TLF Magazine July 2015__Web

Contents
Take off
Travel ideas and destinations
14 The wall that tells a story: Berlin
18 Prague for the art and history buffs
20 A museum tour through Vienna
CULINARY MAPPING
Food, restaurants and experts
38 Exploring the world's largest market for fresh produce
36 A food trip through Munich
Browse
Festivals, news and offers
06 Around the world
08 Travel Scanner
QUICK ESCAPES
Weekend Getaways
26 Varanasi: life by the ghats
24 Experience the magic of Orchha
LOUNGE
Leisure, Fashion And Entertainment
46 Meet the game changers of the travel industry
40 The virtual empresses: These ladies rule the world of online
media
49 Expert advice: Get fit this monsoon

DISCLAIMER
Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices are correct at the time of going to press but are subject to
change. Manuscripts, drawings and other materials must be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. However, TLF cannot be responsible
for unsolicited material.
Editorial & Marketing Office
Blue Butterfly Media House
C-38, Nangal Devat, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070
Tel: 011-64641981, Web: www.tlfmagazine.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shweta Joon
EDITOR Natascha Shah
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nidhi Joshi
Digital Editor Zubaida Khan
Online Content Creator Digvijay Burman
Chief Photographer Vivek
Contributing Photographer Prerna Sharma
Creative Director Nafisa Williams
Layout + Design Vikas Negi
Publisher Devinder Singh
CEO Shivani Joon
Development Director Joe Paul
Marketing Director Hiten Rajput
Marketing Executive
Mary James (North)
Deepna Kumar (West)
Jyotika (South)
Vastvikta (East)
HR Manager Anita Desai
Manager Subscriptions Sarah Naipaul
Production Manager Rohit Singh
Asst. Production Manager Imran Khan
Distribution Manager Siddharth Singh
Connect with us
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tlfmagazine | Instagram: @TLFIndia
For Ads Contact
advertise@tlfmagazine.com | Tel: +91 9871871170, +91 8800226599
For editorial queries
editor@tlfmagazine.com, editorinchief@tlfmagazine.com
For job opportunities
info@tlfmagazine.com
To get your monthly dose of travel, food, fashion and lifestyle subscribe to us
Drop in a mail at: subscriptions@tlfmagazine.com
or send in a cheque of INR 1020 in the name of Blue Butterfly Media House, for an annual subscription
*Cheques to be posted at the editorial & marketing office, address given below
This issue explores East Europe, which is a fragrant potpourri of
culture, history, art and cuisine. We give you Vienna, Berlin, Prague
and Munich, four beautiful cities each offering an array of activities
and experiences.
Be it a walk through the Charles bridge in Prague, sampling Bavarian
cuisine in Vienna, a picnic in the lovely English gardens of Munich
or an art tour through Berlin - there is plenty to do in this part of the
continent. I was there for a month and enjoyed every bit of it - check
out our website (www.tlfmagazine.com) and social media for more
videos and pictures.
On the domestic front we have the wonderful Indian cities of Varanasi
and Orchha, rich in heritage and a delight for the tourists + the best
stays in Goa.
The July issue also celebrates the Internet as a powerful medium of
networking, marketing and as a workplace! Blogging has become big
in India! Is it just a fad or is it here to stay? Don't know about that but
we talk to four ladies who rule the Indian online media scene and find
out what it takes to be on the top of the online game.
Lastly, do check out our online shopping carnival, on till 15th August.
Have fun reading!
Cheers!
Natascha Shah
Editor
Write to me at editor@tlfmagazine.com
Instagram: @Tlfmagazine
CEO’S NOTE
Dear readers,
I am excited to announce
the TLF Online Shopping
Carnival, which brings to you
an array of fashion, hospitality
and lifestyle brands. We have
exciting prices as well! So log
on to www.tlfmagazine.com
and shop till you drop.
Cheers
Shivani Joon
On the cover:
Vienna
Stock Photos
Turn to page:
XX for CEO’s
pick
Bavarian cuisine: My meals would mostly look
like this!

Around the World
The Hong Kong Shopping Festival
When: 6-9 July
Where: Hong Kong
Considered as a shopping paradise for the shopaholics, Hong Kong
stands apart in fashion and style with world’s high-end fashion and
sprawling street markets. The big surprise for fashion fiestas and
traders is the Hong Kong Fashion Week Spring Summer 2015. The
four-day fair from 6-9 July 2015, organised by the Hong Kong Trade
Development Council is unique by itself as its an amalgamation of
modern and exquisite designs. It’s a sourcing haven with over 1200
exhibitors participating from 20 countries. As the fashion hub of Asia,
Hong Kong hosts exhibitors from all over the world to showcase
collections with a cosmopolitan blend of the best of East and West.
Some of the must-visit places for all the fashion fiestas are Stanley
Market. It has fashion, accessories and art as well as home ware and
a whole host of restaurants and bars nearby, plus a pretty waterfront
to stroll along. PMQ, one of the newest hot-spots is a destination to
meet upcoming designers in their studios. PMQ is an ideal spot which
boasts of art and furniture, to fashion and accessories. One can stroll
around Moon Street, Sun Street and Wing Fung Street in Wan Chai for
design-driven lifestyle stores with fashionable dining neighbourhood.
The most famous place for sourcing fabrics and everything fashion
related is Sham Shui Po in Kowloon.
For more information, visit: www.DiscoverHongKong.com/in
The Jazz Festival
When: June 26 - July 5, 2015
Where: Montréal, Canada
Montréal turns into a big party place every year. Join one of the
1000 parties that start in the morning and end only when you call it a
night. Over 3,000 artists from 30 countries visit this festival with two
million attendees. Listen to a new interpretation of jazz at the world’s
largest jazz festival. Rub shoulders with jazz-fans, aficionados of the
genre in its purest form, and the artists themselves.
Dance and sing to the beat, dream in French, snack on poutine,
linger over a five-course tasting menu and shop at the chic boutiques of
Montréal. Head to Maison du Festival de Jazz for an intimate concert
or let loose in the open air ambience. Sip cappuccino at an open-air
café and bite into pain au chocolat minutes after it emerges from the
oven. Cheer alongside 100,000 new friends in the pedestrian-only
Quartier des spectacles and cherish remakes of Miles Davis classics.
The Jazz Festival takes place in the summer. Old Montréal can be
explored by bike, carriage or foot, soaking up its renowned duality of
Old World charm infused with energy. Take a breather in Mont Royal
Park or experience Montréal clubbing at its hippest; you can also visit
the year-round gift boutique in the hall of the Maison du Festival Rio
Tinto Alcan.
http://www.montrealjazzfest.com
WORLD VIEW
www.tlfmagazine.com6 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015
The Sandugo Festival
When: 1st-31st July
Where: Bohol, Philippines
The Sandugo Festival is an annual celebration in the island of
Bohol, Tagbilaran City. Hundreds of people around the world gather
to attend the biggest event in Bohol, Philippines. It is a month long
celebration from July 1-31.
During the festival, the city witnesses elegant street dance
performances, colourful parades, agri-trade fairs, cultural shows,
sports competitions and beauty pageant. The Miss Bohol Sandugo
Beauty Pageant and Sandugo Street Dancing Competition usually is
held on the 3rd and 4th Sunday of July.
The annual celebration of Sandugo Festivities begins in the month
of March. However the street dancing competitions have been shifted
to July to coincide with the annual TBTK Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok
Kalibutan, meaning a gathering of Boholanos (the people of Bohol)
from around the world.
Apart from this the government organises various shows and
competitions that are held every night at the Tagbilaran port. There
are also product showcases, music concerts and grandiose fireworks
display.
The Street dance performances are very colourful that are performed
by various schools in the city showcasing elegant moves and creative
costumes. These dances depict the theme of ‘friendship among equals
and international diplomacy’ expressed in the participating group’s
traditional culture.
http://www.bohol-guide.com
The Mud Rush
When: 8th August
Where: Silvassa, India
Sink in some mud pits, ice holes and climb up net walls and party
under the stars and this is just the start. This Mud Rush run parallel
to the serene Dudhani lake while trying your hand at jumping
through fire, pits with four tonnes of ice and much more! End your
day with camping and partying under the serene stars and piping
hot tea. The Mud Rush (TMR), India’s premier adventure sports
festival is back in its third edition to awaken the athlete in you.
The event is aimed at being tougher, harder and uncut this year.
After the huge success of the previous two editions in Kolad and
Pune, The Mud Rush is bigger and better, guaranteeing you much
more fun and adventure than before.
This event will not only test your endurance and stamina, but
also your ability to help strangers and comrades and mingle with
people who love to sport it out and party. All in all, The Mud Rush
is a package that offers an overall exciting day filled with action,
fun, heart throbbing EDM music and a night under the stars with
some cool camping.
For tickets visit: www.bookmyshow.com

BROWSE
www.tlfmagazine.com8 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015 9 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015
TravelScanner
Memorable monsoon with
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT PUNE CHAKAN
Away from the hustle and bustle of Pune city, the
countryside of Chakan is serene and worth a visit
during monsoon. For the ideal weekend getaway with
your family and friends, set out on a journey amidst
the Chakan alps and check in to Courtyard by Marriott
Pune Chakan. The launch of a special Monsoon
Getaway Package is applicable for stay from Fridays
to Sundays and is priced at INR 5299 plus taxes
which includes breakfast and dinner buffet for two, a
complimentary bottle of wine, and free meals for kids
less than 5 years of age.
Located about 50 minutes away by road from
Lonavala, 40 minute drive from Pune city and just 18
km from the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Marriott’s
finest Courtyard property in Chakan is easily
accessible especially for all the Pune and Mumbai
residents looking for a quick yet refreshing weekend
getaway. For the adventurous souls there’s trekking
around the Chakan. Within the premises of the hotel
guests can enjoy varied recreational activities like
pool volleyball, table tennis and X-Box.
For reservations, call +91-21-3566 6666 or visit
www.courtyardchakan.com.
Monsoon magic at Niraamaya
Retreats
Experience the monsoon magic at the Niraamaya
Retreats Surya Samuda, Kovalam. Overlooking
the azure waters of the Arabian Sea and flanked by
pristine secluded beaches lies a sanctuary for the
soul. Stay in luxurious rooms, pamper yourself in a
world class spa, take dips in the infinity pool, seduce
your palate with gourmet food or simply soak the
silence. This package is priced at INR 23,900 for 2
nights (3rd night complimentary).
Located in the Idukki mountains, the Niraamaya
Retreats Cardamom Club, Thekkady is nestled
amidst acres of verdant cardamom plantations. Wake
up to the sweet cacophony of hundreds of birds, and
in-between lounging on hammocks or tucking in
gorgeous meals, for the wanderers there are spice
walks, treks and safaris. This package is priced at
INR 17,500 for 2 nights (3rd night complimentary).
Both these 'Pay-for-Two-Stay-for-Three' packages
include a luxury room for two, complimentary Wi-
Fi, daily breakfast and 20 percent discount on all
hotel services. The monsoon package is valid for
stays until 31st July, 2015
For further details email us:reservations@
niraamaya.in | Tel: +91 80 4510 4510
You Stay. We Pay. at The
Claridges, New Delhi
World class comfort, luxury and opulence
come together at The Claridges, New Delhi.
Select from the two exclusive packages that
promise a grandiose stay, and experience
The Claridges’ way of life. Choose your stay
between the Deluxe Room or the Claridges
Room between 1st June and 30th August and
you receive immediate credit which can be
availed on any services at the hotel during the
stay. The 2 nights and 3 days at the Deluxe
Room starts at INR 14,999 +taxes and credit
of INR 7,500 can be availed on any services
at the hotel during the stay. The 2 nights and
3 days at the Claridges Room is priced at INR
16,999 + taxes and credit of INR 8,500 can
be availed on any services at the hotel during
the stay. Both the packages are valid from 1st
June to 30th August 2015.
For reservations: reservations@claridges.
com or call :011-39555000/25/26/62/63
Now a Six Senses Spa at the
Belvedere Hotel, Greece
Six Senses Spas’ latest addition to its
worldwide spa portfolio is at the renowned
Belvedere Hotel, nestled on a hill overlooking
the pretty white Cyclades houses of Mykonos
Town and the Aegean Sea.
Opening in early July, the spa has
been inspired by the hotel’s stylish and
contemporary design, reflecting the
traditional Myconian architecture with a
contemporary interpretation. Locally-inspired
features such as whitewashed walls and
marble floors sourced from the neighboring
island of Naxos have been used throughout
the spa. Special attention has been given to
the local craftsmanship with the classic white
interiors being complemented by beautiful
wooden shelving carved by a local artisan.
Natural fabrics in shades of Aegean blue and
white together with soft lighting add warm
highlights to the spa’s natural palette to evoke
the serenity of the island.
There is an open-plan spa reception area
with a vaulted ceiling, comfortable seating
and beautifully-crafted retail displays that
lead guests throughout the spa like a silent
guide. The three treatment rooms, one
double and two single, feature steam showers
and daybeds. For nail aficionados, there’s
an intimate manicure area plus a separate
pedicure area with seating built into the floor
and wall. Several frosted glass skylights
provide additional splashes of the Aegean’s
special natural light.
For additional details, please visit Six
Senses Spa Mykonos or www.belvederehotel.
com

