Love you Southend - Must visit the places to eat at Southend !

Love you Southend. Must visit: 

http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/places-to-eat/

3 NIGHTS IN BALI – Free draw for all EFWA2017 ticket purchasers

One of their newest sponsor – Bali Eco Stay – has stepped in to offer a fabulous prize draw for those attending Eco Fashion Week Australia Nov. 23-27, 2017, and they couldn’t be more excited the details with you.

The Prize – 3 nights at Bali Eco Stay in the heart of Bali in an open-air, over water jungle bungalow surrounded by nature – total prize value $1058. This bungalow features 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and can provide accommodation for up to 4 people. The lucky winner can choose to bring up to 3 friends/family members. Airfare and ground transportation not included.

Who can enter – Everyone who purchases a ticket to come to EFWA from Nov. 23-27, 2017 are eligible. You may enter once for each night you purchase a ticket. The more nights you come, the better chance you have to win.

How to Enter – There will be a sealed boxed in the entry. After showing your purchased ticket, please place your business card (or substitute) in the box.

About The Resort – Bali Eco Stay offers a green sanctuary in the heart of Bali where travellers reconnect with nature, discover pure food and immerse themselves in tropical food forests, traditional Balinese culture and jungle life. Enjoy relaxing while surrounded by nature in your open-air, over-water bungalow. Feast on authentic Balinese home cooking prepared with love and respect for nature using organically grown food. And explore all our unique area has to offer – lounge in freshwater rock pools, learn traditional crafts with our Kakek (grandfather) and explored untouched landscapes and village either by foot, bike or scooter. Check out their website at www.baliecostay.com

Conditions – Booking is subject to availability (not available July – August, and Nov 15 – Jan 15).

Draw Date – The winner of this amazing prize will be drawn on our final day – Monday, November 27th – just before the final 2 runway shows. All entries for tickets for that day’s shows must be placed in the box no later than 8:45.

About Bali Eco Stay

Australians Cath and John Blundstone, with their Balinese family Mini and Agung, joined forces to create Bali Eco Stay. Their vision was to design the property as a working model of sustainability, and a beautiful place where rice paddies meet the jungle. Bali Eco Stay, a mountain resort offering nourishment for all your senses within a natural setting of food forests, rice fields and towering mountains reaching as far as the eye can see.

What distinguishes Bali Eco Stay from the rest is that it will not be found along the well-beaten tourist trails of Bali. Its remote location provides a unique opportunity for travellers seeking something different and off the beaten track to experience another side of Bali – the Bali from 40 years ago with its untouched pristine landscapes and charming villages steeped in profound local customs.

Source: Eco Fashion Week

Mahindra Holidays Wins the Coveted Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability 2017

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited (MHRIL, Club Mahindra), India's leading leisure hospitality provider, and a part of the US$ 19 billion Mahindra Group has been bestowed with the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability 2017. The award was received by Mr. Arun Nanda, Chairman, Mahindra Holidays at a glittering ceremony in London.

Since its inception, Mahindra Holidays has focussed on driving sustainability across the business. The Company has implemented a robust sustainability practice across its network of 50 resorts in India and abroad. Some of the key areas that the Company has been working include carbon footprint measurement, conservation of biodiversity and assessment, environment, energy, water and community development.

On receiving the award, Mr. Arun Nanda, Chairman – Mahindra Holidays & Resorts (India) Ltd., stated, "It is a proud moment for all of us to be recognized for achieving economic growth while preserving the natural resources and ecosystem for future generations. At Mahindra Holidays, we recognize the importance of Sustainable development and are committed to conserving the ecological integrity of the locations we operate in."

To reiterate its pledge to sustainability and conservation, Mahindra Holidays joined EP100, making the commitment to double its energy productivity by 2030 and became the first global hospitality company to take on a leadership role in energy productivity and actively supporting India's national commitments to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Company has taken several initiatives such as the use of solar power plants and provisioning of newer technologies & energy efficient machines at new projects. Besides, measures are taken to further conserve power, water, and deployment of biogas plants and compost machines for recycling dry and wet garbage respectively. The Company has also invested in equipment upgrades, such as switching to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, highly-efficient heat pumps and variable frequency drives at its various resorts.

