India Outbound - Atout France Special Issue 2015 by Media India

Special France

VOL. 7 Number 5

September-October 2015

Interview

5 Things to do

Sheetal Munshaw Director, Atout France

Knokke: A Tryst with the Northern Sea

Offbeat

Taiwan: Surprise Package

Good to Know: Indian Restaurants in Paris

Publisher Ranvir Nayar

Editor in Chief

Ranvir Nayar

Editorial Advisor Rajendra Shende

Multimedia Editor Stanislas Dembinski

Chantilly Castle

Senior Correspondent

A Royal Gem

Jasleen Kaur

Copy Editor Shweta Keshri

Editorial Team Ameeta Agnihotri Alexandre Clasens Mireille-Joséphine Guézennec Venkata Krishna Anil Nair Christine Nayagam K V Priya S Ramachandran Gayatri Ramanathan Sandeep Silas

Chalo Paris!

Laura Martinez-Rico Lucie Simonel Manjeet Singh Karthik Davey Shivani Unnikrishnan

Art Director Priyankar Bhargava

Graphics Hitesh Mehta, Vinay Kamboj

Web Manoj Upadhyay, Pramod Kandpal, Ratan Singh, Gourav Lakhanpal, Alok Kumar Dubey

Photographers Ira Gur-Aryeh, Ishan Sharma, Piyush Sekhsaria Sas, Shashi Sahai, Sudharak Olwe

Corporate Communications (contact@mediaindia.eu) Marc Seviran, Sameer Mohammad

Marketing Team (sales@mediaindia.eu) Amit Kumar Gupta, Sapna Choudhary, Shilpi Sharma, Vaibhav Agarwal,

Head Office 12 rue d’Isly 75008 Paris Tel 0033143558507

New Delhi 610-611, Ashoka Estate, 24, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001 Telefax 009111-43534818

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Published by MEDIA INDIA GROUP Capital: 20 000 euros SIREN N: 453 030 371 Press Commission: 0708 K 84914 ISSN: 1767-5952 Depot Legal: September 2015 Date of publishing Vol 7, No.5 September 2015 Printed at:Vinayak Print Media D-249, Sector-63, Noida-201 301, U.P.

espite rising air travel costs, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets for France as the destination saw over 4,00,000 Indian tourists in 2014, registering a growth of 18 pc over the previous year. While France continues to be one of the key fascinations, the credit goes equally to Atout France that has been hard selling to India as a viable tourist destination with a cluster of campaigns such as “France Celebrates India”, “Be There! Do That!” and “48 Hour Visa”. Following the footsteps of the former director of Atout France, Catherine Oden, newly appointed Sheetal Munshaw too is set to take innovative and creative approach to boost tourism traffic from India. Munshaw’s primary objective is to continue showcasing France as a premier and versatile destination that appeals to tourists, business travellers and the discerning Indian globetrotters. In her interview, she stated, “Our annual workshop Rendez-vous en France has been a productive platform for regions in France to promote their tourism offerings to Indian travel professionals and eventually the end consumer.” Additionally, the tour operators too have different strategies and packages to entice the travellers. Atout France as well as the Indian tour operators have also been focusing on getting the Indian visitors to go beyond the Eiffel Tower, the iconic structure of the French capital. Indian tourists now discover other attractions in Paris as well, walking around the tower; admiring her from a boat, a metro line, a bus or even a balloon, without having even to climb the 324 meters to the top. Being in France, you must experience the castle at Chantilly, about 70 km north of Paris, which harbours a unique French art collection, extraordinary Le Nôtre gardens a horse museum with some remarkable stables. Another place, Champagne is hard to miss when in France - best known as the producer of the eponymous sparkling wine, named after the region itself. Recently, these vineyards were added to the UNESCO ‘World Heritage’ sites, thus joining the likes of Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. No discovery of France is complete without its gastronomy and hence we propose “Quiche Lorraine”, a classic dish, to go with the Champagne. While French cuisine may muse you, Indians do crave for the taste of home food occasionally and Paris offers a fairly wide range of Indian dining to satisfy their taste buds. Add to this the brand new show from the Lido to make your journey in Paris glamorous and comprehensive. Apart from France, we bring to you some other European destinations to explore. We take you to old town of Poznan, the first capital of Poland, to indulge in Middle Age and Renaissance history. Additionally it traditionally hosts international fairs that also attracts and welcomes Indians. Another destination is Knokke, which is among the preferred summer destinations for Belgium’s bourgeoisie. However, the 20 km coastal stretch at Knokke-Heist also attracts the travellers looking for a quiet walk or a surf in the North Sea. From food to climate to architecture to activities, everything is different from the seaside. From here we take you to the less travelled paths of Taiwan - a pack of surprise, consisting of hot springs, resorts, dramatic mountains, marble cliffs, long coastlines and night markets with hundred and one things to do. We hope that such a diverse and rich presentation of gems from around the world will entice you and you will enjoy this journey as much we have loved in bringing it to you!

Co n t en t India Outbound September-October 2015

Strategy

From the Cockpit

Madhavan Menon

Virgin Atlantic: Expanding strategically

Managing Director, Thomas Cook India

in Indian skies

Sheetal Munshaw

Strategy

Director, Atout France

Bird’s Eye View of Philadelphia

Country Focus

Promenade

Paris: Beyond... and Around the Eiffel Tower

London’s Colourful Summer

Chantilly Castle: A Royal Gem

Poznan: Cradle of Polish Nation

Champagne’s Addictive Charm

Cuisine

‘Quiche Lorraine’

Good to Know For the Indian Taste-Buds!

5 Things to Do

Knokke: A Tryst with the Northern Sea

Offbeat

Taiwan: Surprise Package

Mark your Diary

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Strategy

New Geographies

on Radar With the acquisitions of Sri Lanka based Luxe Asia followed by Kuoni in India and Hong Kong, Thomas Cook is expanding its reach to new viable geographies, especially Asia, says Madhavan Menon. Madhavan Menon Managing Director, Thomas Cook India

Hong Kong is a niche business catering to the high-end luxury travellers with a focus on Europe as well 06

India Outbound September-October 2015

Shweta Keshri

What were the principal reasons for the acquisition of Kuoni in India and Hong Kong by Thomas Cook? How will this acquisition impact the travel market in India? How will this acquisition impact Thomas Cook? Kuoni’s travel business in Hong Kong caters to a niche segment of high-end luxury travellers with a focus on Europe. How will this acquisition impact your relations with key source markets like Europe in terms of enhancing global presence? Kuoni Hong Kong is a profitable business and is predominantly in the premium packaged holidays outbound business. Positioned at the doorstep of China, Hong Kong holds strong significance and opportune potential for us. According to WTTC statistics, India and China will collectively generate the largest number of travellers by 2025. Hong Kong business is a niche business catering to the highend luxury travellers with a focus on Europe as well. It’s a great fit for us and we will be leveraging their capabilities in terms of reservation of hotels and booking with airlines. We see strong synergies and benefits accruing from Kuoni’s well-established presence/ global connection in key source markets like Europe. This attracted us,

as also the business lines of outbound, corporate travel, MICE, domesticall complementing our existing businesses at Thomas Cook India. Kuoni’s inbound business was also a key element in our acquisition and certainly of strong value, given our focus on this sector via our inbound subsidiary TCI-Travel Corporation (India) Ltd. Prime Minister Modi’s pro-tourism intent and delivery, ETV and its extension, to include a greater catchment of inbound source markets, augurs very well for us and will certainly give a much needed fillip to this yet under leveraged sector. Safety, on-ground infrastructure, taxation and development of circuits, besides marcom, will need continued focus with sustained delivery from the government and tourism boards. At Thomas Cook we are very bullish about Incredible India and the inbound segment. Will Kuoni eventually fold into Thomas Cook or will you continue with both the brands? How will you ensure that the two brands don’t cannibalise each other? What are the synergies between the two companies and what benefits will it accrue to the merged company? The company (Kuoni India and Hong

Strategy

Thomas Cook sees strong synergies and benefits accruing from Kuoni’s well-established presence in key source markets like Europe

Kong) will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. We will operate Kuoni as business as usual, and this includes its businesses and its 1800 workforce. We have strong business synergies that we plan to leverage for both Kuoni and Thomas Cook India, and a customer portfolio that will see entry of viable new industry sectors courtesy Kuoni’s business and MICE segments. Travel has become non-negotiable for the Indian consumer and both middle class and FIT-HNI/UHNI luxury consumers are witnessing a strong growth trajectory. This growth engine is being propelled equally by emerging segments like young India- Gen Y, Gen S and India’s woman traveller. The India travel pie is growing exponentially that includes outbound, domestic and inbound. Our intent is to leverage each other’s strengths- the opportunities of our combined distribution network, customers and contracting strengths, to drive synergistic benefits for our stakeholders. What will be the fate of Thomas Cook brand name in India as the current brand licence is valid upto

2025? Do you see SOTC brand as an opportunity for a brand transition, due to its strong brand connect and high recall with the Indian customers? Kuoni is a strong global brand and our intent is to leverage the opportunity to its maximum. Our acquisition allows us usage of the SOTC brand (including SITA) in perpetuity; the Kuoni brand in India for 12 months and in Hong Kong for 5 years. From a consumer’s prospective, these are all strong brands with high recall and a strong consumer connect. Given that we have the Thomas Cook brand till 2025, SOTC gives us significant opportunity for our brand transition strategy. Our expert strategists from our marketing teams will be working on just this- creating a strong and effective strategy plan for the brand and transition. This is an exciting time for them. Is it right to say that Thomas Cook is on acquisition spree to expand its presence in Asia as the company also acquired Sri Lanka-based destination management company Luxe Asia?

How has Thomas Cook India grown in the last couple of years and what kind of growth do you expect in 2015 and 2016? Our acquisition of Kuoni’s India’s travel operations gives us access to their 21 owned offices and 85 franchisees, enhancing our Thomas Cook India distribution of 232 locations including 23 airports; 115 franchisee partners, 112 PSAs (Preferred Sales Agents). We want to be relevant to our customers and a premier clicks & bricks omni- channel travel and travel related services company is how we see ourselves. Innovation will continue to catalyse our businesses- be it our product portfolio or our operations. New viable geographies are very much on our radar and the bigger picture Asia region is one we are keen to explore. We’ve already made the first step with Luxe Asia in Sri Lanka and now Kuoni Hong Kong, positioned at the doorstep of China. Kuoni Hong Kong is a profitable business with growth of approximately 40 pc over the previous year and we expect continued growth at over 25 pc year over year.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

strategy

Equipped for Discerning Appetites

Sheetal Munshaw Director, Atout France

With a base of successful campaigns such as “France Celebrates India”, “Be There! Do That!” and “48 Hour Visa” in the past, Atout France is equipped with opportunities in experiential tourism such as wellness, gastronomy and wine, says the new director Sheetal Munshaw. Shweta Keshri

My primary objective is to continue showcasing France as a premier and versatile destination 08

India Outbound September-October 2015

Congratulations on becoming the director. Where has Catherine Oden left Atout France after her nine year long position as director in India? Catherine’s sincere and committed efforts have left a positive impact in the positioning of France as a tourist and leisure destination. Her dedicated approach in promoting different facets of France to the Indian traveller has given a tremendous boost to the showcasing of French regions. Her creative and innovative approaches have seen the launch of successful campaigns such as “France Celebrates India” and “ Be There! Do That!” that have been well received by the travel fraternity and consumers alike. Destination France has truly benefitted under the astute leadership of Catherine. What are your responsibilities and agenda as the new director? My primary objective is to continue showcasing France as a premier and versatile destination that appeals to tourists, business travellers and the discerning Indian globetrotter. We will

continue to work in close association with our travel partners including Air France, Rail Europe, French suppliers and of course the Indian travel agent community and the media to strengthen our efforts. We will continue to work closely in Mumbai and Delhi and also make inroads into Tier II and Tier III cities to create more awareness about France as a tourist destination and reach out to a wider base of travel professionals. My objective is also to enhance France’s positioning as a destination for business tourism. We would like to optimise the recent positive developments in visa deliverances to promote France as a preferred destination for business tourism. Being the first Indian director of Atout France, how will the position help in favour of promoting France in India? I think there cannot be a more welcoming sign from France than to have an Indian passionate about France to flag the cause of promoting Indian arrivals to France! Having said that, France is truly ready to receive

strategy

Lisieux is an important centre of pilgrimage in France

and welcome the Indian traveller with open arms. As the national tourism board we make concerted efforts to communicate the myriad tourism opportunities in France on the one hand and the ever evolving and changing travel patterns of the Indian traveller on the other. We are a cultural bridge between what France has to offer and how to best adapt it to the taste of the Indian traveller all in maintaining the authenticity of the experience. How has France shaped as destination for Indians? Have the tourists moved beyond the Eiffel Tower? Over the last few years, France has evolved as a solo-destination. We have seen an increase in the number of Free Independent Travellers (FIT) spending at least 8-10 days discovering Paris and the French regions. Through our communication campaign, “Be There! Do That!” we have essayed to promote France as an experiential destination with a plethora of activities that are compatible to the Indian traveller’s interests. Our annual workshop

Rendez-vous en France has been a productive platform for regions in France to promote their tourism offerings to Indian travel professionals and eventually the end consumer. Today’s traveller is keen to go beyond the surface and experience locales, cultures, cuisines and travel in the true sense of the term. He is looking to plan a wine trail in Reims-Champagne, DijonBurgundy, explore the versatile region of Rhone-Alpes, plan an alpine stay in Chamonix Mont Blanc, plan a seaside rendezvous in Nice, Cannes, St Tropez, Marseille, La Baule, Deauville, discover picturesque Midi Pyrenees, quaint Carcassonne, charming Picardy or a spiritual holiday in the cities of Lourdes and Lisieux. The Eiffel Tower remains emblematic and is an indispensable part of a travellers road map in France, however it is now the gateway to his journey in France. How was 48-hour visa service received? Did it affect the tourism traffic from India? Please share some figures from this holiday season. The 48 hour visa deliverance has

been received with an enthusiastic response from the Indian travel fraternity. Thanks to the efforts of our Ambassador and the efficiency displayed by the Consular teams across India in implementing effective visa procedures, we now have a smooth functioning of the visa submission process. The summer season for 2015 has been a good one for France, but for the moment we do not have figures. We are however pleased to announce that in 2014, our destination received over 400,000 Indian visitors registering a growth of 18 pc as compared to last year. What are the new offerings from France for Indian travellers? What is your strategy for the their growing appetite for new experiences? France’s greatest strength is its diversity! We have an exhaustive repertoire of delectable recipes to satiate the changing palate and appetite of our travellers! From the city of dreams to glitzy beaches, stupendous alpine summits and jaw dropping scenic backdrops to

September-October 2015 India Outbound

strategy

Travellers visit the port city of Marseille, the third largest city in France, for the meeting of style and history

intoxicating vineyards, world renowned gastronomy including vegetarian delicacies, UNESCO world heritage sites, France has the most versatile kaleidoscope of landscapes and tourism attractions spoiling its visitors for choice. In the last year we have had the Midi Pyrenees region who has shown significant interest in the Indian market. The region has been in the spotlight, thanks to its association with the Hollywood film, The Hundred-Foot Journey that starred Om Puri and Helen Mirren that has been a fitting showcase of the beauty of the region. Its various facets have been showcased through a multi-pronged media campaign targeting both B2B and B2C segments. The region of Champagne has also been active in India and has invested in B2C campaigns and hosting travel agents to their region. The Picardy region has also taken an active interest in the Indian market and is keen to develop synergies with the trade and press. Through engagements in various campaigns executed with our partners, we have tried to promote France as a wedding, incentive and a family-friendly destination. Through our campaign, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be There! Do That!â&#x20AC;? we will continue promoting France as an active holiday destination and will also weave in

India Outbound September-October 2015

gastronomy and wine tourism that are integral to Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art de vivre or way of life.

attracting Indians with a penchant for football to travel in large numbers to France.

