Friday, September 23, 2016

Exploring the city of superlatives


TOPICS

human interest

lifestyle and leisure

Ritzy shopping malls and soaring skyscrapers. Sand dune bashing over a balmy winter weekend. A few tentative skiing lessons at the Mall of the Emirates. The lofty sail of Burj Al Arab by the seashore. And perhaps, more recently, the imposing façade of Atlantis The Palm resort. For those who have been there, done that in Dubai, these are likely to be the enduring, perhaps overwhelming images of this desert city. But there are new stars emerging every year, every season. And each time I visit, I come away wondering if it was actually a whole new city I just saw. CHARUKESI RAMADURAI lists some offbeat and exciting things to do

Go to the top
It’s a bit of a ‘top of the world’ experience. After all, it is a view from the observation deck on the 125th floor of the tallest building in the world. That is, if you have not gone further up to the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa. The air at this level is rarefied, literally, as entry into the observatory also comes with special lounge access and a dedicated elevator which takes you through flash images of the world’s most iconic landmarks as it takes you up.
Glide, and then fly
Is it a boat? Is it a plane? Apparently, the amphibian that bobs unsteadily on the creek waters is a seaplane. Take off after a brief taxi over blue waters, after which the seaplane begins its aerial tour of familiar Dubai sights. The large picture windows offer clear views of the sprawling fronds of the Palm Jumeirah, the tapered tower of the Burj Al Arab and the impressive expanse of the Atlantis, before the criss-cross roads and flyovers of the inner city appear.
Walk with the sharks
Whether or not you stay at Atlantis The Palm resort, don’t miss a trip to the Aquaventure and Dolphin Bay water park within its premises. You could, of course, coast with the dolphins, but why settle for that when you can walk with the sharks? Of the wide range of experiences available, this is one of the most exciting: an underwater walk, with fish, sting rays, and yes, sharks, swimming right next to you. So, if you are over the age of eight, make sure to don that helmet and that breathing apparatus and step right into the water.
Bargain at the souks
In Dubai, retail therapy is available everywhere, even on the streets. So, forget those swanky malls and head to the souks along the creek, where the real fun lies. In those narrow lanes in Deira, the aroma of saffron and cinnamon wafts up into the air, as vendors in the Spice Souk keep their stocks piled high in eye-catching, multi-colour mounds. Right next to it is the Gold Souk, where, in sheer contrast, only one colour rules. Gold jewellery, which is considered of the best quality, winks from shop windows, tempting even the most thrifty shopper to walk in.
Skydive indoors
Let nobody tell you that Dubai cannot pull off the impossible. How else would you explain the adventure of skydiving, without a plane? The excitement, but without the fear? Welcome, wind technology. Enjoy the feeling of jumping off a plane, as the wind courses past your body, filling you with adrenalin. This indoor skydiving centre allows you to defy gravity and experience freefall at this vertical wind tunnel.
Or use this as a lesson for the real McCoy — skydiving as it is meant to happen, either as a solo or as a tandem jump with a professional instructor. Of course, what they tell you that is no previous experience is required for this: just an empty stomach and the ability to let go!
Peer through the lens
For a desert city, Dubai is remarkably full of colour and culture. Explore the streets of Dubai with professional photographers and see the sights through their eyes and your own camera viewfinder. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a Dubai stalwart, one of their Unseen Trails is sure to throw up visual surprises (the Naif by Night tour comes highly recommended). There is even a tour themed around Diwali in one of Dubai’s oldest Indian neighbourhoods. And the tour does come with the warning that it is not for those who “prefer order, peace, quiet, and plenty of personal space.”
Do the dhow
Forget those cars and planes, and see the Dubai skyline the old-fashioned way, through an evening cruise on a wooden dhow. The more popular route is along the creek, where this city was born. Or you can choose to cruise in the newer and glitzier parts of town, along the Dubai Marina, with its five-star hotels and private beaches. This dhow cruise comes with a barbecue dinner, belly dancing and the works.
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Computers

