Apple filed a lawsuit last Friday alleging Samsung violated patents and trademarks of its iPhone and iPad, as the popular gadgets are being threatened by the fast rise of rival devices based on Google's free Android operating system. The legal battle between Apple and Samsung could jeopardize business ties between the two technology companies, as the Cupertino, California-based company depends heavily on Samsung for components such as chips and LCD displays. Operating systems have emerged as the key battlefield for dominance of the world's smartphone market.Android became the most popular smartphone software in the United States in the three months ending in February, ahead of Apple and Research in Motion, according to a recent survey by research firm comScore. Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers on the back of the Android boom and has emerged as Apple's strongest competitor in the tablet market, with models in three sizes.Counter Lawsuits Samsung said in a statement on Friday that Apple's iPhone and iPad infringe Samsung's 10 mobile technology patents and it called for Apple to stop infringing its technology and compensate the company.Samsung said the suits, filed in South Korea, Japan and Germany, involved 10 alleged infringements of patents mainly involving power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data communication technology. "Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business," the statement said. Global technology companies are locked in a web of litigation as they try to defend their shares of the booming tablet and smartphone market.Strong sales of the iPhone and iPad translate into more revenue for Samsung. Apple was Samsung's second-biggest client after Japan's Sony Corp last year, bringing in around 6.2 trillion Korean won ($5.7 billion) of sales, and is widely expected to become Samsung's top client this year. The battle comes ahead of Samsung launching a new version of its successful Galaxy S smartphone next week in Korea, a key product for the world's No.2 handset maker to meet its target of 60 million units of smartphone sales this year. Shares in Samsung, Asia's biggest technology company with a market value of $140 billion, fell 2.5 per cent by 0410 GMT after three consecutive sessions of gains, versus a 0.2 per cent fall in the broader market.(Reuters)
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The gaze doesn't shift from the window where Vincent van Gogh once lived. It is swathed in white, and when we take a closer look at the window, a happy bunch of bright yellow sunflowers stare down at us from the third floor. “There’s no better way than this to keep van Gogh alive in our hearts,” smiles our guide, an enthusiastic middle-aged woman who is taking us on a walking tour of Montmartre — arguably one of the most beautiful areas of Paris that’s steeped in art, history, literature, given the numerous artists who lived there. Vincent van Gogh, we’re told, lived at 54 Rue Lepic, from 1886-88, a charming cobbled street that we’ve just crossed, sharing an apartment with Theo, his brother. It was while living here that the Dutch artist, inspired by the palette of the French Impressionists, painted the first in the series of Sunflowers, which would later become one of the most iconic series of paintings in the world.We are a group of seven — my husband, me, and another family of five, including three children in their pre-teens — taking a walking tour of this illustrious hill in the north of Paris. Our final destination is Sacre-Coeur, the iconic basilica resting atop the hill, which promises panoramic views of the city. En route the guided walking tour, it’s hard not to capture some of the most iconic sights of Paris — the roadside cafes; local artists busy in the trade; the aroma of sizzling hot street-side crepes; the wafting smells of freshly baked breads at the neighbourhood boulangerie; a young couple kissing on a bench; the sound of water from the distinctive cast-iron Wallace fountains…It’s actually at this point, you realise why destinations need to be covered on foot. Walking tours, especially in a city like Paris allow you to pause, relax, meditate and really soak in not just the bohemian spirit of the artists who lived here but also experience the joy and the wonder of walking on the same narrow streets where the likes of Picasso, Vlamenck, Derain, Soutine, Modigliani, van Gogh and many others lived and worked.In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that even the walls of Montmartre talk to you in the language of art — something that you’d definitely miss if you’re on a touch-and-go Paris visit. I spot the ‘Grego’ face peering from a wall shortly after I’ve had a brief date with ‘the man who walks through walls’. While the Grego self-portrait face is just one of the 400-500 faces done by a 39-year-old Greek artist, Dutilleul is a unique sculpture in bronze inspired by Marcel Aymé’s story, about a man who could — what else — walk through walls before he got stuck halfway in a wall when the magic eventually wore off. The charming thing about this half-man sculpture is that it emerges out of nowhere; just like the statue of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris who is said to have walked for six km with his head in his hands after it was decapitated by local pagan priests. The silence of the Montmartre cemetery with colourful