A 7-year-old Rio Carnival queen parades, in tears

RIO DE JANEIRO - A tearful 7-year-old Carnival queen led exuberant drummers through the Sambadrome stadium on Sunday, in a distressed state that may add to controversy over whether a tiny child should perform such a high-pressure, sexually-charged role.

Julia Lira emerged blinking into the bright lights and deafening fireworks of the Sambadrome and soon burst into tears as photographers and reporters scrummed around her before her samba group started its parade.

Wearing a short purple dress, a sequined halter and a silver tiara, Lira shyly remained silent in the face of reporters questions and then, clearly upset, had to be comforted by her father and other performers as the tears flowed.

It was unclear to what extent Lira, the youngest drum corps queen in memory, completed the full parade, although her father said that he held her hand as she crossed the finish line.

"She cried because there were a lot of people on top of her," said her father, Marco Lira, who is also president of the Viradouro samba group, or school.

The selection of a third grader in a role usually occupied by high-heeled models and sex-symbol soap opera stars has sparked a heated debate in Brazil and abroad over the role of children in the annual festival of hedonism.

That debate was still rumbling as Carnival kicked into high gear with the top samba schools' first parades watched over by thousands of fans and celebrities including U.S. pop star Madonna.

"I'm against it, she is too young. A seven-year old shouldn't be in front of the drum corps," said 22-year-old Luiz Paulo, bedecked in silver and feathers as he prepared to parade.

Lira, was given the green light to parade by a judge last week after a child protection agency tried to block her because of concern about a child performing in a sexual role.

SWEATY ECSTASY

Drum queens, chosen for their looks and samba skills, dance nonstop in front of hundreds of drummers, wearing little more than a tiny bikini, a feathered headdress and high heels.

But many Carnival aficionados say children have traditionally played a major role in the party and that the sexualization of drum corps queens is a recent development.

"The drum queen isn't necessarily a sexual role," said one Viradouro drummer, 25-year-old Carlos Alberto.

"Every school has the right to innovate and to put the artist of its choice at the head of the corps, be it a woman with a gorgeous body or an innocent and marvelous child."

Some might argue that Lira was not the youngest star of the show on Sunday.

Drum queen Adriane Galisteu danced for the Unidos da Tijuca school with a 4-month-old baby inside her womb after finding out weeks before Carnival she was pregnant and getting the medical go-ahead to parade.

"I'm feeling twice as emotional. I always thought I would parade pregnant and now my turn has come," the TV presenter, who is rumored to have a collection of more than 1,000 bikinis, told Reuters as she displayed her toned figure for cameras.

A dazzling spectacle of movement and color, the annual parades are also a serious competition for Rio bragging rights that are judged on their precision, atmosphere, and design.

Sunday's parades, following days of bawdy street parties, included a float in honor of late pop star Michael Jackson, a giant wooden horse, hordes of ancient Egyptians, and a tribute to the capital city of Brasilia.

An oppressive heatwave blanketing Rio ensured the paraders didn't have it easy and were constantly clamoring for bottles of water. But they still ended the parade in a state of ecstasy that Sambadrome veterans say has to be felt to be believed.

"It's really crazy and a really strong emotion. I can't explain it, you just have to do it," said 41-year old Militar Junior de Oliveira, who finished his parade dripping with sweat.

Marriott reports fourth-quarter profit

Marriott International said Thursday that it returned to profitability in the fourth quarter as it continued to combat the waning recession, with occupancy rising but room rates lagging.
The Bethesda-based hotel operator, known for brands such as Ritz-Carlton as well as its namesake, reported earnings of $106 million, or 28 cents a share, for the period ended Jan. 1. That compares with a loss of $10 million, or 3 cents a share, a year earlier.
Fourth-quarter revenue dropped to $3.38 billion from $3.78 billion, but the performance still managed to surpass Wall Street's $3.21 billion estimate. For the full year, Marriott posted a loss of $346 million, or 97 cents a share. Annual revenue declined to $10.91 billion from $12.88 billion.
Marriott executives said that business travel improved during the quarter while budget-conscious leisure travelers took advantage of promotions.
"Folks of all sorts are getting back to travel and getting back to work," said Chief Financial Officer Carl Berquist. He said that higher occupancy during the quarter shows that demand is strengthening, but he conceded that room rates remain weak. The first quarter's results are showing much of the same so far, he added.
Upscale hotels, about a quarter of the U.S. market, were hit hard during the recession as business travelers and affluent guests scaled back on travel. Although signs point toward rising business travel, it may take longer for leisure travel to pick up. Consumers have been wary, and high unemployment continues to push people to postpone travel or take shorter trips. Many hotel companies have tried to woo this segment with discounts, which have squeezed profits.
At Marriott, revenue per available room -- a key measure of performance for the lodging industry -- fell 13.1 percent for worldwide company-run hotels open at least a year. Revenue per available room for company-run North American full-service and luxury hotels open at least a year slipped 11.8 percent. With conditions starting to improve, Marriott offered first-quarter and full-year earnings outlooks in range of analysts' expectations and raised its guidance for a key 2010 revenue figure.
The company said it expects first-quarter earnings from continuing operations of 15 to 21 cents per share and 2010 earnings of 82 to 94 cents per share. Analysts predict a profit of 18 cents per share for the first quarter and 89 cents per share for the year.

New Year's travel resolutions - and how to keep them

Book into La Casella, a 1,000-acre estate with equestrian centre near Orvieto in Umbria, with Real Holidays (020 7359 3938; www.realholidays.co.uk) Riding tuition is available at all levels and accommodation is provided in four renovated farmhouses with two swimming pools, a tennis court and bikes for guests.