How is the connectivity between India and France? Is there any plan of addition in the space? From India, Air France along with Jet Airways has 27 weekly flights connecting to 25 cities within France. Air India offers a direct daily flight to Paris from New Delhi.

What are your expectations from 2015 and where do you see France in the next five years in Indian market? 2015 has been a good year and should conclude on a high note as well. The visa situation has certainly given travel to France a welcoming boost. In the next five years I see France evolve even further as a solo destination as well as an incentive destination. With Eiffel Tower having an emblematic space on world map for the Indian travellers. France will continue to appeal to the Group Travellers but with other iconic destinations such as Nice and Chamonix Mont Blanc having climbed the priority charts, I certainly see Indian travellers spending increasing number of days discovering France. In addition to the popular tourism attractions, the visa facilitation will also prove instrumental in moving corporate travellers in our direction and lastly given the eclectic interests of the Indian traveller in areas such as wellness, food and wine and experiential travel we are likely to have repeat travellers spending longer durations discovering the true French art de vivre in the years to come.

What is the theme and agenda for the Atout France annual workshop to be held in September this year? Like every year the Rendez-Vous France workshop will bring together Indian travel professionals that promote tourism to France and tourism players and suppliers in France to showcase their tourism offerings and appraise their Indian partners and equip them to better sell France as a premier tourism destination. This year, we will also take the 24 member delegation to Bangalore to showcase France to travel trade professionals in the region. In terms of theme, France being at the helm of affairs for EURO 2016 and with Indians travelling increasingly on special interest holidays, Super Victor will be the leitmotif of the Workshop

INSIGHT

Destination France

The Fascination Continues While Paris remains the dream destination for many Indians, travellers are moving beyond the boundaries of Eiffel Tower to discover France, say the tour operators.

France Caters All Interests

Romi Trehan Director, Swiss Holidays

We see France as destination with a difference; it is appealing and has been in consistent demand amongst the Indian travelers. With its vast expanse of countryside, snow covered Alps and sandy beaches,France offers something for everyone. Idyllic chateaux, quaint villages and the unique culture complete the experience that Indian travellers look for, especially in the French Riviera at places such as Nice, Cannes, The Loire Valley, and Bordeaux & Burgundy. Being Europe centric, and with an eye on the grand picture of Europe as a tourist destination, we couple them with tours from the neighboring countries, blended itineraries such as France + Switzerland or France + Switzerland and so forth, with an increasing demand for France as a stand-alone destination for 1 week or more. With evolving trends and interests, Indian travelers are taking avid interest in destinations like the Louvre Museum, The Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Couer at Montmartre, the Latin quarter, the palace of Versailles, Seine River cruises and above all the Montparnasse Tower; the Disneyland theme park & Walt Disney studios are becoming increasingly popular. Some even venture into not so well known destinations and off the beaten tracks too. Keeping this in mind and considering growing appetite of travelers, our team is currently scouring through already very well

connected rail, bus and trams network to offering quickest transits. We keep adding fascinating restaurants for dining, excellent new properties for staying and we keep an eye on exciting destinations that we keep discovering from our and associatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; travels. After personally vetting, we incorporate all this to our product offering. We recommend itineraries ranging and stretching between 3 to 5 days, matched with their interests. Museum tours, Wine & Cheese tours, Segway Tours, 2CV & Electric Car Tours, The French Riviera fit into the demands of all kind of travellers. The Atlantic coast areas such as La Rochelle and Corsica offer wide possibilities for honeymooners. The Alps and the Pyrenees offer wonderful possibilities for avid skiers. While 48- hour visa introduced by the French Tourism has kicked in the traffic, primarily business travellers seem to be taking advantage as people are not very well aware of it. We think there requires a little more word spreading for -raising awareness amongst the travel partners on the subject. Our figure for visa application at French Consulate is approximately 200 passengers. With us the visas are generally applied from/at European country in the itinerary with longer stays than France, on that front Visas are still being widely issued by Schengen countries.

To Be Explored Beyond Paris

Bhavana Zalte Product â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kesari Tours, Pune

India Outbound September-October 2015

When people think of Europe they look for France as a must visit destination as they wish to see the nightlife, latest fashion trends and of course the Eiffel tower. While we have group packages (GIT) as well as FIT packages for France and the guests do inquire about places such as Versailles and Louvre Museum, Paris and French Riviera remain to be the preferred

places among Indian tourists. However, we are planning to introduce offbeat destinations in the next holiday season. While the French tourism board has been taking initiatives to ease the efforts of the travellers through initiatives such as 48-hour Visa, Indians have lagged behind in making its use and exploring the beauty of France beyond Paris.

INSIGHT

Challenging to Feed Travellers’ Appetite

Monika Arora Head - Operations & Product, La Vacanza Travel

In sync with the world’s opinion as captivating, classy and romantic, France has always been among the top destination in Europe for Indian travellers as well. Its beautiful cities, landscapes, museums, palaces, monuments, charm of its people, richness of its culture, wine and food attracts the Indian travellers. It is no more a 2-day destination where climbing the Eiffel Tower is the highlight of the trip. In the past few years, the minimum duration in Paris has increased to 4 nights in customised packages and travellers indulge in activities such as cruise, Eiffel Tower, Palace of Versailles, Disneyland, Louvre Museum and the Lido

show. Recently, we also made bookings for ballet and theatre at Opera De Paris for Indian Couples in at least 3 bookings. Owing to the information available on the internet, the demands of the travellers are increasing that also acts as a challenge for the tour operators to keep in pace with their growing curiosity. We recently introduced our web portal successfully for Sightseeing & Activities where in we offer a range of activities right from Transfers, Hop-on Hop-off tours, city tours, day trips, skip the line tours for shows and museums tickets, helicopter tours, hot air balloon tours to name a few.

Evolved Travellers Divert From Paris

Meeta Shah Director, Flamingo Transworld, Ahmedabad

Indian travellers have always been fascinated by France, specifically Paris. But recent trends show a diversion of interest towards the interiors of the wine growing regions, especially among the free independent travellers (FIT) While earlier our packages were limited to 2-3 nights in Paris or a group itinerary in Nice, of late we have been doing individual tour packages for 8 nights in Nice, 3 nights in Colmar region and Monaco-Menton-RoquebruneEze for architecture enthusiasts. We are also suggesting southern France and country side experiences to well travelled

and experienced travellers. We promote France through different mediums such as our brochure dedicated to the destination, highlighting the specialty of each region and introducing tour itineraries. Additionally, the 48-hour visa service has eased the efforts of the travellers and tour operators; we were delighted to get a quick turnaround for our recent group applications. While language and food may appear as barriers, the evolved travellers of today have moved beyond this and motivate us to introduce new products to match their pace.

Paris Still a Dream Destination

Bhaskar Wagware Sr. Vice President – Outbound, TBI

Paris is one of the dream destinations, with every three out of five Indians interested in visiting it, in combination with London. While Paris and Eiffel Tower go hand in hand and remain the highlight of any trip, people also enjoy museums, shows, boat ride, visit theatre, Versailles and shopping malls. Besides Paris, we have packages for wine tourism, French Riviera, Nice, Monte Carlo, St. Tropez and Picardy. Additionally,

the introduction of 48-hour visa service served as blessing for the travellers and tour operators; We did close to 500 French visas this season, almost the twice from last year. However the eastern European cities like Prague, Budapest, Sofia, Varna, Bucharest, Warsaw and Tallin that are much cheaper destination as compared to Paris pose a challenge.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Entertainment

Reinvent the Glamour

with Lido 70 years and 26 revues later, the historic Lido show that was established on the Champs-Elysees took a break to reinvent itself and come back with Paris Marveilles this April. While it endured the synonymies with the bluebell girls, feathers, cabaret, music and entertainment; it reached a new height of glamour through its collaboration with well-known cultural creation company Dragone credited for its live performances such as in Las Vegas and opening and closing ceremonies of major global sports events. With the combination of its identity and Dragoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovation, the new Lido show is fresh and extravagant. New costumes, new revue, new stage, new techniques, and many new introductions accompanied with a new menu take the audience to the world of wonders!

DINNER-SHOW from 7.00pm Menus valid from 1stOctober 2015 to 31st March 2016 *

SOIRÉE ÉTOILE from165 € Prawns with fresh herbs served with a delicate horseradish and seafood mousse Or Puylentil veloutéserved with diced vegetables and smoked duck magret Pan-fried salmon served with potatoes and shellfish with bouillabaisse fumet Or Free-range chicken fricasséewith a tarragon cream sauce, served with bulgur Caramel mousse dome served with pear preserve and crunchy walnuts OrCrunchy giandujachocolate entremet A glass of Champagne and a half-bottlerof wine*

SOIRÉE CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES from195 € Seared, marinated cod served with a white bean veloutéand julienne carrots Or Confitduck foiegrasserved with a dried fruit preserve Or Langoustine ravioli served with a herb salad Scallops seared in semi-salted butter served with cooked and crunchy endives in citrus butter Or Duckling with honey-pepper glaze served with pumpkin and mushrooms and a spiced jus Or Roast veal fillet, little gem lettuce stuffed with mushrooms, pan-fried golden potatoes Praline and mandarin macaron Or Opera cake

Maison Lenôtre creation

Or Vanilla and blackcurrant vacherin A half-bottleofChampagne Brut 1er cru*

SOIRÉE TRIOMPHE 300 € Vip accesspass, programme of the show, mineralwater, coffee and sweetpetits fours. “Dubarry” cauliflower verrinewith black truffle served with melba toast Lobster cassolettewith tagliatellein a light lemon and seafood cream sauce Or Pan-fried duck foiegrasserved with autumn vegetables and a Port wine reduction Oven-baked seabassserved with caramelised salsify and pearl onions Or Pan-fried beef fillet served with a Swiss chard and Parmesan gratin and a Périgueuxsauce Layered, crunchy caramel chocolate Or Five citrus-medley

Maison Lenôtre creation

A half-bottle of Champagne Ruinartor Taittinger* LIDO de PARIS -116 bis avenue des Champs-Elysées 75 008 Paris -www.lido.fr

Country Focus

Paris

Beyond... and Around the Eiffel Tower You can visit Paris without “climbing up” the Eiffel Tower, this old “Iron Lady” still alive and kicking. Here is a way to see her from afar and discover the French capital through another angle, with some classics and some surprises for the curious Indian spirit. Stanislas Dembinski

Country Focus

Dinner Cruise on a Péniche boat on the Seine river

he Eiffel Tower is a very stubborn Lady. I am familiar with her and used to see her every morning from my balcony when I was a Parisian. She was not meant to live so long though. Now 116 years old and in perfect shape, although she underwent a few liftings, she was designed to be demolished at the beginning of the 20th century. Built especially and only for the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889, the lady extended her courtesy for another exhibition of that kind, Paris 1900. Her very useful strategic observation and transmission point for the army during World War I saved her and no one would dare threatening her now. Since it is impossible to totally ignore the most visited paying monument in the world, let us go around, above and beneath the Eiffel Tower to tour the French capital in a different way.