BROWSE
Monsoon in the desert with
Samsara
Samsara, a unit of Desert Holiday Resort, located
on the Jaisalmer road 115 km from Jodhpur in the
village of Dechu, is set amidst sprawling desert and
is spread in 25 acres of land.
The clusters of rooms with landscaped central
courtyards offer interactive spaces without
compromising privacy. The low rise buildings
embellished by chajjas, innovative columns
and crafted openings complimented by
the sand dune view and the private
gardens cater to aspirations of the
modern travellers. Water bodies
and expansive green areas add
to the vision of making it a true
oasis in the desert. 32 luxurious
villas and 2 Grand suites
with expansive public area,
swimming pools, recreation
areas and gardens set along its
private sand dune makes it a true
resort experience. Hospitality and
comfort blended with high standards
of personalised service transforms one
into the era bygone, majestic and soul warming.
Here you can indulge in farm picnic lunch, jeep
safari, camel safari, dunes dinner, bush dinner and
a trip to a nearby town called Kheechan.
The Luxury Tents and Sand Dunes Villas are
priced at INR 15,000 and Garden Villas are priced
at INR 16,000.
For more information: www.samsaradechu.com
Holiday at Soneva Maldives or
Thailand
Experience Soneva’s SLOW LIFE philosophy:
Sustainable-Local-Organic-Wellness Learning-
Inspiring-Fun-Experiences at either of its two
properties – Soneva Fushi or Soneva Kiri. Soneva
Fushi Resort is the original desert island hideaway
in the Maldives. Soneva Kiri- KohKood is Thailand
as it was years ago. The resort offers an unrivalled
combination of luxury, environmentally friendly
designandunforgettable,authenticThaiexperiences.
Both the resorts offer a holiday at 25 percent off the
best available rate and is valid for stays of minimum
four nights between April 11 and September 30,
2015 at Soneva Fushi and and April 16 and October
15, 2015 at Soneva Kiri. The Soneva Summer
Camp activities include snorkelling with the marine
biologist, picnics on a deserted island, Maldivian
cultural discovery tours and more at Soneva Fushi
while activities at Soneva Kiri include mini survivor
in the jungle, arts and crafts workshops, volleyball,
wave jumping and traditional Thai games, cooking
classes and much more.
For reservations: Call 0124- 4309300 or visit
www.soneva.com
Monsoon in Mumbai with The
Resort
Enjoy the romance of nature at The Resort, Madh-
Marve, Mumbai with lush greenery, picturesque
beach and the mesmerising scent of wet sand and
discover the romantic side of Mumbai’s Monsoon.
The Standard Room is priced at INR 6969 per night
on twin sharing basis and Deluxe Room starts at INR
7979 per night on twin sharing basis. The package
includes buffet breakfast and buffet dinner, plate
of vegetarian pakoda or onion bhajia/ vegetarian
spring roll along with tea in the room on the day of
arrival only. There is also 15 percent discount on all
food and non- alcoholic beverages. The package is
valid from 11th June till 30th September 2015.
For more information: www.theresortmumbai.
com
Iftar feasts at The Taj Mahal
Palace, Mumbai
Celebrate Ramadan with The Taj Mahal Palace,
Mumbai. This month, break the fast with traditional
treats and memorable feasts with family and
friends from an array of divine and scrumptious
Mediterranean delicacies at Souk, The Taj Mahal
Palace, Mumbai starting 18thJune, 2015.
Surrounded by the breath-taking view of
Mumbai’s skyline and the beautiful Arabian Sea,
enjoy a special menu over a drink of Laban up
with dry fruits and nuts, crudities and olives. The
succulent spread consists of Sheesh Taouk, Kebab
Joojeh, BamiaBil Lahm – an Egyptian lamb stew,
Kabse Bil Dijaj – chicken from Saudi Arabia served
with flavoured rice and Roze Kousharie – chick peas
and lentils served with rice cooked Egyptian style to
name a few. To soothe those sweet temptations, the
guests can choose from an assortment of traditional
desserts like Umm Ali, Dates platter, Baklawa and
Kinafi Jibni.
Savor the exquisite dishes this Ramadan after the
daily Maghrib, and be a part of the special occasion
at Souk at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Venue: Souk, The Taj Mahal Palace
For more information: www.tajhotels.com

L
aunched in November 2007, Cotai
Water Jet is the premium high-speed
ferry service between Hong Kong
and Macao. As of January 2015, the
maritime jet fleet has serviced more
than 44 million passengers, and averages
approximately 86 daily sailings. Its 14
custom-built catamarans have the capacity
to carry more than 400 passengers each and
operate at top speeds of approximately 42
knots. Passengers on Cotai Water Jet have a
choice of three classes of service, with direct
sailings between ports in Macao, Taipa,
Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the Hong Kong
International Airport providing an important
transportation option for both locals and
visitors of Macao. The Cotai Water Jet service
is fully managed and operated on behalf of
owner Sands China Limited by Chu Kong
High Speed Ferry of Hong Kong.
Routes
Cotai Water Jet provides direct sailings
with different ports between Macao and Hong
Kong, currently there are six routes.
Upstream check-in service
Passengers on participating airlines can
take a Cotai Water Jet ferry from Macao to
Hong Kong International Airport and enjoy
CotaiWater Jet is the premium high speed ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao
CotaiWater Jet:Your ride between
Hong Kong and Macao
the convenience of the upstream check-in
service at Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal or
Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. The
upstream check-in service includes check-
in, collection of boarding passes, bag tag
and tax refund coupon, baggage check and
Throughout 2015
there will be a range
of ticket promotions
rewarding customers
with valuable offers,
including Cotai
Water Jet Facebook
Fans Promotion,
Birthday Celebration
Promotion, E-ticket
Promotion and
Taipa Ferry Terminal
Parking Card
Promotion
CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine)
clearance.
Likewise, passengers on participating
airlines who arrive at Hong Kong
International Airport can also take a Cotai
Water Jet ferry to Macao as long as it is their
final destination. Passengers to Macao can
purchase ferry tickets at the Cotai Water Jet
counter in Hong Kong International Airport
by presenting their boarding pass and bag
tag. Passengers do not need to go through
immigration at Hong Kong International
Airport and baggage will be automatically
redirected to Macao.
Stay Connected
Complimentary Wi-Fi on board in all first
class and VIP cabins now makes it easier for
passengers to keep in touch with friends or
work as they travel. It is useful for guests
even though the journey between Macao and
Hong Kong is short.
For more information about Airport
Ferry Services, please visit: www.
cotaiwaterjet.com/airport-ferry-services.html
For more information, including sailing
schedule and fares, please visit: www.
cotaiwaterjet.com
For photos of Cotai Water Jet, please
access the below link: http://tinyurl.com/
Cotai-WJ
BROWSE | SAMPLE

TAKE OFF
The Wall of BerlinA symbol of the great story behind the dynamic capital of Germany
BY NATASCHA SHAH
B
erlin is a city with it’s soul steeped
in astounding history covered in
multiple layers of incredible art,
the greatest symbol of which is
the Wall of Berlin. The wall looks
ordinary but was once used for 28 years as
a weapon of destruction against the common
man. 28 miles of millions of tons of concrete,
steel, tank traps, death strips and trip wires
have served the purpose of dividing Germany
and Berlin into two parts East Germany
(GDR, under the Soviets) and West Germany
(Under the Allied Forces). Berlin underwent
a similar division into East and West Berlin.
The west was more prosperous and offered
more freedom than the East, as a result of
which everyone wanted to head to that part.
The Soviets didn't like that and were afraid
that would lead to a brain drain. Hence a wall
was built on the night of August 12–13, 1961
between the two. The aim was to keep the
people of East Berlin inside the city- almost
like prisoners.
The Wall that stood like a mountain
“The Berlin wall looks ordinary but was once
used for 28 years as a weapon of destruction
against the common man"
IN PICTURES: Graffiti at the East side gallery

TAKE OFF
between thousands of resigned hearts, hopeless
eyes and broken families was something every East
German wanted to cross. East Germany's hard-line
communist leadership was forced from power in
October 1989 during the wave of democratization that
swept through eastern Europe. Finally on November
9 the East German government opened the country's
borders with West Germany (including West Berlin),
and openings were made in the Berlin Wall through
which East Germans could travel freely to the West.
The wall henceforth ceased to function as a political
barrier between East and West Germany.
Parts of the Wall are on display or in private
safekeeping all over the world. One section of the Wall
is in a men's room of the Main Street Casino in Las
Vegas, another section is in the gardens of the Vatican.
You can even have your own little slice for as little as
10 USD on eBay!
The East Side Gallery is the world's largest open
air art Gallery and has some amazing artwork on what
was once a part of the Wall. This 1.3 km long section
of the Berlin Wall is located near the centre of Berlin
on Mühlenstraße in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