How to Transfer a YouTube Video to a Sony Walkman
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How to Record From an HD DVR Receiver to a Computer
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How to Transfer Analog Video to Hard Drives
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Instructions for a SanDisk Cruzer Mini
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How to Copy Files From a Windows Hard Drive to a Mac
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How to Transfer RealPlayer Videos to a New Computer
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Windows Firewall Vs. McAfee Firewall
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Advantages & Disadvantages of Sophos Anti-Virus
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Alternative Anti-virus Programs to McAfee
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The Purposes of AT&T U-verse USB Ports
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How Do I Transfer Movies from a DVR Recorder to DVD?
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Internet

A Comparison of Dial-Up, DSL, Cable & Mobile Broadband
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The Alternative to DSL in Areas Where DSL is Not Available
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How to Recover iPhone Contacts
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How to Sync Google Contacts & Groups to Your iPhone
Syncing Google contacts and groups to your iPhone allows you to keep your phone and your computer continually updated with important contact information. Manually entering contact information can be a daunting task, especially if you have hundreds of contacts, so performing this process automatically using Google Sync is beneficial. Read more
The Best Way to Import Outlook Contacts Into an iPhone
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How to Get Bookmarks From a Mac Laptop to an iPhone
The iPhone may be compatible with Windows, but it is inherently designed to sync seamlessly with a Mac. When you sync your iPhone to your Mac, you have the option to import music, videos, iCal calendars, Address Book contacts, Mail accounts, Notes, photos, Safari bookmarks and even a MobileMe account, if you have one. The easiest way to get your bookmarks from your Mac to your iPhone is to sync through iTunes. Read more

How to Merge a Calendar on an iPhone With a Computer
An iPhone is great if you want to add appointments and events to your calendar on the move, but if you need them on your computer, or need to add events to your iPhone from your computer, you will need to merge your calendars. This is an easy process that takes a matter of seconds and you can do it as regularly as you need to. Read more


iPhone Calendar Features
The iPhone is smartphone, or a phone with Internet and media capabilities, that is produced by Apple. Introduced to the public at the start of 2007, the iPhone has gone through four generations as of 2011. The calendar is one of the iPhones many apps, or applications, which comes standard with the device. Read more


How to Add Contacts to Calendar on Android
The Android smartphone is designed to integrate with your Google account to keep your personal information synchronized between the phone and Google's online applications like GMail and Google Calendar. Each of the Google apps on your phone can access this information, allowing you to link certain information, such as calendar entries. Read more
How to Use Google Calendar in a Website
Google's web-based Calendar application enables users to keep track of meetings, appointments and events. Each user can set up and manage multiple calendars, which can be made private or public as required and can be accessed from any web browser as well as a number of portable devices. Any public calendar can be embedded in another website.  Read more
Consistency of Speed With DSL Vs. Cable
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Travel

Luxe thrills in Lonavala’s hills
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Out of Anaikatti: Bug side story
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A trekker’s guide to the Himalayas
My sole climbing feat before I set out on a high-altitude trek of 14,000 feet in the Himalayas this year was climbing a 50-feet-tall water tank in Puducherry. And that too nine years ago. I often recollected, with an odd mix of amusement and shame, how my knees got wobblier as I ascended the rusty rungs of the tank’s metal ladder, thanks to bouts of intense acrophobia… That is why, when folks at home greeted my brave decision to scale the Himalayas with stares of disbelief, it did not seem out of place. Read more
The other side of the Himalayas
Ninety per cent of visitors to the Indian Himalayas keep visiting the same 10 per cent of places, over and over again. Pilgrimages aside, the hill stations and treks attract those looking out for genuine Himalayan adventure. But these folks are restricted by the lack of awareness on where to go, safety concerns and lack of options provided by tour organisers. Read more