Mahindra Holidays actively participates in the Mahindra Group's initiative for Corporate Sustainability Reporting. The 'Sustainability Report' of the Group is prepared in accordance with the internationally accepted framework specified by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). This framework sets out the principles and indicators that should be used to measure and report economic, environmental, and social performance.

Source: Mahindra

Must view the beauty of Southend

Pics with thanks to http://www.visitsouthend.co.uk/ 
Please log on to this beautiful website if you want to visit Southend, a beautiful city.

World Travel Awards arrives in Rwanda

World Travel Awards (WTA) has touched down in Rwanda ahead of its Africa Gala Ceremony 2017.

The prestigious event will take place in the country’s thriving capital, Kigali, on 10th October, with hundreds of leaders from across the hospitality industry expected to attend the glittering red carpet ceremony.

Local stars, George Ndirangu and Makeda Mahadeo – both hugely experienced as hosts and presenters – will compere the event which will take place at the five star Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, alongside the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and AviaDev Africa (10th-12th October).

The leading hotel investment conference that connects business leaders from the international and local markets, driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure and hotel development across Africa, AHIF is attended by the highest calibre international hotel investors of any conference in Africa.

Meanwhile AviaDev Africa is a unique event bringing together airports, airlines, governments, industry suppliers and tourism authorities to determine the future air connectivity and infrastructure development of Africa. The event provides an opportunity for the aviation and hotel development communities to share intelligence on their future plans, catalysing tourism development on the continent.

Speaking ahead of the event, WTA President and Founder Graham E. Cooke said: “It is an honour for World Travel Awards to be here in Rwanda, for the very first time.

"The heart of Africa, Rwanda has become rightfully known for its spectacular scenery – think thundering waterfalls, towering mountains and virgin rainforests – and rare wildlife.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Rwanda to claim its rightful place as Africa’s rising star and I can’t wait to welcome all our nominees next Tuesday, as we recognise the leaders among them."

A full list of nominees can be viewed on the World Travel Awards website.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

source - worldtravelawards.com

SIA And Lufthansa Group Joint Venture Partnership To Launch On 1 October

28 September 2017 (Joint Release with Lufthansa Group) - Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Lufthansa Group have confirmed 1 October 2017 as the launch date for their joint venture co-operation covering flights between Singapore, Australia and Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium.

Customers can choose from a wider range of travel itineraries and fare products that will be progressively offered by the airlines under the joint venture agreement.

Since November 2015, when both airline groups signed the joint venture agreement, they have expanded capacity between Singapore and both Germany and Switzerland. This includes the introduction of new SIA-operated flights between Singapore and Dusseldorf in July 2016. In March 2017, SWISS deployed its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on daily flights between Singapore and Zurich. Lufthansa has also announced plans to re-introduce services between Singapore and Munich from March 2018.

These benefits will further enhance existing Star Alliance arrangements that customers enjoy on SIA, Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines. On the same date, flights operated by SIA, Lufthansa and SWISS between Singapore and Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich will be included in a revenue-sharing agreement between the two airline groups.

The two airline groups have also significantly increased codeshare ties, with over 130 city pairs now offered between key markets in Europe, Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific.

“We are pleased to launch our joint venture with Lufthansa Group, which has provided a strong foundation for us to work together to enable more flight frequency and enhanced travel options for customers of both airline groups. This joint venture demonstrates what we can achieve with the right partner, and we look forward to working even closer with Lufthansa Group,” said Mr Tan Kai Ping, Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Marketing Planning.

Mr Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group Airlines Vice President Sales Asia Pacific said, “This is a remarkable milestone for both Lufthansa Group and Singapore Airlines. With the launch of this joint venture, the two premium airline groups are jointly able to optimise the product offerings and high-quality services in a very competitive market throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific. We are very proud to team up with Singapore Airlines, a reputable and reliable high-end partner, giving our customers greater choices.”