blossoms is a melodic symphony complete with the sounds of birds chirping, a cat purring, the cool breeze and water in the distance.While the must-do trips to the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge and Lido are good to strike off the bucket list, it’s walking tours in areas like Montmartre and Latin Quarters that give you a chance to feel the pulse of Paris. In roughly two hours, area-specific guided walking tours allow you to be gently transported in time, getting to feel the heartbeat of what is considered the Mecca of cultural movements in art, architecture, literature, fashion, and so much more. The meandering journeys on foot unearth Paris gently with rich moments that you capture for a lifetime. As you walk down the cobbled pathways, streets and bylanes of Paris, it’s a meditative introduction to the city even as it embraces you powerfully and gently, all at once. So, the next time in Paris, wear your comfortable pair of shoes, grab a crepe from the roadside and walk, explore and fall in love. Paris won’t let you down. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 11-08-2014)
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Shillong , a pine- wooded British era hill town famous for its boarding schools and love for western musicals has become busier, its traffic clogging the narrow roads and the old cottages slowly giving way to concrete buildings to accommodate an ever growing population. If the face of Shillong is changing, Cherrapunjee, an hour’s drive away, is its refreshing antidote. Breathtaking waterfalls, monoliths, home to Mawlynnong, acclaimed the cleanest village in Asia and two living root bridges not found anywhere else in the world make this place quite surreal.The living root bridges in the deep depths of Cherrapunjee are a good two-three hours trek away. They have been described as one of the greatest engineering feats. Built by Khasi villagers, the roots of the Indian rubber tree (Ficus elastic) have been interwoven to make it grow into a bridge serving local needs. Despite its remoteness, the place has made it to the National Geographic photo contest and has even been filmed by the BBC. We begin with the drive from Shillong passing by Upper Shillong that houses the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. The drive takes us through the village of Smit, famous for its Nongkrem dance. It is a market day and women sit in rows selling organic vegetables and the famous red oranges of Cherrapunjee. A colourful sight that conveys the strong identity of the Khasi men and women dressed in their traditional attires. Once we cross this busy stretch, the landscape opens out into a plateau broken occasionally by deep gorges and waterfalls. The air is clean and the long drive forms part of the excitement of the trek.You know you have arrived when the topography suddenly changes, roads narrowing and the descent becoming sharper leading to a flat patch of land for parking with a sign that reads ‘Meghalaya Tourism Welcomes You to the Living Root Bridge’. It is the vantage point. The trek looks intimidating against the backdrop of the sub-tropical forest we are about to explore. We are going to cover a 4 km walking trail down the steep slope of approximately 3000 steps with an average five hours of going down and coming up. Our group assembles for a quick last minute check for food, water, first aid etc., as there are little amenities along the route save for few eager villagers who welcome you with a smile and a curious look. The walk is effortless in the beginning. Steps are well laid out for tourists with railings to hold on to. Midway is when the steps get replaced by a ruggedness of uneven walkways, steeper climbs and steeper descents. We take a few rests, at the same time taking in the stunning scenery around us. There is a great melange of flora and fauna unique to this place — orchids, beetle nut trees, butterflies of various size and colours, and mushroom and moss-covered tree trunks.It is a long, arduous trek and after almost one-and-half hours into it we have our awe and shock moment at having to cross our firstwire rope bridge suspended over the rain-fed river about 25 feet below. The single wire metal bridge is narrowly constructed with rusted iron cables and held together with steel wires. It shakes as you step foot on it and there is a high possibility of slipping from the gaps. With safety standards not spelt out, it is one of the world’s scariest bridges but in such moments you trust the instincts of the locals for whom this is a regular thoroughfare. One steeper climb and we arrive at Nomngriat village, our final destination where the legendary double decker living root bridge stands almost magical. I feel I am having my Lord of The Rings moment, a lost in time feel buoyed by excitement as I walk up and down the bridge before we sit by the river to take in the sights. How the living root bridge came about is through necessity. With Cherrapunjee having been the wettest place on earth, the villagers belonging to the warrior Khasi tribe needed walkways across its many rivers and hills. So they recognised the potential of the roots of the Indian rubber tree grown here and started growing the trees by intertwining the roots. As we begin to head back, having just experienced our brush with mankind’s most original invention, I pick up a stone from the river as a souvenier. My Khasi friend tells me that in their tradition nothing is picked up from the river and taken home. I take it as something profound. They need to preserve their nature, after all. The author is a consulting editor with The Indian Weekly published in Melbourne(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 08-09-2014)