Plus point: Children aged four to 10 can join the centre's pony club.
Cost: From £998.90 per person, full board, including flights and car hire. Riding is extra.
Take up bridge
Book a four-night Get Started with Bridge break with HF Holidays (0845 470 7558; www.hfholidays.co.uk) Mornings are used for teaching and coaching sessions, with competitions organised every evening.
Plus point: HF Holidays will arrange partnerships if you are travelling alone, and you can combine bridge with walking and sightseeing excursions.
Cost From £318 per person, full board, at Abingworth Hall in the South Downs.
Send an email
Six hours of computer tuition can be combined into a four-night, midweek break at Cricket St Thomas Hotel in Somerset through Warner Leisure Hotels (0800 138 2633; www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk) The course covers computer terminology, using the mouse, creating files, emailing and surfing the web.
Plus point: The hotel is a Grade II listed 1820s mansion in 160 acres of parkland.
Cost: From £259 per person, half board, sharing an Ambassador double or twin. The "Computer Skills for Beginners" supplement is £40.
Become a wine connoisseur
Extend your knowledge of French wines with a three-night Bordeaux Wine & City tour in April, September or November organised by specialist operator Arblaster & Clark (01730 263111; www.winetours.co.uk) A tasting on the first evening is followed by a visit to Baron de Rothschild's Château Clarke and a tour of the Médoc and Graves regions.
Plus point: Exclusive invitations to lunch at privately-owned chateaux.
Cost: From £499 per person, including breakfasts and two lunches. Travel extra.
Learn to cook
The Italian cookery courses offered by Flavours (0131 343 2500; www.flavoursholidays.com) range from a long weekend to a week at centres in Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily and Bologna. Puglia's course is based in 17th-century Casino Pisanelli, where week-long courses include outings to Lecce and Gallipoli, and a wine tasting.
Plus point: No single supplements.
Cost: from £849 per person (four nights) to £1,599 (seven nights).
Brush up your painting skills
Tuition in oils or acrylic is geared to individual needs at Hartland Peninsula Arts near Bideford in Devon (01237 441490; www.landscapepaintingholidays.co.uk) Courses, with artist Roy Evans, are in groups of up to five, and though daily programmes are dictated by the weather they do try to make the most of the beautiful local scenery.
Plus point: Non-painting partners and friends are welcome and qualify for a lower accommodation-only rate.
Cost: From £300 per person for three days, including tuition, meals and cottage-style rooms close to the studio.
Take the children to swim with dolphins
Travel City Direct (0844 557 6969; www.travelcitydirect.com) offers a day's dolphin swim for children aged six and over at Discovery Cove (www.discoverycove.com), in Orlando, Florida.
Plus point: Package includes entry to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Aquatica.
Cost: From £799 per person, based on two adults and two children sharing on a room-only basis staying at the Baymont Inn & Suites, departing mid-April with Virgin Atlantic flights from Gatwick. The dolphin swim costs £195.
Give your home a makeover
Layout, style and colours are explored on a two-day course called Be Your Own Interior Designer, which takes place at The Hamptons Hotel in Ilfracombe, Devon (01271 864246; www.thehamptonshotel.com) on January 15, February 19 and March 19 in groups of up to 10. There will be lectures from a professional interior designer, who will also oversee practical tuition on texture, soft furnishing and decorative lighting.
Plus point: Participants will come away with a personal sample board.
Cost: From £378 per person, or £598 per couple with breakfast, lunch and two nights' accommodation.
Reach a higher octave
Book a one or two-week singing holiday with Authentic Adventures (01453 834137 www.authenticadventures.co.uk) The holidays take place in Taroudant in south-west Morocco, Kerala in India and Abruzzo in Italy, and singing sessions are combined with leisurely sightseeing, meals and walking itineraries. Group sizes range between 12 and 30 people.
Plus point: Social get-togethers are arranged with local choirs and musicians.
Cost: From £899 per person, with most meals but not flights.
Know your elymus from your elbow
Explore the flora-rich nature reserves around Flatford Mill in Suffolk on a three-night Wild Flowers for Beginners course in early June with botanist Ros Bennett. Run by the Field Studies Centres (FSC, 0845 3454071; www.field-studies-council.org), the course is open to families and individuals, with accommodation by the River Stour.
Plus point: Good timing for families as the course coincides with the Whitsun half-term week.
Cost: £288 per person, full board.
Take better photos
Lakeland Photographic Holidays in Keswick (017687 78459; www.lakelandphotohols.com) caters for budding photographers of all ages and abilities. Workshop themes vary, but the centre is particularly strong on landscape photography. Tuition also covers the basics of Photoshop to help you make the most of digital images.
Plus point: Lovely location in six acres of beautiful woodland by Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite Lake.
Cost: From £380 per person for four nights, including all meals and tuition.
Write a novel
Refine your writing skills on a two-week cruise with Swan Hellenic (0845 246 9700; www.swanhellenic.com) The Venetian Republic, departing in September, includes new writing workshops supervised by authors Sara Wheeler, Paul Bailey and Jeremy Lewis, covering the art of writing fiction, memoirs and biographies, travel, history and poetry.
Plus point: There's a prize for the best pieces of fiction or non-fiction writing.
Cost: From £1,925 per person.
Learn to scuba dive
Where better to learn than in the warm Caribbean waters off Grenada with Regaldive (01353 659 999; www.regaldive.co.uk), staying at the Blue Horizons Resort. As well as numerous coral gardens and local wrecks, you can explore more than 60 surreal underwater sculpted human figures, erected on nearby Molinere reef.
Plus point: The hotel is 300 yards from stunning Grand Anse Beach.
Cost: From £1,226 for seven nights, room-only, with transfers, a PADI Open Water Learn to Dive course (including tuition and equipment). Departs Gatwick in January.
Become a twitcher
Take a three or four-night birding break in north Norfolk organised by Limosa Holidays (01263 578143; www.limosaholidays.com). From a base in Old Hunstanton, an expert guide accompanies small groups to coastal hides. Depending on when you travel, sightings might include snow bunting, hen harriers, yellow-browed warblers and little egrets.
Plus point: There is a maximum of eight people per tour and there are no single supplements.
Cost: From £495, full board.
Learn a language
The British Institute in Florence (www.britishinstitute.it) runs monthly programmes, allowing you to sign up for one to four-week courses. The courses cater for all standards, from beginners to advanced (ability is assessed before classes are allocated) and the institute can also advise on local accommodation.
Plus point You can combine the one-month language course with a range of classes in Italian Renaissance art.
Cost From €205 (£183) for one week.
Hit a hole in one
Improve your swing at the luxurious Gleneagles hotel (0800 389 3737;www.gleneagles.com), in Perthshire, which has an on-site golf academy and three championship golf courses. Would-be golfers and improvers can book lessons at £65 per person for an hour's group tuition (minimum two people), or £95 per person for an hour's individual lesson with a PGA Professional.
Plus point: The nine-hole Wee Course is a good starting point for novices.
Cost: From £120 per person, per night for the "Fall into Spring" season, with breakfast.
Learn to sail
Book a five-day RYA competent crew certificate at Club Vounaki, which is run by Sunsail (0844 463 6495; www.sunsail.co.uk) in the Greek Ionian Islands. A newly opened sailing school for 2010 offers various courses with accommodation in the Club rooms or on board a yacht.
Plus point: The price includes use of swimming pool, tennis courts, mountain bikes, gym and spa. Cost: From £749 per person in May, including flights and transfers.
Acquire the art of snowshoeing
Spend a long weekend snowshoeing in Sicily through pine forests and across old lava flows on the slopes of Mount Etna with Explore (0844 499 0901; www.explore.co.uk). The technique is easy to learn and, on this trip, is combined with cross-country skiing and hiking through the Gorge of Alcantara.
Plus point: The trip includes a visit to Taormina and its Greek amphitheatre.
Cost: From £827 per person for three nights' b & b in small hotels, two lunches and all activities, departing from Gatwick on February 19.
Improve your backhand
The new four-star Club Phokaia in Turkey's Mersinaki Bay has four tennis courts, with tuition, as well as sailing, windsurfing and mountain biking. Neilson (0844 879 8155; www.neilson.co.uk) offers packages, and the sizeable swimming pool and large number of interconnecting rooms make it a good choice for families.
Plus point: Group tennis tuition is included in the price of the holiday.
Cost: From £570 per person in May, with most meals, children's clubs and activities. Individual coaching costs €30 per hour.
Be more creative
Stained glass and mosaic-making are two of this summer's creative courses offered by Skyros Holidays (01983 865566; www.skyros.com) at its Atsitsa Bay centre in Greece. The emphasis is on fun, and the aim is to learn the skills and techniques needed to continue the craft once you return home.
Plus point: Accompanying partners or friends can choose from a wide range of other courses.
Cost: From £845 per person (stained glass), £1,045 (mosaics), full board. Flights are not included. Read More....

