold. Fill the muffin pans, lined with the muffin liners. Bake them in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until skewers come out clean.
CHERRY WAFFLES INGREDIENTS: All purpose flour: 2 cups; Baking powder: 2 tsp; Zest of one orange; Castor sugar: 4 tbsp; Eggs: 2; Vegetable oil: ½ cup; Milk: 1+1/2 cup; Vanilla essence: 1 tsp; Canned cherries, drained and chopped: 8-10; Sugar: 2 tbsp; Cherries for garnish: 8-10 and Sugar: 1/2 cup METHOD: o Heat the waffle iron. Combine flour, baking powder, orange zest and sugar. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add milk, oil and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the mix and stir till everything is well-combined. Fold in the chopped cherries. o Pour the mixture in hot waffle iron and cook until both sides are golden brown. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, cook the cherries and sugar until juicy. Pour the fruit on the cooked waffles. — Del Monte
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GURUSPEAK
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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Spiritual Guru
Finding t r u e happiness When y ou flip th e calend ensure t ar, hat you d o n ’t let past events co lour you r Learn an future. d unlear n from y experien our ces and move on
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EVERY
year, we celebrate the New Year while wishing others happiness and prosperity. But have we really looked at what the true sign of happiness and prosperity is? It is an unconditional smile on your face. Welcome the year with a smile from within. As we flip the calendar, we need to do the same to our mind as well. Often, our diaries are full of memories. Ensure that you don’t fill your future dates with past events. Learn and unlearn from the past and move on. Everybody keeps postponing his or her happiness. In the New Year, let your devotion flower and give it a chance to work. Prayer is a vital tool to improve your life. It also nurtures values such as integrity and honesty. If you are not grateful and prayerful, you might find reasons to be miserable easily. The mind totally forgets the divine. You should experience the divine’s presence and light around you. You should have a desire in your mind to experience it. The higher goals in life can be
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realised only through a few minutes of meditation and introspection. A few quiet moments are sources for creativity. Some time during the day, sit for a few minutes, get into the cave of your heart, close your eyes and push the world away like a ball. But, the rest of the time, be 100 per cent attached to your work. Eventually, you will be able to be both attached and detached. This is the skill of living, the art of living. Don’t be feverish about perfection. If you are too much of a perfectionist, you are bound to be an angry person. The world appears imperfect on the surface, but underneath everything is perfect. Perfection hides and imperfection shows off. The wise will not stay on the surface but will probe into the depth. In this world, everything cannot be perfect all the time. Also don’t make a mistake by
pointing out mistakes. These keep happening all the time. To correct them you need authority and love. Authority without love is stifling. Love without authority is shallow. When you allow room for mistakes, you can be both authoritative and sweet. Learn to communicate effectively with everyone. Communicating without prejudice is vital for success. If you are faced with someone who knows more than you, be like a child and keep your ears and eyes open for learning. If you are faced with someone who knows less than you, be humble and strive to make them as good as or better than you. This New Year make up with someone with whom you are not on good terms. Drop all your prejudices against gender, religion, caste and class as they do not allow you to mingle with everyone around you. Break that barrier.
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UNLESS YOU HAVE A DREAM, YOU CANNOT REALISE IT. GIVE YOURSELF THE FREEDOM TO DREAM AND THINK BIG. HAVE THE COURAGE AND DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE THOSE DREAMS THAT ARE DEAR TO YOU
LEARN TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH EVERYONE. DOING IT WITHOUT PREJUDICE IS VITAL FOR SUCCESS. IF YOU ARE FACED WITH SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MORE THAN YOU, BE LIKE A CHILD AND KEEP YOUR EARS AND EYES OPEN FOR LEARNING
Don’t forget to nourish your emotions. A person without emotions is like wood without any juice. You need to make your life interesting to make people be with you. This will happen when you nurture yourself with music, prayer, service and silence. Silence heals and rejuvenates and gives you depth and stability. Service leads to the dynamic experience of heart. It creates a sense of belongingness. Do some acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. Unless you have a dream, you cannot realise it. Dream the impossible. Give yourself the freedom to dream and think big. Have the courage and determination to achieve those dreams that are dear to you. We often have a tendency to put cold water on other’s enthusiasm. Reverse this tendency. Take every opportunity to praise others and support their enthusiasm. When the New Year arrives, wish everyone with a sankalpa (intention) for peace and prosperity for all the people on the planet. Make a resolution to do more good to society, help the people who are in need and bring solace to those who are suffering. Let our life be useful to one and all.
