Airasia book low res april

AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE APR 2017

ISSUE 1 I BELONG IN THE SEAT POCKET, AND NOT IN YOURS. DON’T TAKE ME HOME. READ ME ONLINE.

INDIA

Getting adventurous in Gulmarg

WHITE CARPET

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Contents APRIL 2017

38

Navigator

38 46 54 64 70 74 call of the mountains Gulmarg, India

RedQ ushering Believing the in spring dream cheer AirAsia’s New Home

Spring Festivals

‘bihu’tiful assam

jungle stays

Rongali Bihu, Festival of Assam

Exotic Treehouse Resorts

a melting pot of flavours The Preferred Curries of India

Check-In

Contents APRIL 2017

32

Here’s the Buzz on AirAsia’s Social Media It was a pleasant trip with AirAsia to & fro Hyderabad. I would like to thank Vijay from AirAsia Hyderabad check-in counter who was extremely helpful in understanding my needs proactively and delivering what I expected.

Sarvana Prabhu

82

Very smooth landing yesterday evening of flight no. 15 1926, BLR-PNQ. Kindly inform my thanks and appreciation to the pilot. @LouisViegas

74

70

@airasiain @AirAsia wonder experience at Jaipur checkin.

Baibhav and Deepika at the check-in counters were prompt and extremely wellversed with their services. @SatyaMuley

54

In Flight

Boarding Call Flight Plan 08 Captain’s Address 12 Red fort News from AirAsia India

Flight Plan 14 Hot Dates

April Events

18 book worm Latest Book Releases

20 movies & music

32 Hit List

Latest Movies & Music Albums

22 business minded

Style File

86 Up in the Air

80 own it

Port of Call

Vaidam, a revolution in India for medical tourism

28 on field Captivating Campaigns of Indian Premier League

30 city canvas

Bagdogra, India

Summer Escapes

78 pilot’s perspective

Trend Watchers

Dry Dilemma

Joy of Flying

82 off the record

88 Route Map

92 Destinations

Bollywood Star Anushka Sharma

Congratulations for all women crew flight Goi-Del dated 12/03/2017. Well done Flight Capt. Jaswinder Kaur. ​Balwinder Singh

96 Get in touch AirAsia Sales Offices & Stations

@airasiain Staff handling departure at Gate No 7 of Bengaluru airport to Goa for flight 15 1328 were superstars. Very efficient and took great care of families and kids. ​@patnaikk Great to see itemised fare where you can choose what you want (food, check-in luggage) @airasiain @ blogxindia @AirAsiaBlogX ​@pathak_anay @AirAsiaSuperSocialSale Bang on guys; amazine sale.

Best rates on ticket flights @ airasiain ​@Sensible_mona

APR 2017 | Issue 1 Airasia India Chief Critique Officer Kiran Jain

The Idea Guy Ujjwal Srivastav

The Word Magician Sanya Kaushik

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Europe

CIN No U22229DL2006PTC152087 travel 3Sixty° India magazine is printed and published by Vikas Johari on behalf of AirAsia India and published at Maxposure Media Group (India) Pvt. Ltd. (MMGIPL), #TheAddress, Plot No. 62, Okhla Phase III, New Delhi-110020, India. travel 3Sixty° India is published monthly. All rights reserved. The writing, artwork and/or photography contained herein may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of MMGIPL. MMGIPL does not assume responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited products, manuscripts, photographs, artwork, transparencies or other materials. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or AirAsia India. All efforts have been made while compiling the content of this magazine, but we assume no responsibility for the effects arising there from. For inquiries | MMGIPL tel: +91.11.43011111, www. maxposure.in

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captain’s address

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a great beginning Namaste and welcome aboard AirAsia! At the outset, I must extend our gratitude to you for choosing to fly AirAsia. I do hope, you enjoy your experience as you soar high above the skies, to your destination.

The year 2017 has begun on a great note for AirAsia and I believe that there are more exciting offers and initiatives planned for the year ahead. For all those who wish to visit the gorgeous landscapes of Kashmir, AirAsia India now flies to Srinagar daily from New Delhi. Our commitment to connect India continues to gain momentum with the opening of new routes and stations.

More importantly, our promise to help Everyone Fly, stands tall ahead of each pledge we take, whether it is to offer unbeatable and irresistible low fares across our 13 destinations, or curate and refine delicious inflight meals that you can find in our menu- Santan; or possibly even meet your family/friends as our Allstars, who have dreamt to fly and now do!

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APR 2017

We are now keenly focused on ensuring that AirAsia India’s expansion plans are met with the successful collaboration of the Tata & AirAsia Groups, both of whom have an indissoluble intent to serve their customers. For us, as a young airline, not only are we nimble and agile, but more importantly, believe that we understand the needs of our guests.

AirAsia India values its customer feedback and I am extremely proud to report that as per our audit and internal group survey*, our guests have voted to recommend AirAsia India! Having been a proud recipient of the prestigious Skytrax Awards 8 times over is a reflection of our professionalism and commitment towards our promise to deliver a world class flying experience. While this is ever exciting and I am grateful for your feedback, it gives me the opportunity to deepen our resolve and resilience, to serve you even better.

The Indian aviation industry is most dynamic with an incredible

potential to grow year-on-year, connecting places and people. While the industry works closely with the Government of India, collectively to raise the bar in this industry, it is also interesting to note that currently only 100 million** people fly in India, and that still leaves many waiting for an opportunity to experience air travel. It is this opportunity at hand, that motivates us each day to become the low cost carrier of YOUR choice – and we will achieve this by bringing on the right talent across functions, bring to you the best fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft and provide you with best in class in-flight services, making your travel with AirAsia a memorable one.

I am glad to share with you that booking an AirAsia India flight has been made even more convenient with our mobile app (available on Android and iOS) or via our website www.airasia.com where you are sure to find exciting offers while planning your travel.

I would like to thank you for choosing to fly with AirAsia India and assure you of our best services at all times. *Guest satisfaction survey – Q4 2016 ** CAPA report

Above Indian Allstars with Amar Abrol, MD & CEO of AirAsia India.

S. Ramadorai Chairman, AirAsia India

Fuelling the passion

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dreams to reality “Ask any pilot how they started flying and you will hear a love story.” What started out as an innocent childhood affair is now First Officer Urvashi Leekha’s reality…

“A s s he w at c he d t he b i rd s launch themselves into that vast, blue sky, she knew she’d be up there with them someday…” Anonymous Urvashi Leekha, one of AirAsia India’s youngest, possibly most enthusiastic commercial pilots, has know n she wanted to f ly since she was only 13 years old.

As her determination grew, so did the imminent struggle that accompan ies one’s foray into a field that is known for being highly competitive.

Having received her Commercial Pilot License in February 2012, Urvashi had to wait for almost five years before being allowed to take the wheel, so to speak.

“Ask any pilot how they started f lying and you will hear a love story. I have known for some time now that my place is in a cockpit, but I had to wait for a long time to get there. There was an extended, a lb eit temp or a r y detou r i nto a field that wasn’t my calling,” shares Urvashi.

Pursuing a career as a commercial pilot is challenging, both phys-

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APR 2017

Clockwise from Top AirAsia India team with all the bikers before flagging off the first ride of Red Devils at Devanahalli.

First Officer Urvashi Leekha living her dreams.

Urvashi in her uniform.

ically and financially. So, in order to supplement her income while completing her BSc in Aviation, Urvashi freelanced for a travel magazine, where she wrote travel articles and helped out in the sales and marketing department.

Urvashi joined AirAsia India in December 2014 as an Assistant Manager - Corporate Sales. This ma rked t he b eg i n n i ng of her journey with the organisation.

She soon moved into the marketing department and managed to create her own role here for partnerships - a post that didn’t exist earlier. She performed well in her new-found responsibilities, but her eyes were trained to the sky…

After a year-long wait, Urvashi was given the opportunity to apply internally at AirAsia. “I underwent rounds of interviews within AirAsia to finally move into flight operations as first officer,” she says, adding, “AirAsia strengthened my conviction that through sheer grit and hard work, you can achieve anything you set your mind to; if you believe in yourself, the world will believe in you.”

Urvashi speaks highly of the organisation and her colleagues, stating that AirAsia is an airline that enables its Allstars to follow their dreams. “I am completely in love with AirAsia and all those awesome A llstar s who have helped make this happen. Their love and support have played a monumental role in helping me achieve my goals,” she shares.

Having worked tirelessly for year s, Ur vashi under stands the value of hard work, insisting that if you truly believe in you r d r ea m , you ca n not a nd should not seek shortcuts. The path may be long and difficult, but patience, perseverance and self-believe w ill be your keys to success.

Gone are the days where women struggled to find their place in the professional space; where certain professions were deemed ‘unsuitable’ for a specific gender.

Urvashi is one of the many young women who are proving to themselves and the world that every industry, aviation or otherwise, is now theirs for the taking.

red fort

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New training facility in Bengaluru AirAsia India recently launched a new training facility in Bengaluru. This facility has the capacity to handle 100 trainees and will be used primarily to conduct trainings and tutorials for the airline’s crew as they pertain to inflight rules and procedures.

above S Ramadorai, Chairman of AirAsia India, inaugurated the Anaz Red Wings training facility at Bengaluru in the presence of other board members.

AirAsia India launches Srinagar operations AirAsia India recently began operations in Srinagar, with the launch of daily flights between Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir.

The inaugural flight from New Delhi was received by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at Srinagar International Airport. Another flight to New Delhi was also seen off by the chief minister soon after. The launch of AirAsia’s Srinagar operations could be good news for the tourism industry in the Valley. The airline also plans to connect Srinagar to several other destinations in the country soon.

AirAsia India plans to fly abroad next year

AirAsia India to increase fleet size AirAsia India will almost double its fleet size from the current size of 8 to 14 aircraft by October 2017. “We plan to increase the fleet size to 14 by October or before Diwali. With these additions, we plan to consolidate our position on the existing routes rather than on adding destinations,” CEO Amar Abrol said in a press conference recently.

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APR 2017

Amar Abrol, MD & CEO, AirAsia India and Honorable Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti at the Flag Off of AirAsia India’s maiden flight from Srinagar International Airport.

AirAsia India plans to fly abroad from next year.

Launched in 2014, the eight-aircraft strong low cost carrier aims to have a fleet of 14 Airbus A-320’s by October and then meet the requirement of 20 planes soon in order to fly abroad.

“There is a project team coming into being to get us ready for international. It will take us at least one year to get to international. So if not summer, we will have the international flights operational by autumn next year,” AirAsia India CEO Amar Abrol said in a conference.

hot dates

Lock it down

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Goa Food and Cultural Festival goa • April 6-10 A five-day celebration planned to give special attention to the famous Goan cuisine. A number of stalls run by reputed caterers, both from the best hotels as well as restaurants and even local homemakers offer a nice glimpse into the state’s culture and people.

Aoling Festival

Nagaland • April 1-6 Once deadly headhunters, the fascinating Konyak tribe now lives peacefully, spending most of their time practicing agriculture and occasionally hunting. After having completed the sowing of seeds each year, the tribe celebrates their most important festival, the Aoling Festival, which marks the beginning of the spring season and New Year. It is extensively celebrated in the Mon district of Nagaland.

Serendipity Arts Festival Mopin Festival

itanagar • April 5-6 The traditional harvest festival of the indigenous Galo tribe of the east and west districts of Arunachal Pradesh, the Mopin Festival is celebrated to drive away evil spirits and acquire wealth and prosperity. Do make sure you witness Popir, a traditional dance ritual performed by the local tribeswomen. After some dancing, indulge in the local food served by the denizens here at Mopin Ground, Naharlagun, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

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Delhi • April 6-16 The Delhi edition of the festival will include a crafts exhibition, photography exhibition, design installation, dance performances, storytelling session and a theatre performance. Art connoisseurs looking to add value to their collection will find the festival inspiring.

Shakespeare Comedy Theatre Festival

Chithirai Festival

bEngaluru • april 9 Starring some of the biggest names from Bollywood, the festival promises to make you laugh like you’ve never before.

madurai • April 14 A month-long affair, this festival includes several events. First is the Kodi Yetram. The chief priest of the Meenakshi temple hoists a flag, which marks the beginning of the festival. Next is the Pattabisekam – a coronation ceremony for the gods. After this is the Dikvijayam, followed by the Meenakshi Tirukalyanam.

Baisakhi

amritsar • April 14 Baisakhi is Punjab’s new year and commemoration of the founding of the Khalsa all rolled into one occasion. It is celebrated with a great deal of feasting, bhangra dancing, folk music and fairs. Major celebrations are organised at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, giving a carnival-like feel to the atmosphere.

Padayani Kerala • april 14-21 A vibrant outburst of colour and energy, the Padayani is performed to appease Goddess Bhadrakaali. This colourful yet amusing festival is an experience you need to have at least once in a lifetime.

APR 2017

15

hot dates

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OUE Singapore Open singapore • April 11-16 Organised by the Singapore Badminton Association and part of the MetLife BWF World Super series, the tournament witnesses some of the world’s top badminton players compete against each other. For more than 30 years, the Singapore Open has proven to be a success as a marquee sporting event in promoting badminton around the region.

Songkran Festival

thailand • April 13-15 Super Soakers, water balloons and virtually any sort of spray bottle become weapons during this festival. Water dousing represents purification of the spirit, a way to wash away evil in anticipation of the Thai New Year. It has now become an enormous countrywide water fight.

Kalimaran Festival

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APR 2017

Sabah • Malaysia • April 1-30 The Kalimaran Festival is a celebration of the arts and customs of the Murut people – one of the largest ethnic groups in Sabah. It highlights the traditional handicrafts and traditions of the Murut people.

Electric Daisy Carnival japan • April 29-30 Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is a musical extravaganza. Intense lighting and colors create a surreal scene rich with interactive art installations, dangerous circus acts and pulsing electronic music performances from celebrated DJs from across the world.

book worm

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Read of the month

Toward a Secret Sky Heather Maclean Shortly after 17-yearold Maren Hamilton is orphaned and sent to live with grandparents in Scotland, she receives an encrypted journal from her dead mother, which confirms her parents to be employed by a secret, international organisation and their plans for recruiting her. As Maren works to unravel the clues left behind by her mother, a murderous madness sweeps through, terrorising her small town.

Spindle Fire Lexa Hillyer Half-sisters Isabelle and Aurora are opposites: Isabelle is the king’s headstrong, illegitimate daughter whose sight was tithed by faeries; Aurora, beautiful and sheltered, was tithed her sense of touch and her voice on the same day. The sisters were extremely close despite these shortcomings. Then everything changes, with a single drop of Aurora’s blood – and a sleep so deep it cannot be broken.

The Inconceivable Life of Quinn Marianna Baer Quinn Cutler is 16 and the daughter of a high-profile Brooklyn politician. She’s also pregnant, a crisis made infinitely more shocking by the fact that she has no memory of ever having sex. Before Quinn can solve this mystery, her story becomes public. Quinn’s desperate search for answers uncovers lies and family secrets.

Going down the line The idea In 2012, Hay House Publishing approached me to explore the possibility of writing a biography of Captain Amarinder Singh (former chief minister of Punjab and a scion of the former Patiala royal family) after which I contacted him. Interestingly, his first question was, “Who would read it?”. Captain Amarinder Singh soon agreed to me writing his biography after I convinced him that there was a story waiting to be told.

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No-Holds Barred It is an honest biography of one of the most striking and colourful political figures of India, specifically Punjab. Beginning with a historical background of how the Patiala kingdom

The Swastika Killer

The Rise of Sivagami

Mahendra Jhakhar A killer leaves a gruesome trail of bodies, each marked with the symbol of the swastika. The day of each murder coincides mystically with the Navagrahas, the days sacred to the nine planetary gods in Hindu mythology. Only one man can decipher and look beyond symbols, the unassuming Bala, the sharpest sleuth in the Indian Intelligence Bureau. The chase of a lifetime begins.

Anand Neelakantan When five-year-old Sivagami witnesses her father being branded as a traitor and executed by the Maharaja of Mahishmathi, she vows to destroy the kingdom one day. At the age of 17, she recovers a manuscript from her crumbling ancestral mansion. Written in a strange language called Paisachi, the manuscript contains a secret that may redeem her father or condemn him further.

was established and ruled over centuries, it moves on to describe the early years of Amarinder. It portrays the Indo-Pak war zone of 1965 (where the protagonist earned his spurs) and finally focuses on the combative arenas of Punjab politics, where numerous electoral and other battles have been (and continue to be) fought.

It also unravels the subterfuge of politicians and others (including religious leaders) and lucidly describes behind-thescenes plots and counter-plots.