TAKE OFF
HISTORY
1) THE PRINCELY COLLECTIONS,
LOBKOWICZ PALACE AT PRAGUE
CASTLE
Certain to become enormously popular, but
for now, only the cognoscenti know about
the place. This extensive palace (incidentally
the only privately owned building within
the Prague Castle complex, which is
otherwise entirely government-owned)
houses a collection of art, antiques, and arms
drawn from centuries-old collections of the
Lobkowicz noble family.
2) HOUSE OF THE BLACK MADONNA
Dating from 1912, Josef Gočár’s House
of the Black Madonna is Prague’s first and
finest example of cubist architecture. It used
to house three floors of remarkable cubist
paintings and sculpture, as well as furniture,
ceramics and glassware in cubist designs.
The exhibition was moved now to Trade
Fair Palace. Prague is unique for the cubism
architecture, famous cubism villas can also be
found below Vyšehrad.
PRAGUETOPTEN
Lenka Rogerova, Director of Communications at Mandarin Oriental,
Prague tells us about the must visits for History and Art lovers.
3) CHARLES BRIDGE
Nothing can beat a walk through the
Charles Bridge in the evening. Holy Roman
Emperor Charles IV. had the Charles Bridge
built there in the 14th century. He laid down
the foundation stone on 9 th of July 1357,
at 5:31 a.m. It is no coincidence: this date
was carefully chosen, because it makes
an interesting numerical scale. When it is
written in the chronology the year – the day
– the month – the time, it makes a scale,
going upwards and then downwards: 1 3 5 7
9 7 5 3 1. It is not the only one “magical”
circumstance of building the Charles Bridge.
You can see all of them in a movie, screened
in the Old Town Bridge Tower.
4) LORETA
Loreta is a Marian pilgrimage site with
the Baroque Church of the Nativity and a
replica of the Holy House and is surrounded
by cloisters and chapels. In the tower there
is a 27-bell carillon that plays the Loretan
Marian song "A Thousand Times We Greet
Thee" (every hour from 9 am to 6 pm). The
Loreto treasure consists of a rare collection
of liturgical objects from the 16th to 18th
centuries, the most famous of which is the
"Prague Sun", a monstrance encrusted with
6,222 diamonds.
5) JEWISH QUARTER
wasnamedaftertheemperorJosefII,whose
reforms helped to ease living conditions for
the Jewish, the Jewish Quarter contains the
remains of Prague's former Jewish ghetto.
Fortunately, most of the significant historical
buildings were saved from destruction, and
today they remain a testimony to the history
of the Jews in Prague. They form the best
preserved complex of historical Jewish
monuments in the whole of Europe. There
are two figures connected to Jewish Quarter,
Franz Kafka (1883 – 1924) and the mystical
humunculus Golem created by Jehuda ben
Bezalel, also known as Rabi Löw.
ART + DESIGN
6) KAMPA MUSEUM
There are several interesting culture options
in our own backyard: I highly recommend a
visit to the Kampa Museum, featuring 20th
century Czech and Central European art.
Of particular note are paintings by abstract
painter Franz (František) Kupka and Cubist
sculptor Otto Gutfreund. The building itself
is a sight to see – don’t miss the glass terrace
overlooking the river, and the gigantic chair
sculpture by Magdalena Jetelová which had
been washed a number of miles down river
during the 2002 floods, and then brought
back.
7) DOX
The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art,
Architecture and Design is now in its fourth
year of successful activity. The project
originated as a private initiative, founded on
the conviction that Prague belongs on the
map of contemporary art and lacked such
an alternative centre. The name DOX has
its origin in the Greek word doxa, which
amongst other things means a method of
understanding, an opinion and a conviction.
The DOX Centre is perceived as a dynamic
cultural platform and an arena for
a confrontation of different approaches and
tendencies.
8) THE CHEMISTRY GALLERY
The main mission of the Gallery is
to support young aspiring artists in the
toughest moment of their artistic careers
- right after they graduate and embark on
their own independent creative journeys.
The Gallery’s exclusive focus on young
authors is unique, with no other gallery
focused solely on young talent. The Gallery
also helps support the mission of Czech art
colleges and universities. Some artists are
offered long-term collaboration and help
when introducing their work both in the
Czech and foreign art markets. Through
other cultural activities the Gallery strives
to attract people outside of the artistic scene
and awaken their interest in art.
9) MODERNISTA, CZECH DESIGN OF
THE 20TH CENTURY
Owned and operated by Janek Jaros, the
man who is single-handedly responsible for
reviving great 20th Century Czech designs
by launching a ceramics replica business.
Here you can find everything from Cubist
and modernist furniture, lighting, ceramics
and glass to small items like children’s toys
and jewelry. A small selection of works by
contemporary Czech designers are offered
as well, along with the complete range of
glassware by Artěl, one of the pre-eminent
modern glass brands designed by American-
born, Prague-based designer Karen Feldman.
10) THE VILLA MULLER
The villa Müller is the chef-d'oeuvre
of the international architectural avant-
garde. It as an example of the rare concord
between an enlightened client and a brilliant
architect. František Müller, was one of the
leading lights of Czech society of his day. He
commissioned one of the greatest architects
of the time, Adolf Loos, to design his house.
This commission allowed Loos to bring his
original spatial conception. The outfitting
of the villa interiors – selected and in many
cases designed by the architect himself – was
the embodiment of the surprising harmony
between modern Functionalism and the
classic English style. The Villa was restored
in 1997-2000, and opened to the public as a
National Cultural Monument.
“Nothing can beat
a walk through the
Charles Bridge in
the evening. Holy
Roman Emperor
Charles IV. had the
Charles Bridge built
there in the 14th
century"
Lenka Rogerova Director
Communications Mandarin Oriental,
Prague
The Old Town Square
The iconic Charles Bridge
House of the Black Modonna
19 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015

5Must See Museums
inVienna
Vienna owes its universal appeal to the way it excitingly combines imperial
nostalgia with a highly creative cultural scene, responsibly cultivating a precious
heritage and charming traditions whilst taking on board the latest trends.The city
offers a lot of fascinating museums as well here is a list of five must visits
3. Gallery Belvedere - Vienna
This Baroque masterpiece houses is one
of Europe's most important museums, the
Gallery Belvedere Vienna. In the Upper
Belvedere the world's largest collection of
paintings by Gustav Klimt is on display,
alongside works by Egon Schiele and Oskar
Kokoschka.
The Belvedere also features a fascinating
group of masterpieces by French
impressionists like Renoir and Monet,
and works by Van Gogh, while a large
Biedermeier collection will delight fans of
19th century art.
The Belvedere gardens and park invite you
to enjoy a magnificent view of downtown
Vienna.
Galerie Belvedere, Prinz-Eugen-Strasse
27, 1030 Vienna, Austria, T.: 0043 1 795 57 0
info@belvedere.at
Opening Hours
Daily: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
4. Hauz Der Musik
HAUS DER MUSIK is an interactive
discovery museum located in the heart of
Vienna's first district nestled between St.
Stephen's Cathedral and the Vienna State
Opera. A host of interactive installations
playfully communicate openness to new
things, understanding and enthusiasm in
approaching music HAUS DER MUSIK was
awarded the Austrian Museum Prize for its
innovative design and is located in the former
Palais of Archduke Charles. A total of 5,000
square meters has been set aside exclusively
for areas dedicated to a wide array of
approaches to music, and most of all, to the
experience of music.
HAUS DER MUSIK
Betriebsges.m.b.H.Seilerstätte 30, A-1010
Vienna, Tel. ++43-1-513 48
For more information visit: http://www.
hdm.at/
OpeningHours:
Daily: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
1. Museum of Fine Arts -
Vienna
The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum
of Fine Arts) in Vienna is one of the most
important European museum buildings
errected in the 19th century. The monumental
structure, built as part of the Emperor Franz
Joseph I expansion of the city in 1858, was
intended to both unite and appropriately
represent the artistic treasures that had been
collected by the Habsburgs over the centuries.
Construction work lasted 20 years, from
when ground was first broken in 1871 to
completion in the year 1891.
ThenewlyconstructedMuseumofFineArts
building in the Ringstraße was ceremoniously
opened in 1891. The magnificent architecture
creates a fitting setting for the artistic treasures
assembled by the Habsburgs, amongst the
most spectacular in the world. The collections
range from Ancient Egyptian and Greek and
Roman Antiquities to Medieval Art and the
splendid Renaissance and Baroque. In all,
the museum is divided into eight different
collections, some of which are housed in the
Hofburg and in Schönbrunn Palace.
Museum of Fine Arts, Main Building,
Maria Theresien-Platz, A - 1010 Vienna
Opening Hours
Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Coin cabinet
closes at 6 p.m.)
For further information visit: www.khm.
at
2. Albertina - Vienna
The range of outstanding works at the
Albertina span from Leonardo da Vinci,
Michelangelo and Raphael through Albrecht
Duerer, Rembrandt and Rubens to Lorrain,
Delacroix, Manet and Cezanne.The
collections of the 20th century include works
by Schiele,Klimt and Kokoschka, as well as
Warhol, Rauschenberg and Baselitz.
Aside the vast graphics collection the
museum also houses a photographic, an
architectural and a poster collection.
Another highlight of this museum are the
Habsburg State Rooms, which are newly
renovated and open to be viewed.
After your visit to the Albertina have a
coffee at the DO&CO Albertina, a restaurant
and café located on the ground floor with
great views of the Burggarten.
Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien,
Austria, T.: 0043 1 534 83-0
Opening Hours
Daily: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
For further information visit: www.
albertina.at
5. LEOPOLD MUSEUM
The Leopold Collection is one of the
most important collections of modern
Austrian art in the world. The more than
5,000 exhibits were collected by Rudolf and
his wife Elisabeth Leopold over a period of
five decades. In 1994, the Collection was
consolidated by Rudolf Leopold with the
assistance of the Republic of Austria and
the Austrian National Bank into the Leopold
Museum Private Foundation - a non-profit
private foundation.
Leopold Museum, at the MuseumsQuartier,
U2 MuseumsQuartier, U3 Volkstheater
Opening Hours
Daily: 10am-6pm
Thursdays: 10am-9pm
For more information visit: http://www.
leopoldmuseum.org/en
For more information please visit: www.
austria.info
“The Belvedere
features a
fascinating group
of masterpieces
by French
impressionists
like Renoir and
Monet, and works
by Van Gogh"
Belvedere gallery vienna Albertina terrace vienna
TAKE OFF