Around the Eiffel Tower You can walk around the Eiffel Tower, admire it from a boat, a metro line, a bus or even a balloon, without having even to “climb” its 324 meters, this way you will discover another side of Paris. A café at the Trocadéro A huge esplanade in the straight lines of the 1930’s style, the Trocadéro is the perfect spot to have a cafécroissant and enjoy the view of the gardens, the Seine River and…the Eiffel

India Outbound September-October 2015

Breakfast at Carette Salon de Thé, on Trocadéro square

Tower, but with a polite distance. If the adjacent National Museum of the Navy, the Aquarium of Paris or the nearby Museum of Modern Art, are not your cup of tea, indulge yourself with an unctuous homemade hot chocolate. Among the multiple terraces on the Trocadéro square, choose Carette, a pastry shop dating back to 1927, have some macaroons or an “éclair au café” and a look at the elegant “Parisiennes” circling the square in a chic tailleur (suit) or jupe (skirt), in the poach 16e "le seizième arrondissement", one of the 20 quarters in Paris. At the Quai Branly museum Just a stroll away from the Eiffel Tower, along the Seine River, the Quai Branly museum is dedicated to the indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Inaugurated in 2006 by the former French president Jacques Chirac, who considered it as his pet project, it also harbours a few pieces of art from India. Beyond its beautiful façade of glass and luxuriant vegetation walls, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the secret lies in the peaceful museum gardens, a typical mixture of French and Asian styles, by landscape architect Gilles Clément. Once again, if you look for a chic dinner (Foie gras, Gambas, Mousse au chocolat, for instance is typically Parisian, or just some veggie dishes or delicious salads), stay on the splendid

terrace of the Museum restaurant, “Les Ombres”. You will be face to face with the old actress, Eiffel Tower. And here, there is no risk of meeting one of those famously grumpy Parisian waiters. For French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, the acid sense of irony of the waiter, who at times acts snobbish, is a way to establish a distance with the client and with his social status. But no such philosophy in this place: just a smile and a good dinner. Down the Seine River Once outside the Museum, catch the Batobus, a public boat with many stops down the Seine River. Or embark a classical tour on a “Péniche”, the famous flat boat type on which Cary Grant kisses Audrey Hepburn in the Hollywood film Charade (1963), and also formed the background of one of the scenes in An evening in Paris (1967), the Bollywood classic with Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore. All the stops are memorable but you should have a famous Berthillon sorbet on the Ile-Saint-Louis. This glacier has dozens of flavours (mango, dark chocolate and coconut are classics). Opened in 1954, this institution can even afford to stay closed for few weeks of holidays in summer, having enough retailers (cafés, restaurants) and clients around. Enjoy l’Ile-Saint-Louis and from there walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral in l’Ile-de-la-Cité, the antique heart of

Country Focus

The Quai Branly Museum facade by French architect Jean Nouvel, with its emblematic vegetal wall and the Eiffel Tower in the background

Paris still impregnated with Middle Age spirit. Let your mind wander and dream about fictitious characters such as the hunchback Quasimodo and Esmeralda, from the novel Notre-Dame de Paris, by Victor Hugo. Then dive in the gargantuan Louvre Museum in the vicinity. The Louvre is a permanent discovery, even for a local, you never get tired of it, but take a break in the Museum café or in the splendid Café Marly outside, and admire the Pyramid designed by Leoh Ming Pei, an American architect of Chinese origin. This glass Pyramid entrance to the museum has something in common with the Eiffel Tower: it was controversial at the beginning and loathed by the intellectuals. Bear in mind that some people wanted both monuments, now emblems of Paris, to be destroyed. Don’t forget the Orsay Museum, with its splendid impressionists’ paintings collection but also a fantastic display of Art Nouveau and Lalique jewellery, with butterfly motifs and floral design vases. Then, up the river, discover the modern quarter built in the 13th arrondissement around the Library François Mitterrand, a peculiar edifice near the Seine, named after the late French president who loved to collect old books. Its four towers on a big esplanade have the shape of open books. The great library and some nice temporary exhibitions are a blessing for bookworms. For a night at the movie

theatre, a drink with some fusion food, or a trendy cultural shopping, you can rely on the MK2 Multiplex. From time to time, it also screens Indian cinema. From the DVD shop located insight, you can even dig out an old Satyajit Ray film or a recent Bollywood hit. The aerial metro Another way to look at the Eiffel Tower, in its general frame of the Paris Belle Epoque, at the turn of the 20th century, is the aerial metro and its mythical Line 6. You will admire Paris and the divine curbs of the river from the two-storey metal-arch bridge of Bir-Hakeim, where a lot of films like Inception (2010) with Leonardo DiCaprio were shot. Towards east are the splendid bridges of Paris like the Alexander III bridge, with its golden ornaments and massive statues. Towards west is a small replica of the American Statue of Liberty, with a few 15th arrondissement skyscrapers in the background, a sort of Paris mini New York with a modest skyline. This statue (about 40 feet, a quarter of the size of the one in New York) was offered in 1889 by America to France, as a thank you note for the original, designed by the French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi and inaugurated three years earlier, in 1886. There are many replicas of the Statue of Liberty around the world, including India at Vardhman Fantasy theme park in Mumbai that also boasts of a small Eiffel Tower. But the Paris Statue of Liberty is literally the little

sister of the original one at New York. The best buses on earth One of the nicest way to discover Paris is to take a normal bus line. With one simple ticket, the amount of discoveries is incredible. Just sit, open your eyes, hop in, hop out and enjoy the ride. Buses can lead you everywhere and some of them, like Bus number 80, let you circle the Eiffel Tower, without bothering a halt. If you want to visit the South Asia quarters of Paris and relish good Indian food, take Bus number 39 and walk around Strasbourg SaintDenis quarter. For a peaceful night, go down Passage Brady that houses numerous Indian restaurants and shops. Called “Little India”, it is a unique mix of Parisian architecture and South Asian cuisine. An old Parisian “passage” built in 1828, it is divided in two parts by the Boulevard de Strasbourg, one covered with a glass roof and the other in open air. Shopkeepers used to live on the first floor, above their shops. One can enjoy a masala of South Asian cuisine along with that of Mauritius and the Reunion Island. If you fancy Indian cinema, the Brady cinema located nearby, is the place. You can catch up with fairly recent flicks such as Mary Kom (2014) starring Priyanka Chopra. The movie theatre has an old-fashion charm, with its outdated entrance. A perfect place to watch also an Indian classic, if you are lucky enough.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Country Focus

(Clockwise from left to right) A Champ de Mars Park view from the Eiffel Tower; Local musical artists in Montmartre; The Arc of Triumph at night; The Paris aerial Métro line 6 in Passy station; The Champs-Élysées, a popular shopping destination; Hotel des Invalides seen from the Tour Montparnasse; At the center: the Montparnasse Tower, on the Left Bank area of Paris

India Outbound September-October 2015

Country Focus

Above the Eiffel Tower Experience Paris from above. You won’t necessarily stand at a point higher than the Eiffel tower but you will have a broad view of the “City of Light”. Choose one of the following spots during the day and at least one at night, such as the Montparnasse Tower. The Arc of Triumph The Arc of Triumph may be much smaller than the Iron Lady but it is older, and an emblem of Napoléon’s glory. The French Emperor had it built in 1806 to celebrate his military victories. But ironically, it was completed by one of his successors and enemy, King LouisPhilippe, in 1836, long after Napoleon’s death. The view of Champs-Elysées avenue and the Concorde Square from the top of the Arc of Triumph is the best in town. On the other side is the business quarter of La Défense, with its modern arch aligned with a perspective that goes as far as the Louvre pyramid. Champs-Elysées and the Montaigne Avenue nearby are a must for shopping, with famous flagship stores like Louis Vuitton. The area has recently emerged as a luxury shopping destination. However, it has lost its “canaille” charm, when you could meet there French filmstars such as Alain Delon or Jean-Paul Belmondo at the famous Drugstore Champs-Elysées. The Montparnasse Tower This offers one of the best views of Paris from 210 meters above the ground. A perfect spot to admire the Seine banks and the Panthéon dome, where famous French citizens like the Nobel laureate Marie Curie are buried. A panoramic restaurant, Ciel de Paris (Sky of Paris), at the 56th level of the tower, for gourmets and other entertainment or cultural events all through the year, make it a popular destination. After that, walk down rue de Rennes towards River Seine and have a drink at one of the Left Bank cafés around the beautiful Saint-Germaindes-Prés Church. Cafés such as Les Deux-Magots and Le Flore are famous for numerous artists like Edith Piaf or Picasso, who used to come there. Go for the lesser known Place de Furstenberg

atmosphere and its degree of pollution. And finally... Beneath the Eiffel Tower Still hungry for an Eiffel Tower ride? Then don’t climb it like the usual tourist. Visit the galleries beneath the tower, which will lead you to the garden nearby, the Champs de Mars, through a “secret” entrance. Discover the ingenuous mechanisms for the elevators of the tower, the former military and transmission installations. The tower will then have no more secrets for you. Montmartre Arc of Triumph Trocadero

Gustave Eiffel and his most famous creation

(Furstenberg Square), facing the church on the left flank that offers peaceful and charming design boutiques, few of them with cafés inside. The Montmartre Basilica By now, you may have already spotted several times the white stone dome and the noble towers of the Montmartre Basilica. Built between 1875 and 1923, the Basilica of the Sacred-Heart (Sacré-Coeur) dominates Montmartre hill, located in the north, with a breathtaking view of Paris from the stairs. The neighbourhood is famous for its artistic tradition, with the famous painters’ spot of Place du Tertre and also its nightlife, not very far from the hot district of Pigalle that houses Moulin Rouge cabaret and other distractions. There is also the quiet way: when you face the Basilica, go left and visit one of the oldest churches of Paris, Saint-Pierre de Montmartre in the narrow peaceful streets, towards the Montmartre Museum and have some Montmartre wine. The balloon of André Citroën Park Lastly, have a ride on the meteorological balloon posted in the André Citroën Park, near the Seine and the metro station Javel-André Citroën, in the 15th quarter. At 150 m of altitudes, the view is magnificent. The balloon also measures the quality of the

PAris Le Louvre

Orsay Notre Dame Tour Montparnasse Tour Eiffel

Grande Bibliotheque

Seine river

How to reach By Air: Air India and Air France have daily direct flights to Paris from New Delhi. Air France also has direct flights to Paris from Mumbai and Bangalore. Jet Airways has a direct flight from Mumbai. Lufthansa and Emirates offer indirect flights. By Train: Paris is a great starting point to visit Europe in TGV, the high-speed train. London, Bruxelles, Amsterdam, Milan… are just few hours away. By Car and Bike: Rent a car and go around Paris to visit places such as Versailles. You can even rent the electric car Autolib or its bicycle equivalent, Velib.

Where to Stay Famous 5 star properties (George V, Plaza Athenée, Meurice…) are a few high end options but you can go for a less expensive and charming 3 star hotel like the Relais Medicis, on the left bank. Or a local Bed and Breakfast (AirBnb.com is convenient) may be a cheaper and also a good way to connect with the Parisians.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

ÂŠ Picardy Tourism, J. L. Aubert

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India Outbound September-October 2015

PHOTO FEATURE

Chantilly Castle A Royal Gem While its whipped cream gets the foodies drooling, Chantilly also attracts the history enthusiasts and horse lovers to its beautiful castle and gardens. Stanislas Dembinski

September-October 2015 India Outbound

photo feature

Sophie BienaimĂŠ, artistic head and horsewoman in chief of the Grandes Ecuries of Chantilly, near the Horse Museum

India Outbound September-October 2015

PHOTO FEATURE

The horse show in the Great Stables

People always go to Versailles Castle, but Chantilly, also near Paris, is arguably as fascinating. A Royal Castle once owned by the Prince Grand Condé, cousin of King Louis XIV, it harbours a unique French art collection and extraordinary Le Nôtre gardens. This horse nirvana displays some Great Stables, a horse race track, many shows and even houses a horse museum. If the gourmets know the famous Chantilly whipped cream for dessert,

history enthusiasts and horse lovers know it for its Chantilly domain. In the French Picardie, only an hour drive North from Paris, Chantilly is a gem that deserves several visits. The original castle dates back to 16th century but most of the monumental actual castle, with rounded towers and huge fortifications, was rebuilt at the end of 19th century, after destructions occurred during the French revolution era.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Eric Vigier, chef of the restaurant La Capitainerie - Les cuisines de Vatel, during a demonstration on how to make a good Chantilly cream. Assisted by Jean-Franรงois Picq and his team, Vigier welcomes a lot of gastronomes from all over the world in this place named after famous 17th century chef Vatel.

PHOTO FEATURE

The Potager des Princes (the Princes kitchen garden), an independent domain a few hundred meters away from the horse museum of Chantilly. It displays a theatre by a lake, a Living Museum of Farmyard and a splendid Gardens Museum

Many famous owners have made their mark on Chantilly. The Montmorency Family, for instance, in the 16th century, the Grand Condé in the 17th, and the Duke of Aumale in the 19th. The Duke, a famous soldier and academician, whose seven children had died, bequeathed the domain to the Institute of France, home of academicians. It is now conjointly administrated by the institute and by the Aga Khan Foundation, run by the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili

Muslims community. The Duke of Aumale, a great art collector, donated his collection, provided it would be kept in its exact display. A personal mix of various eras, where Raphael, and Renaissance, can be the (distant) neighbours of a 19th century colonial battle painting. The magnificent library, the 16th century Clouet miniatures, the delicate Watteau or Greuze scenes, or the famous Molière portrait by Mignard show Chantilly was always an artists’ oasis.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

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(Top) A setting sun lends golden hues to Chantilly Château; (Right) The famous Library of the Duke of Aumale, a great book and manuscripts collector

André Le Nôtre designed the 115 hectares geometrical French Park and its complex water structures. La Fontaine imagined some tales there. Vatel, the famous chef of the Grand Condé, was less lucky. On April 24, 1671, Vatel who was 40 years old killed himself because he thought he was dishonoured, since the fish he expected for a magnificent reception in the honour of King Louis XIV did not arrive. But the fish finally made it. The King was happy and forgave the Grand Condé for his treason during the Fronde civil war, the whole purpose of this invitation to Chantilly. Vatel was discovered dead in an apartment after the King left. Chantilly is still a prestigious destination for events such as gala dinners and weddings including an Indian wedding. The Grandes Ecuries (Great Stables) of Chantilly,

India Outbound September-October 2015

built in the 17th century, are also architectural masterpiece. They shelter a fantastic Horse museum that exhibits arts and artefacts such as sculptures, paintings, saddles from all over the world, including India. Nearby, the famous horse track welcomes international events such as the Prix de Diane, where the Indian actress Aishwarya Rai wore an elegant Spanish “senorita hat” in 2015. Don’t miss the famous horse shows created by Sophie Bienaimé, artistic head and horsewoman in chief of the Grandes Ecuries. A marvel of grace and colours. And for a restful walk, visit the Potager des Princes (the Princes kitchen garden), a delicate independent domain, located a few hundred meters from the horse museum. The kids enjoy theatre by the lake, Living Museum of Farmyard and the splendid Gardens Museum. http://www.domainedechantilly.com/en/

PHOTO FEATURE

Country Focus

Champagneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Addictive Charm A bottle of wine could mean different things to different people. But not every wine bottle popped is champagne. K V Priya

(Clockwise from top left) City Hall of ChĂ˘lons-en-Champagne; Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims, the Gothic art masterpiece; the Champagne cellars of Ruinart Winery in Reims; Champagne Festival takes place every year in the region; family wine tour gives an unforgettable experience; discover the richness of the Champagne vineyards

India Outbound September-October 2015

Country Focus

ew wines captivate us to the extent Champagne does. But then Champagne is not simply a wine; it is also a state of mind,” writes noted wine connoisseur Karen MacNeil in The Wine Bible. Not all wines qualify to be called champagne. Only wine produced at the vineyards at Champagne district earn the privilege to be called so. Remember, champagne only comes from Champagne! To unravel the bond between the globe’s most celebrated and lavish wine to the land of its origin, one needs to take a trip to Champagne, a district located about 100 miles (160 km) east of Paris in northeast France. Champagne, the district, is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name. Laws of the European Union and those of most countries reserve the term champagne exclusively for wines that come from this region. These vineyards, where the world's famous sparkling wine is produced, have been declared the UNESCO 'World Heritage' sites, joining the likes of Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. Wine tourism (also known as oenotourism or vinitourism) is designed exclusively for those who are keen to explore the world of wines. If you happen to be one among the tribe, tour operators from India and those based in France can help you explore the most envied vineyards that produce the most exquisite champagne in the world. Honestly, it is not easy to decide on how to begin exploring this Mecca of champagne drinkers! The viticultural boundaries of Champagne are legally defined. It is divided into five wine producing districts within the administrative province: Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. The towns of Reims and Épernay are the commercial centres of the area. Every region charms and captivates your heart and mind. Though Champagne, the drink, can exhilarate you all year round, the best time to experience the Champagne region is between mid-May, when the leaves come out, and mid“