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FITNESS
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There are some core concepts of the ancient science which do not change irrespective of the schools of practice
IT Bharat Thakur is a yoga guru and founder of Artistic Yoga
is estimated that at least 300 million people practise yoga world-wide. It is at least 5,00-years-old and the benefits claimed by the ancient yogis are now validated by modern science. Prospective students are often confused by the many schools of yoga. While there are many different yoga companies and brands but all are based on the same principles, vision, signs of progress and the end goal which are best stated in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The core yoga concept is Ashtanga or the eight limbs. This is a detailed road map for practise and progress. These are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dharana, Meditation and Samadhi. Yama are the five don’ts: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non- stealing), brahmacharya (non-dissipation) and aparigraha (non-hoarding). Niyama are the five do’s — shoucha (cleanliness), santosha (contentment), tapas (austerity/discipline ), swaadhyaaya (self-study) and ishwar pranidhaan or tuning into the higher intelligence or consciousness Then comes asana (posture) and pranayama (regulated breathing). These two practices energise and revitalise the body, keeping it healthy. Asanas keep the body flexible, at ease, pain-free and disease-free without any blocks. Pranayama helps us regulate the life currents in the body through controlled breathing. Its regular practise relaxes the mind, allows it have deeper and more subtle experiences and prepares it for meditation. These first four steps are called bahirang or external yoga. The effects of these practises can be felt through the sense organs and are easy to experience. There are marked improvements in so many lifestyle issues — stress, excess weight, back pain, hormonal levels, anxiety and psychosomatic conditions. The next four steps take you on an inward journey. where attention needs to be concentrated on internal objects called Pratyahara. Dharana is when we maintain attention on one single object. Dhyaana (meditation) is the uninterrupted flow of concentration. When we focus attention on an object continuously we lose consciousness of one's own self. This is called Samadhi. The art and science of yoga can touch our daily lives by helping us get fitter, healthier, more relaxed and better able to choose healthier options for ourselves. It can help us meet the challenges that individuals face in this day and age.
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ASANA-PADHASTASANAANASANA
o Stand straight, feet together, palms together at chest level o Slowly inhale as you stretch both arms up over your head and bend back slightly o Exhale and bend forward from the hips o Place palms beside feet and bring head down to the knees o Hold while breathing normally for 30-60 seconds o Inhale as you stretch up o Exhale as you resume start position o Repeat three times BENEFITS: o Improves overall blood circulation and especially to the head and face o Increased oxygen and nutrients help cell renewal and give the face a glow o Reduces abdominal flab, stretches the back and tones spinal nerves
PRANAYAMA-BHRAMARI (HUMMING BREATH)
o Sit in padmasana (lotus) or simply crosslegged, back straight o Close your ears with your thumbs, and place fingers over eyes horizontally (no pressure) o Exhale, inhale deeply to a count of 5 o Exhale as you make a humming sound, focusing on the sound vibrations in the front of the head o Repeat three-five times BENEFITS: o The sound vibrations massage the brain and ease constricted blood vessels and nerves, calm and relax the brain and body o Improves focus and concentration o Relaxes the vocal chords
PRATYAHAR-TRATAK (BOTH A CLEANSING & FOCUSING PRACTICE)
o Place a lighted candle at eye-level at arms-length in front of you o Sit back on your heels or cross-legged, or in padmasana, back straight o Close your eyes, inhale and relax as you breathe out o Open your eyes and gaze steadily at the tip of the wick o Try not to blink o When the eyes get tired or water, close them and visualise the candle-flame o Open your eyes and repeat two-three times for one-two minutes
RELAXATION-YOGA NIDRA (AVOID FALLING ASLEEP)
