TLF sep by TLF magazinr

Sept. 2012

www.tlfmagazine.com

GLOBAL FASHION TRENDS Prep yourself for Fall

Volume 2 â&#x20AC;˘ Issue 7

The Urban Circus The vibrant streets of Tokyo

Breakfast in Paris

Flamenco Bars in Seville, Spain

KENYA Beyond Wildlife

The fascinating cultural scene in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Spain

Editor-in-Chief's note Dear readers, Last month I had the chance to fly to Dubai, on Lama Tours' first flight to Dubai. I must say, it was a great experience and Dubai is beautiful during the holy month of Ramadan. Read about it in this issue. Our website www.tlfmagazine.com is live and updated with the previous issues as well as fresh features-do log on and give us your valuable feedback.

Cheers!

72 hours in Dubai 18 A budget trip to Switzerland 22 Beyond wildlife in Kenya 20 The Deshnoke Rat Temple 10 Tie the knot in Thailand

EAT Chef Hiromi

TRAVEL

Contents

Shweta Joon

34 Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best rooftop restaurants 38 A food orgy in Soneva Kiri 36 Chef speaks: Chef Hiromi of Shangri Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eros Hotel, New Delhi

STAY 30 The Fern Residency, Chandigarh

Clear skin not a problem!

The Sheraton, Bangalore

54 50 things

to do in Paris

FEATURES 26 A Vegetarianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide to surviving abroad 52 The nuances of spa developement 42 Tokyo, Las Vegas and Sevillethe hubs of entertainment 32 Housekeeping: The inside story 58 Jimmy Shergill on films and beyond

FASHION & BEAUTY

60 Beauty essentials by Shahnaz Husain 62 Say bye to stretchmarks 68 The Fall Fashion Report 64 Fashion : Hits and Misses

Management Shivani Joon Varun Malhotra Editorial Editor-in-Chief : Shweta Joon Editor : Natascha Shah

have always been in love with Paris. With its poetic streets, artistic nooks and corners, romantic architecture, with the crepes and the croissants, the high street fashion and quaint vintage shops. Karandeep Kaur

And yes, like most people I fell in love with the city again after watching A Midnight in Paris. Who wouldn't? Though, I still have not been there! (the boy is busy, and Paris is a place for lovers!) that doesn't mean I havnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t researched enough to know the place by heart. So here's presenting 50 fun ideas for Paris! Make sure, once there, you do all this and discover your own fun fifty and share with us! Moving on to some other wonderful experiences that the world has to offer, our cover story - The Urban Circus is all about celebrating the spirit of Las Vegas, the character of Tokyo and the charm of Seville, Spain. Each place has distinct flavours, marvellous culture and a lot to explore and observe. Let us be your guide in this journey. This month also bids farewell to Monsoon and makes way for Autumn ( thankfully so! All my whites have been in the laundry- forever!). Our Fashion Features Writer, Esha brings to you a roundup of some of the hottest fall trends from around the world! So get hold of those black boots ladies! From travel to fashion, where to stay to what to eat, society to celebrities- TLF likes to make sure you get a doze of all that makes life interesting! Because a fantastic life is only fantastic if you celebrate it! Cheers to that!

Editor

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Travel

n this innovative project, Lama Tours had on its first flight travel agents and tour operators from Northern India to give them an insight and an opportunity to experience Dubai during the Ramadan festivities. Agents and tour operators that work closely with Lama were provided with an opportunity to visit the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital for tourism and experience firsthand the heritage, culture and attractions that make Dubai a worldclass destination. This unique flight marked a milestone in Lama Tours' fifteen-year operation distinct with many successes that have made it one of the largest inbound tour operating companies in the Emirate of Dubai. Supporting Lama Tours in this initiative are IndiGo Airlines and Hyatt Hotels who hosted the visiting delegation comprising travel agents and tour operators. Addressing this marketing activity, Kulwant Singh, MD Lama Group of Companies, said, "With the grateful support of our joint promotional partners at IndiGo Airlines and Grand Hyatt hotels along with Dubai's Department of Tourism and Marketing we will through this unique activity give Indian travellers more value for money through competitive air fare, world class accommodation and professional ground services that will make their holiday a life time experience."

Kulwant Singh, MD Lama Group

Fly to Dubai with

Lama Tours The well-known Lama Tours recently announced an innovative concept of promoting its first Lama flight to Dubai. This was done as part of its marketing strategy to bring larger number of Indian travellers to Dubai from the Northern region of India.

Abdullah bin Suwaidan, Deputy Director, Overseas Promotion and Inward Missions, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said, "Ramadan is a month of festivals and I am glad that Lama Tours took such a big initiative to bring a flight to Dubai, as this will showcase Dubai as a year round destination." "India is a very important market for us and such initiative will even enhance the growth of this market," added Abdullah. John Beveridge, Area Director and General Manager, Hyatt Hotels Dubai, said, "The Government is taking a big initiative in promoting Dubai as a leading destination. Visiting Dubai during Ramadan is not as uninteresting as people think it to be, there are lots of activities during the Holy month of Ramadan, when tourists can come and experience the true Arabian culture. The malls are open till midnight. Travellers can enjoy Dubai and its culture and traditions at its best during this time.â&#x20AC;?

Lama Tours is a complete holiday solutions provider with services that include holiday packages, organizing and executing conventions, weddings and corporate missions. The company has invested in developing quality infrastructure, stringent and high level of service standards for their travellers and trade partners. Excerpts from a conversation with Kulwant Singh, MD Lama Group What are the various things that Lama Tours covers in Dubai? Lama is well known as a destination management company which caters to almost everything that comes under the hospitality sector of our business, be it MICE events, cruises, holidays, safaris, city tours, excursions, adventure tours, film premiers, fashion shows, concerts, hotel bookings and visas. Do you operate in any other city in the Middle East? Yes, we have our offices in Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudia Arabia. How has the inflow of Indian tourists to Dubai been? The Indian traveller has been the most

aggressive traveller to the UAE and their percentage has been growing year after year. A few years ago Indian visitors were on the fifth or sixth position in terms of the number of visitors to Dubai. Today we stand at number two, which is very promising. I am sure in the coming years we will be the top market for incoming numbers to Dubai. What category does Lama Tours cater toâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;budget/middle/luxury? We cater to all kinds of visitors to the destination. You have now ventured into aviation. What were the factors that propelled you? Well, I think we are not fully into aviation yet. We have just started booking flights where the end user can benefit from destination rates for ground, air and hotel accommodation by buying through our designated travel partners. How has the response been? The response has been phenomenal. We have announced the second and the third flight and I hope we will be able to fill them as we did for the first flight.

What sectors/cities do these flights cover? For the first flight it was Delhi and we are now looking at Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai in the coming months. What's the frequency of the flight? There have not been any set frequencies. We have blocked the flights as per the demand of our travellers. Say for Diwali, we are looking at two flights, end of the year we are looking at two flights and during the Dubai Shopping Festival we are also looking at two flights. Tell us about your collaboration with IndiGo Airlines? They have been very supportive and have offered us special deals for the bulk bookings we have done with them. Do you plan to increase the flight sectors and frequencies and collaborate with more airline carriers? Yes, we are open to more carriers, because being wholesale consolidators we always look to get the best for our travel partners and in this way provide best deals to the end customers.

Travel

The Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi

72 hours in

Dubai

Just three days in Dubai? Fret not, we tell you how to make the most of them.

9 awesome activities one can do. One can also fall in love over a cup of hot chocolate while the thermometer reads a minus 4 degrees!

You can move on for a city tour of Dubai. Enjoy some shopping at the Dubai Mall City Centre. Enjoy late night shopping at Meena Bazaar, which is a different experience all together.

Day 2 Enjoy an extravagant breakfast at Grand Hyatt where the Market Café has five open kitchens serving different cuisines.

The Burj-al-Arab

All that cold will make you want to eat some spicy Indian food at Salaam Namaste.

Head straight to Ferrari World, a lovely drive from Dubai—the world's largest indoor theme park, located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Here one can The Burj Khalifa and an overview of the city

Dubai has been oft known as the land of gold and is now turning out to be a great weekend getaway. We give you a list of things you can do when you're there for just a limited time! Day 1 Check into your hotel—the most important part of every trip that replenishes the spirits and enthusiasm to take on each new day! We recommend the Park Hyatt that guarantees a comfortable stay. Spend the hot summer day at Ski Dubai, in the Mall of Emirates, where you can enjoy the chill and the twisting and turning slides. Tube slides, rolling down a giant snowball, the family chairlift are some of the

enjoy quality time with family and friends. The next stop should be, back in Dubai, to the Jumeirah Beach followed with a tour of the Atlantis. No trip to Dubai is complete without a trip to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the world—a masterpiece. Make sure to catch the musical fountain show that takes plays in the evening. End your day with a Lama Dhow Cruise dinner.

Day 3 The last day in Dubai has to be spent with a dune bashing safari. It's a day thing so make sure you're on time! Take a tour of the Park Hyatt, chill by

Sunset after dune bashing at the Lama Desert Safari

the poolside and enjoy a great massage, which will be relaxing, rejuvenating and will get you all prepped up for the week back home. After lunch enjoy some more shopping—you can never have too much of it—after which it will be time to say goodbye to the city of dreams.

Travel

Wedding Bells in

Amazing Thailand

Focusing on the Indian wedding segment, the Tourism Authority of Thailand launches the Amazing Thailand Wedding Specialist Program.

Thailand is the number one international destination for Indian outbound tourists. In line with the marketing strategy to tap the growing number of these Indian tourists, through focusing on several niche segments, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mumbai office recently announced the launch of a support program dedicated to the Indian wedding planners and organisers. Titled Amazing Thailand Wedding Specialists, it is currently being driven as a pilot program in western, central and southern Indian. Ten wedding planners within the coverage of the TAT Mumbai office have been shortlisted to participate.

Promotion

Indians can have a dream wedding in their favourite holiday destination. Sethaphan Buddhani, Director of TAT Mumbai was delighted to make this announcement, “This is the first time that we are announcing the launch of a loyalty support program which addresses a specific niche segment. There is a growing popularity for international destinations as venues for Indian weddings amongst the metros in India. Within the segment, Thailand is one of the favourite international destinations preferred by Indian couples. Through this campaign we aim to achieve a two-fold objective—to further boost the number of Indian weddings celebrated in our country and more importantly focus on the promotion of new exotic locales and cities within Thailand,” he said.

An extravagant wedding setup

The unique program is aimed at providing specific support services to selected Indian wedding planners who are able to confirm an Indian wedding in Thailand. The prerequisites for qualifying for the support service being that the bridal couple along with their family members and guests should be of an Indian origin and from within the area of coverage of the local TAT Mumbai office. Since 2011, Thailand has been chosen as the destination for over 100 Indian weddings, the favoured cities being Bangkok, Pattaya, Huahin and Chiang Mai. Destinations such as Krabi and KhaoLak are also slowly gaining popularity within the Indian market. With this support program, more

Buddhani further elaborated, “We had conducted a detailed questionnaire survey amongst 25 well known wedding planners and organisers within the coverage of the TAT Mumbai area. Accordingly, ten organisations were selected based on their responses. They had demonstrated quality performances consistently over a period of time since we had begun tapping into this segment several years ago. We will provide various support services to the wedding planners that confirm an Indian wedding in Thailand. These incentives range from supporting their reccee visits to providing traditional Thai performances for the wedding function. Furthermore, the bride and groom will be given free business class tickets to travel for their wedding subject to conditions laid down by the airlines. The shortlisted wedding planners were provided with thorough destination knowledge along with information on top hotels and resorts, logistics management through educational tours which involved hotel inspections and meetings to discuss setup and catering ideal for the Indian wedding segment.

Travel

ach year the festival of Loy Krathong is celebrated with joy, pomp and devotion in Thailand, particularly in Chiangmai. Loi literally means 'to float,' while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water. On this day, the villagers in northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand float thousands of lanterns made of coloured paper. If floated in the afternoon, smoke is used for floating lanterns, while a torch is used to float them at night. One can see the light from the lanterns in the sky with moonshine and the sparkle of the stars, which is very beautiful. In the past, “Loy Krathong” was called “Chong Pa Rieng”— floating lantern of royal ceremony. It is a Brahman festival to worship Gods- Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma. When the Thai people adopted Buddhism, they adapted this ceremony to honour Buddha's cremated bone—the original Buddha as the second heaven ruler. They floated lanterns to worship the foot-

The ceremony involves floating Krathong in the river

Celebrate the

Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand

print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India. Now things like krathong parade, contestation of making krathongs, and Noppamas beauty pageant contests have been made a part of the festival. To be in Thailand and be a part of this celebration can be a delightful experience! Date: 28th November 2012

There are many legends that describe why Loy Krathong is celebrated: 1. To ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha. 2. According to Brahma belief, Loy Krathong means to worship God. 3. To welcome Buddha when he came back to the world- he had stayed in the Buddhist temple during the rainy season as the second heaven ruler to teach his mother. 4. To worship the footprint of Buddha on the Nammathanati River beach. 5. To worship Chulamanee in the heaven where the Buddha's hair is buried. 6. To worship Bhakabhrama in heaven. 7. To worship Uppakutta-dhera who observed religious precept at the middle portion of the sea.