Need for tourist friendly ethos: Bina Kak

JAIPUR: Responding to the encouraging tourist response in the last few days and in order to streamline tourist infrastructure, Bina Kak, tourism
minister called for a meeting with the senior officials of tourism department, art and culture, transport, home and police. Stressing the need for a tourist-friendly ethos the minister called upon the need for close coordination between the various stakeholders in tourism, police officials and the tourism department. Addressing the gathering, Kak said there was a need to regulate unauthorised guides, lapkas, mahauts by providing them identity cards and name plates for which the art and culture department was also entrusted the responsibility to work up an action plan. Besides, places of tourist interests should also have CCTVs and videography facilities. Assuring her all their support senior police officials said adequate action would be taken against all such anti-social elements upon receiving a written complaint by the tourist. The transport department on the other hand was asked to provide adequate transport facilities to the outstation tourists. Among those who were present were secretaries of various departments, IG police and representatives from the tourism industry.Read More...

Rumours float of Britney Spears visiting Kerala

The popular tourist destinations of Kottayam and Alappuzha in Kerala were Tuesday evening agog with rumours that Britney Spears was arriving on a private visit with her kids.
Tomy Pullikattil, who owns a fleet of houseboats on the Vembanad Lake, said he had been flooded with phone calls asking if the news was correct.
"I must have received a 100 calls including from abroad asking if Britney is indeed visiting. Even the district collector called me to inquire if it was true, and to all I have given the same answer - that I too have heard about it. I also got a few calls from anxious resort owners from Kumarakom," said Pullikattil.
Meanwhile, a report from London said the pop star has apparently cancelled the visit after learning that the paparazzi have already reached here.
A few years ago Paul McCartney went unnoticed even after moving around in the capital city attending a temple festival. It was only after he boarded the aircraft did his travel agent reveal that the singer had been in Thiruvananthapuram. Read More.....

Japanese woman stabbed in Bali incident

The body of a Japanese woman has been found on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

Hiromi Shimada, 41, who was found naked and bound, had been stabbed repeatedly in the stomach.

Her body was discovered on Saturday night in a rented house near the popular tourist beach of Kuta.

Earlier this year, the partially decomposed body of another Japanese tourist was found in the same area after a suspected kidnapping.

An Indonesian man had already been arrested for the earlier Read More.......

Travel Picks: Top five wine hotels

SINGAPORE - Whether you're an old-world aficionado or new-world evangelist, there's a vineyard hotel out there for you.

Boutique hotel website Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) lists the world's best hotels for wine lovers.

1. Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, United States

California's Napa Valley is the heartland of U.S. winemaking: an easygoing, river-run pocket of rolling greenery that revels in a sun-kissed climate. Calistoga Ranch, a collection of 48 wooden lodges woven into a forest of pines and oaks, is a supremely romantic embodiment of the valley's welcoming, informal atmosphere. The ranch has its own vineyard, label and tasting cave. Visiting vintners from all around pop in with their wares throughout the year, and the wine list in the restaurant could take a week to read, let alone sample. Furthermore, guests who want to get their hands juicy can join in harvesting, pruning and crushing. The hotel's Bathhouse spa uses Calistoga's mineral waters, offering numerous soaking treatments, scrubs and massages, and the exclusive Lakehouse restaurant is one of Napa's most celebrated.

2. Hawksmoor House, Cape Winelands, South Africa

A one-of-a-kind guesthouse on the Matjieskuil wine farm half an hour outside Cape Town, Hawksmoor House allows you a nostalgic glimpse into South Africa's vintage Winelands world: lingering breakfasts on the veranda, vineyard walks, sundowners on the stoop and indulgent dinners in an 18th-century dining room. Don't expect five-star flourishes - this is about unpolished home-grown perfection washed down with a spectacular sunset. The estate grows its own grapes, and provides its own label wines to help stock its cavernous cellar, but there are that many vineyards nearby (Stellenbosch, for starters) that you can take a tasting tour of the Winelands without leaving your armchair.

