вторник, 7 декабря 2010 г.
Russia World Cup 2018
2018 Russia World Cup
Travel All Russia (and everyone in Russia) are excited about recent decision of FIFA to host the 2018 World Cup in Russia. We will be servicing this even and helping our customers to arrange their trips for this amazing event. Even though World Cup is still 8 years away, you can sign up for our wait list and we will keep you posted about our World Cup travel itineraries.
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Herzen House Hotel
Herzen House Hotel, a cozy home away from home in the heart of St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg has hundreds of hotels to choose from, but some stand above others in terms of value, comfort, and amenities. For travelers who seek a combination of comfort and affordability, we recommend staying in “mini-hotels.” The Herzen House Hotel is one of our favorite mini-hotels in St. Petersburg.
Herzen House offers two types of rooms - Standard and Superior. You may find Standard room a bit too small, but Superior rooms are modern and spacious. Rooms have everything you may need for a comfortable stay, including king size beds, crisp white sheets, up to date furniture, lofty ceilings, and a shower cabin in the bathroom. The Herzen’s attention to detail extends so far as to leaves complimentary postcards on the office table, a chocolate bar on the night stand, and cold juices in the fridge.
The Hotel
A mini hotel is less like a regular hotel and more like a lower Manhattan apartment, complete with a concierge and room service. They usually provide services more attuned to a regular hotel, such as morning newspapers, city maps, WiFi, and a free breakfast. The Herzen House offers all of these but goes far beyond the call of duty. If, for instance, you check out before the 8-10AM breakfast, the staff will arrange a special breakfast-to-go; or if you would like to sleep in, they can arrange a late breakfast as well. The reception desk allows you use of a scanner and printer. There is also a bank on the first floor of the hotel and an ATM machine that dispenses Russian rubles or US dollars, so you don't have to worry about exchanging money. One of the most exciting aspects of this mini hotel is their Russian tea party for guests, hosted every Wednesday during Summers.
The Neighborhood
The Herzen House’s neighborhood is perfectly central. When I step out of the hotel, Palace Square is two blocks to my left and St. Isaak's Cathedral is two blocks to my right. St. Petersburg's busiest street, Nevsky Prospect, is one block way, which provides the right amount of barrier to deaden the noise from traffic.
This part of town also has the best selection of restaurants. Just around the corner is a succulent home style Georgian restaurant called Ne Goruyi (price range from 15 to 30 USD with real Georgian wine smuggled into Russia). Other restaurants I would highly recommend are Oliva (Bolshya Morskaya 31. Tel. 314-65-63) which offers Greek cuisine and Teplo (Bolshaya Morkskaya 45. Tel. 570-19-74) which serves traditional Russian food. Teplo is quite popular among the locals and foreigners, so booking in advance is a safe idea. Be sure to ask the staff of the Herzen for their special restaurant discount programs. If you are more in the mood for a quick bite, there is a Russian pancake place called Teremok where you will find blini with caviar and other great things (price range 5 to 10 USD). And, in case if you want something more familiar, there is a McDonald's right next door.
Assambleya Nikitskaya Moscow
With easy access to all the major attractions and firsthand experience of Moscow city life, the hotel Assambleya Nikitskaya embodies everything you want in a metropolitan hotel. A mere 10 minute walk from the Okhotny Ryad, Lenin’s Library, or Teatralnaya subway stations, it is quite literally in the center of the city. 130 meters from the Kremlin, opposite the mansion of the Prince Menshikov, and surrounded by a bustling cultural, business, and historic scene, the Assambleya will make your trip to Moscow both convenient and comfortable.
The Assambleya Nikitskaya sits on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, one of the most picturesque streets in Moscow. It is itself an attraction, providing enough cafes, restaurants, historic churches, and lush parks to keep you occupied for days. Most hotels in such superb locations are of the 5-star, expensive variety; the Assambleya Nikitskaya is a diamond in the rough, offering affordable lodging without sacrificing comfort.
You can get a standard single room at the Assambleya for the weekend at around $250, or a standard double during the week for around $350. If you are looking to splurge, it also provides apartment rooms complete with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, all fully stocked with modern comforts. You can stay in an apartment for around $540 a night during the week.