TAKE OFF
What Makes Indigo
India’s No 1 Low Cost Airlines?
Fifteen minutes from check-in to gate sounds far-fetched, but it’s already a reality for travellers who fly
Indigo, India’s No 1 low-cost carrier....
Words | RUPALI DEAN
A DAY AT INDIGO’S I –FLY
A few years ago I had met Aditya Ghosh
President, IndiGo on a newly launched flight
to Muscat and I asked him if the economic
scenario would affect his Business plans, to
which he replied, “There will be no impact.
We will continue to hire and train, in keeping
with our growth. In fact, we are almost
doubling our learning and development
facility called ‘I-fly’ over the next few
months”. And sure enough it was in place and
I requested him and took an appointment to
visit the facility as I was always intrigued by
the fact that how come such a low cost airline
is flawless in any aspect be it booking online,
service at the check-in counter, inflight
service or landing on time. So I reached the
I-Fly office IN Gurgaon and while I waited
for my guided tour which was barely a
minute’s wait I was instantly offered water
and tea. Next I met two of Aditya’s ‘army of
leaders’ as he calls them who truly seemed
strong enough to take IndiGo to the next level
and certainly we Indians, are proud of - a
world beating benchmark that team IndiGo
has set today. ‘IndiGo is what it is today
because of the team that I get to work with
every day. And that’s not just the leadership
team in Gurgaon, but all of us, spread across
the country. Each and every team member is
a leader and my hope is that one day, each and
every one of them, will feel and act as ‘the
President of the company’”, says Aditya. The
phenomenal learning and development team
at IndiGo’s learning academy called ‘I-fly’
has a dedicated leadership related coaching
vertical along with folks at HR, who are the
people who work the magic and make IndiGo
India’s No 1 low –cost airline today !
PEOPLE SPEAK
“IndiGo is my favourite airline as one can
bank on it, it always lands on time. Once on
a Goa-Mumbai flight I was running late for
a meeting but fortunately for me, IndiGo
landed before time, I am a fan now of this
airline”, says Actor Director Deepak Tijori.
“IndiGo has now come to be recognized as
being synonymous with low fares, courteous
service and being on time”, says TV Actor
Akshay Sethi. “I loved the Get Packing idea,
it’s a high quality travel experience at low
prices, with the minimize wastage of time and
without any hassles. Leading Hotel chains
have tied-up with IndiGo for this initiative,
along with a host of smaller chains or
individual hotels, to give the customer a wide
choice of options. This is supplemented with
exciting itineraries. The technology platform
for this initiative has been provided by IRES
Networks, an experienced player in this
area”, adds Divya Aggarwal an avid traveller.
THE INFLIGHT EXPERIENCE
On board, the team of cabin crew is also
very professional, well trained and charming.
They are always eager to help and the air
crafts are new and nicely maintained, neat
and clean. The seats are comfortable (I
normally book the first row seat with more
leg space) and always arrive on time. My
family always insist me to purchase tickets
from Indigo whenever we go on vacation,
more so my mother, as Indigo is always
happy to provide wheel chair just after
entering the airport without much formality
for a concerned passenger. Coming to the
food, to start with the packaging is quirky,
one can spend a few minutes reading and
enjoying it. I love the low sugar Masala chai
option and some of the hot food especially
the Veg Biryani and the Muesli if I am on
a morning flight. The smoked Almonds and
the newly introduced Murukku are a great
option on a short flight.
SUMMING UP
It isn’t a wonder that during the course
of its history, IndiGo has won numerous
awards including the prestigious Sky track
Best Low Cost Airline Awards 2010 in
Central Asia. The IndiGo brand of austerity
is the hallmark of every successful global
WHY MAKES INDIGO STAND OUT
FROM THE REST- FAST FACTS
 One of the youngest fleet globally at
under 3 years
 Percentage of women in the work force
– 41.2 percent
 Percentage of women leaders – 26.7
percent
 Second fastest growing low cost carrier
in the world
 Don’t have receptionists or secretaries at
IndiGo
 90 percent of all Aircraft Maintenance
Engineers made in IndiGo
 Highest Technical Dispatch Reliability
- 99.91 percent (Aug-2006 to 31-Dec-
2014)
 Largest aircraft order in 2005, 2011 and
2014
 IndiGo, on its 100th aircraft delivery,
launched a scholarship program in
partnership with Mensa India to educate
100 underprivileged gifted children
right up to their graduation
 Over 2 million sandwiches sold on board
every year
 Every 72 seconds, an IndiGo plane is
taking off or landing on the Network
 Number of dots on the IndiGo arrow
plane – 20
 First airline to launch WAP site & mobile
check in service
 Only airline to have Step-less boarding
ramp for easy boarding & de-boarding
 First and only airline to have stair-lift
installed on boarding ramp for elderly
passengers
 Offer check-in via handheld device,
Q-busters, at select airports
 First airline to have 24x7 twitter handle
with average response time of less than
15 minutes
 Currently indigo flies to 38 destinations
with 96 aircraft and offer 633 daily
departures
 First airline in India to have ACARS
(Aircraft Communication Addressing &
Reporting System)
 4,353,202 kgs tons of cargo of relief
materials carried for free to Kashmir
 They carry an Information Guide and
Safety Instruction Card in Braille for our
Visually Impaired customers.
 1766 people were rescued from Srinagar
and flown free to cost.
 IndiGo is supporting 600 women
beneficiaries in West Bengal with
livelihood opportunities by setting up
an enterprise for them with the help of
Bandhan Konnagar
 Supporting Tamana School of Hope to
support education of autistic children
 Providing education to 100 girls at
Delhi and Seemandhara with Smile
Foundation; using the proceeds from
the sale of Girl Power Badges on board.
 IndiGo has 655 biogas units up and
running in Chittoor and Anantpur
district at Andhra Pradesh; contributing
towards 1459 tonnes of Green House
Gas Reductions
“Indigo is the first
and only airline
to have stair-
lift installed on
boarding ramp for
elderly passengers"
low-cost airline. Southwest Airlines, Spirit
Airlines and Ryanair, to name a few, are
still flying high thanks to their relentless
focus on costs. IndiGo follows the same
rulebook. The airline has shunned frequent
flier programmes, airport lounges, special
check-in counters for a particular class of
passengers and TV screens on board. All in
all, this low cost airline is a dream come true
and is flawless only because of the correct
vision and training!
Actor Deepak Tijori

QUICK ESCAPES
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
www.tlfmagazine.com24 TLF Magazine  july 2015 25 TLF Magazine  JULy 2015
ORCHHA – History in Hiding R
ecently, I conducted a photo-tour to
Orchha, a small town in MP(District
Tikamgarh). It has a meagre
population of around 20,000. For
a town that size, it packed a lot of
surprises for us.
Bundela chief, RudraPratap Singh,
founded this quaint little town in early 16th
century on the banks of Betwa River. There's
an interesting story about how the name
'Bundela' came about. Legend has it that the
first ruler of Orchha used to offer drops of
blood to Goddess Kali, and thus the name
Bundela - one who offers drops.
As a town, it is unusually rich in heritage
and architecture. Few of the notable structures
here are the Orchha Palace and Fort,
Chaturbhuj Temple, a cluster of cenotaphs,
Raja Ram temple and Lakshmi temple.
Orchha palace has two distinct sections -
Raja Mahal and Jahangir Mahal. While Raja
Mahal is modelled on Bundela architecture,
Jahangir Mahal is a sterling example of
Mughal architecture.
This part of the palace was built for Salim
(Jahangir), who had fought with Akbar, and
had left home. Orchha means 'hidden'. While
passing through Central India, he came across
this hidden territory ruled by fierce Rajput
tribe of Bundelas. At that time, the Bundela
Chief, Bir Singh Deo, helped him generously.
Subsequently, Salim and Akbar made up, and
Salim went back.
This help extended to Salim earned Orchha
unparalleled royal patronage.And that's when,
with their coffers loaded, many chrismatic
palaces, temples, and buildings reflecting
Bundela architecture came about.
Betwariver is a rocky river (not navigable
for half its length), suited for minor rafting
for enthusiasts, and is a tributary of Yamuna.
During monsoons, it swells and cuts off the
other side, as the fragile bridge submerges.
The Cenotaphs or Chattris were built to pay
homage to the dead ancestors of the Bundela
kings, on the banks of Betwa. There are 15
cenotaphs in all. These were built for every
Bundela chief who ruled Orchha, till the
lineage faded. These cenotaphs demonstrate
superlative workmanship.
Raja Ram temple is in a palace, and this is
the only temple where Ram is worshipped as
a king, and not as a God.
Lakshmi temple here, surprisingly, has no
idol of Goddess Lakshmi as it was stolen, but
has an altar meant for sacrifices, very similar
to the temples of Tantric cult. Interestingly,
the temple's walls resemble a fort's, replete
with slots for canons, to fire at the enemy.
For a small town, this place swells with
“Orchha palace
has two distinct
sections - Raja
Mahal and Jahangir
Mahal. While Raja
Mahal is modelled
on Bundela
architecture,
Jahangir Mahal is a
sterling example of
Mughal architecture
tourists during the season (October-March),
with most tourists coming from France and
Germany. It is surprisingly geared for tourists,
with many hotels and resorts, including one
(Bundelakhand Riverside), built recently
by the descendants of the erstwhile Bundela
chiefs.
A travel enthusiast will not regret visiting
this place at least once, as this place also
boasts a minor wildlife sanctuary, is close
to Matatila Dam that is a haven for birding
enthusiasts as, during winters, migratory
water birds flock here, and has another lesser
known place of interest, KrantiSthal, the
memorial of freedom fighter, Chandrashekhar
Azad.
How to get there
Though Orchha has a railway station,
the trains coming here are slow passengers
and hence, avoidable. Nearest city Jhansi
(18kms from Orchha) is well-connected by
rail and road. Some of the hotels in Orchha
will organise a railway station pick up for a
charge.
Getting around
It is a small town that has shared auto-
rickshaws for local commutes. These auto-
rickshaws will take you around to most of
the places of interest - an exception being
‘Lakshmi Mandir (Temple)’. You may also
hire a bicycle here to get around.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
www.tlfmagazine.com26 TLF Magazine  july 2015 27 TLF Magazine  JULy 2015
The holy river of India – Ganges and its ghats, echo of temple bells, sadhus, mantras in the air and the
evening aarti at the river. Go find yourself inVaranasi
Words | Nikita Tuli Photography | Aman Chotani
V
aranasi was the most photographic
locations I have visited until now.
For people it can be the city of
temples, the city of lights or the
oldest living city on earth but for
me it was a step further.
It has been a journey that has given me
some of the best pictures, each depicting a
story in itself - stories of forgiveness, sagas
of love, narratives of dedication and tales of
inspiration.
We usually live life for attaining happiness
and freedom; which are virtues that are
attained mostly after life but being in Varanasi
I could experience these in every small thing.
Words and phrases fail to describe the serenity
of the city; the peace you find within yourself
when you are in the religious capital of India
is exceptional. The sound of the river, the
fresh air mixed with the fragrance of the
scented incense sticks, the ringing of the bells,
the chanting of prayers touches your soul and
leads you to a contrasting world. A world that
is untouched by the unruly mannerisms of the
city life coupled with an atmosphere that is
calm and peaceful.
Varanasi is a city situated on the banks
of the River Ganges in the Indian state of
Uttar Pradesh. It is regarded as a holy city
by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of
the oldest in India. The name Varanasi has
its origin possibly from the names of the two
rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in
the north shores of the Ganges bounded by its
two tributaries, the Varuna and the Assi, with
the Ganges being to its south.
While walking the not so clean streets of
the city, I met some of the most memorable
people I will never encounter in my life again.
Speaking to them about their lives, their
cultures, their devotion was enchanting and
educating. And the thrill on their faces with
the idea of them being photographed was
wonderful.
How to reach Varanasi
Varanasi is well-connected by air, rail and
road.
By air: Flights such as Indigo, Jet Airways,
etc operate flights from Varanasi to Delhi,
Mumbai, Bangalore among other mega
cities.
By train/ buses: The holy city can also be
reached by a choice of trains and buses.
You could also opt for travelling by your
own conveyance or hire a taxi.
Places to stay
Accommodation in Varanasi can be as
colourful as the city itself. You’ll find an
assortment of hotels, motels, hostels,
home stays etc. You could choose your
abode according to your budget. Many
places also include home cooked food
in the package. I would recommend the
Ganpati Guest House (at Meer Ghat) as I
enjoyed my stay here.
Tip
Staying in the hostels, home stays will help
you enjoy the charms of Varanasi better.
Opt for the various guest houses on the
banks of the river.
Things to do and see in Varanasi
1. A boat ride along the Ganges
2. A stroll along the Ghats
3. Exploring the side streets
4. A haircut at the local saloon
5. Witnessing the religious aartis and
visiting the famous temples
4. Have a chat with the local babas. You
would be thrilled to know their stories
and experiences
6. Try visiting the holy city during a festival.
The festive spirit is out of the world.
7. The sunsets and the sunrise. Locate
a point from where you can see the
sunrise and sunset.
8. Visit the popular cafes. Enjoy your
evenings with a bunch of local and
foreign visitors.
“The sound of the
river, the fresh air
mixed with the
fragrance of the
scented incense
sticks, the ringing
of the bells, the
chanting of
prayers touches
your soul and
leads you to a
contrasting world”
Varanasi – The religious capital of India
The icing on the cake has to be the Ganga
Aarti performed at the Meer Ghat. It is a sight
which is remarkably divine and ethereal.
They told me about the various ghats the
city boasts about. Varanasi has nearly 100
ghats. Many of the ghats were built when the
city was under Maratha control. Most of the
ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used
as cremation sites or for washing purposes
popularly known as ‘Dhobi Ghats’.
The city provides livelihood to thousands
of boatmen who charge INR 50 to take you
around the river.
Each day I had many fascinating
experiences and places to visit which
made my journey more
exciting and perfect.
There are some times
when you don’t want
your journey to
end, and this was
one of those rare
experiences of my
life.
I don’t know
if I am an ardent
follower of God
really, but being in
the city I certainly felt
the feeling of a supreme power. It made me
realise that in today’s fast moving world, we
need to stop and get the peace that we are
looking for. And for me the peace was here,
amongst the crowd of hundreds of people,
each of us had a purpose of being in the city.
A mere photographic assignment became an
experience that I will cherish for a lifetime.
The glances in the cultures and the
rituals of the city have not only broadened
my knowledge but have given me a scope
of seeing the city in a different light. The
compositions, the symmetrical lines, the
colours, the portraits, the landscapes, the
ghastly waters and the unique adjustments of
the place were amazing. For exploring
the beauty and the serenity of
Varanasi even a lifetime is less.
As a photographer I visit
many beautiful places, many
interesting sights but the
amount of scope this place
has in terms of photographs
is immense, I am yet to
find something similar. The
pictures taken here talk for
themselves and what more
achievement can be for me
when my pictures speak to you.
QUICK ESCAPES

