Airasia may'17

AIRASIA INFLIGHT MAGAZINE MAY 2017

ISSUE 2 I BELONG IN THE SEAT POCKET, AND NOT IN YOURS. DON’T TAKE ME HOME. READ ME ONLINE.

INDIA

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Monasteries of India

SMILING WITH THE MONKS

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Contents MAY 2017

40

Navigator

40 48 54 60 66 romancing the road

48 hours in bangkok

spiritual trippin’

Road Trip from Hyderabad to Kochi

Two Days in the Thai Capital

Monasteries of India

tiger tiger burning bright

the great momo makeover

Sunderbans, West Bengal

Varieties of Momos

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• Languages • Management Studies Global Learning • Natural Sciences Experience • Paramedical Sciences • Performing & Fine Arts • Pharmaceutical Sciences Ultra- Modern • Physical Education Residential and • Social Sciences Recreational Facilities • Yoga and Sports Sciences

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Contents MAY 2017

54

Here’s the Buzz on AirAsia’s Social Media A big thank you to Sai Kumar Goud and Naga Sai for the help on that very difficult day.

AirAsia cancelled my flight without any notification and I was stuck at Hyderabad airport. Guys, you are full of patience and thorough professionals. This was my first time in such a situation and you all helped me get out of it. Wish you both all the best. alex brown

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With so many companies in the market, AirAsia is definitely thinking out-ofthe-box for customer delight.

Keep up the good work and best of luck. Looking forward to the SXR-DMK AirAsia flight. saheel jallal

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Style File

Port of Call

28 movies & music

80 own it

88 Route Map

Latest Movies & Music Albums

Boarding Call Flight Plan 12 Captain’s Address 18 Red fort

News from AirAsia India

Flight Plan 22 Hot Dates

May Events

26 book worm Latest Book Releases

30 business minded Salon Start-ups in India

32 gizmo

Travel Accessories

34 city canvas

Ranchi, India

Summer Funk

Bollywood Star, Ranbir Kapoor

96 Get in touch

In Flight 78 pilot’s perspective

36 Hit List

86 Up in the Air

Night Markets

92 Destinations

82 off the record

Cockpit Challenges

Joy of Flying

Staff Ms Shahnaz on counter at Hyderabad airport is exceptional with her work.

Appreciate and keep up the good work. sriram bulusu

AirAsia Sales Offices & Stations

I had a good experience flying with AirAsia. Thanks for helping me at the time of check-in #sai goud. shreyas Nm @airasiain Very smooth landing yesterday evening of flight no. 15 1926, BLR-PNQ. Kindly inform my thanks and appreciation to the pilot. @LouisViegas Flew @airasiain776 GOI-DEL yesterday and felt it to be one of my best travel experience in 20 years. A great team in cockpit. Cabin crew Suraj and ladies were just a pleasure to work with. ​@indbunny @airasiain Big shoutout to AirAsia employee Mr Murali Krishna from Hyderabad for his awsome customer service. @rahul_GR

May 2017 | Issue 2 Airasia India Chief Critique Officer Kiran Jain

The Idea Guy Ujjwal Shrivastav

The Word Magician Sanya Kaushik

MaXposure Media Group India Pvt. Ltd. CEO & Managing Director Prakash Johari

DIRECTOR Vikas Johari

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CIN No U22229DL2006PTC152087 travel 3Sixty° India magazine is printed and published by Prakash 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

Want to share your experience travelling with AirAsia? assistance AirAsia India on Twitter for information & assistance on simple requests: https://twitter.com/ airasiain For exciting news and tweets from AirAsia: @AirAsiaIN AirAsia on Facebook: @AirAsiaIndia For AirAsia promotional updates, travel stories & news: https://www.facebook. com/AirAsiaIndia/

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APR 2017

captain’s address

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expanding horizons Namaste , and welcome aboard! I hope you have a wonderful flight with us today.

The year has started off on a positive note for AirAsia, and as a team, we are focused on achieving significant milestones going forward. Staying true to our brand promise, ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’, we are expanding our network across the country. I am delighted to announce that AirAsia has now commenced operations to Kolkata and Ranchi, with Kolkata becoming our third and latest base, following Bengaluru and New Delhi.

This addition will bolster our connectivity to the east from New Delhi and Ranchi, with double daily flights.

We are tirelessly working towards connecting not just places, but people and stories. Our aim is to enable India to fly, with affordable fares coupled with impeccable service.

We are unrelenting in our pursuit to maintain a good momentum of growth each month, as we add more

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MAY 2017

routes and aircraft to our fleet.

Our new campaign, “One Destination for All Destinations”, aims at providing the best fares and deals on www.airasia.com.

On the Airasia Mobile App and www.airasia.com you are guaranteed the best deals and a host of other benefits, including pre-booked meals, baggage and seats along with travel insurance and lounge services.

With the advent of summer, we have customised our menu, and handpicked delicious yoghurt and ice creams to keep you cool. To all our guests, I personally recommend the kadhi pakora , rice and makai palak tadka; anything that reminds me of ‘ ghar ka khana ’ is my preferred choice!

To top it all, our BIG Loyalty Programme rewards points on all travel whether domestic or international.

These points can be redeemed on AirAsia flights operated by AirAsia India and on the international net-

work of our sister concerns – Thai AirAsia, AirAsia X, AirAsia Berhad, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines AirAsia, among others. I encourage you to become a member of the programme, which allows you exclusive access to special promotions, including our BIG SALE. We take great pride in putting a smile on your face. All our cabin crew and guest service personnel are trained to maintain the highest standards of safety and quality, without compromising on service as we fly you and your loved ones. We also take equal care in ensuring the safety and security of our Allstars on ground and inflight.

I am sure my team is taking very good care of you and your flight is a pleasant one! Sit back, relax, enjoy a meal and make a new friend.

Share your travel stories with me and I will share mine. Go ahead and reach out to me on Twitter @Amarabrol with #FlyWithAirAsia.

Feel free to give me suggestions on how my team and I can serve you better.

I look forward to meeting you on board as I travel on AirAsia.

Above Amar Abrol, MD & CEO of AirAsia India, (second from left) presenting a memento to the first guest who checked in for the inaugural flight from Ranchi to Kolkata. In the frame; Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Jharkhand (extreme right) and Krishna Yadav, Station Manager, Ranchi (extreme left).

Amar Abrol MD & CEO, AirAsia India

Fuelling the passion

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pilot by trade, skier by passion For AirAsia India’s First Officer Kanishk Sharma, skiing is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life.

Above AirAsia India Allstar Kanishk Sharma. right Kiran Jain (third from left), Commercial Director, AirAsia India, Anupama Jangid (fourth from left), Head of Marketing, AirAsia India, with the Allstars holding some of the awards won by the airline in 2016.

Kanishk Sharma - pilot by profession, skier by passion.

Kanishk, First Officer at AirAsia India, says flying and skiing are similar – they both require precision at high speeds.

“It’s a hard sport. You battle l ife-t hreaten ing weat her and c a r e er- end i ng s lop e s a l mo s t every single day. You know how small you are when you are battling against the forces of nature.

The mountains help you to stay grounded,” he says, adding, “Skiing for me is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life.”

For instance, when Kanishk was in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir – the mecca of skiing in India – the day started only when he slipped on his boots and strapped on his skis. “Every time I put my skis down on the snow, I know in that moment why skiing has always stuck with me as the go-to sport.

I also love to wake up to snowcapped mountains and coniferous trees,” says Kanishk, who joined AirAsia India on November 3, 2014.

And nothing would have happened without AirAsia.

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MAY 2017

Kanishk dreams of making it to Mount Everest someday

rocky ride

Kanishk gets to meet people from all over the world because of skiing. “Meeting them, learning about their culture and sharing memories are experiences of a lifetime. This has helped shape the person that I am today. My perspective on life has changed quite a bit,” he adds.

However, as is the case with most great achievements, the ride wasn’t easy. Kanishk has worked

hard relentlessly to get where he is now. There was a time when he used to get airsick every time he flew! “I did exercises to overcome my air sickness and stuck to my dream of flying professionally. I was on the verge of joining the defence forces. However, AirAsia happened just in time,” he explains, adding, “AirAsia has not only supported, but encouraged my passion, even getting a team on board to film me in Srinagar.”

You can check out the film on Youtube.

“I don’t think any other organisation would have afforded me such opportunities.”

Kanishk has pursued professionally. He recently completed an advanced course from the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering in Gulmarg, and won two bronze medals for ‘techniques’ and ‘slalom’.

Kanishk now wants to take his love for skiing to the next level by representing India at overseas competitions. “I also dream of making it to Mt Everest someday.” he adds.

a l l f o r a dv e n t u r e Kanishk has always been fascinated with adventure sports. He keeps busy with such activities as mountaineering, horse riding, paragliding, surfing, kayaking and biking. And AirAsia supports him in every possible way. “My father was a big influence in my life. He taught me to challenge myself, physically and mentally,” he says.

While his interest in sports is varied, skiing is one activity that

AirAsia India recently started daily operations to Srinagar from New Delhi; a new station at Srinagar Airport, with Mudasir Ahmad Rather (above) as the Guest Service Assistant, was also inaugurated.

red fort

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AirAsia starts Kolkata and Ranchi operations

celebrating the launch issue

Left Amar Abrol, MD & CEO of AirAsia India, lighting the lamp at the inauguration of the airline’s operations at Ranchi.

AirAsia India on April 15 launched its first flight from Kolkata and Ranchi as a part of its continued expansion. It will connect Kolkata-Ranchi and Ranchi-New Delhi with double daily flights.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das flagged off the first flight to New Delhi from Ranchi and the first departure from Kolkata was flagged off by the airline’s

Chief Financial Officer Deepak Mahendra and Kesavan Sivanandam, Director, Customer Experience and Ground Operations.

The airline’s MD and CEO Amar Abrol was present along with other officials in Ranchi. The carrier currently flies to 15 destinations with its three hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkata.

Expansion gains momentum AirAsia India, the pioneer in the low-cost carrier segment, made significant business announcements with regard to its fleet and network expansion. The launch of two new destinations, Kolkata and Ranchi, with Kolkata as its third hub and induction of the ninth Airbus A320 aircraft, in the first quarter of the 2017 comes as testimony to AirAsia’s continued momentum and commitment to Indian aviation. above Kiran Jain (left), Commercial Director, AirAsia India, received the award along with Spencer Lee (right), Commercial Director, AirAsia Berhad.

Radio Bingo Campaign wins accolades “2017 is proving to be a very exciting year for us. Our determination to serve regional India is paving way for a successful implementation of our planned strategy.

The continued support of the Central and State Governments in a young AirAsia India, is an affirmation to me, as we work towards helping Indians fly.” ~Amar Abrol, MD & CEO, AirAsia India

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AirAsia Berhad, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, recently won the SATTE Award for its innovative radio campaign in New Delhi. AirAsia Berhad’s Radio Bingo Campaign bagged the award under the Innovation in Airline Marketing & Communications category for the remarkable engagement and results generated. The 30-day radio campaign was launched in association with Red FM on the show “AirAsia Radio Bingo” in Hyderabad on December 15, 2016.

The campaign, designed around the game of Tambola, the Indian version of Bingo, was targeted at creating awareness about AirAsia’s strong connectivity within Malaysia and the lesser known destinations.