All of the 29 rooms are equipped with modern amenities, comfortable beds, and such a luscious décor you will believe you are sleeping at Catherine Palace. Each room comes with a minibar, high speed Internet, air conditioning, and heated bathroom floors to fend off those cold Russian mornings. The opulence of the furnishings will make you feel like a noble of the 18th century, but the classical design, harmonious colors, and comfortable furniture will make you feel at home.
The Assambleya Nikitskaya sits on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street, one of the most picturesque streets in Moscow. It is itself an attraction, providing enough cafes, restaurants, historic churches, and lush parks to keep you occupied for days. Most hotels in such superb locations are of the 5-star, expensive variety; the Assambleya Nikitskaya is a diamond in the rough, offering affordable lodging without sacrificing comfort.
You can get a standard single room at the Assambleya for the weekend at around $250, or a standard double during the week for around $350. If you are looking to splurge, it also provides apartment rooms complete with a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, all fully stocked with modern comforts. You can stay in an apartment for around $540 a night during the week.
Marriott Renaissance Baltic Hotel
The Marriott Renaissance Baltic Hotel makes many other hotels look laughably inferior. A renovated 18th
century mansion, it sits beside one of St. Petersburg’s most famous and breathtaking sites: St. Isaak’s Cathedral. The location and atmosphere create stunning views that will turn anyone into a photographer. The best view can be found on the summer terrace, a small jut that overlooks the cathedral and St. Petersburg’s colorful rooftops.
The rooms do not disappoint. Walk in and you will find a complimentary bottle of wine along with the traditional Marriott bedding. The rooms with the city views cost a bit more, but the courtyard-facing rooms offer free WiFi on the lower floors. WiFi can be found in the lobby and onsite restaurant where you will also find the morning breakfast buffet, a delicious spread of Russian cuisine with a selection of English newspapers.
One of the best perks of the Renaissance is its exclusive hotel key. This key gives you access to the Hermitage without having to stand in line, bypassing what could be hours of waiting. Come summer time, when the heat increases and the lines lengthen, you will be glad to have this special privilege.
If relaxation and luxury are what you seek, stop by the gym or one of their two saunas. The Renaissance’s rooftop bar bespeaks luxury, offering you a delicious drink and a view of St. Petersburg at night. If you don’t mind spending a little more, splurge for the one or two story suites, complete with separate living rooms and an unfolding couch-bed to accommodate additional guests. With enough additional guests, the Renaissance will guide you into a party room for dinner, capping off your stay with yet another jaw-dropping view.
All in all, for views of mind-blowing extravagance, stay at the Marriott Renaissance.
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| Lobby |
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| Renaissance room |
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| View of exterior |
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| Lobby |
The rooms do not disappoint. Walk in and you will find a complimentary bottle of wine along with the traditional Marriott bedding. The rooms with the city views cost a bit more, but the courtyard-facing rooms offer free WiFi on the lower floors. WiFi can be found in the lobby and onsite restaurant where you will also find the morning breakfast buffet, a delicious spread of Russian cuisine with a selection of English newspapers.
One of the best perks of the Renaissance is its exclusive hotel key. This key gives you access to the Hermitage without having to stand in line, bypassing what could be hours of waiting. Come summer time, when the heat increases and the lines lengthen, you will be glad to have this special privilege.
If relaxation and luxury are what you seek, stop by the gym or one of their two saunas. The Renaissance’s rooftop bar bespeaks luxury, offering you a delicious drink and a view of St. Petersburg at night. If you don’t mind spending a little more, splurge for the one or two story suites, complete with separate living rooms and an unfolding couch-bed to accommodate additional guests. With enough additional guests, the Renaissance will guide you into a party room for dinner, capping off your stay with yet another jaw-dropping view.
All in all, for views of mind-blowing extravagance, stay at the Marriott Renaissance.
Historic Hotel Sovietsky Moscow
Just a short jaunt from the Red Square, the historic Hotel Sovietsky is one of Moscow’s most unique 3-star
hotels. What began as a government venue for international delegates, it is now a beacon of Soviet-era style and affordability. Discover for yourself why the Sovietsky has become a world-renowned icon for its style and tantalizing restaurant.
