Experience the Magical Macau

AJ Hackett Macau Tower

Macau is touted as one of the most loved tourist destinations. Culture and nature enthusiasts, entertainment lovers, gastronomes or nightlife buffs - Macau has something for everyone. Below is a note on the various must – visit  and must – experience activities during the summer in Macau along with a few images.

View of AJ Hackett Macau Tower from far

With the temperatures soaring, a summer vacation away from the hustle and bustle of the city is on everyone’s mind. What better place to breeze through the hot holiday season than the breathtaking landscape, unique historical and archaeological Macanese culture and the youthful and diversified experiences Macau has to offer.

Recently selected by Lonely Planet as one of the 10 Best Travel Regions of 2015, Macau has all the ingredients for a perfect holiday. Travel to Macau is easy as visa is on arrival, making it a convenient destination for Indian travelers, especially those who like to make impulse trips.

Performance in front of Khan Yin, Macau

This summer, has some truly unique and exciting experiences to offer. It is the ideal destination if you want to soak in some rich culture and festivities that make a county what it is. Also perfect for a great family and weekend breaks for a group of friends. Some of popular attractions one can witness include the grey hound races, Ruins of St. Paul’s, Fisherman wharf, Macau Grand Prix, the wine museum and a lot more.

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Article and photographs credits to Macau Government Tourist Office

Nidhi KM

Mind blowing stage show

Underwater World, Sentosa- Singapore…article by Vikrant

Underwater world, Sentosa Island, Singapore

Information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Details of Underwater world, Sentosa

Small fishes in Underwater world, Sentosa

Date opened 1991
Location Sentosa, Singapore
Number of animals 2500
Number of species 250
Website www.underwaterworld.com.sg
Underwater World, also known as Underwater World Singapore Pte Ltd, is an oceanarium located on the offshore Singaporean island of Sentosa. The oceanarium is mostly underground. The Underwater World's ticket includes admission to the Dolphin Lagoon at Palawan Beach.

Underwater World is also involved in several environmental and educational projects, such as the Living in the Ocean Programme, Ocean Ambassador Programme and the Coral Club.

The Underwater World also provides exclusive venues to host events, such as ocean-themed functions.

Marine life

Attractions at Underwater World, Sentosa

It has a 83-metre (272 ft) long travelator that moves visitors along a submerged 6-millimetre (0.24 in) thick acrylic-windowed tunnel from which they can look at an array of marine life including coral reefs, stingrays, moray eels, turtles, sharks and others.

Adventures

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Article by Vikrant

Las Vegas, June 2015 events

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at Las Vegas 

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey in Las Vegas

Prepare to be astonished and amazed by some of the coolest acts that can only be seen at The Greatest Show On Earth®! Children Of All Ages can let their imagination go wild in an exhilarating adventure with extraordinary circus artists and exotic animals. From the highest mountains to the deepest seas, join the circus at Thomas & Mack Center for seven performances as the cast explores a world of extreme beauty, flexibility, strength and dexterity in ways you've never seen before.

Ringling Bros and Barnum Bailey

In Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME, Ringmaster David Shipman guides audiences on a quest around the world with the help of hilarious adventure seekers, Alex and Irina Emelin. The show will thrill you as the Mongolian riders send arrows flying across the arena sky. This all-female troupe displays their skills in one of the most unique acts this year, performing a series of tricks and maneuvers atop elegant two-hump camels. Jaw-dropping freestyle BMX riders and free running tumblers fill the arena floor performing crazy-stunts mixed with acrobats leaping through a 15ft. transparent tower - and this is just one act! During this energetic show, personal introductions to our performing pachyderms will allow audiences to be on a first name basis with magnificent animals.
Venue Thomas & Mack Center,4505 S Maryland Pkwy,Las Vegas, NV
Show Dates: June 11, 2015 - June 14, 2015
Show Times: Thu & Fri 7pm; Sat 11am, 3pm & 7pm; Sun 1pm & 5pm
Website: http://www.lasvegas.com/event/ringling-bros-and-barnum--bailey/20624/

Insomnia EDC 1

Insomniac Electric Daisy Carnival 2015

Insomniac EDC 2

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Nidhi KM

My flying visit to Salt Lake city, Utah- U.S.A

Snow covered buildings and snow in the air early morning

Salt Lake city is the most populous city in the state of Utah in U.S.A. It is a corridor of urban and sub urban development. Salt Lake City has got its name due to its proximity to Great Salt Lake which is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere. Salt Lake city is a hub of Banking sector and tourism activities specially skiing. ( Source - Wikipedia)

Myself shoving away snow from car

I happened to visit Salt Lake City in December for an official trip for just two days. Now, the time being just right to visit U.S, I thought this to be a perfect timing to write about Salt Lake City.

