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The Hindu : y>Book a holiday to Singapore and take your kids along for free

Singapore has come up with a great Christmas offer for children. Till Jaunary 2, 2009, children below 12 years will get free travel (except for taxes) and accommodation with complimentary breakfast at select hotels!

In addition, there are free admissions and complimentary rides and plenty of surprises at more than 30 participating attractions and restaurants.

The “kids free” offer is valid on every two full-paying adults. With this offer, the entire family can explore attractions such as the cable car ride, Singapore Zoo, night safari, the new Singapore Flyer which gives a 360 degree view of Singapore and beyond, the relaxing Hippo River Cruises and the Captain Explorer Amphibious DUKW Tours.

For an unbeatable visual treat, there is the special open-top bus for a 30-minute tour of the Christmas Light-Up along Orchard Road, complimentary for every visitor to Singapore.

The magical season takes a fairy-tale turn with the Singapore Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker’ ballet performance, Wild Rice’s annual musical pantomime “Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs” and The Little Company’s “The Tooth Fairy”.

Children can also delight in their favourite cartoon characters from “Sesame Street” and “Precious Moments” at Marina Square and Suntec City Mall, respectively.

For more information, visit www. visit singapore. com/in

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The Hindu :

In the hard days of recession, spas are doing very well, for most people need relaxing therapies, says spa expert Jepser Hougaard

Photo: BY AUTHORWellness mantra A spa experience is tactile, sensory and sensual

Crashing markets, the feared ‘R’ word, collapsing businesses, stores downing shutters, who do you think is riding this storm? Well, spas offering relax-rejuvenate therapies are the new comfort zones that have peoplerushing to, globally.

Spa seems to be the approach of the stressed all over the world as Jepser Hougaard, MD, Serena Spa, found out after the ISPA (International Spa Association) made a quick spot check on the fallout of the hard times.At Punnamada Lake Resort, Alappuzha, to set up the Serena Spa, Hougaard said, “We are introducing here, for the first time, a more modern, wellness programme called, ‘Learning to Live’.” A combination programme based on diet, exercise and massage, it aims at inculcating a lifestyle that the client continues for life. Hence it is neither prohibitive nor restrictive.

Hougaard who set up Serena Spa in 2000 in Maldives and now has the chain in many Indian cities, with plans to open four more by next year, is upbeat about the lifestyle that he is promoting. Moving on from being a pampering centre, he is now offering a way of life. But doubts abound about what is the real spa.

“That original concept is therapy from the hot, mineral springs. It is not environmentally friendly to use a lot of water for treatments now. Hydrotherapy tubs use 600-800 litres of water. Spas have to be ecologically conscious.”

What he is offering at this zany time is pampering of the senses. “We cure stress,” he says confidently, and is witnessing how the solution provided is finding takers.

A Dane, Hougaard says, “Indians are probably better educated about personal care than their western counterparts. The Indian consumer is critical and they have this wonderful…More

The Hindu :

Whether it is the hallowed colleges with their muster of famous students, or the architecture and art at every turn, Cambridge is up there in the ‘places to see before I die’ list

Photos: BY AUTHORfull of history (clockwise from top left) Bridge over the River Cam in Cambridge, Trinity College, The colours of Autumn on Cambridge Roads, and Michael House Cafe

Cambridge is awe-inspiring. But, naturally. People such as Srinivasa Ramanujan, Charles Darwin, Samuel Pepys, John Milton, Christopher Marlowe, Coleridge and Ted Hughes have walked about here. Eighty three Nobel Prize winners have passed through the portals of Cambridge colleges, and god knows how many more are in-waiting.

There are some 31 colleges in Cambridge, many of them over 700 years old. Gonville and Caius, Corpus Christi, Magdalene, Trinity Hall and Christ’s are some of them.

And, it is thrilling how bits of history come alive every where you turn. Such as the mulberry tree, the very same one that provided shade to John Milton as he wrote his poetry!

You feel the presence of Henry the VIII, especially in the spectacular King’s chapel. The oak screen he presented still stands. And, above the doorway the elaborately entwined letters “H” and “A” for Henry and Anne Boleyn, obviously carved before she fell out of favour and was beheaded.Intricate carvings

The chapel’s fan vaulted ceiling, intricately carved and fashioned, and the stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament, said to be crafted by English and Flemish craftsmen, are fabulous. As is Ruben’s ‘Adoration of the Magi’ that hangs there in all its splendour. Henry VIII reappears at Trinity College on the Great Gate, clutching a wooden chair leg instead of the sceptre (students swapped it more than a hundred years ago).

This college has produced 31 Noble prize winners, and it was right here in Nevile Court that Issac Newton calculated the…More

The Hindu : y>Designer Hemant Sagar, tells AYESHA MATTHAN that he believes white communicates the soul

PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHYNot just style Hemant Sagar: ‘Fashion transmits global views and happenings through clothes’

Hemant Sagar, clad in a white jacket, trousers, T-shirt, silver sneakers and a wide smile, create textures of pure “White Haute Compote” inside Olive Beach. “An evening dedicated to creative expression and the best fashion brands in the country…, ‘Haute Compote’ will see creations of a designer around their chosen colour…”.