One of the best aspects of this elegant architectural wonder is the rooms. Not only will you sleep in the center of one of Russia’s most vibrant cities, minutes from such infamous sites as the Kremlin and the beautiful Moscow Subway System, but you will also spend as little as $200 a night. This price gives you WiFi, satellite television, 24-hour room service, and laundry access. Top it all off with the spacious, lofty ceilings and gorgeous golden décor of your room, and you will find it difficult to score such a room at such a price anywhere else.
Even if you do not stay at the Hotel Sovietsky, there is one reason you should pay it a visit: the food. The Restaurant Yar has been applauded by diplomats and celebrities alike – from Indira Gandhi to Margaret Thatcher to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Yar combines the fantastic entertainment of a live Russian performance with a mouthwatering array of dishes in a unique dinner-and-a-show experience. In the summer the Yar opens its doors onto the Summer Terrace, an oasis from the bustle of the city that wraps around you in a cocoon of gurgling fountains and blooming trees. Come feast on charcoal-grilled delicacies, light summer salads, and refreshing drinks, or return in the colder months for live lobster, honey glazed sea bass, and, of course, stroganof.
If you are looking for Soviet-era style at a price that won’t overwhelm you, the Historical Hotel Sovietsky is for you.
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| Lobby |
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| Standard Room |
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| Suite |
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| Restaurant |
One of the best aspects of this elegant architectural wonder is the rooms. Not only will you sleep in the center of one of Russia’s most vibrant cities, minutes from such infamous sites as the Kremlin and the beautiful Moscow Subway System, but you will also spend as little as $200 a night. This price gives you WiFi, satellite television, 24-hour room service, and laundry access. Top it all off with the spacious, lofty ceilings and gorgeous golden décor of your room, and you will find it difficult to score such a room at such a price anywhere else.
Even if you do not stay at the Hotel Sovietsky, there is one reason you should pay it a visit: the food. The Restaurant Yar has been applauded by diplomats and celebrities alike – from Indira Gandhi to Margaret Thatcher to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Yar combines the fantastic entertainment of a live Russian performance with a mouthwatering array of dishes in a unique dinner-and-a-show experience. In the summer the Yar opens its doors onto the Summer Terrace, an oasis from the bustle of the city that wraps around you in a cocoon of gurgling fountains and blooming trees. Come feast on charcoal-grilled delicacies, light summer salads, and refreshing drinks, or return in the colder months for live lobster, honey glazed sea bass, and, of course, stroganof.
If you are looking for Soviet-era style at a price that won’t overwhelm you, the Historical Hotel Sovietsky is for you.
Pushka Inn St. Petersburg
The Palace Square, the Alexander Column – these are but a few of the national treasures you will pass on your way to the quaint Pushka Inn. It is tucked away on a quintessential St. Petersburg alley with intricate 18th century buildings and the Griboedov Channel as neighbors. The cozy setting of the Inn balances nicely with the array of sites within walking distance, such as the Cathedral of the Savior on Blood and the world-renowned Hermitage museum.
The inside of the Inn is just as quaint as the surrounding alley. Built by Ivan Pushkin, one of the closest friends
of Russia’s famous poet Alexander Pushkin, the Pushka reflects an antique style. Being a boutique inn gives it a tiny lobby, but its delicious 24-hour restaurant makes up for it by serving free breakfast and giving a 20% discount to hotel guests on lunch and dinner. All of the rooms are non-smoking and come in two options: Comfort, larger and slightly more expensive, and Economy, smaller and less expensive. You can also obtain a family room, an apartment-like complex with two bedrooms, a sitting room, and a fully-equipped kitchen that comes supplied with a tea setting.
The staff at the Pushka Inn is wonderful. They are willing and eager to help with any questions you may have, and provide for your use a copy machine, fax, WiFi internet, and even laptop rental. It is their excellent customer service that enhances the aura of peace and comfort in this inn, sending it to the top of our list as a 4-star hotel.
The inside of the Inn is just as quaint as the surrounding alley. Built by Ivan Pushkin, one of the closest friends
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| Lobby |
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| Superior Room |
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| Bedroom in Family Suite |
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| Neighborhood |
The staff at the Pushka Inn is wonderful. They are willing and eager to help with any questions you may have, and provide for your use a copy machine, fax, WiFi internet, and even laptop rental. It is their excellent customer service that enhances the aura of peace and comfort in this inn, sending it to the top of our list as a 4-star hotel.