Allstars with guests and the first edition of travel 3Sixty° India before take-off.

Saluting womanhood AirAsia India released its latest campaign #FlyWithAirAsia on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The campaign celebrates Indian women who revel in their individuality, with aspirations that transcend rules. The campaign went live on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on March 08, 2017.

Kiran Jain, Commercial Director, AirAsia India stated that “With this feature, we pay tribute to all the women around the world who continue to break barriers to achieve their dreams.”

“One Destination for All Destinations” campaign launched In an effort to provide the best deals on airasia.com, AirAsia India announced the launch of a comprehensive marketing campaign for existing and new fliers. Titled “One Destination for All Destinations”, the campaign aimed at increasing awareness about the company’s website and the mobile app. Amar Abrol, MD and CEO, AirAsia India said, “All our marketing efforts are directed towards ensuring that guests get the best deals at one destination, airasia.com. We are continuously working towards making AirAsia a truly digital airline and enabling every Indian to fly hassle-free.”

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Lock it down

Summer Festival

International Flower Festival GANGTOK • MAY 1-31 The festival showcases different varieties of flowers that are indigenous to Sikkim. Thirty species of exotic Rhododendron ranging from giantsized to two-inch specimens will be exhibited during the show. Varieties of bamboo and orchid, grown locally, will also be exhibited at the Governor’s residence.

Mt Abu • MAY 9-10 Beat the heat this summer by embracing the two-day summer festival. It is all about music, art and culture. Organised by Rajasthan Tourism every year, the festival consists of a variety of sporting events and competitions. Events like Sham-e-qawwali, folk dances and classical music of Rajasthan and Gujarat are sure to enthrall the audience.

Global Bubble Parade NEW DELHI • MAY 28 An international movement of passionate individuals who share the belief that happiness is a journey. People join together in peaceful local parades and blow soap bubbles! It is aimed at promoting diversity and positive interactions within communities.

Justin Bieber Purpose World Tour

MUMBAI • MAY 10 The Canadian pop singer and heartthrob Justin Bieber is coming to India for a sensational concert.

He will be performing live at DY Patil Sports Stadium at Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Bieber will fly in with an entourage of 150 people, which will include choreographers and backup dancers.

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MAY 2017

Gwara Nala Trek

MANALI • MAY 1-14 The Gwara Nala trail, presented by LetUsGo, is an adventurous and fun trek for those craving an adrenaline rush. It will commence from Nagni Nala.

Samahaara Children’s Theatre Workshop HYDERABAD • MAY 8 Handled by experienced theatre professionals, it is a fun workshop, designed to introduce participants to the art of acting, focusing on learning the basics of stage acting, movement, stage geography and improvisation. It helps children be better team players and confident speakers.

Dhungri Mela

manali • MAY 14-16 A three-day fair that takes place in honour of Goddess Hadimba’s birthday. Gods and goddesses from surrounding villages are carried in procession to attend the celebrations. A fairground is set up with stalls and carnival rides. There is singing and dancing, including performances of the Kullu Natti folk dance.

Kanan Gill Live

chandigarh • MAY 5 Bringing heaps of fun and laughter, comedian Kanan Gill is all set to hit the city with yet another season of Just Comedy. He exploded onto the stand-up comedy scene by winning the Punch Line Bangalore competition, going straight on to win the open-mic at The Comedy Store in Bombay. Armed with his unique brand of humour, he always keeps his audiences in splits.

Malwa Utsav

UJJAIN • MAY 15-17 The festival restores the age-old culture and tradition of India through its various classical dance performances and music. There are different themes on which the performances are prepared. The lively atmosphere, marked by the movement of the performers and the beautiful decorations is worth admiring.

Moatsu Festival

nagaland • MAY 1-3 The Ao tribe in Nagaland celebrate this three-day festival with folk dances, delicious food and wine, songs of praise for lovers etc. One of the symbolic celebrations of the festival is Sangpangtu. During Sangpangtu, a big fire is lit, around which the men and women sit in their best attires.

MAY 2017

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Borneo Jazz Festival

MIRI, MALAYSIA • MAY 12-13 An annual two-day festival that has gained the reputation of presenting a collection of eclectic bands. Apart from the main acts, there are youth programmes and outreach tutorials to create a platform and training opportunities for local communities.

UBUD FOOD FESTIVAL

UBUD, BALI • MAY 12-14 A celebration of diverse Indonesian cuisine and local produce. It includes live cooking demonstrations and culinary tours. It brings together a host of restaurateurs, food producers, chefs and celebrated figures in the Indonesian food and beverage industry. Other highlights of the festival are live music concerts and food photography.

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UB Group brings a varied genre of movies from India to the world.

A Harry Gills venture, Universal Broadcasting Group (UB Group) is an Indian entertainment, finance and production company. The focus of this company is to create an over-bridge of Indian films and

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UB Group is a visually striking and imaginatively presented piece of film making. It is a collective effort.

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MAY 2017

HotDatesNew.indd 24

26/04/17 7:29 pm

book worm

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FOR THE biblIOPHILES

Bringing the latest picks for the book lovers.

Read of the month

the book of summer michelle gable The novel unravels the power and secrets of Cliff House as told through the voices of Ruby Packard, a newlywed on the eve of WWII, the home’s definitive guestbook, and Bess herself. Bess’s grandmother always said it was a house of women, and by the very last day at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother’s words.

into the water paula hawkins A psychological thriller, this is a story of a single mother who turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate.

They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.

it started with goodbye christina june Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under stepmotherimposed house arrest and her BFF’s gone ghost. Tatum discovers she has the chance to make amends with her family and friends.

Lincoln in the Bardo author George Saunders

Story A fulllength novel based on Abraham Lincoln and his son’s death at the dawn of the Civil War. It deals with the former president’s grief over the loss of his son. The novel is a tour of the ‘bardo’ – the transitional state between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism.

Hans Vollman is one of the restless spirits who is responsible

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MAY 2017

for much of the narration in the ‘bardo’. The author has managed to find an inventive way to tell his story through Vollman.

when it’s real erin watt She never expected wealth, fame and real-life romance. But 17-year-old Vaughn lands it all when she agrees to become a pop star’s fake girlfriend.

Posing as Oakley Ford’s girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley’s image from troublemaker to serious artiste. In return for enough money, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties.

The action recounted therein takes place over the course of a single night, that of February 22, 1862. Two days earlier, 11-year-old Willie Lincoln, beloved son of the President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, dies from typhoid fever. Now, he’s been laid to rest in a marble crypt in Georgetown cemetery. As his wife Mary remains at the White House, insensible with sorrow, sedated by doctors, Lincoln, weighed down by grief, visits his son’s body in its final resting place.

It forms a collage-like picture of the social, personal and political backdrop to Willie’s death.

Saunders’ command has used elements that make his novel sometimes mournful, sometimes

new york, actually sarah morgan Meet Molly, New York’s most famous advice columnist.

She considers herself an expert at relationships. Meet Daniel, a cynical divorce lawyer. He’s hardwired to think relationships are a bad idea.

Molly and Daniel both think they know everything about relationships. But as they try to resist their chemistry, they discover they just might have a lot left to learn.

bawdy. It helps explore the deeper meaning and possibilities of life with humour and grace.

Publisher’s say Lincoln in the Bardo is described

by Saunders’ publishers as a novel – and here, it is perhaps worth noting that despite his acclaim as a writer of highly lauded short-story collections like Tenth of December, this is his first foray into this particular form of storytelling.

About the author George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas and children’s books.

His notable work includes Tenth of December.

review by sanjita singh

movies & music

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silver screen

MUSIC

We bring you the monthly dose of entertainment.

Meri Pyaari Bindu

May 12, 2017 Plot: After scoring a hit with Yash Raj Film’s Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, Ayushmann Khurrana is back with another quirky romantic comedy. The story revolves around an aspiring singer and her love with the male lead. Set in the backdrop of Kolkata, the plot is beautiful and promises to be a heart-wrenching love story.

One more nighT Release Date: May 19 Artist: Linkin Park Label: Warner Bros.

Turn Up the Quiet Release Date: May 5 Artist: Diana Krall

Label: Verve

baywatch

May 26 Plot: An American actioncomedy based on the 90’s television series of the same name. The movie revolves around two unlikely prospective lifeguards who compete for jobs alongside the buff bodies who patrol the beach in California. The story progresses as they uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay.

Sachin: A Billion Dreams May 26, 2017 Plot: This film is about a young boy with dreams of making it big in cricket.

Based on the life of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, the film captures his personal and professional pursuits in substantial detail. It also reveals a few aspects of his life that are still unknown to the world.

Gilded Release Date: May 19 Artist: Jade Jackson Label: ANTI

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales May 26 Plot: Captain Jack Sparrow finds the winds of ill-fortune blowing even more strongly when deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle, determined to kill every pirate at sea. Captain Jack’s only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon.

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crooked teeth Release Date: May 19 Artist: Papa Roach Label: Eleven Seven Music

business minded

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USD 2 billion to $ 5.5 billion is the market share of beauty start-ups as stated by business analysts in 2016-2017.

USD 13 billion will be the worth of the beauty and wellness industry in India by the end of 2017, as per a KPMG report.

USD 4.8 billion is the market size for beauty services, as per industry estimates. www.franchiseindia.com

tech-enabled grooming App technology used by salon start-ups is changing the way you glam up.

UrbanClap Founded by Abhiraj Bhal, Varun Khaitan and Raghav Chandra, UrbanClap positions itself as a one-stop destination for hyper local services, wherein they generate the highest revenue from the beauty and wellness sector. “I can just thump my chest and promote beauty as a category for any new customer,” Abhiraj Bhal was quoted as saying. Currently active in eight cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi-NCR, its users can book services through their website or mobile app. In 2015, UrbanClap announced that it had raised $25 million Series B round of funding. be u salons Be U Salons is a ‘premium budget’ salon chain popular for its qualitative services at affordable prices. Here, you can book all the beauty services available on one app,

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which is user friendly, convenient and offers awesome deals. The management at Be U Salons feels that today, most standalone salons in India suffer from standardisation. There’s no tech support, no training to staff, no brand identity.

Even the pricing lacks any real strategy.

So, Be U intends to bring all these standalone salons under one roof. Recently Be U Salons has secured $619K in its seed round of funding from a clutch of investors from the UAE, Singapore, and India. The start-up aims to open no less than 100 outlets by the end of 2017 in cities across India. Currently, Be U Salons has over 20 outlets operating across Delhi-NCR.

myglamm Founded in July 2015 by Darpan Sanghvi, a mechanical engineer from

Not only have salons increased their footfall; the entire business of beauty is witnessing a revolution. organic The new buzzword in the Indian cosmetics market is ‘organic’. According to the promoter sisters of

Azafran Innovacion – an integrated ‘farm to face’ player offering innovative skincare solutions – the organic skincare market in India is expected to cross the `1,000-crore mark by 2020. staggering market With the consumer

the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune, and an MBA from the University of Barcelona, Spain, MyGlamm provides a wide variety of hair and beauty services right at your doorstep.