CHECK-IN
Mandarin Oriental: Character of its own
M
andarin Oriental, Prague
offers 99 rooms and suites,
acclaimed dining and a
wonderful spa which is a
peaceful retreat infused
with centuries of character. Lying on
the left bank of the Vltava River, one
is sure to enjoy a quiet location close
to many of Prague’s major attractions
such as the hidden quiet cobbled streets
of picturesque Malá Strana, close view
of the Prague Castle, five minutes walk
from the 14th century Charles Bridge and
one can also enjoy a small walk to Old
Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Rooms and Suites
Offering an enticing blend of historic
character and contemporary design, the 99
rooms and suites exude a sense of elegant
style. There are 79 individually designed
rooms, 20 spacious suites, each with
unique historical details and charming
views of cobbled streets, private garden or
Prague Castle. The rooms are categorised
into Superior room, Deluxe room,
Deluxe garden room, Deluxe terrace
Combining a beautiful, contemporary design with period architectural features, Mandarin Oriental, Prague is
both a luxury hotel and a wonderfully preserved piece of history
" There are 79
individually
designed rooms,
20 spacious suites,
each with unique
historical details
and charming
views"
Mandarin Oriental Meeting venue at the hotel
room, Premier castle view room, Junior
suite, Deluxe suite, Moser crystal suite,
Oriental suite, Lazar suite and Presidential
penthouse suite. The price of the rooms
starts from INR 32,225 to INR 37,075 and
the suites start from INR 41,930.
Dining
Get a wonderful dining experience
in the Essensia with contemporary
Czech and Asian cuisine alongside a
choice of beverage, a unique dining
destination. Enjoy a chic minimalist feel
with cream walls and lightly coloured
floors, the elegant décor provides the
perfect backdrop for Executive Chef
Jiří Štift’s enticing menu and enjoy
delicious cocktails at the Barego Bar with
sophisticated surroundings and world
class cocktails. It is the perfect spot for a
pre-dinner drink or celebratory cocktails;
a supremely stylish bar, the contemporary
décor incorporates striking elements such
as red high-backed chairs and a black
marble cocktail bar. Serving a selection
of cocktails, wines and beers, Barego
also offers a selection of freshly brewed
coffees alongside other soft drinks. In
addition, there is an extensive bar menu
featuring everything from salads to sushi
to house-made sweets.
Spa and Wellness
It is the only spa in the world located
in a former Renaissance chapel, offering
a unique space to begin your journey to
equilibrium. Spread over two floors, the
spa offers a soothing environment in which
you can rest, relax and feel rejuvenated
from the moment you enter, here you will
feel a wonderful sense of serenity. Housed
in a former chapel, the spa’s contemporary
design incorporates some unique features
such as the illuminated foundations of a
former 14th-century church, displayed
below the glass floor of the lobby. During
the spa session you are sure to enjoy a
gentle and soothing atmosphere enhanced
by the tranquil design and attentive care
by the talented therapists.
Meetings and Events
Situated in a former monastery, providing
a stunning setting combined with years
of experience for your wedding, meeting
or event the hotel comes with a choice of
stunning rooms and function space. It offers
a peaceful central location, a choice of
functionroomsandacalmatmospherewhere
minds are free to focus. The hotel is an oasis
of monastic calm in the centre of Prague’s
cobbled streets, where the experienced team
is highly versed in the needs and urgency
of business and events. Whether you are
holding a meeting in the boardroom or an
event in the Grand ballroom, they provide all
the basic technology, services and amenities
Terrace of the Presidential Suite

CHECK-IN
to ensure flawless execution. They have the
Dominicus Hall, a smaller ballroom for up
to 45 guests, Monastery Lounge, a former
cloister ideal for pre-function gatherings and
Grand Ballroom for up to 120 guests. One
can use Essensia’s private room and wine
cellar, Executive boardroom with Fully-
equipped business centre and dedicated
wedding and events team to mange all the
functions and meetings.
Family Fun Package
at Mandarin Oriental,
Prague
Prague’smagicalspiresandcobbledstreets
can excite any child whose imagination
has been captured by fairytales. Mandarin
Oriental, Prague’s newly designed Family
Fun package offers an adventure in this
enchanting city. Families can experience
a number of family-friendly attractions,
ideally situated for exploring the best of
the city. Take a journey through Mirror
Maze on Petrin Hill, spend a day on a
Segway tour through the historical sights
and tiny cobblestone streets, or explore
Prague Zoo’s new pavilions. The hotel’s
concierge team is also on-hand to offer
recommendations for family-friendly
Fast facts
The hotel’s building comprises eight
centuries’ worth of architecture.
The Spa at the hotel is the only one in
the world located in a former Renaissance
chapel.
The hotel’s signature fan was designed by
Jarmila Mucha Plockova, granddaughter of
the renowned Art Nouveau artist Alphonse
Mucha.
Discoveries made during the site’s
reconstruction include remnants of a
14th-century Gothic church as well as over
250,000 individual objects, some of which
are displayed throughout the hotel.
For more Information: http://www.
mandarinoriental.com/prague
" Mandarin Oriental's
newly designed
Family Fun package
offers an adventure
in this enchanting
city"
things to do and see in the Golden City
and to assist with purchasing tickets to
selected tourist attractions. Comfortable
and relaxing retreats in luxurious rooms,
stylish dining options and an array of
children's amenities, featuring delicious
home-made cookies, toys and age-
appropriate toiletries, await families on
their visit to Mandarin Oriental, Prague.
The package provides families with
plenty of space to relax, including a second
room at half the price. Choose between
connecting Deluxe Garden Rooms or
for the ultimate family indulgence, a
luxurious Lazar Suite combined with a
spacious Junior Suite.
Mandarin Oriental, Prague’s Family
Fun package is valid until 31 March 2015
for a minimum two-night stay with rates
starting at INR 45,320.
Spa
Living room of the Deluxe Suite
A great venue for your meetings and events
I
f you are looking for a not-so-expensive
stay option right at the beach, city centre
or a quite stay in the lush greenery of
Goa, then the various properties of GTDC
(Goa Toursim Development Corporation)
offer a good choice
Accommodation
This newly refurbished and elegantly
appointed hotel has 60 rooms and is located
right on Miramar Beach. There are two
separate sections – villa styled rooms and the
regular AC rooms. The cluster of cottages
and an elegant building housing AC rooms
which are well ventilated are neatly laid out
in a pretty garden with lawns and lush plants.
GTDC has stepped up and made a part of
its premises barrier-free, with an apartment
especially designed for the physically
disabled. There are more such apartments
being designed.
Restaurant
The Residency restaurant Foodland is
popular with the locals as well, who come
here to relax with friends and drink in the
spectacular sunset. Foodland is set in beautiful
surroundings and offers superb cuisine to
suit every palate. The Residency has an
air-conditioned multi-purpose Hall which
Miramar Residency: One of the gems of GTDCWords | Nidhi Joshi
can accommodate 150 people and an air-
conditioned mini-hall for press conferences
and board meetings.
Around Miramar Residency
You have a pick of interesting places to visit
and things to do. There are specialty eating
places like Zen the Thai food place on 18 June
Road, local cuisine at several small eateries,
and gaddos or mobile food carts that serve
chaat, sausage rolls, burgers, chops, cutlets,
croquettes, chicken shawarma etc.
The public transport is pretty good, though
not very comfortable, but if you have good
walking shoes, you can cover large areas
of Goa’s capital city Panaji on foot. It’s a
picturesque city, worth exploring.
Walk along the Miramar-Caranzalem
road or step on to the beach and walk up to
the jetty – Dona Paula. Check out the Goa
Science Museum (three minutes’ walk from
the Miramar Residency) which is fascinating
for all ages. Or you can catch a bus to the Dona
Paula jetty and experience the spectacular vista
of the Mormugao Harbour with the great cargo
vessels neatly arranged on the horizon. The
British cemetery lies quietly outside the Raj
Bhavan walls. Talking of cemeteries, the St
Inez cemetery is a thing of great beauty and
tranquility, with sculptures almost a hundred
years old, stately tribute to fallen soldiers.
The Panjim Market is a very colourful and
interesting place with Goan fisherwomen
selling fish which is an essential in every self-
respecting Goan’s diet.
Turn into the city and the Church of the
Immaculate Conception dominates the square,
the road to the right takes you up Altinho with
some beautiful old mansions, including the
official residence of the chief minister of the
state. The High Court on Altinho is another
beautiful structure steeped in history. From
the High Court one can take the stepped
street (stepped streets are unique to Panjim
city) down to Fontainhas the Latin quarter of
Panjim. Neat houses line neat roads all held
together by the pretty St Sebastian Chapel
which houses the crucifix from the Hall of the
Inquisition. The crucifix is special since it is
a rare representation of Jesus Christ with his
eyes wide open.The city centre has interesting
shopping options.
Speaking about the various properties that GTDC has to offer Nikhil Desai, MD, Goa Tourism said, “There are 12
properties spread all over Goa with different a USP. Like Vasco Residency, Margao Residency are city centric while
Miramar Residency and Calangute Residency are the beach accommodations and Farmagudi Resdidency and Mayem
Lake View are eco resorts. We also have city tours, river cruises and special festive cruises for the travellers who wish to
absorb the spirit of Goa.”
For more information: www.goa-tourism.com
"The newly
refurbished
and elegantly
appointed hotel
has 60 rooms and
is located right on
Miramar Beach"

Alila Diwa Goa:
A resort experience like no other
Words | Nidhi Joshi
Located at the quaint
and calm Gonsua
beach in Majorda
Goa, Alila Diwa Goa
is the perfect place
to unwind and relax,
resort style
Overview
Alila Diwa Goa is a refreshingly different
resort that perfectly blends the contemporary
Goan architecture with the cultural richness
of Goa. You can relax in the infinity pool
with the dge bar located on the pool side to
serve you great concoctions or you could just
plonk on the confortable seat of the theatre
and watch you favourite flick with your frinds
and family. Options to rejuvenate at The
Alila Diwa also include the Alila Spa or the
stunning sunset at the Gonsua beach.
Location
Loacted amidst lush paddy plantations in
south Goa,Alila Diwa is very close to Gonsua
beach and is only 20 minutes from Dabolim
International Aiport in Goa.
Accommodation
The resort has a total of 118 rooms and
suites that are designed quite aesthetically
and have open bathrooms (with sliding doors)
that give you an amzing bath experience and
of course the rooms look bigger and more
spacious. The South and West Wings give the
guests magnificient views of lush greenery
and a balcony to sip your drink in the lap of
nature.
The Rooms are divided into Terrace Room,
Family Terrace Room, Loft room, Family
Suite and Alila Suite.
Restaurants
When at Alila Diwa your taste buds are
sure to be pampered . The Spice Studio is the
best place to sample Indian cuisine and serves
Northwest Frontier, Awadhi, Hyderabadi
and authentic goa cuisine. It is open only
for dinner. Being an open air restaurant
there is an unimaginable charm in dining at
the Spice Studio whre each and every dish
is customised.
Vivo is the live kitchen restuarnt that is
open 24 hours and serves continental and
Indian cuisine. The Edge Bar and Lounge
is a chic poolside bar with an outdoor deck
that opens up to the infinity pool that serves
superb cocktails and mocktails with finger
foods.
Siddharth Savkur, general manager, Alila Diwa Goa talking about the USP of the resort says, “The focal point of our
resort is the stunning infinity pool that overlooks lush paddy fields. We offer a special wellness package called Detox
Detour at our Spa Alila which includes premium Diwa Club accommodation, a customised spa schedule, diet regime
and a bouquet of consultations and therapies to cater to your needs. We also offer a unique Leisure Concierge service
where the team is entirely focused on helping guests experience Goa - both within and outside the resort. These are
some of our USPs.”
Spa Alila
You could indulge at the spa in Alila
and take relaxation to the next level. There
is an array of treatments and therapies to
choose from and the expert staff at the Alila
makes sure that the guests have a relaxing
time at the spa. Spa Alilafeatures 2 double
treatmet rooms, 2 ayurveda rooms and 5
single treatment rooms each equipped with
individual steam, chilled shower and outdoor
patio with day beds.
Other facilities
Stay at Alila Diwa is fun and full of
activities for the kids at the Kid’s Club and
activity centre. There is also a library, daily
movie screenings at the thatre and many more
outdoor activities. The Lesiure Conciereg at
the resort helps curate memorable holiday for
the guests of the property.
CHECK-IN
Unwind with a massage at the spa
Well appointed rooms Relax by the pool