Marriott Courtyard Moscow
Even if you are the most seasoned traveler, you will still gawk at the daunting task of finding a good hotel in Moscow. Of the 240,000 hotels in the capital, 70% are of the dismal, ruined quality and 20% are the overpriced, flamboyant suites reserved for diplomats and the ridiculously wealthy. This leaves only 10% for the average traveler seeking affordable, clean accommodations. Not good odds.
But, if you book at the Marriott Courtyard, you will not have to worry about playing hotel roulette.
Located within walking distance of the Kremlin, the Marriott Courtyard is nestled on one of Moscow’s oldest streets. You will see a gentle milling of Moscovites relaxing and eating in the surrounding alleys, parks, restaurants, and theaters. If the locals love the area, you know it must be good!
The small but elegant entrance leads you away from the popular street, through a glass-covered courtyard,
and into the modern lobby. Despite its world-renowned name, this hotel offers a purely Russian experience alongside all the amenities you’d expect from a Marriott. Internet access is available for purchase, but if you snag a room with a view of the courtyard, the lobby’s WiFi will reach you for free. A chic bar provides slightly overpriced drinks, but the around-the-corner grocery store swoops to the rescue by offering an array of beverages at much more manageable prices. Their continental breakfast will fill you up without slowing you down, a spread of regional and traditional dishes that will make you glad you choose the Marriott.
As with most Marriotts, you can watch a selection of English channels or movies in your room, but doing so would be robbing yourself of the nearby Russian delicacies. The Kremlin with its nighttime illuminations, the cafes with their never-ending parade of wine and beer, the restaurants with their borsch and ice cold vodka – so much waits for you outside the Marriott Courtyard’s doorstep!
But, if you book at the Marriott Courtyard, you will not have to worry about playing hotel roulette.
Located within walking distance of the Kremlin, the Marriott Courtyard is nestled on one of Moscow’s oldest streets. You will see a gentle milling of Moscovites relaxing and eating in the surrounding alleys, parks, restaurants, and theaters. If the locals love the area, you know it must be good!
The small but elegant entrance leads you away from the popular street, through a glass-covered courtyard,
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| View of the exterior |
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| Standard Room |
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| Restaurant |
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| Room view |
As with most Marriotts, you can watch a selection of English channels or movies in your room, but doing so would be robbing yourself of the nearby Russian delicacies. The Kremlin with its nighttime illuminations, the cafes with their never-ending parade of wine and beer, the restaurants with their borsch and ice cold vodka – so much waits for you outside the Marriott Courtyard’s doorstep!
Rossi Hotel St. Petersburg
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| Standard Room |
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| Standard Room |
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| Junior Suite |
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| Presidential Suite |
This perfectly balanced historic-yet-modern ambience more than makes up for the Rossi’s location, a 15-minute walk from St. Petersburg’s most famous attractions. The closest attraction, though, is just outside its doorstep, down a beautiful colonnade that in and of itself will take your breath away – the Alexandrinsky Theater, a glittering hub of opera and ballet, calls itself the Rossi’s neighbor. If you stay at the Rossi you are destined to spend more than a few evenings being lulled away by the gentle, swaying melodies of Russia’s finest musicians and performers.
One of the Rossi’s most fascinating historic tidbits dates back to the turn of the 19th century. Bolshevik leaders such as Lenin and Stalin claimed one of the Rossi’s rooms, installing a hidden safe in what is now the Presidential Suite and using their secret office to decide the fate of the Moscow rebellion in 1905. Their decision here eventually led to the Bolshevik Revolution, which forced the Rossi to surrender much of its beautiful décor during reconstruction as a communal house. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a group of ambitious investors restored the durable old building to its former glory.
The renovation of the Rossi brought about the delicious Restaurant Violete. Its gourmet cuisine, wide array of delightfully fruity wines, and authentic Italian design somehow enhance the surrounding Russian air. The weekends provide free wine with a mouth-watering brunch, a selection of specialty meals from the Violete’s more than skilled chef. This restaurant attracts a great deal of local beau mond, ensuring both the quality and experience of the Violete. If the locals like it, you can rest assured that it will be worth your time and money.
