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The Hindu : y>Women on Wanderlust is gearing up for a trip up the snowy Alps

Women on Wanderlust is making cool plans for summer with a tour to the Swiss Alps, from Delhi, from June 29 to July 5. The six nights/seven days tour takes you to Zurich-Interlaken-Zermatt-Luzern-Zurich.

Interlaken is a small city in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland.

Located between two Alpine Lakes (Brienz and Thun), Interlaken is a popular base camp for outdoor sports and travel in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps.

The tour also includes an excursion to Jungfraujoch, with a Swiss lunch on top of the Swiss Alps. Some of Switzerland’s most magnificent views are found around the snow-capped peaks of the Jungfrau (13,643 ft/ 4158m), Mönch (13,449 ft/ 4099m) and Eiger (13,026 ft/ 3970m), their rugged flanks made even more awe-inspiring by the greens and golds of nearby hills and valleys.

The highest railway in Europe cuts through both the Eiger and the Mönch before terminating at the tip of the majestic Jungfraujoch.

Zermatt is famed as a mountaineering and ski resort. Until the mid-19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural community — its name, as well as that of the Matterhorn itself, derive from the alpine meadows, or matten, in the valley. In the German language, the town is “Zur Matte”, or “in the meadow”.

The town was “discovered” mid-century by British mountaineers, most notably Edward Whymper, whose conquest of the Matterhorn made the village famous.

To prevent air pollution, which could disfigure the town’s view of the Matterhorn, the entire town is a combustion-engine car-free zone, therefore you are largely on foot.

Travel on the Glacier Express to Andermatt, board a train to Luzerne. Tour Lake Luzerne, Lion monument and Chapel Bridge. Luzerne, an hour south of Basel and Zurich, and boasting invigorating mountain views, lake cruises and a picturesque old quarter, it’s long been one of Europe’s most heavily visited towns.

The package…More

The Hindu : y>

Urgency, Low Level Flight

Times Music

Urgency, the debut album of Canadian alternative band Low Level Flight hangs at the tip of your brain, spreads across the hemispheres and eventually contaminates the listener. This quintet from Toronto, brought together by Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm have mixed the stereotypes of alternative rock with a pop punk sensibility. The opening track “Change for Me”, also the first single kick starts the record with a symphony that builds into some rapid drumming and has Ryan Malcolm’s vocals soaring as he asks a question, “Would you change for me/ As I close my eyes/All alone I see/ Why did you change sides?”

The album continues to maintain it’s tempo and more importantly it’s teen essence in the second track “Hesitate”, a few screws that can be tightened, the love-laced ironic “Hesitate” is more apologetic than final. “Hesitate on the day that I met you/ How I hate all the ways that I left you/All the times that I said I regret you/Never meant a single one. I’m in hell/I think you’ve won.” As the album progresses one must notice the striking resemblance between Ryan Malcolm’s vocals to that of Issac Slades’ and just when you think these rockers are running out of ammo Mike Vanderzand on lead guitars unleashes a riff that will make all the alternative rock lovers smile in delight. On drums he’s accompanied by Simon Vanderzand, who fulfils his share with some fast paced pounding. Ryan Malcolm sings “I hate you anyway/You gave it all away/And everything I gave/ You threw right back in my face.” Pure pop hate that’s naive and blissful culminates with some harmonic keyboards, courtesy James Rooke. Half way through, the album continues to be catchy with sounds of “Turnaround” and “Say”. These tracks characterised by some Coldplay, John Mayeresque effects churns out choruses that can be heard on…More

The Hindu : y>

Oberoi Hotels are offering “World of Extraordinary Experiences” and the five-star Trident hotels are offering “Superbly rewarding family vacations” packages.

Trident, Jaipur is located near the Amber fort. The hotel is a 30-minute drive from the airport and captures the romance and beauty of the fabled Pink City. The rooms overlook the Manasagar lake or Aravalli mountain ranges.

The Jal Mahal restaurant offers a buffet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an elaborate a la carte international and Indian menu.

Trident, Udaipur overlooks lake Pichola with the Aravalli mountain range as a backdrop. Aravalli restaurant, with an adjoining open-air terrace, serves Indian and international cuisine, including traditional Rajasthani specialties.

It offers facilities like a visit to the Bara Mahal, a wildlife conservatory within the premises of the hotel, swimming pool, fitness centre, beauty salon, gift shop and Kids Club.

Trident Cochin offers a range of traditional Kerala delicacies. The informal Cochin Trader Bar offers an extensive selection of spirits, wines and cocktails, while the Seafood Grill by the pool serves fresh seafood. The Ayurveda Centre at the hotel provides personalised programmes.

The family package vacations offer an additional room for children free. A stay for two-nights at Trident, Agra is priced at Rs. 7,900; at Trident hotels in Jaipur, Udaipur and Cochin for Rs. 9,500 and at Trident, Bhubaneshwar for Rs.12,000 plus taxes. The offers are valid till July 31. Call 011-2389 0555 or toll-free 1 800 11 2122. You can also log on towww.tridenthotels.com.