Also, operation Blue-Star (June 1984) and its consequences have been objectively recorded in this edition. Besides tracing the career graph of Amarinder Singh, who reached his pinnacle when he became the CM of Punjab in February 2002, the book provides

useful insights into crucial events that have made an immense impact over the past few decades.

The book also highlights those factors that set apart Amarinder Singh from his adversaries, while taking an occasional peek into his private life and idiosyncrasies.

Style and Journey My writing style is for the readers to judge. However, having said that, I have tried to maintain a lucid style for easy reading.

The journey of this book has been an enthralling experience.

The one point that I want to share with the readers is that Captain Amarinder Singh never once tried to dominate the narrative. He did not ask for a single insertion or deletion in the narrative, even where his actions have been critiqued.

as told to nikita sharma

movies & music

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silver screen

MUSIC

Land of Gold Release Date: April 1 Artist: Anoushka Shankar Label: Universal Music

bahubali 2

April 28, 2017 Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Plot: Once Bahubali departs the kingdom, it comes under the attack of Kalakeya King’s son, which forces Bahubali to return to Mahishmati and save his kingdom. Bahubali had left the viewers hanging with its open climax and ardent fans were desperate to find the answer. Seems that this sequel is all set to answer all that the fans wanted to know.

HOLLYWOOD

Memories... do not open Release Date: April 7 Artist: The Chainsmokers Label: Columbia, Disruptor Records

SMURFS: The Lost Village

April 14, 2017 Plot: The evil wizard Gargamel creates a couple of mischievous Smurf-like creatures. But when he discovers that only a real Smurf can give him what he wants, Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris. The story unfolds after this and is worth a watch.

Noor

April 21, 2017 Plot: Noor is a journalist who juggles her work, love and personal life on a daily basis. The film is based on Pakistani author Saba Imtiaz’s novel Karachi, You’re Killing Me! and follows a Pakistani journalist-writer Noor’s misadventures and love life as she navigates her way through Mumbai.

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APR 2017

The Fate of the Furious

April 12, 2017 Plot: From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, the elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world.

Same Sun Same Moon Release Date: April 14 Artist: Little Hurricane Label: Mascot

Wrangled Release Date: April 21 Artist: Angaleena Presley Label: 30 Tigers

business minded

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Medic boost

15,000

These startups are out to change home healthcare in India.

healthcare organisations have been evaluated and accredited by the Joint Commission, an independent NPO organisation.

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million tourists from countries such as the US, UK and Canada in addition to visitors from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China are hosted by India.

55

per cent visitors were recorded in maharashtra, tamil nadu & delhi as per government’s statistics of foreign tourists for 2010. www.forbesindia.com

medical revolution clockwise from top Nidhi Saxena is the director, founder and CEO of Zoctr, the Vaidam team along with their co-founders Pankaj Chandna (second from left) and Manish Chandra (extreme right), Health Care at Home provides several medical services at home.

vaidam India attracts many foreign patients for medical treatment. According to a report compiled by Grant Thornton, India’s medical tourism market, which is valued at $3 billion at present, is expected to touch $8 billion by 2020. However, are we ready to handle this surge?

Looking for an answer, Manish Chandra and Pankaj Chandna, IIM Lucknow alumni, launched Vaidam, a medical travel assistant start-up. So, what does Vaidam do?

Officially launched in May 2016, Vaidam aims to be the go-to place for people seeking treatment abroad. Vaidam researches and finds the best doctors and hospitals with the main focus on simplifying issues faced by travellers looking for treatment.

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APR 2017

Health Care at Home A joint venture backed by the promoters of Dabur India, Health Care at Home provides several services, like home chemotherapy, home ICU services, post-surgical care, physiotherapy, psychological counselling, maternity, pre and post-natal care and generic care.

The team plans to touch 15 Tier I and Tier II cities across India in the next two years. Health Care at Home also works towards providing home pulmonology services and even setting up an ICU at home.

Zoctr It is a home healthcare aggregator platform that integrates several health services like doctor appointments, home health services, remote monitoring services, laboratory,

pharmacy, medical equipment, telehealth and ambulatory support. Founded by Nidhi Saxena, Zoctr raised a funding of $1 million from Founder of SPA Capital Sandeep Parwal, Founder of Organic Wellness Krishnan Gupta, and a few other angel investors. The platform offers supportive and palliative care, and is present in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

zozz A Hyderbad-based home healthcare startup, Zozz works as a local health aggregator connecting users with the best doctors who can reach their home in the shortest possible time.

Started in February 2016, the team has doctors doing 30 to 40 house calls in Hyderabad.

Healthcare has always been a sought after sector when it comes to investments. It is clear that investors have not lost confidence in the Indian market.

Practo Founded by Shashank ND and Abhinav Lal, the mostfunded healthcare startup in the country, Practo, is a platform for doctors and patients. It has a search tool that facilitates patients to find doctors. Apart from medical services, they also have spa and salons and fitness search tools. Till date they have received a funding of about $124.6 million.

Portea Founded by Zachary Jones and Karan Aneja, the company was bought by Meena Ganesh and K Ganesh Krishnan.

Apart from 24 cities in India, it also has presence in Malaysia. It has received a total funding of $47.05 million.

Mitro biotech Founded by Dr Pradip Majumder, Mallik Sundaram and Shiladitya Sengupta, Mitro Biotech is working on cancer cure. It has received total funding of $33.63 million.

VCCEdge

advertorial // education

World’s emerging education hub Going by the World Bank’s statistics, India’s higher education system is the third largest in the world, after China and the United States.

Kaziranga University: Building careers The university aims to enable students to understand and develop their inherent special abilities.

Nestled amidst lush green fields and a warm, serene environment, the Assam Kaziranga University is the brainchild of Dr Murli Dhar Khetan, the Chancellor of the University and the Chairman of the North Eastern Knowledge Foundation (NEKF). It was this great visionary’s commitment towards creating a world-class institute in the Northeast India that has led to the foundation of this 21st century seat of academic excellence.

Dr Murli Dhar Khetan Chancellor of the University and the Chairman of the North Eastern Knowledge Foundation

Dr Khetan, who moved to Assam in 1950, has contributed immensely to changing the employability and development scenario in the Northeast India as the founder of the Khetan Group of Companies. The Khetan Group has executed several projects and activities that have led to the growth and progress of the region, starting with the manufacturing of conductors and cables. The Khetan group eventually ventured into various other products as well as power sector projects, focusing on value creation for the economy of the Northeast and creating a better society to live in.

Higher education system in India is the third largest in the world, following that of China and the United States. From the gurukuls to the modern-day classrooms, the transformation has been huge. With more than 1.4 million schools with over 227 million students enrolled in over 36,000 higher education institutes, India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world where the syllabus has evolved to suit the need of time. Today the education system has become very specialised, and this is the reason why India holds an important place in the global education industry.

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Records indicate 38 per cent of US medical professionals to having trained in India, while 12 per cent of scientists and four out of 10 NASA scientists are Indians, and so are 34 per cent at Microsoft, 28 per cent at IBM, 17 per cent at Intel and 13 per cent at Xerox are Indians.

Institutes provide practical knowledge mostly through industrial visits, audiovisual modules, etc. The use of technology has changed the basic approach towards learning.

Another revolutionary change that has come in the education sector is the distance learning courses.

Emerged to teach the physically

Dr Khetan’s vision to enhance society through development opportunities, ultimately enabling the growth of responsible corporate citizens in the Northeast, has come true with the establishment of the Assam Kaziranga University. Founded in 2012, with the motive of developing skills and providing quality educational standards, the university was established under the Assam Private University Act number XII of 2007, under section 2(F) of the UGC Act, 1956, bringing to the doorstep of the people of the region. It aims to enable students to understand and develop their inherent special abilities and create a place and a country filled with not just job-seekers, but entrepreneurs and decision-makers.

advertorial // education

Birla International School: Nurturing lives Here children are holistically nurtured in a lifestyle that is stress-free, friendly and healthy Birla International School, Kishangarh, Rajasthan, is a world-class institution with Gold Rating Green Building Award and British Council’s Prestigious International School Award. Run by Birla Education Trust (BET), Pilani, it is fully residential co-educational CBSE affiliated school with a faculty and teacher student ratio of 1:12. students coming into the country.

From a mere 6,988 in 2000, India has gathered momentum to include 33,156 students by 2014, a majority of them from the bowels of Asia.

disabled, this trend has gained popularity over the last few years, especially amongst the working class due to its flexible timings and reduced fee structure.

The concept of higher education in India these days does not restrict itself. People have now become liberal and allow their children to pursue their dreams.

The generation gap that was suddenly building up is now diminishing. The prospects of film studies, art, animation that were once nonexistent in the nation are developing. Every year millions of students appear of entrance exams on national levels, competing against a population of millions. The number of candidates making it to the helm may be a handful but the zeal of studying ahead and universities offering courses evolving over time is an achievement in itself.

New heights Until recently, India had been only recognised as a major source market for international universities, but the past few years have also seen an impressive growth rate of foreign

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According to the 2011–2012 All India Survey on Higher Education cites, the top 10 countries to opt for India are Nepal, Bhutan, Iran, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Iraq, China and the United States, accounting to a total of 62 per cent of the total number of foreign students in the country.

Unesco statistics also indicate that India is the preferred destination of a large number of SAARC nations with students from Bhutan (71 per cent) and Nepal (19 per cent) being the frontrunners.

Designed for both comfort and utility, this 48-acres Wi-Fi campus features a fully air-conditioned building, with separate hostels for boys and girls, splendid smart classrooms, library, computer-science-languagemathematics lab facilities and dining hall of international standards.

In addition to huge playing fields, horse riding, air rifle shooting, skating and swimming pool, there is an embedded medical facility on campus. The curriculum encompasses a range of activities in aesthetically designed hobby centres.

Children are holistically nurtured in a lifestyle that is stressfree, friendly and healthy. A balanced education is the key to rounded personality where our students have an access to wide range of experiences for harnessing of multiple talents already present in them. As agents of well being, cocurricular activities help the young discover new aspects of themselves. Consequently, there is a wide variety of choices and every student must opt for at least one hobby and one sport per term.

The Indian higher education system is also facing an unprecedented transformation driven by economic and demographic change. Currently, over 50% of India’s population is under 25 years old; by 2020 India will outpace China as the country with the largest tertiaryage population. Education sector has seen a host of reforms and improved financial outlays in recent years that is steadily transforming the country into a knowledge haven.

With evolving time, various government initiatives are being adopted to boost the growth of distance education market, besides focussing on new education techniques such as e-learning and m-learning.

The mission of this noted educational institute is to infuse its students with high standards of academic scholarship, veracity, leadership and responsible global citizenship by providing an innocuous and therapeutic environment. With the latest trends of teaching methodologies opted over here along with traditional values indispensable for holistic development, this premier institution is a blend of values, knowledge and quest for quality and excellence.

On Field

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Captivating campaigns

As the world gears up for the 10th edition of the world’s richest cricket league, Indian Premier League, we bring you few facts that makes IPL the way it is.

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Whether you hate it or love it, you just can’t escape it. We’re talking of course, about the almost revered game of cricket. Speaking of reverence, for decades now, we have extended our prayers and placed our fragile hopes on the shoulders of one individual that most of us know as the ‘God of Cricket’ - Sachin Tendulkar. So, there’s really no surprise that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is

termed as the ‘festival of cricket’ in India. Admittedly, it is one of the most extravagant productions in the country, and what a production it is.

Apart from the actual game and rising superstars, the IPL is also famous for its unique and memorable campaigns that take over our television sets and social media pages every year. Be it the inaugural Manoranjan Ka Baap

campaign in 2007 to the very recent 10 Saal Aapke Naam (IPL turns 10 this year), the franchise has produced numerous successful campaigns to garner interest for the festival. We bring you the best from the last 10 years.

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Million INR is being paid to Ben Stokes by Rising Pune Supergiants for Indian Premier League-10.

He is now the highest paid international player in the IPL.

Mumbai Indians’ Harbhajan Singh has the highest number of ducks in the Indian Premier League history. Out of 77 innings he has 12 ducks.

This is the average of West Indian cricketer LMP Simmons in just 22 innings, the best in the Indian Premier League.

Chris Gayle, at his best, is devastating. His knock of 175 not out against Pune Warriors in 2013 is the highest by any individual in the IPL.

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Above Cheerleaders are an integral part of the IPL. Opposite Page (clockwise from Below) Sunrisers Hyderabad are the current champions, mentored

by Sachin Tendulkar.

Mumbai Indians are one of the best teams in IPL. Chris Gayle in a very cheerful mood after taking a wicket.

Manoranjan Ka Baap Cheerleaders (as seen above) have always been characteristic of the IPL with the

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franchise being one of the first to incorporate this largely Western concept in India. The very first advertising campaign from the IPL, this set the bar for all other marketing promotions to follow.

What’s great about this campaign was that it sought to promote the tournament as the biggest entertainment blockbuster on Indian television, thus marrying cricket with entertainment.

Saare Jahan Se Acha The advertising campaign for the third edition communicated the message that the IPL is coming back to India. If you remember, the second IPL had to be moved to South Africa. So, it was built on

the concept that the IPL belongs to India and no one can keep cricket away from its people.

Aisa Mauka Aur Kahan Milega Once again, a testament to the cricket frenzy that grips the nation whenever the IPL rolls into town. The ads that were featured on television showed people carrying chairs, stopping wherever there was a TV screen and sitting down to watch their favourite game. So during IPL-5, the campaign captured the euphoria around cricket, which supersedes everything else in the life of an avid Indian fan.

Come On Bulava Aaya Hai For Season 7, the campaign

thought – Come On Bulava Aaya Hai – was based on the premise that the year’s most-awaited event had finally arrived and no one should miss it. The ads showed people just walking out of courtrooms, offices, even hospitals, and making their way back home to watch the game.

Ek India happy wala Last year, the IPL arrived with a wish and a message, reflecting the mood of the country, pushing for happiness, unity and harmony between all. Leveraging the power of this beloved game, the franchise offered a way for people to come together and celebrate the festival of cricket.

Fun Facts for a Cricket Fanatic In the last nine editions of the IPL, there are some unique records that an average cricket fan may not have noticed.

Virat Kohli The current Indian team captain has the highest runs scored so far in all editions of the Indian Premier League. In 139 matches, he has scored 4,110 runs. Kohli is a newage cricketer who plays his game aggressively and is unafraid to express his emotions on field.

Dale Steyn In 2013, the former South African pacer bowled 212 dot balls, the most by any bowler. He bowled a total of 407 deliveries of which over half were dots. ‘Deadly Dale,’ & ‘Steyn Remover’ are just some of the epithets given to one of the biggest impact players in the Indian Premier League. He was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the first three seasons of IPL. Adam Gilchrist This Australian wicketkeeper has the best bowling figures in the Indian Premier League. In the last match that he played in the IPL, he bowled just one ball and took the wicket of Harbhajan Singh. He played for the Deccan Chargers in the first three editions of the IPL – leading his team to glory in 2009. harbhajan singh He has an overall strike rate of 149.89 in all the Indian Premier League seasons. And 112.00 is his lowest strike rate registered in 2014. A key component of the Mumbai Indians side, Harbhajan has been with the team right from the start.

In the seventh and eighth seasons, he took 14 and 18 wickets respectively.

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city canvas

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and camping are only some of the fun activities you can indulge in while visiting Bagdogra. The place acts as an air connection for hill stations like Darjeeling and Kalimpong, which explains why it receives a large number of visitors throughout the year.

Bagdogra, being a hilly region, remains cool and breezy throughout the year.

However, the best time to visit is during the months of May to October.

Bengalis form a major chunk of the population here. Age-old Bengali culture and traditions are etched into every fibre of Bagdogra, with Nababarsho and Durga Puja being the main festivals.

MUST SEE/DO salugara monastery Salugara Monastery has a 100-feet Stupa holding five relics sacred to the Buddhists, and revered by all. A serene and tranquil atmosphere surrounds the monastery, making it the perfect getaway. Lush landscaped gardens and the surrounding hills help in creating a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for meditation and prayer.

the wonderland of West Bengal Lush green tea gardens, hilly terrain, verdant meadows and a beautiful township - Bagdogra is the hidden gem of Northeast India.

Bagdogra, a small and tranquil town located in the northern part of West Bengal, is a gateway to the famous hill station, Darjeeling. A part of the greater Siliguri Metropolitan area, Bagdogra preserves its age-old culture and tradition. Most of the town’s economy is related to its tea gardens and tea factories. Most importantly, Bagdogra’s airport has become a gateway to the

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Above The tea estates of Bagdogra are a major attraction of this small, scenic town.

many tourist destinations in North Bengal and Sikkim for both domestic and international passengers.

Bagdogra is famous for its calm environment, tea plantations and various festivals organised on the banks of River Teesta. Scenic views of the eastern range of the Himalayas attract tourists from all over the world.