o Lie on your back with legs slightly apart o Arms are relaxed by your sides, away from body, palms facing up o Close your eyes, breathe in, feeling stomach rise and chest expand o Breathe out, letting chest fall, stomach fall and relaxing the body o Focus on and relax the 16 vital points in the body: toes, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, abdomen, chest, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingertips, neck, chin, lips, nostrils and the forehead o From the forehead, reverse the cycle o Breathe in, feel the oxygen flow through your body, breathe out and feel your whole body relax o Gently open your eyes, stretch and sit up BENEFITS: o Relaxes the entire body and mind o Reduces physical and mental tension o Helps to reduce blood pressure
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HOTWHEELS
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ABC
The Kushan Mitra Auto & tech expert
More than the objective understanding of an automobile, its subjectivity needs to be looked at thoroughly when one reviews a vehicle. And it can only be done once you experience the drive
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of reviewing cars
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PEOPLE
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often tell me that I have a cushy job of ‘reviewing cars’ and undoubtedly, it would be wrong if I deny that it is a terribly difficult one. Having said that, changing cars and early wake-up calls every few days are not as amazing as many suspect them to be. But a job is a job, and evaluating a car to be good or bad is not simply getting the stats together and blabbering them out with a string of adjectives attached. There is an objective part to a review, of that there is no doubt. Engine size, output, 0-100 times, car dimensions, interior fittings and what not. However, all of that is in the brochure as well but the art of the review
is in the subjective things. The stuff that they do not tell you in the brochure and things which you can only get to know once you drive the car. Keep in mind, my perception of a vehicle can be very different to that of my friends in the automotive writing trade. The way we review cars is also quite different depending on where we drive them. The ‘first drive’, usually a short one on a (very straight) highway, does not reveal much, other than giving an idea of acceleration and the interiors of the car, alongside seating position, luggage space and some other ponderables. These are reasons why I love spending a week or two with a car, sometimes even longer. Doing so can give you a strange appreciation of a vehicle.
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FOR
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close to two months, I drove the Diesel AMT version of the Grand i10 Nios and while the gearbox was far from being smart, indeed slow would be a better adjective, I grew to appreciate the size of the car, its superb handling and overall appropriateness for urban conditions. If you have a long urban commute, one where you cover over 50 kilometres in a day, this is the best you could possibly buy. Yes, it can be more peppy but who am I to argue with 21 kilometres per litre. This brings us to the other point, how I (and most other serious auto reviewers) look at aspects like ride and handling, and even acceleration for that matter. For example, acceleration is not something you do with a 0-100 speed run because other than a few expressways in India, it’s illegal. How many times in real life, after you have turned 25, do you drop the clutch drive like a maniac off the red light, especially with expensive petrol? So you look at how quickly and effectively you head
off from a traffic light or toll gate, changing gears at the right engine speeds. Then you observe how the gears respond, keep an eye on the engine speed and notice when and where you need to change. The fact is that most cars sold in India are driven in the city and have to be the urban warriors.
THEN
there are ride and handling, again imponderables for many ‘car reviewers’ and something that no brochure can tell you. This is something you can feel yourself being shoved into the side bolsters or even off the seats when you take a sharp turn. At times, you get surprised at how well and true a car handles after you turn the steering, and while most front-wheel drive cars tend to understeer a bit, that is the wheels do not turn as much as you want them to, you learn to compensate for that. I did not expect the Renault Triber I am currently driving to take the sweeping right-hander at the end of the
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Barapullah flyover as steady as it did. It is no Lamborghini or even a BMW 3-series for that matter but sometimes cheap and cheerful cars today can surprise you too with just how nicely the steering is weighted, how the car turns and how much (or little) body roll there is. One of my major issues with the MG Hector is the lack of precision in the steering and the grotesque amounts (for a modern vehicle) of body roll.