Travel

Nickel & Diming in

SWISS LAND By Neha Dixit

Switzerland is beautiful, peaceful, organised and terribly expensive, so a luxurious holiday there is really 'No Big Deal' but to make it affordable? Let's just say, you have to be extremely smart about it.

Catching up with the locals

ermatt in springtime remains one of my favourite holiday destinations. Zermatt literally means 'in the meadow'. Nestled in the Swiss Germanspeaking canton of Valais, Switzerland, the place did not appear on any map until 1495 and the first tourists travelled here in 1780. When it comes to tourism, this village has come a long way in the past 150 years. Today much of the local economy depends on tourism. Home to less than 6000 residents, the village swells to 20,000 tourists during peak winter months. Let's try and plan a relatively cheap holiday in the southernmost health resort in Switzerland.

How to travel? When in Switzerland, travel like the Swiss—get yourself a Rail Pass from Zurich. The little train with large windows will roll up the perfectly manicured hills, dotted with sheep, past waterfalls, through long tunnels and tiny villages. As the gauge gets

narrower, the views become wider you will be making your way to the biggest cliché of Switzerland—the Matterhorn, the Toblerone Mountain! Here elevation increases, temperature reduces, and excitement simply multiplies. Zermatt has always been a car free zone, but there are many ways of getting around town—you can get on a horse carriage, electric taxi, cycle, your own two feet, as long as there are no fumes given out. No pun intended!

Where to stay? The accommodation must be selected carefully; easy on the pocket and the environment. The town sprawls across a valley and you don't want to save money on accommodation and trade it for taxing walks or expensive taxis. On a holiday in winter, you can ski for 10 km, make your way to Italy for some piping hot pasta. But make sure you find a place where you can ski back to the doorstep. I was staying at the edge of the village, a

Zermatt in springtime

19 slightly tedious walk from the railway station; so a one time taxi with luggage and you'll be at the youth hostel. Set up in 1924, this place is home to 31000 like-minded travellers each year, who are surprisingly not all backpackers and shockingly not all young. The youth hostel organisation is a pioneer in sustainable tourism. Built entirely of natural materials, here all the heating— whether for washing or insulation is done by solar panels. Take a room where through the large window, the Matterhorn with its hooked peak stands sentinel and you can easily trick yourself into believing you're staying at a luxury resort at 45 Euros a night.

What to see? Now that I had seen it from a distance, I wanted to get as close as possible; like the three million pilgrims that pay homage to what is thought to be the mostphotographed mountain in the world, the Matterhorn. After all, this peak is an icon for the Alps and Zermatt, the Mecca of Alpine ski & mountain sports. In winter months, a sheet of snow hides the details and glugging of Glühwein(glow wine)begins before midday. But this is also one of the few places where you will find adventure enthusiasts throughout the year. I prefer the warmer months though, and you can still see snow at eye level if you take a trip up to any of the five peaks. If you don't feel like climbing, hiking, skiing or snowboarding; basically if you are just being lazy, then you can get on Europe's highest mountain lift and reach Klein Matterhon to join the spectators. But to get high, you have to pay a price, in the form of a ticket worth 88 francs.

As the gauge gets narrower, the views become wider you will be making your way to the biggest cliché of Switzerland—the Matterhorn, the Toblerone Mountain!

At the Zermatt Folklore Festival

Set up in 1924, this place is home to 31000 likeminded travellers each year, who are surprisingly not all backpackers and shockingly not all young. Better dress warm, if you don't want to catch a chill. After all you will be at an elevation of 12,780 feet above sea level. Quick trivia: 90 million years ago the African continental plate slid over the European plate giving birth to this mountain.

Neha Dixit has produced and anchored various award winning travel shows on NDTV Good Times. She is an adventure junkie, she has jumped off airplanes, dived deep into depths of the seas; she's fought with the currents, scaled the Alps, and roamed the valleys of Switzerland. Currently she is hosting NO BIG DEAL.

When to go?

music, lovely flavour and aah the smells!

Spring time — the flowers bloom, your bones don't freeze, it's not peak season, so it's less crowded and bargains are possible.

The town looks like you've just walked into a time machine. Church bells for alarm calls, brandy-bearing St. Bernard's, men with top hats, maidens in bonnets and horse drawn carriages—Zermatt is dressed up for the folklore festival.

Every spring for the past 40 years performing groups from across Switzerland gather for what has become the largest cultural festival of the season. The Zermatt Folklore festival is a feast for the senses in the every sense of the word. There are incredible sights, beautiful

I have a simple equation - Festivals & fairs = street food. Simple tricks to search for the best option that fits my meager budget and is a treat for my taste buds is to follow the nose or go for the most crowded spot! A bratwurst with fresh bakery bread and hot mustard for 6 Euros, slices of tarts and pies for two to three euros— you can easily overeat for a meager amount. Each and every franc profit from the festival goes to help the youth of Zermatt in various projects. It's definitely a fun way to raise funds. Church bells again! We're being summoned for the grand parade. 50 different folklore groups with more than 1200 dancers, yoddlers and musicians with their Alphorns fill the village to its brim. Suddenly this new place feels so familiar. For me this is luxury, time is luxury, space is luxury, clean air and water is luxury, to travel too far and wide is luxury, the opportunity to make new friends is luxury. So would this be an expensive holiday? No, but a luxurious one? No doubt! Now that is a really Big Deal!!

Travel

Praying to the

Rats I was walking down the crowded streets of Mumbai with a big smile on my face when a baba came up to me and said, “I feel a strong energy from you. You have a smile on your face but underneath, all is not well.” I dismissed him. “Another phony psychic,” I said under my breath.

What motivates people from different parts of the world to ritualistically participate in what the average person might label truly bizarre behavior? Join Shenaz Treasuryvala - Hollywood and Bollywood Actress, Sociologist and Cultural Reporter as she travels the world in search of exotic customs and quirky traditions.

He followed me, “It's been one step forward and two steps back for you for the past six months. This is a difficult time for you.” Suddenly my eyes started watering. I looked up at him. I guess he was a perceptive phony psychic. “What do you want?” I asked. He said, “I don't want money. I want to help you. Go to the temple in Deshnoke on the border of India and Pakistan and you will have peace.” I turned to him, tears streaming down my face. I obviously was a mess inside. He was right; it had been a rough time. He said, “Your eyes will be bright again. This is not you. Your mind is getting ahead of you. Too much in there.” He pointed to my head. At this point I was ready to try

A couple of rats nibbled at my toes; I did my best not to jump on other people and scream. Indiana Jones, eat your heart out because this is the Temple of Doom. anything. Was I ready to try a temple on the corner of India and Pakistan? Yes. Was I prepared for it to be a rat temple? Huh? He said, “It's a rat temple— a temple devoted entirely to the worship of rats.” Er, no way. I started to walk away. The baba continued, “There is only one white rat in the temple. Find it and pray to it and your dark phase will be over.” I laughed, “There is NO WAY I am going to a temple full of rats. Sorry. Not happening. No way!” Two days later I found myself in the dusty town of Deshnoke outside the Rat Temple. Like all Hindu temples,

21 you must take off your shoes at the door as a mark of respect. Now, let's get this clear. I'm not crazy about rats. In fact they horrify me. It was not a joy to be stepping into the temple, with the sticky floor covered in rat pee. But I did it for three reasons. #1 I'm a cultural reporter and sociologist, very interested in immersing myself in customs from around the world. #2 I'm curious about what would motivate people to worship rats. #3 I was desperate. Okay fine, this time- I was just desperate. This temple is the home to Goddess Karnimata who's been worshipped here for over 600 years. There are 20,000 rats living in the temple, though the locals are having trouble keeping count. I had my brave girl face on as I walked into the courtyard of the temple trying not to squish the rats with my feet. A couple of rats nibbled at my toes; I did my best not to jump on other people and scream. Indiana Jones, eat your

Inside the temple

devastated. She went to the God of Death, Yama and begged for his life but he had already reincarnated him as another person into another family. She was furious. She said to him, “Never ever will any of my descendants or tribe people get into your hands. In fact from now on, they will be reborn as rats until they can be reincarnated as humans in MY family.” As the temple doors opened people brought in rat goodies to feed the rodents. Bananas, peanuts, milk, sweets and all kinds of yummy rat The Deshnoke Temple

“Relax,” he said, “In six centuries there's never been plague here. In fact I eat the same food as they eat.” He took a big sip of the milk that the rats were feasting on! He told me that by eating the same food, he would never be plagued by ill health. No thanks Mr. Babu, with all respect, this is rotten milk with rat's swimming and pooping in it, and dead flies too! “I'm lactose intolerant”, I said. He gave me a confused look and said, “One should never be intolerant.” He went on to tell me how he sleeps in the temple with the rats, which sometimes climb into his trousers and sleep there with him. As the sun went down, it was time for the evening prayers. The whole place went quiet and out of a corner the white rat appeared. Everyone started praying furiously. I surprised myself and broke into prayers too. “Peace, peace! Please God, white rat, Goddess Karnimata, all I want is peace.”

heart out because this is the Temple of Doom.

friendly food were offered and the rats greedily devoured everything.

I gave myself a pep talk, “Shenaz! You have travelled thousands of miles to get here. Pull yourself together, take a deep breath, pray, whatever it takes.”

There was even a dedicated temple chef cooking only for rodents. That day the “special of the day” (for the rats) was masoor daal (lentil soup). I raised an eyebrow as the rats hungrily drank up.

To take my mind off the rats, I found the priest, Mr. Babu and spoke to him. He explained to me the story behind the temple. Goddess Karnimata's youngest son died in a tragic accident. She was

Babu, the temple priest looked annoyed at me as I tried to avoid the rats that were climbing up my legs and trying to get into my purse.

For a moment, I forgot about the rats crawling on my leg and found some calm. And then it dawned on me, this place is not about the rats but it's the Deshnoke version of your local church, temple, synagogue or mosque with its own set of customs. People come here to feel like they belong to something bigger and something more meaningful. As the locals say, spend a little time here and forget life's worries. Maybe they are right. I closed my eyes again, meditated and forgot about the rats. Life lesson learnt: It's possible to take your mind off anything. Even rats peeing on your feet. Thank you Rat Temple of Deshnoke for teaching me that.

Travel

Come home to

Kenya When I think of Kenya—I think of the golden plains, Acacia trees and the magnificent big five of the Masai Mara. But my journey to Kenya was a very different experience… By Saima Mohsin

have been in search of ideas that will change the world—cleaner and greener. Am I an eco-warrior? Well, to be honest other than being an obsessive recycling fiend and trying to switch my lights off or use my car less, I wasn't such a conscientious citizen of the world. But filming for the new series of Horizons on BBC World News, I have discovered we all need to think more carefully and that all is not lost—there are many amazing people across the globe working to address the challenges we'll face in the future. My trip to Kenya was not spent in a beautiful game reserve, but a rather unconventional trek in the opposite direction, to the east to Matuu, Nyanza Province and Lake Victoria. Why Kenya? Well here we discovered that the simplest of solutions have the b i g g e s t i m p a c t . Fr o m f o o d sustainability to low-tech innovation providing access to water, to being a world leader in 'Mobile Money', Kenya is leading the way in finding solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Kenya is a large and diverse east African nation with 42 different people and cultures. Like most travellers to Kenya the team and I flew to Nairobi. Given that Kenya is working on welcoming up to two

The lake seems like an ocean, the sunsets are beautiful, fishing trips are available and there's plenty of great walking to be done. million tourists annually by the end of this year the airport is remarkably small and retains a quaintness of a bygone age. Outside, the number of cars, office workers, busy roads and pavements are testament to Nairobi being Kenya's commercial hub. The traffic is crippling, it took us an hour and half to make the short journey to the hotel. “Was this normal?” I asked my driver. “Every day,” he replied. And the traffic on the pavements was equally busy; hundreds, probably thousands of Kenyans pound the streets with a sense of purpose and determination as they walk to and from work. A friend from Nairobi tells me they would rather save the few shillings for the bus fare

which will add up to pay for a meal later in the week. Our stay in Nairobi was short-lived. The next morning at 6 am we drove 100 km east of Nairobi to Matuu. My journey really did take me off the beaten track. Driving along an impressively laid and preserved highway, we suddenly turned left. Were we careering off the road? Had my driver fallen asleep? No, there was no road here but there was certainly a destination. We travelled to a village where technology was transforming people's lives. Here in the middle of seemingly nowhere, a water pump manufacturer called Grundfos is setting up a unique

From food sustainability to low-tech innovation providing access to water, to being a world leader in 'Mobile Money', Kenya is leading the way in finding solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. system giving people sustainable, regular access to clean drinking water. They have devised a system with which villagers pay for their water using a smart card, topped up with cash using a mobile money system. It's two innovations in one here. Why

should villagers pay for their water? In Kenya, hundreds of wells often dry up because the locals don't know how to maintain them. This money pays for regular maintenance services and making this water pump project sustainable. Along the way I saw women, some elderly and some too young to be called women, carrying gallons of water, on their heads, on their backs, some letting their bicycles or bullocks carry the loadâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;walking for miles, where to, I had no idea. A local woman named Ruth used to travel 40 km every day to collect water. She needed to take her daughters with her to collect enough. But with this new pump in place not only is water close by but there is also a constant supply. She has been able to spend her days studying instead and has trained as a social worker and her young girls have enrolled in school. What's more, the school has a small field out back where they now grow vegetables thanks to the water supply and provide one square meal a day for students! Kenya is a world leader in mobile money,

giving thousands of people in remote areas access to a unique banking system via what almost everyone has access to hereâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a mobile phone. Back on the road in our safari jeeps we marvel at the sights around. Tea plantations, coffee plants, more men, women and children walking to no place in particular that I can spot along our route determined to get to their destination. Then suddenly we spot a grey giant in the trees. There is a herd of elephants crossing the road! Just when you least expect it, Kenya offers you with the most joyous of surprises! The next few days took us west to Kisumu, on the banks of Lake Victoria. It's the world's second largest lake, home to thousands of hippos and brave fishermen dodging the beasts to collect their catch. The majority of Kenyans rely of fishing as their main source of food and income. Lake Victoria provides up to 90% of Kenya's total fish supply. But stocks of the popular Tilapia fish are declining fast largely due to overfishing. At night the lake is lit up by lamps used by the fishermen to attract and lure the fish into their nets.