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Multitasking is, for heaven’s sake, something that machines are supposed to do — not people. Multitasking is originally an engineering term that, unfortunately, turned into corporate blackmail. If you can’t juggle three projects, lend a sympathetic ear to a troubled colleague, take 17 phone calls, grab a sandwich, and write five reports, all while being actively — and visibly — participative in back-to-back meetings, you’re sliding down the corporate ladder faster than you’re climbing it! I haven’t forgiven an ex-boss for giving me an exasperated look every time I balked at simultaneously handling 2-3 “equally critical” assignments. “Just do it in parallel!” he would squawk in frustration when I’d ask how I was to divide my time without delaying one or the other task. There never was an answer.The truth is that multitasking is a big fat myth that — to the amazement of many — doesn’t even result in overall improvement in productivity. In fact, quite the opposite. A 2010 study by Peter Bergman found that multitasking actually causes a 40 per cent drop in productivity. It also leads to more stress and a 10 per cent drop in intelligence. How’s that for something to chew on?The problem with multitasking is that it looks really good to everyone. We feel satisfied with ourselves for juggling tasks successfully — though the success is debatable. A certain ophthalmologist I know appears to do a brilliant job-job-job of it. He invites 3-4 patients into his consulting room, and proceeds to look through his apparatus at one person’s eyes, writes out a prescription for another, schedules surgery for a third, and explains — in detail — the nature of the problem to a fourth. Every now and then, a patient loses patience. Once a co-patient snapped, demanding to know if he even remembered his case. Without blinking, the doctor shot back an accurate and detailed reply! Whether the good doctor would be more efficient were he to focus on one patient at a time, we’ll never know.Another multitasking enthusiast I know replies to his emails, tweets, shaves and drives through Delhi traffic all at the same time. Apparently, all the trucks are supposed to get very frightened and scuttle out of the way. The risk of making mistakes is pretty obvious in the case of driving. It’s with this example that it’s easier to see how the human mind doesn’t really multitask at all — it switches quickly from one task to another. That’s outright dangerous and otherwise stressful and damaging to one’s brain. A 2009 study by Stanford University showed that the ability to focus, control memories and switch from one context to another becomes impaired for multitaskers.But, so many jobs just can’t be done without multitasking. Take, for example, a restaurant manager. Managing staff, remembering each order, dealing with the fact that there are no more oysters in the freezer — can’t be tackled one at a time. This just means there’s no escaping multitasking.Technology, especially mobile tech, has come along and practically deified multitasking, making it seem intrinsic to humankind — which it isn’t. The smartphone is practically a multitasking wizard —letting you talk while you eat, work while you wait, read while you drive, listen while you sleep or write while you walk. Newer smartphones offer enhanced multitasking abilities such as split screens and smaller video screens that go on top of another app. So whether it’s work or play, multitasking is being baked-in more and more. Social media has brought in a whole new layer of multitasking. Share a photo while on holiday, tweet ferociously from a conference, check-in every 2 km. In an existence filled with beeping gadgets and notifications, our brains are in for quite an assault. Here are some things one can do to keep that multitasking from going completely out of hand:— Learn to re-focus. The mobile devices that bombard you with notifications are the very things that can help too. An app called Brain Waves — and its ilk — will feed your ears with white noise or tone that is supposed to simulate, and stimulate, the brainwave pattern of focus and concentration. To re-focus, schedule your tasks to finish tasks one at a time and take a moment to feel good about watching your list grow smaller. Don’t add more items just yet.— One trick people use is to designate an object, such as a marble, and place it in front as a reminder to focus on a task. That way, if a phone call grabs your attention, you won’t lose your way when you finish and will take up right where you left off.It may well look as if the harmful effects of multitasking are exaggerated. But accomplished multitaskers should just try focusing on one thing to see how thoroughly the focus habit has been affected. The time, and toll, taken to switch from one thing to another ends up making us permanent switchers.In the writing of this article I have made and drunk a cup of tea, shooed noisy pigeons 16 times, called my contractor twice, chatted on Whatsapp, eaten a piece of chocolate, answered seven emails, and checked my Twitter account eight times. Clearly, urgent intervention is called for. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 19-05-2014)
