News

The Hindu : y>

Keys Hotels has introduced the Sabarimala Keys package for pilgrims visiting Trivandrum. The package will offer a three-night stay for the price of two nights.

The hotel provides the timings and the route map of the temple.

It boasts facilities such as Wi-Fi, LCD televisions, refrigerator, tea/coffee maker, iron and iron board, direct dialling and more.

There is also a contemporary café serving world cuisine and local favourites, a restobar with gaming stations and pool table, a top quality gymnasium, business concierge and board rooms.

Secure women’s rooms for single women travellers with video screening for additional security, and CCTV in all public areas, limited access elevators only through room key cards ensure better security.

For more information and bookings, visit www.keyshotels.com.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : NEETI SARKAR

Sophie Chaudhury is sending out an SOS. The singer matter-of-factly tells NEETI SARKAR that technically, she’s the diva of pop

THE PACKAGE HAS ARRIVED Sophie claims she’s the complete deal in music

Best known for her never ending legs, bold videos, quotable quotes and her stupendous ability to sing anything from Arabic to hip hop and reggae, singer Sophie Chaudhury has just released her latest album “SOS”, i.e. Sound of Sophie.

The singer is super excited about the response she has been getting from her fans. In a telephonic interview, Sophie says: “‘SOS’ has brought out the creative side of me. This is what I am about. If ‘Ek Pardesi’ was such a hit, I can’t wait to see the adulation the songs from my new album will receive.”

Most of the recording of “SOS” was done in London, as well as Dubai and Mumbai. The glam girl’s collaboration with Rishi Rich seems to be the highlight of this album. On working with the R&B fusion artiste, Sophie says: “We have always wanted to work together but were never free at the same time. This time around things just fell in place. Rishi is very talented and spontaneous. We’re on the same wavelength. Also, he has done an amazing job on the backing vocals and the instrumentation.” Sophie has also worked with music icons like Bappa Lahiri, Biddu and Gourav Dasgupta for this album.

“SOS” offers its listeners a wide range of tracks. There are a good number of Hindi dance numbers, hip hop, Arabic as well as an electro-dance English number. However, Sophie says, “Though we have put together so many genres, the songs are not disconnected. They are all melodies, the type one could sing along with, as well as groove to.”

“Manjave” is the most talked-about track from “SOS” for more reasons than one. First off, it is a rare combination of…More

The Hindu :

Leisure Violet Hill in Mashobra makes for a cosy winter vacation

PHOTOS: BY AUTHORAMID THE SNOWY PEAKS At Mashobra

Many hotels advertise that you will find their property a home away from home, but at Violet Hill, Mashobra, this rings true.

It is not a hotel but actually an estate with a lovely home that you can rent for a few days. Very tastefully done up and set in a splendid location near Mashobra, Violet Hill is perfect for quality time with friends or family.

The first of the winter snows were already crowning the mountain tops and we noticed these on the drive up to Shimla. The old capital of the Raj still exudes an air of charm thanks to its history and location, but it’s quite faded. So, if you want to enjoy the mountain air amidst the vibrancy and frenetic pace of a city, Shimla makes sense.

But, we like most others, were here to get away from pesky workmates, squealing phones, frantic faxes and the electronic mailman. But yet, we didn’t want to drive too far into the mountains to find that piece of peace, and Violet Hill was the ideal answer.

Off the main road and into the forest towards Mashobra, it all seems a world away. The views also improve as the forested hills come into view.

This is a relief after views of hillsides stacked with houses and buildings, which have become the definitive skyline of Shimla. We parked the car in front of a cosy little cottage surrounded by pines and forests; it turned out that was just the outhouse.

Pretty cottage

We unpacked the car and walked up the few steps leading to Violet Hill’s main cottage, and the minute I saw it I let out a whistle of appreciation.

A large rectangular lawn led to another square lawn at a higher level and on this stood a cottage prettily…More

The Hindu :

Here are some ways to reduce, if not erase, our carbon footprint

PHOTO: AFPCLIMATE FOR CHANGE It’s time we found ways to stop polluting the environment

Forget the Mayans. Today, our collective carbon footprint makes a more urgent doomsday prophecy. It threatens to warm the globe so much so as to make the earth uninhabitable even by the year 2030.