CHECK-IN
Overview
Pristine beach views, lush tropical
rainforests and a laid-back bohemian vibe
await guests at The Park Calangute, Goa.
Situated on a 30km stretch of coastline in
Northern Goa, Calangute beach has a balmy
climate throughout the year. Goa, which is
visually and culturally different from the rest
of India, attracts visitors with its abundant
natural beauty and vibrant music and nightlife
scene – guests of The Park Calangute, Goa
benefit from both, with exclusive beach access
and resident DJs that provide a soundtrack of
chilled music throughout the evening. The
pool deck, bar and restaurant extend out onto
the unspoiled beach. From here, guests can
take in magnificent sunsets and refreshing
breezes from the Arabian Sea. The primarily
white decor acts as a blank canvas which is
accented by bright splashes of neon pink and
deep purple.
Location
The Park Calangute, Goa is situated on
the border of the Candolim and Calangute
villages, on the juncture of two of Goa’s most
popular and lively beaches (Candolim Beach
and Calangute Beach).
Accomodation
Light and contemporary style with modern
furniture accentuates the beautiful and
spacious room at the Park. All the 30 rooms
are minimal in terms of colour and decorated
with contemporary works of art and custom
Words | Nidhi Joshi
furniture. You can choose from the Deluxe
Rooms, Luxury Rooms, the Studio Suites
and the Deluxe Suites which I bet offer you
the best view of the azure Arabian sea from
your room. One thing that really stands out
at this property is the doors that have life size
posters of the real hippie couples that still live
in Goa.
Restaurant and Bar
The hotel has a restaurant that is aptly
named Love that serves continental, Indian,
Chinese and Goan cuisine and on top of the
restaurant is an open air bar called Peace
that is a perfect setting to view the beautiful
sunsets with a breath of fresh air with your
Park yourself in
Calangute
Saurabh Khanna, general manager, the park Calangute Goa says, “Within a short span, The Park hotel in Goa has become
very popular among national and international tourists. This is because of the hotel’s unique design elements, attention
to luxurious comforts, distinctive dining, personalised service and entertainment concepts which makes us a refreshing
experience for travellers from around the world. The Park Calangute Goa will continue to offer The Park’s brand of chic
design, thrilling nightlife and innovative gastronomy to the beach paradise of Goa”.
A great stay option in Northern Goa,The Park offers
comfort to the mind, body and soul
friends and family.
Other Facilities
There is a small outdoor pool at the property
with daybeds and cabanas and cocktails can be
sipped while cooling off with refreshing sea
breezes from the ocean. Throughout the day, and
well into the night, laidback music by resident
DJs fills the air, providing the perfect soundtrack
for relaxation, indulgence or partying. The hotel
also provides its guests with exclusive beach
access. All the rooms have hi speed wi-fi, tea
and coffee making facilities, complimentary
newspapers and seasonal fruits.
For more information: http://www.
theparkhotels.com/
The lovely poolside area
T
his is a perfect place for a family
vacation; with a mini golf course, a
flock of pet geese on the property,
shoal of fish at an unconventional
entrance to a resort. There’s a lot
to discover both inside and outside of the
property
ROOMS
All the rooms are quite spacious
and comfortable. With the minimalist
interiors and chic décor the rooms bear a
contemporary look. The housekeeping staff
here deserves a special mention with the
kind of turndown services they offer and of
course the towel art here is quite amazing
and the kids just love it. The rooms are
divided into three categories – Club Rooms
(46), Luxury Suites (24) –these suites are
Words | Nidhi Joshi
Royal Orchid Beach Resort and
Spa, Goa:Understated luxury
large and have a partial sea facing balcony
and Royal Suites (3) – the oomph factor of
these rooms is the private plunge pool that
adds romance to the spirit of being in Goa.
RESTAURANTS and BAR
Cosmos
Cosmos is a multi-cuisine restaurant with
a breath-taking sea view. Meals prepared
here as good as home made but with superior
taste.
Sunken Bar
As the name suggests the bar is really
sunk in the pool. Well! At least, a part of it.
So you can enjoy your swim in the pool and
order your drink and enjoy it in the pool.
There is Bar-be-que an award-winning grill
house serving localised seafood delicacies
overlooking the beach.
Talking about the USP of the property Piyush Tyagi, general manager,Royal Orchid Beach Reosrt and Spa, Goa says,
“Located on Uttorda Beach, one of the cleanest and most scenic beaches of South Goa, we aim to provide our guests
with a 'Five Star Resort with home stay' experience, complete with a swimming pool and an open air Jaccuzi. Our Sea
Side Restaurant 'Boat Quay Grill' is quite popular with the guests and had recently won the Times Food Night life award”.
Spa
Sohum Spa
Sohum Spa spread over an area of 5,000
sq ft is the perfect sojourn to rejuvenate your
soul. The interiors are done in the soft hues
of brown and beige. The guests are bound to
experience a deep relaxation as the therapists
are all were trained and experienced.
Social dos
Seasons I hosts up to 150 guests for
corporate seminars and social gatherings,
Seasons II and III is set for board meetings,
training and interview sessions and can host
up to 70 guests. For weddings and other
get togethers, Boat Quay Lawn are perfect
landscaped lawns with panoramic beaches for
up to 1200 guests.
For more information: http://www.
royalorchidhotels.com/

CULINARY MAPPING
Munich for the FoodiesA gastronomical journey through the Bavarian food hub
R
ated as one of the most popular
destinations in Europe, Munich has
something for everyone! It is the
melting pot of cultures which has
a wonderful range of museums and
art exhibits. This city elegantly blends the best
of the past and present, creating an interesting
atmosphere for visitors to experience.
Discover great food joints some traditional,
some modern and some surprising.
Start from the airport
Hunger pangs on arrival? Feast on the
Schweinshaxe, or roasted ham hock, at the
Airbrau – a brewery in the airport’s large
open-air courtyard. Relish on the cheese
spätzle, the best you can have on an airport.
Donut Mania
Schmalznudel, a deep fried pastry sprinkled
with sugar, Munich’s answer to donut. The
best place to sample this heart-stopping treat
is at Café Frischhut, where they deep-fry
them fresh to order. Enjoy a hot drink and
taste other German pastries, like strizerl and
krapfen, or take your piping hot dessert to go
and eat while you wander.
Traditional Bavarian food
In Munich eating at one of the traditional
breweries is simply a ‘must do.’ The
Hofbräuhaus history began in 1598 and the
restaurant has been serving up traditional
Bavarian food since 1897.
Expect hearty, meaty dishes with plenty
of bread and dumplings which are mouth
watering.Considering the amount of food that
passes through the vast industrial kitchen, to
serve hundreds of guests each day, the quality
and efficiency is excellent.
All in for vegetarians
A great foodie city has to do a lot with
vegetarian food well. You will love being
surprised by innovative vegetarian cuisine.
Discover one of the best vegetarian meals,
at Prinz Myshkin. With its bright, modern
interior, Prinz Myshkin looks amazing it’s
been thriving in the city centre for years. The
menu is varied and international, with options
from pasta to curry. There are a variety of
vegan and gluten-free options as well.
“In Munich eating at
one of the traditional
breweries is simply
a ‘must do.’ The
Hofbräuhaus history
began in 1598 and
the restaurant has
been serving up
traditional Bavarian
food since 1897"

CULINARY MAPPING
AVisitToTheWorld’s Largest
Wholesale Market For Fresh Produce
Rungis is the world’s biggest wholesale market for fresh produce. Fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, cheese
and also fresh flowers are sold here each day in numbers so large that a whole train station and highway
exit has been erected to aid it.
Words and Photography | CHEF BAKSHISH DEAN
B
eing just outside Paris, Rungis
serves many Parisian restaurants
of great standing. The market has
distinctive clients and only the
freshest, supreme quality products
are sold here. This makes it a very striking
place to visit for a travelling Chef such as
myself. But visiting Rungis is not so easy,
no passenger trains or buses, no subways and
most taxis won’t just drive you there and even
if you do you need a card to enter.And Rungis
works between midnight
and 7 AM. So how did I
accomplish to visit?
AWED
Well it is difficult, but not
impossible so after a lot of scouting on the
internet I discovered ‘La Route des Gourmets’
a Destination Management Company
(DMC) dedicated to Culinary Tourism in
France which also offered
personalized tours by
Market professionals
starting from 5 am,
followed by a Rungis-style
breakfast. So the next morning
we headed out to Rungis with our
guide; very very early! In fact so early that
people were still heading home from their
nights out and we were just starting our
day! The drive took only fifteen minutes or
so and the driver brought us to La Marée,
where all Rungis tours begin. Covering close
to 600 acres (2.43 km2) and located about 7
miles (just over 11km) south of Paris, Rungis
is a city in itself and is truly bigger than
the territory of Monaco. According to the
Market’s Facts and Figures page, close to 12
000 people work at Rungis and their annual
turnover is around €8 billion. The mere scale
of the market fascinated me. Luckily we were
advised by our guide to dress warmly – some
of the pavilions are downright freezing and
trust me there is nothing worse than being
tired and cold!
THE MARKET
After donning the plastic butcher coats and
the ever so stylish caps the tour began; even
though it was just 5 Am when we arrived,
the Fish Pavilion was shutting down; they
begin their day as early as 2 Am you see!
Regardless of the early hour, one has to be on
one’s toes all over the place but particularly
in the Fish Pavilion which is a great recap
that you are in fact, visiting a real, working
market. The workers there are just getting on
with their day, actually end of their day and
one must ensure to get out of their way as
they go about their business. This, collective
with the intense fluorescent lights is most
certainly was a wakeup call if you still need
one! From the Fish we moved onto the Tripe
Pavilion, where I was weirdly fascinated by
the numerous innards and animal body parts
on display. Indeed some chickens have their
heads on and some of them still had their
feathers but again, brings you right back to
what food looks like before you see it at the
supermarket though not quite ‘at the source’
as it’s nicely packed and dressed up but surely
makes you aware of where that nice drumstick
might have come from. From Poultry to
Meat, tiny animals to huge ones, the Meat
Pavilion has various carcasses. Immediately
after the Meat was Cheese and Dairy. Our
guide really knew a lot about the market
and its ins and outs! When Carole pointed
towards a small wheel of cheese, she asked us
if we could tell if it was real Camembert and
immediately revealed that a real camembert is
always labelled ‘Camembert de Normandie’
and weighs 250 grams. Without the ‘de
Normandie’, it’s not the authentic one. Of
course, all around Rungis, you will not only
witness the market in action, you will also
see evidence of the sheer size of the place.
Fancy this, the roads in the market boast have
street signs, this was a first for me as I haven’t
visited any market that needed its own road
signs! We then moved on to fruit, then the
vegetables then the flowers. It got lovelier as
the morning rolled on. The spotlessness of
the Pavilions was undoubtedly impressive,
even if it did take away from the ambience of
a rustic market somewhat. But again, this is
“Regardless of
the early hour,
one has to be
on one’s toes all
over the place
but particularly in
the Fish Pavilion
which is a great
recap that you
are in fact, visiting
a real, working
market"
not a tourist target – it’s a functioning market
and I think I’d favour that sanitation feature
to win over the atmosphere every time what
say? Finally stopped for breakfast which was
refreshing and as fresh as fresh can be, it was
about 9 Am but it felt like lunchtime. At the
same time as we breakfasted, workers around
us relished wine, beers, full meals. I mean,
it was lunch time for them. In any case, a
truthfully mesmerizing experience and one I
am glad I made the determination to organise.
Rungis is unquestionably the Mother of all
Markets! I can’t recommend Carole and La
Route des Gourmets highly enough.
Chef Bakshish Dean is the CEO Johnny
Rockets India & Director Prime Gourmet
Pvt Ltd.
FAST FACTS
You pretty much have to visit Rungis
with an official guide – unless you are a
registered buyer or know a registered
buyer/ seller which I am guessing many
who simply want to visit won’t be!
For Booking of Tours
Gourmet tour with La Route des Gourmets
in the district of the Madeleine square
www.laroutedesgourmets.fr
Contact: Carole Metayer
Fresh tomaotes at the market
In the mood for meat?