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Whoever thought cellphones would be so good for health? In fact, there was a time when cellphones were only associated with radiation and cancer. But then, that never did get resolved. Today, the ‘humble’ mobile has become a health assistant and personal trainer that’s always with you. All its sensors are at your service as they become active participants in shaping a more fit you. Wearable accessories add some serious functionality and measurability, but you don’t absolutely have to have them to achieve fitness goals. Your phone and the countless sea of apps are there for the taking. Let’s start with sleep...SleepBot, free on iOS and Android, is a really interesting and easy app for taking charge of your sleep. It tracks your sleep cycle and motion. It doesn’t require you to do so much that you’d need to engage with the app itself much. First, set your alarm. The app will wake you in phases with a pre-alarm and then a final one. Use the app’s widget to tap into sleep, and then again when you’re waking up. That way, the tracking begins. Plug in your phone to make sure your battery doesn’t drain. Place the phone next to your body and go to sleep. The app logs your sleep time, makes a graph of your movement and can even record sound. It can log your snoring and sleep talking, giving you an idea of your sleep quality. The efficacy of the movement tracking will vary on the type of bed — after all, the phone’s accelerometer has to kick into action. SleepBot’s value comes into play when you track your sleep over time. Then you see the patterns. Do you regularly oversleep or under-sleep? Is it restful? Of course, there is no information about the stages of your sleep, etc., because the device isn’t attached to you and can’t measure parameters, but you do get some surface-level information. You can also make quick notes in case you like to log your dreams. You also rate your sleep cycle because ultimately, you’re not rested until you feel rested.Extras involve quick tips to sleep, wake up and stay awake. There are even links to exercise videos. But SleepBot is just an example, and there are numerous sleep tracking apps on all operating systems.Now that we are awake, let’s see how active we are through the day. If you’re not ready yet to spend and experiment with a smartwatch or fitness band, there is a pedometer on your phone. Moves, free on iOS and Android, counts your steps all day, as long as you carry it with you, of course. You can hold the phone, keep the app open and watch the counter go up as you walk around. At the end of the day, you get the total number of steps taken, and you can even take counts after a walk. Unfortunately, it eats up a bit of battery as it stays active all the time, especially as it works best with the GPS turned on. No one can assume that walking around the house or office amounts to exercise. But use the count to increase your activity, and it is sustained for 45 minutes and involves some upper body movement — it’s exercise! Strides, free on iOS and Android, is good for those with sedentary lifestyles — desk-bound at work and couch-bound at home. It reminds you to ‘get up and move it’, while logging activity. It’s amusing that people become addicted to tracking their own activity and is strangely self-obsessive. Running is a favourite exercise with many and the Runkeeper app is a favourite with 25 million-plus users. There’s a free and paid version and it’s on all platforms. The app aims to be the original trainer in your pocket and lets you track your running, walking, cycling, hiking, biking, etc., using your phone’s GPS. It gives you detailed stats on your pace, distance, time and calories burned. You get progress alerts and coaching through your headphones with audio cues. You can also measure your heart rate. The app keeps you motivated by telling you your performance over time and helping you go to the next milestone. You can follow detailed plans to help you achieve specific fitness objectives, like run for weight loss or run a 5K. You can compare goals and progress with others. And then, you have a suite of apps that go beyond running. Runtastic includes push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, etc. Sadly, they’re all in different apps, the ‘pro’ versions of which are paid. You also need to pay for different music packs, if the default doesn’t appeal to you. Runtastic is not a coach but a fitness planner and motivator, and lets you compare and compete with others. The app works with a bunch of accessories, and with other apps as well. It has several of its own accessories.There are also a number of Nike running and fitness apps on iOS and Android that users swear by. They are simple and reliable but work best with accessories. The same is the case with FitBit, which has its app working with wristbands but offers basics without.A social and gaming angle is being added to more and more apps with the hope that it will boost motivation and healthy competition. Fiticracy is an example. Friends — or even strangers — can help each other with tips and encouragement so that with apps and their social networks, no one needs to exercise all alone. mala.bhargava@gmail.com;twitter@malabhargava(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 10-03-2014)