The mornings bring about a buffet breakfast equal to the Violete’s dinner in taste, value, and atmosphere. Relax with a cup of spicy coffee while you browse their selection of morning newspapers, or enjoy the view of the Griboedov Canal. The Rossi’s Violete creates the most picturesque start to your day of exploration in St. Petersburg.
The most popular nationality of guests at the Rossi is Italians, whose influence is balanced perfectly with the old Russian style of the building. Despite the abundance of Italians, all of the rooms are non-smoking except the Restaurant Violete. The 2011 plans for the hotel include a cigar room for guests, a fully-equipped fitness center, and a resort-style spa.
When we discover fantastic hotels in Russia, we can’t help but get excited! The Hotel Rossi in St. Petersburg is one of our most comfortable, beautiful, and all-around excellent discoveries to date. For the 2011 travel season, it will be our preferred boutique hotel for all of our small group and individual tours. We can assure you that your stay will leave you as eager to return as we are!
среда, 1 декабря 2010 г.
Toyota India unveils the Etios & the Liva
Finally the much awaited Toyota's made for India Sedan ETIOS is launched. Work of 4000 engineers for last 4 years being showcased to the world, for the first time.
Mr Yoshinori, Chief Engineer behind ETIOS explained how an extensive market research which lead to the design of the new sedan. The research revealed that India is a very cost conscious but image conscious also. Mileage, Price and Style the 3 important factor for the Indian buyer. Toyota decided to leverage on their strong point of Quality and then attack the cliche of being a premium market product company, that Toyota is associated with.
ETIOS stands for Spirit and Principle.
All new design for India and then for the world, its a true Sedan design not a hatch redesigned to be a sedan. Spacious inside and compact outside, smiling front, flat rear floor pan, side skirts, smooth C pillars, chrome boot guard etc
Dash design inspired from aircraft design. Interesting to note that the design won the Good design award in Japan in 2010.
ARAI rating of 17.6 KMPL should be music to ears for the Indian customer.ETIOS stands for Spirit and Principle.
All new design for India and then for the world, its a true Sedan design not a hatch redesigned to be a sedan. Spacious inside and compact outside, smiling front, flat rear floor pan, side skirts, smooth C pillars, chrome boot guard etc
Dash design inspired from aircraft design. Interesting to note that the design won the Good design award in Japan in 2010.
Specific for Indian conditions, points to note are the: anti corrosion steel, Rocker mould (thats the ruff thingie on the running board), protection for fuel and brake lines.
- Dealership increased from 97 in Dec 09 To 150 by Dec 2010
- Brand ambassador AR Rahman
- USP Premium product at affordable price
- Hatchback planned for launch in April 2011. LIVA depicting Full Of Life.
- TV commercial being aired starting tomorrow
- Booking open today @ 50k and delivery by Jan 2011.
The 1.5-liter gasoline-powered Etios sedan will cost Rs. 496,000 ($10,870) for the base variant at showrooms in New Delhi. The top-end version will cost 686,500 rupees. Suzuki's Swift Dzire sedan costs 488,558 rupees for the base model, while Tata Motors Ltd.'s Manza sedan is priced at 512,732 rupees.
Toyota's decision to make the global launch of the Etios in India, where rising incomes of the country's estimated 300 million middle class is fueling demand for new vehicles, reflects the importance of the world's second-fastest growing major economy for auto makers.
The Toyota team posing with the car.
70% of parts for the Etios are sourced from vendors in India.
Toyota will also introduce the Liva, a hatchback version of its Etios sedan, in India next April.
The hatchback will help Toyota tap small-car buyers, the biggest segment of India's auto market, and compete with Suzuki, which controls about half of the country's car market with its eight small car models.
Nearly two-thirds of the cars sold annually in India are small cars, which has encouraged other auto makers such as Ford, Volkswagen and Nissan to start selling their small cars in the country.
Honda, which currently sells the Jazz hatchback, is expected to introduce its newly-developed Brio hatchback model in India in 2011.
Huge boot 590 liters
вторник, 30 ноября 2010 г.
