Thursday, September 4, 2008

Guhantara - a good weekend getaway spot 30 kms from Bangalore), Guhantara Photos

GuhantaraResort is around 25 Km from B'shankari temple, Kanakpura Road (Next to Angana Resort)


Guhantara - Route Map


Guhantara - Entrance


Guhantara - Resraurant

Guhantara - Lounge Bar


Guhantara - Lounge Bar

Guhantara - Corridor

Guhantara - Cave Room


Guhantara - Cave Room

Guhantara - Cave Room

Guhantara - OutSide View of Cave Room

Guhantara - Lawn

Guhantara - Lawn


Guhantara - Lawn

Guhantara - Lawn

Guhantara - Beach Volley Ball Court

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Invitational Innovative Film City Bangalore - Spread in the serenity of a beautiful landscape of 54 acres, the Film City has some of the world renowne

Invitational Innovative Film City Bangalore





Spread in the serenity of a beautiful landscape of 54 acres, the Film City has some of the world renowned attractions.The film city offers a massive parking facility with a capacity of over 5000 vehicles.

Your package will include the following attractions:

Entry to the Film CityRipley's Believe It or NotLouis Tussad's Wax MuseumRipley's – Enchanting Mirror MazeCartoon CityFunplex Games (Swipe card-100/-)4 D TheatreDino ParkFossil MuseumAqua KingdomGo KartingMini Golf

Total Cost: Rs. 700/- per person (including transportation)(The above package offers veg. Thali along with one complimentary coke and popcorn)

Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum: – Truth is stranger than Fiction

Robert Ripley was an artist, reporter, explorer, and collector. He visited 202 countries traveling a distance of 19 complete trips around the globe. From the farthest corners of the world, these exciting and bizarre exhibits are now available for public view, and for you to simply "Believe it or not."

The museum that inspired the super hit TV show. Stand next to the tallest man in the world & check your height.Have you seen a man weighing over 1400 pounds!!!A 6 legged cow.A 2 headed calf.A one eyed lamb.Real vampire killing kit.One of the only 7 Stones from Planet Mars.Eggs of the dinosaurs & its foot prints.The Smallest diamond in the world.The hair and the lipstick mark of Marlyene Monroe before she gave her last performance.A Humming bird cast in the bottle.A fist size human skull marks the sign of valor.Watch the documentary of the man who had over 460 stitches after he was bitten by a shark.This and many more at Ripley's Believe It or Not…….

Ripley's Louis Tussad's Wax Museum: A gathering of celebrities

Meet Indian greats like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa….Hollywood Superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Angelina Jolie, James Bond, Charlie Chaplin, Julia Roberts and more…Meet the celebrities like Princess Diana, Albert Einstein, Pope 3, William Shakespeare, Michael Jackson, Dalai Lama, President ClintonMeet the Fairy characters & your favorites - Sleeping beauty, Cindrella, Snow White, Harry Potter, Mummy.

Ripley's Mirror Maze: Caution: Do not come out the way you enter

Have fun finding the way out as you enter the mirror maze, where you see yourself everywhere. Have fun loosing your dear ones and finding a way to find them back

Cartoon City: A fun destination for all ages!

A troupe of brand new cartoon characters, created exclusively for the film city. An all new range of exciting games like the star wars, bumping cars, shark attack and jungle ride. Also, equipped with a crèche, ensuring the safety and occupancy of your kids. Teach your kids to drive the cars the Bumping way with Bumping cars.

Funplex: Super Fun Zone

Go ahead, be adventurous, with games like Wild Wild West, star wars, and Space Ride. Get Lost in an artificial jungle to test your hunting skills.Virtual sports like Cycling, archery, etc.

Funplex, 4-D Theatre: Karnataka's first 4-D Theatre

Watch a complete 20 min Fantawild, showcasing the globe's most exhilarating digital fantasies. Here, you just don't get to see/ hear/ but also get to feel the creatures as they pass by you, feel the cool wind when it breezes.

