During the meeting, which was held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Moscow, Al Jaber said that the UAE attaches great importance to preserving biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources…reports Asian Lite News
Dr. Mohamed Ahmed bin Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Ambassador to Russia, and Dmitry Kobylkin, Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, have discussed the cooperative relations between the two friendly countries and ways to further develop them in the field of ecotourism and nature reserves.
During the meeting, which was held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Moscow, Al Jaber said that the UAE attaches great importance to preserving biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources, as it celebrates the National Environment Day on 4th February every year as part of its tireless efforts to protect the environment.
He stressed the need for cooperation between countries in the field of climate change through the exchange of experiences, especially on issues related to its effects on the environment, and on how to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
For his part, the Russian minister expressed his country’s aspiration to boost cooperation with the UAE in areas of common interest.
Flowers have long since caught and retained human fancy. Theyve been used to express love and regret, to bestow congratulations and to cement apologies. These veritable floral blooms are now taking over the internet, with travellers posing amidst natures most captivating backgrounds – no filters needed here…writes Siddhi Jain.
While Indian borders remain closed, we can still gaze upon these colourful, lush countryside flowers that flood the Rainbow Nation through our screens. Travellers planning their South African itineraries for next year, should be sure to make note of the following seasons: Jacaranda Season, Pretoria
Every year thousands of tourists’ flock to Pretoria – nicknamed the Jacaranda city, to see Jacaranda blooms in all their glory, and capture that perfect shot for their next Instagram post! It is estimated that there are 70,000 Jacaranda trees in Pretoria, which drape the beautiful city in swathes of purple putting on a spectacular show over an eight-week period in late spring each year.
Some of Pretoria’s oldest Jacarandas can be found around Bosman and Cilliers Streets, where some of the first lanes of Jacarandas were planted. Folklore has it that the biggest and oldest Jacaranda in Pretoria can be found on the corner of Eastwood and Stanza Bopape (old Church Street).
Jacaranda City, Tshwane, Pretoria.
To get a birds-eye-view of this exquisite natural phenomenon, drive along Klapperkop. The route houses many stunning viewpoints that this sea of purple can be admired from.
From one of the northern viewpoints of Klapperkop, visitors are also able to spot a line of white trees along the foot of Klapperkop’s northern slope. This is Herbert Baker Street in Groenkloof, which has a row of almost 100 white trees. These trees are also Jacarandas, but have a pure white flower instead of a purple one. They are said to be sterile and is a cultivar of the main species.
Amidst the jacaranda tree’s purple haze of vibrant blossoms, South Africa’s administrative capital of Pretoria presents a true taste of the country’s rich heritage and fascinating history. A city once at the heart of the apartheid regime, Pretoria is now home to a growing number of black civil servants and foreign embassy workers, who are infusing the city with a new sense of multiculturalism.
Blooming Daisies, Namaqualand
In the months of August and September, flowers in their thousands, and in their varying colours and sizes fill fields and mountainsides, often for as far as the eye can see in Namaqualand.
These spring wild flowers are a phenomenon that never ceases to amaze and delight, even for those who live in what is considered South Africa’s “outback” – Namaqualand. What at first glance appears to be a wilderness of semi-desert – arid, dusty plains that stretch before one, dramatic mountains in the background, with little by way of colour or animation – is suddenly transformed, as if by a painter with a manic palette, into a pageant of flowers.
Jacaranda City, Tshwane, Pretoria.
The Namaqualand Flower Route lies roughly 5 hours north of Cape Town. You can already see evidence of flowers even in Cape Town, and Postberg, a small section of the West Coast National Park close to Langebaan, gets the juices flowing, but the real flower show belongs to a series of drives that centre on the towns of Garies, Springbok, Kamieskroon and Port Nolloth, way up the N7.
There are also numerous hiking and cycling routes that allow for a closer experience of the indigenous flora of the land. The riot of colors is sure to leave travellers mesmerized and amazed.
A selection of photographs taken over a period of twenty years in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, is currently on exhibition online. The show of photographs taken by Kishore Thukral runs till November 15…writes Siddhi Jain.
Titled ‘Spiti – Paradise Unveiled’, the online exhibition is divided into five sections – Gateway to Paradise; The Incredible Moonscape; Life in Paradise; The Lamaseries of Paradise; and Serene Snowscapes. It is available to see on the website of India International Centre.