A local using a smart card as part of the sustainable development initiative

Travel

Locals working together as part of the sustainable development initiative

I went to Lake Victoria to learn about a fish-farming projectâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;breeding fish in a controlled environment in pools in farmers' spare land. It is encouraging fishermen to build their income and diet from a more sustainable source of fish. I wasn't expecting to become a fisherman myself but on invitation I jumped into one of the ponds as the men and women harvested 1,000 Tilapia. A wonderful mud bath and a real insight into how Kenyans live their lives! Lake Victoria is a domestic tourist attraction. Kenyans come here for their summer breaks. I saw only a few foreigners around here but I highly recommend it for any discerning traveller to Kenya. A unique game lodge-style resort on the banks of the lake has been recently refurbished, ready for customers to fly in on their private jets or to take the dirt track road to its awaiting luxury. The lake seems like an ocean, the sunsets are beautiful, fishing trips are available and there's plenty of great walking to be done. But be warnedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;like most areas outside Nairobi, it's recommended you are home before nightfall for your own safety. We travelled around in jeeps provided by one of the large local safari companies. Private car hire is probably the best

and safest way to travel. I didn't spot any tourist buses and Kenya's rural public transport is mostly a system of small mini-vans crammed with local people.

Indian and Pakistani restaurants in both Nairobi and Kisumu, but unless you stay in the major hotels or tourist resorts you may find the food Kenya has to offer limited.

Local specialties reflect Kenyans' staple diet of fish and basic vegetables. A typical meal includes fried or barbecued fish, almost always Tilapia, with cassava (like a yam/potato) or ugaliâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a savoury cake made of maize flour and water. Locals crush together the fish, ugali and a tomato-based sauce and eat it with their hands. There is a large Asian community in parts of Kenya and we found some

As far as Kenya is concerned, although our budget could not stretch to the luxury game reserves we see so often and dream of, I would encourage you (alongside a local guide) to venture beyond the usual sights and discover the truly diverse sights and people this country has to offer. Saima Mohsin presents Horizons on BBC World News with Adam Shaw.

Did You Know? The Bizarre Items Left on Planes Wedding rings, false teeth, a trombone and a large canvas painting are among some of the unusual items left behind on planes, according to a survey from Skyscanner. Many of the items left on board could cause a few blushes when trying to retrieve the lost items, while the person who left their false teeth could have problems trying to communicate their loss in the first place. In addition to the usual books, CDs and sunglasses, five people had even walked off the plane without their wedding rings while one admitted to leaving their underwear — whether the same person left both items behind is unclear but it could have left them with some explaining to do when they got back home. The poll of over 700 people also reveals that a third of items left behind are worth over `85,000 including cameras (3 percent), iPads (3 percent) and consoles (2 percent). While leaving behind high-value items can be costly if uninsured, other losses could cause even greater stress. An unfortunate 5 percent said they had left behind their passports or travel documents, while an unlucky 2

Five people had walked off the plane without their wedding rings while one admitted to leaving their underwear. percent had left their child’s favoured toy behind, likely leading to a temper tantrum and tears later on. In total, two-thirds of plane passengers have accidently left something on a plane. Books were the most common item to be left behind (18 percent) followed by mobile phones (9 percent), a magazine or newspaper (8 percent) and an item of clothing (8 percent). Sam Poullain, Skyscanner spokesman commented: “Having left my iPad behind on a plane recently, I know how easy it is to do and the frustration and hassle it causes, although it could have been a more awkward conversation with the airline has I lost one of the more embarrassing items our survey revealed.”

Forging Relationships On Flights A poll conducted of over 700

Skyscanner, a travel search sight reveals some interesting trivia about passengers flying by air!

international travellers by Skyscanner has found that while 40 percent of travellers have developed friendships with someone they met on a flight, 6 percent have even admitted to a romantic liaison with a new acquaintance on-board. While the majority of these connections were short lived, 5 percent spent time on holiday together as a direct result of meeting on their flight. Taking their friendship even further, 7 percent said they continued to stay in touch after their holiday. Kavitha Gnanamurthy, Skyscanner’s Market Development Manager for India, says “Hectic schedules and stressful lifestyles leave many Indians with no time for socializing. Thus more often than not people find it refreshing to meet new people on flights and forge new relationships. Moreover, the thought of ‘no strings attached’ attracts people to making new acquaintances on board.” Gnanamurthy further added: “Some people who travel on business use every opportunity to network and make new contacts. Thus interacting with people on board has its advantages, from meeting prospective clients to making lifelong friends to even finding their soul mates!”

Travel

A Vegetarian's Guide to

Surviving Abroad By Natascha Shah

Non-meat eaters are often pressed for choice when it comes to travelling abroadâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the cheese burgers come with beef patties; meat and vegetables are cooked in the same sauce; everything contains egg, beef and pork is used like salt and pepper. Does that mean you join them? No, there are a few ways to beat them!

You must try the food there, It is awesomeâ&#x20AC;Ś Oh you are a vegetarian? Have some French fries!

1. Breakfast is the meal to indulge in. Most hotels provide a lavish buffet with a huge spread of cereals, breads, jams, pancakes, chocolate sauce and numerous vegetarian options. Go for it!

6. Learn how to say vegetarian in the language of the country you shall be travelling to. Maybe the chef at the restaurant can whip you something up.

2. Keep a stock of granola bars, energy bars and nuts, for mid-day snacks so that you don't sit and stare at the sky when your friends/family snack on non-vegetarian delights.

8. Head to a place that gives 'make your own' option, so that you know what's going in, is not meat.

3. Look for coconut water/fruit juice/smoothy bars. It is a healthy, fresh and yummy option. 4. Head to the grocery store and buy some bread and cheese slices/butter. You can make a sandwich and eat whenever you fail to find anything else. 5. Chocolates are a good option if you feel low on energy and the sugar makes you feel full and happy.

7. Look for an Indian restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you are sure to find pure vegetarian food there.

9. Buy canned/tinned food like baked beans, kidney beans, peta bread and hummus. 10. Aah, well, order some French fries!

Stay

The Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Bangalore Gateway

The Sheraton Bangalore F

rom the time it opened in May, 2011, this hotel with a global identity derived from its brand name and the reflected equity from its mothership, Starwood Hotels and Resorts has consistently offered its guests, the international services it is known for everywhere in the world. Even the fitness programs offered to the guests are customised to suit their needs and thoughtful details like the Link@Sheraton right at the centre of the lobby offers in tandem with Microsoft, web surfing terminal and wireless, Internet access to the visitors.

doors; something tangible and palpable grabs you and stuns you with its scale, its splendour and its drama.

Rest 230 guest rooms are packed with luxurious macro and micro details starting from the

The design aesthetics are very much in keeping with the exacting standards of the Sheraton brand, having been helmed by the DiLeonardo Company. Right from the building's facade to the sweeping vistas opening before its windows to the patterns and detailing in materials, upholstery, accessories and furniture, the feature walls, light fixtures and more, all are part of a grand design that exudes glamour and intelligence. This hospitality experience is not the kind that grows upon you. Right from the time, you enter the hotel through the revolving

Bene Pizza Bar

Mirror reflections bouncing off floors, translucence shimmering across water walls, linear glass icicle chandelier snaking across the ceiling and long glass walls embossed with florals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; every surface reflective, decadent and vastâ&#x20AC;Ś

The Persian Terrace

signature beds with a built-in, leather, wood and glass headboard, Internet access, a boggling teleadapt panel that offers multiple plug and play facilities, a vanity unit, a storage closet, a flat-screen TV, fourfeature bathrooms including a bath tub and a rainforest shower and more. A tastefully designed Sheraton Club Lounge overlooks the sweeping man-made lake and offers select guests everything from breakfast to beverages and hors d'oeuvres.

Dine and unwind The lobby is a multi-purpose space with a lounge; Feast, a 24-hour restaurant

Right from the time, you enter the hotel through the revolving doors, something tangible and palpable grabs you and stuns you with its scale, its splendour and its drama.

(offering Indian, South-East Asian and Western cuisine), and spread over multiple floors are the hospitality spaces, a fitness centre, the Angsana Spa and four restaurants. There is Bene, offering Italian cuisine with a pizza bar facing a woodburning oven. And the absolutely breathtaking Persian Terrace with intimate nooks lit with warm-hearted lanterns overlooking the infinity pool and redolent with middle-eastern flavours. And the Pool Bar where a cool dip and a cocktail go swimmingly well together. There is the exquisite Durbar with opulent textures and jewel colours that ironically go well with the cool lounge music and the stirred Martinis.

For the Business Traveller Sprawled over a huge area, The Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Bangalore Gateway has over 1950 square metres of the property just devoted to what they call, "meeting and celebrating." There are 19 business rooms, exhibition, conference and banquet facilities. There is also a breathtakingly large grand ballroom with a drop dead gorgeous constellation of Belgian chandeliers where over 800 guests can feel at home. The pre-function area is equipped with a convenient powder and vanity room for guests. Divided by just a skywalk from the World Trade Centre, this hotel has already achieved location nirvana but it is the careful tailoring of the spaces for their business traveller as well as for the respite seeker that defines the business sense of The warm interiors of Bene the hotel.

Stay

Chandigarh's First Green Hotel:

Fern

The Residency By Gagneet Singh

The Fern Residency, Chandigarh, is known to be one of the most attractive properties located on National Highway 21, at a close proximity to the airport and the railway station. This environment-friendly and modern property is managed by Concept Hospitality.

Accommodation The Fern Residency offers 34 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites. Each room is well equipped with Internet access, a mini bar, safety vaults and writing desk with a recyclable stationery. There is a special handicap friendly guest room and a non-smoking floor.

The Fern Residency, Chandigarh

A well appointed room at The Fern Residency

Wine and Dine The Fern Residency has it all- a multi cuisine restaurant, a bar and a terrace coffee shop. The 55-cover multi-cuisine restaurant Hot Flavours is located on the third floor offering world-class cuisine. On the second floor is the bar that faces the Sky Light CafĂŠ. Meetings and Conferences The banquet and a conference hall is equipped with all modern facilities and audio visual aid for conferencing and arranging social gatherings for around 125 and 30 persons respectively. This aesthetically designed banquet hall known as Consetti 365 is sufficient for every kind of social gathering. The conference hall, which is spread over 560 square feet area, entails all the modern amenities and technologies. This is the best place for your business related gatherings and discussions.

Stay a housekeeper you have to be a “Jack of all trades,” you need to have the best of the managerial mind as well as the courtesy and manners of the most perfect host. Poonam continued, “Hilton presently has 70 housekeepers, we work all through the day till 11p.m.” The Assistant Hotel Manager, Apoorv Gaur, interjected, “Housekeeping is the heart of the house, without it there is nothing.” The guests are all different with different needs, but the rooms are all same, and this is the reason behind housekeeping being a challenging task. Poonam told me, “Every guest at Hilton is unique and we understand this. The first thing we do when we enter a room is observe what the guest is using more, is it the pair of slippers, shampoo or the writing pad and pen? The housekeeper then makes sure that an extra number of the guest's most utilised item is kept in abundance in the room.” For Poonam and her fellow housekeepers at Hilton it's the challenge of the job that keeps them driven.

