Travel Lakshadweep
Hundred Thousand Islands
Titanic Captain’s Cigar Box Found in the UK
May 19th
A Merseyside home in the UK has become famous for having housed the mighty Titanic’s captain’s cigar box. While valuing some antiques at the Merseyside home, auctioneer John Crane came upon the cigar box atop a cabinet. The item had been lying in the home for more than 20 years now, but the owner had no clue as to its origin!
The cigar box which can hold up to 40 Havanas has the name of the master of Titanic as well as its shipping company, White Star Line, on it. It is believed to have been given to the owner’s father by relatives of Edward John Smith’s widow Sarah. The Titanic sunk in the North Atlantic, after the ill-fated accident on her very first voyage in 1912, from Southampton to New York.
Miss Bikini International World 2011 in China
May 17th
Thai bikini beauties are damn excited! For the first time in its 36-year history, the Miss Bikini International World pageant will have a Thai contestant in it. The final round will be held in in July, Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, with a participation of 80 countries.
In order to choose the contestant from Thailand, the different rounds of the first Miss Thailand Beach International 2011 beauty pageant will be conducted in Bangkok, and the finals will be held in Phuket, on June 5.
Phuket is a major beach destination of the world. Such an event will surely boost the tourism appeal of the place.
Football Stadium In The Andamans
Mar 25th
Something that the Andamans have been missing till now – a football stadium – is gonna be soon a dream come true. The proposed stadium will have a seating capacity of 4,000 and is hoped to be completed by the middle of this year. The Andamans are known for adventure sports and seaside activities such as Scuba diving, rafting, boating and angling. This new venture will add another feature to Andamans tourism.
The football stadium will be located near Jawaharlal Nehru college complex and the building project is being funded by games international body (FIFA) through its Indian counterparts, All India Football Federation.
Disney Dream – Disney’s New Luxury Liner
Jan 27th
Disney Cruise Line’s all new Disney Dream, one of their ships launched in a decade, has room for all. Literally! It can hold up to 4,000 passengers. Disney Dream has various sailing options – it sails three, four and five-night cruises from Port Canaveral. There are stop-overs at Nassau in the Bahamas and Castaway Cay, the corporation’s private island in the Caribbean.
Everything on this cruise spells luxury, with sky-rocketing prices, what else can you expect? Read the rest of this entry »
All New Tourist Season In Lakshadweep!
Dec 2nd
Earlier this month, a load of tourists and locals of Lakshadweep were treated to renewed cruise ships. The ‘Mini Coy’, is a weekend holiday cruise ship to the islands that sails from New Mangalore port. Mangalore is only 144 nautical miles away from Lakshadweep and the journey takes 14 hours.
The cruise takes tourists to Kadmat island and returns the next day. This is the first weekend cruise of its kind to Lakshadweep, and had about 140 people on board.
Once on the island, tourists can go around for boating, sea swimming and shopping on the islands. Diving and snorkelling enthusiasts can hire yachts and equipment from agencies on the island. You can go walking on the serene beaches and visit local landmarks before getting back to your ship.
Indian Americans From Kerala To Be Honoured In NY
Nov 8th
A New York-based community organisation, Kerala Centre, will honour five Indian Americans from Kerala will be honoured for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
On November 13, Dr Madhu Bhaskaran, Medical Director of the Kidney Transplant Programme at North Shore University Hospital (New York); Captain Stanley George, New York City Police Department (NYPD); Ragy Thomas, Founder and CEO of Sprinklr (New Jersey) and Dr Vinod M. Menon, Associate Professor of Physics at Queens College and Graduate Centre of the City University of New York (CUNY) will be awarded at the special banquet.
This is an annual program that appreciates and honours American Keralites to their service to society and outstandign performances in their fields.
Oldest Student In India – 100 years old!
Oct 29th
Going to university sounds quite nice. Especially if you’re a hundred years old! Freedom fighter Bholaram Das, on his 100th birthday, told his family that he wants to do a PhD at the Guwahati University. As his subject he’s going to study how his native Bohori village helped in the spread of neo-Vaishnavism, especially in Assam. He currently has 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. And who else to guide him in his PhD than one of his granddaughters, a university professor!
He said that he feels he must work towards a PhD to satisfy his hunger for learning. He has an interesting history: Bholaram Das was jailed in 1930 for protesting against the British rule, at the age of 19; before joining the Congress Party in 1945 he studied law and commerce; and he has worked in the fields of law and education. He’s been a lawyer, a magistrate and a district court judge. He retired in 1971.
In the mean time, the authorities at the university feel that the presence of a 100-year-old student will encourage others to take up courses with them. Even youth in his family will be inspired by this endeavour.
Mangalore To Lakshadweep Cruise
Oct 16th
From October 14 on Mangaloreans have begun travelling to the Lakshadweep islands by ship! And, that, too, right from Mangalore city. The cruise will leave from Mangalore’s old port.
The very first trip will be ferrying travellers to Agatti and Kavaratti and return on October 16. Once the maiden voyage trip proves successful, the fare and the other details will be set.
Chennai – Agatti Flights By Air India
Sep 23rd
nk Now travellers to the Lakshadweep islands can catch a flight to Agatti from the east coast of India. Air India offers flights six days a week connecting Chennai and Bangalore and Kochi to the islands. Even tourists planning to visit Lakshadweep from Mumbai and Delhi will get connecting flights at Bangalore.
The flights will start from September 24. This is Air India’s 64th domestic destination. This will also reduce flights fare of newer airlines that might start operations to the islands.
A Dog’s Day Out – Concert For The Canine Friends
Jun 18th
Last week, the Sydney Opera House was hounded by hounds. Literally. The event was the world’s first concert performed for dogs. Well, they were accompanied by their owners, too.
US musician Laurie Anderson and rock legend husband Lou Reed came up with this brilliant idea. They executed it with Anderson’s 20-minute piece ‘Music for Dogs’. There were many varieties of dogs attending the concert.
The first-of-its-kind concert attracted quite a number of musicians and fans. Sure it’ll spur a few such concerts in future.