Kishore Thukral, who has to his credit a number of photography exhibitions and illustrated lectures on Spiti, Dangkhar and Vajrayana Buddhist art, has trekked, photographed and researched extensively in the western Himalayas, especially the remote valley of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. He has authored ‘Spiti through Legend and Lore’, a book that documents the legends and folklore of the valley both in text and in photographs. He was instrumental in setting up Dangkhar Initiative, a project for the restoration of the ancient Dangkhar monastery in Spiti. Through his efforts, Dangkhar was recognised by the World Monuments Fund in 2006-07 as one of the hundred most endangered historical sites in the world.
Imagining Spiti brings to mind a remote valley high up in the western Indian Himalayas, abutting Tibet — a valley that is a world within a world. Spiti derives its name from a combination of two local words e bi (hidden) and ti (water/river/valley), though some believe it is rooted in chiti (paradise). Be that as it may, sandwiched between perennially snow-capped mountains, the valley has only recently started to garner the attention of the Indian traveller. The approach to it is not easy e the narrow, rough road leading to it takes one through canyons, across streams, beneath overhangs and over high mountain-passes.
Tibet is barely a day’s walk away. Little wonder then that Vajrayana Buddhism has flourished in Spiti for over a thousand years, a period that also saw the founding of magnificent monasteries such as Tabo, Dangkhar, Ghungri, Tangyud and Key, and smaller temples like the Ser Khang in Lhalung.
The mystique of the land is palpable. Spiti’s history is for the most part unrecorded, yet it boasts a priceless heritage and a landscape that presents a frame wherever you turn your camera.
This Diwali go local with amazing drive down destinations to beat Delhi’s noxious air.
As the pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region again entered the “severe-plus” category, Delhis travelers are exploring new drive down destination to escape from the alarming pollution level. A recent survey conducted by Booking.com has revealed that people have been taking smaller journeys, and discovering (or rediscovering) wonderful experiences closer home with ease in travel restrictions. In a bid to encourage more footfall on domestic tourism destinations, the Tourism Ministry has also started “Dekho Apna Desh” campaign asking Indians to take pledge to visit at least 15 different tourism locations in India by the year 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also urged states to promote domestic tourism while ensuring that the health and hygiene protocols are followed at all tourist destinations and hospitality units. The quest to choose offbeat yet drive down destinations around Delhi/NCR is on the rise. One of the biggest factors is the alarming pollution level which is expected to be on peak around Diwali…writes Puja Gupta.
Be it bag packers, corporate groups, families or friends, people are preferring to drive down to their nearby getaways for short and relaxed staycations. There are few unexplored and offbeat destinations around Delhi which are Instagram worthy, tucked in nature’s lap and offers exceptional experiences to new world travelers. These hidden gems around Delhi have already started receiving a large number of bookings and queries from Delhi/NCR.
“This year there is a significant jump in short staycations around Diwali. As compared to last year we have received almost 60% hike in guest queries for festive season. The new trend of exploring short distance destinations and the poor air quality of Delhi and NCR has heavily contributed to this shift.” says Kr. Roop Pratap Choudhary, MD, Noor Mahal and Jewel Groups of Hotel.
Some of the below-unexplored short distance travel destinations are receiving huge demand from Delhiites. These venues have become the chosen destinations as people are no longer venturing out to far-off places for long vacations.
NoorMahal, Karnal- In the mystical land of Mahabharata, awe-inspiring Noor Mahal, the “Incredible Indian Palace Hotel” has been built on a monumental scale. It is a five-star luxury palace hotel inspired by India’s rich heritage and captures royalty experience enjoyed by Indian Maharajas over the centuries. Noor Mahal enjoys proximity to Delhi, Chandigarh and other cities of Punjab & Haryana. It is very accessible from the IGI Airport. With lush green fields and farms around, the hotel is situated on the old course of river Yamuna traversing its way to Delhi and gives the true royal experience.
