Rajinikanth and his 2.0 co-stars Akshay Kumar and Amy Jackson are already in Dubai for the promotional duties of the film.

‘Welcome Back’ Filmed at Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, and among the tallest buildings in the world, is where several scenes of ‘Welcome Back’ (sequel to the hit movie ‘Welcome’) have been shot. Burj Khalifa is also home to several prominent Indians and is now attracting more Indian buyers.

In one of our earlier posts, we mentioned the locations where the rich Indians are buying properties abroad, and Dubai is one of them. Its a global city and one advantage it has over the other global cities is that its very close to Mumbai – the financial capital of India. And even in Dubai, several Indians have invested in apartments located in the landmark building ‘Burj Khalifa’, which is considered to be one of the poshest areas.

Welcome Back Filmed at Burj Khalifa

The opening shot of the movie ‘Welcome Back’ was shot at the Burj Khalifa. Director Anees Bazmee had clear instructions for the cinematographer, and that was to make the Burj Khalifa look spectacular. For that Feroz Nadiadwala (the producer) had taken the requisite permissions to shoot at the top of the building, as well as under it. It was a challenging scene to shoot but the end result looks spectacular.

Home to Several Rich Indians

Burj Khalifa has around 900 apartments, of which more than a hundred are now owned by Indians. It just shows the growing financial power of the Indian community in West Asia.

Indian actress Shilpa Shetty also has an apartment in this building; she was gifted an apartment on the 19th floor by her husband Raj Kundra as a wedding gift.

South-Indian star actor Mohanlal also owns an apartment here.

Btw, even David Beckham owns apartments in this building.

What About Luxury

Burj Khalifa is not just the tallest standing structure, its also quite big on the luxury aspect.

It offers several luxurious recreational and leisure facilities, including four swimming pools, an exclusive residents’ lounge; health and wellness facilities.

On Level 122, you have ‘Atmosphere’, the world’s highest fine dining restaurant. And on Level 124, you have the world’s highest observatory deck – ‘At the Top’.

More About ‘At the Top’, Burj Khalifa

One of Dubai’s most popular tourist attractions, it gets millions of visitors every year who’re there to see the majestic, sweeping vistas of Dubai and the surrounding region.

1. A ten-part journey, the ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa’ experience starts at The Dubai Mall, where you can buy tickets at an elegant welcome area featuring big LED displays, reflecting the original three-core design inspiration of Burj Khalifa.
2. From there, you proceed towards the ‘travelator’ that transports you from the mall into the world of Burj Khalifa. The travelator journey – entitled ‘Dubai Now And Then’ – sets the stage for what is to come. Here you experience an audio visual journey through time, from the earliest days of Dubai to the present.
3. This journey pauses at a unique viewing point called the ‘From the Earth to the Sky’ where you get your first close-up view of the awe-inspiring height of the tower.
4. ‘From the vision to reality’ is the next leg of the journey that leads you to the elevators. In this area, you will be engaged in the making of Burj Khalifa while getting ready for the elevator ride to Level 124.
5. Each part of this marvelous journey is set to distinctive music, composed specifically for Burj Khalifa by Katia Makdissi-Warren, a Quebec-based musician who blends Western and Arabic music.
6. Travelling at a speed of 10 metres per second, the double-decker elevator journey to Level 124 takes around 60 seconds. When the doors slide open, guests will be welcomed with floor-to-ceiling glass providing unobstructed 360 degree views.
7. Feel free to use the special telescopes to get spectacular views of Dubai.
8. Once there, you can stay as long as you like, enjoying the views, before making the return journey to the base of Burj Khalifa.
9. You are also provided the opportunity to capture your trip to the top of the world for posterity, with the ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa Green Screen photography’.
10. The last stop of the journey is the retail boutique, where you can indulge in some Burj Khalifa inspired and branded souvenirs. You may shop for more merchandise at the ground floor store located near the reception.

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Norway plans to build the world’s first sea tunnel for ships, which will pass through a mountain (the Stad peninsula) in western Norway. The Stadhavet Sea is the most exposed and dangerous area along the coast of Norway.

The sea tunnel has been planned to avoid the storm-battered, dangerous waters, which even intimidated the Vikings.

The tunnel will be a mile-long and 118-feet-wide.

Norwegian transport minister Ketil Solvik-Olsen said: ‘The Stad tunnel for boats will finally be built. The government is now ensuring a safer and more reliable passage of the most dangerous and harsh waters for the transport of goods along the Norwegian coasts.”

But what if two ships come head-to-head? It will be taken care of by be traffic lights. “We are going to follow the usual standard with red and white lights to show when it is safe to pass,” said the team.

Fierce winds off the peninsular force ships to wait before they are able to continue journeys. Even talented sailors such as the Vikings preferred to avoid these waters and chose to transport their boats by land.

While tunnels for boats exits around the world (such as Canal du Midi in France), this will be first tunnel that will accommodate large ships, including the iconic Bergen-Kirkenes Coastal Express, which connects the Nordic nation’s south and north.