River rafting, trekking, mountaineering

umrao singh boat club The Umrao Singh Boat Club is located at Sukhna Lake in Siliguri. The development of this tourist spot is under the aegis of the Indian Army.

There are many amenities for boating and entertainment. Boats of varying shapes and sizes have been made available at the lake for the tourists to hire. The club is positioned in a picturesque area and is surrounded by greenery. The cool and tranquil atmosphere of this club makes it a charming jaunt for the weekend. science city Located at Matigara, five kilometres north of Siliguri city alongside National Highway 31, Science City is famed for its planetarium and Nature Interpretation Centre. Also known as North Bengal Science Centre, it exhibits many scientific equipment and experiments. The gadgets at the centre explain basic scientific principles in a simple way and make learning science that much more fun. coronation bridge Coronation Bridge is located around 37 kilometres from Bagdogra, moving towards Kalimpong and Gangtok on NH31.

words: Pradeep Chamaria

Sleep

Inside Scoop Travel blogger Pradeep Chamaria unveils his love for this quaint town and further decodes the nearby attractions of Bagdogra that should be on every traveller’s list.

The orbit hotel airport plaza, upper bagdogra, Siliguri - 734014

Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary

The marina motels Bihar More, towards Nepal Road, Bagdogra - 734014

clockwise from top Salugara Monastery; rosogollas, a popular Indian dessert; rafting on Teesta River

Also known as the Sevoke Coronation Bridge, it was built in 1930 over the Teesta River at the merging point of the Teesta and Rangeet Rivers to celebrate the coronation of King George V.

EAT MArina’s motel Be it steaming hot soup or delectable thukpa, patrons have every reason to make a pit stop at this tranquil stay. Rest assured, the food here is freshly prepared, keeping in mind the preferences of the guests. rasoi If you are on the lookout for pure vegetarian food, head straight to Rasoi, a veggie joint famous for delectable Indian curries. The flavourful and hot curries served here will

safeguard you against the cold, chill air of Bagdogra.

Hatari Restaurant Head to Hatari for some authentic South Indian and Chinese food. From delectable roasts to a sumptuous oriental wok, this place has it all.

SHOP Travellers will find plenty of authentic merchandise in the form of traditional arts and crafts that are imported from Tibet. Visit the local markets and shop for tea and small souvenirs to take back home to your loved ones.

barsana hotel & resort Matigara , Khaprail Road, Siliguri - 734010

recreation A popular picnic spot for locals, Surya Sen Park is located at Mahakal Pally in Siliguri, around 16 kilometres from Bagdogra. An eco-friendly place for entertainment and fun, the park offers an exhibition on alternative resources. It also has a statue of freedom fighter Surya Sen installed and offers a wide range of facilities for children. At night, the park is decorated with colourful lights.

Religious vibes Sevokeshwari Kali Mandir is located in Binnaguri, close to Coronation Bridge on the banks of River Teesta. The temple is around 37 kilometres from Bagdogra. It has the idol of goddess Kali adorned with jewels holding swords. The temple premises offer views of Kanchenjunga peak and attract a lot of pilgrims. There are lot of shows and processions that take place during Navaratri and Durga Puja. wildlife reserve Located at a distance of almost three hours by road, Chalsa is a small city in Jalpaiguri district. Surrounded by hills and tea gardens, mighty rivers and dense forests, this small city is bordered by two famous sanctuaries - Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. Animals like elephants, one-horned rhinoceros and gaurs (Indian bison) are major attractions here.

Getting There AirAsia flies daily between New delhi and Bagdogra. www.airasia.com

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Hit list

summer escapes Wondering what you can do to stay cool this summer?

We suggest you go for a relaxing vacation.

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Scotland of the East, Shillong When a tiny hill station of only 65 square kilometres of land area enjoys sobriquets like ‘Scotland of the East’, ‘abode of cloud’ and the ‘rock capital of India’, you know that it’s special. Shillong, Meghalaya, is often considered to be one of the few places in the world where nature is largely untouched. Here the clouds and the sun express their camaraderie through a vivid interlay of sunshine and shadow and colonial remnants meet the upsurge of modern day influence. Visit the Elephant Falls, Shillong Peak, Shillong Cathedral, Police Bazaar during your stay here.

Tea town Munnar The most popular hill station in South India, Munnar, Kerala, has unique views of verdant mountain slopes, which are covered with about 80,000 miles of green tea farms, almost like a giant, organic duvet spread over the mountains.

The city is usually cold and instantly has you craving warm fires and hot tea. Once the preferred summer destination of the erstwhile English and English settlers, Munnar has the perfect elevation, slope and hill alignment that are perfect for tea farming. Munnar is also marked by gorgeous waterfalls and long

hiking routes. With its drowsy little bungalows, old play areas and tea factories, Munnar is one of those unique hill stations in India that has managed to preserve its oldworld colonial charm. One of the main attractions near Munnar is the Eravikulam National Park. This park is famous for its endangered inhabitant - the Nilgiri Tahr.

Another place of interest, located about 13 kilometres from Munnar Town, is Mattupetty. Situated 1,700 metres above sea level, Mattupetty is known for its storage masonry dam and a lake that offers boat rides to tourists.

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Hit list

Ski high

Auli Renowned for ski resorts and natural vistas, Auli in Uttarakhand is one of the most adventurous but safe trails in the

Himalayan ski circuit. Bounded by the snowy peaks of the mighty Himalayas, this hilly haven is set against an enchanting backdrop of

oak-fringed slopes and coniferous forests. With temperatures ranging from 7-17 degrees, April makes for a perfect view of the surrounding

snowy paradise. Many easy, singleday trek options are available too.

Auli also proffers an incredible past that dates back to the 8th century.

magnificent falls

dense forests, beautiful forts and temples and rich flora and fauna.

Boasting of a proud history that goes back almost 2000 years, Shimoga is also known for the

magnificent Jog Falls. Plunging from a height of 293 metres, the falls comes down in four different tracks, namely Raja, Roarer, Rocket and Rani. The effect of these falls is

made even more spectacular by the wild and beautiful rock faces and forests that flank it. April is the ideal month to visit this destination as the falls are at their best.

Shimoga Also known as the culture capital of Karnataka, Shimoga is the land of majestic waterfalls, scenic hills and valleys,

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Boracay Island the Philippines If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday somewhere outside India, Boracay might be your best bet. What’s great about this place is that though April is the hottest month of the year in most of the region, the heat doesn’t peak until late May. The only tricky part of a Boracay vacation is that it’s somewhat remote, but once you get there, you’ll love how isolated it is. You can get some excellent bargains at hotels on or near the beach, given that it’s offseason at this time of year.

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Hit list

dramatic beauty sapa Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa, Vietnam, today is the tourism centre of the northwest. Sapa is oriented to make the most of the spectacular views emerging

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on clear days; overlooking a plunging valley, with mountains towering on all sides. Views of this epic scenery are often subdued by thick mist rolling across the peaks, but even when it’s cloudy, local tribes fill the town with

colour. If you were expecting a quaint alpine town, recalibrate your expectations. The best time to visit Sapa is from March to May and from September to November. April manifests beautiful weather with more

sunshine, low levels of humidity and reasonable precipitation. As the weather varies dramatically during the day, tourists will be rewarded with a phenomenal chance to witness all four seasons through the day.

odyssey // gulmarg www.travel3sixty.com

call of the

MOUNTAINS If there is a white wonderland to be seen in India, there’s nothing better than Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir.

Words: Anita Rao Kashi

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Gulmarg’s legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar naturally make it one of the premier hill stations in the country.

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heets of white snow covering undulating terrain with the grand Himalayas in the backdrop; sub-zero temperatures and an air of serenity that pervades the whole area; located almost at the northern-most tip of India, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Gulmarg is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It is the country’s premier skiing and snowboarding destination too.

A r r i v i n g f r o m S r i n a g a r, t h e l a s t 1 0 kilometres might seem interminable as the road winds dangerously. But this also provides for breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding region. A hill station whose history dates back to the 16th century, Gulmarg is located at a height of 2,650 metres in a cup-shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range within the Western Himalayas.

Surreal surroundings Owing to its height and location, Gulmarg is cold

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throughout the year with temperatures hovering in the low single digits even in the summer. It is stunningly beautiful in the spring and summer when green meadows speckled with colourful flowers like buttercups, forgetme-nots and daisies pop up all over the city.

Transporting wonders

The best way to experience Gulmarg’s splendour is to take the gondola, a ropeway system built in two stages. The first stage drops visitors at Kongodoori (3,080 metres) while the second stage goes up to a shoulder on Mt Apharwat, nearly 4,000 metres. This is the more popular mode of transport used by skiers and snowboarders. However, it is possible to enjoy Gulmarg’s stunning vistas even if such activities aren’t your thing. There are also relatively more gentle sports such as sledding and tobogganing. For golf lovers, this city is a haven. During the British rule, three golf courses were established of which one

Clockwise from top Gulmarg has earned the distinction of being the best ski resort in Asia, not to mention, it is home to the highest ski slopes in the world.

The best way to experience Gulmarg’s splendour is to take the gondola, a ropeway system built in two stages.

The diversity of skiing in Gulmarg means that you can experience what you want, when you want. Extreme backcountry, off-piste, on-piste, the highest gondola in the world or even resort skiing - take your pick.

silver screen

shutterbug

Bollywood’s romance with Kashmir dates back to movies like Silsila, Kashmir ki Kali, Junglee, etc and continues on.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan by Yash Chopra was also partly shot on location in Kashmir (Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg).

The blockbuster Highway starring Alia Bhatt was shot entirely in Kashmir.

Ranbir Kapoor & Deepika Padukone starrer Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani had stills which were shot in Pahalgam.

musically sound Such is the

charm of this place that several filmmakers come to this place only to film the songs.

Madno (honey in Kashmiri language) from Lamhaa is another melodious song shot at Pari Mahal, Dal Lake.

image: yves garneau

Tum Ho from Rockstar is another song portraying the snowy mountains and rough terrains roads of Kashmir.

Yeh Haseen Vaadiyaan from the hit film Roja is perhaps the best song that captures the scenic beauty of the valley.

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Left Those who’d rather not be standing up can slide down the slopes on a sledge. Have some fun with it - there’s not a lot of training required. Sledging is more casual than skiing and snowboarding.

Opposite Page (top) Dwellers fishing at the Dal Lake for a living. It is also one of the major attractions for tourists in the valley.

Herds of Pashmina goats. The world famous Pashmina wool comes from these goats, which are indigenous to the high altitude regions of Kashmir.

is still in use and is considered to be among the world’s top golf courses. The Gulmarg Golf Club is among the most spectacular courses in the country. With 18 holes stretching over 7505 yards, including the 665 yard par-5 fourth hole, coupled with elevated tees, up and down fairways and penalising rough, it presents a severe test of physical and golfing abilities.

Colonial vibes Despite its remote location and stunning vistas, Gulmarg’s history is steeped in myth, intrigue and whimsy. There are records to show that its earliest mention goes back centuries and was originally called Gaurimarg, a name given by local shepherds as a tribute to Hindu Goddess Parvati. Legend has it, she roamed the area for years. In the 16th century, Chak Dynasty king Yusuf Shah named the place Gulmarg (avenue of flowers) in honour of his beautiful wife Habba Khatoon, who was a poet herself.

After Akbar tricked Yusuf Shah and captured Kashmir, nothing much is known except that Jahangir had hundreds of kinds of flowers collected from Gulmarg’s meadows for his gardens in Delhi and elsewhere.

During the British rule, Gulmarg was a summer getaway. They built three golf courses - one of them exclusively for women. In early 20th century, the British also started skiing here, which laid the foundation for Gulmarg’s reputation as the country’s premier skiing destination.

Travel trot Skiing is Gulmarg’s primary activity, with skiing trails open from December to mid-April, depending on the weather. This is also the time for snowboarding, sledding and tobogganing. Skiers love it because Gulmarg gets some of the heaviest snowfalls in the Himalayas. The high altitude snow remains cold, crisp and light for days on end.

The snow cycle is unusually regular, often snowing every seven days for two-three days, delivering over a metre of fresh powder at a time. The steep powder bowls stretch across the rang e, offering 1,000-metre vertical runs, not to mention skiing off the highest gondola in the world at nearly 4,000 metres

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FACT FILE Gulmarg is about 60 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

How to reach AirAsia India flies to Srinagar from New Delhi.

Where to stay There are many accommodation options in Gulmarg, though the rates tend to spike during skiing season.

When to go Skiing season starts in midDecember and lasts up to March or April and is ideal for snow and adventure activities.

During spring and summer, the whole valley is in bloom and makes for stunning vistas.

Know this Gondola rides can be booked in Srinagar as well as online at gulmarggondola.com.

Hire proper guides and keep an eye on avalanche updates if you are serious about skiing.

image: Take a bow (blog)

www.srinagartourism.com

Skiing is Gulmarg’s primary activity, with skiing trails open from December to mid-April, depending on the weather.

altitude. There are even some ‘super steeps’ here, up to 65 degrees, to really get those endorphins going.

Diversity of skiing in Gulmarg means that you can experience what you want, when you want. Extreme backcountry, off-piste, on-piste, the highest gondola in the world or even resort skiing - take your pick. If company is a concern, know that you’ll be skiing and boarding with professionals who know their playground (read: internationally qualified ski guides and mountaineers) and even trained Kashmiri locals. If first aid is what you’re worried about, doctors and ski patrol personnel are always around. The medical staff have snow mobiles for medical emergencies. Horse rides can be booked throughout the year. Extensive mountain biking takes place in the summers and spring, making Gulmarg a popular destination for this adventure sport. Trekking can also be done during winter and summer, but it requires proper gear during the winters.

n e a r b y l o ca l e

Located on the Srinagar-Ladakh Highway, Sonamarg - the meadow of gold - is known for its Thajiwas Glacier. The trail is generally traversed by car.

There is also scope for hiking up to the glacier, which takes almost five hours. For those who do not want to take a taxi can opt for a pony ride. Pahalgam is the other commonly visited valley, which is about a three-hour drive from Srinagar. Another not-to-be-missed attraction is the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden. Opened in 2007, it is the largest Tulip Garden in Asia. This landscaping project is absolutely riveting. At the backdrop of the garden stands Pari Mahal.

R eta i l t he r ap y Go shopping for souvenirs, whether it’s delicate and beautiful Kashmiri handicrafts or Pashmina shawls, or elaborate walnut woodcarving. Another must-buy is the prized saffron, which makes for a wonderful gift for your family and friends. Shop at the in-hotel Aum Shop or ask the concierge for tips on where to score the best bargains in the city.

If you go to Gulmarg in the summer, almost every local you meet will say, “But you must come again in the winter”. It is, of course, India’s leading ski resort, but Gulmarg is honestly the kind of place that is both a summer and a winter destination. If winter is about gliding down slopes coated in fresh snow, then summer is about walking up grassy knolls. But no matter what the season, Gulmarg is a worth a visit.

Getting There AirAsia flies daily between new delhi and srinagar. www.airasia.com

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globe-trot // airasia's redq www.travel3sixty.com

RedQ believing the dream The journey has been long and hard, but after 15 years fuelled by passion and perseverance, AirAsia finally has a place to call home.

Words: Chitra Santhinathan photography: Ariff Shah Sopian

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AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes and AirAsia Berhad Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun have a bit of fun at the atrium in RedQ, AirAsia’s new global headquarters.

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tepping into RedQ, AirAsia’s brand new global headquarters in Sepang, Malaysia, and the first real home of the pioneering low-cost airline, it is immediately apparent that a great deal of attention has gone into the building’s practical yet functional design. While RedQ, a portmanteau of the words ‘red’ (the airline’s corporate colour) and ‘headquarters’, has a modest exterior, with the airline’s signature branding in bold, red letters, on the inside, the 22,000 square metre workplace designed with Allstars (AirAsia employees) in mind is awe-inspiring.

It is, after all, AirAsia’s first real abode after a series of shifts, and a place Allstars can finally claim as their very own. Inspired by a raw, industrial aesthetic befitting a progressive company that has been at the forefront of lowcost air travel in Southeast Asia, encouraged wanderlust, and empowered millions in the region to fly, RedQ’s inspirational interior reflects the company’s ‘dare to be different’ credo, and prioritises its greatest asset – Allstars who have worked tirelessly to make the airline the success it is today. RedQ opened its doors on November 7, 2016, which AirAsia constructed at a cost of MYR176 million.

BUILDING A HOME For those unfamiliar with the company’s history, it may be hard to imagine that the airline began operations from several cramped rooms at an office complex in Subang, Malaysia, back in September 2001.

At the time, AirAsia’s two aircraft were plying domestic routes, and flying from the country’s Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport). When the airline’s flight operations moved to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), its then 250 staff followed suit, working out of a temporary base situated at the apron level of the airport.