October when the autumn colours are magnificent. Avoid travelling in August as most champagne makers are on their annual holiday and most champagne houses are closed. The budget, says Pramod Krishna, director general Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies and wine enthusiast, depends on whether you want do a day trip or you want to stay longer. "Even then, it could come to 100 euros for two including a night stay,” says Krishna, who is a regular to Champagne and trails other vineyards. According to him, the leanest time to visit is June and July. One can reach Reims, the centre of Champagne district, easily through air, train and road. Champagne is about a 2.5 hours’ drive from Paris. If you were to board TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse), the "high-speed train” from Paris, it will get you to Reims in 45 minutes. You can enjoy the view of the picturesque valley of the Marne River and the countryside as well. Champagne can also be easily reached from Calais, London or even Scandinavian countries. As far as accommodation goes, there is something to suit every pocket. Champagne is sorted into more than 300 vineyards called "crus", each of which is ranked based on the quality of the grapes it grows. Wine tour operators and guides will take you to various champagne houses and introduce you to the world of winemaking. Visitors to wine cellars or champagne tours should ensure that their trip also includes free tasting. Like free lunches, free tasting sessions too do not last long. All champagne companies have their own tours. Making champagne is an art and each one of them has a museum. “Here, the emphasis is on the family, on how champagne was initially bottled in cellars and how it is modernised now,” says Krishna. Some of the popular champagne brands such as Mumm, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Piper-Heidsieck and Louis Roederer are produced in Reims. But the big boy of champagne is Moet et Chandon that makes millions of bottles. There is more to Champagne than just wining and dining. The region is dotted with acrobranche (ropes) tree top

adventures, different museums, World War sites, military cemeteries, ruins, memorials, local markets, forests and bike trails. The shopping centre at Reims is best explored walking. Between 1914 and 1918 during the First World War, Reims was bombed every day for four years. To escape the bombing, citizens created underground cellars several metres under the ground. This is where wines are produced today. These cellars are full of graffiti and are reminiscent of its past. Another notable attraction at the heart of Reims is the 13th Century cathedral of Notre Dame-a great masterpiece of the Middle Age. Damaged badly due to First World War shelling, it was restored with funding from the New York based Rockfeller Foundation and reopened in 1938. If you are a history buff and want more to explore, turn to the Museum of Surrender in Reims that is frequented by many visitors. This museum is situated in a school building that was used as Eisenhower's headquarters during World War II. While a portion of the school has been used to create the museum, the actual war room where the peace treaty was signed on May 7, 1945 with old tables and chairs bearing the names of the signatories, has been duly preserved. Women business tycoons are not a new age phenomenon. One realises this when one visits Veuve headquarters. Veuve Clicquot was the woman who developed the famous champagne brand and is credited with the modernisation and mass production of wine during the 19th Century. The city also has many restaurants that boast of Michelin stars that are the hallmark of fine dining quality globally. You can also satisfy your sweet tooth at several independent shops offering hand-made pastries, chocolates and biscuits. Eager as you are to explore Champagne, one barrier that many visitors may face is the language. Everyone does not speak English and it is best advised to go for guided tours and tourist boards that undertake bookings. So, plan in advance and enjoy your champagne. Learn about it and appreciate it. Bon voyage!

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Cuisine

'Quiche Lorraine' The French gastronomy is an essential part of the culture and though it is dominated by meat, there are some delights that can be adapted for a vegetarian palate as well. Alexandre Clasens ave you noticed? When people speak about French culture, they often quote names such as ‘Molière’, ‘Baudelaire’, ‘Maupassant’, ‘Sartre’ or ‘Victor Hugo’. And rightly so! These names are huge references for the avid readers amongst us all. But let us put the record straight over here, French culture is much more than just literature, history or architecture. Food is a lifestyle in France and there is no doubt that its cuisine belongs to the French heritage as much as those writers, painters or politicians. People in France are very passionate about their food, they breathe food. It would be a good advice to never tell a French person that his/her food is bland and tasteless. We may have mastered the art of spices and use the fire of the chillies in perfect balance in India. But in France, they have mastered the art of making sauces, using herbs in dishes, and they have thought the world how to cook ingredients to perfection, they have studied for centuries how to balance a dish and its flavours. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that France basically started the food fashion all over the world. And not just over this decade, it started centuries ago. Today I would like you to discover a very simple dish to make. In fact, it is so simple and so tasty that you may be cooking it more often than you think in your Indian kitchen. Kids absolutely love it and I have no doubt that you may add your own Indian touch to it. The dish we are discovering today is called “Quiche Lorraine”. Although ‘quiche’ is now a classic dish of the French cuisine, the ‘quiche’ actually originated in Germany, in the medieval kingdom

India Outbound September-October 2015

of Lothringen, under German rule. The region was later renamed “la Lorraine” by the French after its conquest. So the origin of the word ‘quiche’ is from the German word ‘Kuchen’. The latter means cake. The original ‘quiche Lorraine’ was an open pie with a filling consisting of an egg and cream custard with smoked bacon. It was only later that cheese was added to the quiche Lorraine. The bottom crust was originally made from bread dough, but that has long since evolved into a short-crust or puff pastry crust. Of course, with time and regional influences many variation of the dish were created. Add onions and you have quiche Alsacienne. Add tomatoes and you have a quiche Provençale, add spinach for a ‘quiche florentine’. The good part of a quiche is that it can be eaten warm, or cold (after cooking, of course). It can be served as a starter or main course. You have the freedom to do what you want with it. You want to serve it as a main dish, go ahead. You want to make mini versions for starters? Your guests will likely devour them at the first sight of it. Making a quiche, is easy and you can add your own touch or favourite ingredients. We understand that some of you may not want to use bacon bits because of religious beliefs or because of vegetarianism. No problem at all, ‘Quiche’ can please just anybody and it can be cooked as you see fit. Working mothers will particularly appreciate how easy and fast a quiche is cooked. In order to please anybody, I’ll share the quiche recipe we often cook at home.

Cuisine

1 Method:

Line your puff pastry into a shallow tart pan/tray and shape it around it. With a fork, poke some holes in the base in order to avoid sogginess. Put aside in the fridge whilst you make the rest of the preparation.

In a pan, heat some oil. Add a chopped onion and cook till translucent. Cook your spinach/ broccoli till all the water has evaporated. Add grated garlic and cook till fragrant. Keep aside until cool.

In the meanwhile, beat your eggs* properly and add 200 ml fresh cream. Add Nutmeg, pepper and salt to taste. Put aside. *If you are vegetarian, you can substitute the egg mixture as follows. Use half a cup full-fat milk, half a cup fresh cream and one cup crumbled paneer. Then add nutmeg pepper and salt to taste.

Grate your cheese if you haven’t bought it already grated and keep aside.

Take your Tart tray out of the fridge, add your cold wilted spinach/ or broccoli, spread your cheese evenly around your quiche and lastly pour your egg mixture into it. Simply bake this for 20 to 25 minutes in a preheated oven at 200 degrees.

2 Let’s discover what the needed ingredients are:

•

3 eggs

•

200 ml fresh cream

•

Nutmeg to taste

•

Pepper to taste

•

Pinch of salt

•

One clove of garlic

•

500 grams of your chosen vegetable (goes best with broccoli or spinach or even mushrooms)

•

A sheet of puff pastry / shortcrust pastry

•

A splash of oil

•

200 grams of cheese (emmental/gruyere/ cheddar)

•

One chopped onion

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Good to Know

For the Indian Taste-Buds! While French cuisine may muse the travellers at end, Indians crave for the taste of home food occasionally. Paris offers a fairly wide range of Indian dining to satisfy their taste buds.

Annapurna The oldest Indian restaurant in Paris, Annapurna offers a sumptuous variety. A favourite of celebrities and businesspersons alike, it boasts of excellent tandoori items among its menu. 32, rue de Berri, 75008 Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 63 91 56 Metro: St. Philippe du Roule (Line 9) http://www.restaurant-annapurna.com/

Gandhi Ji’s Jodhpur Palace The decor is bright, luminous and spacey, like straight out of Rajasthan. Arches and painted glasswork on the ceiling give it a resemblance to typical Indian palace of the yesteryears. The well-spaced tables provide privacy for a quiet conversation. It excels in meticulously prepared food that avoids the richness of cream and tastes like home-cooked fare. 42 ALLEE VIVALDI/16 RUE HENARD, PARIS 12 +33 1 43 40 72 46 Metro: Dugommier, Montagallet http://www.jodhpurpalace.com/

Ideally located next to a shopping mall and an office area, it attracts a large crowd during the lunch hour. To underline the theme, their china is embossed with Gandhiji’s famous spinning wheel, the symbol of his simple life of selfsufficiency. Lamb Biryani, one of its signature dishes, dotted with raisins and nuts and spices that enhance its traditional colour and flavour melts in the mouth. The owner personally supervises the tables, greeting all the customers warmly to make them feel at home. 12, RUE LA FAYETTE, PARIS 9 +33 1 45 23 21 52 Métro : Chaussee d’Antin http://www.restaurant-indien-gandhijis.fr/gandhi-jis-indian-restaurant-in-paris/

Maharajah At the very busy St Germain Boulevard, Maharajah is a very popular Indian restaurant. Bright and well-lit, the ambience lets you lunch with Maharajahs gazing down from their portraits on the wall. Although a bit on the expensive side with no no freebies such as papadums, onion and green chilli salad, it will bring you back for another bite of its flavourful, soft, melt-in-themouth Shahi Seekh Kebabs. 72 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 5 Tel: +33 1 43 54 26 07 Métro : Maubert-Mutualité/St.Michel/Cluny http://www.maharajah.fr/en/

India Outbound September-October 2015

Good to Know

New Balal Very traditional in decor, the restaurant is located near the Galeries Lafayette. With authentic Indian taste, dishes are made mild, spicy or hot as specified by the customer. Some of the dishes worth trying are Palak Paneer, Bhindi Masala, Mix Veg and Chicken Jalfrezi. The extent of their friendliness and hospitality is reflected in the fact that the staff goes extra mile to even cook dishes that are not in the menu. 25 Rue Taitbout, 75009 Paris, France Tel:+33 1 42 46 53 67 Metro: Chausée D’Antin Lafayette (Line 7, 9)/ Trinité D’Estinne D’Orves (Line 1) http://www.newbalal.com/

Ratn

Santoor

The restaurant has a vast choice in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and for the seafood aficionados, the lobster is worth the waiting time. To satisfy the taste buds of the foodies, the menu is changed twice a year. For Indian dessert lovers, the restaurant boasts of 13 desserts on its menu! The warm farewell of mango liqueur will bring you back to the place again!.

Tasteful and elegant, Santoor is popular with the Indian tourists. The menu is vast and varied and you’re spoilt for choice with the fish and beef preparations. The Mixed Daal made from four different lentils is a pleasant change from the ordinary. Its signature dishes include Curried Fish, Lamb Vindaloo and Saag. Closed on Sunday lunch.

9 RUE DE LA TRÉMOILLE PARIS 8 Tel: +33 1 40 70 01 09 Métro: Alma-Marceau http://restaurantratn.com/

30 RUE MARBEUF, PARIS 8 +33 1 42 56 33 18 Métro : Franklin Roosvelt

Saravana Bhavan Fiercely beloved and forever packed, South India’s vegetarian darling is a hit in Paris as well. The menu zigzags through South India, Punjab and Indian Chinese—zero in on the excellent dosa and you’ll come away contented. 170 Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis, 10 Arrondissement Tel: +33 1 4005 0101 Metro: Gare du Nord www.saravanabhavan.com

Little India in Paris Amidst French culture and language, Indians may feel at home in the streets of Gare du Nord, amidst traditional food, language and culture. With Indian diaspora spread across the world, Paris is no exception. Primarily inhabited by the Tamils - mostly those that came to France after accession of the French colonial territory of Puducherry to India, it is difficult to mark the boundaries where the Indian Quarter begins at Gare du Nord. However, one can tell through the sweet aroma of Indian restaurants in the neighbourhood. As the Tamils dominate the area, South Indian restaurants serving authentic savories such as idli, vada, dosa and uttapam lead the menu. Even the shops and grocery stores surrounding the street take you back to India through traditional saris or jewelries on display or the very Indian paan. While outside the billboards read in English or Tamil, inside the grocery stores one can easily find wide variety of Indian products such as spices, Parachute coconut hair oil, Johnson’s baby shampoo, frozen samosas and desserts such as kulfi, that may find a straight reference in the memory and leave a nostalgia.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

FROM THE COCKPIT

Virgin Atlantic

Expanding strategically in Indian skies Virgin Atlantic has expanded its codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, increasing the options for growing traffic on India-UK route. With this deal, the airline is offering new options to four Indian cities.

n August 15, Virgin Atlantic twittered, “Get more out of India! Our Jet Airways codeshare opens up new destinations

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India Outbound September-October 2015

beyond Delhi”! Virgin Atlantic has expanded codeshare deal with Jet Airways. With this deal, it will be offering new travel options to four Indian cities.

Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to purchase tickets from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, connecting between Virgin Atlantic’s Delhi-London Heathrow service

FROM THE COCKPIT

and Indian domestic codeshare flights operated by Jet Airways. The extended agreement will offer customers the convenience of having all of their boarding passes issued at the originating airport, whether their travel originates in India or the UK. Nick Parker, head of India and Middle East at Virgin Atlantic says, “It is really important to us to be able to offer our customers convenient one-stop options to get to where they want to fly. As part of our commitment to the Indian market we already operate a successful codeshare with Jet Airways between Mumbai and London and we are delighted that our partnership is allowing us to open up other popular destinations in India for our customers.” Raj Sivakumar, chief commercial officer, Jet Airways, says, “We are indeed pleased to offer enhanced and seamless connectivity to Virgin Atlantic guests by offering seamless travel through this expanded

codeshare arrangement, providing our guests more options in the growing India-UK route.” At the end of 2014, Virgin announced plans to grow to record profit levels by 2018. The airline plans on building onto its existing two-year recovery plan, which is on target to deliver an annual profit by the end of this year. Now to position its business for long-term success, Virgin Atlantic will be upgrading its network by cutting routes, as well as launching new ones, or launching additional flights to certain profitable routes. Additionally, in July, Virgin Atlantic celebrated 15 years of delighting customers from Delhi to London and beyond! Bringing desperately needed competition to the route, since its launch on July 5, 2000, the airline has now flown over 1.8 million passengers and 100,000 tonnes of cargo. Recently the airline became the first European carrier to fly the brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the

Delhi-London route with the latest cabin enhancements and innovations including the Wander Wall, a new social space in Premium Economy and Wi-Fi connectivity onboard. Nick Parker says, “The Delhi route is hugely popular among Indian customers who love the unique, personalised experience as we connect them to London and 219 destinations in the US including New York. We continue to put the customer at the heart of everything we do. Building on an 11 pc improvement in customer satisfaction ratings, we will be further investing in customer experience over the next three years as we continue to innovate ways to improve customers’ journeys more exciting and magical.” Virgin Atlantic operates a daily service between Delhi and London Heathrow on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline currently has six Boeing 787-9s in its fleet and is expecting 11 more by the end of 2018.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Aviation Brief Cathay Pacific & Dragonair offer discounted fares Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair have introduced ‘The Freedom to Fly’ for Premium Economy passengers, wherein the airlines are offering up to five per cent discount on tickets on routes from India to Hong Kong and to destinations in North America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Bookings can be made this month for travel between September 1 and November 30, 2015. Rajesh Menon, Regional Sales & Marketing Manager - South Asia, Cathay Pacific, said, “Our Premium Economy Class is an enhancement to the Economy Class experience – offering passengers more space and comfort. It has been very well received by our passengers. We are pleased to be able to offer our Indian passengers who need to plan in advance the opportunity to book a few months ahead of their travel date and still enjoy great deals.”

AI Express starts direct flight between Varanasi and Sharjah Air India’s budget arm, Air India Express, has started new direct flight between Varanasi and Sharjah. It has deployed a 186-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft which will depart from Varanasi thrice a week at 1700 hours and arrive Sharjah at 1930 hours. On the return leg, the flight will depart from Sharjah at 1050 hours and will arrive in Varanasi at 1600 hours. The non-stop flight will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Air India also introduced a hub and spoke service from Varanasi, which will offer convenient links to many international destinations, by connecting the passengers to/from Air India flights in Delhi. With this, Air India will offer convenient links to many international destinations in the Gulf countries, Jeddah, Moscow, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong by connecting the passengers to/from Air India flights.

Air China to commence Beijing-Mumbai nonstop Air China will commence BeijingMumbai nonstop service on October 25, 2015, sparing passengers departing from Beijing for Mumbai the trouble of having to make a detour by transferring in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok and make it much easier to get to the "Gate of India". The flight takes about seven hours. The new Beijing-Mumbai service will go a way towards meeting the ever increasing market demand for air services in the fields of economy, trade, tourism, culture and people exchanges. The service will increase the Asian-Pacific destinations Air China serves to 17, and bring the number of nonstop flights between China and India up to eight a week.

India Outbound September-October 2015

Aviation Brief Graffiti artist brightens up wall at Frankfurt airport Graffiti is not usually a welcome addition to buildings and pavements, but Frankfurt Airport has made an exception by calling in a celebrated artist Helge 'Bomber' Steinmann to use it to decorate one of its most viewed sites – a 320 metre long wall next to the bus station by Terminal 1. Among the 15m high x 20m wide images on his 'canvass' are the Römer city hall and Alte Oper (Old Opera) concert hall. He also pays homage to the city's football team, Eintracht Frankfurt, and the zoo. According to the gateway, "the somewhat unusual piece of artwork culminates in a depiction of Frankfurt Airport at the eastern end of the mural". Operator, Fraport AG, views the mural as a celebration of the city of Frankfurt, claiming that guests from all over the globe need take only one look at the mural to immediately recognise that they have arrived in the city.

AirAsia to connect KL with Goa The low-cost Malaysian carrier AirAsia will operate three weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Goa’s Dabolim Airport. The route will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. As with all AirAsia flights, the Goa service will be operated using a 180-seat, all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft. Goa will become the second route to India launched by AirAsia in 2015, following the KL-Visakhapatnam service, which started in March. And the LCC will continue to expand in South Asia’s resort destinations in October 2015 with the start of flights from KL to the Maldives.

PATA names Turkish Airlines as its aviation member Turkish Airlines has joined the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as an aviation member. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, said, “As a PATA member, Turkish Airlines now has the ability to connect with our extensive network of members and receive our in-depth research and insights into the Asia Pacific region, thus allowing them to stay competitive in capturing market share of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific market.” Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines, said, “Turkish Airlines’ membership to PATA will ensure that our company, today flying to more countries than any other airline in the world, will grow day by day in its ability to realise the most of the potential in the Asia Pacific market. I believe, as a PATA member, we will now have a better chance to build a stronger connection and a direct interaction with the stakeholders in Asia Pacific to address the challenges faced by growing companies like us.”

SriLankan Airlines adds three flights on Chennai-Colombo route SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, in a time span of four months has increased three new frequencies on the Chennai – Colombo route. Chennai is one of the fastest growing markets for SriLankan and enhancement of frequencies will help the airline to capitalise on the increase in passenger traffic from the region. With these additions, the total frequency of flights between Sri Lanka and India went up to 89 flights per week. The additional frequencies will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from Chennai. Each flight will feature an array of bespoke services, world-class in-flight entertainment including a combination of Tamil language programmes and signature SriLankan Airlines hospitality services.

India Outbound September-October 2015

Strategy

Bird’s Eye View

of Philadelphia The cradle of modern United States, Philadelphia, is slowly emerging as a destination for the Indian travellers, located midway between New York and Washington. A new observation deck is an added plus. Ranvir Nayar

n 2014, Montparnasse56, the Parisian group specialising in owning and operating observation decks across the world, made its latest acquisition, the One Liberty Observation Deck in Philadelphia in the United States. One Liberty Observation Deck will be Philadelphia’s first major observation deck attraction, even though there is a small observation deck at the top of Philadelphia’s City Hall. The Observation Deck will be located on the 57th floor

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India Outbound September-October 2015

of Philadelphia’s iconic One Liberty skyscraper, 883 feet or 269 meters above street level and will not only provide sweeping views of the Philadelphia skyline but also a one-of-a-kind vantage point to take in the continuing evolution of the city known as the birthplace of the United States as a nation. The One Liberty Observation Deck is set to open in the autumn of this year and will welcome guests from all over the world into the peak of One Liberty Place, the iconic Helmut Jahn-

designed skyscraper. As the tallest standing attraction within Philadelphia, the location will present a new view of Philly From The Top. The observatory will offer panoramic views of the cityscape, interactive technology designed to enhance and expand upon pointsof-interest and artistic installations portraying the story of Philadelphia’s past, present and future. “Philadelphia is quite literally reaching new heights as a world-class destination,” said Jack Ferguson,

Strategy

President & CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The introduction of One Liberty Observation Deck exemplifies this and will offer a first-hand view of the evolution of Philadelphia for the many visitors and convention attendees we bring in from across the world.” Echoing the support of the project, Meryl Levitz, President & CEO of Visit Philadelphia remarked, “This is an exciting and significant time for Philadelphia, and the launch of One Liberty Observation Deck is a key addition to the visitor experience.” she continued, “Shortly after the World Meeting of Families and papal visit in September, the city will welcome the Forbes Under 30 Summit in October and the 2016 Democratic National Convention next summer. As Philadelphia prepares to garner the world’s attention, the One Liberty Observation Deck will provide one of the best seats in the house.” “As Philadelphia continues to expand and thrive, it became quite clear that it was the ideal location to continue our U.S. expansion” said Patrick Abisseror, CEO of Montparnasse 56 Group. “This city is rich in history, culture, art, diversity and entertainment. We are excited to bring a new experience to Philadelphia, as it has long been on our radar as a destination that offers such a vast visitor experience, but nowhere to go to take it all in. We truly believe that One Liberty Observation Deck will enhance the fabric of Center City and afford patrons a new and exciting way to view this modern renaissance city.” Evan Evans, General Manager of One Liberty Observation Deck added “Philly has amazing stories to tell to locals and visitors alike. Sharing it from 883 feet above the city is simply spectacular!” The creative team behind the project sought to include those iconic Philadelphia stories in the brand name, logo and full creative package. Reflecting on the intrinsic patriotism and historical significance of the City, while acknowledging the gleaming modern and contemporary design of One Liberty Place the final brand package marries the old with the new and fully showcases the eclectic nature of the City and the project.

(Top) Enjoying a horse cart ride near the Independence Hall in Philadelphia; (Bottom left) One Liberty Place dominates the skyline here; (Bottom right) The Rocky Statue, created for the movie Rocky III, is now a real-life monument to a celluloid hero

Location One Liberty Observation Deck is located on the 57th floor of Philadelphia’s One Liberty skyscraper. The main entrance will be from the south side of Market Street between 15th and 16th streets. Visitors will enter on the first floor, take an escalator or elevator to the second floor for ticketing, and then take an elevator to the observation deck. One Liberty is located across the street from the main commuter transportation hub (Suburban Station) which provides easy access from regional rail trains and subway service, as well as a one-stop connection to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station. Operating Hours Regular operating hours are not

finalized, but will be approximately 9 am until 11 pm seven days a week. A full holiday schedule has not yet been announced. One Liberty Observation Deck will provide visitors will opportunities to view Philadelphia from the top during the day, at sunset, and late into the night. This will be a significant new evening attraction for Philadelphia visitors. Visitors are recommended to plan for 45-60 minutes for the complete experience. Admission Pricing Adult $19 Youth (3-11) $14 Fast Pass $38 Adult, $28 Youth Sun & Stars (2 visits in 48 hrs) $26 Adult, $20 Youth

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Strategy

Truly Unique Experience Diane Meglino is the group sales manager responsible for all group sales including tour and travel for adults and student groups, all FIT and OTA sales.

Diane C Meglino Sales Manager, One Liberty Observation Deck

The Observation Deck will be a major attraction and strong motivator for visitors to Philadelphia. Domestic and international visitors will be a very important market 44

India Outbound September-October 2015

What are the USP’s of the Tower? • One Liberty Observation Deck will be Philadelphia’s first and only worldclass observation deck, and will be the newest attraction for 2015 and 2016. • Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s city center, the attraction will provide 360-degree views of Philadelphia as well as engaging and creative exhibits and visitor experiences that tell the stories of Philadelphia’s history, culture, music, sports, and neighborhoods. • The Observation Deck will be open late which is a major selling point in Philadelphia as there is a lack of evening and nighttime attractions, especially for families. • One Liberty Observation Deck is connected to the shops at Liberty Place with 42 retail stores, restaurants, and a good court.

major attraction and strong motivator for visitors to Philadelphia. Domestic and international visitors will be a very important market. We are currently working on attendance goals for each market.

Will it be a simple observatory or can this also be used for other activities? One Liberty Observation Deck will offer a truly unique experience and perspective of Philadelphia with 360degree views. The Observation Deck will also have a number of engaging and creative exhibits that use photos, video, music, interactive technology, and designed environment to tell the stories of Philadelphia. The experience will begin on the first floor when people enter the building and continue on the second floor where the ticketing, security, and store will be located. The other exhibits will be on the 57th floor.

What is the strategy to attract Indian Visitors? I cannot say that we have a strategy specifically for Indian visitors at this time. We will work with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau to integrate our product into their Indian travel trade contacts.

What part of the total tourism traffic to Philadelphia should the Tower be able to capture? The Observation Deck will be a

What other opportunities are you scouting for and in which markets? We are targetting the following markets for 2016: • Regional residents – people who live in Philadelphia and the surrounding region • U.S. visitors to Philadelphia, specifically from the Northeast United States; Philadelphia is within a four-hour drive of 40% of the U.S. population, including New York City • U.S. group tours, including schools, students, and adults • International groups and individuals

Is Philadelphia going to be an Iconic destination for visitors? Based on 2014 data from the U.S. government, Philadelphia was the 15thmost visited U.S. destination for overseas visitors, with 620,000 visitors. This data is for overseas visitors and does not include Canada or Mexico. Philadelphia’s popularity among overseas visitors has increased in the past decade. Major international conventions contribute significantly to overseas visitation.

Label Idée Pub – RC Seine 75 B 176 – Crédits photos : Shutterstock

The best view to fall in love with Paris...

Montparnasse Observatory Two floors of visit / panoramic terrace Everyday from 9.30 am to 11.30 pm* www.tourmontparnasse56.com +33 (0)1 45 38 52 56 M Métro Montparnasse-Bienvenüe * last lift up at 11 pm

B2B Brief

Tourism Toronto

announces new president and CEO

Tourism Toronto has been appointed Johanne Bélanger as President and CEO, with effect from September 1, 2015. Bélanger was President of Freeman Audio Visual Canada for the past 10 years. She also served as Chair of Tourism Toronto’s Board of Directors from 2012 to 2014 and has been a member of the Board since 2009. In 2014 she was inducted into the Meetings and Incentive Travel Hall of Fame and has also served as President of the Board of Directors for InfoComm International, the trade association representing the professional audio visual and information communications industries worldwide. “We are building on a successful foundation and now have the opportunity to connect the tourism business to more partners and related sectors of the economy and drive growth in the years ahead,” Bélanger said.

Tourism New Zealand, Facebook create ‘The Kombi Diaries’

Tourism New Zealand (NZ) has entered into a global partnership with Facebook to attract visitors. ‘The Kombi Diaries’, a series of five short films following a couple's trip around NZ is the result of a direct collaboration between Tourism NZ and Facebook's in house creative team, developing integrated creative to work across their platforms of Instagram and Facebook. The global digital campaign featuring The Kombi Diaries will feature across nine markets—Australia, US, Germany, UK, Japan, India, Indonesia, Brazil and France. This campaign was launched on Facebook in India yesterday targeting the key cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. The creative collaboration brought together people who traditionally would never work together to build story-driven content and Facebook describes the result as 'world class'.

Philippines Tourism conducts multi-city roadshow

Department of Tourism, Philippines recently concluded its fourcity roadshow for trade partners based in Nagpur, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Delhi on July 30, August 3, 5 and 7, 2015, respectively. The aggressive marketing drive was to promote Philippines’ existing and new tourism product offerings. The destination training roadshow saw participation of over 300 key travel and tour operators, MICE and up-market leisure operators. The roadshows included interactive B2B sessions, education programs and workshops to aid trade members in planning itineraries and customer queries in these cities. To emphasize and educate the trade partners, the Philippines Specialist Program (PSP), builds on the theme of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” to help travel agents understand and therefore, promote Philippines as an ideal tourist destination.