This palace hotel has possibly more antiques and artworks than any other museum in the world. Noor Mahal with its palatial architecture wins hands down on history, character and convenience. The hotel was conceptualized some ten years ago with inspiration from the architecture marvels and opulent royalty from the era of Indian maharajas. The framed 9th generation artisans of ‘The Janam’ clan from Mewar region in Rajasthan were called upon to show case their delicate, intricate paintings and artwork within the entire hotel, turning the hotel into an artisan’s delight. The entire hotel has such artwork at every corner, interiors embellished with decorative domes, hand-painted frescos, motifs made with pure gold leaves, intricate mirror work and beautifully handcrafted artefacts to create an ambience of regal splendour.
Neemrana Fort Palace, Neemrana- Neemrana takes a lot of pride in being a premier heritage hotel of Rajasthan as also a unique hotel of India. This awe-inspiring heritage hotel near Delhi Jaipur highway is a perfect destination for your regal vacation in Jaipur. While It is to discover an absolute delight to view and visit, Neemrana involves many steps and ramps to discover the 14tiered property. You might not be able to find the standard comforts of a regular hotel here, instead, Neemrana Fort-Palace, being one of the oldest and best heritage resort near Jaipur, takes you on a grand experience which truly immerses you back into the past five centuries.
This 15th-century heritage hotel in Rajasthan is among the most popular resorts near Delhi for weekend breaks and is ideal to invent your own past at the dream site of history. Nine palace wings built over 14 levels tiered into a hill across 2.5 hectares/ 6 acres of garden-palace, make this heritage hotel one of the best places to stay near Jaipur. Hanging gardens, two pools to swim out to the horizon, an Ayurvedic spa, and India’s first zip-line is what the world comes to experience! One stay here will get you started on the discovery of the oldest and best resorts near Delhi that Neemrana has on offer.
Narendra Bhawan, Bikaner- Narendra Bhawan Bikaner is a design boutique hotel in Bikaner, a desert outpost in the state of Rajasthan. The hotel in its new avatar retells the story of the last reigning Maharaja of Bikaner, His Highness Narendra Singhji (1948-2003). Designed by Ayush Kasliwal, Narendra Bhawan Bikaner is unconventionally curated and celebrates a life’s passage through time; from that of a royal birth to a global bon vivant and subsequently to a socialist who fully embraced the idea of a new, democratic India.
Set in an urban landscape, Narendra Bhawan Bikaner is designed to lure guests’ gaze inwards, drawing their attention to uniquely created quarters. Experiences at Narendra Bhawan, tap into the memories of its original incumbent and takes its guests on a journey through his past wherein the best moments of his life are translated into an array of gastronomic and destination specific experiences. The warmth with which the staff of Narendra Bhawan welcomes its guests is simply uncanny.
ALOHA on the Ganges, Rishikesh- Just 225 kilometers north of India’s capital, New Delhi, and easily accessible by rail, road and air, this exquisite resort in Rishikesh ‘Aloha on the Ganges’ is located right on the banks of the Ganges River close to the Laxman Jhulla, in a very serene and peaceful environment. The setting of the resort on the fast-flowing Ganges, surrounded by forested hills, is conducive to meditation and mind expansion. In the evening, the breeze blows down the valley, setting temple bells ringing as sadhus (spiritual men), pilgrims and tourists prepare for the nightly Ganga Aarti.
Aloha on the Ganges is not just a resort in Rishikesh that will leave you breathless with the enchantment of its surroundings, but assists in enabling you to experience both physical and mental relaxation and realize the importance of a moment of calm and personal space in your everyday life. In absolute terms, Aloha on the Ganges is the ultimate escape from the mundane to the spiritual, where every corner spells harmony and every colour soothes the senses.
CorbettLeela Vilas, Jim Corbett- The Corbett Leela Vilas is amongst the most magnificent jungle resorts in India. This is the best place to relax and have a stress free time away from the commotion of city life. The Jungle Leela Resort is the name that rules all around the Bizrani and Dhikala zones where large gatherings of wildlife lovers can be found to experience the tremendous safari moments. Residing in a very tranquil and peaceful location, Jungle Leela Resort is one of the best Luxury Corbett Resorts embedded with luxury cottages in the vicinity and is superbly known for its magnanimously personalized luxury services and superfine foods.