3. Villa Bordoni, Tuscany, Italy

This 10-roomed restored villa may well be the best spot in the world to secret yourself if you've a taste for Chianti. Set amid the inimitable Tuscan countryside of cypress trees, olive groves and, of course, rolling vineyards, the rustic-luxe hideaway is perfectly positioned for strolling among the vines or exploring the wine towns of the region, such as Montepulciano and Montalcino, or gastronomic, cultural hotspots such as Siena and Florence. The restaurant is the jewel in Bordoni's crown, and there's an excellent selection of Chianti Classico from local winemakers -- the Montrachet-alike 2001 vintage from Querciabella is liquid heaven.

4. Le Relais du Franc Mayne, Bordeaux, France

Surrounded by seven acres of lush St-Emilion vineyard, this 16th-century chateau is at the heart of southern France's wine country. This is a hip hybrid of working winery and boutique hotel, with barrel-loads of charm and style. Outside is classic 16th-century Girondine style; inside, the hotel's nine bedrooms share space with the trappings of viticulture, the eye-catching renovated vat room where guests can learn about wine-making from experts, and the underground caverns where barrel upon barrel of the lush liquid is stored. The hotel offers free wine-tasting sessions and, for the more determined, the nearby Vignobles & Chateaux runs a daily wine school.

5. The Louise, Barossa Valley, Australia

Rivalling Hunter Valley for the title of Australia's wine capital, Barossa is a place of pilgrimage for wine-lovers and foodies alike. The Louise is where the really discerning ones end up, a bastion of urban slickness in a profoundly rustic region, with 15 marvellous modern suites and an almost monastic sense of reverence when conversation moves wine-wards. With more than 100 wine-makers within spitting (and swilling) distance, you could easily spend your entire stay careening around the countryside sampling Barossa's bolshy reds. Where there's wonderful wine, fabulous food is never far behind: the hotel restaurant is a booking-essential destination in itself, with a 'locavorous' seasonal menu that sources 90 percent of its produce from within 30 km of the hotel. As you'd expect from the restaurant's name - Appellation - the wine list is one to remember.Read More....

In Bethlehem, glow of holiday edges out gloom

BETHLEHEM, West Bank - Thousands of pilgrims from around the world descended on the traditional birthplace of Jesus yesterday, greeted by choruses, scout troops, and rock bands for the most upbeat Christmas celebrations this Palestinian town has seen in years.

But the Holy Land’s top Roman Catholic clergyman reminded followers that peace remains elusive, while the threat of sectarian violence in the Islamic world and the lava spilling from a volcano in the Philippines clouded the celebrations for other Christian communities across the globe.
Bethlehem residents, hemmed in by an Israeli security barrier and still recovering from years of violence, celebrated their town’s annual day in the spotlight along with tourists who came from across the globe. Visitors milled around Manger Square, mingling with clergymen, camera crews, and locals hawking food and trinkets.
Christmas in Bethlehem has its incongruous elements - the troops of Palestinian boy scouts who wear kilts and play bagpipes in one of the town’s holiday traditions, for example, or the inflatable Santa Clauses hanging from church pillars and storefronts looking out of place and overdressed in this Middle Eastern town with not a snowflake in sight.
Hanna Pioli, 23, and her sister Katherine, 25, were spending the holiday far from their hometown of Salt Lake City.
The sisters miss celebrating a “white Christmas’’ at home and were taken aback by the warm weather, Katherine Pioli said, but still thought Bethlehem was the best place for Christians to spend the day.
Jeffrey Lynch, 36, a sanitation worker from New York, was taking a tour through the Church of the Nativity, the fourth-century Crusader era structure built atop the grottos that mark the spot believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
“It’s a miracle being here on Christmas Eve. It’s a lifetime opportunity. I wish everybody could be here,’’ he said.
But the Holy Land’s top Roman Catholic cleric, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, reminded listeners in a holiday address that peace remains out of reach. “The wish that we most want, we most hope for, is not coming. We want peace,’’ Twal said after he passed into Bethlehem in a traditional holiday procession from nearby Jerusalem.
Twal and his convoy of dozens of vehicles entered Palestinian-controlled territory through a massive steel gate in Israel’s heavily guarded West Bank separation barrier, escorted by Israeli soldiers and police in jeeps.
The barrier and the heavy Israeli security presence served as reminders of the friction and hostilities that have thwarted peace efforts.
“We want freedom of movement, we don’t want walls,’’ Twal said after passing through the barrier. “We don’t want separation fences. We hope that things will become more normal for us.’’
Only hours later, an Israeli man was shot and killed in the West Bank in an attack by Palestinian gunmen. Such attacks, once common, have become rare in recent years as the West Bank has regained a semblance of normalcy.
Israeli Radio identified the man as a resident of a nearby settlement, and a little-known Palestinian faction took responsibility for the attack.Read More....

Britain and US protest after India tightens tourism rules

Tougher visa rules follow arrest in US of Mumbai terror suspect who visited India on multiple-entry visa.