India Outbound September-October 2015

B2B Brief

270 students graduate from Thomas Cook India academy

Thomas Cook India‘s Centre of Learning has held a graduation ceremony for 270 students. The fourth such ceremony, which was held at the Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai recently, was overseen by Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia’s country Manager for India & Gulf, Shibani Phadkar, Thomas Cook’s senior vice president of outbound leisure travel, and Mona Cheriyan, Thomas Cook India’s head of human resources. The Centre of Learning Convocation Ceremony honoured students who had successfully completed the Travel Professional Program, a postgraduate course in Travel & Tourism Management, the Certificate Course in World Tour Management, and the IATA Certificate Course in Travel & Tourism Management.

Dubai Cruise Tourism to conduct roadshow in tier-2 cities

Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) led a Cruise Tourism delegation to conduct a fourcity roadshow in India in Bengaluru on August 3, Chennai on August 5, and Delhi on August 7. Jamal Humaid Al Falasi, Director, Dubai Cruise Tourism, said, “We have witnessed demand for outbound travel from Tier-II cities in Indian market. Therefore, we are planning to conduct roadshows in these markets next year. Besides Bengalaru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi, we may look at Goa, Hyderabad or Kochi. We are still studying the opportunities in the Indian market and it is too early to decide.” The Cruise Tourism delegation comprises cruise brands namely MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.

Cox & Kings renews alliance with InterGlobe Technology Cox & Kings has renewed its alliance with InterGlobe Technology Quotient, a strategic business unit of InterGlobe Enterprises, for accessing its Galileo platform. The agreement enables it to continue to use Galileo Platform to distribute, manage and book travel management services for its customers. It enables Cox and Kings to Galileo innovative tools as Smartpoint, Travelport Rooms and More and Universal API to increase their efficiency. Cox & Kings Head, Relationships Karan Anand said, “Travelport's Galileo Platform has always been an important GDS provider for us and we are confident that as a result of this new agreement, we will continue to receive impressive scope and quality of content coupled with leading technology solutions, beneficial for us and our customers.”

SAT to launch

‘Chalo South Africa’ marketplace South African Tourism (SAT) will conduct a soft launch of marketplace ‘Chalo South Africa’ on its website in midSeptember this year. This will enable travel agents from India to upload their packages on the SAT website. “The ‘Chalo South Africa’ marketplace will provide a platform to all our South Africa specialists on selling the rainbow nation to the general Indian traveller. We can guarantee the quality of the Indian operator the traveller is buying from,” said Hanneli Slabber, Country Head - India, SAT. The Chalo South Africa platform will also help the tourism board in understanding what their buyers’ want. “We can also know what people are searching for from a buyers’ perspective, what are people buying and what is missing. People will also have the opportunity to ask for extra stuff,” she added.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Promenade

London's Colourful Summer Summers come as a boon to both the locals and the tourists as London celebrates the sunshine with open-air events, fairs and festivals. Laura Martinez

India Outbound September-October 2015

Promenade

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Promenade

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leaving Buckingham Palace

isited by thousands of tourist all-year round, London embraces a special mood during summer, when one can enjoy its countless open-air events, terraces and promenades during the long days of the season. Explore London under a different sky, have a pint, indulge yourself in shopping and play royalsspotting, but don't forget to bring an umbrella... you never know with British rainy weather!

Discover London on foot During July and August, one of the key pleasures in London is being able cover it on foot without being cold or having days shortened by early sunsets. If you are not in the mood for walking, do not hesitate to take one of the famous double-decker red buses or, if you prefer, the very well connected tube net that will take you to any point in the city. From any emblematic landmark on the map, or from your own hotel, you can create innumerable walking tours or taking public transport to enjoy

India Outbound September-October 2015

monuments, historic buildings, streets and hideouts that the city offers. As Hyde Park is well located and surrounded by key attractions with numerous activities such as enjoying a morning walk, glancing at Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain or even riding a horse, to entertain yourself. This park is also home to Serpentine River and its beach Lido that welcomes the Londoners and tourists too have a safe swim and sunbath during summers. The Lido is open from 10 to 6 during the day every summer and offers to rent sun loungers for the whole day. Something curious not to miss while walking through the park is the Speakers Corner, one of the most popular places for free speech in the world. Existing since 1872, you can publicly make a speech as long as the content is not against the law. From Hyde Park Corner, a nice walk down the Constitution Hill directs you to Buckingham Palace, residence of the Queen of England. Be prepared for a hustle-bustle surrounding the palace as scholars pay a visit during summers. Afternoon is a good time to stopover, to

avoid the crowd. An important fact to take into account is that during summer months, the guards change every day that encompasses colourful spectacle and British pageantry. It suffices to check on the internet to ensure it does take place as expected and be in advance to assure a good spot. When you are in front of the palace, don't forget to pay attention to its roof: if a flag is waving, the Queen is home! Continuing down to the river, a short stroll along the Birdcage Walk or through the magnificent St. James Park leads to one of the marvels in London: the Palace of Westminster. Meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it is commonly known as the Houses of Parliament. West of it lies Westminster Abbey, a Gothic abbey church where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married. From across the bridge you get an impeccable view of this colossal building together with the Big Ben, the mythical clock that experienced numerous special effects in films like Peter Pan, Mary Poppins or the world famous series Doctor Who. If you have some time and want

Promenade

to take a rest, continue the walk to reach London Eye, from where you will be able to admire the beauty of the British capital, especially on a clear day. Another activity you will relish at this time of year, and even more if you come with kids, is a nice boat trip on the Thames. From the Westminster pier you may notice numerous boat companies that offer this service with a range of different tours: circular tours, up to the Tower of London and back or even to Greenwich, the neighborhood where the Greenwich meridian is located. Get down the boat to experience the unique sensation of placing a foot on each side of the hemisphere for a few minutes! If you take the spacious Whitehall street from Westminster, you will be walking towards another non-fiction celebrity's home: Downing Street Prime Minister's residence. Tall fences and guards wearing traditional suits protect the entrance so you won't get too close, but it is worth discovering where the leader lives anyway. Going further you'll find Trafalgar Square, the most famous square in the city that besides hosting a variety of events houses the National Gallery. The museum shows paintings from 13th to 19th centuries and is open almost every day of the year, free of charge. Located at a close proximity is another big hit of London: Piccadilly Circus. Be ready to discover Europe's Times Square and experience a fun moment trying to capture the ideal picture with the famous billboards! Once there, two different parts of the city open up. On one side you could enter a combination of narrow streets and big avenues to the Soho neighbourhood, very in style right now. With countless English pubs to sit and savour pints or typical Fish and Chips, it also offers a wide range of cafĂŠs and restaurants of all kinds. Soho is also the area where all major theaters are located, therefore it is advisable to book in advance a musical show or play for one of your nights in town. If you are lucky enough you could maybe coincide with some celebrity in Leicester Square, as it is here that some film premieres are held.

(Top) View of the Thames River and the House of Parliament from the top of the London Eye; (below) Greenwich student accommodation in London

Shopping Time We all know that going shopping in summers is more fun than during winters: we don't carry our coats, trying on clothes is easier and hopping from shop to shop is a pleasure. So, if you take Regent Street from Piccadilly you will enter the dream world of any shopaholic: this long street offers a huge selection of the best high-street boutiques on both sidewalks. You will find here some of the world's first brands for clothes, fashion accessories or even food, and if you continue until Oxford Circus, you will walk on a perpendicular road among famous department stores such as Marks & Spencer (do not miss the food hall) or Selfridges Shopping Center, where you will find anything from home decor, state of the art technology and

of course, all the fashion you want. For a youthful style, two mandatory stops on the route are Topshop and Primark, temples of design at more than affordable prices. If you want to take a break from big avenues, try to find the adorable Carnaby Street, a charming and colorful pedestrian street perpendicular to Regent Street and flanked by typical British brick wall buildings. This shopping area can keep you busy for a while, but if you are looking for supreme luxury, take the tube to Knightsbridge and discover Harrods, the famous shopping center whose former owner was Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of the late Dodi Al-Fayed, Diana of Wales' partner at the time they both were killed in a tragic traffic accident under the Pont de l'Alma bridge in Paris.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Promenade

(Left) Buckingham Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in London; (right) Oxford Street offers an unrivalled shopping experience

This department store is a complete opulence: from the magnificent food hall offering the best dishes of world's gastronomy to the small Parisian tearoom LadurĂŠe, to the clothing floors or cosmetics areas carrying the first luxury brands to meet the most demanding client's needs. Even if you don't buy anything, take a look at the souvenir shop. You will find there a variety of gifts with Harrods logos that will make excellent presents for your relatives back home. Weekend Markets Without any doubt, the stars of the London summers are markets. Even if they can, of course, be visited during winter, wandering through the streets and stalls without rain and cold is a luxury in the capital city. Saturday mornings are glorious for Portobello market. Maybe the name rings a bell, as it forms the backdrop many films. Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson landed here in their flying bed in Disney's 1971 film Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but the market is also located in Notting Hill, the place where lovely Julia Roberts met a handsome Hugh Grant in the romantic comedy of the same name. This amusing market mixes regular and second-hand shops, crafts (toys, accessories, gadgets), music corners

India Outbound September-October 2015

and nice little cafĂŠs. Explore its streets full of colourful faĂ§ades and unique shops, and lose yourself to the festive atmosphere of the market. Sunday, on the other hand, is the best day to visit Camden. When you arrive at this alternative neighborhood by metro, the first thing you observe is a wide avenue with peculiar building fronts where giant objects hang: shoes, bikes or even dragons! It is jaw dropping. Explore the street to find the first market along the road Camden Market, and go further down the road to notice Camden Lock bridge. Next to that is the stables market, famous for its old stables that are now used as small charming shops where sellers offer souvenirs, clothes and antiques. There is something for everyone here, even if you find a splurge of punk style due to the alternative nature of the area. While walking around you can also find horse statues strategically placed. As in most markets, there is also an informal food area where you can grab a paper or plastic tray and fill it up with delicious food of your choice to eat along other people at the common tables. Before you leave, do not miss Cyberdog, a very peculiar shop with dancers and fluorescent clothing! While heading back, enjoy a nice promenade around the canals that cross the neighborhood, which is in fact located

on the London canal network. If you are up for a challenge, further explore and try to find the houses of singer Amy Winehouse, actress Gwyneth Paltrow or even Charles Dickens! Museums British rainy weather is widely known, and because you are likely to experience it too, a good alternative for those days is visiting any of the numerous museums in the city. The choice is overwhelming, but among the best museums are the British Museum, one of the oldest in the world, the Victoria and Albert Museum, showing sculptures and ceramics among others, or the Natural History Museum, where you can marvel at around 70 million plants, fossils, rocks and incredible dinosaur's skeletons. Another very interesting option is the Tate Modern, a building of industrial architecture that holds modern art pieces that will leave you speechless. One of the best options to spend a fun afternoon, especially with children, is the Madame Tussauds museum to see your favourite celebrities made of wax as if they were real: from singers or actors to superheroes and even world leaders, historic personalities or the loved Queen of England herself. Of course, there are plenty of other museums of any kind, so the ideal thing

Promenade

(Top) Tower Bridge is an iconic symbol of London; (below) Kensington Gardens, Albert Memorial

is to take a look at a complete guide and chose your favorite ones! Concerts and open-air events However, if nice weather is predicted, the best way to enjoy both days and nights in London are the events reserved especially for summer. During June, Queen's Birthday Parade is one of the exciting activities to indulge into. Although it is not her actual birthday, you can enjoy marching maneuvers and royalty spotting while two hundred horses flank the Queen from Buckingham Palace. For sports enthusiasts who are in in London late June-early July, Wimbledon is a must-see. Although it needs no introduction, make sure you get your tickets well in advance. If you are more of a night person, the Lovebox festival is made for you. From Djs, electronic music or big stars like Snoop Dog or Cypress Hill this year, the Lovebox at Victoria Park is the perfect

How to reach By air: The six international airports in London are well connected to the cities around the world. By train: The underground tube is the quickest (but most expensive) form of public transport; trains run from 5.30am to 12.30am (7am to 11.30pm Sunday). Selected lines run all night Friday and Saturday. By road: Buses are slow-going but cheap. Large

excuse to party. You can also rent a bike in London at any time, but during August the RideLondon event takes the streets, banishing buses, cars and motorbikes for a day and enabling cyclists of all ages and levels to cycle the roads along a 100-mile route. For a more quiet activity, enjoy a gorgeous London summer night watching a movie under the stars as several art and film companies offer this possibility all around London, you just need to check the programme and choose your location and film. Leaving the best for the end, the must see while in London in August is undoubtedly the Notting Hill Carnival. A two-day explosion of music, color and dance, this spectacle is Europe's biggest street festival and it is very well prepared, including bars, with fun activities for kids and safety indications and staff all over the parade. number of night buses. Taxis are available everywhere and round-the-clock. Hail in the street (black cabs) or book ahead (mini-cabs).

Where to stay Finding the right accommodation is integral to your London experience, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no shortage of choice. The city has some stunning hotels and many

Great Britain Manchester Capital Cities

Birmingham London Bristol

Dover

are experiences in their own right, with numerous distinctive, luxurious boutique hotels on offer, dotted around town centre, from the historic heart of the City to leafy Richmond, and feature mood-lit pools, free-standing baths, Victorian fittings and cocktails bars. Rooms in popular hotels often need to be booked well in advance. There's a bombardment of cheap, chain motels on the Wellington Road.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Promenade

India Outbound September-October 2015

Promenade

Poznan

Cradle of Polish Nation Poznan was one of the first capitals of Poland and enjoys a beautiful Middle-Age and Renaissance Old Town, with an animated nightlife. Closer to Berlin than Warsaw, Poznan has a rocky history with Germany. And a tradition of international fairs which often welcome Indians. Stanislas Dembinski

oznan, a city with 600.000 inhabitants at the heart of the rich industrial and agricultural region of Wielkopolska (Great Poland), has much to offer to the tourist, the student and the businessman. It enjoys an Old Town packed with history, a pleasant nightlife, great studying, trade and business opportunities, and beautiful palace to visit in the greenery nearby. The heart of Poznan is its Stary Rynek (Old Market), in the Old Town. A huge square surrounded with multicolour façades houses from the 15th and 16th century, in Baroque and Neo-classic style, with Italian influence, it is a very pleasant spot to start the visit. First have a tea and some typical Polish pastry such as “sernik” (cheesecake), “makowiec” (poppy seeds cake) or “szarlotka” (“Little Charlotte”, an apple cake with icing sugar) on the terraces of cafés, under the old arches. Or walk to the nearby Swietoslawska street (“ulica“, in Polish), number 10, to Weranda Café. In its paper and flower décor, you will feel embarked on a fairy tale.