Source : SIA

India's first bullet train project: 350 km/hr top speed, 7 km tunnel under sea, Rs 1.08 lakh crore cost

The high-speed bullet train in India is expected to bring a paradigm shift in how the world views transport system in India. The bullet trains, besides running at unbelievable speeds, are also known for their punctuality and safety features.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today laid the foundation stone for the much-hyped Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed bullet train project.

"If technology is used to empower the poor, we can win the fight against poverty," said Narendra Modi.

The Prime Minister and Shinzo Abe inspected a model of the project as well before taking to the dais to inaugurate the billion dollar bullet train project.

Newly appointed Railways Minister Piyush Goyal pitched bullet train as the train for the future and said that "many people criticised the introduction of Rajdhani but now it is the train everyone wants to travel in".

"With laying foundation of the bullet train, we are also laying foundation of a New India," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the inauguration ceremony in Ahmedabad.

HERE IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HIGH-SPEED BULLET TRAIN PROJECT:

HOW MUCH DOES THE BULLET TRAIN PROJECT COST?

The ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed bullet train project will cost an estimated Rs 1.08 lakh crore or USD 17 billion. The project is expected to be completed by 2022.

WHAT WILL BE THE TICKET FARE FOR BULLET TRAIN?

According to Railway officials, the bullet trains would have two categories of seats, executive and economy, and the ticket fares will be comparable to that of AC-2 tier fare for Rajdhani Express.

with thanks : Yahoo News : LINK : for more details

The thrilling Hexa Experience at Hyderabad and Gurugram

Tata Motors have to launch their new Tata Hexa in the coming month and to promote the new car they had arranged a Hexa Experience centre at Gurugram. I got the opportunity to visit the show, to experience the new Hexa.

Earlier, I had also gone to Hyderabad where we got the opportunity to Drive, ON ROAD, the new Tata Hexa from Novotel hotel near Hyderabad Airport to Vikarabad that was almost 85 KM one way. We had the option to try the Auto as well as the Manual versions on one side each, to & from Hyderabad. While moving from Hyderabad to Vikarabad we tried our hands on the Auto version and while coming back we tried the Manual version. The vehicle is really very strong and we can compare it with a Powerful beast.

While in Hyderabad, we also got the opportunity to have the Real Time ROUGH ROAD Experience. It was great indeed. Just watch my video which has already got almost 30 K views. It was a great time for us. We felt the real power of the Hill Ascending as well Hill Descending modes without applying brakes. It was a real thrill. The location was a small hilly area and the person who drove us was a real expert.

After the real thrill at Hyderabad, I again got the opportunity to have the second level of the Hexa Experience. This time it was at the Gurugram formerly known as Gurgaon. I was offered on the road as well as the off road experience. I preferred the Off Road as I like to face the real and thrilling challenges and that too in a power-packed, feature loaded and adrenaline pumped Tata Hexa on a specially created artificial off-road track to feel the real power of the vehicle.

It was again the chance that we had the same person driving for the OFF ROAD EXPERIENCE, who had driven us in Hyderabad for the ROUGH ROAD EXPERIENCE. The person is a real expert. He drove the car and in the mid way, while driving, explained many features of the car.

The OFF ROAD experience was also very thrilling. There were many hurdles, artificial heights, Inclines, mud pools as well the slopes and the Tata Hexa was moving like a strong and powerful beast and I felt very comfortable even in those thrilling moments, inside the Tata Hexa. I again tried my best to record the entire real time OFF ROAD experience and the video is being embedded below. Just view it and feel the same thrill that I felt at Hyderabad as well as at Gurugram.

One thing is sure the HEXA is really powerful and very strong and if you want to enjoy its real power, you must buy it. If you want to have the Hexa experience, just wait for their next Hexa Experience Centers in Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Chennai as well Mumbai in the coming days. Just keep an eye on their Advertisement, register for it, have the real time experience of this Luxury vehicle both On Road as well Off Road and decide. I am sure you will buy this beautiful & powerful but very comfortable vehicle, on the very first day of its launch.