THEN
there are other things that we consider, stuff like the utilisation of space, something that despite the Maruti S-Presso’s less than stellar looks, it does extremely well as does the Renault Triber. And while car companies talk about how much space or lack thereof, their boots might have, you actually need to see how high or low the loading lip is. Consider ergonomics, where the switches are, how solid or not the switches and dials are and check
seat and steering adjustability. There is one of my personal bugbears, the quality of plastics, because while you can always change your seat covers, you cannot change the look and feel of the plastics. If the plastics feel like shit, too ‘plasticky’ (yes, I see the irony there) they can ruin a perfectly good vehicle which has brilliant mechanics. Nowadays, I find myself giving a lot of attention to the layout of steering wheel controls, let alone everything else. Yes, it is a fun job and I thank my lucky stars for doing it for almost two decades. I get to travel a lot, drive on amazing roads and get to experience some amazing scenery. But do not think that I, or folks such as the other jury members of the Indian Car Of The Year (ICOTY), have an easy job because it is not just about liking cars, driving and travelling. At the end of the day, this is a serious business and anybody who says that it isn’t, does not know what it takes.
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Spread the cheer
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P H O T O F E AT U R E As the year approaches the end, it is also the time to indulge in some festivities and look forward to new beginnings. A round-up of the way the world decks up to welcome hope and let go of what we have lost
Fireworks display at the 169th Erfurt Christmas Market in Germany
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(Left): Desislava, the wife of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, places a bauble on a Christmas tree as they arrive at 10 Downing Street in London ahead of a NATO reception hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to mark the alliance's 70th birthday. (Below): One of the world's biggest Christmas trees is illuminated at the opening of the Christmas market in Dortmund, Germany. The 45-metre high tree is made of 1,700 red spruces and illuminated by 48,000 lamps
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(Above): People gather at the Roemerberg Square to visit the traditional Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany. (Below): Visitors at the Freiburg Christmas Market in southwest Germany’s Black Forest region
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(Clockwise from top): Benigna Munsi, dressed as the "Nuremberg Christ Child", appears on the balcony of the Church of Our Lady during the opening of the traditional Christmas market at the Old Town in Nuremberg, Germany; A Christmas train carrying children passes through the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania; Performers clad in Santa Claus and reindeer outfits at a parade during a street event in Seoul, South Korea and a diver clad in a Santa Claus outfit performs with mermaid models during an event at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea
PHOTOS: AP
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NUMBERGAME
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Sanjay Jumaani Numerologist
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COUNT YOUR FATE
NUMBER 1 (Those born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th of any month) Try to settle financial disputes, even if you have to be a little more ‘giving’ in the long run. You do not want to spend more of your precious time in battling for pennies and losing pounds in the bargain. A new level of spirituality could answer the questions that life has a habit of throwing up.
NUMBER 4 (Those born on the 4th, 13th, 22nd and 31st of any month) Power and position will come to you if you listen to your intuitions and be a little flexible in making decisions by giving some space and a free hand to subordinates. Work satisfaction is possible just because you have convinced yourself that you have put in your best effort and have a reliable team.
NUMBER 7 (Those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th of any month) You are raring to go at every opportunity which comes your way and this demonstrates your passion to prove your mettle. You can charm the audience with your commitment and drive. With this kind of promise, there is hardly anything you can’t achieve. Finances have rarely put you in a spot.
NUMBER 2 (Those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th and 29th of any month) Apprehension could only lead to nervous disorders, manifesting as stomach or digestive problems or acidity. This is corroborated medically as well. A more relaxed approach towards work could reduce the needless anxiousness build-up; a hassle-free set up is essential to bring the best out of you.