Lecoanet Hemant is a collaboration between the French Didier Lecoanet and the Indo-German Hemant Sagar. The 24-year-old fashion house was born “in a workshop on the Rue du Fauborg Saint Honore and moved to a salon, boutique and finally the brand with setups in Delhi and France.”

Much has been said about the colour white. The Delhi-based designer says: “White communicates the soul. Not just in looks, but interaction between the models themselves, and between models and fashion aficionados.”

Referring to the haute couture evening, showcased by Pollyanna Patel and Ruchika Chanana, models Pashmeena Barker, Jackie Shetty and Zoheb, hosts Ashvin Mathew and Kirtana and topped with Chef Manu Chandra’s delicacies, Hemant said: “The models are going to be strolling and there will be an exchange of ideas.”

For the designer, white is a long colour. “There are many shades of white. White as a symbol of femininity sprouts from the moon, ocean, night and mother of pearl being of the feminine gender in French,” feels Hemant,Not a collection

He prefers to call the outfits in assemblage, collectibles and not a collection. “With models wearing real clothes, the emphasis is on daily wear as a piece of art ranging from trousers, jackets, coats, dresses, accessories ranging from shoes to belts, representing different seasons and times of the day. This is a set of unrecognisable collectibles, never to be put together again!” He adds that…More

The Hindu : y>End the year with a bang with a line up of blockbusters

Third instalment Shrek trains a reluctant Artie

There are a host of exciting premiers through this month on HBO to round off the year on a beautiful note. Ultimate excitement and adventure will strike all with the premiere of “Shrek The Third”. Then there is more the Blockbusters Fiesta, and Beautiful You. The comedy “Knocked Up” starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann will knock you out on December 20. Also catch the action adventure “Stardust” starring Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Charlie Cox and Sienna Miller on December 27.

After Friday Blockbusters at 9 p.m., there would be movies including “Chill Factor” starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich and Peter Firth (December 19) and “Miss Congeniality” starring Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine and Melissa Desousa (December 26).

Gear up for the third instalment of the jolly green ogre, “Shrek the Third” on Christmas Day at 9 p.m. The film starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas tells what happens when his new father-in-law, the King, falls ill. Shrek has to take on the role of heir apparent in the land of Far, Far Away. He enlists Donkey and Puss in Boots to train the reluctant Artie as the new king while Princess Fiona holds the fort against Prince Charming and his minions.

Every Sunday night at 9 p.m., Sunday Super Hits will be showcased including “Big Daddy” starring Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Joey Lauren Adams and Cole Sprouse (December 21) and “When a Stranger Calls” starring Camilla Belle, Tommy Flanagan, Brian Geraghty and Tessa Thompson (December 28).

All fans of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” can relive the excitement with the Jaws Bonanza where the original and three sequels would be aired every Saturday after the 9 p.m. movie.

Apart from this there would be everyone’s favourite blockbusters everyday at 9 p.m….More

The Hindu :

Vidhu Mittal’s book has over 100 classical and contemporary recipes

PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATTWORKABLE There are simple recipes that can be made easily at home

On a nippy evening in Bangalore, Roli books launched “Pure and Simple”, home-made vegetarian cuisine, a book authored by Vidhu Mittal. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and MD of Biocon was the chief guest on the occasion. The event was compeered by Nidhi Mittal, daughter of Vidhu Mittal.

Nidhi said: “When our family moved from Delhi to Bangalore in 1989, we were amazed to see my mother transform into a master cook. She loved experimenting with various flavours and spices. My brother and I were often the ‘guinea pigs’ for her culinary experiences.”

She adds, “She started to teach cooking to many people, who used to come from many parts of the city. One of my greatest regrets is the fact that I could not become as good a cook.” Vidhu Mittal, graciously lavished praise on Sanjay Ramachandran, Abhishek Poddar and close friend Sujata, who helped her in different capacities in the creation of the book. She said, “I used to take cooking classes for a long time. Sanjay had taken some food photos for publishing in a magazine. He gave the idea of a vegetarian cook book.”

She adds, “We had to work in close coordination with each other, as we wanted to capture the natural colour and texture of all the dishes. Sanjay had to take the pictures of the dishes, as soon as they were prepared. In the end, he had clicked 8,000 pictures, of which nearly 1,000 pictures have been used in the book. It was a joint effort and his role in the making of this book is very important.”

She says, “The book incorporates simple recipes that can be made at home, using the available items. The book also includes information on spices, vegetables and cooking processes.”…More

The Hindu :

There is a range of clothing and accessories for men for every occasion and daily wear at The Collective

UNDER ONE ROOF You can choose from a wide range of brands

With three floors of a complete range of men’s fashion and accessories from the best of International brands, The Collective is one of a kind. Boasting concierge services, a lobby to just catch your breath after you reach the store, a chaperone to assist you and reliable laundry, this Madura Garments Lifestyle Retail Company of the Aditya Birla Group is sure to pamper and assist you at every step of the way with a range of clothing for every occasion and daily wear.