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Several films have been shot at this location, including Bollywood films. Apart from James Bond, Avengers & Harry Potter films, Indian films like SRK’s ‘Fan’ (palace shown during the wedding) and K3G ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’ (song Deewana hai dekho) have been filmed at this location.

The sprawling Blenheim Palace is also home to an abundance of wildlife, historical monuments, ancient woodland and rural activity (the surround area is spread over 12500 acres).

The palace is grand, beautiful; offers a nice interactive history of the dynasty, and also has a moving tribute to Sir Winston Churchill.

Then there are some lovely grounds. You can take a mini train ride to the pleasure gardens. Those fond of butterflies can checkout the butterfly house where several of these beautiful insects fly around you.

Overall, great fun for families and kids.

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Although Kipling was born in 1865 in a house adjacent to where the bungalow stands today, the bungalow has been known as Kipling Bungalow for ages now.

The structure carries an ornate metal plaque (engraved with the words, “Rudyard Kipling, son of Lockwood Kipling, first principal of Sir J. J. School of Art, was born here on 30.12.1865.”) and a bust commemorating Kipling’s connection to the bungalow, and also to the art school campus.

For decades now, the Kipling side of the bungalow has been the official Dean’s Residence of the dean of Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Art.

Every year, Rudyard Kipling’s Bungalow attracts several Kipling-enthusiasts from all over the world.

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Bollywood films shot at Humayun’s Tomb:

• Fitoor starring Aditya Roy Kapoor & Katrina Kaif had a scene that were shot at Humayun’s Tomb
• Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Kareena Kapoor & Salman Khan) had scenes that were shot at Humayun’s Tomb
• “Bol Naa Halke Halke” song from “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” (Abhishek Bachchan & Prety Zinta) shot at the Humayun’s Tomb.
• “Shukran Allah” song from Kurbaan (Kareena & Saif) shot at Humayun’s tomb.
• Mere Brother ki Dulhan, featuring Imran Khan & Katrina Kaif also had few scenes that were filmed here
• Aamir Khan’s character in “Fanaa” takes Kajol and her friends on a Dilli darshan, and one of the places they visit is Humayun’s Tomb.

To film at this location, one needs permission from The Archeological Survey of India (ASI), and they are quite strict aout adhering to the rules, doesn’t matter how big the star in the film. ASI once temporarily stalled the shooting of “Veer Zaara” at Humayun’s Tomb, because Shah Rukh and Preity ventured into forbidden areas of the monument (that had been closed to the public).

So the next time you’re in Delhi, do visit Humayun’s Tomb; you never know, you could bump into some Bollywood star.

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The museum to be known as ‘Chaplin’s World’ is located in the Swiss village of Corsier-sur Vevey and will be partly housed in the star’s old manor (former home), which has been restored.

Born & raised in London, Chaplin lived at the Swiss manor for 25 years after he was banished from the US over suspicions about his Communist sympathies. He died in 1977 and is buried in a nearby cemetery.

The Museum site is located between Lake Geneva on one side and the mountains on the other. A new building has been especially constructed on the property’s garage to house a Hollywood studio that will showcase the legendary actor’s on-screen work. The museum will also have an outdoor area that will host cultural programs, including film screenings, as well as an art gallery for graphic artists.

The museum cost an estimated £40 million, and has the blessing of his children, Michael, Eugene and Victoria. The actor’s granddaughter Laura Chaplin said, “It was a dream house for growing up… we’ve waited a long time for this museum and now it’s finally taking off”.

Grevin, the museum operator, described the attraction as ‘a path of discovery, both touching and amusing, of an artist who put burlesque on the map, revolutionised the Seventh Art and conquered the world through laughter and tears’.

The museum’s director Yves Durand said, “His soul, his spirit, is still here…so people will meet him, people will encounter him, people will hear his voice, will see his movies, will hear his music.”

Chaplin’s museum will open on 17 April – a day after what would have been charlie Chaplin’s 127th birthday.

Also Read: Most popular Bollywood song in the world by Indian Charlie Chaplin – Raj Kapoor

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If you live somewhere in India, then probably what you have seen as a zoo is nothing compared to some of the best zoos (and aquariums) that exist around the world.

The U.S. has many world-class zoos and aquariums, with thousands of animals from around the globe, spread across a vast area of land. Outside the US, Spain’s Loro Parque, Portugal’s Oceanario de Lisboa, Greece’s Aquaworld Aquarium, and the Singapore Zoo are quite popular among tourists.

As per TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards, the following are the best zoos & aquariums around the world.

