Go Gaga in New York

On December 31, approximately 1 million revellers, celebrating the start of the new year, will fill New York City’s Times Square to enjoy performances by Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber and to watch the famous New Year’s Eve Ball descend from One Times Square. This year, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber will perform live in Times Square as part of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. More than 100 million television viewers in the United States and more than 1 billion people worldwide are expected to watch the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, a 104-year-old tradition. The Ball is a 12-foot geodesic sphere, weighing 11,875 pounds, covered in 2,688 Waterford crystals, powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LED lights and capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colours.

 

Alwar comes alive

Alwar town came alive at the two-day Matsya festival recently. The festival kicked off at 7 am on the morning of November 25 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium with adventure sports like hot air ballooning, parasailing and zorbing. Apart from sightseeing, there were numerous cultural programmes, including special programmes and activities for children. The second day saw a mélange of activities like bicycle race (from Pratap Band to Bala Killa) and trekking (from Forest Nakka to Bala Killa), Children's Film Festival, Fishing and Boating Competition (Siliserh Lake) was another attraction. Later in the evening the play, “Krishna Leela” (from 7 pm) at Mahal Chowk, Fireworks (from 9 pm) at Moti Dungri and Best of Rajasthani folk dances and music (8 pm onwards) were performed at Bhiwadi Industrial Town near Alwar.

 

Jet signs first air-rail codeshare

Jet Airways has entered into an arrangement with Thalys high-speed rail service between Brussels and Paris, for its first intermodal codeshare. Under the codeshare, Jet Airways will place its marketing code on the Thalys operated direct train service between the train station at Brussels Airport and Paris Nord. Guests can now book a combined Thalys-train ticket between Paris and India or US and Canada via Brussels with Jet Airways through travel agencies or via www.jetairways.com. This codeshare service is available for sale with immediate effect. This new service is a result of the coordinated effort of Jet Airways, Brussels Airlines, Thalys –the rail partner and Brussels Airport. For Brussels Airport, situated 17 km of the Brussels-South station, this direct connection with Paris, by a high-speed international train like Thalys, marks an important step in the ease of access strategy.

 

Marine reserve plan for Coral Sea

Australia plans to create the world's largest marine reserve in the Coral Sea, home to the Great Barrier Reef, in an attempt to protect its biodiversity. The Australian government says preservation of the seas biodiversity is at the heart of the initiative. The protected zone would be the largest in the world, and cover an area of 989,842 sq km; it would impose new fishing limits, as well as ban exploration for oil and gas. However, the plan must go through a 90-day consultation before it is approved. The Coral Sea is probably best known for being the location of the Great Barrier Reef, but it has plenty more to offer. Its pristine waters are also home to a variety of marine wildlife, such as shark and tuna, and has stunning underwater geological features, like deep underwater canyons. The marine reserve would stretch from the Great Barrier Reef to Papua New Guinea in the North, and Solomon Islands in the east. It would start 60 km from Queensland's coast, and extend 1,100 km into the sea . Although activists support the introduction of a marine reserve in the area, they are concerned that some key reefs and spawning grounds are not included in the protected zone.

 

London 2012 Festival programme announced

Plans for the London 2012 Festival have been unveiled and will début on June 21 and will showcase some of the world's best music, theatre, dance, visual art, literature and fashion in a 12-week celebration marking the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The festival will stretch to every corner of the United Kingdom and celebrate the huge range, quality and accessibility of the country's destinations and culture. With over 1,000 events on offer, many of which are free, there is plenty to chose from for every taste and preference. At the centre of the festival, will be a programme that brings together household names from around the world, in events ranging from theatre to visual arts and fashion, pop to film, and opera to digital innovation.

 

UNESCO Museum to feature Shimla train

A UNESCO museum in Switzerland will feature the Kalka-Shimla rail link with the Indian Railways joining hands with Swiss mountain railway for promoting and preserving the 19th century heritage line. A section of the Bahnmuseum Albula museum in Switzerland is being devoted to the Kalka-Shimla Railway (KSR) and many aspects of the 19th century engineering marvel, including photographs and video recordings of the train running through tunnels on the hilly track, will be exhibited. The Switzerland museum is expected to be operational next year.