The Taj Mahal, in Agra. Tourists visiting India have been barred from returning to the country within two months.
Britain and the US have lodged a diplomatic protest with India after the government in Delhi introduced rules barring tourists from returning to the country within two months of any visit.
The new visa rules, which also apply to other foreign nationals, are apparently a reaction to the arrest in the US of a Mumbai terror suspect, David Coleman Headley, who had entered India on a multiple-entry visa.
The British high commission in Delhi has urged the Indian government to rethink the policy, which is expected to hit tourists planning to use India as a base for touring the region.
It will also be a blow to thousands of Britons living in India on long-term tourist visas. Many foreigners living in India prefer to use tourist visas rather than go through the complicated process of trying to secure a visa that would grant them the right to residency.
Some apply for six-month tourist visas and then travel to nearby countries, such as Nepal, to renew them. Those on longer-term tourist visas ‑ for five or 10 years ‑ are also required to leave the country every 180 days and tend to fly out for a couple of days before returning. Under the new rules, that would no longer be an option.
Posts on internet travel forums suggest that some British tourists have already fallen foul of the rules and have found themselves stranded and unable to return to India after visiting neighbouring countries.
On the IndiaMike forum one poster, from London, described how he had been renting an apartment in Goa and had travelled to Nepal to apply for a new six-month tourist visa, only to be informed that he would not be allowed back in for two months.
"This is insane," he wrote. "How can you introduce a rule without any prior warning and let ppl [sic] make plans and pay for flights etc and mess everything up for them … I now have no option but to get a transit visa and leg it back to Goa, get my stuff and leave … all this achieves is me and 1000's of others having to cut their plans short and spend none of that cash into the system … Well done!!"
A spokesman for the British high commission said the high commissioner had written to protest. "We have discussed this matter with the government of India. As yet there is no real clarity over the details of the proposals or of how they might be implemented. We understand that the Indian government is reconsidering its plans. We shall keep a close eye on this as it develops because it has the potential to impact on a large number of British nationals."
Details of the plans are yet to be published but reports in India suggested that people of Indian origin living in the UK will also be caught up in the rule change.
Many British passport holders with Indian origins use tourist visas to visit relatives in India rather than tackling the bureaucratic minefield involved in applying for a Person of Indian Origin card, which would allow them entry into the country. They will also be subject to the no return for two months rule.
The Indian government has apparently sought to defuse the row by giving consular officials the power to grant exemptions in exceptional cases, although there is as yet no clarity on how that might be applied.
British diplomatic sources also suggested the changes had alarmed some Indian companies with nationals working overseas, who feared that their business interests might be affected if other countries introduced reciprocal arrangements.
The decision, by India's home ministry, comes after officials reviewed the case of Headley, who is under arrest in the US accused of scouting targets for terrorist attacks, including the Mumbai attacks last year which left 166 people dead.
He was found to have used a multiple entry business visa to make nine trips to India, during which time he is alleged to have visited a number of potential targets.
India has already cracked down on business visas this year, informing thousands of holders that they must return to their home countries and prove that they meet much stricter criteria before new visas will be issued.
Ironically, the clampdown comes as the country attempts to boost its tourism industry. Last week the home minister, P Chidambaram, announced the trial introduction of a visa on arrival scheme for citizens of Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, Luxembourg and Finland and said a country the size of India should be attracting at least 50 million visitors a year. About five million tourists visit India every year, including an estimated three quarters of a million Britons.
A final draft of the visa regulations is expected to be issued next month but in the meantime a number of embassies in India have notified their citizens of the changes. The Indian embassy in Berlin has also posted the rule on its website, noting that "a minimum gap of two months is mandatory between visits as tourists to India".
The introduction of the new system coincides with a visit to India by the business secretary, Lord Mandelson, who has been trying to calm Indian concerns over changes to Britain's immigration rules.Read More......

Vizag tops travel charts of tourists

This winter, the sun kissed beaches of Vizag and the green capped valleys of Araku seem to be topping the travel charts of the tourists. The room bookings from December 28 to January 1 have already touched its peak and almost 90 per cent bookings are done from December 15 onwards at all the hotels and resorts of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) at Vizag and Araku.
Better infrastructure, green environs and clean stretch of beaches have attracted tourists from all parts of the country and even abroad to the region this year. The last tourist season from September to November witnessed a 10 per cent rise in tourist inflow as compared to the figures of last year during the same period. Taking Borra Caves as the benchmark, the number of tourist arrivals recorded during the season was 1.25 lakhs.
In its efforts to attract more tourists, APTDC has initiated several projects in the Araku valley. “The work for the tribal bazaar project near the tribal museum in Araku has already started and is expected to get over within a year’s time,” APTDC Divisional Manager S. Surya Prakasa Rao told The Hindu. The total budget for the project is Rs.1.5 crores and the bazaar will feature tribal handicrafts, an amphitheatre, musical fountain plaza, children’s play area and a boating zone.
The corporation has also taken up a project to develop road and other infrastructure facilities at the scenic Thatiguda Waterfalls at Anantagiri at a cost of Rs.57 lakhs. At its Anantagiri hill resorts, nine economy-type accommodations are coming up at a cost of Rs.40 lakhs.Read More....

Obama tells Singh that U.S. values its ties with India

After talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president says the nations have agreed to boost cooperation in areas including the economy, agriculture, technology, trade and security.

Reporting from Washington - President Obama reassured India's prime minister Tuesday that the partnership between their two countries would be "one of the defining relationships of the 21st century."Appearing with Manmohan Singh at the White House after two hours of talks, Obama said the United States and India have agreed to broaden cooperation in a variety of areas, including the economy, agriculture, technology, trade and counter-terrorism."The United States and India are natural allies," the president said at a news conference.Indian officials have worried recently that the Obama administration might be less committed than its predecessors to strengthening the U.S.-Indian relationship. Indians are anxious that their relationship is taking a back seat to growing U.S. ties with China and Pakistan. Obama returned last week from a trip to Asia that included a three-day stop in China.But the administration made a special effort to dispel those perceptions: Singh is the first foreign leader invited to the Obama White House for a state visit, which included a state dinner Tuesday night.The president emphasized that the U.S. is not looking solely to China for leadership in Asia."The United States welcomes and encourages India's leadership role in helping to shape the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia," Obama said. He also accepted an invitation from Singh to visit India next year.Ashley J. Tellis, who was a senior South Asia aide in George W. Bush's administration, said Obama's statements held valuable symbolism. But the "real tests are yet to come," said Tellis, now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It remains to be seen whether the United States will devote the time needed to build a strategic relationship, and whether the two countries can work out their differences on such issues as climate change and nuclear nonproliferation, he said.The Obama administration would like India to take aggressive steps to reduce carbon emissions, while India contends that the developed world should bear a larger share of that responsibility.India, which has nuclear programs, has also been reluctant to impose tough economic sanctions on Iran, with which it has strong economic ties. The United States and many other Western powers allege that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran says its nuclear development program is for civilian energy purposes. Obama and Singh may have been closer on concerns about Taliban militants in Afghanistan, a subject that the prime minister raised repeatedly this week at a series of public meetings in Washington, and which the two leaders discussed at the White House.Michael Hammer, a White House spokesman, said Singh and Obama "agreed that stabilizing Afghanistan and preventing a return of the Taliban to power are critically important."Hammer said that in their discussion of Iran, the two leaders "resolved to work together to make sure that all countries live up to their international obligations in the nuclear context."Teresita Schaffer, a former U.S. ambassador now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Indians don't want the U.S. to fail in Afghanistan because they believe it would mean "a much bigger footprint for militant Islam." More broadly, she said, "they've bet their international role on ties to a United States strong enough to deliver the goods."Read More....