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A treadmill, that very symbol of fitness, is a fixture in every gym and hundreds of households in the country. That always-available hunk of equipment that makes light of all your excuses to not exercise and turns you into a very fit person — that is, if you keep your end of the bargain and tread carefully. Because, whether you’ve been an athlete, a long-time treadmiller, or a total newbie, you’re vulnerable to injury unless you’re super alert. The thing with treadmills is that they’re dead boring. People will fight the ennui with music, television, reading, and even working on their laptops or chatting with others. With practically your entire attention taken up elsewhere, it’s easy to lose your footing. The resulting fall can be very bad indeed, causing serious injury to your back or head, face and, well, just about anything else. One way to prevent a fall is, of course, to jolly well pay attention, especially if you’re a little more tired than usual, preoccupied with personal or work matters, or irritated with someone. If you’re using a treadmill at home, make sure cords and any glass or sharp objects are not around the machine so that a fall is not worsened by their being in the way. The other way not to fall is to make sure you always start slow, warm up, and only then speed up. Also, make sure you switch on the machine and keep it at a slow speed before stepping on to it (start by keeping your feet on either side of the belt), staying in the centre, and again slowing the treadmill down before getting off. It’s really the experienced people who begin to think they are immune from mishaps and become lax in the alertness level needed. “Everyone assumes treadmills are the easiest equipment to deal with, which might be true in some cases, but not taking proper precautions and safety measures can lead to some bad accidents. While small tips like avoiding using your cellphone while on the treadmill or always warming up before running at high speeds are important. It’s also imperative to keep your cardio workout within the prescribed heart rate zone. This especially applies to people with a heart condition,” says Manish Ruhail, a fitness manager with Fitness First.But even when you’re not falling off, there’s plenty of scope for damage, especially to your knees. It isn’t as if using a treadmill is the same as really walking. The latter involves a natural posture, variation in strides, arm swinging, etc., all of which is important in some way. The treadmill means an automated, repetitive activity and remains what it is — artificial walking, in spite of the advancements in equipment. Users tend to lean forward a bit, the back sometimes bends as the person sort of braces to ‘thump’ forward, and the knees take all the pressure. A warning from Ruhail: “A correct posture (no leaning forward or backward) is also very important while on the treadmill. Beginners should avoid running laterally or backward at a high speed. This could be dangerous and should only be done by those with some practice on the treadmill at a slower speed.”According to medical information portal WebMD, the knee is bound by an intricate system of ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscle. It is highly prone to injury. It’s a complex hinge where the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), fibula (next to tibia) and kneecap all come together. If you’ve had a previous injury, you’re vulnerable and should even consider alternative exercises, including regular walking. The same is true if you have osteoporosis. Never ignore knee pain, even when it seems slight. Exercise your knees, using gentle doctor-approved movements. These should also be backed up with movements that strengthen other parts of the legs such as the calves, which will help take the pressure off the knees.The treadmill is, however, better than running on hard pavements and the resulting impact on your limbs. A running track is the best, with a treadmill coming in second. Or even a mix of the two.Another thing that’s missing in treadmill workouts is the involvement of the upper body. To avoid falling off, many users hold the bars, and that’s more secure but it makes you lean forward and reduces the efficiency of your exercise. The neck and back are more likely to suffer and you’re likely to feel the effect immediately after finishing your run. Instead, swing your arms naturally. If you have balance worries, spend a few minutes on balance exercises each day. This will, in any case, spiral off into more benefits, including a strengthened core. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 16-06-2014)
