How wild can you get?

How wild can you get?
Hear elephants trample through bamboo and see for yourself the pug marks of tigers. Listen to the dawn chorus of the birds and capture a firefly in your palm... From the little to larger than life, experience the wild-side of nature for real...

* wildlife safari*rain forest treks*camping*night patrol*bamboo rafting*birding
So which one is yours?

The above was another advert we designed for our campaigns..

Bangalore © GP 2007

Advert on Nila

The above was one of the ads we came up with for promoting River Nila as a destination in Kerala.

It reads:

River Nila - Where all that stands still is time!
Allow us to present to you an experience like you have never known before.

The River Nila.

A unique river valley civilisation that beckons with legends and tales; the soft breeze and a countless delights...

Bangalore © GP 2007

Rajiv Gandhi Assassination

It was while browsing through the bookshop in the airport for a political history book on ethnic conflicts that I chanced upon a book called "Triumph of Truth: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination: The Investigation" by the two police officers, D.R. Karthikeyan and Radhavinod Raju, who were intimately connected with the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

From Colombo until I reached my office in Bangalore (yes, once again ended up in the office!), I didn't keep the book down. Even though it could have been a better edited book to avoid repetitions, there is no argument that it was simple gripping to go through the pages.

Bangalore © GP 2007

Blue Oceanic

It is even better to be in Negombo along the beach.

Two things that there commendable in the Blue Oceanic hotel lobby was a green space where the hotel is listing its participation in environment related activities and its strong policies against child sex tourism.

Often used by large travel companies like Thomas Cook, Kuoni, First Choice and many other European operators, the three star Blue Oceanic looked a bit miserable tyring to balance between the old and new. Definitely not my kind of place except for the beach front.

I had thought that the spine bending 'attention' to a white skin traveller was only the norm amongst some hoteliers and tour operators in India, but its disgustingly worse in Sri Lanka. Irrespective of where you are coming from or how wealthy you are, believe me, colour matters to some people. Especially if they are in a mood to 'please'!

Wonder how all the colonies developed this inferiority complex about their own skin colour!
Colombo © GP 2007

Kerala Tourism Road Show in Paris

Around 30 participants from Kerala and more than 100 buyers from in and around Paris. Brief and crisp presentation on Kerala Tourism by Dr Venu, two mohiniyattam performances by Corinne, who is now on one of the award winning print (ITB Berlin 2007) and online campaign of Kerala Tourism. Remaining 45 minutes of networking and how many buyers do you think we get to meet?
Those we knew already from the Paris came to say hello, we renewed our friendships and well, don't know how many of the others we met will be on the loop in terms of business.

Even before the show, we had requested the department to send us the database of those who are attending as buyers so that we can send them more details beforehand so that it is easy for the buyers also to meet those sellers that need to meet. Saves every one's time and makes the whole effort far productive. Since every thing is organised in the last minute, I wonder if anything more can be achieved than some pleasantries exchanged.

Still it was good to be at the show.

Colombo © GP 2007

Paris through my mobile phone

metro


view from Pauline's apartment in Gare de Lyon



While waiting for a friend.

Its good to be back in sunny Paris. Literally Paris is bathing in sun and thats a good break from grey and crowded Berlin. (crowded ITB).

Paris © GP 2007

Finale in Berlin

Couldn't have had a better finale to the trade fair in Berlin. Most of the players in the travel and tourism industry from Kerala got together in a restaurant along with the Minister of Kerala tourism. There were also some selected German tour operators and some Malayalis based in Berlin and Frankfurt promoting Kerala as a destination. A brief introduction of everyone was concluded by a small talk by the Minister, which later went on to a detailed discussion that later went on until midnight!

This evening is another proof why Kerala tourism is leading the travel experience in India. The government officials and the industry were brain storming various issues pertaining to the travel industry in Kerala, while rest of the participating states were probably out shopping in Berlin! The spirit of 'togetherness', 'not competing but complementing" each other was so obvious in the discussions.

The group was such an amazing mixture. Leading industry players to small operators, from owners of travel companies to junior marketing executives, they were all there in the hilarious but the most vibrant role plays that I have seen recently.

The craziest part was after everyone left, when Venu, Sanjay and I walked out in the rain looking for our Kaisserdam U Bhan with our torn and wet street map! Finally, we ended up in West End S bhan instead cursing the map makers, soaking wet in the cold!

An interesting evening. Excellent networking, lots of fun and great learning!
Looking forward to Paris now!
Berlin © GP 2007

Incredible India!

One of 'Incredible India' print campaigns

It is just India everywhere in Berlin. Right from the flight magazines , Airport, Buses, Cabs and streets, Its Incredible India campaign. Just landed and all knackered after the flight from London-Stansted.

Whethere you are here to attend the ITB Berlin or not, there is no way one can ignore that India as a partner country this year is ruling the show this time! The show begins tomorrow, but the buzz about India is simply amazing. The huge cut outs showing the print ads of Yoga in India was just covering the heights of some 20 flats all together near Tegel!

In an event organised by GTZ and Messe Berlin tomorrow, The Blue Yonder has been invited to speak on sustainable tourism in India for a ten minute presentation. The other speakers are Taj group of hotels, ITC Welcom Group and Ibex Expeditions.

It's been a surprise for many that we are exhibiting this year with Karnataka Tourism and not Kerala tourism. Considering the fact that we are expanding slowly to Karnataka Tourism and to rest of India, it makes sense to exhibit with them especially looking at what Kerala tourism charges their trade partners!

Berlin © GP 2007

One Life Exhibitions

Three days in the exhibition centre. Great to work with Sallie and Kate of People and Places. There weren't a single minute to spare for anything else and out stall was just crowded all the time. Just a quick note to say Hello :)

In London © GP 2007

Richard Alston Dance Company

Photo courtesey Chris Nash
It was quite a treat to leave Brighton after watching the performances of Richard Alston Dance Company at the Brighton Dome, which is a 19th century stable of the Prince of Wales that was later converted into a contemporary theatre.

Out of the four performances, what caught my attention was the last piece with Piano. "Devil in the Detail". As it is written in one of the reviews, "this was a light-hearted, light-footed celebration of sheer elegance and wit."

Absolutely!

Brighton © GP 2007