Get ready for some fishing action at The Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge

The sea bottoms of peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo are among the most spectacular and species-rich in the world, thanks to the unique geographic location of the country. From giant turtles, frenzied sharks, to gregarious dolphins, Malaysia is a treasure trove of marine life. Rich in aquatic life, the country indulges in sport fishing where the primary reward is the challenge of finding and catching the fish rather than the culinary or financial value of the fish. One such internationally acclaimed fishing event is ‘The Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge’.

“The Royal Pahang Billfish International challenge is an international eco-friendly event highlighting the presence of exotic billfishes in the Pahang region. This is an ideal event for fishing enthusiasts, attracting a huge number of visitors as participants as well as tourists from all over the world,” says Mr. ManoharanPeriasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia, India.

The Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge (RPBIC) is the largest fishing competition in Malaysia, currently involving many local and overseas participants.Scheduled to take place from August 21 to August 24, 2014, this international challenge is the flagship event for Pahang Government State, Tioman Development Authority & Pahang Tourism. It is an annualoff-shore ‘Catch and Release’ fishing competition held at Kuala Rompin. Rompin’s waters are known as one of the natural migration routes for the Billfish.

The concept of this competition is to create a healthy activity while preserving the species. Now in its 10^th edition the challenge was initiated by the Joran Unit of BeritaHarian, a popular Malay language national daily newspaper in Malaysia. Loaded with dynamic bursts of excitement for the experienced angler, it is a highly anticipated event drawing scores of participants from around the world.

RPBIC takes advantage of the active migration season of the billfish, such as Marlin and Sailfish, passing the Rompin area from the northern hemisphere to their destination in Australia, fromMarch to September. This annual billfish migration, passing through the area in their thousands, could be tracked via satellite. As observed during the fishing challenge, the reefs at Rompin, namely Karang (Reef) DO, Karang Cha, KarangBatuMati, Karang Buru, KarangLuas, BatuBerhala, KarangRompin, Batu Saga and TukunTayar provide some of the best resting places for the billfish before they move on, thus making it an ideal location for the fishing challenge  as well.

For those who seek adventure and eco – friendly sports, the billfish challenge is the place to be. The event greatly contributes to state tourism, as a good number of tourists both local and international travel to Pahang every year to witness the ‘catch and release’ action. So for locals as well as internationals the fishing challenge can be an exciting adventure experience, not to be missed.

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, popularly known as Tourism Malaysia, was established to promote Malaysia as a top-of-mind tourist destination showcasing Malaysia’s unique wonders, attractions and cultures; develop domestic tourism and enhance Malaysia’s share of the market for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Tourism Malaysia’s objective is to promote Malaysia as an outstanding tourist destination and make the tourism industry a major contributor to the socio-economic development of the nation. In India, Tourism Malaysia offices are conveniently located in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

 In 2014, Malaysia celebrates its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.

 

Wedding is destined, Destination is GOA!

The Goa Wedding Show brings together exhibitors, vendors and wedding planners under the same roof

~ The aim is to showcase the potential of Goa as the ideal wedding destination

With a wide range of options right from beaches to quaint churches, picture perfect beaches and majestic forts serving as a backdrop for couples to live their dream wedding, the wedding tourism market in Goa is definitely on an upward swing. Realizing the potential that this market holds and to strengthen the state’s presence in the segment, Goa Tourism has decided to host its first ‘Goa Wedding Show’ on August 16 and 17, 2014 at The Grand Ballroom, Delhi.

This was announced at a press conference in Mumbai. Speaking on the occassion, Shri Dilip Parulekar, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Goa, representing the title sponsor Satyug Gold as its chairperson Ms. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, CEO of Satyug Gold Mr. Raj Kundra, celebrated fashion designer Mr. Wendell Rodricks, Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Chairman – Goa Tourism Development Corporation and Mr. Nikhil Desai, Managing Director – Goa Tourism Development Corporation.