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The Hindu : y>British Council launches award programme to identify young creative entrepreneurs

British Council has launched ‘Young Performing Arts Entrepreneur Award’.

The programme rewards young creative entrepreneurs from across the creative industries, essentially producers of theatre, dance, music or live art performances.

They could be promoters, festival directors and marketing specialists in this area, managers of theatre, dance, music or live art companies, developers of performing arts publishing, communications or websites and consultants providing specialist services in any of the areas outlined.

Those between 25 and 35 years are eligible to apply.

The Indian finalist will compete with other international finalists in August in Edinburgh.

The winner gets an award of £ 5000 to develop business links with U.K.

The closing date is May 15. Call 044- 4205 0600 or email: anu.thampi@in. britishcouncil.org or visit www.britishcouncil .org

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The Hindu : SUBHA J RAO

It’s not often that you get to sail the seas taking in its myriad beauties. Here’s how to make the most of a cruise

Choose wisely

Cost factor

Do you want a leisurely cruise that will cost you the earth or a quick, moderately-priced one that serves as an introduction to life on the sea? Research the destinations before you book yourself into a cruise.Family trip?

Are you travelling with kids? Check if the cruise liner has kid-centric activities, or caters to aged couples.Game for experimenting?

Are you a stickler for your kind of food or people? Do a re-think. A cruise is perfect for those who want to make new friends and try out different experiences, including cuisine.Sail easy

Plan your trip even a year in advance to avail of early-bird offers.

Always reach the port a day in advance so that no last-minute flight changes affect your schedule.

Always check the ship time and port time. This can vary according to the destination. Always follow the ship time so that you don’t miss the ship.

Talk to the crew about the cheapest way to go around the port.

Read the daily schedule to plan your day.

Pack at least one set of clothing suitable for the formal dinner. Otherwise, go easy. It is okay to wear the same outfit twice on board.

Unless you are on high-end cruises, you pay for bottled water, sodas and drinks.

Pre-book shore excursions to save time.

Carry sea-sick bands and green apples to help tackle sea-sickness.

Tip waiters and housekeepers. That is their only earning.

Carry small currency of the countries you will be visiting.

If you have special food requirements (vegetarian, Jain, etc.) inform the dining room manager.

Don’t buy all the photos that will be taken. Wait for the sale at the end of the cruise where you can get them cheaper.

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The Hindu : y>

PHOTO: Murali Kumar K.Rapt audience Stories are the best way to fire a child’s imagination

Professional storyteller Dilshad Akali and educationist Mukta Khurana aim at bringing to life stories from the Panchatantra. A number of activities such as playacting, spinning yarn, leaning art and craft will be held at the Celestial Greens Clubhouse, Old Madras Road, near Big Bazaar from May 4 to 22. The sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. for children in the age group from three to five years and 11.45 a.m. to1.15 p.m. for children in the age group of five to seven years on weekdays. Call Dilshad Akali on 9901240053 for more details.

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Patara aims to bring back the joy of reading to children this summer with new books and a host of activities.It is conducting a workshop at Malleswaram on weekdays from May 4 to 15. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to children in the age group of seven to 12 years. For registration, call Geeta on 9886706144 or Sandhya on 9986431217.

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The Hindu : y>

Adventure sports are becoming a popular activity among youngsters in urban centres and draw huge crowds. Thanks in large part to the cable revolution and reality TV, daredevil stunts are attempted for that elusive adrenalin rush. Recently, the death of a marine engineer in the course of a bungee jump has raised questions regarding the safety measures put in place for such activities.

Metroplus asked city residents about the safety measures that must be taken by organisers conducting such adventure sports to ensure that such mishaps do not occur again. Most residents felt that all efforts must be made to ensure that the organisers have a complete precautionary safety system and apparatus in place, before soliciting clients to try out these sports. Others insisted it we should follow international safety norms. They felt that an ambulance and other emergency medical aid and equipment must also be provided on the site. Many felt that a system of checks must be in place and rules must be made stricter.

They felt that any company that does not follow international safety norms in conducting such sports must be debarred from organising any such event. We sample some responses

The best safety standards must be followed by the organisers of such activities. The authorities must ensure that only those following international safety standards must be allowed to organise such sporting activities.

RaghuSoftware engineer

Such incidents are shameful. We must follow foreign safety standards for such sports. Safety must be given topmost priority.

The organisers must be held responsible for any such mishaps. The authorities should ensure that safety precautions are taken.

VivekEngineer

Safety must be paramount. Criminal cases must be initiated against the organisers in case of any mishap. Authorities must also take steps to ensure that safety standards are complied with and medical aid is on standby.

