Dance is much more than mere entertainment. It interweaves the cerebral, physical and emotional, and is a means of thinking and en-gaging with complex ideas. While entertainment is the primary motive in the commercial world of dance, as an intellectual kinaesthetic it dives into the unknown us-ing inherent connections to delve deeper into new ways of reflecting on the world.
This goes beyond physical capacity, and enables us to think critically as well as take action with our bodies. Dance engages both the per-formers and audience at an intellectual level while also providing entertainment.
Soak the pad thai noodles in a bowl. Start preparing the pad thai sauce by boiling the tamarind pulp and tomato sauce for five minutes. Add sugar, salt and chopped fried onions to the concoction, and simmer for five more minutes.
While the sauce cools, pour the vegetable oil into a wok along with two eggs and stir fry for a few seconds. Add the seafood (prawns and cuttlefish) and continue stir frying for about three minutes. Then add the soaked noodles, bean sprouts, chopped spring onions and a teaspoon of salt, and cook for a few more minutes.
Travel can be an enriching experience, which leaves you with memories that evoke joy and wonder years after your trip. But have you no-ticed how many people go through their holiday on autopilot – shuffling uninterestedly from one site to another, taking mandatory selfies and generally having a very ordinary time? So here’s how you can put ‘extraordinary’ back into your travels!
Though the name of Central Africa’s Rwanda evokes me-mories of a shocking genocide in 1994, its 12 million strong population has decided to reconcile them-selves to the past and transform their tiny landlocked settlement into one of the most progressive nations on the continent. This magical transformation encourages over a million visitors to visit Rwanda annually and enjoy the land’s natural assets. These range from countless thickly forested undulating hills, volcanic mountain ranges, lush green tea plantations, streaming rivers and expansive lakes, to sprawling national parks teeming with wildlife – the most celebrated species of which are the rare mountain gorillas.
And one of the best places to seek some solace would be on Sri Lanka’s widening railway system: for travel is therapeutic. Quite a lot has been essayed of late about the iconic Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara. So I won’t waste any ink here that’s been spilled over that and there already. But suffice it to say that this ingenious viaduct in the vicinity of touristy Ella – a veritable ‘bridge across the sky’ with nothing to suspend it but the engineering genius of colonial era Ceylonese constructors – stands testament to creativity with ce-ment, stone and brinks; but not steel, which was evidently in short supply in the time of a Great War (1914-1918).
Lotus is synonymous with racing cars and it came out with an amazing vehicle in the 1960s. It showcased such smooth handling and racy styl-ing, combined with raw and powerful performance, that drivers felt they were behind the wheel of a formula machine.
Enter the red-hot Lotus Elan, initially designed and released by Lotus Cars in 1962. In the mid-1950s, the company obtained the expertise of Ron Hickman who was famous for inventing the WorkMate® for Black & Decker.
Finally, here we are entering a new decade – and so a very Happy New Year to you all! The period immediately before the new year and soon after it has dawned is not always easy for everyone.
We remember our friends and family who have left us, and also the good times we enjoyed during the year. It’s also a time when we de-cide to adopt good practices and draw up a list of resolutions that we hope to keep in the days to come.
So before launching into possibly another tough year, why not plan a holiday that’ll help you relax after the gruelling stresses of the past year? You can then reflect on your resolutions before resuming your journey with renewed purpose and vigour. Here are some ideal loca-tions for such a holiday.
When someone mentions Greece, and you picture the bluest seas and tiny villages stacked like Lego blocks on top of each other, you’re spot on. While most of the main Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos are crowded with holidaymakers, Paros is a relatively laid-back option. So to experience the Greek flavour but not be overwhelmed by teeming masses, this island should be your first choice.
WHERE TO STAY While many may suggest setting up base in Paros’ thriving capital Parikia, we recommend the cosier village of Naoussa. The tiny lanes with their curious assortment of shops make for a great romantic stroll especially with serenading street musicians at every corner. Grab a gelato or coffee and catch the sunset at the port. You’ll not be disappointed.