Those early years were tough times. Building an airline from scratch in the aftermath of 9/11, and navigating a global economic crisis while doing so proved immensely challenging. But in true AirAsia spirit, the airline’s visionary leaders forged ahead with their dream of revolutionising air travel, turning around a loss-making and debt-ridden carrier procured for a token MYR1 (USD0.25) into an awardwinning airline that is true to its tagline, ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’, and all that within a year!

As the years progressed, Malaysia became a hub for low-cost travel in the region, with AirAsia spearheading affordable aviation. In 2006, the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) was built in Sepang to accommodate AirAsia’s bourgeoning passenger traffic. And, when operations began at the new airport terminal, AirAsia moved once more and occupied the mezzanine level of the building. Dubbed Red Fort, this became the airline’s temporary lodging for a decade.

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Through the many relocations, Allstars persevered and never lost sight of what was important – to deliver the best possible service to guests and to exceed guests’ expectations of low-cost travel. Over the years, Allstars made the best of every temporary base, always believing that one day, they’d have a place designed just for them. Today, Allstars walk into their new office with immense pride and gratitude as they finally have a real home.

A LONG JOURNEY

Even back when the airline was still in its infancy, pioneers AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes and AirAsia Berhad Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun – along with the airline’s other founding fathers – were insistent on two things: an office where Allstars could all be under one roof, and a workplace that was close to the airport.

With its expanding networks and increasing passenger load, AirAsia quickly outgrew LCCT’s 15mil passengers per annum capacity, which necessitated the building of a new airport to cope with the airline’s growing number of guests. In 2014, when LCCT ceased operations and was replaced by klia2, a new low-cost carrier terminal, it became even more apparent that the airline had to find a new base. A location was finally earmarked for the building of RedQ and in November 2014, AirAsia held its ground-breaking ceremony. For Allstars, myself included, the moment that Fernandes, Kamarudin, and AirAsia Berhad CEO Aireen Omar dug their shovels into the ground was a poignant one. After years of hard work, we knew that a home built specifically for Allstars

Clockwise from right AirAsia’s Airports & Incentives department led

by Ashok Kumar (centre) was instrumental in the setting up of the new headquarters.

For two years, Ashok and his team endured working from a construction site and shuttled between LCCT and the RedQ site until the building was completed.

Fun has always been at the heart of AirAsia culture.

AirAsia Berhad CEO Aireen Omar playfully wields her lightsaber in the Millennium Falcon Room, ready to take on any challenge that comes her way.

The bright and spacious cafeteria at RedQ is a great place to savour meals and to chill out while watching aircraft take off and land.

AirAsia X Berhad CEO Benyamin Ismail; AirAsia and AirAsia X Board member Dato Fam Lee Ee; Datuk Kamarudin Meranun; Chairman of AirAsia X Berhad Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz; Tony Fernandes; Aireen Omar; and AirAsia Berhad Board Member Dato’ Mohamed Khadar at the opening ceremony of RedQ in November 2016.

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PRETTY SWEET PERKS

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Allstars receive a daily food and beverage subsidy that can be used at the RedQ cafeteria, salad bar and the T&Co CafĂŠ. Allstars are provided with healthy choices; meals served at these outlets contain no MSG, and are low on sodium and sugar. To encourage a healthy lifestyle, Allstars can also sign up for in-house activities such as Boot Camp, Yoga and Zumba.

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4 5

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1 AirAsia’s Branding and Creative teams who contributed to the vibrant design elements of RedQ, take a break at the atrium, a place for both work and play.

2 Manila Meeting Pod 3 Plans for the rooftop at RedQ include the addition of a jogging track, a badminton court and a caged futsal court.

4 Bridges and staircases connect RedQ, fostering chance meetings between Allstars and promoting a healthy and active working lifestyle. Here, pilots and cabin crew enjoy a moment of relaxation.

5 Jakarta Meeting Pod features a custom made congklak (traditional game) table.

6 The anime-inspired Tokyo Meeting Room

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was on the horizon. As construction progressed and the building took shape, Allstars were given the opportunity to name the building.

After sifting through thousands of entries, it was decided that RedQ, a short and simple moniker suggested by January Ann Baysa, an AirAsia X cabin crew from the Philippines, was the winning appellation.

In November last year, and after almost two years of anticipation, some 2,000 Malaysiabased Allstars bade farewell to Red Fort, and moved into RedQ. Fernandes, Kamarudin, Aireen, and AirAsia X Berhad CEO Benyamin Ismail, as well as the airline group’s other founding fathers and board of directors, were there to welcome Allstars into their new home. In the spirit of inclusiveness, a blessing ceremony involving representatives from Malaysia’s major faiths was held, sanctifying this new home. Addressing the crowd of Allstars gathered for this momentous occasion, Fernandes said “This office brings together the strength of Malaysia. It’s great to see all the major races and religions working as one.”

Fernandes later went on to reminiscing, “After 15 years, many shifts and even more struggles, we’ve finally built our own home, and I am immensely proud of all my dynamic and devoted Allstars who are the very pillars and foundations of RedQ. They believed the unbelievable, and here we are today. The spirit of unity and camaraderie fills the open spaces here and laughter echoes through the atrium, the heart and soul of RedQ.”

clockwise from left Fresh and nutritious food choices, including a salad bar are among the perks Allstars enjoy.

Every floor in RedQ features its own pantry equipped with a refrigerator and microwave.

AirAsia X Berhad CEO and surf enthusiast Benyamin Ismail playfully simulates riding a wave in RedQ’s Sydney Meeting Room.

The Awards Wall at RedQ’s fourth floor reception area celebrates the accolades the airline has received over the years.

UNIQUE AIRASIA CULTURE

Home; Just the mere mention of the word evokes an array of emotions – happiness, contentment, pride, serenity, gratitude – among them. The project brief given to the architects – the award-winning VERITAS Design Group that is known for its innovative designs – was straightforward: construct an office that would feel like a second home, a building filled with open spaces that would encourage Allstars to meet and mingle, and foster creativity and innovation, as well as a sense of community, but most important of all, true to AirAsia’s culture – make it as fun a place to be as possible!

The dramatic atrium at the core of the building is the first thing that Allstars and guests encounter when they step into RedQ’s fourth floor lobby. During the day, the atrium is filled with natural light pouring in through clerestory windows tucked under either side of the building’s butterfly roof. The vast arenalike space is covered in artificial grass circles, and furnished with multi-coloured beanbags, modular seating, and repurposed tables made of cable drums salvaged from the construction site. At its centre is a large planter box, built to add greenery to the office space, while on the periphery are two spherical timber-louvred discussion pods nicknamed ‘onions’.

Equally impressive and located on the upper floors are six cantilevered glass meeting pods that jut out over the atrium. The clever design

of these transparent rooms is not merely an architectural feature. Visibility adds to the sense of openness, an important facet of AirAsia’s work culture. The ‘floating’ pods also enable the people in them to be a part of the goings-on at the lobby level. This open design concept carries through to the workstations as well. On every floor, workstations are arranged around the perimeter of the atrium, and clear glass balconies allow for greater visibility. Sleek bridges criss-cross the building, linking floors and offering vantage points from which Allstars can watch happenings in the atrium below.

WOR K & P L AY

I t ’s n o s e c r e t t h a t organisations that encourage a workplace c u l t u re o f c re a t iv i t y a re l i k e ly t o h ave happy, motivated employees who are more productive. Few understand this concept better than AirAsia, a company that has gone against the grain from the get go.

An element of fun echoes throughout the designer rooms. The Manila meeting room sports a mural of Philippines’ iconic jeepney (jeep-like mode of public transportation) and a fresh, tropical colour scheme; the centrepiece of Hong Kong is a floor to ceiling sketch of a street scene; Sydney comes replete with a view of the Harbour Bridge, as well as a surfboard-inspired table with a jagged edge that brings to mind a shark bite; and Jakarta has a feature wall covered in Indonesian batik.

Not to be outdone is the boardroom, the Millennium Falcon. Bestowed this playful name by Aireen, the futuristic looking room, inspired by the legendary starship from the Star Wars franchise, is the command centre of RedQ where strateg ies that deter mine the company’s direction are set. This mix of ser ious stewardship and an abilit y to lead with humour are very much a part of AirAsia’s DNA. Talking passionately about the inspiration behind the Millennium Falcon and the rest of RedQ, Aireen explained, “We wanted to create an environment of high energy, exuberance, fun and even whimsy!”

Cool features that have been incorporated into the building include ergonomic workstations, writable pillars, an innovation lab equipped with a Kinect for Xbox One console, video walls and VR sets.

The building’s list of amenities include a cafeteria, pantries on every floor, a nursing r o om for mot he r s , a phot o s t ud io, a nd comfy couches strategically placed around the building for casual chitchats or just to kick back and relax. Slated for the evolving space over the next few months are exciting add it ion s t h at i nc lude a g ig a nt ic sl ide, floating globe, as well as rooftop amenities such as a caged f utsal cour t, badminton court and jogging track! Also in the pipeline i s a c lubhou s e a nd a c r è c he for A l l st a r babies – facilities that Allstars will surely appreciate.

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lenscape // festivals www.travel3sixty.com

UsherIng in

sprING cheeR April is all about endless celebration with countless fests and fairs. Every region has its own festivals that have their own little quirks and unique nuances.

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Padayani is a celebration of fertility and happiness. It is performed mainly in two districts; Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha of central and southern Kerala. Padayani is a ritual art form related to the Devi temples (temples of Mother Goddess) of central Travancore, Kerala. The Kolams, who dance in a frenzy on the stage of Padayani, are its main characters. Their makeup comprises of natural materials like Spathe of Gulmarg’s legendary prime charcoal, the Areca palm (paalabeauty, in Malayalam), location and proximity Srinagar Terra-cota powder and to turmeric powder. Effigies naturally make it Kaalan one of the of Yakshi Palkshi, and Kuthira Maadanm premier hill the country Marutha areresorts createdinespecially for the festival.

above Pohela Boishakh is the first day of Bengali calendar, celebrated on April 14 or 15 in West Bengal. On this day, businessmen close the old ledger and open a new one with new entries. Also, to commemorate their New Year, everyone dresses up in fine clothes and relishes the traditional cuisine panta (leftover rice soaked in water) and fried hilsha.

below Gangaur is one of the most vivid festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm in Rajasthan. This festival is held in honour of Goddess Parvati, regarded as the epitome of marital love, strength, courage and power.

Festive processions include fairs head by a colourful show of elephants, old palanquins, chariots, bullock carts and performances by folk artistes.

Photo of a Konyak Naga who celebrates the arrival of spring with the Aoling festival. Konyaks were known as fierce headhunters for centuries until the 1970’s. The Aoling festival, held in the first week of April, goes on for six days. It marks the start of the Konyak New Year. During Aoling, the Konyaks perform rituals like animal sacrifices, agriculture-related activities, dancing and feasting.

One day is also reserved for cleaning their houses and the village.

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left The Thrissur Pooram celebration in Kerala is a spectacle that has amazed people for the past three centuries. Lakhs of people participate, many of whom come from other nations. The firecrackers, special delicacies, decorations and most importantly the majestic elephants are a sight to behold. This festival has been an inspiration for many other festivals within Kerala and outside.

above Baisakhi is mainly celebrated in North India, marking harvest time of the rabi (winter) crops. As the day progresses, loud cries of jatta aayi baisakhi can be heard in the streets, as men and women take to the fields to celebrate the festival. A major attraction of Baisakhi is the Bhangra and Gidda dances by men and women respectively on fast beat of the dhol.

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adventure // off-road biking www.travel3sixty.com

of trails If you are p erpetually on the look an adrenali out for ne-soaked bik rest assure d. These bik ing quest, be ing trails off variety of ri er a d expertise a ing levels, depending nd preferen on your ce.

Words: Preron a Basu

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Motorbike tours in India provide easy access to remote places and help in understanding the country’s diversity better.

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ndia is a country naturally blessed with favourable topography and adequate resources to cater to every biking enthusiast. It has a lot to offer to the two-wheel aficionados.

Off-road motorcycles, better known as dirt bikes, involve riding on a muddy track, kicking up a lot of sand and mud. We take you to a few places that are becoming increasingly popular for this dirt biking.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh

A quaint Himalayan town located in the beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh, Manali is the beginning of the ancient trade route to Ladakh, known as a ‘Paradise on Earth’. Also known as ‘the mountain biking capital of India’, Manali offers all kinds of natural trails that are well-suited to the needs of a rider looking to veer off the beaten track.

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A picturesque hill station surrounded by snowy mountains and dense pinewoods, with the clear Beas River flowing through its heart, Manali is famous for its astonishing beauty and the famous Ladakh bike trip. If dirt bikes aren’t your thing, there’s always mountaineering and skiing in Manali.

Mumbai, Maharashtra

If you live in Mumbai and own a bike, there are chances that you’re already bored of the more popular destinations like Lonavala and Karjat. So, where does a seasoned biker go for a motorcycling adventure? Well, fret not, we have something for you.

It was in the 1980s when Mumbai w itnessed its very first dirt biking event at Brabourne Stadium, Churchgate. Since then, there has been no looking back. The city now

below Natural dirt biking tracks in India promise an adrenaline-pumping experience for those who want to hit bumps and briefly take flight. opposite page Mumbai has some exciting trails that can be explored over a weekend or even in a day.

SIDETRIPS

techniques

Nailing down the correct body position is probably the hardest part of riding a dirt bike. It’s more than just standing or sitting. Correct body position incorporates how and where you grip your knees, where your feet go on the foot pegs, your arms, fingers and back posture. Motorcycle riding is unpredictable, but offroading takes the unknown to another level. With rocks, roots, ruts, logs and more, a trail can change composition within a single day of riding. Even the best riders crash and you need to be ready for the inevitable.

hosts five dirt biking (also referred to as motocross) events on an average every year. It also has a host of training schools in place. Roaring Farm situated in Malad, for example, is one among the various training schools functioning within city limits to cater to those who want to take up dirt biking either as an invigorating hobby or even for a potentially lucrative career.

Mumbai also has some exciting trails that can be explored over a weekend or even just a day. For a day trip, you can go for the Vajreshwari to Tungareshwar trail (about 70 kilometres). The final leg of the 25-km winding dirt trail is a little bit of a challenge.

People who fancy a slightly longer ride should head through Kalyan on NH222 onto Malshej Ghat (126 kilometres). It is a bit of a tourist attraction, but driving down to the lake is an adventure in itself.

Benga luru, K a r nataka

If you thought Bengaluru is nothing more than an IT hub, think again. Just a couple of kilometres from the city, away from all the concrete buildings, lies BigRock - the country’s first-ofits-kind Motopark. Around 45-acres of mango orchard has been br illiantly transformed into a biker’s utopia with perfect dirt tracks selected specifically for thrilling rides. Get

spoilt for choice with customised dirt bikes imported from the USA, state-of-the-art biking gear and well trained instructors forever ready to lend you a hand.

Chennai, tamil nadu

Adventure seekers in Chennai are in for a treat because the city’s topography has all the right elements for off-road biking. The city’s proximity to the sea ensures correct proportion of sand and mud in the streets. Instead of artificially constructed tracks, bikers here can head to Alandur, Madhavaram and Pallavaram to experience the rush of off-roading with their chosen two-wheelers. There are innumerable pot holes, rough stretches, muddy dents and grovel studded streets that promise riders an adrenaline rush. Those who wish to zip through the dirt tracks without having to bother with the metropolitan’s infamous traffic, can escape to the suburbs. The city also has a few exotic bike clubs and the members say, “It is not the speed, but the passion that keeps the ride exciting.”

Recently, there were several off-road biking events organised in the city as well. These events also have something in store for those who do not wish to limit themselves to dirt biking and offer an opportunity to race with all-terrain vehicles and cross bikes.

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wanderlust // culture www.travel3sixty.com

u ‘Bih ’ Rongali Bihu celebrations mark the change of seasons in Assam in the most vibrant way.

Words: Nikhita Sanotra

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The joyous Bihu dance is performed with great zeal and enthusiasm and is characterised by brisk steps and rapid hand movements.

Factfile

How to reach AirAsia India flies to Guwahati from New Delhi.

Where to stay There are several quaint homestays, hotels and resorts here.

When to go Assam is refreshing in the summer; the temperatures don’t rise too much and the area receives a lot of rainfall. The maximum temperature reaches about 35 degrees Celsius.

Know this Rava dosas, cheese momos, pastas - you name it, Assam has it.

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pread along the length of the Brahmaputra valley, Assam (called Ahom by the natives) is the biggest and most accessible of the Northeast states. It is often said that you can’t reach any of the other Northeastern states without touching Assam. Hospitable people, a cuisine with its own distinctive aromas and flavours, a vibrant heritage marked by exotic dance forms and a string of cultural celebrations top the list of its innumerable attractions. With the arrival of April, the whole state will be dipped in the fervour of Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu.