World’s top 10 zoos according to TripAdvisor
1. Henry Doorly Zoo (Omaha, Nebraska)
2. San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
3. Loro Parque (Puerto de la Cruz, Spain)
4. St. Louis Zoo (St. Louis)
5. Singapore Zoo (Singapore)
6. Chester Zoo (Chester, UK)
7. Prague Zoo (Prague)
8. Tiergarten Schoenbrunn—Zoo Vienna (Vienna)
9. Bioparc Valencia (Valencia, Spain)
10. Gramado Zoo (Gramado, Brazil)

World’s top 10 aquariums according to TripAdvisor
1. Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey, California)
2. Oceanario de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal)
3. Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta)
4. Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
5. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
6. Aquaworld Aquarium (Hersonissos, Greece)
7. Dallas World Aquarium (Dallas)
8. Vancouver Aquarium (Vancouver, British Columbia)
9. Mundomar (Benidorm, Spain)
10. Two Oceans Aquarium (Cape Town, South Africa)

The complete list of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards for zoos is online at TripAdvisor.com. The complete list of aquariums is also at TripAdvisor.com.

I know there are many who don’t like the concept of zoos, where animals are locked up in captivity in a fake habitat. But at least these zoos spend a lot of money on the maintenance of the zoo, the animals are taken good care of, and the enclosures are huge, and also helps in preserving certain species.

Besides, most good ones are moving towards enclosures that are barrier free. some of these zoos are moving towards the African model, where the animals will be exhibited in a large open air savannah. These zoos also take important steps to prevent species from extinction, and also help children learn a lot. So definitely not all zoos are the same.

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Speaking about her role Shabana says, “Maharani Jinda is the driving-force behind Duleep to return to Punjab and take back his land. He was taken away to England by Queen Victoria and turned into a Christian.” She goes on to add, “There is no phone connectivity where we shoot. We have to travel 20 miles for network. I am thoroughly enjoying my time off. I am doing my own cooking and learning on the job, mixing and matching different dishes to suit my own palate.It’s great fun. But I’m missing my mother.”

Am shooting 4The Black Prince at Althorp Spencer family estate where Lady Diana grew up. She fascinates me pic.twitter.com/En3CdcAOzI

— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) November 7, 2014

Duleep Singh’s role is essayed by Satinder Sartaj, a popular punjabi Sufi singer and lyricist. “I play Duleep Singh’s mother – Maharani Jindan. David Essex , Jason Fleming, Amanda Peat all very well-known British actors are also in the film, ” elaborates the senior actress. Shabana Azmi who has worked with the best film-makers in the industry is all praise for The Black Prince’s director. “Kavi Raz is an LA-based director. Aaron Smith is the cinematographer. Both are extremely good at their craft. It’s a truly international crew. There are American, French, Turkish, Indian, British and Polish crew members. This trend of a multi-cultural crew is gradually catching on. I love the feeling of being in the midst of such diverse talent. It’s a very exciting place to be in for any actor.”

The location is a dream for most actors to work at. “We’re shooting at Althorp Spencer Estate where Lady Diana grew up and is now buried. This place has to be seen to be believed. It is paradise,” says the actor excitedly. She took to twitter to share a picture of the beautiful palace.

Source: deccanchronicle.com

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If you’re from India, then your idea of a zoo is going to be completely different from what you’re going to see here. Located in the North of the Island, the Singapore Zoo provides you with an opportunity to see animals from all over the world.

Its well marketed, on established tours, the place is easy to reach and definitely worth a visit. Its one of the most beautiful zoos in Asia. It may not have the biggest of enclosures but they are all well managed.

What to See

Singaporeans also refer to the Singapore Zoo as the Mandai Zoo.

There are several hundreds of species of animals, including polar bears for which they have created an adequate environment (sort of huge refrigerator) to make the animals comfortable.

Though most of the animals are in enclosures, there are several animals and birds that are kept in the open and keep wandering around – monkeys, kangaroos, tortoise and so on.

The gardens at the zoo are wonderful, and most of the trees and plants are actually labelled which makes the visit a botanic in addition to a zoological one.

As a visitor, you just cannot escape being educated here, and the best part is that you won’t even realize that you’re learning new things.

From simple things such as labeling plants to more entertaining events such as a coconut husking competition, the guys at the Singapore Zoo takes all the efforts to keep your well-informed.

Visitors Comfort Taken Care Of

The area is huge and the Zoo takes all the efforts to make the visitors comfortable; the paths are in good condition, there’s plenty of kiosks and drink dispensers and enough benches/ sheltered seating areas. More importantly, there are plenty of well maintained toilets (Singapore zoo has won several awards for its toilets).

There’s also a road train to move from one point to another. You may even opt for animal rides, ranging from horse carriages, pony rides as well as other animal rides.

Final Thoughts

The Singapore Zoo may seem to be expensive but its a different experience altogether, including the night safari. There’s a big food court and there’s even an Indian Restaurant in the Singapore Zoo. Another attraction right next to the zoo is the ‘River Safari’; you can buy a combined ticket for both these attractions in Singapore.

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The Alex Fraser Bridge (also known as the Annacis Bridge) is a popular location in Greater Vancouver, its basically a cable-stayed bridge that goes over the Fraser River and connects Richmond and New Westminster with North Delta in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia.

What Makes It Popular
Alex Fraser Bridge crossing in Metro Vancouver is fabulously spectacular because of the amazing views of the North Shore Mountains on clear days. In the winter, you can see plentiful snow covering the mountain tops.

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