The Goa Wedding Show 2014 aims at boosting tourism in Goa by tapping into the emerging destination wedding market in India. Exhibitors will include wedding planners, hotels, event managers, vendors, fashion designers, spas, travel agencies, hotels, photographers/videographers, hair and make-up artists and artist managers. The organizers hope that this experience will help increase trade opportunities for local vendors in Goa.

Shri Dilip Parulekar, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Govt. of Goa, said “The Indian wedding market is valued at $38 billion a year and is expected to grow 25-30 percent annually. We hope that this initiative will serve as a platform to bring together the best of Goa and showcase what makes the state such a viable wedding destination. We are optimistic about the success of this event and plan to make it an annual property.”

Ms. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, added, “A wedding is one of the most important moments in a girl’s life and the destination is as important as the occasion itself. Goa is one of my favourite destinations. The best part about this state is that you have everything right from beaches to history and a lot of nature. I have attended several weddings in Goa and each has been different from the other. And every time I have returned with a sense of amazement that redefines my perception of a dream wedding.”

Goan fashion designer Mr. Wendell Rodricks, who has witnessed and been a part of several weddings in Goa, remarked, “Organizing your dream wedding takes a certain amount of time and it is heartening to note that you can get all that you want under one roof in Goa. According to me, this along with the state’s natural beauty and varied landscapes makes it a dream wedding destination.”

From its spectacular architecture to its dreamy beaches, Goa has emerged as one of India’s best wedding destination, providing hundreds of picturesque locations and unique experiences. The Goa Wedding Show 2014 will serve as an optimum marketing tool that will give access to potential clients within a short period of time.

For more details, you can contact Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Panjim, Goa or log onto http://www.goa-tourism.com
Goa Tourism to organize Goa Wedding Show in New Delhi

~ This first of its kind event will be held on August 16 and 17 in New Delhi.

Be there to see it all.

PATA GOLD AWARD FOR “MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA” VIDEO

Tourism Malaysia has won prestigious award for video ‘Malaysia Truly Asia – The Essence of Asia’ has received yet another recognition — the 2014 PATA Gold Award for best ‘Promotional Travel Video’ under the Marketing Media category.

It is the fourth award bagged by Tourism Malaysia since the video was made public in January 2014, as part of efforts to promote Visit Malaysia Year.

“I am proud that this Malaysia Truly Asia video to promote Malaysia as a world-class destination has recorded so many impressive results. It’s great that Malaysia is now not only acknowledged by travellers but also by the global travel industry,” Director General of Tourism Malaysia Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab says.

Featuring the soothing voice of popular Malaysian songstress Yuna, the soundtrack in the music video is a romantic and inspiring version of the popular “Malaysia Truly Asia” and it showcases Malaysia’s beautiful rainforest, islands, beaches and other attractions such as food and culture. It is a joint effort made by Tourism Malaysia and its advertising agency M&C Saatchi.

Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Haji Azizan Noordin, who is also Chairman of the PATA Malaysia Chapter says, “It’s a great honour for Tourism Malaysia and all Malaysians to have won this award. It shows that the Malaysia Truly Asia branding, portraying the true essence of Malaysia, is still relevant today and we will continue to use it for years to come.”

The success of the video ‘Malaysia Truly Asia – The Essence of Asia’ this year also includes the bronze medal in the Music Video Category at the 35^th Annual Telly Awards; the Ecotourism and Responsible Travel Award at the 3^rd Deauville Green Awards International Film Festival; and the 1^st prize in the “Country” category at the 13th International Tourism Film and Media Competition “The Golden City Gate” 2014 Awards.

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2013, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM65.4 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner and the sixth highest contributor to its Gross National Income (GNI).

Malaysia is celebrating its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) in 2014 with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started in 2013 with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.    

 

i-city theme park adds fun to the city of Shah Alam

i-city theme park adds fun to the city of Shah Alam

With its increasing popularity as a highly friendly and hospitable nation, Malaysia is rapidly climbing the charts of the most favorable family holiday destinations in the world. In a country full of exotic beaches, shopping districts, food festivals, what adds that spark on a family holiday are the adventurous theme parks. Children still love the Merry-go- rounds, Ferris wheels and roller coasters and for all this fun, theme park is just the right place to be. Malaysia is home to many such majestic theme parks with the Sunway Lagoon, Legoland, A’Famosa and i- City to name a few.