'Rider pride travels well

A Saskatoon couple's trip to Egypt earlier in the month included a stop at the Great Pyramid and a photo opportunity with a Saskatchewan Roughriders flag.
Jason and Kim Aebig are two football fans who decided to take the team flag with them on their trip.
"Before the underwear and the toothbrushes were in the suitcases, we had our 'Rider flag packed away and ready to go," Jason Aebig told CBC News on Friday.
As they set out to view the ancient pyramid site, the flag was tucked inside Kim's purse ready for their photo.
Aebig said they were somewhat nervous that unfurling the flag might not go over well with authorities at the pyramid site.
"We opened up the flag and we got lots of attention," Aebig explained. "We just told everyone around us that is was for a soccer team that was back home that we were really passionate about. And they seemed to buy that."
Aebig said taking the picture went smoothly and he almost expected someone to shout "Go Riders!" as the flag was in view.
"It was just a great opportunity to unfurl the flag and show our pride," he said. "We got lots of smiles and lots of good feedback."
Aebig said his family has been following the team's fortunes for a long time.
"We've had season tickets for as long as I can remember," Aebig said. "It's more than just being a fan, its part of you."
"There is nothing more exciting than being at Taylor Field on game day," he added. "You're with 30,000 of your closest buddies. We just love it."
Aebig suggested other fans could also travel with a flag, and a world-wide gallery of 'Rider pictures may ensue.
"It's very light. It's a $19 flag," Aebig said. "Pack that first and where ever you go, unfurl that flag. That's as much a Saskatchewan flag as our provincial one."
The entire province is buzzing with talk about the football team, in anticipation of the western conference final game Sunday afternoon in Regina against the Calgary Stampeders.
The winner goes on to play for the Grey Cup.

Top travel gifts for the holidays

For the traveler on your list, electronics are a good bet

What makes a good holiday gift for a traveler?
If you have big bucks, splurge on an e-reader or a netbook.
But if you're on a budget, go for clever stocking-stuffers, like a laminated cardboard wine wheel to help wine-challenged foodies instantly determine good pairings, $8.85 from Magellan's, or a funky $17 passport wallet from Flight 001. One of the passport-holders, designed by the Anne Taintor vintage humor company, bears the words "I love not camping" along with a picture of a 1940s-style blonde with bright red lipstick, in front of a skyscraper and a palm tree.
Priscilla O'Reilly, a spokeswoman for the Overseas Adventure Travel tour company, says a Kindle ($260) or other electronic reader is great for travelers who love to read on the road but who don't want to lug books around.
Netbooks, which are small and less powerful than regular laptops, are another splurge gift, lightweight to carry and easy to use in cramped spaces like tray tables.
"With the proliferation of onboard Wi-Fi, I've thought about a tablet PC or a netbook," said Brett Snyder, who spends a lot of time on airplanes and writes a blog at http://CrankyFlier.com. "The seat pitch is so awful on some of these airlines that a full laptop is hard to use."
Netbooks make good gifts for ocean voyagers too: "What avid cruiser doesn't want to keep a blog of his or her trips or just have a place to store photos and short videos?" said Doug Stallings, cruise editor for Fodor's Travel, who recommends the HP Mini 311 Netbook, a little over 3 pounds and about $400.
For those lugging regular-sized laptops around, a laptop case approved by the Transportation Security Administration can help speed the way through security checkpoints, Snyder said.
Stallings also recommends the Flip Video Mino HD for travelers who like to make videos of their trips, and the iPod Nano, which plays not just music but also movies, a great diversion for the interminable waiting that's part of going anywhere.
Wendy Perrin, consumer news editor at Conde Nast Traveler magazine, who blogs at http://www.perrinpost.truth.travel, recommends the Powermat, $100, a new gadget that charges many small electronic devices, such as MP3 players, PDAs, cell phones and handheld game-players, without all the cords and chargers.
For families on the go, Perrin recommends the Sit'n'Stroll combination stroller-car seat, about $250. "When our kids were little, we could not have traveled nearly as much as we did without it," she said.
One small but "super-useful" item for traveling families is the Snack-Trap, $5, which keeps Cheerios, raisins and other bite-size goodies "inside the cup so they don't spill all over the airplane seat, the car floor, etc.," Perrin said. "I don't see how a traveling family can live without it."
For travelers concerned about fitness, a heart monitor and an iPod are the perfect combination, said Pauline Frommer, creator of the Pauline Frommer guidebooks -- http://pinkcitytravel.blogspot.com/.
"With those two pieces of equipment, I know I can wrestle a good workout out of whatever equipment might be in the hotel's gym, or have an effective jogging session, which I hate, but will resort to," she said. "The music keeps me going and the monitor shows me if I'm actually getting done what I need to get done."
She said the heart monitor, with a watch and a strap that goes around the chest, "has totally transformed" her workouts by helping her achieve target heart rates. Heart monitor watch/strap sets can be had for as little as $50.
From the travel supplier Magellan's -- http://pinkcitytravel.blogspot.com/ -- perennial best-sellers include the Taxi Wallet, a $49 thin leather wallet with separate currency pockets for U.S. and foreign money, plus a built-in snap pouch for change; PacSafe backpacks, starting at $100, with lockable zippers and wire-reinforced slash-proof straps and compartments; and a bottle pocket, $16.85, a padded carrier to keep wine from breaking or spilling.
Other classics on Magellan's list include a talking alarm clock, $29.85, and a voice-activated clock, $32.85.
Stallings, the Fodor's cruise editor, says travel clocks are great gifts for cruise passengers, because "one of the mysteries of life is why cruise-ship cabins do not have clocks."
New items this year at Magellan's include Moleskine City Notebooks, $18.85, for many major cities around the world, with maps and essential destination information added to the inviting blank pages of the classic journals; and pocket-sized fold-out language cards called 30 Words (they actually include 700 words), with pronunciation and color-coded categories, $12.85.
The travel product company Flight 001 -- http://pinkcitytravel.blogspot.com/ -- known for its fun and stylish offerings, has brightly striped neck pillows, $20; a hanging toiletry bag, $28, designed by Hadaki, geometric print on black with four zippered pouches; and an in-flight comfort kit, with an inflatable neck pillow, earplugs, eye mask and wet wipes, $22.
TravelSmart newsletter's holiday catalog -- click "Travel Merchandise" at http://pinkcitytravel.blogspot.com/-- also has many inexpensive gift items, like a $25 umbrella that folds up to just eight inches, and a handheld digital scale, $24, good for weighing anything from bass on a fishing trip to luggage for a plane trip.
TravelSmart editor Nancy Dunnan says the newsletter's best-selling items include the tiny Adventurer's 7-In-1 Tool, $20, with an LED flashlight, compass, digital thermometer, magnifying glass, safety mirror, whistle, and dry storage compartment for matches and medicine; a portable jewelry case, $21, that keeps necklaces tangle-free and earrings, pins and watches safe; and an electronic dictionary-clock-converter-calculator, $65, that among other things converts temperature and measurements, tracks time and date, and is thin and small enough to be used as a bookmark.