Today, MyGlamm provides over 15,000 services with the help of 1,800 trained and trusted beauty professionals. Operating in locations like Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Indore, etc MyGlamm is an on-demand beauty service app. According to Darpan, “Out of 1,800 professionals, 550 have visited our academies and 300 have finished certification with us and are active on MyGlamm.” In 2016, MyGlamm raised $6 million in a funding round led by French cosmetics maker L’Occitane.

belita It is an innovative beauty and wellness services company devoted to delivering such services to women in the comfort of their homes. Their mission is to make high-quality and value-for-money personal hygiene, beauty and spa services available to every woman at her convenience. Apart from regular individual women customers, they also have niche expertise in catering for select parties.

becoming more aware and driven towards health and wellness, the organic market is growing at an exponential rate, almost 20-25 per cent year-on-year in India.

expanding. According to a report by Franchiseindia, the spa segment is around `110 billion and will grow at the rate of 20 per cent in the coming years.

expanding spa industry Currently, India’s spa industry is also

www.franchiseindia.com

gizmo

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Fitness trackers

If you want to track your daily movement, sleep, calories lost and gained, or simply bolster your well-being, a fitness band can be of great help. Here are a few options that are making rounds in the market.

Noise trace Noice Trace looks a lot like a traditional watch with a large circular display. The display comes with a resolution of 128x128 pixels with OLED technology, making it easy to monitor activities.

The Noise Trace can be controlled by double-tapping the screen, although moving through the info requires tapping the screen multiple times. The primary device of the smart band is detachable and can be worn as a pendant or wrist band.

Trace can measure the intensity and duration of physical activity over the course of a day. It can also count steps, calculate calories burnt as well as monitor sleep quality and sleep time. The Noise Trace is all yours for Rs 1,499.

MI Band IP 67 The Mi Band is about as simple as a fitness tracker can get. Display screens and voice guidance are not a part of its user interface, as is seen with some of the latest gadgets. Instead, it has a tracker module with LED lights and a vibrator to get your attention. It is also one of the top-selling fitness bands, costing less than Rs 1,000. The band can be synced with the Mi app that is easily available on Android and iOS. Despite its simplistic nature, the Mi Band can track and analyse sleeping patterns.

The tracker module is detachable and there are multiple colour options available. Thanks to the IP67 certification, you can use the Mi Band even when it’s raining outside, but it is advisable to take it off if you’re going for a swim.

From Left to Right Noise Trace; MI Band IP 67; Fitbit Charge 2; Enerz Go Fit

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Fitbit Charge 2 The Charge 2 is the first major upgrade to the popular Charge range since the Charge HR, which made an appearance in early 2015. The Charge 2 brings with it a couple of new features, apart from the ones we’ve seen before on the Charge HR, the Fitbit Alta and the Fitbit Blaze. Fitbit specialises in accessible and easy-to-use fitness trackers, traits reflected in this model as well.

With exercise, sleep and heart-rate tracking features, among others, the Charge 2 looks like a well-placed wearable that won’t break the bank.

In terms of design, the Charge 2 is similar to other Fitbit devices and feels a little like the lovechild of the Charge HR and the Fitbit Surge. It

has a much larger screen and is a little bit thicker.

Swipe F Band Colorful Dotted Health Band Swipe, a low-end smartphone manufacturer, has recently launched its first health and sleep tracker dubbed F-Band.

The band has a dotted design and a circular display, making it look almost like a regular digital watch.

It can track your steps, calculate calories burnt and monitor your sleep. It can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth so that you can view all the data. It also has silent vibration alarm and vibrates to notify you when you receive a call.

The F-Band has a small display that shows all the important data. The straps are available in two colours – red and blue. It has a 55mAh battery that can be charged in approximately 30 minutes through a USB charging cable and promises up to seven days of battery life. The F-Band is priced at Rs 1,499 and is currently available only on Snapdeal.

Enerz Go Fit Gofit is another affordable fitness tracker, priced at Rs 1,149. The band comes with a rectangular display, and a screen resolution of 128x128 pixels. This health band is capable of calculating the steps covered, calories burnt and walking distance.

It also analyses sleeping patterns and provides data about sleep quality. The Gofit also intimates you about everyday goals on your work-out session. The band is said to work for seven days on a single battery charge. The accuracy of the band is quite good. However, the low point is that the band is not waterproof.

Travel Smart

travel tips Bon voyage with these easy-to-follow travel hacks for a memorable vacation.

Make your trips smooth with these cool gadgets designed for adventurers of all ages.

Casio G-Shock GA-700-4 - A quirky travel accessory with several notable features. Shock resistance, 200-metre water resistance, world time (48 cities + UTC), 1/100 second stopwatch (24 hours), countdown timer of 60 minutes, alarm, full auto calendar, LED light with afterglow and hand shift feature; all these features make it a sought-after travel watch in a striking colour.

Safelet Bracelet - A smart bracelet, once paired with your phone, informs your family and friends in case of an emergency. It alerts your folks and instructs your phone to start voice recording. On clicking the buttons on the bracelet, it sends out your location to your emergency contacts.

Planet of the Apps Take selfie, scan documents and perform other works on the go with these handy apps.

JBL Clip - An ultra-light, pocketsize, portable and wireless Bluetooth speaker that delivers a stunning bass performance and gives eight hours of power backup. It has an integrated audio cable that allows you to plugand-play music on your smartphone, iPod or laptop. Its most convenient feature is the carabineer hook that lets you hang it off a belt, backpack or messenger bag.

Bluesmart’s Black Edition Suitcase - A good suitcase is an important aspect of smart travelling. This ‘smart’ suitcase connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and has a range of functions like a digital scale, location tracking and remote tracking. It also has newwheel technology, letting you zip in and out of security lines with ease. Finally, it has a battery charger embedded inside. Neat, right?

FaceApp It is a camera app with unique filters. You take a selfie and then add different features and filters for a fun picture. FaceApp helps you transform your look in seconds. You can use it to make some super quirky Instagram photos.

OS: iOS, Android; Price: Free

Inkitt It is an e-reader app for different types of content.

It features a variety of books and content from independent writers, which can be downloaded for free. You can also change the colours of the pages, enable night mode and auto-scroll.

OS: iOS, Android; Price: Free

roll it well Save space by rolling clothes instead of folding. important documents Scan your

passport, identification card and itinerary and email them to yourself.

This provides an extra copy of each in the event of loss or theft.

handle with care

Mark your baggage as fragile. Your luggage is kept at the top because of this, which will make it one of the first bags to be released.

money wise Call your credit or debit card company before travelling international so that you are authorised for vacation purchases.

Fresh & ready Stick a dryer sheet in your suitcase with your clothes to keep them smelling fresh. packet-it well To prevent bottles from leaking in your luggage, place plastic wrap over the container and then seal it with the cap.

Versus This app allows you to compare two products that closely match your preferences. For instance, movies, bands, gadgets, books, etc. It also offers 3D images for you to analyse the properties in detail.

OS: iOS, Android; Price: Free

Evernote It is a virtual notebook that you can carry with you everywhere. You can write, save pictures and articles from the Web, upload pages from physical notebooks, track tasks and sync it with your mail ID. It can also be used to back up data and is quick and easy to use.

OS: iOS, Android; Price: Free

city canvas

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City of waterfalls Ranchi, the picturesque capital of Jharkhand, has more to it than just large industries.

Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has more to it than just large industries.

Vast waterfalls, picturesque temples and grand historical sites make it a fantastic mix of history and nature for travellers. Situated in the heart of the Chotanagpur Plateau at an altitude of 2,140 feet above sea level, Ranchi is all about old-time charm, magnificent sightseeing and delicious food. Ranchi, also known as the ‘city of waterfalls’ has developed into a hill resort, complimented by a beautiful countryside. It is also distinguished as a health resort and plays host to millions of tourists looking for wellness retreats.

This destination derived its name from a Nagpuri word archi, meaning bamboo forest. The city boasts of cultural and natural diversity. Along with the temples, Ranchi also has an exciting deer park, a wildlife sanctuary and the Muta Crocodile Breeding Farm, which

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is a unique experience. To top it off, the city provides all luxuries that make for a luxurious and comfortable vacation.

MUST SEE/DO Jonha Falls Situated at the edge of the Ranchi plateau, Jonha Falls is formed as a result of the Ganga hanging over its master stream, the Raru River.

You have to descend 500 steps to admire the surroundings. The water falls from a height of 43 metres, or 141 feet.

The flowing water forms a rainbow, a treat for your eyes and the camera. You must visit the falls during or just after the monsoon season, when water flow is at maximum capacity.

Jagannath Temple Built by the king of Barkagarh Jagannathpur, Thakur Ani Nath Shahdeo, during 1691,

Jagannath Temple is located about 10 kilometres from the main town. The temple sits on top of a small hillock. To reach the top, visitors can climb up the stairs or take the vehicle route. There are many steps and you might need to take a few breaks during the climb.

However, the view of the city from the top is breathtaking.

Above Burhaghat waterfall, located amidst a forest, is a must visit spot for the travellers.

Hundru Falls The Hundru falls are created on the course of the Subarnarekha River, where the water falls from a height of 98 metres or 322 feet creating one of the highest waterfalls in the state. The spectacular scene of water falling from such a great height has been described as a sight to behold. The different formations of rock, shaped by water erosion, have added to the beauty of the place.

EAT The typical food of Ranchi is influenced by tribal culture with a touch of Mughlai, Bengali and Bihari influences.

Rugra A very famous dish served here, rugra is basically a type of mushroom. It’s a very healthy vegetable

words: VANI MALIK

know it

Inside Scoop When in Ranchi, visit these wonders to get a feel for the city.

The tribal people of Jharkhand play a major role in maintaining the rich tradition of the state.

Paitkar paintings were on the verge of extinction. However, the government is putting all the effort to promote this rare art.

Ranchi has been selected as one of the 100 Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission.

Up until the late 80s, to some extent, even well into the 90s; Ranchi was considered a semi-hill station.

According to legend, after an altercation with a spirit, a farmer beat the spirit with his bamboo stave.

The spirit shouted archi, archi, archi and vanished. Archi became Rachi, and eventually Ranchi.

clockwise from Above Jagannath temple; Ratu Palace in Chotanagpur area; malpua, a popular dessert; Hundru falls

that is rich in minerals and proteins.

This vegetable is great for controlling weight gain. Rugra is best paired with flat bread or rice.

Dhuska A household snack, dhuska is a fried appetiser that has now become an important breakfast food. It is prepared with lentil and rice batter and then deep-fried. Dhuska tastes best with ghugni.

Malpua Famous all over India, malpua is prepared with a mixture of milk, flour and sugar and mashed bananas. It is then deep fried in ghee and later fried in sugar syrup, making it a heavy but delicious dessert.

Thekua Jharkhand was divided from Bihar in 2000, so the food here borrows several elements from Bihari cuisine.

Thekua is a common Bihari snack and

is extensively prepared in Jharkhand as well. This sweet is prepared as a prasad during Chatth Puja.

SHOP Paitkar painting Ranchi is a shopping paradise for art lovers.

Paitkar painting is a traditional style of art. Folk songs, legends and religious epics are generally depicted on canvas. Natural colours made up of crushed stones and tree leaves are used as paints This handicraft is a popular Ranchi souvenir and makes for a wonderful present for loved ones back home. Apart from this, there are many other creative items depicting the blend of the past and the present.