Festive fervour As you can witness f ro m t h e g re e n e ry a n d eve ry t h i n g t h a t surrounds it, nature is nurtured in this state.

This forms the origin of Bihu. Assam celebrates three Bihu festivals, namely Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu and Bhogali Bihu. Of these, the most popular is Bohag Bihu. It celebrates seeding, new beginnings and the Assamese New Year.

Marked by delicious food, new clothes and traditional music and dance, the whole feel of Bihu is magnificent. The people of Assam

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partake in this festival regardless of which community, religion or region they belong to.

The festive vibes are on a different high at this time of the year, with the sound of bihugeet echoing in almost every street. The festival lasts a few days and young men and women are seen walking in groups dressed in their traditional attire - the mekhla. In cities and villages alike, there are elaborate Bihu festivals with hordes of men, women and children attending these celebrations.

The g rou nd s r e s emble mela s a nd a r e always full of song, laughter and dance. The traditional Bihu dance involves hip and hand movements, accompanied by instruments like the dhol (drum), baanhi , taal , gogona , toka xutuli and pepa. People carry the Jaapi, a symbol of Assam. The jaapi is a traditional, brightly coloured, conical hat, which serves as protection and is a popular gift item as well as a sign of respect.

Food bites

When we talk of festivals and grand celebrations, food is pretty much central to all of it. Tradit ional Bihu food includes leaf y vegetables (that are taken

Above Considered to be the most important musical instrument of Assamese folk culture, the dhol is a very crucial part of any festival of almost all tribes of Assam. Assamese Bihu and Husari are incomplete without the dhol. Dhol playing always takes the lead in Bihu and Husari. opposite page Making of the Assam Silk saree. The world-famous Assam Silk sarees are a much-revered cloth worn during the Bihu festival. Famously known as the Mekhela Chadar, this traditional attire is only produced in Assam and is worn extensively during major festivals.

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during the harvest), coconuts, jaggery, rice, sesame and milk. These tasty ingredients are then molded into sweets, traditional d i s h e s a n d d r i n k s . Tw o o f t h e m o r e important sweets during the Bihu festival are the coconut ladoo and the til Pitha.

Traversing boundaries The Bihu festival is not only celebrated in Assam, but also around the world by the Assamese. The London Bihu Community brings together the Assamese in the UK to celebrate and reminisce about their lives back home. It is also a way of instilling tradition in younger generations born outside the country.

Untouched beauty

Apart from culture, Assam also has a lovely travel scene.

Home to more than 20 wildlife sanctuaries and forest reserves, Assam is world famous for Kaziranga, a Unesco world heritage site.

Kaziranga is renowned for its endangered one-horned rhino and rare species of flora and fauna. Apart from rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, birds and deer are also some of the species that are found here. Reportedly, Kaziranga also has the highest density of tigers in the world.

Getting There AirAsia flies daily to Guwahati. www.airasia.com

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above Kaziranga National Park is a Unesco world heritage site renowned for the endangered onehorned rhino. left Sprawling tea estates enhance the striking beauty of Assam. They attract a lot of tourists to the state.

unique // stays www.travel3sixty.com

A tree-top holiday could be the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of busy city life.

Words: Abhinav Patra

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stays

The Machan, Lonavla, sits at a height of 3,000 feet above sea level and is spread across 25 acres of land

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o r t o d ay ’s d i s c e r n i n g t rave l l e r, a n e x p e d i t i o n i s n o l o n g e r ab o u t t h e destination and extends far beyond traditional vacations. Today’s consumer demands gratification on an aspirational plane, does not wish to be bracketed as a ‘me-too’ traveller and seeks to make memories. Imagine resting in a cozy hideaway perched amidst tree branches, waking up to the twittering of birds and walking into lush forests as you step out of your room. Far different from the regular hotel stays and hours of sightseeing, there are times when you might just want to spend time in a cool and quiet place, away from the constant movement of city life.

Tamara, coorg Far from the maddening crowd, this resort near Madikeri is nestled in the unmapped hills of Coorg. One of the few places in the world that is built inside a functional coffee plantation, Tamara presides over an estate of 170 acres producing coffee, cardamom, pepper and honey.

Flanked by the rock face of a hill on one side, the wooden cottag es almost float amidst the trees on the other. In a quest to be environment-friendly and sustainable, each of these 52 cottages with high, sloping roofs and French windows is built on stilts with unparalleled views of the valley and Virajpet.

The resort also offers silent, emissions-free, golf-cart buggies for guest movement.

O u t h e r e , v i s i t t h e Ti b e t a n c a m p a t Bylakuppe, Dubare Elephant Camp, Madikeri.

Trek to Thadiyandamol (the highest peak in Coorg), Igguthappa Temple, Nalknad Palace, Talacauvery, Bhagamandala, Chelavara Falls or stroll around the plantation.

The Machan, Lonavla Located near the scenic Jambulne jungle, about 17 kilometres from Lonavla (a two-hour drive from Pune), The Machan sits at a height of 3,000 feet above sea level and is spread across 25 acres of land. The jungle is home to many species of flora and fauna. Look closely and you might just catch a glimpse of wild rabbits, mongoose, porcupines, grey langurs, barking deers etc. A variety of seasonal birds, vibrant insects, crabs, moths, frogs and snakes can also be seen. Now, that’s a real jungle experience.

The categories of guest rooms are diverse here with Heritage being the most luxurious and a favourite among guests. Here you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the valley from the glass-walled rooms. Wooden floors, open showers and heritage décor, fresh air and authentic vegetables from the property or the nearby villages make it the perfect place for a quick but luxurious getaway.

No A/C, swimming pool, games room, sauna or spa – all you have for luxury is nature’s

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bounty. Though there is nothing much to do around the property, bird watching and exploring the many nature trails will keep you busy for hours on end.

Treehouse Resort, Jaipur

What started as a passion for trees and wildlife for Jaipur businessman Sunil Mehta is today a haven for nature lovers. Located just a few kilometres off the Delhi-Jaipur highway, Treehouse Resort was a dry and arid land with just a few Keekar trees and some shrubs.

However, Mehta’s passion for nature drove him to launch an ecological project called ‘Nature Farms’. As the trees and plants grew — he planted hundreds and thousands of them — he built a little machan for himself. Friends started coming and insisted on staying at the machan. That’s how the Treehouse Resort, a part of Nature Farms, came into being.

Clockwise from below Floating cottages on stilts above a lush coffee plantation in the Kodagu valley of Coorg, The Tamara sits on 170 acres of the Kabinakkad Coffee Estate.

One of the largest tree house resorts in the world, The Tree House Resort is only a 3-hour drive from Delhi and around 40 minutes from Jaipur.

With afternoon barbeques on the panoramic private sundeck in the luxury cottage, there won’t be much need to leave the tree houses of Tamara, Coorg.

trip guide

‘eco-friendly’ stay This ecofriendly jungle getaway demands your attention. The Machan is nestled inside the thick forest of Jambulne in the Sahyadri Hills of Lonavala. Tree houses are built on wild fig trees at an altitude of 45 feet on this 25-acre property. The resort prides itself on generating their own power through wind turbines and photovoltaic cells.

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palette // curry www.travel3sixty.com

A Melting Pot of

Flavours Spicy, packed with flavours, seductive and fragrant, curries are a favourite in India as well as abroad.

Words: Mini Ribeiro

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The use of the term ‘curry’ is generally limited to dishes prepared in a sauce.

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complex combination of spices and herbs, a curry is a palate-pleasing and comforting dish relished the world over. Although synonymous with India, curries are also eaten in different parts of the globe, boasting of the best local flavours. Bunny chow, cari top, rending curry, massaman curry, fish-head curry and of course the famous Thai green curry , are some of the more popular curries from all over that have now made their way into India too.

The popularity of these dishes is soaring in restaurants across the board.

Chef Ajay Anand, Director of Culinary, Pullman & Novotel, New Delhi, Aerocity, is of the opinion, “Nowadays people are well-versed with international food as they are travelling around the world. Hence, they are familiar with global ingredients and are ready to experiment.”

Anirudhya Roy, Executive Chef, Taj Lands End, Mumbai, adds, “Made out of freshly ground curry pastes and spices, curries are light on the stomach and are appealing to even those who prefer healthier culinary options, while retaining fresh tastes and aromas. Most importantly, the fact that curry pastes can be made readily in every household, make them an interesting and unique part of kitchens across the globe.”

Global Varieties

Curries are famous across the world. It is only the cooking methods and the ingredients that greatly differ. Typical spices like turmeric, cumin, chilli, peppercorns, coriander, make their way into most curries, apart from ingredients like onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, lemongrass, fenugreek and tamarind, in varying proportions.

However, Chef Anand feels that climate also plays a vital role in defining curries.

“Every country does their curries differently m a i n ly b e c au s e t he y a l l u s e t he i r o w n f resh produce and loca l ly ava i lable raw ingredients,” he says.

The slow-cooked meat curry of Jamaica is legendary. Along with goat meat, curry leaves, thyme and scotch bonnet peppers are simmered and the resultant flavoured gravy is an absolute gourmet delight.

Be it curry laksa or chicken rendang , or the fragrant kapitan chicken curry, Malaysia is home to several curries eaten at ever y meal. Aromatic herbs and a blend of spices characterise these curries. Sayur lodeh is another popular curry with vegetables cooked in coconut milk and a homemade paste of lemong rass, dr y chillies and galangal . A bowl full of piping hot chicken curry, made with bone-in chicken, infused with spices

and curry leaves served with nasi kunyit or turmeric sticky rice, is a common sight in a Malaysian household.

In Thailand, curry is usually a soupy dish consisting of coconut milk or water, curry paste and meat. Roy elaborates, “Thailand bursts at the seams with spicy, full-bodied, and robust flavours in its culinary fare. Thai curry is known for being a rich indulgence in every spoonful. Best complemented by pandan scented jasmine rice, some popular curries of this region include Thai jungle curry, a thin and fully-spiced fish curry and gaeng ped kai, a chicken curry infused with curry paste, fresh herbs and coconut milk.”

Sri Lanka carries the word ‘curry’ in its gastronomical saga. Intricate recipes make for appealing representations and robust, powerful flavours. These flavours are usually balanced out by completing the recipe with coconut milk extract to produce favourites like king’s chicken curry, jaffna lamb curry and the delectable polos curry (jackfruit curry).

The Vietnamese specialty ca ri chay with silken tofu, mushrooms, okra and assortment of vegetables finished with curry powder, lemon grass and coconut milk, is a treat for the taste buds. Japan is known for its kare raisu, eaten with rice and pickled vegetables.

Clockwise from LEFT Fish curry and rice is a staple food for Bengalis, especially from West Bengal.

Traditional Indian curries being served at a restaurant.

Palak Paneer is a favourite among vegetarians.

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a - z of curry Whether it’s wet or dry, curry is one of the most famous and loved dishes in the world. always in it Typical spices like turmeric, cumin, chili, peppercorns and coriander make their way into most curries. alternative A Middle Eastern alternative to curry, za’atar is a spice mix containing thyme, sesame, salt, oregano and marjoram. Common in Lebanese cuisine, it’s often spread on bread. remedy Not only delicious, curry is also therapeutic. It’s been used in experimental cancer therapies, while cumin has been used to treat Parkinsons. invention In honour of Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation, a special curry dish – Coronation Chicken was invented. It’s still very popular in Great Britain. goulash The European version of curry would be goulash: a spicy stew made with paprika, garlic, potatoes and either beef or pork.

Desi Curries Curries are the basic cornerstone of Indian cuisine and a staple in almost every region of the country. Of course, curries differ in every part of the country, as local curries are eaten/made with specific ingredients, yet, there are some similarities in terms of the cooking styles and spices. Goa fish curry, chingri malai curry of Bengal, nadan kerala parippu, butter chicken in North India, mutton rara of Himachal Pradesh are some of the more popular desi curries.

According to Chef Roy, Indian cuisine dictates that the vessel in which the curry is being cooked is sealed off to obtain tenderly cooked meats and vegetables. Indian curries see the use of yoghurt as well as the use of natural perfumes like kewra. The use of garam masala, a blend of several spices, is again a must in Indian curries.

Pair It Right

While Indian curries are relished with flatbreads like rotis, naans, parathas or rice, most Pan Asian curries are paired with rice.

Chef A nand sug gests, “Jasmine r ice is used mostly w ith cur r ies. Being a staple food across the globe it goes very well with c ur r ies.” Chef Roy adds, “Cur r ies would ideally be paired with rice, rice vermicelli and French baguettes. However, owing to an evolving palate, we have found success in pairing curries with dishes like neer dosa and Singaporean rotiprata.”

As we all know that every part of the world may have their own indigenous dishes, but the savoury, spiced, stew-like curries, with local flavours are something everyone enjoys at some meal or the other and is the most soughtafter dishes for all.

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Pilot’s Perspective

the dry dilemma

Captain Lim Khoy Hing explores the strange effects of dry cabin air.

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A

g uest once w rote to me for t ip s on overcom i ng the problems caused by dry air. He asked if the air in the cabin could be the reason his nose often bled while flying.

Ai r i nsi de a n a i rpl a n e c a n indeed be very dry. Cabin air has a very low relative humidity of around 10 per cent. Compare this value to the Earth’s desert regions where humidity is around 20 to 25 per cent. However, if you are

in a tropical region, for example, in Singapore, the average relative humidity is about 85 per cent.

In the dry environment of the cabin, evaporation of moisture from the skin can be as high as eight ounces of water per hour!

According to some medical sources, those with very sensitive skin may find that the delicate sinus inside the nose tends to dry out fairly quickly. This may cause the nose to bleed.

Dehydration may also be the cause of cracked lips, as well as a burning sensation in the eyes, headaches and lethargy.

Less obvious consequences of dehydration include inducing stress on the body, reducing mucus production and lowering the body’s immune system.

Tackling Nosebleeds

While onboard, stay hydrated as low cabin pressure leads to nose bleeding.

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To keep hydrated, drink a lot of water while onboard. It is recommended that an adult should drink at least eight cups or one litre of water for every hour in the air. Beverages such as alcohol and coffee should be avoided, as they act as diuretics, further dehydrating the body.

While flying, one should eat foods that are low in salt and sugar, to help the body retain moisture. Finally, be sure to carry a small tube of moisturising lotion to avoid the irritation of dry, flaky skin. If nosebleeds still occur in flight despite following all precautions as above, it may be necessary to request the assistance of the cabin crew or a doctor after landing.

In spite of what I have outlined a b ov e , t h e r e a r e c o n f l i c t i n g views amongst the scientific community as to the main cause of nosebleeds in flight. As one doctor commented, if dry air and low humidity were indeed the case, then all inhabitants living in very cold regions of the world and where humidity is very low should experience frequent nose bleeding, as would the majority of air passengers and cabin crew.

Other views state that nosebleeds are the result of a common cold or upper respiratory tract infection. In actual fact, because the nasal blood vessels

Captain Lim’s book, Life in the Skies, which won third place in the Reader’s Choice Award at the Malaysia BookFest 2015, and its Mandarin version 【飛行日記】are now available for purchase onboard all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights.

Pre-book your copy at www.bigdutyfree.com. Enjoy these great collections written by a veteran aviator.

Low humidity and the ‘dried-out’ sinus cavities lead to difference in taste of food in the sky, as compared to on land.

are very fragile, any irritation to the delicate sinus tissue may cause a bleed.

It has also been shown that there is barely any difference in the incidences of nosebleeds between people working long hours in cold storage rooms of food processing factories, those working in air-conditioned rooms with low humidity and others working in normal environments.

Truth about cabin air Although cabin air may be dry,

rest assured, it is very clean. On all modern aircraft, passengers and crew breathe a mixture of fresh and recirculated air. Using this combination rather than fresh air makes it easier to control temperature and helps maintain a certain level of humidity.

Occasionally, on some flights, you would notice a strong odour – a smell similar to the exhaust – in the cabin, shortly after pushback.

Usually, this only happens when the exhaust air is drawn into the air conditioning system when

the engine is started. The wind is often to be blamed because it causes the air to backflow through the air conditioning system. This normally lasts only a minute or so, until the engines are running and have stabilised. It may be unpleasant but it is little different to the fumes you sometimes breathe in your car while stuck in a traffic jam. Studies have shown that a crowded airplane is no more germ-laden than other enclosed spaces. In fact, the under floor filters have been described by manufacturers as being of hospital quality.

Strange Effects According to Dr Tom Finger, Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, dry air can affect how we perceive aromas. “Dry air doesn’t help our sense of smell, either. Typically, odorants

are transported to olfactory receptors in the nose via the mucus lining. When the nasal cavity is dried out, the efficiency at which odorants are detected by the brain is reduced. When you lose the olfactory component, you lose much of the flavour component of food.”