For the love of country
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Taking a ride on the wild side
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A window to the North East
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A walk in the woods
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Salsa by the beach
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On Friday, September 23, at Surf Turf, Covelong Point Social Surf School, Kovalam, brunch with the instructors will be followed by a bachata session with Australian dancers Mitch and Ellicia. Party through the evening on the beach, and have an introductory surfing lesson before heading for the launch party at Drizzle Bar and Restaurant at Neelankarai. Read more


Between the Sun and the Sea
At Port Canaveral, you get to see a constant procession of boats and ships that pass through. The sight matches what we often see on the silver screen. Mega cruise ships set sail for exotic destinations from here. Submarines surface to visit the navy port for repairs and upkeep. Cargo vessels loaded with goods and river boats come and go. Fishing boats bring the daily catch ashore.  Read more

Up close and personal with Hamlet
In all probability, not many of us have seen a stage enactment of Hamlet. So how would it feel, to not just watch a live performance of this famous play, but at the very location in which Shakespeare set it: the Kronborg Castle in Denmark? It’s pretty mind-blowing. Take my word for it.  Read more

Exploring the city of superlatives
It’s a bit of a ‘top of the world’ experience. After all, it is a view from the observation deck on the 125th floor of the tallest building in the world. That is, if you have not gone further up to the 148th floor of the Burj Khalifa. The air at this level is rarefied, literally, as entry into the observatory also comes with special lounge access and a dedicated elevator which takes you through flash images of the world’s most iconic landmarks as it takes you up. Read more
The way of the runner
The furious ringing of cowbells... It’s the sound the French town of Chamonix is awash with as runners of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) race towards the finish line. A sound that fills Ashok Daniel’s ears, two weeks after he became the youngest Indian to finish Europe’s most gruelling race that covers three countries and 10 alpine summits.
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Delhi among top 50 global destinations
Delhi is among the top 50 global destinations when it comes to the number of international visitors, says a recent survey. Ranked at 48, the Capital witnesses a footfall of 2.58 million international visitors a year, who spend about $1.5 billion, excluding airfare. The findings are a part of the sixth annual Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index released on Thursday. Read more



International News

Stephen Hawking warns against ‘contacting aliens’
British physicist Stephen Hawking has warned against announcing our presence to any alien civilisations, especially to those more technologically advanced than humans. Our first contact from an advanced civilisation could be equivalent to when Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus and things “didn’t turn out so well”, Hawking said in a new online film. Read more
World with India against terror, Pakistan isolated: Akbaruddin
Pakistan’s months-long efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations (U.N.) have not found any resonance with nations at the world body that are focussed on combating the growing scourge of terrorism, a top Indian diplomat has said.India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Syed Akbaruddin said that what was finding resonance among the international community is the terror threat that India is facing and not what Mr. Sharif focussed on his speech — the issue of Kashmir. Read more
We have faith in our Army, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the perpetrators of the Uri terror attack would be punished and the Army did not speak but exhibited its valour. “I pay tributes to our 18 soldiers who lost their lives in the Uri attack. This cowardly act was enough to shake the country. It has not only left the people mourning but has also infuriated them. The loss of our soldiers is a national loss, and therefore I would like to reiterate that the guilty would be punished,” he said in his Mann Ki Baat radio programme. Read more
Jayalalithaa getting better: Hospital
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is responding well to the treatment and “there is no question of taking the Honourable Chief Minister abroad for treatment, as there is no necessity at all for this,” said Subbiah Viswanathan, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Apollo Hospitals on Sunday. At a press conference, he said Ms. Jayalalithaa “continues to get better. She will be discharged in a few days and will soon resume her normal duties. Necessary medications were being administered as required.”  Read more
Army deployed in rain-affected areas of Hyderabad
The Army was pressed into service on Saturday in rescue and support operations in the rain-affected areas of the greater Hyderabad region. Army officials met senior Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC0 officers in the early of Saturday and procured maps and information related to the present ground situation in the city. Eight task force teams of the Army were deployed in Malkajgiri, Alwal, Hakeempet and Nizampet. Read more