The i- City theme park at Shah Alam is a one of its kind with a variety of attractions, including maple and pine trees lit with bright LED lights. A favorite amongst families with young children, the park is famous for its digital million LED lights display that light up the area at night. The i-city theme park is home to many wonderful attractions created with keeping the entire family in mind. Ranging from a city of digital lights to wax museum to a magical art world, the theme park has it all for a fun filled weekend.

“Tourists as well as locals enjoy weekends at Malaysia’s theme parks as families get to spend quality time together. i- city is one such great place where you have attractions that both children and adults can enjoy,” says Mr. ManoharanPeriasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia, India. Perisasamy adds, “With a variety of options for enjoyment and adventure, there cannot be a dull moment at the magnificent i-City theme park. The level of excitement is always bound to be at its peak here.”

The major attractions at the theme park include:

City of digital lights
As the name suggests, the best time to visit the city of digital lights is during the night. As night falls, i-City’s mesmerizing nightscape with over 1 million LED lights brighten up the sky daily in a thematic manner. The place comes alive with an amazing forest of man-made maple and pine trees brightly illuminated with seasonal LED lights themes. The sight is no less than a fairytale wonderland and visitors are usually left awestruck at the magnificent display.

Snowalk
Next to the forest of lights is Snowalk, an indoor snow park where visitors can escape from the tropical heat for a while and experience chilling temperatures going below 5 degrees. Inside Snowalk one can find igloos, ice houses, slides, a mini-bobsled run, snowmen, ice penguins, a bar made of ice (no drinks served), various ice sculptures and plenty more LED lights.

Waterworld
The Waterworld at i-city has made Shah Alam the splash capital of Selangor. The main feature of this water park is the exhilarating Tornado Ride, the first of its kind in South East Asia. It offers visitors the ultimate aquatic adrenalin rush by taking them on an oscillating ‘near-zero-gravity-twirl’ for a full 28-second through a 160-foot water tunnel, plummeting into a water funnel that is 7-storey high, inclined at a 45 degree angle and eventually emerging at the end of the funnel in calm, serene waters. Other exciting and fun-filled water rides include the Giant Jacuzzi, exciting spiral and rainbow slides, Children’s Adventure Pool, River Adventure through LED-lit rockery caves and a Wave Pool with a giant LED screen.

Red Carpet Wax museum
A Visit Malaysia (VMY) 2014 product, the revolutionary red carpet wax museum is Malaysia’s first all-stars interactive wax museum that dazzles in an Oscar-like awards setting. Visitors will be awe- struck entering a world of stars and their coming to life with the synchronization of voice and motion, thanks to the latest technology in wax exhibits display. The wax exhibits are in six themes namely World Icons, Celebrities, Sport Stars, World Book of Records, Interactive and All Stars Café.

Trick Art Museum
This magical museum has earned the reputation of being the only showcase of its kind in Malaysia where exhibits come to life in 3D when seen through camera lenses. Trick art renders two dimensional paintings in three dimensions by creating illusion. Each exhibit looks different when seen from different angles. Its magic magnifies when seen at a perfect angle from camera lenses. This artistic display boasts 5 themes, namely Masterpieces, Egyptian, Sea Life, Animal Kingdom and Modern Classic.

About Tourism Malaysia India

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, popularly known as Tourism Malaysia, was established to promote Malaysia as a top-of-mind tourist destination showcasing Malaysia’s unique wonders, attractions and cultures; develop domestic tourism and enhance Malaysia’s share of the market for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Tourism Malaysia’s objective is to promote Malaysia as an outstanding tourist destination and make the tourism industry a major contributor to the socio-economic development of the nation. In India, Tourism Malaysia offices are conveniently located in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

In 2014, Malaysia celebrates its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.