T h e l ow h u m i d i t y a n d t h e ‘dried-out’ sinus cavities may explain why, sometimes, food may taste different in the sky, as compared to on land – a good reason not to try to sneak outside food onboard!

Taking into account how aroma affects taste buds, AirAsia actually enhances the flavour of in-flight dishes to ensure guests are always served flavoursome delights. Of course, when you touch down a t A i r A s i a ’s m a n y a m a z i n g destinations, you can always get your local fix.

Captain Lim Khoy Hing is a former AirAsia Airbus A320 and AirAsia X A330/A340 pilot who also used to fly the Boeing 777. He has logged a total of more than 25,500 flying hours and is now a Simulator Flight Instructor with AirAsia X. In his spare time, he shares his opinion on aviation issues with others. For more air travel and aviation stories, check out his website, ‘Just About Flying’ at www.askcaptainlim.com.

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own it

Trend Watcher

Get your dressing game on point with these trend-setting stylish clothes and accessories.

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Time Tales

The new I.N.O.X. timepiece forges a link between authenticity and innovation. Made from a carbon resin composite that has protected space shuttles from re-entry temperatures in excess of 1260°C, it fearlessly heads for elevated performance levels. Durable materials and construction join forces with dependable functionality. The flagship collection reinforces its relentless commitment to simultaneously measuring and defying time.

Step-in

Own these classic pair of brogues with a twist of denim.

In an attempt to help style-conscious men to put their best foot forward, the French fashion house has given the classic men’s Derby shoe a modern makeover. The Blend Richelieu shoe makes for a stylish and versatile choice for business and leisure.

It is designed with a padded in-sock for enhanced comfort.

Eyeing Beauty Complete your summer look with the latest collection of Prada shades where graceful design and expressiveness are interspersed with class and chic. Their high degree of neutrality with regard to the field of view makes them particularly suitable for everyday use.

Modern Indian Brides

Ditch the bygones and slay in style this wedding season in Manav Gangwani’s quirky couture creation. His latest collection, The Manav Gangwani Label, features garments for the modern bride with intricately designed lehengas, artfully crafted dupattas, flamboyant sarees and much more with the vision of adding pure beauty to the most important day of your life.

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Invigorating Whisks Entice your senses with these enchanting scents making rounds this season.

‘Good Girl’ Scent

Luxe Gold

Good Girl promises an innovative and addictive combination of tuberose and roasted tonka bean, which represents the duality of a woman’s character. A floral wave of white Sambac jasmine and tuberose is placed in contrast with the mysterious and deep notes of the tonka bean and cocoa.

1 Million Privé is an enhanced version of the original 1 Million Eau de Toilette that incorporates noble materials that take it from classic to unique. The heart is an extraordinary adventure of Nargile tobacco enriched with precious myrrh. Base notes of patchouli and tonka bean make the fragrance exciting and explosive. A perfume pair inspired by extravagance, gold and wealth, this fragrance is as rich on the inside as it appears on the outside.

Hugo Man

An enlivening men’s perfume from Hugo, it is distinguished by the power of its fragrance blend: lavender, sage and geranium combined with aromatic cedar wood and fir resin for an unmistakably masculine character. The top note is based on green apple and completes the fragrance with a fresh potency. The perfume reinforces the personality of the Hugo man who lives his life by his own rules.

Bright & Shine

Reveal your most luminous complexion with complete skin-brightening regime. Suitable for sensitive skin, the Body Shop Drops of Light range is made with the finest raw ingredients that are sourced from around the globe.

Rosy Affaire

Forget bouquets, we’d much rather take our roses in the form of this cushiony lotion.

The fresh rose scent and pretty pink colour would be reason enough to use it, but this skin-saver isn’t just about appearances. As hydrating as a balm—though not quite as heavy—it maintains the balance of your skin’s hydrolipidic layer, a protective film made up of sweat, sebum and water.

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off THE record

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Anushka Sharma’s Phillauri released on March 24

starlet on a roll

Basking in the glory of her second home production, Phillauri starlet Anushka Sharma gets candid on her stint as a producer, upcoming releases and more.

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F

rom playing the naïve girl in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Anushka Sharma has moved on to bold portrayals in films like Dil Dhadakne Do and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Having done 16 movies till date, including unreleased flicks, Anushka is quickly moving up the ladder, all the while adding successful films, like Band Baaja Baaraat, PK, NH10 and Sultan to her kitty. The actress has now donned the producer’s hat before completing even a decade in Bollywood.

New role Anushka Sharma started her production company Clean Slate Films in collaboration with her brother Karnesh Sharma. Speaking about her big decision to step into production, Anushka says, “Karnesh and I wanted to tell good, different and new stories to the audiences and present them with new ideas. Hence, we decided

to start Clean Slate Films. NH10 was well received because of its fresh content. Similarly, my latest film Phillauri has gauged some positive reactions. Our aim is to back talented people and provide entertaining content to viewers. This, I believe, we have been able to achieve with our films.” Anushka’s first project as a producer, NH10 became an instant hit and went on to collect approximately Rs 30 crore over a Rs 13 crore budget.

Phillauri fame Anushka has play the lead in her second home production, Phillauri. The actress has experimented with a character of a friendly ghost.

“It is a simple and innocent role.

Shashi is very relatable to most people and I have tried to be as honest as I can in portraying her true self,” says Anushka, describing her character in the film.

Directed by Anshai Lal, Phillauri

Words: Shivani Mankermi

Anushka Sharma has stepped up the ladder of success by donning the hat of producer.

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off THE record

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A still from PK; (below) Anushkha Sharma in Jab Tak Hai Jaan

“My constant effort is to take up such films that provide me an opportunity to indulge in distinct roles”

was released on March 24 and has been greatly appreciated across the board.

Terming her latest project as a family entertainer, the actresscum-producer states that she received positive reviews for Phillauri from her industry friends after the trailer and movie release.

“Every aspect of the trailer was appreciated and the response has been very good. Phillauri is a very honest film and everyone has liked the introduction of the ghost and my pairing with

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Diljit Dosanjh. Even the music has caught everyone’s attention,” gushes Anushka.

character, based on their personality. With Phillauri, I believe it has worked perfectly.”

Power cast Speaking about the powerhouse cast, Anushka says, “Actors are cast in a film based on how well they fit into the respective characters. With actors like Diljit and Suraj in the film, I feel that everything has happened just about right. There could not be another actor who could play these roles. The right person has to be attached to the

Diljit became popular with his maiden Bollywood venture Udta Punjab and Anushka was excited to have him on-board. “I remember, when I was shooting for another film, Karnesh shared the news with me that Diljit had agreed to come on-board after hearing the script straight after the first time. I was really glad that he agreed to work with us on

this film, as he understood the concept very well. Clean Slate Films is a new production house and when talented actors agree to work with us, I feel very happy,” says Anushka.

With each passing day, Anushka is gaining experience being an actor and a producer (She will complete a decade in Bollywood next year). All of just 28, Anushka has a strong list of credentials to boast of. She has worked with all the top three Khans of Bollywood.

Sharing her journey and success mantra, Anushka says, “I strongly believe that I can do everything provided I get the right opportunity, which is a big thing. I feel that I have been very fortunate to have been offered the kind of roles that define and shape-up my career so well. I am glad that my characters have been liked by the audience. My constant effort is to take up such films that give me an opportunity to indulge in distinct roles. An actor can impress the audiences only with their diverse onscreen avatars. Characters make a star loved by fans and I am always on a lookout for good and different characters.”

Get in touch

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Joy of Flying Whether on a short or a long-haul journey, flying can be a pleasant experience if you are wellprepared. Here are some simple steps to ensure you have a safe, smooth and comfortable journey.

Inflight Exercises Especially on longer flights, we suggest you perform these simple exercises to keep yourself energised.

Stay Hydrated

Shoulder Lifts Gently lift

your right shoulder and lower the left one simultaneously. Repeat the movement five times by alternating between shoulders.

Aircraft cabins are generally very dry due to which dehydration can occur easily. To overcome this:

Knee Lifts Lift knee up toward

Drink lots of water but ensure the intake is slow and regular. Drinking too much water suddenly will cause the body to expel water quickly, forcing you to visit the toilet frequently.

your chest and hold the position for 10 seconds. Gently lower knee and repeat with the other leg.

Repeat the exercise as desired.

Simply walking up and down the aircraft aisle a few times or performing a few tip toes or light stretching can help blood circulation.

To counter the effects of jetlag, get as much sleep as possible when flying west to east. When flying in the reverse direction, try and stay awake. AirAsia’s chic Snug-as-a-bug hoodie keeps you cosy with its neck pillow attached to a soft hooded collar. And best of all, since it’s inflatable, this clever travel item is easily savings when you pre-book this travel essential online at www.bigdutyfree.com

Beat the Lag

APR 2017

Even your skin needs hydration. Apply moisturiser or a body spritzer on exposed body parts to stay hydrated.

Keep tea, coffee and alcohol intake to a minimum.

Popping Ears Changes in air pressure or altitude cause our ears to ‘pop’ and sometimes ache during take-offs and landings. For a comfortable flying experience, chew sweets or mimic the act of chewing and swallowing if you do not have any available with you. This will relieve the discomfort and help stabilise the pressure in the ear canals.

Pacifiers will work just as well for toddlers. If you have cold, use a nasal decongestant to clear your nasal passage and alleviate the ache.

Foot Pumps Keeping both heels on the floor, point feet upwards as high as you can. Return feet to earlier position. Then, lift heels while keeping the balls of your feet on the floor. Repeat the exercise as desired.

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Dry eyes can aggravate with dry atmosphere. Bring along lubricating eye drops and use when required. Also, ditch contact lenses and opt for spectacles while on flight.

Deep Vein Thrombosis DVT can occur when a blood clot forms in the large veins of legs or arms, partially or completely blocking blood circulation. Sitting still and inactivity during long flights may lead to the occurrence of DVT. If you are flying long distance, please ensure you perform inflight exercises listed above as a precaution against developing DVT. When possible and permissible, stretch your legs and walk along the aisle. Beware of early symptoms like pain or swelling in legs.

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Route Map

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Fly to over 100 destinations worldwide with the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Tehran

Tehran

New Delhi

New Delhi

Kathmandu Kathmandu

Dhaka Jeddah

Kolkata

Jeddah

Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam

Hyderabad Hyderabad

Chennai Bengaluru Bengaluru

Skytrax World’s Best Low-Cost Airline 2009 – 2016

Chennai

TiruchirappalliTiruchirappalli Kochi Kochi Colombo Malé

Colombo

Malé

INDIANINDIAN OCEANOCEAN

Mauritius

LANGKAWI

Alor Setar

PENANG

KOTA KINABALU Sandakan Labuan

Kota Bharu Kuala Terengganu

MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR JOHOR BAHRU

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Mauritius

Miri Bintulu Sibu

KUCHING

Tawau

Dhaka

Kolkata

Sapporo Beijing

Chengdu

Seoul Busan

Xi’an

Wuhan Chengdu Chongqing Chongqing Changsha

Busan Osaka

Tokyo (Haneda) Tokyo (Haneda) Osaka

Shanghai Shanghai Wuhan Hangzhou Hangzhou Changsha

Guilin Guilin Taipei Taipei Shantou Shantou Guangzhou Guangzhou Nanning Nanning Kaohsiung Kaohsiung Shenzhen Shenzhen Macao Macao Hong Kong Hong Kong Hanoi Hanoi Luang Prabang Luang Prabang Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Vientiane Vientiane Kunming

Yangon Bangkok Pattaya

Yangon

Kunming

Da Nang

Da Nang

Sapporo

Beijing Seoul

Xi’an

Maps not to scale and are just a graphic representation. Maps do not reflect the opinion of the publisher with regards to the legal or geographical status of any country/territory depicted.

Maps as at November 1, 2016.

Manila

Manila

BangkokSiem Reap Siem Reap Pattaya Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City

Kalibo

Kalibo

Surat Thani Surat Thani Phuket Krabi Phuket Krabi LANGKAWI LANGKAWI KOTA KINABALU KOTA KINABALU Bharu Kota Bharu Banda Banda Kota Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Seri Begawan Aceh Aceh PENANG PENANG Miri Miri KUALA Medan Medan KUALA LUMPUR LUMPUR JOHOR BAHRU JOHOR KUCHING BAHRU KUCHING Singapore Singapore Pekanbaru Pekanbaru Pontianak Pontianak Padang Padang

Malaysia AirAsia & AirAsia X Hubs in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Kota Kinabalu International Airport Penang International Airport Johor Bahru International Airport Kuching International Airport Langkawi International Airport Malaysia AirAsia Route AirAsia X Route AirAsia Domestic Route

PACIFICPACIFIC OCEANOCEAN

Palembang Palembang Makassar Makassar Jakarta Jakarta Semarang Semarang Bandung Bandung Surabaya Surabaya Solo Solo Yogyakarta Yogyakarta Bali Lombok Bali Lombok

Gold Coast Gold Coast Perth

Perth

Sydney

Sydney Auckland

Auckland

Melbourne Melbourne

SOUTHERN SOUTHERN OCEANOCEAN

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Route Map

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Thai AirAsia & Thai AirAsia X Hubs in Thailand

Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok Phuket International Airport Chiang Mai International Airport Krabi International Airport U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport Hat Yai International Airport International Route Domestic Route Thai AirAsia X Route

Seoul

Tokyo Xi’an

Osaka

Shanghai Wuhan Hangzhou Chongqing Changsha

Nanchang

Kunming Kolkata

Guangzhou Nanning Macao

Mandalay Chiang Rai

Luang Prabang

Shantou Shenzhen Hong Kong

Hanoi

Nan Vientiane Loei Udon Thani Nakhon Phanom Phitsanulok Sakhon Nakhon Khon Kaen Roi Et Ubon Ratchathani Buriram BANGKOK Siem Reap

CHIANG MAI

Yangon

Bengaluru

Chennai

PATTAYA

PACIFIC OCEAN

Phnom Penh Ho Chi Minh City

Kochi

Surat Thani KRABI PHUKET

Trang Penang

Nakhon Si Thammarat HAT YAI

Narathiwat

Kuala Lumpur

INDIAN OCEAN

Johor Bahru

Singapore

Jakarta Bali

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India AirAsia Hubs in India

Kempegowda International Airport Indira Gandhi International Airport Domestic Route

Srinagar

Chandigarh NEW DELHI Bagdogra Guwahati

Jaipur

Imphal

Ranchi* Kolkata*

Pune Hyderabad

Visakhapatnam

Goa BENGALURU Kochi

INDIAN OCEAN

* Kolkata and Ranchi commencing on 15 April 2017

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Destinations India

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India

India

India

Bengaluru

Chennai

Kolkata

Kochi

Goa

Name of Airport: Kempegowda International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 80 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Temperatures: 15 to 36° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Kannada, English, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi Distance from airport to city: 36km

Name of Airport: Chennai International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 44 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Temperatures: 21 to 38° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Tamil, English, Hindi Distance from airport to city: 20km

Name of Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 33 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Temperatures: 20 to 31° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Bengali, English, Hindi Distance from airport to city: 15km

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation

Name of Airport: Cochin International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 484 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Temperatures: 23 to 31° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil Distance from airport to city: 38km

Name of Airport: Goa International Airport/Dabolim Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 832 Airport Tax: Domestic & International Temperatures: 21 to 35° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Konkani, English, Hindi, Portuguese, Marathi Distance from airport to city: 26km

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation

Taxi

Taxi

Bus

Bus

Taxi Bus

City Highlights  Bangalore Palace Built in 1862, this Tudor-style building is now used as an events space  National Gallery of Modern Art 200-year-old mansion housing an art gallery  Bangalore Turf Club 85-acre track with year-round horse races  Cubbon Park A 120-hectare garden named after former British commissioner Sir Mark Cubbon  Krishnarajendra Market Market selling fresh flowers, produce, dyes, spices and copperware.

Foodie Town  Idli (steamed lentil and rice cakes)  Masala Dosa (crepe made from rice batter and black lentils with a spiced potato and fried onion filling)  Kharabath (spiced semolina pudding served with coconut chutney)

Party Zones

City Highlights  Marina Beach: Beautiful beach for people watching and good food  Kapaleeshwarar Temple Chennai’s most impressive temple dedicated to Lord Shiva  Anna Zoological Park One of the best and biggest zoos in Southeast Asia  Dakshina Chitra Cultural Centre Centre showcasing South Indian culture, arts and crafts  Sri Parthasarathy Temple An 8th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Foodie Town  Puliyogare (steamed or boiled rice mixed with tamarind paste, nuts coconut, chilies, herbs and spices)  Sambar (lentil-based vegetable stew)  Kothu Parotta (flat bread chopped up and stir-fried with eggs, veggies, curry and meat)

Party Zones  Anna Salai  Cathedral Road  Sathyadev Avenue

 UB City Mall  Indiranagar  Koramangala

Insider Tip The Central Cottage Industries Emporium on MG Road is a good place to buy handicrafts and souvenirs.