Uri attack could be a ‘reaction’ to situation in Kashmir, says Sharif
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the Uri terror attack could a “reaction” to the situation in Kashmir and criticised India for blaming Pakistan “without any evidence.” “The Uri attack can be the reaction of the atrocities in Kashmir, as the close relatives and near and dear ones of those killed and blinded over the last two months were hurt and outraged,” Mr. Sharif told reporters in London. 
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25 Facts About Barack Obama
As the final remaining year of the Obama administration is well underway, the legacy that President Barack Obama will forge in history remains hotly contested.Conservatives argue Obama is the “worst president ever” while liberals have claimedhe has “done more good for this country than any president before him.” Read more
Nod likely for Bhagirathi hydel projects

After constant persuasion from the Uttarakhand government, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has agreed to “consider” the State’s request and “permit the 10 hydro electric projects (HEPs) of less than 25MW capacity of a total combined capacity of 82.3 MW which were approved prior to the date of notification” in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in the hill State’s Uttarkashi region. Read more


India, France conclude Rafale deal
India and France on Friday concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets to cost the nation Euro 7.87 billion. The signing was concluded at Hyderabad house in the presence of Defence minister Manohar Parrikar along with his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian. Read more

One militant was killed in an encounter and two infiltration bids were foiled on the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday. An Army spokesman said two bids were foiled in as many places in Naugam sector of Kupwara district. Two counter-infiltration operations continue in Uri in Baramulla and Naugam in Kupwara. Read more



The Army on Thursday foiled two infiltrations in north Kashmir's Nowgam Sector in Kupwara district, more than 90 km away from Srinagar. “Even as counter-infiltration operations continue in Uri and Nowgam sectors, two more infiltrations were successfully foiled by the Army at two different places in Nowgam sector,” an Army spokesman said. Read more



Defence and police forces in Maharashtra went on high alert on Thursday after reports of sighting of suspicious men near a naval base in Uran, and suspicious activities in nearby Karanja.

A defence spokesperson said the Navy was in a state of high alert in Mumbai and adjoining areas after suspicious activities were reported by some schoolchildren in Karanja. Read more

As the United States presidential election draws near, television’s stars did not hold back on their opinions at Sunday’s Emmy awards, some taking jabs at Republican nominee Donald Trump while others voiced support for Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton. Read more





What does a didgeridoo, tablas and opera music have in common? Not much. But these sounds reverberated through the iconic Sydney Opera House on September 18 as Indian and Australian artistes came together to perform. Read more





Russia’s ruling United Russia party on Sunday cruised to an easy victory in the parliamentary polls that could pave the way for President Vladimir Putin to glide to a fourth term in 2018 elections, partial results showed. Read more 
                                                                                                                      



 Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti has initiated the move to seek political asylum in India, a spokesperson of the Baloch Republican Party told The Hindu over phone from Geneva. Mr. Bugti’s decision to seek asylum in India follows a meeting of his party Baloch Republican Party (BRP), where the decision to shift to India was examined and cleared. Read more




 With Kashmir high on his agenda Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in New York on Sunday to lead the Pakistani delegation to the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly where he would enunciate Islamabad’s position on key global and regional issues before one of the largest gatherings of leaders from around the world.
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  Amid reports that African-Americans are less enthusiastic about voting for Hillary Clinton than they were for him, President Barack Obama told a gathering of community leaders that his legacy will be at stake in the November election. Read more






Business

Tourism meet sees pacts worth Rs.15,000 cr.
Five states -- Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh – signed 86 MoUs worth close to Rs.15,000 crore during the recently concluded Incredible India Investors’ Summit. Read more
The looming crisis in airport capacity
For the last one-and-a-half years, India has been the fastest growing air traffic market in the world. In July, domestic air travel in India grew 26.2 per cent with China being the second-fastest growing domestic market (10.2 per cent traffic growth), according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Read more

