Why Taj Mahal Hotel picked ?
The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel in Bombay is India's best-known and best-loved hotel. For any serious foreign investor, businessman or wealthy tourist visiting India's commercial capital, "The Taj", as it is universally known by the cognoscenti, is always the first choice.
With best rooms in the superior old wing costing more than £250 per night - more than 250 millions Indians can expect to earn in a year - the hotel offers a world of secluded luxury, away from the grinding poverty and infrastructural decay of Mumbai.
Legend has it that its creator, a Parsi industrialist called Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, commissioned the building after being refused entry to the now-defunct Apollo Hotel, which had a strict Europeans-only policy.
However with its colonnades of shops stuffed with the world's most expensive brands, what Bombay's rich set consider the ultimate in cosmopolitan luxury, would equally be perceived by Islamist ideologues as a symbol of Western decadence.
Over the years guests have included The Queen, the former Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser and the Beatle John Lennon, to name but a few of the notable personalities to have checked in to the magnificent old wing.
More recently the hotel hosted the guests for Bombay leg of Liz Hurley's two-week extravaganza of a wedding, with guests dashing straight from the front door to waiting motor launches to take them to the privacy of waiting super-yachts in the harbour beyond.
To have pictures of burning Taj Hotel broadcast around the world will have a deeper impact than even perhaps the terrorists intended, striking a blow against a symbol of Indian wealth and progress and sending shivers down the spine of some of the richest and most powerful people on the planet.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thousands Tourist stranded in Bangkok International Airport
Thousands Tourist stranded in Bangkok International Airport
Up to 10,000 passengers are being stranded after Bangkok International Airport has been ordered closed as a result of blockade by the People's Alliance for Democracy.
THAI reported that more than 21 flights -to Japan, India, Iran, Europe, among others- were cancelled Tuesday night. This affected up to 6,000 travellers. Overall, up to 10,000 travellers could be affected Tuesday night alone, according to airline sources.
As PAD protesters moved to block the motorway entrance to Bangkok International Airport in the afternoon when the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was announced to have been delayed due to technical problems. The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening.
Many travellers have already suffered inconvenience. Arrival passengers were stranded Tuesday night and the AOT officials were trying to facilitate their transport out of the airport. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD. Hectic accommodation was being provided to some stranded departure passengers. Some of them had had to walk with their luggages for up to two kilometres due to problems at the entrance
Up to 10,000 passengers are being stranded after Bangkok International Airport has been ordered closed as a result of blockade by the People's Alliance for Democracy.
THAI reported that more than 21 flights -to Japan, India, Iran, Europe, among others- were cancelled Tuesday night. This affected up to 6,000 travellers. Overall, up to 10,000 travellers could be affected Tuesday night alone, according to airline sources.
As PAD protesters moved to block the motorway entrance to Bangkok International Airport in the afternoon when the plane carrying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to land, the arrival of his plane from Peru was announced to have been delayed due to technical problems. The estimated time of arrival has not been confirmed. Some sources said he could be arriving Wednesday evening.
Many travellers have already suffered inconvenience. Arrival passengers were stranded Tuesday night and the AOT officials were trying to facilitate their transport out of the airport. AOT has also issued a statement pleading with the PAD. Hectic accommodation was being provided to some stranded departure passengers. Some of them had had to walk with their luggages for up to two kilometres due to problems at the entrance
Thailand on world travel warning list
Thailand on world travel warning list
Countries around the globe yesterday issued warnings to their citizens about travelling to Thailand.
Today:
China, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Britain, the United States, Australia and Japan counted as the country that add Thailand on world travel warning list. They warned through their websites of possible danger to their citizens.
The US Embassy advised Americans to stay away from the airport given the potential for violence and civil disobedience. "American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations," it said.
The Chinese Embassy warned on its website that Chinese citizens planning to visit Thailand should postpone their plans
The France's foreign affairs ministry suggested that French travellers booked to fly through Bangkok make alternative arrangements.
The New Zealand foreign affairs ministry advised stranded travellers to stay with other tourists, remain close to information counters and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
Similarly, Singapore said citizens without "a pressing need to travel" should postpone their trip.
Britain's Foreign Office issued an updated travel advisory telling Britons to keep abreast of a "very uncertain" political situation.
The Japanese foreign ministry urged its nationals to be cautious. In an alert posted on the ministry's website, it said people planning to visit or to stay in Thailand were advised to check flight information well beforehand.
see more on Bangkok after protest
Countries around the globe yesterday issued warnings to their citizens about travelling to Thailand.
Today:
China, France, New Zealand, Singapore, Britain, the United States, Australia and Japan counted as the country that add Thailand on world travel warning list. They warned through their websites of possible danger to their citizens.
The US Embassy advised Americans to stay away from the airport given the potential for violence and civil disobedience. "American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations," it said.
The Chinese Embassy warned on its website that Chinese citizens planning to visit Thailand should postpone their plans
The France's foreign affairs ministry suggested that French travellers booked to fly through Bangkok make alternative arrangements.
The New Zealand foreign affairs ministry advised stranded travellers to stay with other tourists, remain close to information counters and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
Similarly, Singapore said citizens without "a pressing need to travel" should postpone their trip.
Britain's Foreign Office issued an updated travel advisory telling Britons to keep abreast of a "very uncertain" political situation.
The Japanese foreign ministry urged its nationals to be cautious. In an alert posted on the ministry's website, it said people planning to visit or to stay in Thailand were advised to check flight information well beforehand.
see more on Bangkok after protest
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