Poonam Pathania, Assistant Executive, Housekeeping, Hilton, Janakpuri

Housekeeping: The Inside Story Courtesy: Hilton, Janakpuri, New Delhi

he white sheets on that perfectly made bed, the side table on which my earrings have been arranged over a pristine napkin, like they were on display in a showroom; everything looked picture perfect. My flip-flops were arranged on a white mat that wasn't there when I left the room. It was like living in a dream world. Everything perfects itself every time I leave the room to return to an untouched abode; such is the magic of housekeeping. Like me, I am sure many other guests must have wondered about the faceless elves that make our stay comfortable but then I wasn't at Hogwarts, it was Hilton, Janakpuri, New Delhi. It wasn't magic but pure hard work of the housekeeping team. And there weren't any elves either, just

Housekeeping is the heart of the house, without it there is nothing. people like us who sweat to make our stay the best that it can be. As far as I am concerned housekeeping is the prime thing that drives the hospitality industry. It's not just the backbone of it, it is the most important bone that could be there. The urge to meet these wizards of hospitality took over me and I dialed the hotel reception. They courteously fixed me a meeting with their Assistant Executive of Housekeeping who turned out to be a lovely lady named Poonam Pathania. Poonam started by telling me that to be

Clean linen is just not enough, it should look brand new. I couldn't help but ask about the cranky and demanding guests and how they deal with them. Poonam was prompt in answering that it's the tact and patience that comes in handy in tricky situations. “Some guests are really particular about their sheets being the whitest of whites. We have to provide the best-laundered linen and keep up to the expectations of the guest in any case. Clean linen is just not enough, it should look brand new. Sometimes, it becomes hard as the laundry is outsourced.” A poorv recalled some guest stories on my behest. He told me that there have been guests who have demanded things at 3 a.m, which were not available at the hotel, to the guests who get irked by a single towel thread on the floor of the bathtub. “But we take every situation in our stride. Every challenge is accepted with a smile, that's what H i l t o n’ s h o s p i t a l i t y s t a n d s for—providing you the best, always,” he says, on an ending note. -By Sameen Husain

Eat

Sky Dining Jaw dropping view and lip smacking food â&#x20AC;&#x201D; finding the perfect rooftop diner is a difficult task. TLF brings some of the best from around the country. By Gagneet Singh

Kylin, Delhi Located in the Ambience Mall in Vasant Kunj, Delhi's Kylin Premier is the perfect spot for a dreamy date under the stars. One of the most beautiful rooftop restaurants in the capital, the place offers sensational sushi! With a tiny garden, cane sofas, white cushions and flowly curtains the Sky Bar at Kylin has a magical ambiance. With the onset of cooler days, the Sunday brunch becomes a must-try!

Chingari, Le Meridien, Pune Located on the 10th floor, on a landscaped evening terrace set adjacent to a swimming pool and waterfalls, Chingari provides an open kitchen and an ethnic charm of a rooftop location. The place offers an

Sky Bar Kylin Premier

Skyye Bangalore

35 Also keeping in mind the unseasonal rains, some space has been enclosed in glass. To add to the charm of the decks, glass flooring with changing ambient LED lighting has been used. Saturday nights are jam-packed. Do carry a windcheater in the cooler months!

Best Western Maryland, Chandigarh

Chingari Pune

informal, yet elegant setting with North Indian cuisine (with an Awadhi touch)serving popular kebabs and a variety of breads and meats. Weekdays are packed with corporates (larger tables in excess of six people and up to 20) as well as families, besides clientele from other hotels.

with a seating capacity of 500 people. The decor draws inspiration from the brilliant weather of Bangalore. When the makers initially saw this place as an open space, they knew instantly that most of it had to be kept openroofed with raised decks so everyone got the view of the enchanting city.

The Blue Horizon is a bar located at the sixth floor of the Best Western Maryland and is a perfect place for any evening with the finest of cocktails and mocktails. Alongside is Sun N Breeze, which is an open-air terrace for romantic dinners. This roof top openair restaurant with water fountains gives a panoramic view of the city and is considered to be one of the best dining venues in town with a seating capacity of 80 persons. This place is especially known for winter lunches.

Koyla, Mumbai Koyla in Mumbai serves one of the

Chingari has two areas with covered roofs for bad weather, apart from the open areas. Other than the view, the other most interesting feature of this rooftop restaurant is the ambiance—a landscaped area with palm trees, copper water goblets, show kitchen, rustic wooden furniture and a wooden roof. The cool evening breeze lightens the mood with instrumental Indian music playing in the background. A cascading waterfall with moving spot lights livens up the night.

Skyye, UB City, Bangalore Skyye is located on the 16th floor of Canberra Block in UB City, Bangalore and has a seating capacity of 250 people. The property also has a lounge Koyla Mumbai

finest and most elaborate northwest frontier meals while gently transporting you to ancient times. Located on the 4th floor, the décor of Koyla is inspired from a village look and feel—rustic yet royal. Aiming at relaxing its guests, the place has shamiana-style low seating with malmal curtains and hut-like canopies with cane chairs. Pebbled walk ways, sleeper wood tables, lanterns, bamboo wood walls and candles, all conspire to create that environment that immediately takes one to the days of yore.

Bestwetsern Chandigarh

Be it any city in India, dining in any rooftop restaurant is surely an experience in itself—totally unforgettable!

Eat

Meet the TLF catches up with Chef Hiromi of Shangri La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi and finds out what's cooking in his kitchen… What is the most essential item in your kitchen? The most essential items in the kitchen are the fresh raw materials—the ingredients that make the dish. What is the most fun moment in the kitchen? The most gratifying moment in the kitchen is when we receive good guest comments and all the chefs are in high spirits. Where did you learn the art of cooking? I started learning how to cook in Japan at a cooking school. What do you cook at home that you never cook at the restaurant? I generally don't cook at home. How do you like India? In India everyday is full of surprises. I learn new things daily. What are your interests other than cooking? I love travelling and photography. Which is the most visually appealing dish in your menu? Sashimi salad. In your restaurant, who would be your ideal guest/ diner? All guests are very special to me and I believe in giving them the best culinary experience. What is your favourite kitchen tool? My favourite kitchen tool is the Japanese knife. What is your favourite food/dish? I love Japanese street food — especially from my hometown Osaka. Which drink compliments Japanese cuisine the best? Sake goes well with Japanese cuisine. What is your comfort food? Anything prepared by my mother is very special to me. What will you cook for a special romantic date and why? That's a secret! (smiles) Your experience at Shangri-La has been… It has been very enriching and a great learning experience. Which celebrity would you personally like to cook for and why? I would like to cook for Katrina Kaif. Indian foodie to you is… Someone who likes spicy food with a lot of innovation. What's a must try dish at your restaurant? Foie Gras SaikyoYaki (marinated Foie Gras Saikyo style with balsamic reduction) As told to Sameen Husain

Eat

A Gastronomical Orgy L

ocated on the island of Koh Kood, on the southeast coast of Thailand facing the Gulf of Siam, Soneva Kiri is truly beyond stars, a boutique luxury resort that believes in offering luxuries of the highest international standards together with sensitivity and a local feel in design, architecture and service. This ideal location has been described as “remote but accessible”, and remote is certainly the case with Soneva Kiri. The very friendly and obliging staff caters to your every whim. With so many wining and dining options you are certainly spoilt for choice.

WELCOME ABOARD

Swimming pool at the villa

The vacation adventure began with a 60minute plane ride to the resort. We were welcomed by our man Friday who was on hand throughout our stay. We were then escorted on the five-minute Aqua sense powerboat crossing from the airfield. Once we stepped ashore a short electric buggy ride took us to our villa, which was an evidence to environmental responsiveness and intelligent luxury. The buggy was a private discovery vehicle during our stay. The resort itself conjures up images of how the Swiss Family - The Robinsons might be

Food becomes pleasure at the Soneva Kiri, Six Senses Resort, Kood. By Rupali Dean

living after many generations, had they found themselves settled on a large gold deposit. It's all wood and bamboo, which boasts of absolute luxury and comfort at all levels.

TREE TOP DINING I have never seen such an innovative food loft in which the dining is 16 feet, or around five meters, off terra firma. The dining pod is engineered with a rigid frame swathed in woven rattan, like a cocoon with an open panorama window. First we boarded the pod, and then were elevated to the lofty height by a system of safety winches. Food courses arrived, courtesy a flying waiter harnessed to a zip line, as did our wines.

SUBTERRANEAN WINE CELLAR The subterranean wine cellar is absolutely stunning, with over five hundred labels displayed in the climate-controlled cave. It features an upper level from which the grotto-like setting can be enjoyed whilst sipping on selected vintages. The evening was an interactive discussion of three bottles by a master sommelier along with selected canapés to match the wines. It is

A true destination for fine food and wine lovers, the menu is very innovative, reflecting a wonderful Thai cuisine whilst offering some interesting contrasts for the palate the table by the chef.

THE YIN & YANG OF BARS

Castaway at Koh Kood- Benz Thai Restaurant

The setting is dramatic, as befits the experience. From the rocky cliff top, the view is across water towards an uninhabited island, looking over the rain forest to the sea beyond. The brown and white bars are in perfect harmony to blend cocktails of choice and creative concoctions, in fact any refreshment imaginable. As the sun set, it became idyllic for champagne or cocktails and I think there can be no better spot for pre and post-dinner drinks. We munched on some satay and Lebanese mezze along with our drinks and took in the sea-viewâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it was

Khun Benz shopping for her restaurant

Food courses arrived courtesy of a flying waiter harnessed to a zip line, as did our wines. TRAVEL PLANNER Best way to reach- Fly Cathay Pacific till Bangkok and then hop on to a 60-minute flight to Kood Island on Soneva's plane. Visa and Currency- Indians are given a Visa on arrival. It is best to carry US Dollars and change at any of the shopping malls. Do not carry Indian currency. Best time to visit- It is an all year destination. Clothes to carry- Casuals, sandals, Tshirts and cotton are most suitable. Dialect- Thai is the predominant language, while English is widely spoken. The resort staff also speaks German, French, Italian and Japanese.

Tree Pod Dining

all the more enjoyable for the diversity of interests that gather around the tasting table (as this session happens only if minimum six guests have confirmed bookings). It is also a great idea to be just one of the eight guests to dine at Down to Earth. A splendid meal is prepared right at

awe-inspiring.

DINNER AT BENZ RESTAURANT A true destination for fine food and wine lovers, the menu is very innovative,

Best way to move around- The most efficient way to move around is by a taxi. Price wise- By no means cheap but utterly sensational. Must do's- Snorkeling, scuba diving, enjoy a few spa treatments, fishing, visit Koh Kood and drink loads of wine.

Eat

The beach

reflecting a wonderful Thai cuisine whilst offering some interesting contrasts for the palate. The décor reflects a rich yet contemporary Asian heritage. Also notable is the classic wooden Thai structure stilted amongst the mangroves fringing Klong Yai Kee. I noticed that every effort is made to find ingredients of the highest quality and have them delivered to the island as pure and fresh as they might have been served at their place of origin. All the seafood comes from the local fishermen or is island grown, such as the scallops. I guess they benefit from the abundance of fresh fish available in Thailand. Thumbs Up to the accomplished Thai chef Khun Benz!

Wine cellar

CINEMA PARADISO As we lay back in an auditorium of personal loungers under the starbejewelled canopy we thoroughly enjoyed our champagne, while viewing a show of one of the silver screen's classics. This cinema is also famed as Mother Nature's amphitheatre. We watched the Revenge of the Pink Panther and bugging back to the villa under moonlight was an experience beyond compare.

PICNIC AT THE BEACH We spent our last day on the beach on our private space, relaxing in the shade of a palm tree. The turquoise-coloured waters were all ours to enjoy swimming and snorkelling. We also feasted upon a delicious picnic lunch including loads of wine. We'd simply put it this way—sun, sea, food and wine—the perfect ingredients for a romantic getaway. FAST FACTS Soneva Kiri by Six senses Cinema-Paradiso

110 Moo 4, Koh Kood Sub-District, Koh Kood District, Trat 23000, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 3961 9800, Fax: +66 (0) 3961 9808 E-mail: reservations-kiri@sixsenses.com

Leisure + Living

The Urban Circus By Esha Narayanan

Have you ever imagined the world to be a huge stage, where each place is a character — performing, entertaining, with its people, culture, spaces and spirit? TLF brings you a very special feature, which celebrates three cities that might have been the ace performers of this circus—the high on energy and spirit, Tokyo, the hub of entertainment and glitz, Vegas and the potpourri of tantalizing flavours, Seville.

The pulsating city lights of Tokyo!

LARGER THAN LIFE TOKYO With Japan, what comes to mind instantly are the cherry blossoms, imperial palaces, beautiful geishas and the acclaimed cuisine. In this issue TLF brings to light the dominant culture of modern Tokyo, which is surreal. The streets are cluttered with gaming arcades where Japanese fingers are in perfect coordination

with their eyes and mind. The crowd is obsessed with karaoke bars, spending way too much to belt their heart out. The cosplayers on the streets of the most dramatic markets in the world— Takeshita, put to life the world of spectacular Japanese animation by dressing up like characters straight out of them. One begins to question reality. Do the people of Japan always live in a dream? Is this why they are so spectacular?

The Crazy Bazaars The crowd-steering shopping districts of Tokyo are a must visit. These bazaars will not only provide great souvenirs but are so visually stimulating that they are full-fledged entertainment in themselves.