APR 2017

Taxi

Bus

Bikes

City Highlights

City Highlights

 Botanical Gardens A garden founded in 1786 with a lake and a 250-year-old Banyan tree  Belur Math Shrine Impressive temple with beautiful grounds on the banks of the Ganges River  St. Paul’s Cathedral Episcopal Church built in 1839 and surrounded by greenery  Marble Palace Elegant house built in the 19th century, filled with antiques and art  Mullik Ghat Flower Market 130-year old flower market, one of the largest in India.

 Fort Cochin Waterfront area with colonial buildings and the 16th century St. Francis Church  Mattancherry Palace Palace that houses preserved Hindu murals and artefacts  Kerala Folklore Museum Museum with over 4,000 artefacts and nightly cultural performances  Santa Cruz Basilica Catholic Church with a beautiful interior and home to historical artefacts  Kerala Kathakali Centre Centre with art, classical dance and theatre performances.

 Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Picturesque church built in 1619  Ashiyana Retreat Centre Centre with yoga, spa classes and courses  Goa Chitra Ethnographic museum with more than 4,000 objects and a traditional organic farm  Mapusa Market Market selling clothing, produce, antiques, souvenirs and textiles  Patnem Beach Beach with stalls selling clothes, Kashmiri jewellery and trinkets.

Foodie Town

Foodie Town

City Highlights

Foodie Town

 Kathi Roll (flat bread roll filled mutton, chicken, fried egg and veggies)  Ghugni (stew of yellow dried peas or white peas with coconut milk)  Papri Chaat (deep fried chips topped with spiced potatoes, yellow peas and chutney)

 Meen Molagitta Curry (smoked water fish cooked in coconut milk and chili)  Kurukku Kalan (thick yogurt curry with toasted banana and hot rice)  Varutharacha Kozhi (chicken cooked in a dry, spicy coconut curry)

 Xacutis (spicy gravy dish made with white poppy seeds, grated coconut, herbs and chilies. It can be made in chicken, meat & cheese variants)  Vindaloo (spicy curry dish with meat and potatoes, cooked with palm vinegar and red chilies)  Bibinca (pudding made of coconut milk, flour, sugar, coconut water, eggs and ghee)

Party Zones

Party Zones

Party Zones

 Fort Kochi  MG Road  Ernakulam

 Tito’s lane  Panaji  Calangute

 Park Street  Camac Street

Chennai is famous for its filter-coffee, so make sure you try it.

Taxi

METRO

Insider Tip

92

India

Insider Tip Head to the evening market in Parry’s for flowers, gemstones, food and silk sarees at amazing prices.

Insider Tip For a break from the city, hire a taxi for the day and visit the splendid Athirappilly Waterfalls.

Insider Tip Visit the Treasure antique shop near Arossim beach for vintage Goan furniture.

India

India

India

India

India

visakhapatnam

guwahati

chandigarh

new delhi

srinagar

Name of Airport: Visakhapatnam International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 891 Temperatures: 18 to 35° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Telugu, English and Hindi Distance from airport to city: 16km

Name of Airport: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 361 Temperatures: 19 to 29° Celsius Climate: High temperature with heavy rainfall and humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, English and Hindi Distance from airport to city: 22km

Name of Airport: Chandigarh International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 172 Temperatures: 17 to 30° Celsius Climate: Subtropical Languages spoken by the locals: Punjabi, English, Hindi Distance from airport to city: 10km

Name of Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 11 Temperatures: 19 to 31° Celsius Climate: Moderate Languages spoken by the locals: Hindi and English Distance from airport to city: 20km

Name of Airport: Srinagar International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 194 Temperatures: 2 to 18° Celsius Climate: Humid subtropical climate Languages spoken by the locals: Kashmiri, Hindi, Urdu, English Distance from airport to city: 14km

Modes of transportation Taxi

Modes of transportation Taxi

Modes of transportation Taxi Bus

Bus Bus

City Highlights  Araku Valley A small hill station in the Eastern Ghats with abundant scenic beauty  Borra Caves A picturesque and naturally formed cave believed to be 150 million years old  Kailasagiri Hill Park One of the prominent hill top parks with a breathtaking panoramic sea view.

Foodie Town  Idli (steamed lentil and rice cakes)  Masala Dosa (crepe made from rice batter and black lentils with a spiced potato and fried onion filling)

Party Zones  The Tribe Waltair Night Spices The Park Hotel

Insider Tip When in Visakhapatnam, make sure to visit the beach with your loved ones.

City Highlights  Kamakhya Temple : A Hindu temple dedicated to mother goddess Kamakhya  Kaziranga national park A World Heritage site which hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses  Botanical Garden One of the finest botanical gardens in the NorthEast India with over 345 indigenous species and 280 species of exotic plants  Bamuni Lake Located around 40 km from Guwahati, it is a major fishing and picnic spot.

Foodie Town  momo (flour dumplings filled with different meats and vegetables)  Khaar (a curry made from raw papaya, pulses and meat)  Ou Khatta (a delicious sweet and sour paste made out of elephant apple and jaggery)

Insider Tip While in Guwahati, visit ‘momo ghar’ in uzan bazaar to get the most authentic momo varities.

Taxi

Modes of transportation Taxi

Bus Bus METRO

City Highlights  Sukhna Lake: Spread in a area of 3km, it is a reservoir at the foothills of the Himalayas  Rock Garden A garden made by late Nek Chand that consists sculptures made from waste things  Rose Garden Spread in a huge area, rose garden contains more than 17,000 plants and varieties of roses.

Foodie Town  Butter Chicken (tender chicken peices in a tomato and cashewnut gravy with loads of butter and cream)  Tandoori chicken (roasted chicken seasoned with spices and lemon juice served with mint chutney)  Parathas (flat bread stuffed with assorted vegetables or meat)

Party Zones  Kitty Su  10 Downing Street  Sector 26

Party Zones  Paltan Bazaar  Zoo Road  Sathyadev Avenue

Modes of transportation

Insider Tip Visit nik bakers’ outlets in the city to savour some amazing cakes and snacks.

City Highlights  Red Fort: It was the main residence of the emperors of Mughal dynasty for nearly 200 years, until 1857  Qutub Minar World’s tallest rubble masonry minaret & a UNESCO World Heritage Site  Dilli haat An open-air food plaza & craft bazar, this market is run by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporations  lotus temple A Bahá’í House of Worship completed in 1986, it is notable for its flower-like shape.

Foodie Town  Papri Chaat (deep fried chips topped with spiced potatoes, yellow peas and chutney)  Gol Gappe (a round, hollow puri, fried crisp and filled with a mixture of flavored water)  Kulfi faluda (a cold dessert made with boiled, glass noodles blended with fruit and flavoured syrups)

Party Zones  Hauz Khas Village  Cyberhub, Gurugram  Connaught Place

Insider Tip Do visit the old delhi area to witness the charm of the city and relish a local food.

City Highlights  dal lake: Over 15km around, Dal Lake is Srinagar’s jewel, a vast sheet of water reflecting the carved wooden balconies of the houseboats and the misty peaks of the Pir Panjal mountains pari mahal Pari Mahal (literally ‘Palace of the Fairies’) is a 17th-century folly of arched niches and stone walls set high above the lake shore, about 9km from Nehru Park  Shankaracharya Mandir On top of thickly forested Shankaracharya Hill, this small Shiva temple is built from hefty blocks of visibly ancient grey stone floating vegetable market The dawn vegetable market is an increasingly popular tourist sight.

Foodie Town  yakhni (lamb dish cooked in curd based gravy for a creamy texture)  dum aloo (a typical Kashmiri dish which gets its name as it’s cooked under pressure or dum)  rogan josh (a signature dish, this spicy red lamb-based curry is ideally eaten with saffron rice)

Party Zones  Tonk Road  Malviya Nagar

Insider Tip shop for souvenirs, beautiful Kashmiri handicrafts & Pashmina shawls.

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Destinations India

www.travel3sixty.com

India

India

Malaysia

hyderabad

Pune

bagdogra

imphal

Kuala Lumpur

Name of Airport: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 40 Temperatures: 24 to 33° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Telugu, English and Hindi Distance from airport to city: 28km

Name of Airport: Pune Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 20 Temperatures: 19 to 33° Celsius Climate: Hot semi-arid climate Languages spoken by the locals: Marathi, English, Hindi Distance from airport to city: 10km

Name of Airport: Bagdogra Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 353 Temperatures: 23 to 30° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages spoken by the locals: Bengali, English, Hindi , Nepali and Bhutanese Distance from airport to city: 12km

Name of Airport: Imphal International Airport Currency: INR (Indian Rupee) Dialing code: +91 385 Temperatures: 23 to 31° Celsius Climate: Humid-subtropical Languages spoken by the locals: Manipuri, English and Hindi Distance from airport to city: 8km

Name of Airport: Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) Currency: MYR (Malaysian Ringgit) Dialing code: +603 Airport Tax: International and domestic Temperatures: 26 to 35° Celsius Climate: Tropical with high humidity Languages: Malay, Mandarin, English, Iban, Cantonese, Tamil, Kadazandusun Distance from airport to city: 60-65km (approx.)

Modes of transportation Taxi

Modes of transportation Taxi Bus

City Highlights City Highlights  Salar Jung Museum It is the world’s largest one man art collection  Ramoji Film City Declared to be the world’s largest unified film city, it is spread over the area of 2500 acres of land heeled-off with hills, lakes, gardens and other astonishing archaic pieces  Golkonda Fort It is listed as the archaeological treasure with brilliant architecture  Snow world An amusement park with the snowfall concept. Here one can play different games with snow.

Foodie Town  Mirchi ka salan (curried chillies in a nutty sauce) keema samosa (deep fried snack with meat stuffing)  Biryani (rice cooked with meat in traditional spices)

Party Zones  Banjara Hills  Gachibowli  Old City

Insider Tip The minarets and mosques around the city are architectural marvels and must be visited when in the city.

APR 2017

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation Taxi

Taxi Bus

Bus

94

India

 FC Road: Located centrally in the ever-expanding city of Pune, FC Road is home to many of city’s famous restaurants, street food joints, and street shopping areas  Mg Road It is the home to various old Parsi restaurants and bakeries  Koregaon park This area has some eateries of the city.

Foodie Town  Kutchi Dabeli (spicy potato mixture fried and filled into a small burger bun topped with onion, pomegranate, fresh garlic chutney and sev)  Sujata mastani (thick, fruit flavoured shakes topped with ice cream)  Vada pav (fried mashed potato mixture stuffed into a bun served along with a dry local garlic and chilly chutney)

Party Zones  Mi A Mi  Swig  1000 Oak  Flying Saucer SkyBar

Insider Tip Do try the famous shrewberry cookies at Kayani bakery at MG road.

Bus

City Highlights  hong kong market A paradise for shopaholics and is reputed for its imported electronic items  coronation bridge Also known as the Sevoke bridge, it connects the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri areas to the city  Savin kingdom The entertainment hub of Siliguri, with Savin Plaza housing the 1st Multiplex in Siliguri.

Foodie Town  Thukpa ( A soup with different vegetables and boiled noodles)  Taipo (stew of yellow dried peas or white peas with coconut milk)  Shafalay (deep fried chips topped with spiced potatoes, yellow peas and chutney)

Party Zones  Indiana Blues  Nasha

Insider Tip Relax & unwind at this quaint town as it is all about natural beauty.

City Highlights  loktak lake The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, and is famous for the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition) floating over it  Ima market It is probably the only market in the world that is run only by women  Kangla fort Kangla was the ancient capital of Manipur and a number of Meetei monarchs have ruled the destination from this fort  Imphal valley A marvellous oval shaped canyon formed as a result of drainage of many small rivers that origin from neighbouring hills.

Foodie Town  Eromba (A type of paste made with boiled vegetables mashed with chili and fermented fish)  Tharoi thongba (river snails cooked in spicy sauce)  Bora (Bora in Manipuri is synonymous to pakora/bhaji in Indian cooking. It is a perfect tea-time snack)

Party Zones  Classic Hotel

Insider Tip Do try the local tamarind candies and roasted sun flower seeds

Modes of transportation Taxi Bus KLIA Express Train

City Highlights  KLCC Petronas Twin Towers with a Sky Bridge, shopping and dining options at Suria KLCC  KL Tower Enjoy a meal at the revolving restaurant with panoramic views of the city  Central Market Purchase local arts and crafts, souvenirs, antiques and curios  Bukit Bintang Area Shopping, entertainment and dining haven  Batu Caves Limestone caves and home to a Hindu temple.

Foodie Town  Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk, eaten with sambal)  Roti Canai (Indian flat, flaky bread)  Hainanese Chicken Rice (rice cooked in chicken broth, served with roasted or poached chicken)

Party Zones  Changkat Bukit Bintang  Bangsar  Jalan P. Ramlee  Jalan Sultan Ismail  Publika @ Solaris Dutamas

Insider Tip For bird lovers, check out the KL Bird Park, a 20-acre free-flight, walk-in aviary.

Japan

Japan

south Korea

south Korea

Cambodia

Tokyo

Osaka

Busan

Seoul

Siem Reap

Name of Airport: Haneda International Airport/Narita International Airport Currency: JPY (Japanese Yen) Dialing code: +81 3 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Climate: Temperate Languages spoken by the locals: Japanese Distance from airport to city: 10-15km (Haneda), 50km (Narita)

Name of Airport: Kansai International Airport Currency: JPY (Japanese Yen) Dialing code: +81 66 Airport Tax: International and Domestic Climate: Temperate Languages spoken by the locals: Japanese Distance from airport to city: 50km

Name of Airport: Gimhae International Airport Currency: KRW (South Korean Won) Dialing code: +82 51 Airport Tax: International and domestic Climate: Temperate Languages spoken by the locals: Korean Distance from airport to city: 22km

Name of Airport: Incheon International Airport Currency: KRW (South Korean Won) Dialing code: +822 Airport Tax: International and domestic Climate: Temperate Languages spoken by the locals: Korean Distance from airport to city: 50km

Name of Airport: Siem Reap International Airport Currency: KHR (Cambodian Riel) Dialing code: +855 63 Airport Tax: International and domestic Climate: Tropical Languages spoken by the locals: Khmer Distance from airport to city: 10km

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation

Modes of transportation Taxi Monorail Train Bus

City Highlights  Tokyo Sky Tree A new and amazing architectural landmark at 634m in height  Tsukiji Fish Market The world's biggest seafood market  Shibuya Crossing Huge traffic & pedestrian crossing flanked by bright, neon lit buildings  Tokyo National Museum Museum with world's largest collection of Japanese art  Sensoji Temple An important temple that houses the golden image of Kannon.

Foodie Town  Ramen (wheat noodles in a meat-based broth topped with sliced pork)  Sushi (rice rolled in seaweed with raw or cooked fillings and toppings)  Taiyaki (fish shaped waffle with fillings such as red bean and vanilla custard)

Party Zones  Roppongi  Ginza  Shibuya  Shinjuku

Modes of transportation Taxi

For a more relaxed, traditional atmosphere within Tokyo, take a trip to the Shibamata neighbourhood.

Taxi

Train

Express Train

Bus

Standard limousine Bus

Train

City Highlights  National Bunraku Theater Traditional puppet-theater  Osaka Aquarium One of the best in the world with ocean life from many regions  Doguya-suji Arcade Arcade selling goods from kitchenware to unique souvenirs  Umeda Sky Building Cutting-edge modern twin tower complex with fantastic views  Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine One of Japan’s oldest and most sacred shrines.

Foodie Town  Takoyaki (fried flour and cabbage balls stuffed with octopus)  Okonomiyaki (pancake with fillings such as meat, seafood or cheese)  Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers of meat, veggies or seafood)

Party Zones  Dotonbori  Kitashinchi  America-mura (American Village)

Taxi motorcycle taxi

Bus

City Highlights

City Highlights

City Highlights

 Beomeosa Temple A 1,300-year-old temple that is Busan’s largest and most historical  Seokbulsa Temple Temple carved into a rock with enormous Buddhist images inside  Gukje Market Market selling all kinds of second hand, local and imported goods  Taejongdae Park with an observatory, amusement park, light house and rock beach  Spa Land One of Asia’s largest spas with a public bath and a variety of spa services.