On the first floor, the latest fragrances, sunglasses, watches, leather accessories in bags and belts, light suitcase trolleys, jewellery, colourful shirts in pinks and purples in flower and paisley prints, candles, jewel boxes, photo frames, ashtrays, coasters, ice buckets in savvy, masculine tones and scents and more, make for excellent gifts.

There are stylish shoes from Valentino to Church’s Shoes, carefully selected for their durability and use with matching socks. The personal Jean Claude Biguine uni-sex salon is a real add-on with manicures, pedicures, massages, hair colourings and cuts, health care, with a range of the best grooming products from the Art of Shaving from Gillette to Biotherm, make for a one-stop shop to also soothe your nerves and relax after a hard week and indulgence in retail therapy.

The casual wear section has a host of brands, styles and cuts — so many that you would need to carefully browse to have the luxury of choice. Sportwear, long jackets, khaki to season wear from Cheap Monday to Rajesh Pratap Singh.

What’s more — you could also sit back after finishing at the first floor, grab some muffins and croissants or fill your stomach with salads and sandwiches, flip the pages…More

The Hindu : y>

Photo: K. V. SrinivasanFun unlimited Dora will be part of a meet and greet tour

It is Christmas season and the festivities are starting soon on Nick channel. Get ready to brighten up the holidays with loads of gifts as the channel showcases back-to-back Nick shows, a meet-and-greet with Dora and other such events.

Participate in the ‘Nick lift your gift contest’, where children will celebrate Christmas by winning an assortment of gifts and prizes. Children have to watch Nick during the 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. slot till January 4 and try their luck.

Dora, a popular character will also be part of a special Meet n Greet tour presented by Landmark, where children get to meet, play games and dance with Dora.

Dora will also give out exciting gifts to children. For a full fledged Christmas celebration, catch back to back episodes of mighty cat, Perman and many other shows from 12 noon on December 25.

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The Hindu : y>

Photo:Sangeth KurienFamily adventure Take a break

Expedia.co.in India, the world’s leading online travel company, has announced the launch of its Holiday Discount Coupon, which gives Indian travellers Rs 1,500 off on any Expedia® Special Rate hotel for stays of 2 nights or more.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend escape or a family adventure during the holidays, Expedia.co.in has the perfect hotel for you. “This offer comes as a bonus for many Indian families planning their Christmas and New Year holidays,” said Arthur Hoffman, Managing Director, Expedia Asia-Pacific.

“You can even use the Rs 1,500 coupon to book hotels that are already offering discounts and you can share it with your family and friends so you all benefit. There are over 40,000 Expedia Special Rate hotels worldwide to choose from.”

For more details log on toExpedia.co.in

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You can now look forward to spending your winter in Goa at Country Inn & Suites. Situated off Benaulim Beach, the Inn offers a Portuguese village life.

The rooms and suites are built around courtyards, with the sense of a private house, spacious gardens, patios and pergolas for a complete Portuguese experience, claim the organisers. Other facilities include three F&B outlets, a spa, conferencing facilities and a children’s club.

The offer includes free airport transfers and a welcome drink on arrival, complimentary buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, 20-minute head and shoulder massage, half-day sightseeing to Mangeshi Temple, Old Goa Church and Panjim City and complimentary use of swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam and gym (prior appointment required) as well as 15 per cent discount on recreational activities and the Spa, add the organisers.

The winter package at Country Inn & Suites, for three-night and four-day is valid till March 31, 2009 (excluding December 22, 2008 and January 10, 2009). For details log on towww.countryinns.com/goain or call 4035 5055 or the toll free number 1800-1800-456.

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WOW, Women on Wanderlust is ringing…More

The Hindu : y>Design a logo and win a fellowship to the U.S.

The American Centres in India are looking for a new logo! Put your graphic skills to work and win a design fellowship to the United States.We seek the country’s creative community to help us develop a fresh look, which will be widely displayed on all American Centre materials. American Centres are the public face of the U.S. Embassy in India.

The American Centres in New Delhi and Kolkata, and the U.S. Consulates General in Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad, support activities that inform the Indian public about American policies, society and values. These activities range from speaking tours and concerts, to school outreach, workshops and conferences, programmes and exhibits. Review the links above to learn more.

The logo must be recognisable, dramatic and reflect the presence of the United States in India. The contest is open to Indian nationals age 18 and above.Prizes will be awarded to three designers. The top prize is a design fellowship to the United States. All submissions should reach before January 15, 2009. The selection of finalists will be on January 23, 2009 and their names will be posted on the American Centre’s websites. The awards ceremony will be held at the American Centre, New Delhi on January 30, 2009. For details visit http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/amcenterlogo.html.

For details, contactamcenternd@state.gov, or 011 -2347-2289/2290.

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