By stretching across the area of 2.5 acres, Jungle Leela Resort is composed of 12 luxury cottages designed in a very eloquent manner to impress all its guests bringing the tender natural feeling and ambience with a touch of luxury services, with mango orchards all around the vicinity. Each cottage with an area of 850 sq ft is decked with wooden flooring and mud-tiles on the roof to adorn the cottage in a more natural way. Bringing more fascination to it, each cottage with 1 living and 1 bedroom set is flourished with luxury Jacuzzi, an ideal set defined for a small family to spend the leisure holidays at Corbett. The cottages are also defined with large swimming pools, with separate arrangements for lovely kids (lying side by side) and with separate provisions for the drivers at the vicinity. The Jungle Leela Resort is being designed especially for the niche clientele to fetch all sorts of personalized services making the wildlife tour more impressive and remembering.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
The novel coronavirus pandemic has altered our lives in unimaginable ways; social distancing has become the — new normal and the — big fat Indian wedding has now embraced smaller, more intimate weddings. It definitely seems small is the new big!
Instead of worrying about what it used to be, couples are chasing the silver lining in this new situation. With restrictions on guest lists, many to-be-weds are leveraging this opportunity to make their dream destination wedding come true!
The pandemic has given couples the chance to tie the knot against the backdrop of an exquisite location, either outside the city without worrying about going over the budget.
A destination wedding that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket is no longer just a fantasy. Expert from Weddingz.in shares the five most budget-friendly cities to host one’s small and dreamy wedding.
Welcome Hotel The Savoy.
Goa
With its sun-kissed beaches and breathtaking views, Goa makes for the perfect destination for an intimate and fun wedding. Couples can choose to host their wedding ceremony at a stunning beach resort without having to spend exorbitantly. Goa is host to umpteen affordable resorts with private beaches, little old-style Portuguese inns and budget-friendly homestays. Apart from being easily accessible via road, air and rail, Goa has a host a lot of restaurants which blend local and continental flavours, and this makes it a perfect destination for a small wedding.
Jaipur
Known as India’s Pink City, Jaipur is steeped in royal history and culture. Apart from being a favoured tourist hotspot, it is also a viable destination for weddings. Jaipur is home to an array of new-age boutique guest-houses and homestays that are pocket-friendly and ideal for wedding festivities with a limited guest list. At homestays and inns, couples can choose curated cuisine, customised dining setup and much more. Jaipur is also easily connected to all major Indian cities and towns and hence, makes for a perfect mini wedding destination.
Pune
Nestled in the lap of the Sahyadri Mountains, Pune makes for an ideal location for a small destination wedding. The city has tons of budget-friendly hotels, farms, resorts and holiday homes. Also, apart from its proximity to all major cities and towns in and around Mumbai, Pune city has the right mix of old-style Maharashtrian culture and new-age city vibes. The cool and dry weather is another upside for those looking to have outdoor weddings.
World Tourism Day: Jaipur, Goa, Kochi to be most popular leisure destinations.
Mussoorie
This hill station town in the foothills of the Garhwal Himalayan range is nothing short of a paradise for couples looking to get hitched. Mussoorie provides an array of breathtaking locales and vistas that couples can choose from. The hill town is full of homestays, hotels and little rustic inns, with local vendors offering reasonable prices for all necessary wedding prep as compared to mainstream cities. This makes for a perfect destination to host a low-budget yet festive wedding.
Chandigarh
With a host of 3-star hotels and farmhouses, the city blends well for small budget-friendly weddings. Hosting an outdoor farm wedding requires minimal spending on the decor, instead one can add some DIY decor personalised as per the couple’s taste. An extremely well-connected city- Chandigarh is also home to some of North India’s cuisine and is one of the greenest and cleanest cities in India. Add up all these factors and you have your perfect micro-wedding destination!
The pandemic may have played spoilsport for a lot of the couple’s grand wedding plans, but on the brighter side, it has given rise to intimate wedding ceremonies that can be celebrated with the closest friends and family. As an added perk, Weddingz.in is also offering jaw-dropping offers that can be availed by couples looking to book wedding related services.