The Royal Wedding at Chomu Palace

Sagai To Vidai
From pre-wedding ceremonies to gala wedding parties, we take care of everything to create an inspired wedding that you will cherish forever.
The Royal Wedding at Chomu Palace
Includes
Exotic Flower Decoration at the wedding venue and 2 main courtyards, floral decoration of mandap with some multi colored rangolis in the central courtyard.
Illumination of the Palace with ferry lights & traditional dias in the lawns and the palace.
Decoration of the choosen venue by natural lights candles etc.
Floral décor of the bridal room. world Tour and Travel
Priest and pooja materials.

Includes
One well decorated Elephant or Camel for Bride Groom.
Four Horses / Camel well decorated. Chomu tour and travel
Torch bearers
Traditional band for the procession
Six Royal Soldiers
Bagpiper / Shahani Music
Milni garlands and Jaimala
Welcome fire works at the main entrance of the palace.
Glass of Indian sparkling wine on arrival in the main courtyard.
Palanquin at the time of Bidai (Departure time)
Royal welcome at palace with Red carpet laid up on the stairs Torches lit up, decorated camels and horses, drum beaters, showering of flower petals and arti, tikka, garland by traditionally dressed up Rajasthani Girls.
Entertainment: -
Rajasthan Traditional Dances:
Langaas, Rajasthani folk dances like Kachi Goddi, Goomer, Terahthal, Fire dance, Bhawai, Kalbelia, Puppet show, More Chunk etc.
Modern beats:
Live Band, Singers live, D.J. with the lighted floor, Traffic lights, smoke guns, flickers, fun creekers etc.D.J. only incase the whole palace or Manohar garden is occupied.
Bar-be-que Dinner
Wedding banquet dinner at Moti Mehal.
Mehandi ceremony and ladies sangeet with village fair lunch at Bara Dari
Includes:-
Bazar would be created (Iron men, potters, shoe makers, jewelers, bangles makers and other artesian at work
Langa Musicians
Swing for the bride (Decorated with flowers)
Traditional Rajasthani cuisine
Photographer
Video Grapher
Beverage:
Option to purchase beverage on a very special rate.
Recreations and Facilities on Request:
Jeep safari, Camel safari around countryside can be organized on request Safa tying ceremony
Trekking to the fort and hanuman temple along with picnic lunch can be organized.
Ayurvedic massages Steam and Sauna
Lawns, Grass lawn tennis court, Badminton court, Table tennis, Snooker, Swimming pool.Read More......

New York’s hottest tickets

From ‘Hamlet’ to ‘Hair,’ Broadway hits worth the trip

The Age of Aquarius may already have dawned, but the buzz around "Hair" — a revival of the original 1968 American Tribal Love-Rock Musical — is going strong after its 2009 Tony Award win for Best Revival of a Musical.

New York without Broadway? It would be like Venice without canals. So it’s heartening to see that nearly a year into the Great Recession, the lights of the Great White Way continue to burn bright. And if it takes Hollywood bold-facers and revved-up revivals to amp up the wattage, so what? Variety has always been key to Broadway’s success, and if deftly navigated, this fall’s offerings have everything it takes to add a jolt of electricity to a Gotham jaunt. world Tour and Travel
Yes, despite Manhattan’s bumpy economic topography, Broadway blazes. “I can’t say the economy didn’t affect us at all, but Broadway’s just not one of those things that’s totally economy-dependent,” says Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League. “We had a record-breaking season and we believe that we have every opportunity to do that again this year.” Chomu tour and travel
In Broadway’s 2008-09 season, 43 shows opened, the highest number of shows since the 1982-1983 season when 50 productions opened. And shows grossed approximately $943.3 million, up a bit from the previous season’s $937.5 million. Read More........

Australian Jetstar wants to cash in on India and China travel routes

Buchanan said, “Asia will be the largest market over the next 15 years, it will surpass Europe and North America. It’s the fastest growing travel market. I think China and India are very exciting markets.” world Tour and Travel
He also added that as more annual household incomes in China and India passed 10,000 dollars, holiday travel would increase dramatically in those countries.
“There’s a massive opportunity to get a lot more capacity in those regions, and we know there’s a latent demand, because whenever we’ve gone into those markets and deployed Jetstar capacity, we’ve seen a strong uptake,” Buchanan said. Chomu tour and travel
Jetstar is owned by Qantas Airways Ltd.

Tips for women traveling alone

Women tour and traveling chomu in alone
Now more than ever, women are traveling by themselves for business or pleasure. And although their reasons for traveling are similar to their male counterparts, women traveling alone have very different concerns. From safety issues to cultural variations, women travelers encounter a variety of difficulties that can be avoided if the necessary precautions are taken.

“ASTA travel agents understand that both men and women need to be educated travelers, but women, especially, need to plan every step of their trip - from packing a suitcase to choosing a hotel room - to ensure a safe return,” said ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo. world Tour and Travel

To learn how you can travel safer, ASTA has provided the following tips:

Know before you go
- Learn as much about the destination as possible, especially when traveling to a foreign country. An area's religious or cultural beliefs can directly impact you, compelling you to adapt your dress and demeanor to comply with local customs. Chomu tour and travel

Welcome to hotel safety
- Get to know the staff, who will be familiar with guests and are able to more effectively monitor who enters and exits the building.
- Ask for a room on a higher floor near the elevator but away from emergency exits, stairwells, and any renovation work.
- Never accept a room if the clerk loudly calls out your name and room number.