The Internet
Breakers
Be it social media or the world of Fashion and
Lifestyle blogging, these ladies are on top of
their game.We find out what it takes to reach
there and keep them going
Tell us a little more about the blog
The blog is an amalgamation of trends,
fashion, beauty and my personal style. We
style outfits which can be easily worn by
today’s confident independent women, be
it western wear or indian wear. We also do
brand and product reviews to make it easy for
people when they go out shopping by telling
them what to buy and what to avoid.
What attracted you to the world of
online/ social media
Social media for us came into the picture after
two years of blogging. We realised that it was
the most easy and convenient way to interact
with our readers and make the content easily
available to all of them. And it did help us a
lot, we get most viewership through Facebook
and Instagram!
How was it in the beginning and what
did it take to reach where you are
today?
When we began blogging five years ago, it
was just a hobby and we never thought that
it could become this big and it can have a
commercial twist to it. Our readers supported
us from day one and gave an amazing
response. It was truly astonishing how the
world was acknowledging my opinions and
style. The success came slowly and gradually
and we always kept working towards making
the blog, the content and the quality better. I
guess, it’s our hard work and love and support
of our readers which has brought us where we
are today!
There are new bloggers/ channels
popping up each day, what's your take
on that?
Hey, I don’t mind them really! It’s good that
India is waking up when it comes to fashion.
The more the better! I just wish they all
did it for the love for fashion and not just
Srish
Style Fashion Etc (www.stylefashionetc.in)
40,000-50,000 views per month
Instagram: @stylefashionetc
for freebies and money. Most of the newbie
bloggers start a blog so that they can get free
stuff which is not okay in my opinion. But, to
each their own till they are providing quality
content to their readers.
What would yourday be like if all gadgets
went off?
Lots of sleep, spending time with my best
friends and ordering in! No worry about putting
on makeup and good clothes, just me in my
pajamas laughing like an idiot with my friends.
Do you take such day offs?
Totally! How would I remain sane in this crazy
selfie world otherwise! I love hanging out with
my friends, watching Tv or movies and just
chilling without any wifi.
How easy or difficult is it to be on top of
the game on social media? Is it a full time
job?
It is a full time job now. I was working with
Pernia’s Pop Up Shop until last month when
I realised my blog was suffering because of it.
I was not able to post as frequently or interact
with readers and reply to mails so I decided to
quit and make my passion my job. And it has
been working out wonderfully! I am busy with
blogging, shooting, meetings, updating social
media and replying back to people with queries
but at the same time, I have time for myself and I
love that. Earlier it was just a cat and mouse game
with a full time job as well as blogging, it was
driving me crazy and I don’t know honestly how
I handled it all for past five years!
“I don't mind the
new bloggers at all.
It is good that India
is waking up when it
comes to fashion”
One blogger u love to follow
Wendy’s lookbook: www.wendyslookbook.
com
favourite instagram account
@TheSartorialist
Travel style staples
Sunnies, comfortable shoes that I can walk
miles in and my kindle.
Any travel anecdote you would like to
share?
I was travelling with a bunch of friends and it
was our last day in Milan. We decided to make
it grand and went to this club called The Beach
and paid 200 euros for a private table. We got
such VIP treatment! There were four bouncers
who escorted us to our table and we got
complimentary food and drinks, danced on the
table as well as the sofas. It was one crazy night
and at the end of the night, one of our friends
who was carrying all our money lost his wallet!
We looked everywhere for it but couldn’t find
it, did sour the mood a bit but we did made the
best of that night.
P.s. - We did find his wallet later on, turns out
another friend who took off earlier than us to drop
her new european girlfriend home had taken it
with him by mistake.
LOUNGE

LOUNGE
Tell us a little more about the blog
The blog is an extension of my personal style
and experiences where I share my outfits,
travels, beauty experiments, etc.
What attracted you to the world of
online/ social media
It was a great way to reach out to more people
and build your network
today?
It's quite random in the beginning because
you tend to doubt yourself and think if
anything will really happen from it all but if
you persist and your work is good, people will
always take note. It took a lot of persistence
and being regular with your content.
on that?
It's great! This means that people are
taking a serious look at blogging today as
a professional choice and brands are taking
note too at their importance. More business is
always a great idea.
What would your day be like if all
gadgets went off?
It would probably involve a serious workout
followed by a good massage and cooking up
a good meal for myself.
Very rarely
Rasna Bhasin
www.rasnabhasin.com
25,000 views a month
Instagram: @rasnabhasin
How easy or difficult is it to be on top
of the game on social media? Is it a full
time job?
It is absolutely a full time job. Sometimes
even more. When you know you are working
for yourself, you don't want to stop at all.
I have a horrible habit of not having any
working hours and I am working even when I
“If you feel that
it is difficult to
be on top of
the game, you
are not playing
it right. It has
to come to you
naturally”
Tell us more about the blog
RasnaBhasin.com is an amalgamation of a lot
of things, theres fashion, travel, food, art and
more. Its about discerning good taste and trying
to maintain an online journal. Its extremely
personal to me, and thats why its a namesake.
What attracted you to the world of online/
social media
The larger audience, it is always fun interacting
with people and the online world gives you
access to a hell lot of them together. Also I never
thought about doing it for somebody, it was a
way of letting out my creativity, views and
opinions and creating a sort of online portfolio.
How was it in the beginning and what did
it take to reach where you are today?
Its been about two years on the website, and it
was a decision made long time ago. I don't get to
devote as much time as I would like to, but I try
making sure the quality remains high. Its never
been about the quantity and all about quality.
popping up each day, what's your take on
that?
I, personally don't think I deserve to be called
a fashion blogger, for a better use of word, I
would call myself a Fashion Enthusiast. It is
good to see people participating, I don't follow
everything, but I do follow a few. But I don't
believe in herd behaviour, so I look out for
something unique and different. And the few
who actually take it seriously do a great job
about it.
What your day be like if all gadgets went
off?
I would be traumatised. It's sad but I really
can't live without my phone. It would be like
cutting off from the world, but probably I could
do the thing I love most, and that's reading, so
I'll probably curl up with a book and read all
through the day.
I actually do, sometimes. My phone is usually
on silent, I am pretty active with texts but calls
are limited. So I might be reading or writing and
my phone is on the side. I also prefer writing
with the wifi off, so I don't have distractions,
and I still am old school so I need a printed
copy of a book, hence no ipad surfing, when I
am reading.
How easy or difficult is it to be on top of
the game on social media? Is it a full time
job?
I don't take it as a job, I have been extremely
lucky to be accepted for who I am. There has
never been a single pretentious moment . I am
always myself, I share what I want to, and that's
about it.
Akanksha Redhu
www.akansharedhu.com - A Fashion &
Lifestyle Blog
16,000 unique visitors per month
Instagram: @akanksharedhu
One blogger u love to follow
I am absolutely in love with Jessica Stein
currently: http://www.tuulavintage.com/
Favourite Instagram account
@kenzas
Pair of great fitting blue jeans + Walking
sports shoes + White tees/shirts + camel
trench coat + leather tote
share?
No particular anecdote but you can check
out the travel section on the blog: http://
akanksharedhu.com/category/travel-2/
“I don't take
blogging as a job…
There has never been
a single pretentious
moment . I am always
myself, I share what
I want to, and that's
about it”
One blogger you love to follow
My most favourite is Garance Dore www.
garancedore.fr/en/
Favourite instagram account
Mine! (laughs) There are so many, but I
love @Marcjacobs these days and the @
Houseofmisu girls. But again far too many
to name.
One blogger you love to follow
My most favourite is Garance Dore www.
garancedore.fr/en/
Favourite instagram account
Mine! (laughs) There are so many, but I love @
Marcjacobs these days and the @Houseofmisu
girls. But again far too many to name.
Blue denims, white shirt, black dress, wedges,
flats, a swimsuit, a pair of trainers, phone and
a book.
share?
Web check-ins, makes life so much easier.
travel. Luckily I love doing what I do so feels
alright. If you feel that it is difficult to be on
top of the game, you are not playing it right.
It has to come to you naturally.

LOUNGE
Scherezade Shroff
Youtube channel: Scherezade Shroff
58,271 subscribers (as on 9th july 2015)
Instagram: @sherryshroff
“In india we have phases of a certain job being cool. When I was
growing up it was modelling, now it is blogging. But everything has
a shelf life and then it fades out, and what is left is people who are
good at what they do”
Tell us more about the channel?
I started this channel on 10th Nov 2013, as
a medium to interact with people. I was a
model before that and had a lot of fashion and
beauty related information, which I thought
would be interesting to share. I hate writing,
hence a youtube channel was a great medium
for this.
today?
I had to work really hard, as it is a one-man
show, I don’t have a team and I conceptualise,
shoot, edit and upload all by myself. It is more
than a full time job, hence after 2-3 months
of starting with the channel I had to stop
modelling and I became a full time youtuber.
The fact that you are in control, it is your own
vision and no one else is involved means you
can go all out and when your viewers give
you a great feedback and connect with you, it
is really fulfilling!
on that?
In india we have phases of a certain job
being cool. When I was growing up it was
modelling, now it blogging. But everything
has a shelf life and then it fades out, and what
is left is people who are good at what they do.
It is great that people are more open to trying
new career options now! But one needs to be
patient with it and understand success doesn't
happen overnight, it is a slow process! Be
happy with your first 2000 followers/likes as
that is how, gradually a million will happen!
What your day be like if all gadgets
went off?
I don’t think i will be able to survive anymore!
My whole day revolves around technology.
You have never had such a day?
i don’t think there’s been one, in a few years!
Only when i am on a flight. Othwerwise I
begin and end my day with social media!
Jeans, sneakers, Benefit Benetint (cheek and
lip tint), bikini and a formal outfit