Dinosaur World: A journey back in age and time

Say hello to the live size dino's. Experience life size dinosaurs displayed outdoors in a natural setting with explanatory signs. An amazing educational tool for children, with live size dino's looking at them.

Aqua Kingdom: Experience the First ever Beach in Bangalore

The first of its kind in India, with waves splashing upto 5ft while you dine & drink on the beach. This is the first pool which has the U-shape wave, 1m length. The blue water at Aqua Kingdom beckoning you. Children dine watching the open aquarium with the fishes looking at them.
Treat your body giving sun bathe this summer.

Go Karting: Come steer the wheel, if you have the zeal, for a wholesome feel of karting at the best!!! Experience the pulsating spine chilling thrill of karting, never felt before. Manoeurve the curves & overtake the speedy karts on the 350 m long circuit.

Mini golf: Entertaining mini golf for all ages
An 18 hole mini golf course built in collaboration with Harris Miniature Golf Courses, inc.Open on all days, weather permitting.

Other important and essential features:
• 16 kitchens, GRUB HUB serving the favorite cuisines of all varieties, of which 7 are operational now.
• Sledge ride which gives a view of the entire area.
• Cleanly maintained rest rooms located in the essential areas.
• Get to the pinnacle point of the Wall of China, to have a Bird's eye view of the IFC.

Cameras and handy cameras are allowed for you to shoot, and it is priced very nominal for bringing it into the park.

This package is chosen exclusively for you, and if the no. of people decrease, we will not be able to give you at the same cost.
50% amount to be paid in advance.


Timings - 10:00 - 18:30 (All days)

POSTAL ADDRESS:

Innovative Film City#24 & 26,

Bidadi Industrial Estate,

Bidadi

Bangalore- 562 109

Karnataka- INDIA
Tel: +91-080-6696 6666

REGISTERED CORPORATE OFFICE:

Innovative Studios (P) Ltd.

Innovative Multiplex, #135, Outer Ring Road, Varthur Hobli,

Outer Ring Road, Bangalore South Taluk,Bangalore - 560 037Karnataka- INDIA
Tel: +91-080-25220464/ 25220466


Route Map :


Sightseeing - Visit Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka is an intriguing city to visit with its rich history and culture. Like all other countries, it would be a



Sri Lanka is an intriguing city to visit with its rich history and culture. Like all other countries, it would be a site to behold when one compares it to what you have been used to. There are several things you can see and do in this place to make this an enriching experience.

1.) Yala National Park

This park is also referred to as Ruhunu National Park and can be located in the southeast region of Sri Lanka. One can start enjoying the refreshing sight of the park. You can also stroll in the area while seeing leopards here from a safe distance.

2.) Temple of the Tooth

Here is the temple which houses the tooth believed to have been one of the Buddha’s teeth and is a relic that they guard in the temple. It is a most sacred site to believers which you may care to visit and view. They even have a website for this in case you’re interested to know more about it.

3.) Colombo

The country’s capital is a nice place to be in where you can visit a few museums for a little trip to history. What you can find are the National Museum, Natural History Museum, Dutch Period Museum, and the Bandaranaike Museum. All attest to several aspects of Sri Lankan history that visitors can view and be amazed at.

4.) Art Galleries

Art lovers will find something to talk about when they go and visit the National Art Gallery. You may also find similar viewing pleasure by visiting the Sapumal Foundation and the Lionel Wendt Center. It is good to see and compare some things that may be different from your own culture with those of others and appreciate the things that we see.

5.) Zoo

The Colombo zoo is a delight for the children and their parents, and this can be found on the southern area of the city. It is indeed a fine place to be in with an aquarium and night house to view, and there are also elephant shows you can watch. Are you fond of butterflies? Then, come on and see their butterfly park and a few more animal exhibits, and it’s quite large so give it at least two hours to make the entire rounds.

6.) Festivals in Jaffna

It will not surprise you to see some more temples to visit in this place. It has the Nallur, Selva Sannithi and Ninatheevu temples. Festivals that are religious in nature is something you would also expect from this place, and there’s the Chariot Festival which is a considered a big event in Sri Lanka as well as the Harvest festival obseved every January.