During Hestourex, I met Dr. Sevil Kaderli, the founder of Atalya Dental clinic in Antalya. We talked about the practice and the type of services that she offers to the customers. I was invited to visit the Atalya clinic in Antalya’s Kepez district. It was a seven-story building consisting of 17 clinics equipped with all the latest dental technology. One room was designed and decorated specifically for children. One floor was dedicated to a large laboratory for making teeth, dentures, crowns, and implants. There was also a floor with several apartments dedicated to accommodate foreign guests. Dr. Kaderli also owns and manages another branch in Dokuma district in the city of Antalya …. Writes Mohammed Reza Amirinia
Medical health tourism is a growing global trend. Many clinics, hospitals, and agencies advertise their services to attract tourists interested in various types of medical and cosmetic treatments. Spa treatments, thermal tubs, mud baths, traditional healing, and homeopathy are just some of the areas covered by in the world of wellness. Medical surgery covers anything from personal injuries and complicated disorders to cosmetic surgery for personal beautification.
The term “Medical Tourism” arose as many people began to travel from their own countries to other countries for the medical treatments for a variety of reasons, primarily economic but also recreational, whereby one has the desire to combine their healthcare with sightseeing and exploration.
An emerging trend involves the industry shifting from Europe to third world countries and developing such as Cuba and Costa Rica in the west or Turkey and Morocco in the East. Cost and quality are a key driver as to why westerners would, with advanced healthcare systems in their own countries, flock to less developed nations for health and wellbeing services.
The world of hospitality has combined with wellbeing to provide services and facilities beyond traditional hospitals and clinics. Customer care, transfer, spa treatments and other services are more similar to a luxury hotel, encouraging foreign customers to choose these new international tourist clinics.
In the UK, limitations in NHS healthcare and very expensive private treatments have encouraged British citizens to look for alternative plans overseas. UK hospitals have the best surgeons in the world and have historically been considered a mecca for foreign patients. They still attract many medical tourists who can afford the costs in very specialized fields in the UK. However, there is a void in the national healthcare system that encourages UK and European citizens to look for new avenues in healthcare in other countries, normally less developed countries.
I was in Antalya to attend Hestourex, the World Health, Sport and Alternative Tourism Congress and Exhibition. It was a great opportunity for B2B meetings for visitors from all over the world to engage with local Turkish businesses and other international guests working in healthcare. I visited many stands exhibited by Turkish hospitals and clinics from Antalya, Mulga and other Turkish cities and regions. There were also many hotels, resorts and sports institutions as the show was dedicated to the Sport.
During Hestourex, I met Dr. Sevil Kaderli, the founder of Atalya Dental clinic in Antalya. We talked about the practice and the type of services that she offers to the customers. I was invited to visit the Atalya clinic in Antalya’s Kepez district. It was a seven-story building consisting of 17 clinics equipped with all the latest dental technology. One room was designed and decorated specifically for children. One floor was dedicated to a large laboratory for making teeth, dentures, crowns, and implants. There was also a floor with several apartments dedicated to accommodate foreign guests. Dr. Kaderli also owns and manages another branch in Dokuma district in the city of Antalya.
Mr. Gokhan, the manager of Atalya Dental clinic explained the ambitious ideas of Dr. Kaderli and her team to provide a personal service to patients from initial consultation and caring therapy procedures to the final post-therapy advice to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
I was there in Antalya for business meetings – I never thought that I would go for a dental treatment. I didn’t have any emergency issues with my teeth, however, due to historic tooth decay, I was previously advised to have dental bridges or implants done. Mr. Gokhan suggested having implants placed instead of bridges.
Dr Kedrli examined me carefully and recommended placing 6 dental implant posts. My flight was the next day, but Sevil assured me that she could do the job in the morning before my flight. It was a hard decision to go through such an intense procedure in half a day. However, I didn’t hesitate to accept going through the treatment. The nurse took a panoramic x-ray, monitoring the state of my tooth, before the surgical operation. The x-ray machine was a state of the art machine connected to a computer.
The surgeon began the operation after evaluating my x-ray and deciding the places of the implants. Dr Kedrli cut the gum to drill holes into my jawbone for insertion of implant. The deeply implanted fixtures act as new tooth roots. The implants are made of titanium, because it contains alloys that the human body can tolerate more easily and won’t cause any allergy or contamination in the body. The quality of my bone was low in one section around my tooth. Therefore, the surgeon had to use the bone graft to do bone rehabilitation and restore the bone structure to strengthen it to hold the implants. The bone grafting is a costly essential requirement, if the bone is not good enough to cover the implant.