Foods one must try Bamboo shoots These

are a very important part of the cuisine of Jharkhand. To make vegetables, bamboo shoots are used and it gives a very different flavour to the meal.

Bamboo shoots are used in various curries and especially used as a pickle.

Aloo chokha

Prepared with mashed potatoes, spices and fried onions, aloo chokha is best to eat with flat bread or rice.

handia A famous drink of Jharkhand that should be tried by every traveller.

Sikidri, Ranchi

Trotting past the eclectic Rock Gardens Take out a few hours to visit the Rock Gardens in Ranchi. Located on the banks of the Ranchi Lake, the Rock Gardens were formed from the residual rocks of the Gonda Hill.

At a distance of five kilometres from Alberta Chowk, the Rock Gardens resting atop the hill are perfect if you want to grab a moment of peace and quiet reflection. Pose beside the famous ironclad jhula and the many sculptures that lend to the ethereal beauty of the place.

Morning trek to Panchghagh Falls One of the most exclusive nature trails in the state, the trek leading up to Panchghagh Falls is absolutely incredible.

Panchghagh Falls, a waterfall formed from five cascades in the marvelous backdrop of a rocky terrain, is located on the Ranchi-Chakradharpur road, about six kilometres from Khunti. The lovely patch of lush present downstream is an ideal picnic spot.

Explore your wild side at Birsa Zoological Park Birsa Zoological Park is part of the ex-situ conservation practices adopted by the Jharkhand Wildlife Association. This natural habitat is a treat for wildlife enthusiasts; you can delve into a world of exotic botanical exhibits and thriving biodiversity.

Getting There AirAsia flies Twice daily between kolkata and ranchi. www.airasia.com

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Hit list

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a night to remember Looking for awesome deals with a splash of local flavour?

Head to these night markets and shop your heart out!

saturday night market, arpora goa This night market in Goa, best described as a fashion emporium/ discotheque, is where locals and tourists go for a fun Saturday

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evening. One of the most famous night markets in India, it has fantastic things to see and do for curious travellers. Divided into three main areas, the market sells a variety of specialty products such

as Pashminas, Kashmiri carpets, handmade leather belts and ornate handcrafted silver jewellery, to name a few. While the lower field area houses stalls with wares such as spices, clothes and home decor,

the central stage area offers a selection of delicious food from various cuisines. Get a tattoo or a piercing at this one-of-a-kind bazaar! It opens every Saturday at 6 pm and goes on well into the night.

johri bazaar

jaipur The shopping centre of the city, Johri Bazaar is home to five hundred stores that cater to every mood and every need. You can find jewels, gems, precious stones and traditional Rajasthani

gold jewellery here. The market is full of skilled and experienced artisans who’ll be happy to help you find what you’re looking for. Additionally, Johri Bazaar is flanked by other markets like Bapu Bazaar and Nehru Bazaar, where

you can find gorgeous clothes as well. Throw back the famous lassi at Lakshmi Misthan Bhandar Hotel, known simply as LMB, and your day at the Pink City is perfect. Admire colourful displays of exquisite clothes, sarees and

lehangas draped over the counters of Johri shops. If you’re looking to add a bit of colour to your home, you can find lovely handmade cushion covers, bed sheets and Jaipuri quilts at this market.

sarafa market indore Indore’s love affair with food is a long and legendary tale. So deep is Indore’s love for food, the city has a whole street, famously called Sarafa, dedicated to it!

The street serves tasty vegetarian snacks, chaat and sweets between 8 pm and 2 am. Sarafa, which by day sells all kinds of jewellery, moonlights as a foodie joint. This market is a culinary experience of its own, one that every traveller must have at least once in their lifetime.

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Hit list

Luang Prabang Night Market laos This market first opened in 2002 with just a handful of local vendors selling their modest, home-made

Chiang Mai Night Bazaar thailand As far as night markets go, this one is absolutely enormous. It stretches for about a kilometre and interconnects two other night markets – the Kalare Night Bazaar

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www.travel3sixty.com

wares. Since then, its popularity has grown exponentially. It now attracts over 300 traders and hordes of tourists every year. Most market goods are traditional,

handmade souvenirs and crafts.

The traders here are local artisans.

So, buying items here means that you not only get to take home exceptionally crafted merchandise,

but also contribute towards sustaining local communities.

You can also find the affordable cooking supplies in abundance. It is open daily from 5 pm to 9.30 pm.

and the Asunarm Market. The market is a delightful mishmash of sights, smells and sounds. It offers a wonderful mix of tasty street snacks, souvenirs, clothes and other knick-knacks. Also popular here are paintings by

local artists. From small artworks to large, sweeping canvasses, the pieces on display will definitely entice art aficionados looking to add an exotic touch to their collection. The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar also attracts local artisans

from in and around Chiang Mai. They sell a variety of handicrafts and traditional goods, and discerning shoppers can snap up great mementos at bargain prices. The Bazaar is open daily from 7 pm to 12 am.

Temple Street Night Market, hong kong There is no better place than the Temple Street Night Market to experience the multi-cultural melting pot that is Hong Kong. It is one of the few places on the Earth where you can shop for electronics, have your fortune told and be entertained by the Cantonese Opera – all in one location. Apart from its wide-ranging goods, the market is also popular for its food stalls.

They offer an extensive array of local favourites such as spicy crab and clay pot rice. Head over to the Opera Singing Area just outside the Tin Hau Temple for some post-dinner entertainment.

Here, aspiring and professional Cantonese opera singers gather to showcase their talents, and are more than happy to perform for the crowds. It is open to the public every day from 4 pm to 12 am.

famous markets laad bazaar

Hyderabad Also known as choodi bazaar, Laad Bazaar is a haven for bangles and other accessories.

‘Laad’ meaning lacquer, is used to make the product. There are more than 100 shops selling these bangles.

lakkar bazaar

Shimla Situated near the ridge in Shimla, this market is evidence of the diversity of wood found in the state. The marketplace offers all kinds of locally made wooden products like toys, souvenirs, utility items and wooden jewellery.

While famous for its wood products, Lakkar Bazaar also offers goods made from other materials.

dilli haat New Delhi A handicraft market, Dilli Haat is an important and fun stop on your ‘Dilli darshan’. This unique market offers traditional, as well as modern crafts created by artisans and craftsmen from all over India. The Haat also has food joints from various states offering their more famous delicacies. Try the litti chokha from Bihar, the momos from Sikkim and the dosas from Tamil Nadu! ima market

Imphal Ima Kentheil, as it is locally known, is the only market in the world where women have almost total monopoly over more than 3500 stores, thus solidifying their economic participation. In one section of the market you can find special food products like dried fish and local herbs, clothes and woolens, and traditional costumes, while the other section offers handloom products.

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wanderlust // roaD TRIP

n c a i n m o the

g

R

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road A 1,200-km drive from Hyderabad to Kochi takes two travel enthusiasts through cities and towns, highways and narrow gullys, forests and farms, beaches and lakes – each a story of its own.

Words: Rohit Joshi

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The green ghats en route to Wayanad have nine hairpin bends, each turn taking you to a higher altitude, thus offering a better view of the picturesque plains below.

A

camera, a car, good company, karaoke, and a gorgeous landscape - all you need for a perfect road trip. I have always been an avid traveller, and a road trip around South India was something that has been on my bucket list for some time. So, when my friend Abhishek, a fellow traveller whom I met on one of my earlier treks to the Ananthagiri Hills in Hyderabad, called me asking if I wanted to drive down from Hyderabad to Kochi, it felt like kismet.

The journey starts

We had never travelled on this particular route before, but I suppose that’s the whole point of a road trip. If you want a unique itinerary, there are plenty of resources to help design one that leaves room for unexpected adventure while covering the basics.

With the return journey taken care of (we had our flights booked with AirAsia from Kochi to Hyderabad), we started mapping alternative routes and what each of them would have in store for us. Finally, we landed on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru-Mysuru-WayanadCoimbatore-Kochi route. Long, yes, but that much more exciting!

Starting in the night from Hyderabad, we got on to NH-44 towards Bengaluru. Everyone says this is a great highway. We thought so too, but it wasn’t well lit; everything around us was virtually non-existent. The road is undoubtedly good, with the traffic quite manageable. It is

only when you enter Bengaluru that the traffic builds up. Even at 4 in the morning, the streets were already crawling with vehicles.

Onwards to Mysuru! The roads are smooth for the most part, but when you hit the smaller towns en route, pot holes and speed bumps are all too common. This journey takes you past sprawling fields and sparkling lakes, definitely worth a drive.

change of plans As we were nearing Ooty, there was a slight change of plan. Instead of heading towards this popular Tamil Nadu hill station, my partner insisted that we visit Wayanad, a forested region in the northeastern part of Kerala. He was quite convincing in his argument, and before I knew it, we were Wayanad bound!

At first light, the exhaustion from our long drive suddenly hit us. We started looking for some much-needed sustenance, which turned out to be a task, given that this route isn’t popular amongst tourists. We drove further up the Kerala border and soon came to a place where they were serving dosas with filter coffee, a South Indian specialty. The food, as expected, was absolutely delicious.

Forests and farms

The drive through the Berambadi state forest range in the Western Ghats was incredible. The Western Ghats or the Sahyadris – a range of mountains that stretches for 1,600 kilometres, running parallel to the West Coast of India -- touches states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. Hill stations, plantation towns, biodiversity hotspots, wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls and rivers –this Unesco World Heritage Site has them all. Some of the flora and the fauna here is endemic to the mountains, and it is believed that a lot of the species are yet to be discovered. We drove along the winding roads, past picturesque hillocks and dense, forested areas.

As we drove on, we noticed a drastic change in scenery. Everything turned green and the roads became narrow. We realised that we had finally reached God’s own country, Kerala.

Without wasting any time, we started looking for a place to park our car, hang up our boots and feel the earth beneath our feet. We settled for a place called Blooms Resort in Wayanad – the lawns and the surrounding greens were enough to convince us that we had made the right choice. A light snack later, we hit the sack to catch up on lost sleep.

magnificent dam

Afternoon saw us up and moving again towards Banasura Sagar Dam. The dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, is about 30 kilometre from the resort. The drive through narrow roads flanked on either side

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left The Soojipara waterfalls are absolutely lovely, and a must-visit in Wayanad. The water falling from 100 feet to 300 feet height is a novel feature of these falls. right (Top) An example of Islamic architecture, Charminar is a monument and mosque symbolising the history of Hyderabad. It is located in the heart of the old city. right (Below) Wayanad has a number of tea plantations. A drive through this district will take you past sprawling tea estates.

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Sidetrips Rohit Joshi is a travel and lifestyle blogger. He blogs at coinsandmaps. wordpress.com and is active on social channels @coinsandmaps on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

A coffee enthusiast would know the importance of Araku Valley. Famous for its coffee plantations, India’s first, tribally grown, organic coffee brand was launched here in 2007.

The Belum Caves are the second largest caves in the Indian subcontinent, and the longest (3,229m) in the plains of India. The nearest rail-head to reach Belum Caves is Tadipatri, about 30 kilometres away.

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clockwise from right Ladies selling flower garlands in a Mysore marketplace. These garlands are widely used by people visiting temples to adorn the statues of their deities.

Medu Vada is a savoury snack in South India.

