| The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is great architecture, stupendous technology. |
| An-award winning film on an IMAX screen, a subterranean boat ride, a wave pool, 3-D dioramas consisting of robotics, fibre optics and son-et-lumiere effects. A trip to Disneyland, Hong Kong or Akshardham, Delhi. |
| The opening of the Swaminayaran Akshardham temple complex in East Delhi this weekend has signalled the arrival of the capital's first spiritual theme park. |
| Aimed at an audience that comprises the religious as well as those wanting a slice of entertainment, the Akshardham complex is an unending joyride for those wanting to combine a religious or spiritual experience with a day out for the family. |
| Spread over 100 acres, the Rs 200-crore (this includes the cost of the land) tourist attraction has created enough of a buzz, with busloads bringing in visitors from the international airport, and in 'Volga' and 'Volvo-like' buses all the way from Gujarat (the original Akshardham temple is in Gandhinagar). Its beautifully lit facade has already charmed the city. |
| We're getting innumerable calls from schools and from people abroad who want to make group bookings of around 100-200 people, confirms Wing |
| Commander Rajesh Danak, a volunteer and official spokesperson for the temple complex. Though it's too early to say how many people will come on a daily basis, we can easily accommodate over 25,000 people in the premises every day, he adds. |
| Danak is just one among 7,000 volunteers who have given their time to the complex since the groundbreaking ceremony five years ago. Other volunteers include our guide, Dr Vyas, and co-guide, 22-year-old Vishal Patel who otherwise works for Siemens India. This is my kind of spirituality,explains Patel, to grab the chance to do my bit for society. |
| Inaugurated by the President and the Prime Minister on Sunday, Akshardham, Delhi combines ornate, traditional architecture in white marble and pink sandstone with amazing technology. While entry to the main monument where the 11-ft high, gold-leafed idol of Swaminarayan stands, is free, it costs Rs 125 to see the three exhibitions complete with 3-D dioramas and the IMAX film. |
| This fee also includes the 12-minute, underground boat ride where a series of audio-visual presentations on India's mystic, scientific and historic past take people through a 10,000-year journey. |
| The boat ride is the brain-child of Vipul Waghela, who earlier worked with ISRO in the electronic engineering department. The entire complex, says Danak, is disabled friendly and we also provide wheel chairs on a first-come first-serve basis on a refundable deposit of Rs 100. |
| Volunteer Dr Vyas was part of the crew filming Mystic India: An Incredible Journey of Inspiration, on the saint Neelkanth, made by Hollywood director |
| Keith Melton, that won the Audience's Choice Prize at the 10th International Large Format Film Festival, Paris in January 2005. With nearly 45,000 actors, and shot in 108 locations and pilgrimage centres, the film covers the entire stretch of 12,000 km that the sage is supposed to have travelled in the mid-17th century. We have our own recording studio in Mumbai where we compose tracks, dub and prepare content for our audio-visual presentations, says Dr Vyas. |
| Besides, the complex has a food-court that serves south Indian and north Indian cuisine. We serve strictly satvik (without onions and garlic) food, says Davak. There's a sprawling park where saplings of nearly 9 lakh shrubs and plants have been planted. |
| Called Bharat Upvan, this area also has 60 bronze sculptures of national leaders and sages. Our aim is to make Akshardham an enriching experience; to see smiles on the faces of those who have toured the complex,� says Dr Vyas. |
| We can't stop smiling in response. Source : Business Standart |
Two persons, including a woman, were killed and two others injured on Saturday when they fell off a merry-go-round at an amusement park in southeastern Chittagong city, police said.
They said four of a family fell from a height of about 25 to 30 feet when their carriage of the merry-go-round was at near the top in the popular Foys' Lake amusement park where a large number of people had gathered for Eid celebrations.
The metal rope attached to the passenger carriage snapped as the saree of one of those killed jammed the wheels of the merry-go-round, police said.
All the injured were rushed to the Chittagong General Hospital where doctors declared two of them dead, while others were being treated.