In the meantime, just view both the videos embedded above to feel the real thrill. I am really thankful to Tata Motors for the thrilling experience at Hyderabad as well as at Gurugram.

#JetScreen – Don’t get bored, On – board @vohrabs

A journey by aeroplane is really very exciting for the first time flyers, but those who are the regular ones, feel bored as your most important companion i.e. your smart phone is to remain on the Flight mode. You can’t use many of its features such as Facebook, WhatsApp and so on, to pass your time.

Jet Airways has now introduced a new feature i.e. ‘#JetScreen’ on their flights. Now you can use your own smart phone as your very own screen in your hands and your earphones to get entertained while on board, without feeling bored.

All you have to do is to download the Airtime player, on your smart phone, before boarding a plane, and while on board, you have to get connected with the wi-fi in the flight, on the Flight mode, and a whole lot of entertainment will be available for you while moving from one place to another in the Jet Airways.

Once connected, you get various options such as  TV shorts, Movies, Games and Music. You can select any of the options available and once clicked, you will get a sub menu with lots and lots of options to view. You can simply scroll down to view various options listed in the submenu.

If you have clicked Movies, you will get a list of various movies available on board. You can select the one you prefer and can view it without any interruption, to pass your time, to get entertained, while on board, without getting bored.

Similarly, you can watch various trailers and TV shorts, can play various games out of a vast list, remembering your childhood days and you can also enjoy music. You have to just click the option and start your entertainment, on your own smart phone, with your own earphones and you can also keep on changing the options at your own will.

Truly, it’s a great feeling when instead of getting bored, you can relax and feel pleasure by watching the movie that you could not earlier, due to the busy schedule, along with the complimentary hot and delicious meals and a warm cup of Tea or Coffee provided by the Jet Airways.

I felt the same while I was watching a movie on board and the time passed so quickly that there was not a single second to feel bored. I just boarded the plane and got access to the Jet screen and started watching a beautiful movie. I also tried my hands on a few games, watched a few movie trailers and also enjoyed music.

Moreover, the smiling faces of the Jet Airways crew were always there to help and guide you in every possible manner. They looked very polite and very cooperative and were serving the passengers with a real smile.

Please view the video embedded above that certainly proves that you can enjoy the in-flight entertainment, on your own device, while on-board, without getting bored. Thanks to Jet Airways for offering #JetScreen to the flyers. Please log on to the LINK for more details.

Pics with thanks to #JetScreen Jet Airways

Amchi Mumbai - Gate Way of India !

We were in Mumbai for three days. Visited all the places that included Juhu, Chaupati, Bandara Markets, Andheri, Gate way of India, Marine Drive, Nariman point, Church gate etc. etc. After the Juhu Chaupati, our next destination was Bandra Market. There were many shops selling clothes and all sort of things. We did some shopping for our kids, though it was a difficult task as it was hot summer there and we required clothes suitable for the upcoming winters in Delhi.

Once free from shopping for our kids, we moved towards the Gate Way of India. It was again a great view. Though visited this place many a time, still it always gives a fresh look with warmth. We took a boat towards the sea trip as to go to the Elephanta caves was of no use, as it was Monday.

Amchi Mumbai - Juhu Chaupati !

We were in Mumbai for three days. Visited all the places that included Juhu, Chaupati, Bandara Markets, Andheri, Gate way of India, Marine Drive, Nariman point, Church gate etc. etc.

It was real fun at Juhu Chaupati. We were there at around 8 pm. It was the day of Karwa Chauth and with no moon in view any where and it had resulted into the sea gone far away from the shore i.e. deep inside. We walked over a km inside the sea bed to touch the waves. Once out, we visited the Chaupati eateries and tasted almost everything that included Pav bhaji, Bhel puri, Kala Khatta, Gol Gappa, Wada pav as well the hot cup of tea.