 

An interesting update on “Hawaii by Air” with Museum unveiling

“Hawaii by Air” Museum unveiled

Even if a Hawaiian dream vacation is not in their plans this year, visitors can experience the next best thing at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. “Hawaii by Air” opens at the museum on the National Mall July 25. The exhibition features captivating Hawaiian travel posters that will leave visitors longing for island beaches. Photographs and ephemera culled mainly from the museum’s collections explore how air travel to Hawaii developed and grew, how the travel experience evolved along with the airplane and how air travel changed Hawaii.

Few people realize that Hawaii is one of the most remote places on Earth. Europeans began traveling to the islands in the late 1700s. By the mid-1800s, naturalists, writers, artists and scientists were braving the weeks-long ocean journey to experience Hawaii’s beauty, Polynesian culture and active volcanoes. The islands attracted the likes of writers Mark Twain and Isabella Bird. As travel by sea improved, Hawaii began encouraging tourism and promoting itself as the “Paradise of the Pacific.”
In 1910, only seven years after the Wright brothers’ historic flights at Kitty Hawk, J.C. “Bud” Mars made the first airplane flight in Hawaii. But it was not until 1925 that the U.S. Navy made the first attempt to fly to Hawaii from the mainland. In 1927, a U.S. Army airplane made the first successful flight to Hawaii. Attempts by civilians to make the dangerous flight soon followed, many resulting in tragedy.

Pan American Airways opened the first transpacific air route in 1935 and brought the first air service to Hawaii. It began bringing small numbers of passengers to Hawaii the following year on its famous flying clipper ships. Flying to Hawaii was luxurious but expensive; most people still traveled by ocean liner. That changed after World War II, when new propeller-driven airliners and then jets made travel to this remote destination much more common, comfortable and affordable. Hawaii experienced a tourism boom that exceeded all expectations.

Air travel transformed Hawaii. It made tourism the foundation of the state’s economy and spurred growth and development throughout the islands. It helped shape Hawaii into the Pacific crossroads of commerce and culture it is today.
“Hawaii by Air” not only tells the story of how air travel to the islands developed, but also how the airplane changed the travel experience. Firsthand accounts and reproductions of airline ephemera illustrate what travel to and among the islands was like, from sailing ships in the 1860s to the first daring transpacific flights in the 1920s to Stratocruisers in the 1950s and jets in the 1960s and beyond. The exhibition also includes airplane models, airline uniform badges, historic film footage, a high-resolution satellite image of the islands, broadcasts from a vintage Hawaiian radio show and live Hawaiian plants. It will be open until July 2015.
“Hawaii by Air” is made possible through the support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

The National Air and Space Museum building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. Attendance at both buildings combined exceeded 8 million in 2013, making it the most visited museum in America. The museum’s research, collections, exhibitions and programs focus on aeronautical history, space history and planetary studies. Both buildings are open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. every day (closed Dec. 25).

– Bienu Verma Vaghela

 

With malice towards One & All, who hate black!

I was born dark to fair parents, so I have lived with it…dark girl, how she will get married, who will marry her with this complexion…all these comments did not deter me from being proud of my dark complexion, black eyes and black tresses. I grew up as a confident teenager, super confident adult in this biased world which despised everything black including human beings. Defying conventional norms of beautiful Indian girl, I got married and today I am proud parent of beautiful teenager. In those days it was a taboo to say (Late 70s) I love black! But I saw my mother using black kohl tika to ward off bad omen, caring for our black pet dog, having black cow in the back yard and draping herself in black sarees, father loving his black Pantaloons…what not!

Somehow since those days, I developed some sort of liking for BLACK and secretly yearned for many things black to colour my life when I grow up. Things changed…but today with http://www.blogadda.com inviting us to reveal our secret fetish for Black, memories are very vivid of my teenage years when I always thought what all black things I will have when I grow up. The power of black is immense…when you wear a dress, it hides your negatives, makes you look slimmer, black kohl in your eyes makes you look beautiful, your black tresses attract as many eyeballs and when you zip in your black Merc – world turns green!

If wishes were horses, I would surround myself with everything black around me.