Dosas are a staple dish in South India.

Elephants in a playful mood on the banks of the Kabini River.

Top view of the Banasura Sagar Dam. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia.

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Left A local fisherman casting his net.

Fishing is one of the major sources of livelihoods for people living in the coastal areas.

Opposite Page (right) A house boat transporting tourists in the backwaters of Kerala.

Opposite Page (below) Tea plantations and a tiny Hindu temple in the greenery in the Nilgiri mountains range near Ooty and Coonoor hill stations.

by tall coconut trees and large banana farms was absolutely incredible. The hills seemed to have been waiting just for us. It was a magical sight that we were going to cherish for a long time to come.

The Banasura Sagar Dam, reckoned to be the largest earth dam in India, is close to the Karalad Lake. The project area of the Banasura Sagar Dam also serves as the starting point for treks to the Banasura peak.

An interesting feature is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. The dam isn’t much to look at, but the lake is amazing. There are mountains on both sides, overlooking a valley.

While you enjoy the captivating sights, sounds and smells of Wayanad, you could also shop for some specialities like spices, coffee, tea, bamboo products, honey and herbal plants.

Time to bid adieu

In the evening, the setting sun painted the sky all shades of reds and purples and pinks, creating the perfect backdrop for a photography session. That being done, we decided to call it a day. After a peaceful sleep at the comfortable resort huts, we woke up the next morning, ready for our drive to Calicut via the Western Ghats. This particular route took us past several gorgeous churches, a lake, bustling local markets and small, quaint towns, before bringing us up to the pristine beaches of Calicut.

We soon made our way to Kochi, with the backwaters on one side and the mighty Arabian Sea on the other. This is a land that has been blessed with some excellent topography, riveting culture and distinctive cuisine, and is a must for an avid traveller. As magnetic as the Himalayas, as enigmatic as the hills of Northeast India, Kochi has an undeniable charm that one has to experience to believe.

After a long, tiring journey, Kochi airport was a welcome sight; I was looking forward to a relaxed flight. The AirAsia staff’s hospitality felt like just the right antidote for a weary passenger. While on the flight, I promised to come back to this amazing place soon. Till then, my memories will have to do.

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FACT FILE Total Distance Covered: 1,200 kilometres (approx. one way.

Weather: With temperatures around 20-34 degree Celsius throughout the journey, the ride was quite enjoyable. adventure: Boating is permissible in Karalad lake.

The road: The highway doesn’t offer many stops for food, so it’s best you carry some light snacks.

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wanderlust // bangkok www.travel3sixty.com

Words: Siranthaya Nguansiri

Words: Binod Mili

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hours in Bangkok

The Thai capital was the world’s most visited city in 2016 according to Forbes. So why would you want to join the throng? The city offers many compelling reasons that go beyond the exotic nightlife and budget hostels on Khao San Road. Here’s what you can do if you have two days in Bangkok.

Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is known for its beautiful temples and vibrant street life.

B

angkok, with its bustling streets and lively markets, gives the impression of b e i ng c on s t a nt ly on t he mo v e.

With fascinating palaces and temples, cou nt le s s ma rket s day a nd n ig ht , some of Asia’s best food stalls and unreser ved friendliness of the locals, the Thai capital is nothing short of a cultural extravaganza. Bangkok hits the sweet spot for travellers.

Accord ing to Forbes , Bang kok became the first Asian city to top the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, edging out London, the previous No 1, with 15.98 international visitors who generated an estimated $14.4 billion.

Bangkok offers all the amenities that make for a luxurious vacation, but is still quite affordable. In the glare of the tropical sun it

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can get a little muggy, especially in the peak summer months. Yet, even amidst the chaos, visitors find the city’s charm irresistible. To travel across Bangkok is to see several worlds at once. There are ample public transport options, ranging from boats to an expanding subway system, to help you get around.

Here’s what you can do if you have two days in Bangkok.

Day 1 9 AM Many

of Thailand’s famous cultural sites are located in Bangkok. So, it would be a good idea to include at least a couple of them in your itinerary. Get to the temples early, before the crowds and the heat become overwhelming. Probably the most visited temple in Bangkok, the Wat Phra Kaew or ‘the Temple of the Emerald Buddha’, is in the precincts

below The external walls of the Wat Benjamabophit Temple, commonly called as Wat Benja, are covered with marble imported from Italy.

Right Wat Phra Kaew, temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phra Kaew, is one of Bangkok’s most famous tourist sites built in 1782.

FACT FILE Bangkok has a plethora of options for every age-group. transport For destinations close to the river, the Chao Praya Express Boat is the way to go. Otherwise, the quickest modes of transport are the BTS and the MRT. Where to stay There are many accommodation options in Bangkok, from high end to resonable ones. know this Visitors to Buddhist temples should be covered up, take their shoes off and never point the soles of their feet at the Buddhist icons. shop The traditional Thai triangular pillows, for sale in many markets, are great souvenirs to take home. eat Look out for shops in Trok Itsaranuphap selling Chinese delicacies.

of the Grand Palace and an absolute mustsee. You can take a guided tour of a few of Bangkok’s highlights. This will help you understand the story and history behind these incredible sites.

Next stop is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, not far from the Grand Palace. The enormous Buddha – 15 metres high and 43 metres long – is originally from Ayutthaya (Thailand’s ancient capital).

If it’s a cultural experience you’re looking for, there are plenty more sites for you to explore, including the National Museum.

You could also have your tour guide take you out of the city to the Floating Markets.

Here, you will get a fascinating look at life in old Thailand, where much of the day-to-day trade is centred on and around the major river, which starts in northern Thailand and goes through Bangkok before dispersing into the Gulf of Thailand. For lunch, you can head to Chinatown, where countless restaurants sell delicacies such as crocodile steak and bird’s nest soup, as well as more conventional Chinese food.

2 PM Follow lunch with a stroll into the heart of Chinatown, along Yaowarat Road.

Look out for Trok Itsaranuphap, a narrow lane off the main road, crammed with shops

selling a vast selection of Chinese delicacies, cooked and uncooked. Don’t miss Wat Traimit, which houses the world’s largest, solid gold Buddha. The adjacent temple museum recounts the life story of Buddha.

From Wat Traimit, it’s just a short walk to the historic Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

Catch a train from the adjacent underground MRT (Mass Rapid Transit System) station to Sukhumvit Station and change on to the BTS (Bangkok Mass Transit System) sky train for Sala Daeng. It’s a 15-minute walk up Silom Road to the impressively colourful Hindu Sri Mahariamman Temple.

5 PM Shopping in the Thai capital is an experience in itself. Whatever it is you’re looking for, you can find it in Bangkok. If you are looking for all manner of branded goods, Central Bangkok is the place to be. Boasting an impressive collection of high-end designer stores, fine-dining restaurants, swanky cinema screens, luxury is at its best in Central Embassy, Bangkok. Get your hands on brands like Gucci, Prada, Versace, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith and Michael Kors.

The sixth floor at Central Embassy has been recently developed as Open House, where people of all ages can hang out, relax, shop, eat, work or study if they need to, and even

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foods one must try gai tod It is deep fried chicken. Easily available on the streets of Bangkok, Gai Tod or orange and golden brown pieces of chicken are yummy.

Best served over sticky rice with deep fried shallots. chocolate & banana roti This roti

dough is a traditional form of pancake, with banana slices placed in the middle and folded, fried to a golden brown. It is topped with sugar, condensed milk and drizzles of chocolate sauce.

Thai fish cake

Prepared in the form of cutlets, Thai Fish Cake is a shallow fried fish.

Best eaten when freshly cooked, it is paired with a slightly tangy and spicy chili dip.

Kanom Jeeb

Thai-style steamed meat dumplings, Kanom Jeeb is made using shrimps, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts. The dish is paired with a fried garlic-soy sauce.

shopping spree flea market

Chatuchak is a famous weekend flea market on the northern outskirts of the city.

Visit the market for designer knockoffs, aromatherapy oils, potted plants and reptiles.

Branded goods

If you are looking for all kinds of branded products, Central Bangkok is the place to be.

rejuvenate The sixth floor at Central Embassy has been recently developed as Open House, where people can hang out, relax, shop, eat, work or study and even sleep.

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clockwise from above Wooden boats busy ferrying people at Amphawa floating market in Bangkok. This is a traditional method of transaction.

Blue tuk tuk, a Thai traditional taxi in Bangkok.

People floating lamps at Yee Peng festival at Wat Sirindhorn Wararam.

It is said that Bangkok never sleeps. Multicoloured tents at Talad Rod Fai Night Market.

have a snooze. Under lofty ceilings, the vast, minimalist, open-plan interior houses a restaurant, lounge, bar, bookshop, art gallery and co-working space.

9 PM Take a stroll through Bangkok’s foreign ghetto, the pulsing enclave around Khao San Road, Southeast Asia’s largest backpacker district. For decades, this warren of streets and alleyways was a haven of affordable lodging for the great tide of European and American budget travellers. Now the area, par ts of which are closed off to traffic at night, has become a hip destination for young explorers.

Day 2 9 AM After

a filling breakfast, it’s time to head to Chatuchak, a vast weekend flea market on the northern outskirts of the city. This was the most go-to place in the city before air-conditioned shopping malls sprouted up across Bangkok. Here, vendors sell everything from designer knockoffs to aromatherapy oils, potted plants and reptiles.

1 PM Grab lunch at Or Tor Kor, which is just across the street. This place has a number of dining options to choose from. Go behind the market for authentic northeastern Thai food - som tam (green papaya salad) and grilled

chicken. You can also go to Sood Jai Kai Yang for some local delights. Next, head straight to the Royal Barges National Museum where you can discover eight of the country’s most unique and stunning vessels: the Royal Barges. These boats are reserved for auspicious ceremonies and state occasions like the very rare Royal Barge Procession, and have only made an appearance on the water 16 times in the last 66 years.

3 PM The Jim Thompson House, located in a beautiful garden, contains the personal baubles and furniture of one of Bangkok’s most enigmatic foreign residents. The illustrious owner of the spectacular wooden building was an American Second World War spy and started Thailand’s silk industry.

6 PM Now that you’ve covered some of Bangkok’s more popular attractions, it’s time for some much needed rest and relaxation.

There are hundreds of massage parlours in Bangkok, ranging from five-star spas to local foot massage booths. Get a good deal in any of these spa centres and relieve those aching muscles. If you are game for some last minute shopping, head straight to Suan Lum Night Bazaar for an outdoor meal before flying back home.

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wanderlust // monastries www.travel3sixty.com

Spiritual

journey Monasteries are considered to be the holiest of places. Every year, millions of people from all corners of the world swarm these monasteries in search of peace.

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Situated in the Kanchenjunga mountain range in one of the hilly folds of Gangtok, the Enchey Monastery is one of the most popular monasteries in India. Every year, on the 18th, 19th and 20th days of the Tibetan Calendar, the monks in this monastery organise the ‘Chaam’ festival, which attracts thousands of tourists and monks.

Built in 1850, Ghoom Monastery in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is one of the oldest monasteries in this region. The library of this monastery contains some of the most ancient Buddhist scriptures and books. Moreover, what attracts tourists is the use of vibrant colours on the walls, doors etc.

above Situated at a distance of 44 kilometres from Leh, Hemis Monastery is the largest and wealthiest monastery in the Ladakh region. In the months of June-July, the entire Buddhist population dresses up in ethnic clothing and participates in the Hemis Festival.