Khushwant Singh launches his book The Sunset Club
The chilly winter Delhi evening was dominated by two unique individuals. And could there have been a greater contrast between these two personalities? He, the 'dirty old man,' touching an unbelievable grand age of 97 ("If I make a century I will be lucky"), in a wheelchair and a black ski hat, his glass of Scotch beside him.
She, a sober, dignified lady, elegant in pearls and a beautiful blue silk sari, her manner modest and gracious.
Khushwant Singh, writer, and Gursharan Kaur, the prime minister's wife.
"She is a crowd-puller! I discovered she could draw as many people as a star from Hollywood," Singh says, explaining why he always invites Mrs Manmohan Singh to his book launches.
"Sometimes she comes uninvited," he adds, mock grumbling. The witty Sardar explains that he unabashedly uses his Gursharan Kaur connection and often shows off to friends when flowers arrive from the prime minister's home for him.
She, a sober, dignified lady, elegant in pearls and a beautiful blue silk sari, her manner modest and gracious.
Khushwant Singh, writer, and Gursharan Kaur, the prime minister's wife.
"She is a crowd-puller! I discovered she could draw as many people as a star from Hollywood," Singh says, explaining why he always invites Mrs Manmohan Singh to his book launches.
"Sometimes she comes uninvited," he adds, mock grumbling. The witty Sardar explains that he unabashedly uses his Gursharan Kaur connection and often shows off to friends when flowers arrive from the prime minister's home for him.
This time around, Gursharan Kaur is far from a gatecrasher. She is the chief guest. She released Singh's "last book" The Sunset Club at the postmodern-decor Meridien hotel, New Delhi, on Tuesday.
"I have been saying it is my last book and I said that about my last six books. I don't know how long I can carry on... I am now trying to learn how to do nothing," Khushwant Singh, who edited The Illustrated Weekly, Asia's oldest English magazine, in the 1970s, New Delhi magazine and the Hindustan Times in the 1980s, said. Sunset Club is a poignant tale of three crotchety but hugely lively, fantasy-driven eighty-something Delhiites, of varied backgrounds. They meet every evening at dusk in the capital's Lodhi Gardens to share life's experiences and views, be it religion or sex or lust or Ayodhya or Valentine's Day or Varun Gandhi.
The sensitive tale seems to have bittersweet autobiographical strands, reflecting bits and pieces of Singh's life and that of his friends and relatives.
Gursharan Kaur pointed out, "It is typical Khushwant Singh, hilarious, open and scandalous. I enjoyed it (what she has read so far) as I enjoy his columns that are informative, refreshing, honest and very transparent."
"Khushwant Singh tried hard to convert me into an author," the prime minister's wife added, "but who has the time and the will to write? I think his talent is inborn. He cannot put his pen down."
Gursharan Kaur added that there was already a writer in the family, her daughter.
Daman Singh, her second daughter, has written two well-reviewed novels. Her elder daughter Upinder Singh, a professor of history in Delhi, has written several books of history. Amrit Singh, her youngest daughter, is a distinguished New York-based lawyer, who took on George W Bush's administration at a time when her father and the US president were allies and friends.
"I have been saying it is my last book and I said that about my last six books. I don't know how long I can carry on... I am now trying to learn how to do nothing," Khushwant Singh, who edited The Illustrated Weekly, Asia's oldest English magazine, in the 1970s, New Delhi magazine and the Hindustan Times in the 1980s, said. Sunset Club is a poignant tale of three crotchety but hugely lively, fantasy-driven eighty-something Delhiites, of varied backgrounds. They meet every evening at dusk in the capital's Lodhi Gardens to share life's experiences and views, be it religion or sex or lust or Ayodhya or Valentine's Day or Varun Gandhi.
The sensitive tale seems to have bittersweet autobiographical strands, reflecting bits and pieces of Singh's life and that of his friends and relatives.
Gursharan Kaur pointed out, "It is typical Khushwant Singh, hilarious, open and scandalous. I enjoyed it (what she has read so far) as I enjoy his columns that are informative, refreshing, honest and very transparent."
"Khushwant Singh tried hard to convert me into an author," the prime minister's wife added, "but who has the time and the will to write? I think his talent is inborn. He cannot put his pen down."
Gursharan Kaur added that there was already a writer in the family, her daughter.