I list here those FIVE black things which I would certainly like to possess:

1. Black Bridal Lehenga: Black Bridal lehenga for my daughter for her marriage so that all evil is warded off while she looks ravishing on her big day. All embroideries, cuts, silhouettes spontaneously get a lift if the outfit is black. It enhances your features, hides negatives of your body shape, makes you look slimmer and immediately lifts your mood. And it is a break from convention! You don’t have to think twice before selecting a black outfit…be it corporate board meeting, party, social gathering or celebration!

2. Black Lhasa Apso: I love this breed, especially jet black ones with shiny black eyes. They look so cute, warm and welcoming. Their look is bewildering when they shake their beautiful tresses and when you move your fingers on them. That silky smooth touch cannot be described in words, as if your fingers are pampering your own jet black tresses.

3. Black Mercedes Benz: The class, look & feel of this dream machine is just out of this world. I have always secretly nurtured this desire of possessing a Merc at some point of my life, but it will be very difficult to convince my folks… I want a black one. Their response would be: Not again! But now sharing this post with them would make my task easier. Black Mercedes lifts your persona beyond measures, when you step out, you wish everybody was watching you.

4.Black Granite Kitchen: As home-maker, blogger, I spend long hours in kitchen and I look forward to having Black granite all over kitchen so that the colour of my crockery, utensils, gadgets, even veggies comes out in sharp contrast. Black granite gives classy look to the kitchen and lifts your mood to work in the kitchen, even when you are in no mood to be there.

5. Black Clouds: I want to visit one such place where I can have close view of Black clouds interspersed with white ones as black covers, white uncovers and you get sharp contrast milieu. I think the sight will be mesmerizing when I will chase the black clouds running from here to there in an open field. Aimless wandering, never ending chase, surrounded by nature’s black bed-sheet, do I ask for more. What a break it would be from moronic corporate life, where you have black laptops, black mobiles, black spread sheets…black coffee to keep you awake on your desk.

This is my take of black…what say?

This post is a part of #WhatTheBlack activity at BlogAdda.com

Lingering aroma of LOBAN ( لوبان ) at Dewa Sharif

The incident happened many years ago when I was posted in Lucknow, UP. On one such cloudy day of July…just after reaching office I told my colleague that I am feeling somewhat depressed and don’t want to be in office. Without wasting a minute she told me, “I will take you to a place where your depression will not only choo mantar; you will rejuvenate with drive to the place. Without wasting anytime, she took out her car and both of us set out for an untold destination. The drive was breathtakingly beautiful…and what a break from bone-breaking office routine. My constant coaxing went unheard, Nadira kept on driving, while I was hoping this drive doesn’t end till infinity!
I think while we were about 100-meters away from our destination, I asked her “Are we going to some shrine/ mosque, precisely Dewa Sharif”. Now question from her, “How did you know”.

  I replied the aroma of Loban لوبان is in the air…

I am short of words to explain how aroma or fragrance of Loban or Frankincense soothed my senses, calmed my soul and transcended me to a spiritual world with ease. Today while writing about the scent/ aroma/ fragrance which has stayed with me till today is Loban or Benzoin which is used for making scents and when burnt it wards of negative energies. Loban is a fragrant, aromatic resin, or gum resin, burned as incense in religious rites. The best kinds now come from East Indian trees, of the genus Boswellia; a commoner sort, from the Norway spruce (Abies excelsa) and other coniferous trees. The frankincense of the ancient Jews is still unidentified.
For me it was most precious fragrance and may be rare too!

Not to miss some details on the Tomb of Haji Waris Ali Shah in Dewa, Lucknow (India), a symbol of universal love and brotherhood. Prayers made at the holy shrine of Syed Haji Waris Ali Shah (Dewa Sharif) in Lucknow, have always been accepted and the believer is blessed with happiness and peace. Haji Waris Ali Shah or Sarkar Waris Pak – a Sufi saint from Dewa, district Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India, he was the successor to the Qadriyya -Razzakiyya Silsila.

A number of Hindus held him in high esteem and always regarded him as a perfect Sufi. Thousands of Hindus, including Sadhus and Fakirs of different Panthas paid homage to him and expressed respect to his order.