Japanese teenagers in larger than life costumes at Takeshita Street

CANDY/Sister, Shibuya-ku CANDY greets customers with overwhelming, sartorially artistic pieces by uber-underground designers like Junya Suzuki and Balmung that would ping Lady Gaga's radar. Upstairs is its offshoot store Sister that is a little bit more feminine—that is if you consider surrealist banana and mesh headpieces girly. It is in a secluded alley and is difficult to find but what fun is an easy address in a trip anyway? CANDY/Sister: Udagawa-cho 18-4, Shibuya-ku, Tel: 03 5456 9891, candynippon.com, 12-10 pm

Takeshita Dori Takeshita Dori is located directly across the Takeshita Exit (not the main exit) of JR Harajuku Station. The 400meter-long walking street is a must-see for visitors keen to sample some of the styles worn by Japanese youth such as school girl skirts, calf length socks, graphic tee shirts, goth embellished pieces, colourful wigs, goth accessories along with the most stunning and dramatic boots. The girls here are walking talking mannequins, in their unbelievably astonishing costumes. Known as the cosplay girls, they display their creative get up inspired by animated characters with much pride. Keep your camera ready because one of these cosplay girls are sure to win your heart. They are very friendly and love clicking pictures with tourists.

Takeshita Dori also has cafés, fast food outlets, a Hello Kitty ice cream stand and a three-store ¥100 shop (Daiso, Japan's version of the Dollar Store).

DOG, Harajuku With a hodgepodge of hipster vintage picked up in the United States and pieces reworked with industrial twists like breast plates and screws, this store is easily accessible and affordable. In a dilapidated structure, the store draws crowds with its one-of-a-kind display and avante garde vibe perfect for

Leisure + Living stores are so fantasy-like but also for its shopping potential. The better-known stores are Nincompoor, Garter, Ilil, Sat/sun and Dog. It has no system, though sometimes the stores open only during weekends and sometime during weekdays 3 p.m. onwards. The Kita Kore nights are very popular in Japanese nightclubs where people dress up in a far more insane fashion than Lady Gaga—all from the stores of Kita Kore. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Sing along Karaoke Bars

cosplayers and daring tourists. We say grab some pieces and get into the mood. DOG: Jingumae 3-23-3 B1, shibuyaku, tel: 03 3746 8110

Kita-Kore Building, koenji

That the Japanese are obsessed with karaoke bars is not a secret—it is more evident when you walk along the alleys and streets in Tokyo. From expensive to low budget, there is no shortage of these hubs of joyous singing. TLF discovers some unique karaoke bars along with the usual in Tokyo that must be visited for a unique travel experience. BigEcho: This karaoke chain has branches all over the city and is affordable, so a trip to this place is recommended if by the end of the trip you are left with only a few yens to spare! The hourly rates are cheap and the closing time is late. The one go-to outlet is in Roppongi, where the rooms are spread out over three floors.

lighting ring, making an audience of your customers and introducing an air of fellowship that is as infectious as the songs themselves. The bar has coplay clad waitresses to add to the experience. Its shelves heavy with manga volumes and figurines, Fancy Cat is the ultimate otaku hotspot. Kashiwa Sakae Dai IchiBldg 2F, 1-22-9 Honmachi, Kichijoji; +81 (0) 4 2222 7163; open Mon-Sat 8 p.m.-5 a.m. ¥2,100 /hour (men), ¥1,575/hour (women), including two drinks. Mancy's Tokyo: The two floors define luxury and entertainment. While a swanky café named Azubo-Juban serves high-grade fusion fare, the second floor is twinkling with a plush karaoke lounge. All karaoke rooms resemble the lounge of a top-notch hotel with karaoke screens fitted into the wall screens. Hourly room rates start at ¥4,000 for the snug room numbers 2006 (curved high-back leather sofa and funky wallpaper) or 2007 (low-slung couch and mahogany walls), and go up to ¥20,000 for the 20-capacity room number 1001 (equipped with dual screens and several coffee tables). 1-3-9 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku;+81 (0) 3 5574 7007; open 11:30-5 a.m.

7-14-12 Roppongi, Minato-ku; +81 (0) 3 5770 7700; usually ¥500-600 an hour per room; Lovenet: Each karaoke room at the plush Lovenet in Roppongi carries a different theme but it's the Aqua Suite that stands out the most, featuring as its centerpiece an oversized bathtub for up to six singers to share. While they won't all fit into the tub at once, the Aqua Suite accommodates a total of 14 people. The decent food menu includes everything from a cheese plate to a steak and the cocktail list is just as comprehensive. The whole venue feels classy yet affordable.

The store room-sized spaces in this dilapidated building are a wonderland for out of the box lovers. The narrow staircases, low roofs, parts of the apocalyptic building juxtaposed with reworked costume pieces of 1990's is a striking contrast that one can ogle at for hours. It's a fabulous new place for your itinerary, not just because the

Lovenet's 24 other rooms include-the Ibiza Suite, which resembles a highrolling casino minus the gambling, the intimate two-person Morocco Suite, with roughly plastered archways and a padded floor for reclining and the Heaven Suite. Hotel Ibis 3F-4F, 7-14-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku; +81 (0) 3 5771 5511; open 6 p.m.-5 a.m. ¥4,000-60,000/hour per room Fancy Cat: Rather than offering private booths, Fancy Cat has a stage with a

Gaming Arcades: Teenagers, couples, students, even married men can't resist the temptation of visiting a gaming arcade. Professionals and motivated amateurs have their fingers stuck to the gaming appurtenances and eyes glued to the screens. This obsessive behavior is a treat to watch. Here's a list of the best arcades that one must visit during a Tokyo dream trip:

45 Taito HEY This gaming parlour in Akihabara has the city's best collection of shooter games, locally known as 'shoot em ups' or 'shmups'. It also offers all major game console types including fighting and crane types. Teenagers who pick up new fancies, often crowd around cranes to add a whacky, creepy figurine to their enormous collection. Taito HEY, 1-10-5 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, tel. 03 5209 2030, 10am12am. Shibuya Kaikan Monaco This is a serious old school gaming arcade with a dingy narrow yellowed stairway leading to gaming zones — you'll feel like a double agent ascending the staircase hunting for an obsessive gaming maniac! Inside several unkempt gamers will catch your attention, mechanically operating poorly groomed joysticks — for these kids the outside world does not exist. This arcade has a permanent space for 80's arcade games collection. So you can have a peek at what people in the 80s played. Old school and very cool, worth a visit! Shibuya Kaikan Monaco; 23-10 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, tel. 03 3461 9171, 10am-12am.

Intercontinental Clubs 2007-2008', in which players use trading cards of real soccer stars to build ideal teams. Club Sega, 1-10-9 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, tel. 03 5256 8123, 10am1am.

IT'S SHOWTIME!

LAS VEGAS The illusion, the dream, the surreal world of virtuosity and colours — The circus continues in this urban entertainment capital of the world. TLF brings to light the best shows at Vegas.

Club Sega Hard core dedicated professionals visit this arcade that has multiple rows of Virtua Fighter and Tekken cabinets and increasingly popular card based systems. Many game companies test unreleased games at Club Sega, so lucky visitors can sometimes sample new titles before the masses. The fifth floor, for example, was the debut spot for the card-hybrid soccer game 'WCCF

A view of the aquatic theatre inside The Bellagio

“O” at the Bellagio Hotel Cirque du Soleil weaves an aquatic tapestry of artistry, surrealism and theatrical romance in the timeless production, "O". Inspired by the

concept of infinity and the elegance of water's pure form, "O" pays tribute to the beauty of the theatre—from the simplest street performance to the most lavish of operas—where anything is possible and where the

Leisure + Living

drama of life plays itself out before our e y e s . Wo r l d - c l a s s a c r o b a t s , synchronised swimmers, divers and characters perform in, on, and above water to create a breathtaking experience. Never before would you have witnessed such a one of a kind performance in water in any theater. Tickets: `5500-` 8500 (approx.)

The Beatles "Love" at The Mirage The Beatles “Love”

Plenty of Las Vegas shows can entertain you but this one will move you. Excellent sound system, happy smiling faces of the performers, artistic story telling, lots of energy and colours—this show is dedicated to the history of the Beatles from their struggling Liverpool days to their 100 plus amazing songs. If you are a fan of music and particularly a fan of the Beatles then this is a must watch. The poetry of the lyrics is incorporated in the performances. The soundtracks have been mixed cleverly for an interesting dance and acrobatics performance using amazing props. Yes, The Beatles Vintage Beauty is one of them.

'The Blue Man Theatre' at the Venetian

Tickets: ` 4500- ` 10,000 (approx.)

Tickets: ` 4000-INR 9700 (approx.)

Intelligent, engaging and tremendous fun using experimental music, multimedia and comedy—you leave the theater with a heightened awareness of everything surrounding you. This show is for the entire family and is undoubtedly a must watch. The three blue men will leave you with an irresistible urge to continuously tap your feet and uplift your mood to astronomical heights, the goose bumps on your body will speak volumes about the experience. There are two shows every day of the week 7pm and 10pm.

The fantasy world of Mystère

Mystère at Treasure Island Hotel Mystère is classic Cirque du Soleil, combining the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that has become the company's hallmark. Deemed a theatrical "Flower in the desert," Mystère thrills generations of audiences with its exhilarating blend of whim, drama and the unimaginable brought to life on stage. Presented exclusively at Treasure Island, Mystère provides the ultimate discovery that

47 Absinthe at Caesars Palace Las Vegas In the incredibly beautiful and world-renowned Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is a new kid on the block called The Absinthe. The seating starts 5 feet from the main stage that is in the centre of all audience. Being so close to the performance area gives you an exclusive view of the awesome show. The acrobats look gazillion times more magnificent from up close and leave you with many breathless moments. A mix of decadence, imagination, carnival and old world burlesque brings you a night of amazing imagination.The show is equipped with a lot of adult humour, so be broad-minded just for those few hours. Tickets: ` 5000- ` 6400 (approx.)

THE GASTRONOMICAL OPERA:

SEVILLE

Seville’s breathtaking architecture, a result of the cultural Big Bang

life itself is a mystery. You are advised to come 30 minutes before the show for the exclusive pre-show entertainment, which gets you in the mood. It has an international cast of 72 performers featuring dancers, singers, musicians and champion-caliber acrobats. The dreamlike colours will baffle you. It is one of the most innovative and exciting shows to be seen anywhere. Tickets: ` 3800-` 6500 (approx.)

Juxtapose two significantly distinguished traditions — Narrow alleys like Aladdin's town, Muslim motifs on constructions with domes due to the influence of the Moors that came from North Africa leaving their art and culture behind and 17th-century colonial style ornate palaces and monuments, basilicas, bullrings and fountains. The vast image you are left with is of a cultural big bang. Add to it streets bedecked with tapas and flamenco bars, true to Spanish culture, along with people from all over the world to experience this urban flavour, constant noise of songs and the tapping of the dancers heels along the alleys and the curve of the roads—This is SevilleSpain's nocturnal wild child- full of food, wine and entertainment.

This architectural and cultural marvel is the place to be, to taste Spain's fiery nightlife and variety of food. All the things that you have heard about and thought false is an everyday reality here. Well, what do you expect from a place that has over 2000 bars? Unlike the rest of Europe, Spaniards, manage their time their way. Lunch not before 2pm and dinner not until 9:30pm, rest after lunch as their nights are long, the schedule is designed to enjoy the night life. The tapas and flamenco bars are flooded with locals from 11pm till 2am. Flamenco dancers perform in bars and are hard to miss as the noise of clapping and music is audible outside the bars. You can just walk from bar to bar and catch one of these shows if you are lucky.

Leisure + Living different tapas at different bars. Walk the pretty streets famous for communal gaiety, absorb Seville that basks in a reputation of being Spain's party town, talk and laugh with your new friends. Travelling is a once in a lifetime experience, so you must go with the local flow. While in Seville, go to bars frequented by locals. The tourist traps are a waste of money, leaving you with not much of a memory. Almost all the bars in Seville are frequented by the bull fighting community. The topic of their conversations is sports and television generally plays soccer. Before ordering tapas you could place an order of Banderilla (bite sized cocktail sticks named after barbed darts used during the bullfight) with your cocktails like most locals do.

A traditionally decorated Tapas Bar named Binconcillo

TAPAS HUNT

TAPAS: what to do

Tapas tasting is a diversified food experience that is an integral part of Spain's culture. They include a wide variety of appetisers and snacks, which can be hot (non vegetarian) and cold(different types of cheese) as well. The price of tapas varies depending on its ingredients, the complexity of its elaboration, the bar, and the city or region. Since it's a Mediterranean diet the main ingredients are common—olive oil, garlic, onion, all sorts of seafood and meat with special emphasis on ham and pork. Now that tapas have evolved into a more sophisticated dish you'll find almost every ingredient you can think of—from white truffle to foie. Seville tapas are most traditional in nature, sticking to old school dishes, and therefore better examples of Spanish cuisine and culture.