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Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”Today, beer is the third most-consumed beverage after water and tea, and with 1.93 billion hectolitres brewed every year, we are well on our way to becoming a happier planet.The story of beer is inseparable from the history of the world.Brewing records go back 6,000 years, giving the Sumerians credit for the first pint. It was the Egyptians, however, who brought scale to beer, brewing a ration for the Pharaoh’s armies. By the 5th century AD, beer brewing traveled to Europe where it was nurtured into an art form by monks. Monastic settlements commonly ran breweries to care for thirsty travellers and pilgrims. The word ‘beer’ has its roots in the Latin verb, ‘Bibere’, which means to drink. The 19th century saw the hearty brew change dramatically. A brewer named Josef Groll, mashed a batch of beer on Oct 5, 1842 in Plzen, now in the Czech Republic, creating the world’s first lager. Bohemia was also famous for glass-making and the combination of beer and glassware helped the golden lager gain popularity. This is now the most widely used brewing style in the world.Today, almost every country has its own brewing tradition, linked closely to the history of its people. Let’s raise a toast to this diversity as we take a look at what goes into making beer.To put it simply, beer is a fermented brew of water, malted grain, hops and yeast.WaterSome say beer is ‘water with feelings.’ Brewers around Burton-on-Trent in England would agree. The quality of their water made them the brewing capital of England and the home of classic bitter ales like Marston’s Pedigree. Today, technology makes it possible to replicate mineral content for a consistent brew in most parts of the world. Grain Brewing begins with malted grain. The grain is soaked and allowed to germinate to turn it into fermentable starch. It is then dried and roasted. Variations in roasting makes for beers of different colours and differences in flavour.Barley is the most commonly-used grain for malting. However, a few other grains may also find their way into your glass. Wheat imparts a quenching fruitiness and a foamy head. Malted or rolled oatmeal gives stout its silky smoothness. Rye makes a beer spicy, while rice and maize can lighten it.Hops These are the seasoning and spice in the barley meal! The resiny cones of this climbing plant act as preservative and flavouring agent. A master brewer chooses hops carefully to balance the sweetness of malt, lend aroma or make a brew more floral, citrusy or herbal.The most famous variety is the Bohemian Saaz.Yeast It is the catalyst that turns grain and water into beer. It ferments starch sugars to produce alcohol and carbon-dioxide. Lo and behold, it’s beer! Strains of yeast in famous beers are closely-guarded secrets.Other ingredients In addition to water, malt, hops and yeast, some brewers add surprises to their recipes for flavour and aroma. These can include honey, spices, herbs or fruit. Mostly beers fall into two categories — ale and lager. Lagers are usually recognizable by taste. Most are reasonably close to the original Pilsner with subtle differences. Try Warsteiner to taste a classic German Pilsner.Germany, with its long brewing history and its 500-year old Beer Purity Law, also offers you doppelbocks and eisenbocks, which are lager by the book but far from it on the palette. Paulaner Salvator, with its toffee-malt flavours, is one such example. In contrast, oriental beers like Tsingtao use rice as an adjunct, making for a crisp, grainy brew. Ale dates back further than lager and was probably the first kind of beer to be brewed. Over time, different regions developed their own traditions that went beyond brewing to glassware, serving styles and so on.Types Of BeerAleAbbey BeersThese fruity, full-bodied ales, like Leffe or Kappitel, are largely brewed in BelgiumBitter AleWell-hopped pale ale, mostly from England. Best Bitter or Premium Bitter refers to a stronger brewIndia Pale AleRefers to ales that were strongly-hopped to withstand long sea voyages to distant parts of the British EmpireOld AleRefers to dark, malty English ale, considered ‘winter warmers’. Eg: Robinson’s Old TomPorterThe working man's drink in 18th century London. Notably darker than other ales, it was a precursor to StoutStoutThink Irish. A dark, creamy style of ale, it’s flavour can range from milky to plummy to deep mochaWeisseThese pale-white, often cloudy, beers are as thirst-quenching as lager, but with all the flavour of ale. Eg: ErdingerTrappistRefers only to beers from the six Trappist monasteries of Belgium and one in the Netherlands. Eg: OrvalLagerPilsenerThe original lager. Pale malts used in the brewing process give it a pale to golden yellow colour. Eg: WarsteinerEuropean LagerThese are classic lagers. Nicely hopped, they use barley malt. Eg: Heineken, CarlsbergGerman LagerThere are different styles such as Bock which are stronger and more bitter and Helles which have a sweet malty tasteAmerican LagerModestly hopped compared to German lagers. Sometimes use rice or maize in addition to barley malt. Eg: BudweiserExplore these vastly varied styles, using all your senses.SeeHold the beer to light. Is it a clear gold? Does it resemble a smokey jewel? Or is it black as night?SwirlSwirl your beer gently in the glass to release aroma and nuance. Do you see bubbles rising slowly? Is the head high and cottony or like a veil of lace? SmellBreathe in through your nose and mouth. What do you smell? Warm bread? Clove? Fresh grass? Coffee? SipWhat does the taste remind you of? Honey? Chocolate? Lemonade? Spice? Does the beer feel silky or fizzy? Thick or thin? Light or rich?Every beer has a story — not just about aroma and flavour, but about time and events that shaped cultures. It is not possible for anyone to know everything there is to know about beer. But for the intrepid traveller, this world has many rich and rewarding journeys to offer. Cheers. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 16-06-2014)
