Every dog has its day

Have we not heard of jailbird Paris making headlines just about everywhere? Wrong reasons et al. But we were rather shocked to come to know that her furry companion is a big hit with the folks as well. If the latest grapevine is anything to go by, the empty gourmet can of her Chihuahua named Tinkerbell has fetched, take a deep breath, a whopping $1.5 million on Ebay. And who is having the best time? CEO of Party Animal Inc., the organisation that markets animal organic gourmet dog food, because orders can’t stop pouring in!

Sex, lies and videotape!

Former front-man of the hit boy band 98 Degrees, Nick Lachey, is busy waving his finger at tabloids at their attempt to publish highly explicit photos of the hunk and his sweetheart, Vanessa Minnillo, in the act. The latest issue of Life & Style has featured real steamy photographs of the celebrity couple, which got them flustered. Their attorney has stated that the photos were a malicious act and were taken illegally. But the question here is, why do celebrities always get down and dirty in the most vulnerable of places? Food for thought, eh?

Third time lucky?

The past years have seen the prodigious actor Leonardo DiCaprio, come within inches of bagging the coveted Best Actor Oscar, only to be left clapping in the crowds as the real winner holds the gold statuette. But this time, Leonardo is determined to bring home the Academy Award as he has signed a thriller movie, along with Russell Crowe, called Body of Lies. It has been scripted by, William Manohan (He bagged an Oscar for The Departed) and promises to be a complete thrill ride. We are keeping our fingers crossed, Leo.

The big fish is set to leave the water

The legendary Australian swimmer and Olympic champion, Ian Thorpe do Thorpe is set to pull the plug on his career by retiring early. He is taking this step at the height of his career to help people know the perils of climate change. He stated that the coral reefs were becoming over bleached and the forests in Tasmania were becoming of old growth. In a documentary called Fish Out Of Water, Thorpe takes the viewer on a tour around the Australian landscape where the effects of climate change were very obvious. Surely, Thorpe would set records here too.

Hermione ending her magic spell?

The pretty damsel, who can create havoc with a wave of her wand on-screen, is flustered with the way the show was run during the making of The Order of the Phoenix and threatened to walk out of the seven movie contract. Emma Watson, who is better known as miss-know-it-all Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, was reported to have asked the Director David Yates, whether there was a need to take each shot at least 30 times. To which the Director replied, “Yes”. We bet even she doesn’t have a magic spell to get out of this.

Sunny will have the last laugh

The old-timer from Bollywood is all set to take the road less travelled. The eldest of the band of brothers will be soon seen in a comedy movie trying to tickle the funny bone of the audiences. Being directed by the king of comedy, David Dhawan, this laugh riot will also star Salman Khan besides Sunny Deol himself. Since it will be an in-house production, fans of the yesteryear’s angry young man can be assured that the film will be nothing short of extravagant. Keep it up boy! Hope all have the last laugh with the movie and not at it.

Tony & Eva’s eve of fun!

It’s a matter of days before the sexy diva, ahem, Eva Longoria takes vows with her long time beau Tony Parker this weekend in a romantic French castle. The Desperate Housewives star was recently overheard in a very exclusive his and her bachelor party that she feels she dreamt of the big day all her life. The star couple has planned a very private affair for the most important day of their lives, with only 30 couples invited and, interestingly, the list doesn’t include the couple’s parents. So if you have not made it to the list, don’t feel that bad!

The Himalayan bouquet! - Uttarakhand

As you walk past the flowery trails on to this bed of blossoms and start feeling that you’re trespassing some supernatural abode that doesn’t belong to this world, know that you are in the Valley of Flowers! Set approximately at 3,700 metres from sea level in the Himalayan range of the Garhwal Hills in Uttarakhand, the fascinating valley has a world of exoticism and mystique hidden in its heart, not to mention the hundreds of flowering plant species playing magic on mind and sight…

The Valley of Flowers was discovered in 1932, when an English mountaineer, author and botanist, Frank Sydney Smythe (or Smith) when he lost his way back after successfully completing his expedition at Mount Kamat and stumbled onto this Eden! So enchanted was he with the mesmerising beauty of the place that he camped there for several weeks, exploring the flora, fauna and the natural splendour he’d never seen before… and captured his experience in the book, The Valley of Flowers that he authored some years later and made this magnificent meadow known to the world. Reinstating world’s penchant for the enigmatic flower dale was when a known botanist from Edinburgh, Joan Margaret Legge, was deputed into the Valley of Flowers, not very long after. Unfortunately, she lost balance from the slopes and lost her life, but the Psalm 121 inscribed on a marble stone on her grave, states, “I shall lift my eyes up to Himalayas from whence cometh my help”, has become one of the highlights, apart from the buds and blossoms… Legend also has it that it is the same region from where Lord Hanuman collected the revitalizing ‘Sanjeevani’ herbs for Lakshman…

Teeming with life, a glistening stream flowing in close proximity to the shining, silvery mountain peaks, each blade of grass covered in dew and every flower emanating a balmy scent in the chilly weather… And even though it all sounds divine, the verdant jewel so unveils its magic every summer (June – August), making it an astounding and extraordinary abode to get away from the everyday hustle-bustle of civilisation!

ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS

Nestled away in the quaint and serene foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Ananda – In the Himalayas, makes for one of the most exquisite destination for spa resorts both in India and abroad. With its sole commitment to reinstate balance and harmony of the mind, body and soul combine, this lap of ultimate luxury is sure to revitalise each of your senses, offering an experience that is bound to be remembered for a lifetime!


THE VIEW: Situated in 100 acres of virgin forests, around 260 kms from New Delhi, the rejuvenating resort duly provides breathtaking views of the Ganga and the lush mountains . . .

ARCHI TYPE: Built around a maharaja’s palace estate, the spa cum resort is a restored palace of the viceroy. Replete with deluxe rooms, suites and villas, 21,000 square foot of spa, treatment rooms and a plethora of beauty and rejuvenation therapy centres to name only a few, add to the grandeur of the place.

BON APPÉTIT: Where the very purpose of the abode is to invigorate, how can food be left behind? And the choices are immense. You can dine at The Restaurant and get your taste buds come alive with the appropriately named Ananda Rejuvenation Cuisine, or at the Pavilion, the Winter Garden, the Palace Lounge or the Hill Theatre.

AROUND THE CORNER: Located close to the holy town of Rishikesh, in the palace confines in the small town of Narendra Nagar, not very far from Delhi, the place provides ample opportunities for adventure sports like trekking, white water rafting and elephant photo safari at the Chilla National Park, located close by.

FROM UNDER THE CARPET: If a chartered helicopter ride is too steep for your purse, getting there can be a bit of trouble.

IN ESSENCE: Rejuvenation revisited!