Daman Singh, her second daughter, has written two well-reviewed novels. Her elder daughter Upinder Singh, a professor of history in Delhi, has written several books of history. Amrit Singh, her youngest daughter, is a distinguished New York-based lawyer, who took on George W Bush's administration at a time when her father and the US president were allies and friends.
The prime minister's wife, in her simple, unaffected way, was the true host of the evening, solicitously looking after Singh, even as she spent time with others in the room, chatting, autographing books, posing for cameras. Arrogance? Not a trace of it. Style? Trademark, low-key friendly grace.
At 96, Khushwant Singh is frail, confined to a wheelchair, sensitive to bright light and even more soft-spoken. As far as spirit and spark go, if anything the legend has gotten crustier and sharper.
He recalled drolly how he got into the business of earning money from needling others in print, "I decided upon a three word formula: Inform, amuse and provoke. With provoke, I found that anytime I write something about people, they took me to court!
At 96, Khushwant Singh is frail, confined to a wheelchair, sensitive to bright light and even more soft-spoken. As far as spirit and spark go, if anything the legend has gotten crustier and sharper.
He recalled drolly how he got into the business of earning money from needling others in print, "I decided upon a three word formula: Inform, amuse and provoke. With provoke, I found that anytime I write something about people, they took me to court!
Among those who attended the event were sculptor Satish Gujral; India's first lady chief justice Leila Seth (whose son Vikram is one of two Indian writers Khushwant Singh admires; the other is Amitav Ghosh); India's Ambassador to Israel and author Navtej Sarna; Pakistani High Commisioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan; journalist Nalini Singh; Le Meridien owner Bubbles Charanjit Singh and Khushwant Singh's daughter Mala Dayal.
The launch of the final book of an author whose tart wit and frank take on Indian life has enthralled Indians for decades was an intensely sentimental occasion.
Editor-in-chief and publisher of Penguin Ravi Singh reminisced about an important Delhi event -- evenings with Khushwant Singh.
For decades the writer -- whose father Sir Sobha Singh was arguably Delhi's biggest builder through the 1930s -- has run an open house at his Sujan Singh Park home where anybody and everybody was welcome to stop by and have a drink, discuss politics, national affairs and just about anything under the sun with him as long as they made an appointment and left within their designated time or they were sweetly told to "bugger off."
Among those who attended the event were sculptor Satish Gujral; India's first lady chief justice Leila Seth (whose son Vikram is one of two Indian writers Khushwant Singh admires; the other is Amitav Ghosh); India's Ambassador to Israel and author Navtej Sarna; Pakistani High Commisioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan; journalist Nalini Singh; Le Meridien owner Bubbles Charanjit Singh and Khushwant Singh's daughter Mala Dayal.
The launch of the final book of an author whose tart wit and frank take on Indian life has enthralled Indians for decades was an intensely sentimental occasion.
Editor-in-chief and publisher of Penguin Ravi Singh reminisced about an important Delhi event -- evenings with Khushwant Singh.
For decades the writer -- whose father Sir Sobha Singh was arguably Delhi's biggest builder through the 1930s -- has run an open house at his Sujan Singh Park home where anybody and everybody was welcome to stop by and have a drink, discuss politics, national affairs and just about anything under the sun with him as long as they made an appointment and left within their designated time or they were sweetly told to "bugger off."
The launch of the final book of an author whose tart wit and frank take on Indian life has enthralled Indians for decades was an intensely sentimental occasion.
Editor-in-chief and publisher of Penguin Ravi Singh reminisced about an important Delhi event -- evenings with Khushwant Singh.
For decades the writer -- whose father Sir Sobha Singh was arguably Delhi's biggest builder through the 1930s -- has run an open house at his Sujan Singh Park home where anybody and everybody was welcome to stop by and have a drink, discuss politics, national affairs and just about anything under the sun with him as long as they made an appointment and left within their designated time or they were sweetly told to "bugger off."
Penguin Books India had organised a film of tributes, some touching, some amusing, from some of the people who know Khushwant Singh best: Editor-writer M J Akbar, his tailor Saimuddin, journalist and editor Nandini Mehta, his long-serving cook Chandan, editor Vinod Mehta, writer Vikram Seth, his typist Lachman Das, his neighbour Reeta Devi Verma, among others.
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