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Nidhi KM

After snowfall in Salt Lake City

Interaction with German Ambassador- H.E. Mr. Michael Steiner

German Ambassador H.E. Mr. Michael Steiner

I happened to interact with German Ambassador- H.E. Mr. Michael Steiner during press conference of Germany as a tourist destination. Below is a snapshot of interaction.

Question- How do cross cultural interactions benefit the society in the world in your opinion?

Although there are many programs on internet and other sources but first hand Cross cultural educational sessions or interactions benefit the society because these interactions are personal and authentic. It touches people more even if cultures are different. People get fascinated by the various aspects be it dance, music , art or cultures, traditions etc. World heritage sites have their own interesting angle and histories.

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Nidhi KM

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BHUTAN, PARO,TA DZONG... article by Vinod

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BHUTAN, PARO,TA DZONG Bhutan

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF BHUTAN, PARO,TADZONG Bhutan is situated between autonomous region of Tibet , China to the north and India with states of sikkim to west , Arunachal Pradesh to the east , and West Bengal and Assam to the south. Located on the slopes of eastern Himalyas , Bhutan rises from 200 m in the southern foothills to more than 7000 m in the northern regions , and offers great span of both geographical and climate diversity and offers natural habitat to various species of flora and fauna.

Originally built in 1649 as a watchtower , Paro Ta Dzong was built by La Ngoenpa Tenzin Drugdra , the first governer of Paro. It was officially opened in 1968 with a modest collections of art objects donated by royal family members. The museum now provides safe heaven for thousands of artistic , cultural and anthropological artifacts. It has various points of interest :

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Article by Mr. Vinod

Delhi Daredevils showcase cooking skills @ Fresc Co, Ambience Mall

Delhi Daredevils showcase their cooking skills at Punjab Grill, Asia7 and Fresco

The Delhi Daredevils team show off their cooking skills at Fresc Co, Ambience Mall

Lite Bite Foods, the official F&B Partner of Delhi Daredevils in the current season of IPL, hosted a lunch for the Delhi IPL team at Fresc Co outlet in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, today. An engaging cook off competition was held between the players at the restaurant. 9 players were divided into 4 teams, who competed against each other to dish out the best Pastas and Salads. The cook off saw players such as Saurabh Tiwary, Imran Tahir, Angelo Mathews, Amit Mishra, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Gurinder Sandhu, Dominic Joseph and Jaidev Unadkad had a great time off the field. The Punjab Grill team of Imran Tahir and Mayank Agarwal won the cook off by dishing out Murg Makhani in 8 minutes.

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Nidhi KM

VIDEOCON d2h 16th IIFA 2015 TO BE HELD @ KUALA LUMPUR

IIFA 2015 announcement at PVR Director's Cut, Ambiance Mall

STAR-STUDDED VIDEOCON d2h IIFA WEEKEND 2015 ALL SET TO TAKE KUALA LUMPUR BY STORM

BOLLYWOOD’S FINEST SLATED TO BE PART OF THE 16^TH IIFA WEEKEND

ANIL KAPOOR,FARHAN AKHTAR, SHAHID KAPOOR, ARJUN KAPOOR, RANVEER SINGH, PRIYANKA CHOPRA, JACQUELINE FERNANDES,ANUSHKA SHARMA, SONAKSHI SINHA,CHITRANGADA SINGH, PARINEETI CHOPRA, BIPASHA BASU, RITEISH DESHMUKH& MANY MORE TO FOLLOW

IIFA 2015 announcement stage

TICKETS TO THE IIFA 2015 AWARDS NOW OPEN FOR SALE 

New Delhi, 15^th May 2015: The 16^th edition of the most spectacular celebration of Indian Cinema globally, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards announced the hosts for some of IIFA’s most awaited sub-events and performances that will take place at the IIFA Weekend this year. The Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend & Awards will take place at Stadium Putra in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 5-7 June 2015.

Raj Nayak – CEO, Colors on the 2nd position from right

What started off as a one night awards show has grown into a mega three day weekend extravaganza in order to accommodate the myriad magical elements that Indian Cinema has to offer. The IIFA movement has taken the world by storm by bringing a spectacular weekend to a new locale every year filled to the brim with film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases and premieres, global business forums and sporting events.