If you are in a bigger group you order racion(full plate) or media racion(half plate), which includes plenty of assorted tapas. You can stand at the barra(counter) and eat like most of the locals do while interacting with their friends and family. Seating needs to be pre booked in the popular bars as they get crowded fast. If you are a fan of open air dining then you can pay for your food and sit outside(terraza) but that'll be more euros than usual. It's a good deal as you can have a view of the rest of the bars and the nightlife in the picturesque city. What makes the lives of the locals more interesting is Tapearing, which means tapas bar hopping! So never do the mistake of getting impulsive and ordering way too much food at your very first bar in case you are interested in 'tapearing' like the locals. Try

Some of the tapas bars frequented by locals that TLF thinks you can visit to taste some of the best tapas served in Seville have been listed below :

Las Golondrinas II Pages del Corro, 76, 954-338-235

Champiñones

Best tapas: Champiñones (mushrooms with a garlic sauce), Puntita de solomillo (pork tenderlon), Aliños (marinated vegetables, depending on the day it can be carrots, raddishes, red peppers or artichokes)

Bodega Dos de Mayo Plaza de la Gavidia, 2, 954-908-647

Tapas spread consisting of many dishes

Jamon; berenjenas fritas con miel

49 La Flor de Toranzo (Casa Trifon) Jimios, 1 (at the corner of c/ Joaquin Guichot) 954-229-315

Jamon; berenjenas fritas con miel

Best tapas: Tortilla de camarones (fried baby schrimps), Berenjenasfritas con miel (eggplant battered and fried in olive oil, covered with a honey sauce), Jamoniberico de Bellota (the best jamon-ham in the world; no translation needed!).

NOTE: Vegetarians have very limited choice as everything on the tapas menu is non-veg—they will find these options useful: Berenjas con miel (fried eggplant with honey), Espinacas con garbanzos (stew of chickpeas and spinach) is anyway popular even outside Spain, Aliños (marinated vegetables, depending on the day it can be carrots, raddishes, red p e p p e r s o r a r t i c h o ke s ) , C o r n croquettes, cold tapas that includes a variety of cheese and bread. The following is a list of Tapas bars where in the bull-fighting culture is predominant in terms of bar conversation, the visitors and décor. It's a must visit on our list because it makes for awesome pictures, another angle of a very predominant bull fighting crazy culture of Spain will be covered and it'll give you the satisfaction of absorbing something totally new.

Bar las Teresas A tapas spread comprising of all types of tapas delicacies

Tortilla de camarones

La Azotea Jesus del Gran Poder, 33-35, 955-116-748

Calle Santa Teresa 2, Santa Cruz

Best tapas: Mollete de lomo con manzana (typical Andalusian bread filled with pork roast and sliced apple), Bloc de foiegras (toast with a slice of foiegras), Emparedado de anchoas con lechecondensada (thin sandwich of anchovies and condensed milk sounds weird but it's delicious).

Bodeguita Antonio Romero I c/Antonia Diez, 19, 954-223-939 Best tapas: Piripi (pork tenderloin, bacon, tomato, cheese and mayonnaise on hot bun), Anchovies, mantecaito (beef sirloin with ham and onions).

Taberna Soly Sombra Castilla, 149-151, 954-333-935

Saquitos brick con queso, Puerro y langostinos

Best tapas: Ensaladilla de ahumados (smoked salad), Saquitos brick con queso, Puerro y langostinos (fried pastry filled with cheese, leeks and prawns) and Solomillo a la mostaza de piñones y albahaca (pork tenderloin with mustard, basil sauce and pinenuts).

Best tapas: Cazuela de solomillo, langostinos y jamon (pork tenderloin with prawns and ham), Rabo de toro (oxtail stew), Revueltotagarninas con jamon (scrambled eggs with mushrooms and ham)

Bar las Teresas

It's like a lion's den, sissies stay far else you'll feel terribly out of place. The bar's walls are covered with bullfighting memorabilia and it is perfect for a cold beer. The signature style upside down hanging pork legs' of Seville adds to the rugged, informal, carless appeal that maximum locals prefer while they have a good light hearted time with friends.

Bar Pepe-Hillo Calle Adriano 24, El Arenal Named after the famous bullfighter born in the city in 1754, this place near the bullring offers no-nonsense tapas in an easygoing atmosphere. If the bull

Leisure + Living La Bulla Calle Dos de Mayo 26, El Arenal

fighting memorabilia wasn't enough then these bull heads on the bar walls will satisfy your manly instincts.

Casa Tomate Calle Mateus Gago 24, Santa Cruz

This recently opened bar has already made a name for itself with its eclectic range of traditional and nouvelle cuisine tapas. It's close to the opera house and the bull ring.

Kiosko de las Flores CalleBetis, Triana The outside seating(terrace) faces the Guadalquivir River. The view expands from the river to the many bars that surround it, making it a good spot to observe Seville's vibrant nightlife. This bar is especially for its fried fish.

Bodega Morales Calle GarcĂa de Vinuesa 11, El Arenal

This is one of the many bars on the street that winds from the cathedral through Seville's historic Santa Cruz district. Grab a seat outside with a jug of ice-cold sangria, a very popular drink of Spain. The number of wine bottles on display in the wooden shelves that cover all the walls of the bar will get you drunk instantly.

A dark wooden bar and huge oak barrels of wine and bottles on display in the window contribute to the atmosphere in this popular traditional bodega. A Moorish influence will be distinctly visible in the dĂŠcor style.

Leisure + Living

50 Fun Ideas:

PARIS A citywise guide to make your trip worthwhile

EAT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Baguette – a long thin white stick of bread, typical to France. Boeuf Bourguignon – beef Burgundy. Boudin Blanc – smoked sausage with a delicate taste. Coq au Vin – rooster cooked with wine. Crème Brûlée – classic French dessert. Crème de Carottes – carrot soup. Crêpes Normandes – Normandy crepes. Croissant – buttery flaky pastry. Éclair – a long cream-filled pastry. Foie gras – French delicacy made of the liver of a duck or goose. Fromage – cheese. There are about 250 types of cheese in France. Some of the best: Camembert – a soft, creamy cheese, originating from Normandy; Brie de Meaux cheese and Roquefort – blue cheese. Huître – oysters, French cuisine is unimaginable without these. Macaron – colourful meringue-based confectionery. Madeleine – traditional French small sponge cakes. Mousse au Chocolat – French chocolate mousse. Quiches aux Légumes – vegetable quiche. Oeufs Brouilléssur Mousseline de PetitsPois –Omelette with green peas puree. Pamplemousse en Soufflé – grapefruit soufflé. Ratatouille – a stew. Traditional meal from Provence made of stewed vegetables, originating from Nice. Salade de Lotte aux Pamplemousse – monkfish salad with grapefruit. Soupeal'Oignon – French onion soup. Tajined'Agneau – grilled lamb. Truffe / Champignon – truffles, French mushrooms, delicacy. Vin – wine. France is the world's largest wine producer. Most famous wine regions: Bordeaux, Beaujolais and Bourgogne. Vin de Champagne – champagne, French sparkling wine.

SHOP 26. Colette – cult concept design shop in Paris, 213 Rue Saint Honor. 75001, Paris. Metro: Palais des Tuileries. 27. Yukiko Paris – vintage boutique selling French designer clothing (Chanel, Lanvin) 97 Rue Vieille-du-Temple 75003, Paris. Metro: Filles-du-Calvaire. 28. Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Gardens, a classic French park. Metro: Od.on. Stalls loaded with seafood in the streets of Montmartre and other Paris districts in the mornings. 29. Kooples – new and incredibly interesting French brand, inspired by street fashion, making stylish couples fashion ads. (www.thekooples.com). 30. La Défense– Paris skyscraper district. For modern architecture gourmets. 31. La Mer de Pianos – the oldest piano shop in Paris. 85 Rue Pascal 75013, Paris. Metro: Glacičre.

32. Lafayette Gourmet – luxurious gourmet food market under the roof. 40 Boulevard Haussmann 75009, Paris. Metro: Chauss.ed'Antin. 33. Le Batofar – soul, funk and electronic music club on water. Port de la Gare 75013, Paris. Metro: BibliothequeFranēois Mitterrand. 34. Le marché aux fleurs – old French flee market. Place Louis L.pine 75004, Paris. Metro: Cité.

EXPLORE 35. Kong– an impressive bar and restaurant on the roof of the fashion house Kenzo with interiors created by cult French designer Philippe Starck. 1 Rue du Pont Neuf 75001, Paris. Metro: Pont Neuf. 36. Ladurée – legendary French pastry shop in the Elysian Fields. 75 Avenue des Champs Elys.es 75008, Paris. Metro: Georges V.

37. Le Café de Flore – probably the most famous typical French café. 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006, Paris. Metro: Saint Germain des Pres. 38. The Eiffel Tower — visit at night, as the 200,000-watt lighting system makes it a spectacular sight. 39. Place des Vosges — the oldest and most beautiful square in Paris— where Victor Hugo lived. 40. St.-Sulpice — one of Paris's many impressive churches has a Delacroix painting to the right as you walk in, plus the church figures heavily in The Da Vinci Code. 41. Le Louvre — it houses the famous Mona Lisa amongst 35000 priceless works. 42. Château of Versailles — stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. 43. Notre Dame de Paris — do see the Portal of the Virgin. 44. Montmartre and Pigalle—Montmartre in particular has been a favourite haunt of writers, painters and other creative types for centuries — do visit the EspaceDalí, which features 300 of his original works! 45. PalaisGarnier - Opera National de Paris, 8 rue Scribe, Place de l'Opera. 46. Sacre-Coeur — the basilica was built as a memorial to the 58,000 French soldiers killed during the Franco-Prussian War. 47. River Seine — what better way to see the City of Lights (La Villelumière), than by cruising down the Seine River as the sun is setting over the Eiffel Tower? 48. Musee d'Orsay — see art forms from the 1848-1914 period, including a superb impressionists section. The star artist here is Vincent Van Gogh. 49. Champs Elysees & Arc de Triomphe — this famous street, which extends from the Jardin de Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe is worth a walk. 50. Les Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb) — the must see attraction at Les Invalides is the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte who died in 1821. -Source: JURGITA, Visit Paris Online

Leisure + Living

More than a

Massage A visit to the spa always rejuvenates one and it's not just the massage that needs to be credited for this â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there are numerous factors that make this happen, numerous factors that can make or mar your experience. Jacqualine Tara Herron, Director, The Imperial Spa and Salon, tells us the nuances of spa development.

lanning a spa is a strategic journey that begins with understanding the impact that your chosen concept and philosophy will have on the immediate culture, location, and client expectation. In today's global spa consciousness we are now able to fuse many different cultural spa traditions to create environments and experiences that bridge cultural divides and bring the best spa services to our clients. Many spa guests are well travelled and educated in the benefits and etiquette of spas from all over the world and therefore, whatever concept you wish to create, should be done with as much authenticity and style that is possible. Whether it is a Thai spa in New York, or a Hawaiian spa in Japan, or an Ayurvedic spa in London, anything can work within reason if you get the vita elements right. Obviously, your location is going to dictate certain parameters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether you are on a mountain top or by the sea, in the city as a hotel spa or day spa, you will have certain elements to work

with that influence the whole experience. The actual size of your spa will also influence what luxury accessory facilities you can include into the experience. However, whatever the size or concept of your spa these are the key elements that bring in a sense of 'being in a spa' rather than a salon. The Spa Reception area needs to have a comfortable and welcoming feel where guests can sit down and review the menu peacefully. Making a decision about your spa treatment needs to have an element of' adventure' within it and therefore your menu should read in an enticing and inspirational way. The reception staff must also emit qualities of kindness, empathy and understanding with an in-depth knowledge of the menu and familiarity with different kinds of guests and what they may be looking for. It is essential for your reception staff to have received the treatments themselves so that they can relate to the guests in a realistic and experiential manner. This area is also

The spa at The Imperial, New Delhi

often utilised to fill consultations and to serve a welcome drink, so comfortable seating is required. Being able to sit in the spa reception comfortably pre and post treatments and talk freely with the reception staff is key to a successful spa. As retail products are also sold from this area, display and tester space is essential, which is another valuable stream to spa revenues and customer service satisfaction. Spa Linens, including your towels and robes for all areas speak volumes about your investment in quality and signature style. Choosing the 'right' linens for each area and use, from the showers and steam in the changing rooms, to treatment beds, facial and massage towels, is a decision that needs to be well thought out and budgeted carefully. Most large spas will have a three par stock level and purchase the quantity based on the

55 number of rooms and expected guests per day. Quality towels are essential, as they will be washed very frequently and need to hold their pile and colour as long as possible. Choosing a supplier that understands your usage and high performance requirements is vital to the success of the feel-good factor and visual appeal of your linens and adds enormous value to the overall guest experience from shower to massage bed, to salon. Likewise, choosing your massage beds is a very important decision. The comfort level is vital for your guests and staff alike, and adds immense pleasure to the quality of treatments given from all perspectives. A wellcrafted massage bed is a thing of beauty and craftsmanship and the best ones I have seen are from the United States. Do not compromise on this essential piece of equipment, or you may well regret it! The Product brands that you chose to partner with or create from scratch also play an important role in the successful running of operations. An established product house that is good to its word on commitment of regular training, timely delivery of orders and a supportive quality control is vital to a smooth running spa operation. In addition retail marketing collaterals and promotions also adds kudos and value to guests when samples and testers are available to increase the product awareness and retail sales. The brand identity and where it sits in the scheme of the spa experience, also shows your orientation and the quality of treatments you will be giving. Your products are an excellent cross marketing tool that can connect you with people from other cultures and also introduce your guests to something original and new that they have not tried before. The ambience of your spa is a place for the healing the senses, so the sounds and smells as guests move around are part of the fabric of the spa journey. Choosing music that is harmonious for the body and mind, as well as soothing to the spirit gives you many options from different genre and cultures. Your music may reflect your concept, such as if you are in India you may choose India ragas and chants and equally if you have an Ayurvedic Spa in London you can choose the same. Music can be programmed through different channels so that during treatments guests have a choice. Some people just prefer absolute quiet, so

Spa etiquettes for the staff 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

12.