My doctor also had to extract two teeth. It was a very cumbersome procedure with a delicate surgical operation, but it was all done diligently. I have always resented tooth extraction and root canal treatment. The local anaesthesia was required to relieve the pain. However, this implant placement caused just minor discomfort, despite intense treatment. The doctors and nurses were very supportive during the treatment and the whole procedure was done in a few hours. I was ready to fly back to London in the afternoon.
I had to use ice bags on my face to stop minor bleeding following the operation and during my flight. The implant wounds started to heal in a week and stitches were dissolved slowly. I didn’t have any inflammation, but I had a slight discomfort around implant posts after a few weeks following the procedure. I visited a local doctor to have an examination. He found an undissolved stich on my gum. He easily removed it and that relived my discomfort. It is always advisable not to panic with little pain. It is a good idea to have a regular check-up, in case of any complications. There are always risks of infection, bleeding or delays in bone healing. But the majority of people don’t have any serious complications. The dental implants are an important decision to make for anyone. Despite the cost, it seems that the implant placements are the most reliable option in the long term.
The placement of implant fixtures is the first phase of the treatment. The healing of the bone and the gum around posts, similar to the growth of gum tissue around natural tooth may take 3 to 6 months. You should allow enough time so that the implants blend with the jawbone properly, before the new tooth can be placed over the posts. Actually, the longer it takes the better, because the implants sitting on your jawbone would need to become part of the anatomy of your body.
I was extremely busy during the year and did not get a chance to travel to Turkey. I returned to Antalya after a year during Hestourex 2019. It was a good opportunity again to combine my business meetings and sightseeing tours with completing the dental treatment. I was there for only for five days, but normally it is better to allow one to two weeks to complete the second stage of the treatment.
Dr. Sevil Kaderli worked very intensely on my teeth over three sessions. She was initially satisfied that the implant healing was good by taking an up to date x-ray. Then she began by cutting and preparing my existing tooth to adjust them in line with the new artificial tooth. Sevil created a model of my upper and lower tooth and sent it to the laboratory. She made a temporary removable denture for my upper tooth, before the final one was done. Sevil owns her own private laboratory on the 6th floor of her building. Therefore, it was convenient for me to go to the laboratory for handy slight adjustments.
The new crown tooth was made of zirconia ceramic with a natural colour to match my existing tooth. The Zirconia crown is made of zirconium dioxide, a very robust material, and much stronger than porcelain. The zirconia is a kind of ceramic with high transparency and durability features. It doesn’t contain the metal. The crown was fitted via abutments to screw the prosthesis over my implants.
Sevil did all my treatments as a priority with immediate attention, but very carefully to avoid any negligence. I was amazed of her dedication and caring attitude, giving me comfort during the procedure with her bright demeanour. If you are going to do this dental treatment, I suggest to allow more time in each stage to get it done with more relaxation and be less worried about the time.
I am very happy with my new teeth, which has positively changed my appearance. Dental marketers call it the “Hollywood Smile” to promote their work. I look younger and happier and most importantly, it helps with my food digestion.
Dr. Sevil Kaderli also operates another branch in Rixos Downtown Antalya. It is a luxury private setting for clients who are looking for more exclusive dental treatments. The clinic is called Medworld in a building adjoining the Rixos Hotel Spa centre for various types of physical treatment and rehabilitation.
The Atalya clinic in the city of Antalya is only an example of several dental clinics in Turkey. There are always risks in choosing a reliable and trustworthy clinic. The selection of the right dentist is not just about cost, worrying about guarantees, but also the trust, professionalism, expertise, quality and appropriate dental equipment in the clinic. It can be worrying to fly to a distant country, speaking a different language and then going under any treatments. However, word of mouth and researching reviews online are good ways to help make a decision.
Turkey like many other countries in the world has suffered because of the covid-19 pandemic and all required restrictions. Slowly the situation is changing and things are going back to normal with careful consideration of social distancing. The Atalya clinic in Antalya is open and business is as usual to welcome the guests for all their dental treatments observing of all medical precautions.
For further information about the dental treatments by Atalya Clinic contact https://atalyadis.com/en/ or https://dentatur.com/.
He says that not a single day passes when he doesn’t ask himself: “Who the hell do you think you are?”…writes Sukant Deepak.