Below Nestled in the enchanting Spiti Valley, the Tabo Monastery lies to the left bank of the Spiti River and above the Tabo village. The monks here celebrate the Tabo Gompa festival, with the ‘Mask Dance’ being the main attraction.

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above The architectural layout of Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh is praiseworthy. The 12-storey complex covers an entire side of a hill and the colour of the monastery makes it look like a small town consisting of small buildings.

Below Also known as the “Golden Temple�, Namdroling Monastery in Coorg, Karnataka, houses a large statue of a golden Buddha. The monastery is home to nearly 5,000 monks and nuns, renowned as a centre for Buddhist teachings.

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Key Gompa is located on a picturesque hilltop at an altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. ‘The monastery is an architectural wonder that one should experience at least once.’

wanderlust // sunderbans www.travel3sixty.com

Tiger

burning bright

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A delight for every wildlife enthusiast and a dream for every photographer, the Sunderbans is the perfect weekend getaway from Kolkata.

Words: Subhasish Chakraborty

The Royal Bengal Tiger is the main attraction of the Sunderbans. People visit to get a glimpse of the elusive jungle cat, and travel through the forest on a boat or ferry rather than in a vehicle, like they would in any other reserve in India.

H

ome to one of the largest concentrations of the Royal Bengal Tiger on the planet, the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve is a network of channels and semi-submerged mangroves. Famous for its vast, lowlying mangrove estuary, the Sunderbans is home to an astonishing range of flora and fauna, flourishing on its muddy banks. Its tigers – more than 250 in number – and several smaller wild cats, including the leopard, hide themselves well, but you can often see the highly endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, sharks and even saltwater crocodiles. It is the ideal place to relax, take a break and rejuvenate.

Natural marvel

The Sunderbans is amongst the largest mangrove forests in the world. These mangroves – a mixture of trees and shrubs growing in saline coastal habitats – encompass almost 4,000 square kilometres in India and another 6,000 square kilometres in Bangladesh. From the water, one can see the gnarled, twisted forms of trees like hetal, garjan and sundari , seldom higher than a one-storey home. There are also legions of pneumatophores – trees with modified roots

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that grow out of the water’s surface to allow them to breathe.

An intricate network of rivers and their tributaries enmesh the Sunderbans. Of the 102 islands, only 52 are inhabited. Till the Sunderbans was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1987, most of its inhabitants made their living off the forest by collecting wax or honey, and trapping, fishing and hunting.

beauty unfolds Our journey from Kolkata to Sonakhali in Paschim Medinipur d i s t r i c t , o n e o f t h e e n t ry p o i n t s t o t h e Sunderbans, was more scenic than we had initially expected. From the bus in which we were travelling, the Bengal countryside looked like something straight out of a movie. We even saw farmers ploughing their paddy fields.

When we reached Sonakhali at around 11 am local time, a 10-seater motorised fibre-glass boat operated by the Sunderban Tiger Camp was waiting to take us to the island of Dayapur, where the camp is located. As we started our journey after a hurried breakfast, the beauty of the Sunderbans began to unfold.

The forest covering the Sunderbans is

extremely dense, so much so that in certain places, it converges upon the river bank making it quite dark even under the midday sun. Having captured these amazing sights with my camera, we arrived at the Sunderban Tiger Camp. The camp conducts specialised jungle tours with bird watching, wildlife photography, angling, and honey hunting. Very recently, they played host to a 15-member International Tiger Conservation team.

Distinct feAtures We Clockwise from LEFT A majestic White Bengal Tiger at the Sunderbans National Park. They tend to grow faster and heavier than their orange counterparts.

Boats are used to ferry tourists and local population here.

Sunderbans is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world.

were informed at the base camp that the tiger habitat in the Sunderbans is vastly different from any other tiger reserve in India. This is primarily because about 900 square kilometres of the reserve area lies under water. Unlike the other reserves, the landmass is divided into a large number of islands by channels and creeks.

We were also warned that while in the Sunderbans, it was advisable to avoid eye contacts with the tigers. Even the woodcutters

Factfile Getting There The Sunderbans is located close to the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, which is well connected to other cities.

Canning Located 40 kilometres south-east of Kolkata, Canning is the gateway to the Sunderbans. The Sunderban Tiger Camp operates its own fleet of luxury cars and buses and on prior information to the Camp’s Reservation Centre. you should know The Indian side of the Sunderbans measuring around 4,000 square kilometres consists of 102 islands. Out of these, 54 are inhabited and 48 are forested. a word of advice If you’re travelling by your own vehicle, leave it at a safe place in Kolkata and use the public transport system. If you choose to drive all the way to Canning, you might have to leave your vehicle unattended for the time you spend inside the park. best time to visit September through March are the best months to visit the Sunderbans, winters being the most pleasant period in the area. Summers can be quite hot, but are an ideal time to visit the wildlife sanctuary. accommodation There are three options available – forest lodges, tourist lodges and hotels and resorts outside the park.

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and honey collectors, who venture deep into the forest, wear rubber masks on the rear side of their heads in an attempt to confuse the carnivore. As tigers roam freely in Sunderbans, the forest guides often create dummies of men, armed with low voltage electricity, and place them in strategic locations. This is done so that the attacking tiger gets a shock and becomes averse to humans.

Despite this, the tigers are the heroes of the Sunderbans. If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of the elusive cat, like we did.

We had to wait for 15 agonising hours though.

Tiger sighting Tigers

are not easy to spot, and many people return home without catching some face time with the animal. We began our vigil at the Sajnekhali watch tower at 5 am. Our guide informed us that mornings are the best time to spot a tiger as they can be seen approaching water pools for an early morning drink. Initially, a few more men also joined me, but they soon departed, losing hope. So, in few hours it was just me and my photographer friend Neeraj.

Tiger or not, we did not want to neglect any life-form. We saw a Lesser Adjutant on the mudflat (not the first sighting of the tour) and decided to get closer for a better image. I asked the boatman to approach the bird and as soon as it turned, the boatman shouted “Sir, tiger! Tiger under the tree!” I turned to see this majestic creature sitting under a Baine (Avicennia marina ssp) tree, quite some distance from us, on the side of a small canal.

On seeing our boat, it rose and gracefully walked back into the thicket.

Driving back to the lodge, I couldn’t help but reflect over the years I had spent chasing the striped cat in the best-known tiger reserves of the country. Even after being disappointed on more than a few occasions, I had not given up hope. I knew that my first meeting would be special, whenever it came to be. Today, I can proudly say that there are few things that can surpass the thrill of seeing this beautiful beast in its home.

beyond tigers It is not just tigers that make the Sunderbans extraordinary. At a small distance from the camp are the mangrove interpretation centres and hatcheries. At the hatcheries, the near-extinct Olive Ridley Turtles and the rare River Terrapin (batagur

Top The Sunderban Delta Complex and its surroundings have extensive thick layer of floodplain deposits. Ferries parked in the forest belong to the locals here. below A local fisherman casting his net in the Sunderbans. Fishing is one of the main activities for the locals.

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above Chital deer, also known as spotted deer. They stay spotted all their life. Antlers are found only on the male Chital.

RIGHT A brown-winged kingfisher in Sunderbans National Park. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

Right BELOW A black-capped kingfisher. The adult has purpleblue wings and back, a black head and shoulders, a white neck collar and throat, and rufous underparts.

baska), a variety of edible turtle, are spawned in enough numbers to ensure their survival. Eggs are collected from the jungle, reared in a safe atmosphere and then reintroduced to the wild.

Life in the Sunderbans is both demanding and dangerous, and nothing matches the grit of the men and women who call this swampy delta their home. While agriculture is the primary occupation with rice being the main crop, fishing is also a significant activity. Another way to earn a livelihood is honey collection, taking place between the months of April and June.

Travelling in narrow boats through the creeks, the honey collectors or maules travel from island to island in search of hives.

Project Tiger P ro j e c t Ti g e r i s t h e most famous wildlife conservation project in India, which was launched in 1972 to protect the diminishing population of Indian tigers. The main aim of the project is to create a safe haven and ideal environmental conditions for the survival and growth of tigers in the country.

Getting There AirAsia flies twice daily to kolkata from various locations. www.airasia.com

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wanderlust // momo www.travel3sixty.com

The great momo

m keover The dumpling is no longer the humble snack it started out to be. Now, this delicacy has donned a new face, undergone a makeover of sorts.

Words: siddhartha Saikia

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A variant of the momo is served with bok choy and chilli oil.

Chocolate momo constitutes of a salty wrap and bitter-sweet chocolate filling.

G

one are the days when the momo was just a regular wheat pocket with a simple veg or meat filling. Now, in its renewed avatar, it is making its presence felt universally. These flourwrapped, steamed dumplings are filled with everything from crab, prawn, chicken, beef, pork, even chocolate! Migrating from the Tibetan hills of the Northeast to busy metros, the good old, plain momo is anything but.

Sample this: You go to a market in Kirti Nagar in West Delhi and notice a cart with an LED TV displaying the offers of the day.

There are almost 250 varieties of dumplings, with fancy names like Ooo Bolo-tara-rara , Mushi Mushi, ‘Akbar ki Jaan’, Selfish Prawns, Unbutton D Mutton, Kuk-dhoo-koo , Chic Is In, Sunny Side Up, Dark-o-holic, Honey Bee, Volcano, Green Land and oooommmgggg .

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Fro m cho osi n g the f i l l i n g ( f rom f i sh to chocolate), preparation style (fried, steamed, etc) and various dips and gravies, you can mix, match and customise your own plate.

entrepreneur) and Jahan Khurana (a food explorer), the momo chain is unlike any other that New Delhi has seen before. For starters, they offer a colossal range of 250 momos.

Momo Era

B r a n de d m a k e ov e r Recently, a number of restaurants and food trucks selling momos under their own brand have sprung up across the board. For instance, a trip to the Amar Colony market in South Delhi is incomplete without a plate of tandoori momos at Hunger Strike. This market, which is a kind of momo town, is frequented by foodies from across India. You can find even Afghani and Mongolian dumplings here!

Similarly, Kolkata-based ‘Wow! Momo’ is known for its unique and specialised momos.

Starting off with a minuscule budget, the brand has grown rapidly to become the

Welcome to the new era of momos, a kind of snack that has, over the years, become one of India’s favourite street food.

“We travelled to many countries exploring our passion for momos. We came back with a host of experiences, encounters and recipes from across the globe. It enabled us to recognise the potential of the momo,” shared Jahan Khurana, a New Delhi-based entrepreneur, who, along with partners Divy Kohli and Deepak Dhingra, recently launched 6 Pack Momos, a chain of momo carts in the national capital.

The brainchild of Divy Kohli (an ardent momo enthusiast), Deepak Dhingra (an

left Momo served in a traditional bamboo steamer box. below Momos stuffed with chili sauce is quite a frequent meal in Spiti Valley.