Being well groomed, clean and smelling fresh. Nails cut, no polish, minimal make-up and smiling. Towel management to preserve guests modesty. Reviewing a consultation with delicacy and respect. Moving around the treatment room consciously and quietly. Breathing softly. Walking quietly. Closing doors softly. Speaking gently and with compassion and kindness. Washing hands before and after treatments. Checking that the guest is happy during and at the end of the treatment. Offering water and refreshments.

Music can be programmed through different channels so that during treatments guests have a choice.

Jacqualine Tara Herron, Director, The Imperial Spa and Salon

this should be respected. Choice is a luxury, and in common areas keeping volume to a minimum is always the best way. Equally so, the aroma of a spa lingers in the memory for a long time and will attract guests back time and again. Choose an aroma that has origins of purity and simplicity that does not overpower or intrude on peoplesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; senses, but allows them to breathe deeply and smile. The brain is intrinsically influenced by our sense of smell and our aim is always to calm,

uplift and relax our guests on every level. The final element for fulfilling the spa experience is a place to relax â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a dedicated Relaxation Room where guests can just plop down after a treatment in their robe, be served tea or whatever, read, snooze or just space out and be left in peace.

Leisure + Living

The Banyan Tree Spa Mayakoba Bedroom Spa Pool Villa Sunken Po

By Nikita Chopra

Nestled in the heart of Singapore this spa assures a holistic wellness experience

walk, aroma steam chamber, herbal sauna, Rasul, ice fountain, experience showers and vitality pool.

If you desire to enjoy a blend of Asian therapies, exotic massages and body treatments, the Banyan Tree Spa is where you should be heading.

Yoga and Spa A number of programs are offered to deeply relax the body, mind and soul. The stretching and breathing techniques of yoga combined with the practiced strokes of massage to induce a sense of balance and calm. An alternate therapy such as aromatherapy is yet another specialty wherein the use of essential oils helps to promote skin renewal and awaken the senses.

A sanctuary for the senses A haven for physical, mental and spiritual renewal, the spa focuses on a non-clinical and holistic approach based on traditional Asian healing therapies, apart from a strong emphasis on a 'high-touch, low-tech' approach that celebrates the human touch and the use of natural herbs and spices.

The Rainforest concept The Rainforest features eight different hydrothermal therapy experiences for guests to embark on a trail of wellness treats including rain

Mayakoba Spa Pool Villa

Meet

That's So

Shergill The Mohabbatein heartthrob has been in the industry for more than a decade now. We have seen him in many avatars, playing diverse roles in Haasil to Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster. TLF gets up, close and personal with Jimmy Shergill, who has managed to make his audience as well as critics happyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;time and again.

Sun Sign- Sagittarius Birthday- December 03, 1970 Hometown- Born in Gorakhpur in U.P. and moved on to Patiala. School/college- St. Francis' College Lucknow till class 8th, 9th to 12th at Punjab Pu b l i c S c h o o l , N a b h a . Fi n i s h e d Graduation from Bikram College of Commerce, Patiala. Occupation- Actor, Director and Producer. First break- Machis High point of your life- Professionally, when Mohabbatein was released and personally when I got married to my sweetheart and

59 later when my son was born. Low point of your life- After Machis when I was kind of job less for two to three years, having said that, I still have some fond memories from that time. If you weren't into films what would you be? I would have been in the Armed Services. If you could invite five people for dinner—living or dead, who would they be? Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, my grandfather (as I never met him), Bulle Shah and Rabindranath Tagore. And Rupali Dean to cook for us. One thing about you that is generally unknown? I had developed a vitamin D3 deficiency owing to which my spine had got affected and the doctor had advised me to stop exercising. By the grace of God, my reports are now OK. One thing you can never eat? Chinese, if it has ajinomoto in it. Your most irrational fear? Needles! I hate hospitals; I get paranoid when I see blood. One adventure sport that you would like to do? Mountaineering! The one thing you love about Bollywood? Everything, as it has given me a lot. If you could choose any movie as your dream debut, what would it be? I would like to be a part of the Godfather

Most of my answers are clichéd and I really don't care. series. A stylish item you are dying to own? A Ferrari. What do you prefer—jeans and a tee or a formal suit? Jeans and a tee. Accessories you can't do without? My white belt, white shoes and white watch. Define your style? I love white and love wearing white shirts or tees with jeans. How many white T-shirts/shirts do you have? 40 to 50. The last time you had a bad hair day? I am currently growing my hair for a Punjabi film called Rangeeley to be released in September, so my hair is getting split ends. Delhi or Mumbai? I love Dilli ki sardi and otherwise Mumbai. If you could be the editor of a magazine, whom would you put on the cover?

Anything that is current and newsy. For example at this moment, I would like to put Rajesh Khannaji on the cover, as he was a legend. Favourite travel destination? In India, it has to be Goa and overseas in U.S.A, New York and San Francisco. Three things you would do if you could? I would ask God for 1. Everyone to live eternally. 2. Everyone to live happily. 3. Everyone to live healthy. Which character from Sholay do you most resemble and why? Dharam Uncle's, as it is a light - hearted one. How would you explain Twitter to your grandmother? Log on to it, as many times possible. The one place where you would never get yourself tattooed? I don't think I would ever get myself tattooed. Though, I never say never! One song that describes your current state of mind? Let it rain over me. What would we find in your fridge right now? All kinds of dairy products, fruits and eggs. My wife keeps the fridge well stocked with healthy food! The last thing you bought for under INR 10? Flowers in a temple. If you were an ice-cream, what flavour would you be? Strawberry or Chocolate. If a spaceship landed in your backyard, what would you do? I would be spaced out—this won't be possible, I know. The most clichéd answer you've ever given in an interview? Most of my answers are clichéd and I really don't care. Your comfort food? Since I have lived in a hostel, I enjoy simple home-cooked food. The one lie you got away with? When I cut my hair in school, I tied a turban to hide it. Though later, I declared the truth and my father was kind and said, “You are mature enough to decide for yourself.” What's the biggest surprise you've ever given your wife? I tried surprising her a couple of times, but it didn't work as she usually had whatever I bought for her. So now if something catches my fancy I just call her first and then buy it for her! Your favourite male co-star? Uday Chopra, I gel very well with him. Your favourite female co-star?

I hate hospitals; I get paranoid when I see blood. I get along with almost all my co-stars; Dia Mirza, Neha Dhupia and Kim are good friends. Who would you want to be with on an enchanted island alone? My lovely wife! The last line of your autobiography would read? Apologies if I hurt you knowingly or unknowingly. As told to Rupali Dean

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DIY : Perfect skin this season From dark circles to foot corns, pigmentation to sweat patches, there are so many beauty problems that we face daily. Our beauty expert Shahnaz Husain provides some useful home remedies. What kind of problems could the skin face with the transition from Monsoon to Autumn? Due to excessive perspiring during the hot and humid season, the skin may look tired and dull as we step into Autumn. There may be some leftover marks from eruptive conditions that are common during the Monsoons. The hair also loses its sheen and curly hair may get frizzy. Suggest some remedies for the same. There is nothing like a good scrub to remove dead skin cells and brighten the skin. Use a facial scrub twice a week. If you have an oily skin, you can use it more often. Take one teaspoon each of gram flour (besan) and lemon juice and mix with olive oil and powdered milk for normal and dry skin. Mix the gram flour and lemon juice with one-teaspoon rice flour and two teaspoons yogurt for oily skin. Apply on the face for 15- minutes and then dampen with water and rub gently on the skin. Then rinse off with water. Hair: Give your hair a conditioning treatment before each shampoo. Mix one teaspoon each of vinegar and glycerin with one egg. Beat the mixture well and massage into the scalp. Then wrap the hair in a hot

towel for twenty minutes, before washing. Your hair will have more body and look shiny and manageable. What's the best home remedy for pigmentation on the sides of the lips? The skin on your lips is very thin and delicate. However, after washing the face, when your lips are wet, you can rub them gently with a soft towel. This helps to remove dead skin. Add a few drops of lemon juice to cream of milk and apply on the dark areas. Leave it on for an hour. Apply pure almond oil daily at night and leave on overnight. You can also look for a lip balm with sunscreen. Is there a way to treat the appearance of cellulite? Massage is an important part of cellulite treatment along with skin brushingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;long stroking movements are used for stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The area with cellulite is squeezed and kneaded, ending with the stroking movements again. We at Shahnaz Husain Cosmetics have formulated an anti-cellulite oil,

containing essential oils of margosa (neem), winter cherry (ashwagandha) and sandalwood. This also has carrier oils of almond, olive and sesame seed, for treating cellulite. Skin brushing helps the elimination of toxins. The entire surface, excluding the face, is brushed, using a rough cloth, or a natural bristle brush, starting from the feet and going upwards, then from lower to upper arms, across the shoulders and back. What home remedies would you suggest for dark circles? Some of the reasons for dark circle formation around the eyes are hereditary factors, nutritional deficiencies, stress, inadequate sleep and sun-sensitivity. So, along with external care, one should check these aspects. As a daily home remedy, one can apply pure almond oil sparingly around the eyes and massage it lightly on the skin, using only the ring finger, for one minute under each eye. Massage in one direction only. Leave it on for 15- minutes and wipe off gently with moist cotton wool. You can also

Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply under the arms to avoid sweat patches.

mix cucumber and potato juice in equal quantities and apply under eyes daily for 20- minutes and wash off with water. What can one apply on peeling skin? Skin peeling occurs due to dryness of the outer layer of the skin. It can also be the result of sunburn. Aloe vera gel can be applied daily to soften the skin and rehydrate it. Aloe vera also soothes the skin. Cold milk can be applied on sunburnt skin to soothe it. Honey also helps to moisturise the skin. Add a little almond oil or egg yolk to honey and apply on the skin to soften and heal it. What's the best remedy to get rid of foot corns? Soaking the feet in hot water and rubbing the hard skin with a pumice stone can help small corns. However, if the corn is large or painful, it is better

to seek medical attention. Sometimes a round ring-shaped plaster is used on the corn to ease the pain and pressure. You should not try to cut the corn yourself. It is best to see a doctor about it. Shoes should not be too tight, as constant pressure over body areas can interfere with blood circulation. Those who walk a lot, or stand for long hours, need shoes with thick soles and low heels. The front should be wide enough to allow space for the toes. What is the home remedy to avoid sweat patches? Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply under the arms. You can also add lemon juice to this paste. Leave on for ten minutes and wash off with water. Or, mix a little baking soda with your talcum powder and apply under the arms. Is there a home remedy to boost the growth of hair?

Apply warm coconut oil on the hair and scalp. Using your fingertips, actually move the scalp in small rotary movements. Leave on overnight. How often can one apply henna on hair and what are the benefits? Henna may be applied once a week, or three times a month (once every ten days). One of the main benefits of henna is that it is a natural hair conditioner with protective and restorative powers. In other words, henna can be used to bring back health to damaged hair and restore the natural acid-alkaline balance to the scalp. Since it restores health to the scalp, it can contribute to promoting healthy hair growth. It is also a powerful natural cleanser and cleanses without disturbing the natural balances. It leaves the hair healthy, clean, shiny and easy to manage.

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Stretch marks, no problem! Are the stretch marks on your body a constant bother? Are you wondering about how to get rid of them and make your skin flawless and enticing? Fret not, because although one may not be able to completely erase them, the latest treatment options - from lasers to microneedling, peels and microdermabrasion, to creams and lotions, can help fade them away. By Dr. Varun Katyal

Bikini by Shrivanarresh

What are stretch marks? Stretch marks are fine lines on the body that occur from tissue under your skin tearing from rapid growth or overstretching. Stretch marks are found in the dermis, which is the middle layer of the skin. Most commonly, men and women have stretch marks on their thighs, abdomen, hips, breasts and upper arms. Once stretch marks appear, they are difficult to get rid of. Therefore it is definitely better to take appropriate steps to prevent them from occuring in the first place. Once the stretch marks pass the initial stage (when they are red, purple, pink, or brown, depending on the colour of your skin) and become white or silver, it can become more difficult to minimise them.