TLF: Do you think the ways an Indian
traveller books and travels have
changed over a period of time?
India has changed radically over the past
decade and so has the way Indians travel. The
outbound segment in India is growing rapidly
and affluent class in India has come forward
with its transformations. With increased
standards of living, travel is also moving up
the ladder to add an essence of awareness and
exposure. Indians are moving towards quality
and enriching experiences as the travellers
become more discerning and expect to be
offered something which is more than just
basics. Planning holidays up to 2-3 times a
year, travelling to offbeat and unexplored
destinations, exploring cruises and travelling
for wellness and recreational activities is
something they look forward to. The Indian
travellers have transitioned from offline
booking to online booking and have now
moved on to mobile booking. They also look
at social media for reviews before choosing
a holiday destination. The transition of the
traveller has been interesting and phenomenal
to a large extent.
TLF: What is the trend for the monsoon
season?
India becomes more beautiful and lush
duringtherainsandhencethemonsoonseason
has started seeing more takers than before.
Indians are now opting for unique and thrilling
experiences. The aware Indian traveller
knows how to choose a proper destination
and hence monsoon cannot be considered
as an offbeat season for travellers. We have
over a 70 percent increase in our monsoon
bookings on a yearly basis. Additionally; low
cost carriers offer innovative and new deals
and it is coupled with great discounts on hotel
booking in this season.
TLF: Which are new destinations that
are popular with travellers this season?
Popular destinations that have emerged as
favourites for monsoon tourism are Udaipur,
Mount Abu and Sikkim on the domestic front,
while Thailand, Dubai and Sri Lanka are
favourites internationally.
TLF: What is your favourite itinerary
from Yatra?
India presents a wide array of choices for
the quintessential traveller. In fact I believe
that if one were to explore the variety and
range of options in the country itself, it would
take much time to complete the expanse.
Ladakh as a destination offers a holistic set
of choices which ranges from thrilling drives
in the rugged mountains, to the breath taking
serenity and picturesque locations. One can
also taste adventure in Ladakh staying in tents.
The region also offers the beautiful Nubra
Valley which is dotted with monasteries as
well as the fascinating Pangong Lake which
changes colour with the passing hours of the
day.
Dhruv Shringi
Co-Founder and CEO
Yatra.com
As told to Nidhi Joshi
The New Age
TravellerHere is an excerpt from a chat with the game changers in the online travel domain, who reveal that
the new age traveller has come of age and will settle for nothing but the best.
We have seen a major shift to mobile in
the past few months. Over 80 per cent of
our travel and transportation queries and
50 per cent of our transactions currently
originate on mobile devices. Our apps and
m-web makes it a seamless experience
for the users to search and book through
their mobile devices and solves many
frequently faced pain points.
TLF: What is the trend for the
monsoon season?
The past 15 days, our website has seen
almost a 90 percent hike in monsoon
related queries.
The most popular monsoon destinations
within the county are Kerala and Goa,
while the North East states have also
Travel sector has undergone a tremendous
change. Travellersarebecomingmoreself-
reliant and discreet. Indeed, a significant
number of them are explicitly demanding
to be excused from the ‘template-driven’
‘personalization’ attempts by airlines,
hotels and other travel suppliers. But
they are also demanding more control
over elements of their planning and
consumption of travel. The influence of
the millennials is tremendous – primarily
born in the last quarter of the last century,
these are people (mostly like me) who
seem to have a more practical approach
to travel, who’re doing things themselves
using technology wherever it’s available,
researching, transacting and sharing travel
online etc .
TLF: What is your favourite itinerary/
destination from Trip Advisor?
My favorite destination would be Ladakh.
Nikhil Ganju
Country Manager
TripAdvisor India
Aloke Bajpai
CEO and Co-Founder
ixigo.com
TLF: Which are new destinations
that are popular with travellers this
season?
Basis the 340 million unique monthly
visitors and over 225 million reviews on
TripAdvisor, here is a list of the top 7
mainstream and offbeat locations in India
to travel to during this monsoon season.
Mainstream
1. Munnar, Kerala
2. Khandala, Maharashtra
3. Ooty, Tamil Nadu
4. Coorg, Karnataka
5. Lonavala, Maharashtra
6. Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
7. Western Ghats
Offbeat
1. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
2. Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
3. Saputara, Dang, Gujarat
4. Shillong, Meghalaya
5. Hampi, Karnataka
6. Kabini, Karnataka
7. Chandratal Lake, Manali, Himachal
Pradesh
shown an increase in the footfall during
the recent years. Goa being a popular
destination all year round, attracts a lot
of crowd during monsoons as well due to
fabulous off-season hotel deals.
TLF: Which are the new destinations
season?
Sikkim, Wayanad and MalshejGhat
have really picked up as the most preferred
monsoon destinations by the tourists.
They are great to visit during this time of
the year to avoid usual.
TLF: What is your favourite itinerary
from ixigo?
Goa has great off-season deals and
packages during this time of the year
as well, making it a favoured tourist
destination throughout the year.
“Popular destinations that have emerged as favourites for monsoon
tourism are Udaipur, Mount Abu and Sikkim on the domestic front
while Thailand, Dubai and Sri Lanka are favourites internationally"
-Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder and CEO, Yatra.com
LOUNGE
47 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015www.tlfmagazine.com46 TLF Magazine  JUNE 2015

Indian travelers are definitely looking
for more customised travel experiences.
The demand for tour operators who offer
standard packages is on the decline as we see
a noticeable trend of online travel planning.
With the advent of planning websites like
TripHobo and hotel booking websites, we see
accelerated number of people planning their
trips by themselves. There are thousands of
travelportalsofferingattractivedeals,making
it easier for people to plan their vacations
according to budget and time. Technology is
revolutionising the way we plan our travel.
Right from train and air tickets to booking
hotels and cabs, the entire travel planning
can be done online. Customisable tours
offered by portals like TripHobo make the
experience more convenient and enjoyable.
season?
Monsoons are not the typical holiday
season. People prefer taking short breaks.
The weather is perfect for short treks and
weekend getaways. Cities like Bangalore,
It started with booking through travel
agents, then searching for stays online and
contacting them directly , to OTAs and then to
booking via a marketplace such as Stayzilla.
com, which enables choosing the desired
stay based on numerous filters from over
30000 stays in 4000 towns. However, the
traveler today is not just limited to booking
stays, he has become more finicky about the
stay comforts. Our concierge services have
realized a significant surge in the requests
for personalization of stay bookings such as
ground floor room for a grandmother, pet-
friendly services, non-smoking zone rooms
etc.
The above-mentioned evolution has also
influenced the way the Indian traveler has
evolved.Earlieritwaslimitedtofamilytravels
orforreligiouspurposesbuttodayexperiential
traveling, discovery and exploration seems
more like the keyword. The travel teams have
also evolved - a bunch of friends, couples -
not only young honeymooners but mid-aged
or elderly couples too or even solo traveling
are redefining the way travel tales are told.
season?
While the common convention in the past
has been to avoid travel during monsoon, the
Yogendra Vasupal
CEO and Founder
Stayzilla
Karthik Ramachandra
Founder
TripHobo.com
past decade has seen a shift in the mindset.
Interestingly, in the last year, we have noticed
another new trend. User queries specifically
for homestays in monsoon destinations
have increased by around 3 times. The user
preference for homestays seems to stem from
the host’s knowledge of local sightseeing
spots, virgin waterfalls, raw trekking paths
to animal rearing experiences along with
the opportunity to make new acquaintances,
friends.
TLF: Which are new destinations that
are popular with travellers this season?
Places like Lonavla, Munnar, Coorg,
Kabini, Udaipur, Tarkarli, Shillong are some
of the few popular monsoon destination
in India. Stayzilla.com's bookings reflect
a similar pattern. Popular destinations are
within a traveling radius of 200Kms with
50% of bookings being short notice (for the
upcoming weekend).
TLF: What is your favorite itinerary/
destination from Stayzilla?
In search of an offbeat destination I visited
Gokarna. What made it memorable was the
warmth of the homestay host, fresh home
cooked meals and tips to explore the place
the local way. This was my first homestay
experience and probably that’s why my
favorite too!
Kolkata and Mumbai are surrounded by
abundant weekend getaways less than
500 kms away. Coorg, the Sundarbans,
Shantiniketan and Bishnupur near Kolkata,
Malshej Ghat and Lonavala near Mumbai
offer breathtaking sights during the rains.
Trekking is also popular during early
monsoons. Pune has more than 20-25 ghats
which offer ideal trekking opportunities.
TLF: Which are the new destinations
monsoon season?
Apart from weekend getaways, other
popular destinations are Leh which is best
visited between June and August, Goa
which is less crowded and cheaper during
off season, Gangtok and Darjeeling ,
Kodaikanal, Coorg and Lonavala
TLF: What is your favorite itinerary from
Triphobo?
While every itinerary has its own charm,
I would say Gangtok is one of my favourites
this season. Gangtok enjoys a gentle, mild
climate and heavy rainfall during June to
August.
LOUNGE
As the summers wave good bye and monsoon sets
in one needs to be careful about health and diet
Words | Deepak Dewan
Stay healthy
thismonsoon
adventurous indoors for a change.
You can keep yourself active by taking the
stairs whenever possible and do simple home
exercises. By doing this you can keep your
metabolism from slowing down.
Not everybody likes to hit the gym
but a morning or evening walk is on most
people's regular workout schedule. However,
the morning drizzles or evening showers
might hamper this walk. But it is extremely
important that you keep your workouts
going. Here are few monsoon fitness tips for
exercising in the comfort of your own home.
1. You usually go for your walk or visit the
gym at a scheduled time. Stick to the same
time plan for your workout sessions at
home. Also, dress the same way you do
when you go out for a workout. Start with
simple stretching exercises to warm-up and
don't forget to cool down at the end of the
workout.
2. Purchase few simple exercising devices
like dumbbells, skipping rope etc if there is
no budget for a full gym or equipment.
3. If you do not have equipment, you can train
using your own body weight. Sit-ups, waist
bends, knee bends, calf exercises, etc. are
basic and simple ways to flex your muscles.
4. The stairs in your house are superb
exercising device themselves. Walking up
and down the stairs, is an excellent way to
exercise those calf muscles.
5. Practice yoga. Yoga is an exercise that can
be performed both indoors and outdoors.
Select an airy spot in your house practice
simple asanas to keep yourself fit. Yoga
also helps reduce respiratory problems
that are very common during the monsoon
season.
So go ahead and enjoy the monsoon by
staying fit and healthy at all times.
(The writer is Chairman and MD, Cardio
Fitness India)
After the long, hot summer months, the
monsoon rains bring much needed relief
from the heat. Our body is more susceptible
to health issues in rainy season, because the
monsoon reduces the body's immunity. The
humidity in the atmosphere is usually high in
this season; as a result the body’s digestive
capability also goes down. It’s important to
avoid oily food, street food or any type of
food that is prepared in bulk this season.
Diet tips
To maintain a healthy diet is important
especially in the monsoon. Here are some
basic guidelines:
 Eat fruits; they help you restore energy.
Apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears
are the best!
 Have medium to low salt food and avoid
heavy salty food as they are responsible for
high blood pressure and water retention.
 Foods such as brown rice, oats, and barley
are the best foods one could have in this
monsoon.
 Body’s immunity can be increased by
adding a dash of garlic to the soups, stir
fried and curries you intake.
 Opt for yogurt, curd and almonds in your
diet. Drink only boiled and purified water
to protect yourself from harmful germs and
drinking plenty of water to keep your body
hydrated.
 Drink lots of herbal tea, especially those
with antibacterial properties. These include
ginger, pepper, honey, mint and basil
leaves. Excessive intake of coffee and
tea dehydrates body fluids so should be
avoided.
Exercise tips
There is no substitute for workout and
if indoors are preferred then sticking to a
regular regime will not be difficult. For
outdoor lovers, this may be a good time to be
Drink lots of herbal
tea, especially those
with antibacterial
properties. These
include ginger,
pepper, honey, mint
and basil leaves"

TLF Magazine July 2015__Web

More Related Content

What's hot

Viewers also liked

Similar to TLF Magazine July 2015__Web

TLF Magazine July 2015__Web