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goodness in variety You can find various kinds of momos in different shapes and sizes. kothey momo Half fried and half steamed momo in an elongated shape. chili momo The regular momo dipped in a hot and spicy sauce. jhol momo Drowned in a bowl full of sauce called jhol achar; the sauce is thin in consistency and has a bit of a spicy and tangy twist.

right Young Nepalese street vendor selling momos. below Momo with an Indian-twist. Tandoori momos are served hot with a mint-based dip.

buckwheat momo This momo is a favourite amongst health conscious folks because it packs more protein and nutrients than its counterparts. fish momo It has an unusual flavour and is lighter than the regular momo. dhapu momo These giant momos are referred to as Tibetan momos. They are similar to the Chinese da pao.

country’s largest momo chain. Currently operating in more than 100 stores in cities like Chennai, Pune, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi-NCR, Coimbatore and Digha, the group has gained popularity exponentially.

“Our menu comprises of mainly momos and thupka. We serve 14 different flavours of momos in steamed, fried, pan-fried, sizzler and baked variants with chicken, vegetable, fish, mushroom, paneer, prawn, corn spring onion, chocolate and other fillngs,” says Sagar Daryani, co-founder of Wow! Momo.

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They have also introduced the momo burger — two pieces of fried momos between a succulent bun served with red sauce, coriander sauce and mayonnaise. It also offers au gratin momo, which is a classic momo in four layers.

The first layer is of paneer; above it is au gratin sauce; then barbecue noodles topped with cheddar cheese and oregano flakes.

When it comes to the amount spent on a wholesome plate of momos, the cost can be as affordable as `30 at several street-food stalls and can go up to `2000 or more at fancy

restaurants. At Wow! Momo, basic steamed dumplings in vegetarian and meat variants start from `120. Exquisite preparations like pan fried momo are priced at `145. On the contrary to these affordable options, fine dining joints like Royal China, On the Waterfront, Set’z and Town Hall offer the same at a much higher price. “The pricing of momos varies because of the art of making dimsums and the method of preparation,” says a restaurant owner. So many momos to choose from, so little time!

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wanderlust // PUDUCHERRY www.travel3sixty.com

o ia l n l o C

IBES

A breezy oasis on the Coromandel Coast, Puducherry is known as much for its colonial vibes as it is for its charming novelty.

Words: Anita Rao Kashi

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Vibrant colours, pretty structures define Puducherry, a union territory of India.

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I

t seemed like I had suddenly gotten caught in a time warp. On either side of the road were lovely houses that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. On my left was an arched doorway shaded by beautiful green creepers, bearing a profusion of flowers. What gave it a French flavour was the dark blue board tacked outside, reading ‘Rue Romain Rolland’.

The neighbourhood was equally charming with a wide open portico, and a sweeping driveway flanked on either side by pretty pots of colourful flowers. I could’ve stared at this gorgeous sight forever. For me, such beauty presents itself on rare occasions; for the residents of this town, it is all too familiar. Such is the simple elegance of Puducherry, located on the East Coast of South India.

Captivating beauty

Fondly referred to as Pondy, Puducherry was once known as Pondicherry. The French Quarter is such a charming novelty that travellers from all over the world flock to the town every year. Having arrived late the previous night, I had every

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intention of hitting the beach early the next morning. But, the quiet but undeniable beauty of the cobbled streets and old-world homes had me running around town, taking in as much information about Pondy’s rich history as I could.

Colonial architecture As I went further down the street, I recalled having read that for centuries, Puducherry’s strategic location had attracted foreign traders and invaders – from the Portuguese to the Dutch.

The last of the invaders, the French, ruled for the longest time until the country gained independence. However, they left an indelible impression on the city. This is evidenced by the perfect grid-like layout of the streets and the continued use of the French names for several locations and roads, like the Rue Romain Rolland, the Rue Suffren and the Rue du Bazar St Laurent.

There’s also the lovely symmetry of the roads and homes, much of which is still intact. As I walked along, I noticed that the buildings were aligned in perfectly straight

Clockwise from right A Hindu temple in Puducherry with colourful statues of the deities.

The pier in Paradise Beach is one of the must visit places in Puducherry.

Bicycle rickshaws are still used by tourists to roam around in the city.

lines - plinths, cornices and balconies alike!

All of them displayed simple but elegant ornamentation. There were high archways and elaborate gateways overflowing with creepers, behind which hid pretty courtyards and gardens.

Quick glimpses through the doorways revealed solid symmetrical buildings with arched and hooded windows. Some of the houses had garages on the side, which once housed the famous pousse-pousses (carriages pushed by a servant and steered by the master), but currently played host to modern vehicles. It was evident that yellow ochre and white are the preferred colours for the outer walls of the homes.

HERITAGE HAVENs

Beaut y-struck

A s I wove my way through the streets, it felt increasingly like a passage to another era. I ended up spending almost the entire day exploring old, beautiful buildings in the vicinity.

A dazzling white building on Rue Romain Rolland had an elaborate compound and gate, arcades and colonnades, and was once t he Br it ish Consu late but is c u r rent ly a private residence. Hotel Lagrenee de Meziere on Rue Romain Rolland was a classic building built in 1774 as a private house but is now a workshop for the religious order of Saint Joseph de Cluny. Also spectacular was the Hotel de l’Orient whose stones are believed to have been laid in 1809.

In the northern part of the French Quarter, the charming Notre Dame des Anges (Our Lady of the Angels Church) on Rue Dumas caug ht my eye, w it h it s st a i ned g lass w i ndow s, t a l l colu m n s a nd or na ment a l figures, all built in 1855. The one structure that stopped me in my tracks was a statue of Joan of Arc, with her back to the sea, across the street from the church.

Pristine waters

As the sun started setting, I headed towards the sea. Almost all t he roads in t he French Quar ter lead eastwards to Beach Road (Goubert Avenue).

This is a nearly two kilometre stretch with a wide pavement broken in the middle by a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. I spent the evening wandering up and down the road, and watching the waves crashing as they made their way towards the beach.

MANAKULA VINAYAGAR TEMPLE This Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and is a popular pilgrimage site. The temple reminds one of how Indian culture and heritage has stayed almost entirely untouched even after years of colonisation.

During Dupleix’s tenure, several attempts were made to destroy the temple, but devotees always managed to protect it through protests and demonstrations.

Revered for its beauty and structure, the temple came into existence even before the French came to the country.

PARK MONUMENT Another travellerfavourite in Puducherry is Park Monument. It is an attractive, alluring destination that is located in the picturesque area of Government Park.

Built during the period of NapoleonIII during the 16th century, this is a place that will transport you to an era gone by. Currently, it is referred to by the name of Aayi, who was once a renowned courtesan. If the local stories are to be believed, Aayi destroyed her home and made a water tank in its place. It is widely believed that the tank was responsible for bringing water from town for the French engineers who worked there.

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Pilot’s Perspective

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Inside view of a cockpit.

COCKPIT CHALLENGES Captain Lim Khoy Hing delves into the challenges encountered during different phases of flight.

I

was recently asked to identify the most difficult aspects of handling a plane. I think a more interesting question would be which of the three main manoeuvres – taxiing, takeoff or landing – is the most challenging.

The truth is that there is no d e f i n i t i v e a n sw e r ; d i f f e r e n t pilots find each of these three phases of flight challenging in different ways, and this is largely influenced by the pilot’s personal flying experience, the type of aircraft he or she is flying, as well as environmental conditions. In fact, an airline, general aviation or helicopter pilot would justifiably have different views.

From my perspective as an airline pilot, the answer is most certainly the landing aspect of the flight. Let me elaborate on

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the three phases – taxiing, takeoff and landing – and the unique challenges each poses.

Taxiing for Take off

It is a common perception that a flight begins with a takeoff and concludes with a landing. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The fact is that a flight actually commences at the parking bay, from the moment a plane taxis on its own power right up to takeoff, and only concludes after it lands on the runway in its intended destination and taxies to its parking bay.

A good taxi is smooth and follows the centre line of the taxiway or runway. Big planes such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 have cameras to guide them.

Smaller aircraft, however, lack this luxury and in the absence

of technical visual assistance, pilots have to rely on their own expertise to remain centred on the runway and anticipate turns on the ground. Taxiing in poor visibility is often an uphill task for a pilot. I once landed in Zurich, S w i t z e r l a n d , i n b a d we a t h e r conditions and had to request for a ‘Follow Me’ truck to guide me to the appropriate parking bay.

When the weather is good though, taxiing a plane is relatively easy. The captain merely turns a tiller (steering wheel) with the left hand at low speed, and then transfers to using the rudder (a control surface, similar to that used to steer a boat) pedals with the feet to maintain the centre line of the runway during takeoff.

Up, up & away! The

takeoff phase begins when the thrust levers (throttles) are applied, and the plane starts moving at a high speed and lifting off the ground. Large jet engines are very powerful, and normally, a reduced takeoff thrust is used to prolong engine life. During takeoff, the plane accelerates to

a lift off (rotation) speed prior to getting off the ground. The term ‘rotation’ is often used because the aircraft pivots around the axis of its main landing gear while still on the ground. The nose is then raised (rotated) to increase the lift generated by the airflow across the wings. The speed needed for lift-off is relative to the motion of the air. For instance, a headwind reduces the ground speed needed for takeoff, as there is greater flow of air over the wings. Typical takeoff air speed for jetliners, depending on the weight, is in the 130 to 155 knots (150 to 180 mph or 240 to 280 km/h) range.

There a re three i m p or t an t speeds that a pilot needs to take note of during takeoff. The first is the decision speed – this speed, in effect, marks the point after which an emergency stop is no longer possible, and the plane is committed to continue with the flight. So, if the pilot, for any reason, makes a decision to abort the takeoff, it must happen before the plane reaches this speed.

The second is the rotation speed, whereby the pilot moves

An auto landing is a very safe procedure as the flight computer guides the plane all the way till touchdown.

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.

the flight control slightly back towards him or her in order for the plane to lift off the runway.

It is important for the pilot to precisely determine this speed; if a plane is rotated too early, its tail may scrape the runway.

The third is the safety speed; this is the speed at which the plane is able to become safely airborne even in the extremely unlikely event of engine failure.

It needs to be emphasised that takeoff is a very safe procedure.

The captain’s training requires t hat he or she k nows exact ly what to do based on the speed that the plane has attained, and as a stringent backup measure, e ng i n e f a i lu r e e x e r c i s e s a r e f requent ly pr ac t i sed i n t he flight simulator.

And We Have Touchdown…

Generally, landing a plane is trickier than taking off, as there are many variables present in the environment. For instance, if the plane is estimated to land on a wintry day with poor visibility due to fog, a pilot has to plan for an automatic landing.

A n a u t o l a n d i n g , w h i ch i s always monitored by the captain, is a very safe procedure as the flight computer guides the plane all the way till touchdown. An auto landing system is capable of landing the plane safely in very low visibility and cloud ceiling.

L a n d i n g a p l a n e i n w i n dy conditions is a challenge for the best of pilots, and is therefore restricted according to the strength of crosswinds, which may cause difficulties. For example, for the Airbus A330, a limit of 40 knots is imposed for landing. And even within this limitation, strong crosswinds necessitate skillful handling by a pilot when landing a large aircraft.

The pilot must make use of the rudder to keep to the runway centre line.

During touchdown in a crosswind landing, the pilot then removes the drift (an effect caused by the wind blowing from the side) that the aircraft has been maintaining, in order to line up with the runway. Managing this manoeuvre during the landing stage requires expert coordination.