7.) Kinchigune Nature Trail

This trail starts at the Sabaragamuwa University which runs along a forest and river. By following this trail, you can get to see paddy fields, village houses and vegetables, and this is a way to get a tutorial on their agricultural system and sample simple living the Sri Lankan way. You may also come across waterfalls, a few more birds and butterflies to enjoy the hike.

8.) Canoeing

If canoeing happens to be your favorite pastime, then indulge in the Samanalawewa reservoir with its still waters that make this a good activity to try. You can even paddle to the river of Belihul Oya for more adventure. Or you can simply explore the entire reservoir for a relaxing ride in the water.

9.) Bambarakada Falls

This waterfall is a sight to watch because it is found inside a basin-like valley and surrounded by steep rocks and forest filled with tropic and pine tress. It is the highest known waterfalls in Sri Lanka which tumbles down to a height of 240 meters. Waterfalls will remain a favorite spot for tourists because of its sheer beauty.

10.) Galle

You should not miss the temple Kalutara located in this city. It is considered good luck if you come over to the Seenigama temple and offer a donation after murmuring a little prayer. There’s also the Fort where you can walk through especially to view the majestic sunset.

Jamaica - From the brilliant white sand beaches to the diverse island culture, Jamaica is one of our favourite Caribbean tourist destinations.

A Tropical paaradise
By: Denny Phillips

From the brilliant white sand beaches to the diverse island culture, Jamaica is one of our favourite Caribbean tourist destinations. The crystal clear ocean waters and the year-round warm climate makes it the ideal travel vacation for sun-lovers. There are many diversions to keep visitors happy: fishing, scuba diving, wind surfing, horseback riding, swimming, snorkelling, golfing just to name a few. In the evening there is fine dining at Jamaica’s elite restaurants and resorts—combined with truly unique Jamaican cuisine, and the night life is certainly hopping!


One of the best things that I have found about Jamaica is the warm, friendly people and the rich, diverse Island culture blended from around the world. In fact, Jamaica’s motto is “Out of Many, One People.” Although African and European influences dominate the culture, the British, Spanish, Irish, Indian, Chinese and German are all represented as well. The official language of Jamaica is English, but sometimes you wouldn’t know it as you will most likely hear “Patois” which sounds like a foreign language but is actually a combination of rhythmic English and slang. “Irie mon” is a common phrase you may hear, which really just means “cool” or “everything is good.” The currency in Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar, but US dollars are widely accepted.

Jamaica is the largest English-speaking Island in the Caribbean and it is the third largest island overall, spanning 4,400 square miles. The best tourist spots are on the north coast, with Montego Bay and Ocho Rios being the most popular, as well as Negril on the west coast. I have toured the whole Island, from Kingston (Jamaica’s capital) through the Blue Mountains to Port Antonio, around the north coast, on down through Mandeville, Alligator Pond and Treasure Beach and back around to Kingston, so I am well able to tell you a bit about each destination you may wish to travel to.

Ocho Rios is located, as I said, on Jamaica’s north coast and is known as Jamaica’s garden centre. Some of the most popular daytime activities include biking, diving, deep-sea fishing and golf. Ocho Rios also has one of the best polo facilities in the Caribbean.

Of course, the must-see attraction in Ocho Rios is the famous Dunn’s River Falls, where visitors, lead by a sure-footed Jamaican guide, are able to climb up a series of falls that cascade from the mountains to the sea. The falls themselves are a spectacular sight and climbing the falls is an adventure not to be missed. As a bit of trivia, in the film “Cocktail” with Tom Cruise, Duns River Falls is in a memorable scene. Close by, just off of Main Street in Ocho Rios are two craft parks, the Ocho Rios Craft Park and the Olde Market Craft Shoppes, and The Ocean Village Shopping Centre is also nearby. Here there are hundreds of vendors selling local crafts, and everything from gold watches to wood carvings and the famous Blue Mountain coffee. Also, you will be able to sample the traditional jerk pork prepared over an open grill – a spicy culinary experience for the adventurous. There is also duty-free shopping at the Taj Mahal Shopping Centre.