NUMBER 5 (Those born on the 5th, 14th and 23rd of any month) Patience is the mother of all virtues — you’ve heard and read the adage often but do you actually practise it? You could be a live wire and so can get irritable too. Wait for the right time as that is very important to win a race. A false start can actually disqualify you by quashing your chances.
NUMBER 8 (Those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th of any month) During the last few months you have put in so much of effort that recognition comes your way without asking. Communication with loved ones could become easier and more serene. Any hiccups in the past would be tided over. Plan a romantic getaway that has been on your mind, for we all live only once.
NUMBER 3 (Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th of any month) Sometimes you feel 24 hours in a day are not enough as there is so much to be done. Make a list of priorities, jot them down and follow them systematically to accomplish more. After a hard day’s work, relax and rejuvenate with friends, if you want to get back to work with the same fervour.
NUMBER 6 (Those born on the 6th, 15th and 24th of any month) When it comes to dealing with people, with your presence of mind, there is hardly anything, which you cannot pull off. Despite all this, if you are still anxious and insecure, then you need to learn to believe more in yourself. Only if you knew that there are many who actually swear by you.
NUMBER 9 (Those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of any month) A relationship could face an acid test and if so, then go all out to explain your point of view to clear doubts. At the same time, deal patiently with your partner allowing him/her chance to explain his/her perspective. It is in giving that we reach our highest potential and grow to become channels of God’s love.
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SIGN-OFF
By RINKU GHOSH
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THE CURL OF CIVILITY
hatsapp or Wassup or What’s up? Chances are that the first two words would be understood as an endearing form of social communication than the friendly and decidedly sincere warmth of the latter. And in a world dependent on texting in 140 words or so on a palm-sized keyboard, who wants the complexity of a curl with a knobhead? So long as it sounds all right. That then is the tragedy of the apostrophe in times of instant and individual grammar — the finesse of civility, of indicating possession, ownership and holding up missing words, yielding to the mass plurality of acceptance. McDonald’s is not about ownership of a certain type of burger but all burgers, or McDonalds. Perhaps, this is why one of the oldest crusaders for correct punctuation, retired journalist John Richards, decided to disband the 18-yearold Apostrophe Protection Society. In a sad reflection on the communication skills of the modern world, the 96-year-old founder and chairman said that despite his best efforts he lost the battle for proper usage of the much-abused apostrophe. Attributing the reasons for his defeat as “ignorance and laziness present in modern times,” Richards in a way signalled the end of conscientious living to a dumbed down antiintellectualism. However, this abuse of the apostrophe is not new and for decades purists in UK and the US have fumed over its misuse by stores which sell “apple’s and pear’s” and restaurants that serve “chip’s and pea’s.” And
towns and stores around the world are quietly dropping it to make things “simpler” for the common folks. For instance Birmingham dropped it from all road signs in 2009 so that its staff wouldn’t have to deal with “complaints about grammar” and British book retailer Waterstone’s decided in 2012 to drop the apostrophe from its name so that it reads “Waterstones” to “suit its digital presence”. In 2013, Mid Devon district council followed Birmingham’s example. But nothing can justify playing with grammar and punctuation, because as the Oxford Dictionary puts it, punctuation marks are intended to clarify meaning. Hence, proper punctuation is simply a must for clear communication because the same words used in the same order mean two very different things when punctuated differently. For instance, a sign which was meant to advertise the goodies “Pies & Burgers” being sold can be distorted to “Pie’s & Burgers” thereby implying that the burger stand belongs to a man named Pie. Or “we’re number one” can change to “were number one” if the apostrophe is dropped. Improper punctuation can misrepresent you, spoil that first impression and make you appear uneducated and unprofessional, especially to a prospective employer. Need a Wren & Martin anyone? If not, Richards, whose website registered a 600-fold increase in hits after his decision, will keep that alive. His next mission: Commas.
EXOTICA [82] DECEMBER 2019