“Carbon footprint refers to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that we generate directly or indirectly,” explains Professor of Ecological Sciences Dr. Alladi Krishnan. Not just vehicle exhausts, almost everything we do or use leaves a carbon footprint — be it the paper we use, the computers we work on, the packaging of our groceries, or the disposables such as cups, cartons, and plastic bags that are so much a part of our life. Leave alone the carbon footprint left by the raw materials used in manufacturing these goods, their manufacturing process consumes fossil-fuel generated electricity, while the transportation process causes more emissions by way of vehicle exhausts and so does even the tarred road if one were to take into account the emissions caused by the tar refining process. Obviously, it is impossible not to leave a carbon trail. The trouble is, our carbon footprints exceed all limits and needlessly so.

“A carbon footprint of up to one tonne per person per year is sustainable globally, but the average city dweller far exceeds this,” says Dr. R. Annamalai, Chief Conservator of Forests and former director, Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Collective action

Chew on this. Carbon Trust, an independent carbon foot printing agency, measured the carbon footprint of a popular two-litre packaged orange drink and found it to be equal to a carbon dioxide emission of 1.7 kg! This came from the emissions during its processing, packaging and transportation. On the other hand, munching an orange grown…More

The Hindu : y>Catch some old favourites and new flicks this holiday

FOREVER FUNNY Steve Martin

To celebrate Christmas Star Movies will screen a series of comedies in its special slot called “A Merry Pink Christmas”.

The films that will be telecast are “The Hannah Montana Movie” at 1 p.m.,

“The Santa Claus 2″ at 3 p.m., which is about Santa Claus’s struggle to find a Mrs. Claus.

Watch the story of a harried father’s struggle to get a Christmas present for his son in “Jingle All The Way” at 5.05 p.m. and how little Kevin saves his house from notorious burglars in “Home Alone” at 6.55 p.m.

The film “Bruce Almighty” will be telecast at 9 p.m.

But the grand finale that brings up the Christmas is the premiere of the much publicised Aishwarya Rai and Steve Martin starrer “The Pink Panther 2″ at 11.05 p.m.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>Of Christmas celebrations in the city

PHOTO: NAGARA GOPALINDULGE The season to be jolly

The Yuletide season is here and Bangalore’s hotels are in full swing (anybody remember the recession?) already decking up their lobbies with Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, and playing host to Santa Claus. Traditional Christmas goodies and gift hampers are all there for those in the mood for gifting and sharing. As D-Day comes closer, almost all hotels promise a traditional menu of a stuffed turkey lunch with plum pudding and mulled wine. Some have gone a step further and added special stay-on packages. so that you pull out all plugs in the celebrations. Here’s a quick roundup of what they have to offer. Call numbers in brackets for details.

* * *

Vivanta by Taj, Whitefield (66933333) hosts a festive indulgence at its restaurant Latitude, starting Christmas eve, and then a Christmas brunch with five live kitchens, Christmas carols and serenading. From Caramel, you can order oven-baked turkey with traditional stuffing and a host of cakes and puddings to be delivered at your doorstep if you have a party at home. You can also order and send Christmas Food Gift Baskets that have moulded chocolate Santa, marzipan stolen, plum pudding, yule log, cookies and more. At Terracotta, give an Indian twist to Christmas celebrations up to January 3, 2010, with lunch and dinner menus that include hand crafted turkey delicacies in Indian flavors.

* * *

At The Taj West End, (66605660) the Christmas Counter will stock ginger houses, chocolates, plum puddings, hampers and more till December 31. At Mynt and Blue Ginger there will be four-course traditional Xmas menus with wine. They also have gift hampers with puddings, cookies, candles chocolate and wine at Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000.

* * *

At Taj Residency, (66604444) till December 31 Sugar and Spice presents

The Gingerbread House filled with goodies like plum pudding, fruit cake,…More

The Hindu :

Journalist Allen Mendonca’s thriller looks deep into the world he loved most

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Sandhya Mendonca with husband Allen’s book, (right) Harish Bijoor

“I used to feel that brilliant journalists seldom make great writers, since it involves different skills and writing style. Allen has managed to surprise me and delivered an extremely readable book,” said brand consultant Harish Bijoor, on journalist Allen Mendonca’s thriller, “Sentinel House” launched in the city recently.

Allen died in September this year.

Harish contends, “A book often brings out the personality of the author in the open. This book talks about Allen’s personality a great deal. One of his pet interests, the state of the media in the country, also finds a lot of mention. I was great friends with Allen. This book has made me learn more about him. It is a readable book, with the right combination of humour, and drama, and also has its share of thrills.” He adds, “The book has numerous references to Bangalore, a city he loved, and also includes Bombay and Mangalore. The tale is quick and moves across the globe. It also reflects his empathy with dispossessed people.”