Haji Waris Ali Shah left for his heavenly abode on 7th April, 1905. He was buried at the spot where he died and this location is marked by a monument. The tomb of Hazi Waris Ali Shah is now a place famous for communal amity. The monument is constructed on styles of architecture that blends the Hindu-Iranian art. The tomb, the shrines are somewhat indicative of the Hindu style of architecture while the towers and minarets present the Persian architecture.

Loban – Binding Hindus & Muslims with its unique fragrance!

South Indian Movies Stars to descend in Malaysia in September

After creating history in the previous two years, this year SIIMA 2014 travels to the enthralling city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia taking the South Indian Cinema a step ahead on the global platform by making a mark overseas. The South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) will be held on September 12th and 13^th and will see the South Indian super stars reach out to their fans in Malaysia.

The event was graced by dignitaries like Manoharan Periasamy – Director, Tourism Malaysia India, Tony Nagamaiagh – GM, Malaysia Major events, Shubhodip Pal-  Chief Marketing  and Brinda Prasad –    Chairperson, SIIMA.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Manoharan Peraisamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia said, “Malaysia is delighted to be associated with SIIMA and we are glad to host the most prestigious South Indian Movie Award in our country. Indian movies have always been popular in Malaysia especially the South Indian movies. With a huge fan base, this event will be a big treat for Indian film lovers in Malaysia.”

“Malaysia with its exotic beaches and natural attractions isalso growing as a favorite filming destination for Indian film makers. We hope to make many more films together,” he added.

Says, Chairperson of SIIMA, Brinda Prasad, “There are a large number of South Indians spread across the globe but the revenues that the South Indian film industry generates through the overseas market are far less. Through SIIMA we hope to promote South Indian cinema worldwide and bring South Indian stars closer to their global audience.”

The SIIMA demonstrate exceptional work of art, innovation, integrity and success.Some of the leading nominations for 2014 include Attarintiki Daredi for 12 categories in Telugu; Drishyam & Amen for 8 categories in Malayalam; Googly for 11 categories in Kannada and Kadal

L-R Mr. Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager OF Malaysia major events, Manoharan Periasamy – Director, Tourism Malaysia India, Brinda Prasad, Chairperson, SIIMA, Shubhodip Pal -Chief Marketing, Shriya Saran, Rana Daggubati, Tirumal Reddy, Director Marketing of SIIMA

For 8 categories in Tamil.

The awards night will witness remarkable performances by actors Shriya Saran, Rana Daggubati and many more with glitz and glamour at Kuala Lampur. Along with SIIMA, Malaysia will celebrate its diversity and multi- culture palette. So this September all eyes will be on Malaysia with South Indian Film family coming together.

SIIMA is supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

 

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, popularly known as Tourism Malaysia, was established to promote Malaysia as a top-of-mind tourist destination showcasing Malaysia’s unique wonders, attractions and cultures; develop domestic tourism and enhance Malaysia’s share of the market for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Tourism Malaysia’s objective is to promote Malaysia as an outstanding tourist destination and make the tourism industry a major contributor to the socio-economic development of the nation. In India, Tourism Malaysia offices are conveniently located in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

In 2014, Malaysia celebrates its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started this year with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.

Zip, Zap, Zoom with ZEST in life…

I believe ‘Zest’ is the most powerful & wonderful emotions for any sensible human being. What is life without zest? According to me it is like living life of a vegetable where you are in dud routine, and have nothing to look forward to. Excitement, enthusiasm, zest are spices of life which makes lives around us worth relishing. With zest you can make other’s lives worth living too…and not just yours!

Being a woman, a home – maker, working professional ( Chief Editor – media house), mother of a teenager, thoughtful, responsible…life is proving to be a trapeze act which requires smart balancing in all my roles. And the biggest challenge is I want to do this with élan, and I am doing it too. (Check with my husband, daughter & boss). Indeed this multiple roles keep the zest of life but these add to depressing moments too and life is going on like that. But amidst all this, it is not difficult for me think of some things which can really add some zest to my life and I so want them very much. Besides, adding ZEST, they will do immense value addition to my life.