 Gyeongbok Palace The most famous royal palace in South Korea, with free guided tours  Bukchon Village See traditional Korean wooden homes in this picturesque neighborhood  Namdaemun market Market selling clothes, housewares, fabrics, accessories and street food  Cheonggyecheon Stream A 5.8kms stream in the city, 15ft below street level  Unhyeon Palace Palace building, which houses art, dance & cultural shows and exhibitions.

 Nahargarh Fort: Situated on the rough crest of Aravali range, it is a historical sight with military equipments  Amber Palace The palace complex is built with a mix of Hindu-Muslim style. Light show is the most important thing in this palace  Birla Mandir A grand Hindu temple located on an elevated ground at the base of Moti Dungri hill Village Jeep Safari A glimpse of the local lifestyle and the traditional way of living Cambodia Landmine Museum Eye-opening displays of land mines, mortars, guns and weaponry.

Foodie Town

Foodie Town

Foodie Town  Gukbap (pork and rice soup)  Hoddeok (sweet pancake with fillings)  Kimchijeon (savoury pancake with kimchi and vegetable fillings)

Party Zones  Gwangalli  PNU Area  Soemyeon  Texas Street

Insider Tip For a unique experience, try a night in a capsule hotel.

Insider Tip

Taxi

Modes of transportation

 Bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated beef served in soup or barbequed)  Bibimbap (rice topped with vegetables, chili paste, meat and egg)  Kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage)

Party Zones  Itaewon Strip  Myeongdong  Apgujeong-dong  Gangnam  Hongdae

Insider Tip Visit the Jagalchi Fish Market to taste the freshest seafood in Busan.

Insider Tip Check out a Nanta show, a nonverbal theatre that involves acrobatics, magic tricks, comedy and pantomime.

 Fish Amok (fish curry)  Luk Lak (stir-fried Beef)  Phnom Pleung (Cambodian BBQ)

Party Zones  Pub Street  Sok San Road (Bar Street)  The Alley  Old Market Area

Insider Tip Visit Phare, The Cambodian Circus for Siem Reap’s most unique and authentic cultural show.

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Get in touch

www.travel3sixty.com

Sales Offices & Stations Bangladesh Dhaka Erectors House (5th Flr.), 18 Kemal Ataturk Avenue, Banani C/A, Dhaka-1213

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CAMBODIA Phnom Penh Group Desk office, #35-37, St 214, 2nd Flr.. CBM Building (T&C Coffee) No 179, Street Sisowath, Sangket Phsar Kandal 1,12204 AEON Mall, G Flr., #132, Street Samdach Sothearos, Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon Phnom Penh Int. Airport, National Road No. 4, Kakab Commune, Posenchay Dist.

Siem Reap No. C1, Street Central Market, Mondul 1 Village Sangkat Svay, Dangkum

CHINA Hangzhou Room 404 A, Departure Level, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int. Airport, Xiaoshan Dist.

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Beijing Room 0163A, Blk C, Chaowai Soho, Chaowai Street, Chaoyang Dist.

CHANGSHA No.191 Laodong West Road, Tianxin Dist. Changsha City, Hunan Province Chongqing C3, Hongyadong No. 88 Jia Bin Road, Yuzhong Dist Guang Dong First Flr., No 8 Zhong Shan 3 Road, Guangzhou 510000 Shop 105-2, No. 50 Ti Yu Road West, Tian He Dist., Guangzhou Kunming No.1108 Huancheng South Road NANNING Level 1, 3 of Ziyun Xuan buiding in MingYuan Hotel, 38 Xinmin Road, Nanning, Guangxi Province SHANGHAI No. 739, Changde Road, Jing'an Dist.

SHENYANG 11 Door, Building C, Zuanshixingzuo 222#, Nanjingbei ST, Heping, Liaoning SHENZHEN XY-10 Junting Hotel, 3085 Eastern Road Luo Hu, 518001 WUHAN Room A-1-2, No.728, Jianghan Dist., Hubei Province XI’AN No. 6 Kejishangmao Building, East of Xidian University Community, Keji Road, Yanta Dist., Shaanxi ZHUHAI No. 399 QiaoGuang Road

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MACAO Office 20, Mezzanine Level, Passenger Terminal, Macao Int. Airport, Taipa

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INDONESIA BALI Ngurah Rai Int. Airport Int. / Domestic Departure Terminal, Jln. Raya Denpasar 80361 Sun Boutique Hotel, Jln.Sunset Road No.23, Kuta BANDA ACEH Sultan Iskandar Muda Int. Airport, Jln Banda Aceh Blang Bintang, Kode Pos 23372, Nangroe Aceh Daroesalam BANDUNG Ruangan Pasundan No. 17, Husein Sastranegara Airport, Jln. Pajajaran No 156, Jawa Barat Grand Serela Hotel, Jln. L.L.R.E. Martadinata (Jln. Riau), No. 56, Jawa barat 40271 Jln. Kopo Bihbul No 36A JAKARTA Jln. Bandara Soekarna Hatta, Cengkareng, Jakarta 19110 Terminal 3 Soekarno Hatta Airport Jln. Boulevard Raya, Blok LA 4, No. 10 Kelapa Gading, 14200 Jakarta Utara Komplek Rukan Darmawangsa Jln. Darmawangsa VI, No. 43, Jakarta Selatan 12160 Sarinah Plaza Jln. M.H Thamrim No. 11 LG Jakarta Pusat Jln. Marsekal, Suryadharma (M1) No. 1, Kelurahan Selapajang Jaya, Kecamatan Neglasari, Kota Tangerang, Propinsi Banten 15127 LOMBOK JLobby Departure Area, Lombok Int. Airport ( LOP ) Praya, Nusa Tenggara Barat Makassar Departure Terminal, Sultan Hasanuddin Int. Aiport, Makassar, South Sulawesi MEDAN Arrival Terminal, Kualanamu Int. Airport, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara Garuda Plaza Hotel Lobby Level, Jln. Sisingamanga Raja No.18, Medan, Sumatera Utara 20213 Jln. Asia No 548P Medan

PADANG Minangkabau Int. Airport, Jln. Adinegoro, Padang, Sumatera Barat Jln. Veteran, No. 75B Purus (Purus Baru), Padang Barat - Kota Padang PALEMBANG Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Int. Airport , Jln. Tanjung Api-api No. 1 Palembang 30155 Pontianak Supadio Int. Airport, Jl Arteri Supadio PEKANBARU Sales Office AirAsia, No.20G, Sultan Syarif Kasim II Int. Airport, 28284 SEMARANG Ahmad Yani Int. Airport, Jln. Puad A. Yani Semarang, Jawa Tengah Komplek Pertokoan Simpang Lima, Blok C No.1 Semarang SOLO Adisumarmo Int. Airport, Surakarta 57108 SURABAYA Lobby Int. Terminal, Juanda Int. Airport, Jln. Raya Juanda, Surabaya, Jawa Timur Plaza East UG Flr. unit 48 Tunjungan Plaza 1 PTC Supermall, LG Floor A6-01A6-50, Jl. Puncak Indah Lontar 2 Lamongan, Jl. Raya Golokan, No.123, Lamongan-Gresik YOGAKARTA Adisutjipto Int.Airport, Yogyakarta 55282, Jl. Solo KM 9, Jawa Tengah Jln. HOS Cokroaminoto No. 119 C, Kelurahan Tegal Rejo, KecamatanTegal Rejo LUBUK PAKAM Jln. Bakaran Batu No. 189 B, Lubuk Pakam - North Sumatera MALANG Komplek Ruko Sarangan KAV1-D, Jln. Sarangan, Malang, East Java

MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR Unit 30, Level 2 KLIA 2, Kuala Lumpur Int. Airport 2, 64000 Sepang, Selangor Jln. KLIA S3, Southern Support Zone, KLIA, 64000 Sepang, Selangor G027B, G Flr., Podium Block Plaza Berjaya, No.12, Jln. Imbi, 55100 Lot 4, Level 2, Stesen Sentral, 50470 Lot No. K16 (New Wing) Utility Level, Stesen Monorail, PT 88, Seksyen 67, Jln. Sultan Ismail, 55100 KEDAH Langkawi Int. Airport, 07100 Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi Level 1, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Abdul Halim , 06550 Kepala Batas, Alor Star Lot 1F TR 01, 1st Floor, Central, Square Shopping Centre, No.23 Jalan Kg.Baru, 08000 Sg.Petani Kelantan GF, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Pengkalan Chepa, 16100 Kota Bharu SARAWAK Lot L1L C15, Ground Flr., Arrival Level, Kuching Int. Airport, Kuching Pusat Komersil Swan, G Flr., No. 69, Lot 14508, Section 65, KTLD, Batu 4, Jl. Matang, 93050 Kuching

Lot GFL01, Common Departure Area, Level 1 Landslide, Sibu Airport, 96007 Sibu No.36, Lot 1684 (G/F), Jln. Keranji, Brooke Drive 5, 96000 Sibu Lot GL08, G Flr., Public Concourse, 98000 Miri Airport GF, Lot 946 Jln. Parry, 98000 Miri GL-02-G, Jln. Bintulu, Lapangan Terbang Bintulu, 97000 Bintulu GF, Lot 4034, Parkcity Commercial Square, Phase 5,97000 Bintulu JOHOR Lot 57, Aeromall Airport, Senai Int. Airport, 81250 Senai No.26 Jl. Bakri, 84000 Muar TERENGGANU Level 1, Terminal Building, Lapangan Terbang Sultan Mahmud, 21300 Kuala Terengganu SABAH Level 2 (Domestic Departure Hall Entrance), Terminal 1 , Kota Kinabalu Int. Airport, Jln. Petagas Kota Kinabalu, 88100 Kota Kinabalu Lot G24, G Flr., Wisma Sabah, Jln. Tun Razak, 88000 Kota Kinabalu FL 4, 1st Flr., Tawau Airport Building, Jln. Apas-Balun, 91100 Tawau TB228, Lot 5 G Flr., Istana Monaco Hotel, Jln. Bunga, Fajar Complex, 91000 Tawau Lot G-2, Ground Flr., Plaza USIA Building, Jln. Teratai, MDLD 7084, 91100 Lahad Datu Level, Lot 2, Sandakan Airport, 90000 Sandakan PENANG Lot 8, Departure Concourse, Penang Int. Airport, 11900 Bayan Lepas No.12H-G, Jln. Tun Dr Awang, 11900 Bayan Lepas 332, G Flr. Kim Mansion, Lebuh Chulia, 10200 A-G-7, Jln. Todak 4, Sunway Business Park, Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya, 13700 Perai PERAK No. 2, G Flr., The Host, Jln. Veerasamy, 30000 Ipoh SELANGOR G2, Terminal SkyPark, Lapangan Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, 47200 Subang Lot No.G-35, Mydin Hypermarket, Persiaran Subang Permai, USJ 1, 47500 Subang Jaya Lot S141, 2nd Flr., Plaza Metro Kajang Section 7, Jln. Tun Abdul Aziz, 43000 Kajang LG-09, Shaw Centrepoint, Jln. Raja Hassan, 41400

MYANMAR YANGON Group Desk office, #1007, Sedona Hotel No (37), Level 1, Room 111, La Pyae Wun Plaza, Dagon Township MANDALAY Room 3, 26th (B) Road, between 78th and 79th Road

NEPAL KATHMANDU IGC Business Lounge, Metro Park, 3rd Flr., Lazimpat-2, North Gate Royal Palace

PHILIPPINES

Call Centre Numbers Australia

+61 2 8188 2133

China

+86 512 8555 7711

India

1860 500 8000

Indonesia

08 04 1 333 333 (Call Centre National)

+62 21 2927 0999 (Call Centre Local) Iran

+98 21 2620 0686

Japan

+81 50 6864 8181

Hong Kong

+852 3013 5060

Macao

+853 6262 6352

Malaysia

600 85 8888

(AirAsia X Premium Line) chargeable at RM1.95 per minute Mauritius

+230 5869 0015

New Zealand

+64 9887 6920

PhilipPines

+63 2 722 2742

CAGAYAN DE ORO Laguindingan Int. Airport, Brgy Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental DIMDI, J.R. Borja St. CEBU West Wing Domestic Area, Mactan Cebu Int. Airport, Pusok, Lapu Lapu City 3rd Flr. Service Lane, Elizabeth Mall N. Bacalso Ave. MANILA Naia Terminal 4, Domestic Road, Pasay City, G/F Colonnande Residences 132, C. Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City Unit 126 South Parking Building, SM Mall of Asia Complex, JW Diokno Boulevard, Pasay City Unit 108 SM City North Edsa – The Block, SM City Complex, North Edsa, Pag-Asa 1, Quezon City DAVAO Francisco Bangoy Int. Airport, Buhangin 2/L Victoria Plaza, JP Laurel Avenue KALIBO 1880 D Maagma St. Kalibo, Aklan TAGBILARAN Talibon Commercial Center 1, Talibon, Bohol Airport Building, 2nd Flr, Airport Road, Tagbilaran City, Bohol PUERTO PRINCESA Bgy Bancao-Bancao, Airport Compound TACLOBAN DZR Airport, San Jose Tacloban City

SAUDI ARABIA JEDDAH Al-Hussein Building, Baterji St. Al-Hozaifi Centre, Sari St.

South Korea

SINGAPORE

Taiwan

Row No.13, Departure Level 2, Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1

050 4092 00525

+886 2 8793 3532

Thailand

+66 2 515 9999

SRI LANKA COLOMBO 256, Srimath Ramanathan Mawatha, Colombo 15

VIETNAM HANOI NoiBai Airport, Terminal 1, Int. Departure Hall, 3rd Flr. 55 Nam Ngu,Cua Nam, Hoan Kiem HO CHI MINH CITY Room 601A, Centre Point 6th Flr, 106 Nguyen Van Troi, Ward 9, Phu Nhuan Dist.

84B Bui Vien, Dist. 1 DA NANG 108 Nguyen Van Linh

THAILAND BANGKOK Suvarnabhumi Int. Airport, 6th Flr., Room No.TW6-037, No. 999, Moo 1, Bangplee, Samutprakarn 10540 Don Mueang Int. Airport, Room No. 3307, 3rd Flr., Terminal 1.

222 Vibhavadi Rangsit Rd., Airport Sub Dist., Don Mueang Dist., 10210 Tesco Lotus - 2nd Flr., 3109 Ladpro Road, Bangkapi, 10240

Tesco Lotus - Lad Prao, 2nd Flr, 1190, Phahonyothin Road, Jompol, Jatujak, 10900 127 Tanow Road, Bovornivet, Phra Nakorn, 10200 Tesco Lotus - Rama1, 3rd Flr., 831 Rama 1 Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok,10330 Tesco Lotus - Sukhumvit 50, 1st Flr., 1710, Sukhumvit Road, Klong Toey, 10110.

CHIANG MAI Chiang Mai Int. Airport, Room No. 60, 1st Flr., Tambon Suthep, Muang Dist., 50200 416, Thaphae Road CHIANG RAI Chiang Rai Int. Airport, Room No. 2305/2 404, Moo 10, Robwiang Sub Dist., Muang Dist., 57100 HAT YAI Hat Yai Int. Airport, Room No. 125, Moo 3, Klongla Sub Dist., Klong Hoi Khong Dist., Songkla 90115 69 Thumnoonvithi Road, Hat Yai, Songkhal 90110 KRABI Krabi Int. Airport, Room No. 133, Moo 5, Petchakasem Rd., Nuaklong Sub Dist., Nuaklong Dist., 81130 NAKHON PHANOM Nakhon Phanom Airport, Level 1 40 M.6 ,Nittayo Road,Photak Dist., 48000 NAKHON SI THAMMARAT Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport Muang Dist.

NARATHIWAT Narathiwat Airport Room No. 330, Moo 5 , KhokKian Sub Dist., Muang Dist., Narathiwat 96000 PHUKET Phuket Int. Airport, Room No. 312, 3rd Flr, Mai Khaow Sub Dist., Thalang Dist., 83110 SURAT THANI Surat Thani Int. Airport, Room No. 73, Moo 3, HuaToey Sub Dist., Phunpin Dist., 84130 TRANG Trang Airport, House No.170, Village No.12, Trang-Paliean Road, Koklor sub-Dist., Mueang Trang Dist., 92000 UBON RATCHATHANI Ubon Ratchathani Int. Airport, Room No. 297, ThepYothee Rd., Muang Dist., 34000 UDON THANI Udon Thani Int. Airport, Room No. 224, Moo 1, MakKaeng Sub Dist., Muang Dist., 41000 PHUKET Tesco Lotus - Phuket, 2nd Flr., 104, Chalermprakiat Road, Rasada Sub Dist., Muang Dist., 83000 PATTAYA Tesco Lotus South Pattaya, 2 Flr. 408/2 Moo 12, South Pattaya, Sukhumvit Rd., Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150

MALDIVES Malé G.Fasmugoo, 1st Flr, Bodurasgefanuu Magu, Male' 20133