Stressing that everyone struggles with identity, both on a simple, mundane level as well as on a larger plane, writer Stephen Alter, who recently received the Mountain Environment and Natural History Award for his book ‘Wild Himalaya’, says, “Come to think of it, very few people are content with their origins and each of us seeks to reinvent ourselves in different ways.”
Alter, who in his latest work ‘Feral Dreams’ (Aleph) goes back to Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’ and takes it forward, says that the classic has been an important part of his imagination since childhood and over the years he has grown to appreciate the fact that those stories about the forests and wildlife of India can be employed as a message for conservation.
“As I revisited Mowgli’s adventures in a more contemporary setting, I tried to make these popular narratives relevant to our present times, when many species are threatened with extinction and the jungles have shrunk considerably since the days when Kipling first told his tales,” says Alter.
Born and raised in India, Alter, who lives in Littleton, Colorado, and Landour, Uttarakhand, and has to his credit around 20 fiction and non-fiction titles including books for children, insists that despite the Himalayas being home, several aspects of those mountains remain beyond his understanding.
“That’s what fascinates me. They are both familiar and unknown,” he says.
He may be an atheist, but that does not stop him from appreciating and writing about the sacred and spiritual in his works.
Adding that denying divinity allows him to ask questions that devotees of different faiths often avoid, the author, who has has taught writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and at the American University in Cairo, says, “The Himalaya represents a sacred space, but not as it is interpreted by organised religion and dogmatic purveyors of shallow, lowland truths.”
For someone whose first story was published in 1976, it is not really money that keeps him going.
“Writing is a fatal addiction that leaves your bank account empty but fulfils a storyteller’s desire to plunder a reader’s imagination,” he says.
The author, who has written around four books for children, feels that younger readers can be a demanding audience as they tend to focus intensely on a story and read every word while adults may skim over sentences and skip passages.
“It is important to provide them with new and challenging stories, both in fiction and non-fiction. India needs more writers who provide young people with the kind of literature that will entertain and inspire them,” he says.
A stickler for schedule, Alter, who writes between 7 am and 11 am by shutting out all intrusions, produces a thousand words everyday — his daily quota for the past 45 years.
Receiving The Banff Mountain Book Award for ‘Wild Himalaya’ has been an enormously satisfying experience for Alter.
“I feel happy because it means that all the time and effort I put into the book has been recognised by the jury members who understand and appreciate the mountains just as I do,” says the author, also a recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship.
Refusing to talk about his next book, he says, “I am always working on something, but considering the fact that because I’m superstitious, in a cynical sort of way, I never tell anyone what my next book is about.”
Stephen Alterâs âWild Himalayaâ wins environmental award at Canadian festival
Prolific writer Stephen Alter has won the prestigious Mountain Environment and Natural History Award at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival 2020 in Alberta, Canada, for his book “Wild Himalaya” (Aleph) that brings alive the greatest mountain range on earth in all its terrifying beauty, grandeur and complexity.
Travelling to all the five countries that the Himalayan range – 2,500 kilometres in length, between 350 and 150 kilometres in breadth and rising to a maximum height of almost nine kilometres above sea level (Mount Everest) – traverses through India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and China, Alter braids together on-the-ground reports with a deep understanding and study of the history, science, geology, environment, flora, fauna, myth, folklore, spirituality, climate and human settlements of the region to provide a nuanced and rich portrait of these legendary mountains.
Adding colour to the narrative are riveting tales unearthed by the author of some of the range’s most storied peaks – Everest or Chomolungma, Kanchenjunga, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nanga Parbat, among others.
The book is divided into eight sections which delve deep into particular aspects of the Himalayas.
“Orogenesis” explores the origin, evolution, geology, geography and other such core aspects of these mountains; “The Third Pole” concerns itself with weather, glaciers, wetlands and rivers; “Flora Himalensis” details extraordinary Himalayan plants and trees; “Winged Migrants” goes deep into the world of Himalayan birds and insects; “Mountain Mammals” crosses high passes and goes above the tree-line in search of brown bears, blue sheep and snow leopards; “Ancestral Journeys” takes a close look at human settlement in the Himalaya and stories of origin and migration, both ancient and contemporary; “At the Edge of Beyond” recounts epic adventures and great mountaineering feats; and, finally, “In a Thousand Ages of the Gods” examines the essence of Himalayan art, folklore and mythology as well as enigmatic mysteries such as the existence of the Yeti, along with key questions of conservation.