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Less than nine months after opening the first hotel in Mumbai under its brand, Hong Kong luxury chain operator Shangri-La Asia handed the keys back to the owner.Now, US-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc is in talks with the same owner to take over management of the property under its St. Regis brand, people familiar with the matter said, part of a shake-out at the luxury segment of India's ailing hotel industry.Slowing economic growth and an oversupply of new hotels conceived during the boom years of 2006 and 2007 have led to falling room and occupancy rates in India, straining relationships between hotel owners and the global chains brought in to run them.But while some global operators are leaving, others like InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels Corp and Starwood are jumping in, using the now unbranded hotels to accelerate their expansion in a country they believe has long-term potential."More than half the future deals we are looking at are conversions in the four- and five-star category," said Dilip Puri, India head and regional vice president for South Asia at Starwood, which currently runs 38 hotels in India and plans to have 100 in operation or under construction by 2015.Puri declined to comment on Starwood's interest in the erstwhile Shangri-La. The hotel, now called the Palladium, is owned by mall developer Phoenix Mills Ltd and both the company and Shangri-La declined to comment on why the partnership ended.Shangri-La, however, appears to be betting big on mainland China: about half of the 27 hotels it plans to open, or are under construction, over the next two years will be in China, according to the company's website.Sleepless NightsSix years ago, a night at a luxury hotel in the Delhi region cost on average Rs 10,429 - about $259 at the time and on par with several five-star hotels in Singapore. Occupancy rates were an enviable 74 per cent, according to hospitality consultants HVS, as business travellers flocked to India, an economy that was then growing at nearly 10 per cent.Since then, economic growth has halved, reducing the flow of corporate guests who make up about 70 per cent of the business for five-star hotels in cities like Delhi and Mumbai.Average room rates in the capital region have also almost halved to around 6,850 rupees, while occupancy rates were 55 per cent, according to HVS. The declining economy, and revenues, have sparked a blame-game between hotel owners and operators, prompting the "reflagging" of several properties.Operators say the owners are demanding unrealistic returns after over-leveraging themselves, while owners say operators over-promised on performance."The relationship is breaking because somebody made a promise and the reality is far from the promise - both due to economic reasons and sometimes due to performance lapses," said Ashish Jakhanwala, chief executive of Samhi, an Indian firm that owns hotels.In It For The Long HaulGlobal players with long-term ambitions are encouraged by the prospects for India's hospitality sector, where revenues are expected to more than double to $36 billion by 2018 from $17 billion in 2008, according to research firm Technopak Advisors.Starwood is emerging as one of the more aggressive players in India. About 86 per cent of the company's pipeline of new rooms is outside the United States, mostly in Asia Pacific.India is currently Starwood's fourth-largest market by hotel numbers and by the end of next year, it will move up to third place, overtaking Canada. By building its brand domestically, Starwood also hopes to court the loyalty of Indians travelling abroad."This, we believe, is a huge opportunity for us... our growth and distribution in India therefore has a much larger strategic significance," said Starwood's Puri.Other operators are also expanding.Hilton, controlled by private equity giant Blackstone Group, exited a handful of properties in India last year while opening three new hotels. This month, it also announced plans to open its first Conrad hotel next year.Rival Hyatt, which runs 17 hotels in India and has 40 under development, is in advanced talks to manage a 228-room Delhi property that until the end of 2013 was a Hilton, according to people familiar with the matter.Dhruva Rathore, Hyatt's South Asia vice president of development, declined to comment on his company's interest in the former Hyatt, but said India was a key market."We actively seek conversion opportunities that fit within our brand portfolio and enhance our presence in key markets," he added.London-based InterContinental, which runs 18 hotels in India and aims to have 57 over the next four to five years, is also seeking to take over two hotels that were run by Hilton in New Delhi. Douglas Martell, InterContinental's vice president for operations in southwest Asia, said he was approached by the hotels' owner, Eros Group. Hilton declined to comment about the properties and Eros did not respond to requests for comment."They felt that the properties were not being maximised, their performance was not being maximised and would we be happy to take a look at them," said Martell, adding that reflagging will be a growth driver for the company in India."At the end of the day some people are going to feel that they just do not have the right brand on their hotel."(Reuters)
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