Ayushmann Khurrana,Anil Kapoor and Neha Dhupia

The IIFA Weekend this year will also see a night exclusively dedicated to fashion which will be hosted by Friend of IIFA, Neha Dhupia. IIFA Rocks, the exclusive music extravaganza will see a host of fantastic musical performances byShankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Mika, Ankit Tiwari, Kanika Kapoor, Jawed Ali and the Nooran sisters. Superstars Jacqueline Fernandes, Aditi Rao Hydari, Lisa Hayden and Lauren Gotlieb will also take the IIFA Rocks stage for some incredible performance

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Nidhi KM

Philadelphia June Event - Odunde Festival

Odunde Festival

On the second weekend in June, Philadelphia hosts one of the largest and oldest African American street festivals: Odunde. First held in 1975, Odunde attracts more than 500,000 people each year to commemorate the New Year as celebrated by the Yoruba peoples of Nigeria and West Africa. In fact, the word Odunde is translated as "Happy New Year." The Odunde Festival is a one-day festival and mostly a street market catered to African-American interests and the African Diaspora.

The annual Odunde Street Festival brings a taste of Africa to South Street and one of Philly's oldest, historically African-American neighborhoods.

Odunde Festival

Sunday, June 14, 2015, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

For more information, visit the website of Odunde Festival

Nidhi KM

Link to our website- www.Viharin.com

Hotel review- Zone by the Park, Jaipur- India

Zone by the Park, Jaipur

The Park hotels, pioneers of luxury boutique hotels in India offer world class facilities and impeccable services. To suit traveler's needs Park properties are designed in an elegant fashion.

Drive way at Zone by the Park, Jaipur

I was invited to review the newly opened property- Zone by the Park, Jaipur. Travel dates were in May and weather being quiet hot, our itinerary was designed in a way to be able to escape the heat nicely. Our host Ruchika Mehta, Corporate Director- Communications and Public Relations, The Park greeted me with a pleasant smile and great hospitality. That instance provided me an idea about the kind of hospitality I would be served at 'Zone by the Park, Jaipur'.

Reception at Zone by the Park, Jaipur

Ambiance at Zone by the Park, Jaipur

After a quick flight, we headed towards Zone by the Park, Jaipur. The property was small but was elegantly designed with strategically placed furniture utilizing space optimally giving an open look. Walls were white in colour which gave a spacious ambiance. Reception area was divided into three parts Reception, seating opposite to reception and next sitting area adjoining the restaurant- 'Bazaar' which looked trendy and sophisticated. There was another open air extension to the restaurant with a fancy auto placed housing little bazaar in it.

Reception

I took my room keys to settle down. As I went up the neatly done elevators, it was a great sight to see corridor on the 3rd floor. Room was an elegant and sophisticated with all the modern amenities in it. Nicely done up beds with the appropriate placement of other accessories like lamps, study table, phone, refrigerator and what not. It was an optimum utilization of space and gadgets. Room had no specific view but of a building adjacent to ours. But the room itself had elegant decor and comfortable beds that I got used to it fast without bothering about the building view of my window. However, the room was well lit. I loved my room including the bathroom.

Restaurant at Zone by the Park, Jaipur

Food

Outside seating

Food served at the restaurant had a nice variety showcasing innovative skills of Chef Gaurav and his team. I loved the food and will separately review the restaurant.

Service

Corridor at the 3rd floor

Be it in room dining, housekeeping, front office or any other department, service was just perfect by the smart and courteous staff

Room at Zone by the Park, Jaipur

We had plans for the day and itinerary was prepared by Ruchika and team. They were very flexible and easily incorporated our suggestions as per the needs of the group. First day we went to visit Neerja Pottery where they showed how the items are made and the amount of labor that goes in making of pottery.

View from another angle

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Nidhi KM

TLC of Discovery channel presents ‘The Taste’

The Taste- (L-R) Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Marcus Samuelsson & Ludo Lefebvre

TLC PRESENTS AN EPIC BATTLE OF FLAVOURS IN A NEW SEASON OF ‘THE TASTE’
To premiere starting 11th May and will air Monday-Tuesday at 9 PM
New Delhi, May 2015 on TLC
Get ready to witness a culinary battle of epic proportions in the new season of TLC’s THE TASTE. The competition gets hotter as Chef Marcus Samuelsson joins Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain and Ludo Lefebvre at the judging table to select Britain’s best cook.