At the Crossroads Then, go around the Old Town, with its deep history, dating back the 10th century when Poznan and its region were the cradle of the newly-born Polish State and King Mieszko the First had his residence there. Poznan has been

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Promenade

The Jesuits' college now harbours a dance school

A fountain on the Old Market Square, with the Town Hall (Ratusz) towers behind

Poznan is a popular international fair destination

Have a beer in the Old Market Square, for instance Poznanian Lech

a trade centre since the Middle Age, being situated at the crossroad of two main commercial routes: the West-East one, between the actual Germany and Russia, which could be then extended as far as Central Asia and India, for luxury goods such as spices and silk ; and the North-South route, between the Baltic sea and the Bohemia region, in today’s Czech Republic. On the Old Market square, near the Old Town Hall, the Ratusz, you can still see the galleries where the merchants used to weigh their goods. The streets, converging at the Old Market square, used to be filled with craftsmen, some very skilled like jewellers or tanners. In the Ratusz, visit the Museum of the History of Poznan and don’t miss its famous big Renaissance vestibule, adorned with a richly decorated ceiling full of exotic themes, like lions and elephants. It is typical of the Poznan Renaissance craving for travel and knowledge. Also worth visiting is the Museum of musical instruments, resonating with old and weird models and boasting a grand piano used by the famous Franco-Polish romantic

India Outbound September-October 2015

composer Frederic Chopin (1810-1849). Another curiosity: the Makieta Poznan Muzeum, which tells the town history with large sound and light models, in different eras. At a short walk from the Old Square, enjoy Farny Church, one of the jewels of Baroque style in Poznan, with its pink

Kornik and Rogalin : Eccentric Palaces To enjoy a nice walk in the countryside visit the castle of Kornik (20 kilometres South-East of Poznan) or the Palace of Rogalin (11 km from Kornik). Kornik, a Neo-Gothic castle, originally built in the 15th century but rebuilt in the 19th, has a distinctive flavour. Reminding of an old English manor, with a surrounding English park, it harbours more than 3.000 species of trees and plantations, some from Asia. The southern wall of the castle displays a curious arch echoing the style of the Taj Mahal. The Library and the Neo-Oriental hall, with an armour collection, are also to be seen. Rogalin, nearby, is a peaceful classical Rococo style Palace, with very diverse 16th to 19th century decorations. Do not miss the Park and its 1.500 millenary oaks. One of them having a 10 meters circumference trunk !

façade. There you can listen to some organ concert every week. The old Jesuits college nearby is now a dance school. Have a drink in the trendy Café Misja, in this venerable décor. A kilometre east from the Old Square discover the oldest part of Poznan, the Ostrow Tumski, Island of the cathedral, where the first fortifications were erected in the 9th century. It harbours the 15th century gothic Saint Peter-andPaul cathedral. Inside, a golden chapel is worth admiring. The German Influence Walking around Poznan, you can also sense the Germanic influence in the architecture. The Avenue of the December 23, leading to the Old Town, has a typical end of 19th-beginning of 20th century “Mitteleuropa” (Central Europe, in German) flavour. Classical and plush bank buildings, luxury shops and glowing trams, you could feel sometimes a bit like in Germany or Austria. But don’t venture to tell Poznanians, the habitants of Poznan, that they are “Germanic”. They have been occupied over a century by Prussia, from the end

Promenade

Don't choose, have both: the Sernik (cheesecake), on the right, and the Makowiec, poppie seeds cake

of Napoleonic era (1815), till the end of World War I, in 1918. Their city used to be called “Posen” (the German way) but its inhabitants resisted the century of “Germanisation”, setting up their own Polish banks, teaching Polish language and culture despite the occupant’s edicts. So, yes, they are sometimes considered by the rest of Poland hard working and even a bit too serious, like you would expect in Berlin, only 285 kilometres away, closer than Warsaw (310 kilometres), the Polish capital. But they have also a great sense of humour, full of irony and wit, and are proud of their industrious behaviour. The economic dynamism of a city that has welcomed many foreigners and cultures like Italians, French, Jews, Africans and Asians, is still there. Poznan is a highly rated student city (more than 160.000 of them), with good technical institutes such as the Polytechnic School and many polyglot and skilled people. The agriculture makes the most of the rich plains of Great Poland and Pomerania. The industry and services,

notably in the high tech industry, are diversified and well connected with the rest of Europe, and especially of course with Germany. In terms of infrastructures, Poznan has benefited a lot from the European Union funds and from the last European nations football Championship organized in 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. All around the year, Poznan is also a major Fair destination. The most famous one is the Poznan International Fair in June, where you meet businessmen from all around the world, including India, selling all kind of products and services. But every month a major trade event is organized, no wonder why the city is so lively in terms of night life.

Pila

Poznan Konin Leszno

Kalisz

Polish Cuisine Once again, to have a drink, a good dinner and a nice dance in a club, you can stick around the Old Market, the Stary Rynek. Indulge yourself with a great Polish meal at Restauracja Bamberka, near the nice fountain Bamberka. A little house with classical wooden furniture

Poznan, June 1956: The first crack in the Communist wall “The political police started shooting and the crowd took a dive on the ground. A man next to me had his back torn by machine gun bullets. His blood was still seething. But he was probably already dead”, remembers Antoni, who was then a student. It was June 28, 1956. Poznan experienced the first major uprising against the Communist system, still a Stalinist dictatorship managed from Moscow. A least 75 people died and more than 500 were wounded. They were protesting and asking for “Bread, law and freedom”. It started with a strike in a Poznan locomotive factory, where workers asked for a premium, and ended with a general strike, where people

and some Art Déco stained glass in the basement. The Pork filet, the Bigos (cabbage and pork specialty) are famous. Or have some veg dishes such as the Pierogi (sort of ravioli), the soups or the delicious salads. The beer and the vodka are excellent and so are the fruit juices. Then, you can end up the night chatting at Proletaryat Klubokawiarnia, with its painting of Karl Marx in the pure Soviet style. Or have a concert at the container decorated KontenerArt, or a dance at Muchos Potatos (tropical and Latino music), Lizard King (rock), Cute and Van Diesel, the most trendy one. Poznan will then definitely show you a crazy side.

expressed their thirst for freedom. The revolt was crushed in a bloodbath but it was never the same afterwards. Stalin was already dead and the Polish government agreed on a very small political liberalization. It was the first time the regime had made some concessions. The workers of Gdansk would remember it in 1980 when they set up Solidarnosc (Solidarity), the first free trade union in the Soviet block and a major step leading to the whole Communist system collapse in 1989. One kilometre away from the Old Square, the Muzeum Poznan is dedicated to this 1956 uprising, with a big cross monument outside remembering it and other Polish fights for freedom.

How to reach By Air: You can take an indirect flight with Air India from Delhi to Frankfurt in Germany and then another company flight to Poznan. Also, you can fly Lufthansa from Delhi to Poznan, with a connecting flight in Frankfurt. By Train: The train from Warsaw will take you in three hours and half in Poznan.

Where to stay Poznan offers many old hotels like Hotel Brovaria, NH Poznan and sweet boutique hotels such as Hotel Kolegiacki or genuine accommodations like Apartments Retro in the Poznan Old City.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

5 things to do

Knokke

A Tryst with the Northern Sea Among the preferred summer destinations for Belgiumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bourgeoisie, Knokke sprawls with a renowned nightlife scene that caters to a rather insular clique. However, the 20 km coastal stretch at Knokke-Heist also attracts the travellers for a quiet walk or surfing on the waves, apart from observing the city from a distance. From food to climate to architecture to activities, everything is different from the seaside. Alexandre Clasens

India Outbound September-October 2015

5 things to do

The 20 km coastal stretch at KnokkeHeist attracts the travellers for a quiet walk or surfing on the waves, which has been depicted in this artistic impression

September-October 2015 India Outbound

5 things to do

Walk Along the

Beach

With its twelve-mile stretch, Knokke-Heist combines five different beaches or districts, it would be a sacrilege not to walk bare feet on the well-groomed sand. The beach is easy to walk on and very clean. Whether it is summer, spring, autumn or winter; it is always nice to walk this part of town in order to enjoy the fresh air from the coast. You could also rent a bike or a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cuistaxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and pedal with the entire family around the town.

India Outbound September-October 2015

5 things to do

Be a Part of the

Cartoon Festival

Each summer, hundreds of cartoons from all over the world are on display in the Lagunahal in Duinbergen (part of Knokke-Heist). The universal language of cartoons, regardless of nationality or linguistic barriers, makes everyone enjoy this event. With extraordinary diversity and quality of the cartoon entries, I can guarantee from personal experience you're most likely to leave with a big smile on your face. Write to cartoonfestival@knokke-heist.be for more information.

Wander at Duinbergenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

White Villas

Duinbergen is known for its white old villas. Years ago, it used to be obligatory to build your villa in a certain style. Now it's nice to stroll along the small alleys surrounded by the villas. Duinbergen also hosts the annual international Firework Festival at Albertstrand

(between Duinbergen and Knokke). Five countries demonstrate professional fireworks accompanied with music every second day of the festival that dutifully begins on a Sunday. For more information, info@bruggemarinecenter.com

September-October 2015 India Outbound

5 things to do

Indulge in

Nature at Zwin

The Zwin is a nature reserve on the Belgian-Dutch border coastal region. It consists of the entrance area of a former tidal inlet that connected the North Sea with the ports of Sluis and Bruges inland during the Middle Ages. The Zwin inlet was formed originally by a storm that broke through the Flemish coast creating a tidal channel that reached 15 km inland. The new waterway offered access to the sea to the inland city of Bruges that consequently rose to become

one of the foremost medieval port cities of Europe. Later the channel was affected by progressive silting and caused the waterway to become unusable and cut off the harbour of Bruges from the sea. Now it is a wonderful little natural reserve with an area of 1.25 square kilometres, famous for its variety in salt-resistant flora such as Sea lavender. It is also popular among the bird watchers. More information available on: http://www.zwin.be/

Ride the

Waves

Knokke gets relatively bigger and more frequent waves as compared to other coasts in the country, making it ideal for surfing. However, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect Australian size waves, it is after all only the Northern Sea. Please write to info@surfersparadise.be for more information.

India Outbound September-October 2015

Offbeat

Taiwan

Surprise Package For most Indian tourists, beginning to discover China, Taiwan may be an unknown destination. But the tiny island packs enough punch to attract tourists. Percy Fernandes

charming young attendant ushered the tourists inside the lift and welcomed everyone. The lights went off and the stars came up on the ceiling simulating a night sky. We took off and in 37 seconds, arrived at the observation deck on the 89th floor, a record in the Guinness book. Standing tall at 509 metres, Taipei 101 is an architectural marvel and the fifth tallest building in the world. Built in an earthquake prone region, Taipei 101 is a metaphor for resilience, an example of what a tiny island nation with just 23 million people can do. The skyscraper is akin to a bamboo plant rising from the earth. The shape of a bamboo plant has been used as it represents fast growth and flexibility, a tall indicator for Taiwanese financial prowess. A ticket for the vertical ride costs 500 TWD (Taiwanese Dollar) or about 1025 INR. It is worth on a clear day when the views are stunning. It is better to time your trip accordingly so that you enjoy the views during evening and night. It is located close to the World Trade Centre and easily

India Outbound September-October 2015

accessible by the local metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s red line. Taiwan is a pack of surprises consisting of hot springs, resorts, dramatic mountains, marble cliffs, long coastlines and a night markets with a hundred and one things to do. It is easily an underrated travelling destination primarily because of ignorant tourists whose name, location and status is still shrouded in mystery. Once a hotspot only for Western tourists, now it teems with tourists from Asia and around the world. Shaped like a leaf or a slanted weaver birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest, Taiwan is easily accessible from India, China, Japan and the Philippines. It lies across the Taiwan Straits from mainland China on the southeastern coast from Fujian province. A modern capital The capital city, Taipei, where the Taipei 101 is located, is a stunning modern city where the Japanesestyled old lanes meet swanky malls, IT parks and world class academic institutions. Unlike Beijing, Taipei speaks English and for travellers who

Offbeat

The folk-custom acrobatics in the temple fair of Taiwan

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Offbeat

Looking more like a lake than a pond, Lotus Pond is Kaohsiung's relaxing getaway inside the city

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know Mandarin, it is a welcome relief. Taipei is also headquarters of some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most reputed brands in the world including Acer and Asus. Taiwan holds a monopoly over the global marketshare in computers and semiconductors. After arriving in Taipei by China Airlines, the official airline carrier of Taiwan, I drove to the Grand Hotel. More than anything else, The Grand is an architectural splendour and a four-star property. Tourists flock to this hotel on their routine day sightseeing trip to take photos. If you were on a guided tour, you may not want to miss the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, honouring the person who battled Chinese communists, led by Mao Tse Tung to give birth to an independent Taiwan. It is a popular icon in the city and the national flag is raised every morning. Its huge courtyard is home to all public functions, ceremonies and national celebrations. Outside, two guards stand besides a huge bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek and a change of

India Outbound September-October 2015

guard takes place every hour in a rifle twirling ceremony. Inside, it is filled with Chiang Kai-shekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal artefacts, uniforms and sedans. This might get a bit boring if you are not the museum or the memorial variety, but outside, the gardens punctuated with Chinese ponds may enchant you. All Night Long The night markets in Taipei are a star attraction. They are open way past midnight and a few well into the crack of dawn. Not just tourists, even the locals throng the night markets because the choice is unlimited and there is better value for money. Most street food markets are safe and my favourite is the Shilin night market. It is easily accessible by the MRT and has other shops that sell clothing and knick-knacks. The pan fried pork buns, the sweet version of tempura, oyster omelette are my favourite. Taipei is also home to some of the finest restaurants serving Asian and world cuisine. If you are a foodie, you can join one the walking food tourists

where you get to taste local and international flavours as you walk along, perhaps a better way to eat more. The Sun Yat-sen memorial hall is another iconic landmark in Taipei named after the founding father of modern China. This one is less touristy than the Chiang-Kai-shek memorial. Illuminated at night, the building looks spectacular. The Zhongshan park marks the countenance of this hall. Inside is a huge library with about 500 seats and the Zhongshan corridor links the main hall to the four large exhibition buildings. This is a popular site for public concerts particularly during weekends. Trekking in Taiwan After sauntering around Taipei for a few days, I left for Hualian, home to the famous Taroko National Park. You can plan your trips depending upon the time you have at hand. Many tourists do a full-day trip from Taipei to Taroko gorge. I decided to spend a couple of days walking and cycling around the east coast. If you like enjoying the silence of nature, the roar and the mist