RoopashreeEngineer

All safety precautions must be followed and cleared before such extreme sports can be…More

The Hindu :

G.R.T. is choking with lovely designs in gold

FOR EVERY STYLE One floor is dedicated to the modern woman with contemporary tastes

G.R.T. (G.R. Thanga Maligai) is barely a week old, but the store is brimming with people for its Akshaya Tritiya pre-bookings. This jewellery store, first launched in Chennai, has now steppedinto our city. Started by Rajendran, the place is run in association with his sons – Anantha Padmanabhan and Radha Krishnan.

The place offers a wide range of traditional designs. Most of the designs are traditional ones from Tamil Nadu. But there are also some interesting contemporary designs.

The ground floor offers gold and more gold. There are chains — thick, long and gold studded with precious stones and a variety of traditional mangalsutras. There are also designs from Kerala and Kolkata. The prices in this section start at Rs. 40,000 onwards. If plain gold does not interest you then you can opt for the enamelled designs or those with corals, pearls and rubies. An exclusive section for chokers offers you designs with or without earrings. They come in heavy and lightweight options. Prices start at Rs. 15,000. The rates may vary depending on the designs or the making charges, say the people at the store. This section also offers something called the step necklaces, which come in three or two steps or layers. There are also those with stones – precious and semi precious – which come at Rs. 20,000 onwards.

The store also offers a wide range of designs with the navratnas and rudraksha beads. Something worth mentioning is the Addigai pendants, which are the typical Tamil Nadu designs with white stones. These can be worn with a gold chain or a heavy silk thread.

The first floor is set apart for diamonds. Here you will find wedding or bridal wear. There are also designs for party wear. The diamonds come in…More

The Hindu :

Damascus, the oldest inhabited city in the world is an idle traveller’s dream

Photo: BY AUTHOREnduring The railway station in Damascus, a heritage building

A labyrinth of sinewy lanes snaking through windswept grizzled buildings with ornate doors, thick creepers drooping from wrought iron windowsills, and the tap-tap of heels on pebbled streets.

Damascus, the Syrian capital, the oldest inhabited city in the world, is a miragewith the power to pull every stranger. Cafés with a past, centuries-old villas converted intobustling restaurants, quaint churches, formidable mosques, souks, hamams, a traditional storyteller, a street-side portrait maker, a bunch of happy youngsters in low-rise jeans and leather boots lost in the high of hookah and guitar strums…the city can toss multiple experiences at an outsider in a day, taking one into its sway completely. Endearingly called Al-sham or a dimple on the cheek in Arabic, Damascus, particularly the old city, can leave a traveller bemused at living a dream-like situation where almost every building has a history and every street leads to a story.Oldest mosque

My discovery of Damascus begins with a visit to Umayyad mosque in the old city. It goes back 3,000 years — a time span, I later realise, is a norm in this country that embraced so many great civilisations of the world. One of the oldest mosques in the world, it is a confluence of Islam and Christianity. During the Aramaic rule, it was a temple of Hedad. The Romans later built a temple of Jupiter here. With Christianity spreading there, it became a cathedral.

Much later, it became a mosque, worked on by architects from Constantinople, Egypt and Damascus. What remains today is an amazing sight.

The mosque door opens to a huge courtyard, on the right of which stands a church and on the left a mosque. The mosque is one of the holiest shrines for Shia Muslims. It was…More

The Hindu : y>Increasingly and invariably, you are sure to see groups of women huddled together at coffee shops and restaurants for some good chat therapy, finds BHUMIKA K.

Photo: K.R. DeepakTHRASHING IT OUT It’s good to get away from work and husband, and catch up with girlfriends, just for good old gossip

We are at a point in time when we Twitter with each other, find out where that friend was vacationing seeing pictures on Facebook, post messages, send hugs online or largely use technology and tools to crib, vent, exult and share everyday nothings.

But nothing, really nothing, can beat meeting your friends in flesh and blood. A pyjama party may have been the answer, but distance, lifestyle, work and commitments perhaps don’t allow women such luxuries.

So what better way than to do it over food? Of course, without the hassle of actually having to cook it! A lazy lunch, or even a quick one, or a warm cup of cappuccino can have us run through some nostalgia, gossip, admiration, envy, or just plain, much-needed friendship therapy. The point is that much time spent together, without the hassle of putting together a menu, and going through the grind of making everything perfect at home. Or simply not having to open the door like in “Bobby”, Dimple Kapadia-style, with atta on your face or hair.

“It’s sometimes good to get away from work and husband, and catch up with girlfriends, just for a good, hardcore gossip session,” declares 30-year-old Deepika R., who would regularly meet up with former colleagues till work kept her all tangled up. “It’s like an Orkut scrapbook — live!! We mostly tend to talk about other people… not necessarily bad things,” she pipes in after a good laugh. But why meet out? “I mean, at home someone has to make the coffee!” she moans. “It’s so much nicer to be waited upon.”

Nithila Baskaran,…More