Although there have been hundreds of books, and some masterpieces, about one or the other aspect of the Himalaya, rare is one that has come close to capturing the incredible complexity and majesty of these mountains.
Stephen Alter, a cousin of the late actor Tom Alter, is the author of 20 books of fiction and non-fiction. He was born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, and much of his writing focuses on the Himalayan region, where he continues to live and work.
His honours include a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright award. His recent memoir, “Becoming a Mountain: Himalayan Journeys in Search of the Sacred and the Sublime”, received the Kekoo Naoroji Award for Himalayan Literature in 2015. His most recent work of fiction, “In the Jungles of the Night: A Novel About Jim Corbett”, was shortlisted for the DSC South Asian Literature Award in 2017.
Why Stephen Alter calls Himalayas home
Alter was writer-in-residence at MIT for 10 years, before which he directed the writing programme at the American University in Cairo. He is the founding director of the Mussoorie Mountain Festival.
As beautiful as Switzerland is in summer, the changing colours of autumn paint the vistas of the country in delightful golden hues. Witnessing the delightful shades of orange, yellow gold and green, is a dream come true! Switzerlands colourful autumn in September and October is one of the best times to explore this gorgeous country.
Here are some snapshots of this glorious country painted in beautiful autumn shades!
Autumn Along the Grand Tour of Switzerland
The unique combination of the rural idyll, culturally thriving towns, and impressive culinary diversity, painted in autumn shades all packed into a small area, is what sets Switzerland apart. The Grand Tour of Switzerland combines all this in a fun way as the best way to experience Fall is on a self-drive through some of the most scenic regions of Switzerland. The Grand Tour combines all of Switzerland’s attraction on one route � all available on an app with suggestions for routes, attractions, accommodation as well as restaurants
Interlaken
The adventure capital of Europe turns into a trekker’s paradise in the Fall season! But of course, other adventures like paragliding, mountain biking, bungee and canyon jumping are also available.
Lake Geneva Region
The dramatic vineyards that drop off into Lake Geneva offer over 30 kms of trails. Nothing can be more romantic than a boat ride on Lake Geneva in autumn with your partner cruising through the captivating colours of fall or biking across the vineyards stopping to taste some wine at the several wine-tasting cellars that offer a tasting session along with the tour of the cellar.
Lucerne
Nestled amongst mountains and an aquamarine-tinted lake, Lucerne in fall will make you feel like you have time travelled to a quaint fairy tale-town with all its trimmings cobblestone streets and centuries-old pretty wooden bridges all surrounded by blazing autumn trees reaching up through a mysterious veiled mist.
Zermatt
The quaint, pretty alpine village of Zermatt nestled among the Swiss Alps comes alive in Autumn, and how! The best way to treat your eyes to the visual artistry of fall in this beautiful resort town is to walk/ trek through trails lined with warm coloured trees set against a backdrop of crystal-clear blue skies. And if that is too much effort, you can admire the nature from the comfort of a cable car of Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
Zurich
The largest city of Switzerland is a must-visit in fall, not only are the leaves colorful, but also the diversity of exciting activities on offer in Zurich. Hikes, culinary specialties and wines are amongst the plenty of fun things to do in Zurich to lure visitors to this wonderful city!
Zimbabwe plans to gradually reopen borders from December (Xinhua/IANS)
Zimbabwe closed it’s ports of entry in March following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News
Zimbabwe will gradually reopen it’s land borders beginning in December, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.
Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing, Mutsvangwa said on Tuesday that borders to be opened first include the country’s busiest, Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, and Plumtree which borders with Botswana, Xinhua reported.
“The borders will open first to private passenger vehicles and pedestrian traffic from December 1, 2020, while further assessment is being undertaken with regard to preparations for handling public passenger transport,” said Mutsvangwa.
She said the borders will operate between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., until further notice.
After nearly 9 months of restrictions, Zimbabwe will begin to open its borders on December 1st.
To all Zimbabweans who complied with the #COVID19 measures, your resilience has saved countless lives across Zimbabwe.
Let’s now work together to get our economy back on track! 🇿🇼