Yahoo users close accounts amid fears
Many Yahoo users rushed on Friday to close their accounts and change passwords as experts warned that the fallout from one of the largest cyber breaches in history could spill beyond the internet company’s services. Read more


Huawei to manufacture smartphones in India
Chinese smartphone Huawei on Friday announced that it will start to manufacture smartphones in India from next month, in partnership with Flex. "Starting from first week of October 2016, the Flex manufacturing plant in Chennai will manufacture one of the Honor smartphones models," the company said. Read more


Daimler to introduce heavy duty truck soon
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) Pvt Ltd., will roll out Bharat Benz-branded medium-duty sub-9 tonne truck from its Oragadam plant near Chennai next year and plans to enter markets such as Peru, Chile and Mexico. The project titled Titan would be the third product from the stable and would be in 6-9 tonnes category, said Marc Llistosella, head of Daimler Truck Asia at a round table with Asian journalists. Read more
Will meet April 1 target for GST rollout: Meghwal

Stressing that the new indirect tax regime is a major tool for improving ease of doing business, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal today said the government will be able to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST) from April 1, next year. Read more




Commuters to be spared from tolls on small roads

The Centre has notified the scrapping of toll tax collections on small road stretches and bridges developed at a cost of less than Rs.100 crore. Analysts, however, expect only marginal relief for commuters as such road stretches are few and far between. Read more




Le Pro3 smartphone with world’s first Snapdragon 821 launched


Chinese technology conglomerate LeEco on Thursday launched its new flagship “superphone” Le Pro3 which is world’s first device to sport Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset which works 10 per cent faster than its predecessor. Le Pro3 has four variants: 4GB+32GB, 6GB+64GB, 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB. Read more



Sport

Murali Vijay: 'Happy to be playing cricket again'
Murali Vijay, after finishing as India’s top-scorer in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand here, expressed his happiness in playing cricket for India again. In West Indies, Vijay was ruled out of the second and third Test after he sustained a thumb injury. In the fourth Test, rain prevented the opener from taking further part in the series. Read more

De Villiers doubtful for Australia series
AB de Villiers could miss the One-Day International series against Australia after the South Africa captain was given "an extended period of rehabilitation" to recover from an elbow injury. The prolific batsman has been sidelined since damaging his left elbow playing in the Caribbean Premier League and will not feature in Sunday's one-off ODI against Ireland in Benoni. Read more

Under-fire Rooney hits back at 'rubbish' criticism
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has hit back at criticism of his recent form, claiming a lot of comments aimed his way are "rubbish".United faced scrutiny after losing three straight matches before ending the run in a 3-1 EFL Cup win at Northampton Town on Wednesday. Read more



McIlroy plays down Tiger impact
Rory McIlroy cannot see how Tiger Woods' presence can negatively impact the United States at the Ryder Cup.Just over a week out from the event, Lee Westwood said Woods – a USA vice-captain – could have an "adverse effect" on the team. Read more



Available for captaincy: Abhinav
Among runs these days and hungry for more, Abhinav Mukund appears to have been around for long but is still only 26. He has been the Tamil Nadu Ranji captain for the last two seasons. While the last season was disappointing — the State team’s home matches being ruined by rain was among the causes — Abhinav did lead Tamil Nadu to the final in 2015.  Read more


India’s path-breaking conquests on foreign soil
The sub-continental batsmen had to cope with swing, seam or bounce. The bowlers, spinners in particular, were often up against it in cold, blustery weather. Adapting to the conditions meant making big mental adjustments and subtle technical changes. Winning Tests away from home represented the biggest challenge for India. More so in the initial and middle phase of its Test journey where exposure to foreign conditions was limited and the attack was heavily reliant on spin. Read more