If wishes were horses…I would like to ride on these wishes:

1. Meeting Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India who changed the face of Indian politics. He comes as a very positive person and because of this quality he could see such meteoric rise. Today whole world is at his feet…He has the charisma and dynamism to move the 1 billion population of India and established great connect with his countrymen. He is impeccable with his speeches and his dressing, styling sense is worth emulating. A meeting with him will surely add zest to my life.

2. Having a very intellectually stimulating conversation with someone where I can freely discuss what is happening across the globe, lives of people, wars, terrorism, gloom, doom, politics, diplomacy going on all over…it will certainly add ZEST to my life which I will cherish for ever. It will be a great mental massage for my grey cells which I feel have been lying dormant in want of one. Here I can exchange notes with that person, have his/her views and share my views with him/ her. Really look forward to having one such date…

3. Sharing a platform with the likes of Ms. Kiran Bedi, Smriti Irani, Hillary Clinton where I can share my views on Women Empowerment that why it is important to have powerful women to make any country powerful, resourceful. Till now I have been listening, now I feel time has come that world listens to my views on the topic. It will certainly give me a new high, world becoming privy to my views on this most relevant & topical topic. It will certainly add great Zest to my life.

4. Visit a place which is laden with natural beauty, greenery, cottages, sea-shores, and exciting night life, cuisines, where my thought process is aligned with nature and I am able to give concrete shape to my book which is constantly spinning in my head from quite some time. May be zest is not enough to concretise my thoughts. May be such surroundings infuse much needed fresh enthusiasm for me to make some headway in this venture.

5. Possessing a Mean machine – a beautiful CAR which can literally take me places. Laden with good looks, great performance, smart features…it will give feathers to my imagination. I can visit those places which I have been aspiring to from a very long time like some interiors of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa may be. Possessing one will certainly add zest to my life.

The list is long, but for now this will suffice. You at blogadda have taken the initiative of adding Zest to we bloggers life and I am thankful for that. Writing this piece has already added some zest to my life. With @tatazest my zest would zip to another level, amen!

This post is a part of the #ZestUpYourLife activity in association with TATA Zest and
BlogAdda.com

Kailash Mansarovar yatra – Spiritual, Religious…Daunting, but all Hindus want to be there!

In the current BRICs Summit the possibility of an alternative route to the Kailash-Mansarovar pilgrimage in China through Himachal Pradesh was taken up by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi jinping. Here Mr. Modi raised the possibility of additional route for the Mansarovar Yatra since the present one from Uttarakhand is quite complicated, rather daunting. The Chinese President gave an assurance to consider the request for an alternative route. He said the additional and easier route from Himachal Pradesh would result in better bilateral relations between the two neighbours and also create additional employment in the transport and tourism sectors.

The alternate way to Mansarovar goes from Kinnaur in Himachal and is much easier, shorter and safer. From the last Indian village of Shipkila in Kinnaur the holy lake of Mansarovar is just 91 km away and can be covered by road with little trekking needed to reach the destination.

This move has not only been welcomed by the locals but the tourism industry as well as it will allow many more pilgrims/ tourists to undertake this yatra. An assurance in this regard has been given by the Chinese President Xi Jinping to the PM Narendra Modi. If that happens, pilgrims have a reason to rejoice as presently they have to cover the distance for 1897 Kms from Delhi where 1717 kms is by bus and 127 Kms on foot. Isn’t it daunting effort to achieve this feat?

Following the political and border disturbances across the Chinese-Indian boundary, pilgrimage to the legendary abode of Lord Shiva was stopped from 1954 to 1978. Thereafter, a limited number of Indian pilgrims have been allowed to visit the place, under the supervision of the Chinese and Indian governments either by a lengthy and hazardous trek over the Himalayan terrain, travel by land from Kathmandu or from Lhasa where flights from Kathmandu are available to Lhasa and thereafter travel over the great Tibetan plateau by car. The journey takes four night stops, finally arriving at Darchen at elevation of 4,600 m (15,100 ft), small outpost that swells with pilgrims at certain times of year. Despite its minimal infrastructure, modest guest houses are available for foreign pilgrims, whereas Tibetan pilgrims generally sleep in their own tents. A small regional medical center serving far-western Tibet and funded by the Swiss Ngari Korsum Foundation was built here in 1997.