Offbeat

(Clockwise - L-R) A visit to Sun Moon Lake is never complete without a yacht tour; Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a Taiwanese national monument, landmark and tourist attraction; Beautiful native girls performing at Kwan-Yin Buddha Christmas before the Chao Feng Temple; outside view of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall; located near Hualian City, Cisingtan is famous for its beach situated in a picturesque bay

of the waterfalls, spectacular views where the mountains kiss the beaches along the Pacific Ocean and walk along the canyons, Hualien is the place for you. I took the train from Taipei to Hualein. The Taroko gorge is a 20 km section that runs from Taroko to Tiansiang. It is known for its sheer marble cliffs, deep and meandering tunnels. The Liwu River runs through this beautiful landscape. You can travel through 38 tunnels of Nine Turns, with its series of turns. The Eternal Spring Shine is equally photogenic and a popular rendezvous for travellers. The little temples you see here were built in memory of those who lost their lives in the construction of the highway. You will be spoilt for choices. You can go down to the Chi Hsing beach, Hualien stone sculptural park, go whisky tasting or visit a marble factory, or do it all. Among other things not to be missed are the Sun Moon Lake surrounded by lovely walks, cool breeze and its banks brimming with activity. Kinmen

Island is the front line of Taiwan and a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw away from China. If you are in mainland, you can take the ferry to Kinmen from Xiamen in Fujian province. Kinmen combines tradition and modernity. It has preserved some impressive Chinese monuments and other souvenirs from the battlefield. I happenned to be in Taiwan during the lantern festival. This is considered as one of the most spectacular and romantic festivals in the country. I travelled to Taitung to witness hundreds of thousands of lanterns go up in the night sky ushering in spring and celebrating long daylight. Because it enjoys a subtropical climate, summers can get really hot during the day punctuated with showers. You will enjoy your visit if you travel from October onwards though this is the season for the northeast monsoon that lasts till March. But it is much coolers. The northern parts of the country are much cooler. Typhoons are common and batter the eastern coast during the fag end of the monsoon.

Taipei Miaoli

Capital Cities

Taiwan Yunlin

Pingtung

Taitung

China

Taiwan Green Island

How to reach Taiwan's main international gateway is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, with Kaohsiung a distant second and very limited international services to Taichung and Hualien.

Where to stay

Taiwan offers an abundance of accommodations, whether you're looking for high-class hotels or simple, friendly B&Bs (of which Taiwan has some of the best).

September-October 2015 India Outbound

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WTM WTM Means business Means business ® ®

MAKE SURE YOU MAKE SURE YOUFOR WTM REGISTER NOW REGISTER NOW FOR WTM LONDON 2015 LONDON 2015 action in the world – World WTM London 2015, which takes London place between Monday 2 WTM 2015, which – Thursday November, is takes place5between Monday 2 to be5 the biggest is and –poised Thursday November, best yet. poised to be the biggest and best yet. New for this year is the WTM Wellness Lounge, will take New for this year iswhich the WTM place on Wednesday 4 and Wellness Lounge, which will take Thursday 5 November.4The place on Wednesday andfirst day of WTM (Monday 2 November) Thursday 5 November. The first day remains of WTM exhibitor (Mondayinvitation-only 2 November) for visitors, will host the hugelyfor remainsand exhibitor invitation-only popular WTM Speed Networking. visitors, and will host the hugely Tuesday 3 November sees the popular WTM Speed Networking. event open to everybody from Tuesday 3 November sees thethe industry and will host the UNWTO event open to everybody from the & WTM Ministers’ industry and will Summit. host the UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ The third day of Summit. WTM London (Wednesday sees the The third day 4ofNovember) WTM London largest day of responsible tourism (Wednesday 4 November) sees the largest day of responsible tourism

Responsible Tourism Day, while action in the world – World following a success last year Responsible Tourismdebut Day, while the WTM Festivals will return onyear the following a success debut last Wednesday evening. While the final the WTM Festivals will return on the day of WTM evening. (ThursdayWhile 5 the final Wednesday November) will host two day of WTM (Thursday 5speed networking onespeed for buyers November) session will host –two and one forsession bloggers. networking – one for buyers and one for bloggers. World travel market senior director Simon Pressmarket said ‘Register now for World travel senior director WTM London 2015 for what will for be Simon Press said ‘Register now the biggest and2015 bestfor event WTM London whatyet. will be More than £2.5 worthyet. of travel the biggest and billion best event industry deals will be facilitated by More than £2.5 billion worth of travel WTM London 2015, between the industry deals will be facilitated by 5,000 exhibitors and betwee 9,000 buyers.’ WTM London 2015, n the 5,000 exhibitors and 9,000 buyers.’ To pre-register visit: http://www.wtmlondon.com/ To pre-register visit: register/ http://www.wtmlondon.com/ register/

£2.5 billion** £2.5 of new billion business of new business

generated at World Travel Market 2014 generated at World Travel Market 2014

Meet up to Meet up to** 5,000

5,000** exhibitors from across the from world exhibitors across the world

More than 50,000** ** More than 50,000 attendees from 186 countries attendees from 186 countries

® Official Media Partner

Official Premier Partner

Official Media Partner

Official Premier Partner

LIVE IT TO BELIEVE IT IT TO BELIEVE IT * Source: Independent research byLIVE Fusion Communications, January 2015 * Source: Independent Fusion **ABC audited figures, research Februaryby 2015 Communications, January 2015

London London

**ABC audited figures, February 2015

World Travel Market and WTM are trademarks of Reed Elsevier Properties SA, used under license. World Travel Market and WTM are trademarks of Reed Elsevier Properties SA, used under license.

travel accessories

Clothing that charges your phone Not only are suitcases charging phones in 2015, but so is clothing. Tommy Hilfiger offers a jacket in both women’s and men’s styles embedded with removable water-resistant solar panels for charging your phone (although note it’s a bit more edgy than business). You can charge up to two devices at a time, essentially turning yourself into a human battery pack.

Foldable sunglasses Always breaking your sunglasses in your bag or suitcase? Bring a pair of Sunpockets on your next trip. These stylish shades are foldable, so you can toss them in your pocket or purse without worrying about damaging them.

Terrycloth toothbrush/ paste travel roll This roll up terry towel is a practical no mess way to carry your toothbrushes and toothpaste on a trip. Your toothbrushes will stay dry, clean and snug. It fits 4 toothbrushes/toothpaste and more in the generously sized 77mm wide pockets. After use, wash as normal with your laundry and they will wash up well and be ready for your next trip.

Lumbar Pack with RFID Protection This high-tech lumbar pack from Victorinox will keep your gear safe from pickpockets and cyber thieves. With so much personal and financial data stored on the RFID microchips in passports, credit cards, and personal IDs, you'll feel comfortable knowing you have built-in RFID technological safeguards to keep your information secure. The main storage compartment features two breathable mesh electronics pockets, a storage pocket, and a key fob.

Curling/flat iron insulated bag A perfect solution for packing hot curling irons or flat irons while you’re travelling! Just slip your iron in the bag, close it and pack it! These bags are about 12 inches long by 5.5 inches wide. Also, this bag is the perfect size to keep a bottle of wine cool.

India Outbound September-October 2015

travel accessories

Nomadkey Made from a durable plastic material, NomadKey works as a keychain for your car and laptop. With the USB end plugged into a laptop port or a wall charger, you can juice up your phone while it's plugged into the other end, which uses Micro USB. The key is only about 3-inches long.

Vest with 42 compartments This vest looks and feels more comfortable and stylish than it might seem from the picture. With 42 compartments, you can stash an iPad Mini, your phone, chargers, and other travel gear without anyone even noticing. Multipurpose wallet Made of durable leather, your passport fits in a compartment on one side with room for credit cards and identification on the other side. Tucked inside, there is a Bluetooth tag that syncs with your phone. If you misplace the wallet or someone steals it, your phone will start beeping. An RFID shield also protects you from hackers who might try to steal data off the RFID chip in your passport.

Colour portable scanner In the past, it rarely made sense to tow along a portable scanner. They just added bulk and extra complexity. This new model from Epson can connect over Wi-Fi and send scanned documents directly to services like Evernote or Dropbox, so no laptop required. As a bonus, the scanner runs on battery power or USB, so you can use it anywhere.

September-October 2015 India Outbound

MARK YOUR DIARY

Lyon Biennale The Lyon Biennial in France has emerged as a "must see" threemonth event on the contemporary art scene. Each biennial is completely new and different, with a new theme and a new organiser, presenting sculptures, paintings, videos, photos or visual displays from some 70 international artists. Numerous events are being organised around the Biennial Festival with Veduta, Résonance and Le Docks Art Fair. When: Sept 10, 2015 – Jan 3, 2016 Where: Lyon, France Website: www.labiennaledelyon.com

New York City Wine & Food Festival Hear the words ‘food festival’ and usually the image that comes to mind is that of gluttony; people indulging in sumptuous feasts, drinking wine. Or, maybe the picture those words paint is one of wealth and privilege; entry to many famous food fests comes with a hefty price tag. In fact, that’s exactly what New York City Wine & Food Festival is all about. When: Oct 15-18, 2015 Where: New York City, United States Website: www.nycwff.org

International Festival of the Sahara

Melbourne Cup Carnival

For over a century, the International Festival of the Sahara has proven that it is possible to throw a party in one the harshest of environments on earth. The festival is the largest and most well-known in the country of Tunisia, and attracts visitors from across Northern Africa and around the world, including nomads, to poets, artists, camel racers, and even sand-hockey players. When: November 2015 Where: Douz, Tunisia Website: www.experienceintunisia.com

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is an Australian horse race that exudes all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premiere. Each year, the greatest thoroughbreds make their way to Flemington Racecourse for a shot at the prestigious title. Covering 3,200 meters (almost two miles), it is the richest turf race in the world and second only to Dubai World Cup. When: November 3, 2015 Where: Melbourne, Australia Website: www.flemington.com.au

India Outbound September-October 2015

MARK YOUR DIARY

Lantern Festival

Budapest Christmas Fair

The highlight of Yi Peng and Loy Krathong (as the Lantern festival is named) is the spellbinding show that happens when thousands of people converge to release khom loi (lit lanterns) into the night sky. Prior to the big spectacle, the setting is joyful and serene. Surrounding events include bright parades, musical performances, beauty pageants, lantern-making contests, fireworks, and lots of food. When: November 24-26, 2015 Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand Website: www.festivalasia.net/festivals/Yi-Peng-2015-Lantern-Festival

The annual, month-long Budapest Christmas Fair, open-air and free to enter, is held in central Pest’s Vörösmarty Square, at the end of the Váci utca, or “Fashion Street”. A sparkly, toe-tapping and downright tasty introduction to all things Hungarian, the fair is one-stop shopping not only for your holiday presents, but also for your exploration of the country and its culture. When: Nov 27-Dec 31, 2015 Where: Budapest, Hungry Website: www.budapestchristmas.com

Junkanoo Parade

Jam Cruise

The rhythmic goombay drums, the melodic horns and the kaleidoscope of colours moving to beat: this is Bahamian national pride - Junkanoo. As the major cultural festival of the Bahamas, Junkanoo is celebrated each year in the early hours of the morning across two parades down Bay Street in downtown Nassau. The first is on Boxing Day, December 26 and the main event is on New Year’s Day, January 1. When: December 26, 2015 Where: Nassua, Bahamas Website: www.bahamas.co.uk

For the festival bucket-lister, Jam Cruise is a must. What else combines a five-day festival, three countries, and the stunning backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico into one constant party? Now in its 14th year, Jam Cruise has earned a reputation for its easygoing, happy-go-lucky atmosphere. For more than a decade, it has provided its 3,000 attendees a welcome Caribbean respite from the January blues. When: January 6-11, 2016 Where: Miami, Florida, United States Website: www.jamcruise.com

September-October 2015 India Outbound

Travel Story

A Dream

Come True

od gave me a handsome chance to visit my dream place, United States of America. It was a beautiful experience that lasted for about three weeks for me and my husband. We visited Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix and New York City. Although they all are equally happening, we enjoyed more in Phoenix as I had family there and it was good to to see them after a long time. In our three stay at their home, they took to Grand Canyon, Sadona hills, shopping and many fine dining places. Our next destination was Los Angeles that is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, sprawling metropolis and the center of Parneet Kaur with her husband Inderpreet Singh the American entertainment industry. We had plenty to do at the Hollywood Walk of Fame such as visiting the Chinese and Dolby theatres and Hollywood park was remarkable with interesting processions getting thrilled by the names and hand or foot prints of the such as Disney characters and flower-and plant-covered displays. filmstars. Additionally, numerous tourist shops offer inexpensive We also visited the Sea World that was closed because of the themed shirts and other products. Next day we went to bad weather but fortunately we saw the dolphin show. Universal Studio for thrilling rides and shows and experience Our holiday came to an end with New York. We stayed at real working movie studio and LA’s best shops, restaurants and Yotel hotel, (a robotic hotel), near the Times Square market. cinemas at city walk. It was a different experience and I loved the way space was One of the highlights of our trip was the resort city Las managed. We took a ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty. Vegas, known primarily for gambling, shopping, fine dining and Next we went to the Lower Manhattan to see the nightlife. We spent all the three nights playing in the casinos. historic World Trade Centre that was originally a complex However, we did enjoy our pleasant walks to see the beautiful of sevenbuildings until the unfortunate terrorist attack of hotels like Venetian, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Palms Casino September 11, 2001 when the twin towers were destroyed. and the extraordinary shows on the roads and inside the hotels However the new complex under construction. We then headed during the day. to the beautiful Empire State building to experience the Orlando was our third destination, a city in the U.S. state of breathtaking view of the city from the top. Florida. Our tickets were already booked for the Disneyland that With fond memories of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, has four parks namely Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Orlando and New York, our trip had come to an end. Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot. Of the four, I enjoyed the (Parneet Kaur is a housewife and avid traveller) most at Hollywood and Magic Kingdom Park. The parade in the

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