Edible Cigar

The four culinary superstars and THE TASTE mentors will each coach a team of four competing pro and amateur cooks chosen from a casting call, as they vie to create the best tasting dish in a state of the art kitchen. At the end of each episode of THE TASTE, the mentors will have to judge the competitors’ dishes blindfolded, with no knowledge of whose creation they’re sampling, what they’re eating, how it was prepared or whom they could be sending home.

Lip smacking Chicken dish inspired by Celebrity Chefs of 'The Taste' on TLC

Rahul Johri, Executive Vice President and General Manager – South Asia & South East Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific said, “THE TASTE combines the best of cuisine and reality television featuring four world-renowned celebrity chefs to bring the ultimate culinary challenge to our viewers.”

Lamb dish inspired by dishes of Celebrity Chefs of 'The Taste' on TLC

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Nidhi KM

Germany, the travel destination of the world!

Destination Germany ranks amongst the most sought after tourist and trade destinations for global travelers and traders including Indians. Keeping in view the richness of Germany’s traditions and customs the German National Tourist Office has introduced, today, its new campaign theme for 2015 – “Germany – Traditions and Customs”.

Highlights of the conference- Germany,the travel destination

German Ambassador – H.E. Michael Steiner speaking on the occassion

Germany’s culinary delights, local specialities, living traditions, customs and arts and crafts were the topic of conference. Festivals such as Munich Beer Festival and the Cologne Carnival were mentioned as well. The German Ambassador to India, Michael Steiner, said: “Germany is bustling with more and more tourists every year attracted not only by the most fun city of the world, Berlin, or Munich with its Oktoberfest. In fact, there is so much to see and explore! Germany features an impressive diversity of cultural and natural, historical and contemporary sights and offers a wide range of activities in any season” .

German Ambassador H.E. Mr. Michael Steiner

Romit Theophilus, Director, Sales and Marketing, GNTO India said: “We have been consistently placed amongst top three most popular European destinations out of India. Our 2015 campaign is focused on increasing the traditional and cultural diversity and supporting cross-cultural dialogue between Germany and other countries across the globe which will boost the rural areas. We are expecting 6 to 7 % growth from the visitor segments from India. Germany is confident in maintaining its position as one of the most favored European destinations by Indian visitors and hope to see the Indian and international visitors grow for destination Germany”, concludes Romit Theophilus.

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Nidhi KM

TOURISM RALLY CELEBRATES LAS VEGAS’ NO. 1 INDUSTRY

5/6/14 The Mob Museum
for Tourism week and
 Rally Downtown Las Vegas

TOURISM RALLY CELEBRATES LAS VEGAS’ NO. 1 INDUSTRY

LVCVA Hosts Tourism Rally to Mark National Travel and Tourism Week and Highlight the Positive Impacts the Industry has on the Community

WHAT:

The travel and tourism industry supports 366,000 jobs in Southern Nevada and generates $50 billion a year in revenue.

To celebrate the industry and the people who work in it, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) has hosted a Tourism Rally at The LINQ Promenade Fountains in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week.

A surprise Hospitality Hero presentation also took place honoring two of the hard working Las Vegans who demonstrate excellent customer service on a daily basis. Nearly 60 tourism industry workers will be surprised on the job with a Hospitality Hero award over the next two weeks.

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Nidhi KM

Strategic Diu Fort in Diu- India

Diu Fort is a very large and imposing structure, situated on the coast of the island. This fort was constructed between 1535 and 1541 AD after the treaty signed between the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese. The fort is surrounded by the sea on the three sides and a canal on the fourth side. The fort offers a magnificent view of sea.

On the fort stands a giant structure which now houses a Light House and the Diu jail. The beam from the lighthouse reaches to about 32 kms. Several canons are still located on the top of the fort and peep out of the holes on the walls of this gigantic structure.

Our experience at Diu Fort

Another view of Diu Fort from outside

We went to see this amazing fort in the evening running thinking it will close down by 5pm. We were just in time to be able to see the Fort. However, what we got to see was highly interesting.

At the entrance there was a big wall and a long walkway overlooking Arabian Sea. It made me think what scenic beauty these royal families used to enjoy. The floor above must be providing a vast view of sea.

Jail at Diu Fort

Going ahead in front of Fort was jail. It is always saddening to see such structures but one has to come back to reality and think about what best we can do to improve today's situation in any scenario for the benefit of everyone.

View from the entrance of the Fort

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Nidhi KM