The book talks about the family issues that a powerful media baron encounters. It makes an attempt to probe into the dark side of the media business, which is seldom reflected in mainstream media.

Sandhya Mendonca, Allen’s wife said, “The book was a project that took Allen nearly four years to put into print. He started working on the manuscript after he left the Times of India and was very diligent. He used to set out and follow a strict schedule. However, over a period of time, he was caught up in a lot of work and the book went into cold storage. It was early this year that we decided to publish the book via the publishing company we had co-founded….More

The Hindu : y>

HO HO HO Gati plays Santa

Gati has launched Gati Happiness that aims at bringing delicacies and artefacts from their places of origin to the consumers. Patrons can place the order online and book from a range of products.

For Christmas, gift your family and friends mouth-watering cakes from Monginis, Nilgiris, and other bakeries. It also offers premium butterscotch, chocolate and pineapple cakes.

This special service will be available for a limited period with orders being accepted till December 24. For more information log on to gati.com or email to gatihappiness@gati.com.

<FONT …More

The Hindu : SHALINI SHAH

Hong Kong Faux non-vegetarian cuisine, Disneyland, street-side shopping, and a meeting with pandas — there’s so much to do here, writes SHALINI SHAH

PHOTOS: SHALINI SHAHINVITING SIGHTSOcean Park

Hong Kong is a city of contrasts — natural beauty and efficient man-made infrastructure, and glitzy international fashion labels alongside low-key but popular local boutiques and elbow-nudging street markets, happily co-exist.

Then, there are the hills and the sea, traces of British colonial legacy besides Chinese governance, and a cuisine that loves Chinese as much as Japanese and French. Hong Kong is a something-for-everyone place that allows one to find a few things of interest, or, as in our case, many.

Chinese cuisine, mostly non-vegetarian, has found a middle-path. Lunch, on the first day, was at a Chinese vegetarian (!) place called Miu Fat Chai. When, to the chagrin of a predominantly vegetarian group, dishes with pork, beef, fish, chicken and goose are piled on our table, Vivienne, from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, laughs and clarifies quickly that the goose, pork and company are nothing more than clever inventions made of very vegetarian ingredients such as tofu, and even sweet potato!

December, especially, is a good time to visit Disneyland Hong Kong — ‘Sparkling Christmas — A Winter Wonderland’, which is on till a few days after New Year, has features such as ‘Let it Snow Parade’ (outdoor artificial snow that feels as good as the real thing), ‘Lights of Winter’ and, of course, the ‘Disney in the Stars’ fireworks show over the Sleeping Beauty Castle (marked by a collective roar from seven-, 17- and 70-year-olds alike).

Tian Tan Buddha

Tip: Don’t forget to use the hologram viewer that you get while entering the park, highly recommended when you’re seeing ‘Sparkling Castle Lights’, ‘Lights of Winter’ or the Christmas tree lights on Main Street. Through it, every source of illumination takes on a 3D heart-shaped halo;…More

The Hindu : y>

The human race and the planet are facing one of their biggest challenges as the spectre of climate change threatens to engulf the planet. While most countries accept the problem, the way to mitigate the effects of global warming has divided the planet into two blocs; the developing world, which is ready to cut down emissions as long as they receive funding to shift to greener technologies and the developed world that wants to force a rather lopsided agreement in favour of the industrialized countries.

These issues have resulted in a major deadlock at the recent climate talks at Copenhagen and the chances of any agreement coming through seem slim.

MetroPlus asked city residents about their take on the climate talks and the Indian stance. Most felt that climate change is a major issue that the planet faces and felt that the developed world must take a lead in enforcing the emission targets and help the developing countries reduce emission levels as well by the adoption of greener technologies. Many felt that the developing countries should make some concessions for a safer planet. We sample some responses* * *

The world must realise that we must be united in dealing with the spectre of global warming. We cannot afford to shirk responsibility as that would mean the end of the world as we know it. We must cut emission levels and adopt cleaner technologies.

Sharavan

Engineer* * *

The industrialised countries are responsible for this mess that we find ourselves in. As a country, we should also take steps and introduce greener technologies and reduce burning of fossil fuels.. It is the developing world that shall be worst hit

Ajit Engineer* * *

The developed world must take a lead in sorting out these issues of climate change and aim at bringing about more money to help poorer countries deal with climate change. All efforts must be put…More