Source : The Hindu News
HK may sell stake in Disney park
Hong Kong may eventually consider selling its 57 percent stake in the new Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, a government official said, less than two months after the new attraction opened its doors.
"In the long run, the government may consider in the light of the "Big Market, Small Government" principle to divest its shareholdings in the company at an appropriate time when it is in the overall economic interests of Hong Kong to do so," Financial Services Secretary Frederick Ma said on Wednesday.
Ma did not specify a timeframe for any potential stake sale.
A Disney spokeswoman in Los Angeles said that although the company's agreement with the Hong Kong government does allow it to sell its stake in the theme park, "it is not something that's imminent."
"We have no indication of a change in the government's position," Leslie Goodman, senior vice president of communications for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said on Wednesday.
The Hong Kong government and The Walt Disney Co. agreed in 1999 to set up a joint venture to build the theme park and resort complex, which opened in September.
Ma said the government had spent HK$25.5 billion (US$3.29 billion) so far to get the theme park up and running, including land, transport links and loans.
The park is expected to give a major boost to Hong Kong's economy, creating tens of thousands of much-needed jobs and generating $19 billion in revenue at the venue over 40 years, according to government estimates.
But some critics have charged that the government gave too much away in its negotiations with Disney and fear the U.S. entertainment giant will eventually open another park in Shanghai, damaging profits.
Attendance at the park has got off to a slower than expected start, according to local media reports.
The park had been expected to draw 5.6 million visitors in its first year, a third of which are expected from China, and Disney has gone out of its way to lure visitors from the mainland.
Source : Reuters
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Dubaï bâtit sa démesure
La Mercedes blanche qui nous amène à l’hôtel roule à toute vitesse sur l’autoroute flambant neuve qui relie la banlieue au centre-ville. Tout est d’une propreté impeccable: même les tuiles en céramique qui tapissent les viaducs brillent comme des sous neufs, en pleine nuit!
«Vous voyez ces gratte-ciel de chaque côté de la route? Quand je suis arrivé ici, il y a cinq ans, ils n’étaient pas là. On se trouvait en plein désert», raconte notre chauffeur originaire de l’Inde.
Nous voici à Dubaï, aux Émirats arabes unis. Ce petit pays de la Péninsule arabique, un des plus importants producteurs de pétrole du monde, se décrit comme la destination touristique de l’avenir et prévoit attirer 15 millions de visiteurs par année d’ici à 10 ans.
Mais en attendant, même sans le gigantesque parc d’attractions Dubaïland, qui a commencé à pousser dans le désert, Dubaï offre déjà pas mal à voir.
Ville-miracle
Cette ville de un million d’habitants connaît une des croissances les plus spectaculaires de la planète: la population double tous les cinq ans. La ville compte plus de 800 gratte-ciel en construction. Les gens viennent de partout pour travailler et profiter du boom économique incroyable qui secoue la région avec la hausse du prix de l’or noir.
C’est un peu ça, l’intérêt d’une visite à Dubaï. Voir naître une ville-miracle. Comme si on débarquait à New York au début du siècle dernier.
Parce qu’il y a tout juste 15 ans, Dubaï n’était qu’un petit port comme un autre sur le golfe Persique.
Le cheik Mohammed, prince couronné de Dubaï, est en train de faire de son émirat la capitale financière et touristique du Moyen-Orient.
Il faut avouer que Dubaï est la porte d’entrée idéale sur cette région du globe qui demeure victime de préjugés tenaces. Mais oubliez Bagdad et les images que nous montre la télé à longueur de journée, oubliez les Arabes qui descendent dans la rue pour crier des slogans anti-Américains…
Sécurité
Les Émirats arabes unis, et les États du golfe, sont une région sécuritaire. Il y a très peu de criminalité. Al-Qaïda a bien menacé, en 2004, de s’attaquer aux intérêts occidentaux dans les États du golfe, mais la région - à l’exception de l’Arabie Saoudite - a échappé à ce jour à la violence.