Getting around
- While at the front desk, grab a card or matchbook from the front desk with the hotel's name, address and phone number on it, and keep this card on you at all times. This is especially helpful in foreign countries where you taxi driver might not speak English or in case there are several hotels with similar names in the area.
- Explore transportation options available at your destination ahead of time, especially if you will be arriving late in the evening. Travel agents can help determine the safest choice and make the necessary arrangements.
- If renting a car, carefully examine maps, or rent a GPS to help you navigate unfamiliar roads.

Packing smart
- Pack light so you won't be weighed down and look weighed down, both of which could make you an ideal target for pickpockets.
- Avoid expensive looking baggage and clothing, lock all suitcases and only use covered luggage tags with your office address written on it rather than your home.
- Carry only one credit card, and don't keep all your money in one place.

Know your surroundings
- Study a map of the area you will be visiting. If available, consider downloading area maps to your phone.
- Learn as much as possible about getting around the streets to avoid looking like a lost tourist.
- Ask the concierge about where - and, more importantly, where not - to go.

There may be safety in numbers, but there is also safety in knowledge. With some advance planning and the advice of a professional travel agent, your vacation or business trip can be safe, hassle-free and memorable. Contact a trusted ASTA travel agent today at TravelSense.org and get professional assistance and advice for your next trip.

Obama 'not cutting' Afghan troops

US President Barack Obama has said his review of Afghan strategy will not look at pulling out or cutting troop levels.
Mr Obama told key members of Congress that he would decide on a course of action with a sense of urgency - but that not everyone would be pleased. World tour and travel
But a source said he did not pledge to increase troop numbers as his top general in Afghanistan wants.
The meeting came on the eve of the eighth anniversary of the start of the US-led Afghan military operation.
It was launched to oust the Taliban from Afghanistan following the 11 September attacks on the US.
'Rigorous and deliberate'
About 30 senior congressional figures - Democrats and Republicans - had been invited to the meeting with the US leader.
ANALYSISMark MardellMark Mardell, BBC News, Washington
There appears to be a frustration that the review of strategy has some times been portrayed in black and white terms of a massive increase or reduction of troop numbers.
As one administration official put it - it's not about doubling down or leaving. Tour and Travel
But it's going on too long for some Republicans, and members of the president's own party are dubious about committing more resources and military personnel to a conflict where there is no end in sight.
The word Vietnam is heard more and more on Capitol Hill.
Divisions are emerging between some Democrats concerned by the prospect of deploying more US forces to Afghanistan and some Republicans urging the Obama administration to follow the advice of top generals and increase troop levels.
President Obama told the group that his assessment would be "rigorous and deliberate" and that he would continue to work with Congress in the best interests of US and international security.
According to one White House source, he told the meeting that he would not shrink the number of troops in Afghanistan or opt for a strategy of merely targeting al-Qaeda leaders.
But he would not be drawn on sending additional troops - which his top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McCrystal, requested last week.
Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that there had been some agreement but also some "diversity of opinion" during the talks.
Former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain urged Mr Obama to take heed of the advice given by generals on the ground.
A US official, quoted by Reuters news agency, said of the meeting: "He... made it clear that his decision won't make everybody in the room or the nation happy, but underscored his commitment to work on a collaborative basis."
Afghan strategy
The BBC's Mark Mardell, in Washington, says there appears to be a frustration that the review of strategy has some times been portrayed in black and white terms of a massive increase or reduction of troop numbers.
US President Barack Obama
Dr Anthony Cordesman, an adviser to General McCrystal, told the BBC the decision was much more complex than was being portrayed.
"It is a very big decision and it involves a great deal more than simply troop levels.
"There's a decision as to what strategy to pursue, how committed to stay in Afghanistan, how to deal with Nato and Isaf [International Assistance Security Force] allies, how to reshape the aid programme - and how to deal with the future of the Afghan government.
"So this is much more than simply a military strategy decision."
'Serious'
By the end of 2009 there will be a total of 68,000 US troops in Afghanistan, based on current deployment plans.
President Obama has said the strategy in Afghanistan must be agreed before a decision can be made on troop numbers.
Gen McChrystal had described the situation in Afghanistan as "serious" and is believed to have requested up to 40,000 additional troops.
He is believed to want the focus of the strategy to fall on protecting the Afghan people and carrying the fight to the Taliban.
Future US strategy will be discussed in a series of Obama administration meetings this week.
On Wednesday President Obama is holding his third of five meetings with his National Security Council, as well as field commanders and regional ambassadors.

Look for a getaway beyond the major Eurozone destinations

Hotels.com has revealed that the plummeting pound has prompted a rush amongst British travellers to look for a getaway beyond the major Eurozone destinations. With the Euro almost at parity with the pound, the cost of a holiday in many continental cities has spiralled for Brits heading abroad.

Hotels.com has seen a surge in searches for breaks in cities where the pound remains relatively strong against local currencies, as travellers look to make their money go further.

The steepest increase in searches came in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. As the pound has sunk, searches for hotels in the city are up by 250%. Searches for Reykjavik hotels have risen 60% while searches for Istanbul are up by one fifth.

What's more, according to the Hotels.com Hotel Price Index, all but one of these destinations - Istanbul - have seen the average cost of a hotel room fall, some by as much as 29%, meaning that many travellers are seeing now as a great time to bag an overseas bargain without having to venture too far from home. Tour and Travel

Alison Couper, Director of Communications at Hotels.com, said: "There has never been a better time for Brits to explore cities that they might think are off the beaten track. Why not swap Paris for Prague or sample Reykjavik over Rome to escape the falling pound and see holiday budgets stretch a bit further? World tour and travel "Meantime, for travellers who do want to head to the major culture capitals of the Eurozone, there are still some fantastic deals to be found. While the exchange rates might not be in our favour, there are still bargains out there as hoteliers look to fill their rooms, with savings of up to 40% on hotels in Europe."