Upendra Swami

When Mount Masada becomes screen for the show

Upendra SwamiDecember 30, 20191841 Views4

Sound and light shows around historical and architectural monuments are not new. Monuments make a marvellous backdrop for such shows. We have many sound and light shows in India of this nature at almost most of our historical palaces, temples, etc. But Israel has taken this effort a bit ahead in more bigger way, where a mountain itself has become a canvas for the audio-visual show. And, it has also added many more features to this concept to make it an adventure and outing in itself, something quite unique in nature. Photo credit: Meno Greenspan The Israel Nature and Parks Authority offers a new nocturnal 45 minutes show ‘From Dusk to Dawn’ at the Masada National Park, its’ flagship site. Ranked as Israel’s most popular national park with 1 million visitors a year, the site has crea...

InternationalNews

In-flight services—not ticket prices—boost passenger satisfaction on international flights

Upendra SwamiDecember 26, 20192206 Views4

Booking a domestic flight for a quick trip or a business meeting or a visit to a relative! You are certainly going to look for a cheaper—if not the cheapest—option. All the booking apps even work in that way. So far, so good! But when it comes to long international travel and preferably vacation travel, what we perceive is something else. Our choices and preferences become different, ticket prices are definitely not on the top of it. Now there is a study to show that. Great food—the spicier the better—plus good customer service and a positive track record are the primary drivers of passenger satisfaction on international airline flights. In a stark departure from the price-driven culture of domestic airline customer behaviour, the J.D. Power 2019 Airline International Destination S...

AdventureIndia

GOING SOLO: More Indians now travelling alone!

Upendra SwamiDecember 23, 20191341 Views2

Each time, I went for three of my most ambitious trips in last seven years, I went alone. I not only enjoyed it but I also was aware that I was just the part of a growing trend. It only gets more and more confirmed now. 40% of travellers based in India intend to “go solo” when they travel, as compared to 25% of Asia Pacific travelers, reveals a recent study by Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program of global travel and hospitality company Hilton. The research – surveying close to 1,120 avid travellers aged between 20-45 in India and segmented by life stage – explored the travel motivations, aspirations and expectations of the country’s most active travellers. The primary motivation for 66% of these intrepid travellers is to experience “life-changing moments” that pu...

International

You won’t want to miss Christmas in Israel

Upendra SwamiDecember 21, 20191114 Views0

It’s again that time of the year. Beyond the connection that Israel has to the birth of Christianity, Israel is one of the most beautiful places in the world to celebrate Christmas. The Israel Ministry of Tourism invests a great deal of resources to make this an unforgettable holiday experience for every traveller visiting the country. Whether it's strolling the alleys of the Old City of Jerusalem, the midnight mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, attending the traditional Nazareth event and exploring the charming Christmas markets - there's no better way to start the new year. Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Jerusalem. Photo: Israel Ministry of TourismSanta House, Jerusalem. Photo: Israel Ministry of Tourism Nazareth: Christmas in Nazareth, where Jesus grew up, is a great celebr...

IndiaPhotogallery

Bada Bagh: An oasis and cenotaphs side by side!

Upendra SwamiDecember 11, 20194115 Views4

It was an amazing sight- with Royal Cenotaphs of the Bada Bagh in the foreground and towering windmills in the background. A modern technology making a backdrop for a slice of history. Bada Bagh or Bara Bagh was the first wind power project in Rajasthan in private sector at the start of this century. Completing the view was a dense garden in the foreground, almost like an oasis in the desert. It actually was. Huge windmills, cenotaphs and a secluded garden all together gave a feeling of an eerie calmness. Entering the cenotaph complex It was astounding that there was no other tourist in the Bada Bagh cenotaph complex when we were there, and it was surprising also considering the fact, that whole complex looked too impressive to be missed by any tourist. A view from above ...

AdventureInternational

Golfing in the Paradise with Thai Golf Pass!

Upendra SwamiDecember 5, 20191030 Views0

Golf is an amazing sport, unlike most of other competitive sports. It is played at different golf courses and each course is so different from the other so much so that not just the outcome of the event might well be decided by the structure of the course, but the course itself becomes the most fascinating part. Golfers will vie for getting some shots at admired golf courses. Thus the golf courses become the destination in themselves. Now, that is the phenomenon we are increasingly seeing around. Golf tourism has become a dedicated offshoot of tourism in general and sports tourism in particular. A golf course needs large area, big greens and an excellent topography. Since south east Asia has all of this in abundance, therefore many south Asian countries are more and more showcasing...

InternationalNews

So, how does the best Christmas tree in Europe looks like! See it yourself

Upendra SwamiNovember 30, 20191817 Views0

What’s a Christmas without a Christmas tree, and what’s a Christmas tree if it is not decorated with lights and gifts et al. And Christmas tree aren’t definitely meant to be simple. They have to be big and beautiful. Christmas tress are always awaited with much enthusiasm. With Christmas less than a month to arrive, world over preparations for elaborate Christmas trees are already being done on war footing. But do you know, which one is the most beautiful of them all? Well, tough to judge the every Christmas tree from far corners of this earth, but then we still choose few to likening of our senses. So, here are a few Christmas trees that are considered to be the best in Europe. Also read: Celebrate Christmas with over 3 million sparkling lights Vilnius Christmas Tree. Photo: Sauli...

International

Explore hidden gems of Costa Brava in Spain

Upendra SwamiNovember 29, 20191716 Views0

The Costa Brava is a coastal region of Catalonia in northeastern Spain known for its virgin beaches and bays against the scenic backdrop of heavily wooded hills. One of the most stunning coastlines in the country, this unexplored region is only a 2-hour drive from Catalonia’s culture-soaked capital of Barcelona and just a short distance away from some incredible ski resorts. Here’s what you must see with V.R. Costa Brava, a destination management firm that provides immersive local and bespoke experiences in Costa Brava- Girona - Largest city of Northern Catalonia region, Girona has museums, galleries, Gothic churches and 16 restaurants which have a total of 20 Michelin stars making it the highest Michelin star per capita ratio in the world, ahead of Paris, Rome or London. Walk alon...

InternationalNews

Love jazz! Its going to be a JAZZUARY in Brussels

Upendra SwamiNovember 27, 20191166 Views0

With one month, 3 festivals, 46 concerts at 8 concert venues, Brussels definitively puts jazz in the spotlight in January. As the birthplace of the saxophone, the Belgian capital has become an essential stopover for musicians and lovers of the genre. Brussels is the city with the highest number of jazz concerts per capita in the world, after New York and Paris. From Toots Thielemans, to Philip Catherine, Steve Houben, Mélanie De Biasio, Eric Legnini, and Charles Loos, these ambassadors of Belgian jazz abroad all have a close link with this city, where it feels good to play and share your music. With its many festivals, concert halls, clubs and conservatories, jazz is widespread and can be heard everywhere, in every style, all year round and all through the night. One of the highlig...

InternationalNews

Are we in an age of ‘mass extinction’?

Upendra SwamiNovember 17, 20191333 Views0

For more than 3.5 billion years, living organisms have thrived, multiplied and diversified to occupy every ecosystem on Earth. The flip side to this explosion of new species is that species extinctions have also always been part of the evolutionary life cycle. But these two processes are not always in step. When the loss of species rapidly outpaces the formation of new species, this balance can be tipped enough to elicit what are known as “mass extinction” events. A mass extinction is usually defined as a loss of about three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth over a “short” geological period of time. Given the vast amount of time since life first evolved on the planet, “short” is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years. Since at least the Cambrian period