À Dubaï, les gens sont gentils, accueillants, ouverts. Et comme 85% des habitants viennent de l’étranger, l’anglais est devenu la langue d’usage, avec l’arabe bien sûr. La ville a des allures de Las Vegas ou de Miami. Les plages de sable fin du golfe Persique attirent des milliers de touristes. On s’y baigne en maillot de bain. Même les femmes. Certaines optent pour la baignade en burqa - sous le regard bienveillant de leur mari - mais elles sont nettement minoritaires.
Et comme à Vegas, l’alcool coule à flots dans les centaines de bars et de restaurants. Même la prostitution gagne discrètement les grands hôtels.
Le plus beau, on le trouve toutefois derrière le clinquant et le tape-à-l’œil. Les souks, qu’on trouve de chaque côté de Dubaï Creek, dans la vieille ville, nous ramènent à l’époque où Dubaï vivait du commerce de la perle avec l’Iran, l’Irak, l’Inde et la Chine.
Les marchands d’or, les odeurs d’épices et de friture, les étoffes de soie, tout ça nous rappelle qu’on se trouve loin, très loin de chez soi, malgré les Burger King et Dunkin’ Donuts qui font partie du décor…
Loin... et cher
C’est bien beau, un voyage à Dubaï, mais c’est loin. Et ça coûte cher. Voici quelques suggestions pour rentabiliser votre investissement. Et ne pas vous déplacer pour rien.
D’après notre expérience, vous aurez amplement fait le tour de la ville et des environs en une semaine. C’est bien peu, une semaine, après s’être tapé 14 heures de vol via Amsterdam, Paris, Londres ou New York.
Dans le fond, Dubaï est la porte d’entrée parfaite sur le Moyen-Orient. Pas trop dépaysant, comparé à l’Arabie Saoudite, par exemple.Mais tant qu’à vous être rendu aussi loin de chez vous, profitez-en pour aller explorer… l’Arabie Saoudite, justement. Ou encore le Qatar, le Koweït, Oman, Bahreïn… Allez-y, vous ne le regretterez pas.Le Yémen est peut-être votre meilleur choix, après Dubaï. Là, vous serez vraiment dépaysé.
C’est un des beaux pays du golfe Persique, moins développé, moins riche et moins occidentalisé que les autres monarchies du pétrole.
Source : Canoë
Dubai to build F1 theme park
Formula One Administration has revealed that a Formula One theme park, which will include F1 themed entertainments, together with a hotel and conference centre, is to be built in Dubai.
As details of the project were unveiled in Shanghai, Bernie Ecclestone said: "I have every confidence it will be an outstanding development."
Construction of the development, which will be undertaken by Union Properties, will begin next year, with the theme park opening to the public in 2008.
Dubai, which has its own highly regarded Autodrome, built by Union Properties, is already involved in motorsport, courtesy of Sheikh Maktoum's A1 GP series which got underway last month. The theme park is seen by many as the next (logical) step towards the country hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship.
Union Properties chairman, Anis Al Jallaf, said: "This is another landmark in the rapidly developing landscape of 21st century Dubai and is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
"We are intent on creating the most exciting and imaginative theme park in the world," he added.
The news of the theme park will add to speculation that a Middle Eastern group is looking into entering F1 with its own team, though it is highly unlikely that this is the venture proposed by John Byfield and Russell King, the men behind Jenson Button's former management company Essentially Sport, in 2004.
Source : Pitpass
The victim, who died on Friday, has been identified as 26-year-old Jayendradas Senthildas hailing from Kollam district of Kerala, a senior official from the Consulate General of India in Shanghai said.
According to police in Shanghai, Senthildas was overhauling the roller coaster track high above the ground in a carnival in Pudong in east Shanghai when the high-speed roller coaster passed by and knocked him off. "The Indian man fell to the ground and died," Xinhua news agency said.
Local police are further investigating the accident, the Consulate General official said, adding that the family of the victim has been notified about the death.
A decision on the future course of action would be taken in consultation with family members and also on the progress of the case investigation, he said. Following the accident, the roller coaster has been stopped, Xinhua said.
Source : Manoramaonline
Design : Hitmaaan