Just west of Ocho Rios in Aracobessa is another favourite tourist attraction, James Bond Beach and Ian Fleming’s former home called Goldeneye.

Montego Bay is where most travelers arrive in Jamaica, which is home to the North Shore airport and the island’s busiest cruise ship pier. Montego Bay is Jamaica’s second largest city and is Jamaica’s original tourist hotspot.

Montego Bay’s attractions include a number of plantation tours, as well as a new attraction featuring the legendary great, Bob Marley. For the adventure traveller, there are also bamboo river rafting tours. As well, there is great fishing by fishing charters for marlin, tuna and kingfish. One may also go cycling, golfing, horseback riding or scuba diving here, and there is another popular local shopping district. A popular tour from Montego Bay is to Wyndham Rose Hall Plantation which was once a legendary 18th century sugar plantation, and a popular spot for golfers would be on the Robert von Hagge Championship Golf Course.

Of course, the beaches in Montego Bay are not to be missed. But beware – a friend, while visiting Jamaica, sat under a coconut tree and got conked on the head by a falling coconut, in fact three coconuts! I asked her why she didn’t move away after the first one hit her (of course, the coconuts fell in a bunch of three – but I thought it was funny!) (P.S. – She wasn’t really hurt!)

Negril is located on Jamaica’s western coast with a seven-mile long fantastic white sand beach. It extends from the nineteenth-century Negril Lighthouse in the parish of Westmoreland in the south to Bloody Bay (so named for the days when whalers cleaned their catch there) in Hanover Parish in the north. Negril is famous for its “hippie” era where the hippies set up a colony there and enjoyed the laid-back lifestyle and “ganja”. From this hippie-era colony, Negril has been labelled the “Capital of Casual”. Although I wasn’t interested, Negril does offer some clothing optional beaches.

Laws control resort development and no building is allowed to be taller than the tallest palm tree. Negril doesn’t offer the extensive shopping of Ocho Rios, but it does have an assortment of unique shops, including the Negril craft market.

Negril is said to offer some of the best scuba diving in Jamaica. You can also enjoy deep-sea fishing excursions, a vast amount of water sports, and golf at a new golf course, Negril Hills. If you choose to go parasailing, the sight of the sparkling azure waters and the dazzling white sand beach is a truly memorable experience. Other activities can include tennis, squash, glass-bottom boat reef trips, sunset catamaran cruises and spectacular nightly entertainment.

Although I stayed at a number of different locations in Jamaica, a memorable one was at a family-oriented all-inclusive resort. They offered everything one could want, from unlimited alcoholic beverages for adults to baby-sitting services, and even a special snack bar geared to children with all-you-can-eat pizza, macaroni ‘n cheese, and hamburgers. I was very impressed with how the staff entertained and watched over our children. In one instance, our kids were kayaking around a little bay area. Being adventurous they ventured out towards open water. The staff member followed them in his kayak and gently herded them back. I was very impressed how he handled it. It was a very pleasant stay there.

On the whole, I love Jamaica, from the warm friendly people to the crystal clear waters and all-year round warm climate. There is not much that Jamaica doesn’t offer for an ideal vacation. The Island is unique in its culture and cuisine (have you tried boiled green banana, saltfish and ackee, jerk chicken or fried breadfruit?) The resorts are experts in what they offer guests – especially the all-inclusive ones. The only thing that I might caution you about is travelling alone/unaccompanied outside of the resorts. It can be dangerous, but if you stay within your resort or take guided tours, you shouldn’t have any problems. “No problem, mon!”

To view more travel articles, visit: http://www.vacationtravelquest.com/.

About The Author

Denny Phillips, who majored in English at University, has combined her love of cooking, travelling and art into several articles and travel reviews. Read other articles by Denny on her websites: http://www.goodcookingcentral.com/ and http://www.vacationtravelquest.com/