The sooner you treat them, the better are your chances of removing them, but that doesn't mean you are out of options if you've had stretch marks for years. You may follow these tips, after consultation with a doctor to prevent or treat stretch marks:

TIPS TO PREVENT Since stretch marks are usually caused by unusually fast changes in the body's growth that the skin layers cannot keep up with, avoid rapid loss or gain in body weight. Consume a fair amount of fluids daily, like water and vegetable juices. Studies have shown that the daily application of lotions or creams containing Gotu Kola extract, vitamin E, and collagen hydrolysates can significantly reduce the chances of stretch mark formation. Use moisturisers on a regular basis to keep

the skin moist, supple and healthy. Abstain from foods that reinforce stress marks. Caffeine may be one of the biggest causes. Eat foods that are beneficial for the skin's health, like foods that containing lots of zinc and vitamins A, B complex, C, D and E. Dry skin brushing relies on stimulating your skin by brushing it with a vegetable bristle brush. Daily brushing of the skin before showering, makes your skin healthier and less susceptible to the breakage and damage that causes stretch marks.

TIPS TO TREAT Massaging the area with stretch marks three or four times a day with moisturisers that contain cocoa butter as a primary ingredient may help. It hydrates the skin and makes it more flexible. However, this is most effective in the initial stage.

63 Using specific topical preparations: There are many topical creams and lotions which claim to treat or fade stretch marks. Here is a review of the effectiveness of some of the common ingredients found in these preparations: Wheat germ oil- This may help improve stretch marks in their early phase. Glycolic acid- Glycolic acid helps to gently remove the upper layer of the skin. It increases collagen production and therefore may help in improving stretch marks. Vitamin C- Certain Vitamin C formulations might increase collagen production, but they usually only help with early-stage stretch marks. For best results, they should be combined with glycolic acid. Retinoids- They are fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastin production in the early stages. However, they should not be used during pregnancy or lactation due to a concern about their possible illeffects on the baby. They are more effective when used in combination with glycolic acid. Topical tretinoin: This may lighten stretch marks and reduce their size if applied in the earlier stages. Specifically, tretinoin cream is effective against stretch marks that are less than six weeks old and are still pink or red. However, tretinoin cream should not be used on pregnant or breastfeeding females owing to a concern about its possible harsh ill-effects on the baby. It works by helping to rebuild collagen but it is not very effective against older stretch marks.

Applying moisturisers may help prevent stretch marks

Laser treatments: may be effective. Appropriate laser treatments may be used to treat both red or purple and white stretch marks. Generally they work by promoting the formation of collagen. However, they can be expensive and effectiveness is limited. Some of the common laser treatments for stretch marks are Fractionated Laser Therapy, Pulsed D y e L a s e r T h e r a p y, Fr a c t i o n a l Photothermolysis and the Excimer Laser.

CLINICAL TREATMENTS Microneedling: Microneedling is a process carried out with a roller that is covered with numerous tiny needles. These needles penetrate the upper layers of the skin up to a depth of 2mm (depending on the needle length used). This process effectively stimulates collagen formation and also provides a clear channel for topical gels and creams to be absorbed more effectively through the top layer (epidermis) of the skin. Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion works by blowing crystals onto the skin to remove the

cells in the epidermis and a simultaneous use of a vacuum tube that removes the crystals and skin cells. Besides the peeling effect, Microdermabrasion may also jumpstart collagen production in the skin, which may increase the skin's elasticity and may help to contract the stretch marks into much thinner scars. This may be effective against older stretch marks. Chemical peels : This is a process where an exfoliating chemical treatment is put on the skin. Like with Microdermabrasion, the new skin that grows may be in a better condition than the skin it replaces.

HOME REMEDIES Vitamin E Oil - Applying Vitamin E oil after taking a shower daily may help. Coffee - Grind coffee into a powder and mix it with hand lotion. Rub into stretch marks for about 60 seconds and wipe off with a warm towel. Applying this twice daily may help. Olive Oil - Applying olive oil on all areas that could be affected by stretch marks twice a day may help in prevention of stretch marks. Flaxseed Oil - Rubbing flaxseed oil on stretch marks after showering and again before going to bed may help. Dr. Varun Katyal is a Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetologist at The Skin Centre, New Delhi.

Beauty + Style

Fashion Police

GOWNS BEST OF

Our Fashion Features Head, Esha Narayanan gives you, your monthly dose of the best and the worst of red carpet fashion.

Jessica Biel: At the premiere of Total Recall, Beil stands tall in Elie Saab â&#x20AC;&#x201D; curvaceous like an Italian marble statue. The gown does justice to her God gifted beauty.

Angela Johnson: She is most befittingly dressed for beauty awards, looking like a stunning diva in this sheer Gaurav Gupta number. Her slim silhouette and wavy cascade of long black hair complimented the effortlessly sexy look.

Kajol: She has been resurrected! Along with her new body Mrs. Devgan adorned herself in a new look altogether in this Ayesha Depala gown. The colour compliments her and the sparkle suits the glamorous occasion.

D e e p i k a Pa d u k o n e : Winning the beauty of the year award at an event, Deepika sizzled like Kim Kardashian in this body hugging ultra glam Dolce and Gabbana number. We like the curves; it's a pleasant change from stick legs and flat chest!

Kate Middleton: The Duchess looks ethereal as always in Jenny Packham at an Olympic gala held by the royal family. The ultra delicate lace trims at the shoulders emanate romance through her royal aura.

Nargis Fakhri: This is a great glamourous Parisian couture look. But the only problem appears to be her hairdoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;side swept voluminous waves would have taken the whole look to another level.

Poorna Jagannathan: The gown fits her very well and the embellished shoulder and waistband add the necessary celebrity appeal to the subtle colour combinations.

Anne Hathaway: At the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, this Prabal Gurung number was what she needed to break away from her all black-cat woman look. It's pretty, simple and sweet yet high fashion— perfect for the premiere.

Sameera Reddy: In Shrivan Narresh at the Lakme Fashion Week. The outfit is a welcome change from the usual cocktail dresses and the feminine brigade that follows it. The colour blocking makes it all the more interesting.

Kangana Ranaut: at the party thrown by the Ambanis. When every one else was wearing ankle length Anarkalis and over embroidered sarees Ms. Ranaut came in cat walking with her Lady Dior bag and cat woman specs. The checks brought in retro glam and rebel to an ethnic wear oriented party.

Jlo at an after tour event: We a r i n g E d i t i o n b y Georges Chakra, Jlo’s svelte curvaceous body is gleaming with sex appeal in this awesome cobalt blue body hugging cocktail dress. The colour flatters her lovely bronze skin.

Gul Panag : Her invention test succeeded 50 percent. Anne Hathaway flaunted lovely long locks and body suit but Gul added a dashing pixie and an over the top puffy shouldered cocktail number. The make up and hair look great but the semi-inflated sleeves are like punctured tires.

Sonali Bendre: TLF is effectively flabbergasted!! Sonali looks absolutely marvelous. Her slim silhouette looks lovely in this graceful number. The sober accessorising settles with the mood of the look.

K CATS THE BLAC

Marion Cotilard: In Christian Dior Couture at the London premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. This adorable brand ambassador of Dior looks smashing in this new look inspired retro glam ensemble. Her voluminous hair, perky red lips and ultra feminine delicate waist — all make her so wonderful.

Feroze Gujral: She is oscillating between Milan and Agra. The baby doll dress is cute but the accessories have gone wrong for us. That bracelet doesn't work, the heels are uninspiring, and the clutch is pretty much “Anarkali disco chali.” Such a pretty face wasted! Sigh!

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Zarine Khan: No complains! This simple yet chic black and pale pink Zara jumpsuit carries an air of casual gaiety, at the s a m e t i m e refurbishing the mood of the red carpet with minimalistic style.

Simi Garewal: No, it isn't a Christian wedding nor is she playing the Ice Queen but we can't figure out why would a woman w h o i s v e r y maintained and considerably pretty always appear in white?

Mandira Bedi: We like the sexy little black number but the pink clutch and super boring heels murdered the mood of the moment. From sexy, the look has fallen toimpulsive dressing.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: She promised the goddess of poor dressing that she'd be forever devoted to her. A woman of her stature and international repute in attire so crazy as this is a heart attack moment for all of us.

pointmen

p The Disa

Simone Singh: Wow! She felt cold and borrowed uncle John's coat, how sweet! We have tears in our eyes Simon, the market is bombarded with hot outwear, we wonder why none of them appealed to you ?

Ileana D'Cruz: Why this Kolaveri Di? So many elements in one ensemble, the designer should've considered distributing the work to create at least five more outfits out of it! Our eyes hurt!

Diya Mirza: Oh look what the cat's got in! Another Anne Hathaway lover in bangs, bust length hair and smokey eyes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; she should've considered going for a better-structured dress. The neckline is so basic and so unlike high fashion along with the heavy unpleasant pleats.

Monica Dogra: Usually seen experimenting with some seriously good fashion, Dogra chose to disown her natural style this time. The make up and hair are made for salwar kameez while her boring pale gown is made for no man's land.

Diana Penty: Could anyone look at her and say she's a former model? Minus the height and you get a very unadventurous woman with collegedays hairdo and boring black attire. Anushka and Deepika set the standards for models pretty high, hence the condescension!

Kelly Osbourne: In Armani Exchange: We love her, we have been critiquing her hair since the past five issues and no changes what so ever. They are still deplorable and the gown is her grandma's for sure.

Beauty + Style

Touch of Peplum: For an ultra feminine touch throw in light peplum styles in your wardrobe. Perfect for formal dinners.

Zip Up in

Style By Esha Narayanan

The weather shift gives the shopaholic a superb opportunity to shop for pre-fall wearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;light cardigans, sweaters, jackets and blazers have hit the market. The following styles will help you organise your pre-fall wardrobe with a number of options for casual outings, brunches, formal ASOS: Jacket with peplum in houndstooth pattern ` 4400 dinners, flirty dates and a girly night outs. Zara: Jacket with silk frill peplum ` 2700.

Love the dude: The classic leather and denim jackets are always a big hit when the summer bids farewell to us. Make Get studded : Studs are massively in and a perfect option for sure you have one of these before the teeth clattering chill glamourous outings. Choose either a feminine style infused with power pact studs or a hot leather jacket embellished begins. Perfect for casual outings with biker studs. Perfect for girls night out!

Forever 21: Colour blocked shawl lapel jacket ` 1380; ASOS: Colour blocked ombre blazer ` 5720.

Block them up: Colour blocked outwear should add spunk to your prewinter wardrobe â&#x20AC;&#x201D; go for bright or easy on the eye yet definitive shades. Perfect for brunches!

Pepe Jeans: White washed leather jacket ` 20, 240; Forever 21: Distressed denim leather jacket ` 1600.

Reverse: Chiffon kimono with shoulder studs ` 4220; Zara : Studded leather biker jacket ` 13,990. Striped bodice: Use colourful light sweaters with playful stripes to break the pre-winter monotony and welcome the season with a free spirited gaiety. Perfect for casual outings.

Sonia by Sonia Rykiel: Striped knit sweater ` 13900; Forever 21: Striped printed sweater `1300.

Beauty + Style

The Fall Fashion Repor

The weather is taking a 360degree turn slowly and with the fall collections having taken place in February and March and therefore long forgotten, we thought a refresh button would be handy. The ramps in Milan, Paris, New York, and London gleamed with over sized sweaters, all leather The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo look, the grandiose of fur in contemporary usage and pompous brocades marking the arrival of a much sophisticated yet rebellious season!

THE WALLPAPER

By Esha Narayanan

GOTH CHICK

The crazy print obsession continues, this time heightened to matching top and bottom, basically head to toe â&#x20AC;&#x201D; MiuMiu, Prada, Rag and Bone and Rochas filled their runways with matching printed jackets and pants.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was certainly a hit and her all black goth look inspired plenty of designers. Donatella Versace's models were seen flaunting Lisbeth Salanders signature fringe, while tough black leather walked down the runway of Givenchy, Proenza Schouler, to name a few.

CURVILICIOUS

URBAN FUR

Designers like Marc Jacobs, Lanvin and Stella McCartney accentuated the curves to bring the sex appeal forward in a moth of extra heavy clothing that leaves you more or less shapeless. By adding peplums, panniers and padding to the waist the ladies can have defined waistlines this autumn.

CONCAVE CHEMISTRY

Furs have been used creatively this season as trims or accents to break colour monotony â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jason Wu, Fendi, Mulberry and Rodarte brought some of the most interesting fur pieces to the ramp.

The extra large, further away from the body coats made an impact on several designers particularly Chloe, Balenciaga and Celine. These are comfortable,uber stylish and they'll keep you warm through the Autumn winds.

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The

Black Boot Rises CAMILLA SKOVGAARD

DKNY GIANVITO ROSSI

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

ALTUZARRA

JOHN GALLIANO

DOLCE & GABBANA

With Marvel Comics beauty, Cat Woman over powering the antagonist with her super heels fitting to perfection to her never ending legs in The Dark Knight Rises and Goth stunner Lisbeth Salander hacking her way through the movie The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo â&#x20AC;&#x201D;boots and booties make a bigger comeback than any of the previous seasons. Anne Hathaway's thigh high stiletto boots and Rooney Mara's manly biker boots have inspired many designers to go down the dark alley with their own interpretation of fiction. Their experiments with soles and boot length, has added seasonal trends like fur trims and block heels to the all black leather look.