Another situation that tests a pilot’s skills is landing in high altitude airports. An improperly executed approach in this kind of airport can result in a hard or heavy landing, which will require that the aircraft be examined thoroughly to determine if repair or maintenance work is required.

In one incident t hat involved a heav y l a nd i ng i n a r emot e high altitude airport, where the necessary maintenance was not available, the plane had to be f lown back to the main airport with its landing gears extended!

This was a pricey affair, as it not only involved repair costs, but t h e r et u r n f l ig ht w it h g e a r s extended caused the plane to burn more fuel!

Unpredictable as the Weather At the end of the day, whether the takeoff or landing

is trickier greatly depends on the conditions that exist at the given point in time. A manual landing is certainly more challenging, owing to variable environmental conditions, and while no commercial airliner is capable of taking off automatically, the landing can definitely be carried out entirely by automation.

And if the destination airport is equipped with auto landing facilities, then, the plane’s inbuilt automation makes the touchdown easy!

For me, landing is my favourite part of a f light, as it means that I’ve safely flown my passengers to their destination.

M y d au g ht e r, o n t h e o t h e r hand, loves takeoff, when the engine hums, building up into a crescendo, as a burst of power accelerates t he plane into the sky!

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

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summer funk

Give your style a refreshing makeover this season with these trendy essentials.

Eye candy Oakley’s latest one-piece vizor (shield) gives us the Oakley Trillbe. The latest look in progressive design, Trillbe offers the full coverage of its newest Shield Lens, and the innovative silhouette features the styling of sculptured stems and the new concave icon.

Floral files

Men-tastic midnight blues denim Go for

this season with Numero Uno’s ‘light-in-weight-and-heavy-onstyle’ summer collection. This refreshing collection is all about charm, comfort and unlimited oomph for a quirky summer.

Numero Uno boasts of innovative denims in all seasonal collections.

Easy to pair with stylish accessories, these denims are the perfect way to beat the heat.

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Ditch mundane prints and opt for flower power this season with Aldo’s refreshing collection. Take your pick from their latest collection which is classy, summery and chic.

Fashion stands for all; so, why should girls have all the fun? The latest collection from Tommy Hilfiger for men is all about uber charm and sleek styles. Get your hands on their latest bag and footwear styles and have a mentastic summer.

Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist, Elizabeth Arden

Beat the heat

As the temperature soars, so does the need to pamper and hydrate your skin every few hours.

Here are the best skin lotions and mists that are ruling this summer for flawless skin on the go...

Summerready skin With these tips, you’ll be glowing in no time and will be ready to enjoy the season.

Vitamin boost Take vitamin C supplements or feast on fresh citrus fruits for a healthy boost to the skin.

Exfoliate Use a gentle scrub to exfoliate your body and you will be looking youthful in no time.

Don’t forget to moisturise after exfoliation.

Hydrate Cut back on caffeine and make water your best buddy to achieve that luminous skin.

Facial time It will help your skin get rid of pesky problems like blackheads, clogged pores, congestion, etc and leave your skin feeling soft, clean and pampered.

Foot fetish Treat yourself to a pedicure to clear your feet of rough skin and calluses. Paint those nails and show off your tootsies in that cute pair of sandals.

Facial Tonic Mist Panchpushp, Forest Essentials A concoction of five flowers of which the rose is naturally hydrating, bela helps in retaining moisture, marigold in toning, kewda in softening while saffron gives a glow to the skin. This gentle waterbased toner hydrates, tones and revives dull skin within minutes.

Refresh, set, go. This refreshing facial mist instantly awakens the skin with a soothing touch of hydration in an ultra-fine spray. Powered by a super fruit blend, rich in antioxidants and vitamins, it leaves the skin feeling reinvigorated and looking healthy.

Update your skincare products It’s time to bid adieu to winter-care products and invest in summer skincare products. Make way for water-based moisturisers, oil cleansing face washes, refreshing face mists, etc.

Hydrating Nutrient Mist, Mad Hippie

Moisture Surge Face Spray, Clinique

One Essential Mist-Lotion, Dior

Genuine flower power, natural antioxidants and active essentials work hand in hand to liberate the skin from signs of aging. By leaving out harmful chemicals, parabens, synthetic colour and fragrance, Mad Hippie helps your skin achieve true harmony. Perfect for face, arms and neck.

Bursting with moisture and active aloe, this must-have oil-free face spray softens and soothes the skin while hydrating and restoring balance.

The perfect size to use on the go, this spray rapidly refreshes and rejuvenates the skin.

One Essential Mist-Lotion is the first hybrid lotion with triple anti-pollution action of cleansing, rebalancing and detoxifying. Targeting 100% of the particles on the skin’s surface, its light and air-whipped texture also delivers instant freshness, awakening the complexion.

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off THE record

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in a candid mood Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor may be known as a gadget guru but when it comes to technology taking over our lives, he sounds a note of caution.

Words: Kunal Doley

A

self- confessed g adget f reak, actor Ranbir Kapoor likes to be ahead of the times when it comes to technology. So, it came as a pleasant surprise when the Bollywood heartthrob said at a recent event in Noida that it is also important to take out time for your fellow human beings. Without discarding the im-

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portance of technology in our lives, he added: “Please don’t get consumed by electronics, be human.”

Kapoor, who is reprising Sanjay Dutt in a Hindi biopic on the controversial actor’s life, was addressing the crowd at the launch of India’s first Virtual Reality (VR) lounge at PVR ECX, Mall of India, Noida recently. “It is

a mind-blowing experience to undergo the VR experience where technolog y puts the consumer right in the middle of the action. I don’t know how to describe it,” said Kapoor, who claims to be a PlayStation enthusiast but is also hooked on to his latest possession – a Leica M Monochrom camera that only shoots in black and white.

clockwise from above Ranbir Kapoor is reprising Sanjay Dutt in a Hindi biopic on the controversial actor’s life. For this role, the actor had to put on a lot of weight.

Ranbir’s parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. He belongs to the famous Kapoor family of Bollywood.

Ranbir is a sports enthusiast and is often seen participating in sporting events.

The VR lounge at PVR ECX will allow movie-goers to explore a whole new library of fascinating and adventurous, immersive and interactive content curated from various genres like drama, fiction, science fiction, horror and action, among others.

However, he doesn’t believe that technology is a key ingredient of the movie-watching experience. “The VR experience is out of the world but there is fear that it might kill the movie-going experience,” he said. In fact, he felt that the increased use of gadgets

might take the audience away from cinemas but people would always come to the theatre for good content and stories. “We like to feel a story loom above us,” he added.

Mentioning the good r un of Var un Dhawan-star rer Badr in at h K i D u l h a n i a at t he b ox off ice, Kapoor said he continues to believe that ‘content is king ’. “I’ve always believed that c ont ent i s k i ng , t he me d iu m doesn’t matter. It could be films or theatre; wherever the content is good, the audiences will get always get attracted,” he said, adding: “Of course, there is new media available now. People just need to have a set-up at home, maybe wear a pair of gog gles and enjoy enter tainment. But as I said, if the content is good, people will keep coming to the theatres.”

Meanwhile, Kapoor has put on a lot of weight and the industry is abuzz with the new development. “It has been an inspiring jou r ney for me to b e play i ng Sanjay Dutt for the silver screen.

I have never put on so much weight before and now plan to reduce some of it for the next phase of shooting,” he explained.

The yet untitled f ilm, being directed by Rajkumar Hirani,

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off THE record

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ABOVE A still from the movie, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.

LEFT A still from the film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

would portray seven different ph a s e s of S a njay D ut t ’s l i fe, starting from when he was 22 years old. The movie also stars A nushka Shar ma, Sonam Kapoor, Karishma Tanna and Dia Mirza in pivotal roles. Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala will be playing the role of Sanjay’s parents, Sunil Dutt and Nargis, respectively. “It is amazing to be working with a director like Rajkumar Hirani,” the Ae Dil Hai

Mushkil actor added.

The Sanjay D ut t biopic i s slated to release in December 2017. Reports have it the movie will clash with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif-starrer Tiger Zinda Hai . “The audience will get to know the real Sanjay Dutt. There is a certain image of him because of the controversies and his imprisonment. Whatever we have shown in the film is an honest portrayal,” he added.

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different shades With his charming personality and cool attitude, Ranbir Kapoor has become the new face of the younger generation of film stars in India. no end to learning The actor is well trained in jazz and ballet. He has also taken diction, dance and horse riding classes. talented hues Besides acting, Ranbir does exceptional mimicry of Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt. book lover Ranbir loves to read autobiographies and biographies. His favourite book is Heavier Than Heaven, a biography on Kurt Cobain. leisure Kapoor loves to spend time with his family, friends, pets and play on his Xbox and PlayStation.

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up in the air

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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.

Beat the Lag

MAY 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.

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 may 1, 2017.

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 (AK) & AirAsia X (D7) 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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AirAsia India (i5) Hubs in India

Kempegowda International Airport Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata Domestic Route

Srinagar

Chandigarh NEW DELHI Bagdogra Guwahati

Jaipur

Imphal

Ranchi* Kolkata*

Pune Hyderabad Goa BENGALURU Kochi

Maps not to scale

INDIAN OCEAN

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Visakhapatnam

Thai AirAsia (FD) & Thai AirAsia X (XJ) 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

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

Maps not to scale

Bengaluru

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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.

MAY 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.

MAY 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

malaysia

south Korea

Cambodia

Tokyo

Osaka

Kuala Lumpur

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: 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.)

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 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 Train Bus

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)

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

Modes of transportation Bus

Standard limousine Bus

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.

 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.

Foodie Town

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)

 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

City Highlights

 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.

Taxi motorcycle taxi

Express Train

KLIA Express Train

Modes of transportation

Taxi

Taxi

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

Modes of transportation

City Highlights  angkor wat The most magnificent and largest of all Angkor temples and a top tourist attraction here  bayon tremple It features a sea of over 200 massive stone faces looking in all direction. 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  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

Party Zones

Insider Tip

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

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

MAY 2017

95

Get in touch

www.travel3sixty.com

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

Brunei Darussalam Bandar Seri Begawan Office No. 3, Departure Hall, Brunei Int. Airport, Bandar Seri Begawan BS2513

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.

No. 567 Jianguo North Road (near Moyaying bus stop) Chengdu 318, Int. Departure, Chengdu Shuangliu Int. Airport, Sichuan Province, 610202 No 172-5 Binjang East Road, Jinjang Dist.

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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MAY 2017

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

INDIa BANGALORE Airport Sales Counter No-16, Bengaluru Int. Airport, Devanhalli, 560300 CHENNAI 123/124, Ispahani Centre, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam, 600 034 Tamil Nadu KOCHI Cochin Int. Airport, Int. Terminal, P.O. 683 111, Kerala State 3rd Flr., Pulinadu Building, Altantis, M.G.Road, Kochi 682015 TIRUCHIRAPPALI New Terminal Building, Tiruchirappalli Int. Airport, Tiruchirappalli 620007 18/3-5, The Ivory Plaza Royal Road, Cantonment, Trichy 620 001 18/3-5, Ivory Plaza, Royal Road, Cantonement, Trichy 620001 TRIVANDRUM Tc 15/1945, Kamala Towers, Vazuthacaud, Trivandrum 695014

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