Walking around the holy mountain—a part of its official park—has to be done on foot, pony or yak, taking some three days of trekking starting from a height of around 15,000 ft (4,600 m) past the Tarboche (flagpole) to cross the Drölma pass 18,200 ft (5,500 m), and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa, some 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi) before the pass and second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible (viewing Gauri Kund in the distance).
Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day, which is not considered an easy task. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four weeks of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen. The mountain is located in a particularly remote and inhospitable area of the Tibetan Himalayas. A few modern amenities, such as benches, resting places and refreshment kiosks, exist to aid the pilgrims in their devotions. According to all religions that revere the mountain, setting foot on its slopes is a dire sin. It is claimed that many people who ventured to defy the taboo have died in the process.
Mount Kailash (22,028 ft, 6,714 m), the famed holy peak, is situated to the north of the Himalayan barrier in Western Tibet. This legendary snow-shrouded rock dome is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bonpos (Pre-Buddhists) and draws pilgrims from India, Nepal, Mongolia, Tibet, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. At the slopes of Kailash, a stream is said to pour into Mansarovar and from this lake, flow four of Asia’s great rivers ¬ the Indus, the Brahmaputra, the Karnali and the Sutlej.

Hindus cross the frozen mountain passes of India and Nepal to circle the peak that is Lord Shiva’s throne and bathe in the lake created from the manas (mind) of Brahma. Buddhists journey from Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, Mongolia and every corner of Tibet to this holiest of mountains they call Kang Rinpoche.

Manasarovar, the lake born from the mind of Brahma, is among the most ancient and holy of Hindu pilgrimage sites. Hindu legend tells of twelve Rishis, wise ‘Seers’ of pre-Vedic times who retreated to this remote region for meditation and prayer. They stayed many years performing penances and austerities, and were awarded a vision of Shiva and Parvati, the divine Lord and Lady of Kailash.

According to ancient Hindu folklore, it was Brahma – the Creator, who himself created Mansarovar and the divine Jambu tree, which though invisible to the human eye, grows in the centre. It is for this reason that the world was called Jambudwipa by the ancients; and it is said that because of the fruits of this divine tree that the waters of the Mansarovar have turned into a life – giving elixir! Mansarovar’s clear waters are said to possess miraculous healing properties.

Lake Mansarovar – Gauri Kund, the “Lake of Mercy’ called Tukje Chenpo Tso by Tibetans, lies in a setting of jagged ice cliffs. Pilgrims come across this lake while descending Dolma La, the Pass of redemption and salvation where the pilgrim is said to be reborn. At 18,600 feet it is one of the highest lakes in the world. Gaurikund is considered the bathing place of Goddess Parvati (Uma), the consort of Lord Shiva. Tibetans call it Memo Namgyal. At 25,355 feet this is the third highest mountain in Tibet. Here it is viewed from the village Houre, where the 53-mile Mansarovar kora (parikrama) begins.

For pilgrims, the distances seem unending. The weather is harsh. The temperature could soar to 40 Degrees C and drop to 0 Degrees just in a matter of a few hours. Supplies are virtually non-existent. The pilgrim has to undergo extreme hardship under extreme temperatures. The terrain is not very friendly either. Nevertheless, pilgrims come from all parts of the world, defying all hardships. They trek for 53 km around Kailash and 90 km around Mansarovar at altitudes between 15,000 – 19,000 feet above sea level.

This yatra is known for its religious value, cultural significance, physical beauty and thrilling nature. The Yatra is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs every year between June and September. It is open to eligible Indian citizens, holding valid Indian passports, who wish to proceed to Kailash Manasarovar for religious purposes. The Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes of up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions, including extreme cold and rugged terrain, and may prove hazardous for those who are not physically and medically fit. Only those healthy and physically fit should apply to undertake the Yatra.
Yatra fee is Rs.32,000 approx.

You can touch base with MEA at kmyatra@mea.gov.in.
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