 

Online Kerala Tourism game

The Kerala Tourism Department has tied up with gaming company Zapak to launch a game through which users can explore the state’s tourism destinations. The game will have a hand-drawn map of Kerala with a trail and markings of the important tourist attractions in the state. The gaming initiative is another first in the country in tapping the vibes of generation next and drawing them to explore new tourist spots. The gamer can use various modes of transport to travel through the State — a rented car, tourist bus, rented bike or traditional boat. Once the gamer reaches a location, there is also a treasure to discover which may be hidden in a temple or church, a historic monument, beach or national park. A photography mode allows the gamer to click away in a destination.

 

New conservation plan for Central Africa

Eight countries have joined forces to strengthen national wildlife laws in Central Africa, in a bid to tackle illegal poaching and wildlife trade in the region. They have finalised a five-year action plan that aims to strengthen national wildlife laws in the region. The countries agreed to work together to tackle illegal poaching and wildlife trade in the region through a series of collaborative steps. Primary threats to Central African wildlife include poaching, commercial bush-meat trade, habitat degradation and climate change. Species that will benefit from the new action plan could include both the endangered mountain gorilla and chimpanzee, and the iconic African elephant, as well as many more. Delegates from the Central Africa Forest Commission (COMIFAC), including Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Cameroon took part in the meeting.

 

New7Wonders of Nature revealed

The provisional New7Wonders of Nature were unveiled in middle November, ranging from the expansive Amazonian Rainforest to Table Mountain in South Africa. However, the results have still to be checked, validated and independently verified before the list is officially confirmed. The Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation dubs itself as a 'global movement' to highlight the best, most beautiful and unmissable sites around the world. Future campaigns are planned and will highlight, among other things, the world's best cities. But for now, here are the New7Wonders of Nature in alphabetical order as chosen by voters around the globe:

1. Amazon, South America

Encompassing over five million square kilometres, it is no wonder the Amazon made it onto the list. Spread across nine countries, the diverse and rich Amazon Rain Forest represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforest, and is thought to have the densest variety of species in the world, from sharp-toothed piranhas to colourful birds and buzzing insects.

2. Halong Bay, Vietnam

This unique bay in Quang Ninh province in Vietnam features thousands of limestone karsts and islands of various shapes and sizes. With an expansive 120km coastline and 1,969 islets, there is plenty to explore. Some of the islands feature enormous hollow caves, while others support floating villages. The blue waters surrounding the islands are home to 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks.

3. Iguazu Falls, Brazil

The magnificent, thrashing Iguazu Falls extend over 2,700m and are one of the world's largest waterfalls and are located on the border between the Brazillian state of Parana and the Argentine province of Misiones. Two subtropical National Parks surround the falls and are home to hundreds of rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

4. Jejudo Island, South Korea

This unique and picturesque volcanic island is located 130km from the southern coast of Korea. Its claims to fame are Hallsan, the tallest mountain in South Korea, and a dormant volcano rising 1950m above sea level.

5. Komodo National Park, Indonesia

This National Park is home to the legendary and somewhat frightening Komodo Dragon. It is composed of numerous volcanic islands, including Komodo, Rinca and Padar and covers 1,817 square kilometres. Founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo Dragon, its conservation efforts now include several marine animals.

6. Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines

This navigable subterranean river is located about 50km north of the city of Puerto Princesa in the Philippines features major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as several large chambers. Winding over eight kilometres, this underground river is reputed to be the longest in the world and runs directly into the South China Sea.

7. Table Mountain, South Africa

A natural phenomenon, and a prominent landmark in Cape Town, South Africa. Its unique flat-topped peaks reach 1,086km above sea level and exert a powerful and charismatic pull. It has even warranted its own constellation of stars, named Mensa, meaning “the table”.