Top 10 hotels and resorts in the world

The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, located in Maldives is now known as the second best hotel in the world according to a recent survey conducted by Conde Nast Traveler.
The hotel was classified under the top 100 hotels and resorts in the world category for the Readers Choice Award, conducted by Conde Nast Traveler.  It was awarded the second position while Qualia, Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef grabbed the first.

1. Qualia

Qualia is located in Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef and scored the top spot on the list. The hotel is a special place with its sun-drenched location and the intuitive service makes it a luxurious resort on world-class standards.Readers’ Choice Rating: 100.0
Room: 100
Service: 100
Food: 100
Location: 100
Design: 100
Activities: 100

 

 

2. Taj Exotica Resort and Spa

Located in Maldives, the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa is ranked at number two on the list. It is an exclusive, private and romantic island resort encircled by clear blue waters of serene lagoon and lush with tropical plants.Readers’ Choice Rating: 99.6
Room: 100
Service: 100
Food: 100
Location: 100
Design: 100
Activities: 97.5
 

3. Kauri Cliffs

Kauri Cliffs which is located in Northland, New Zealand is the third best hotel in the world according to the ranking. While the main lodge overlooks the golf course, Pacific Ocean, Cape Brett and the offshore Cavalli Islands, the hotel’s luxury spa is nestled at the edge of a Totara forest and overlooks a verdant fern glen and winding stream.

Readers’ Choice Rating: 99.2

Room: 100

Service: 100

Food: 100

Location: 95.2

Design: 100

4. Caesar Augustus

Located in Capri, Italy, Caesar Augustus is classified as one of the best hotels in the world and is ranked at number four. Apart from offering one of the most spectacular vistas on the isle of Capri, the hotel views include breathtaking scenery of Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento, Ischia, and unique scenes of the island.Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.6
Room: 100
Service: 98.8
Food: 97.6
Location: 95.2
Design: 98.8
Activities: 96.4
 

5. Palazzo Avino

Palazzo Avino is located on Italy's famed Amalfi coast and is considered to be the fifth best hotel in the world. Tucked away in the medieval hilltop village of Ravello and perched high on the cliffs, the hotel overlooks some of the coast's most picturesque fishing villages.Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.5
Room: 100
Service: 96.3
Food: 96.3
Location: 100
Design: 100

6. Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

Located in Kruger National Park, South Africa, the Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve is the sixth best hotel in the world. The hotel attracts visitors from all over the world for its unique safari experience. The hotel is known for its distinct characters and atmospheres - those of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.3
Room: 97.9
Service: 100
Food: 97.9
Location: 100
Design: 97.9
Activities: 95.7
 

7. Peninsula House

Hotel Peninsula House is located in Las Terrenas, a town in the Samaná province of the Dominican Republic and awarded as the seventh best hotel in the world. With simple luxuries, grand gestures, the bouquet of a fine wine, a game of chess in the garden and unobtrusive service, this hotel is a place for discerning travelers.Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.2
Room: 100
Service: 100
Food: 97.0
Location: 97.0
Design: 97.0

8. La Villa Gallici

Located in Aix-en-Provence, France the Villa Gallici is on the eight spot for the nest hotels in the world. The hotel is richly furnished with French and sumptuous fabric creates an environment which proves that every experience has a charm of its own. Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.2
Room: 100
Service: 100
Food: 100
Location: 95.5
Design: 95.5

9. Four Seasons Resort

Four Seasons Resort is located on the Bora Bora Island and is listed as the ninth best hotel in the world. The hotel is wrapped by majestic views and is surrounded by sand-fringed islets on an outer coral reef that enclose a turquoise lagoon.Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.1
Room: 100
Service: 100
Food: 92.3
Location: 100
Design: 100
Activities: 96.2
 

10. Perivolas

Located in Santorini, Greece, the Perivolas Hotel is the tenth best hotel in the world according to the Conde Nast Traveler survey. This charming and intimate hotel is the perfect place to relax and enjoy elegant simplicity of island living.Readers’ Choice Rating: 98.1
Room: 98.3
Service: 100
Food: 95.8
Location: 100
Design: 98.3
Activities: 95.7

 

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India’s Famous 15 cities

A large skilled labour force, growth in manufacturing sectors and considerable foreign investments rank India as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The economic growth rate of the country is at 6.5% for 2011-12 and the CIA World Factbook estimated the GDP of India to be $4463 billion derived from purchasing power parity as of 2011.

1. Mumbai
India’s economic powerhouse, Mumbai not only contributes the highest GDP of $209 billion but is also responsible for 25% of industrial output, 70% of maritime trade in India and 70% of capital transactions to the nation’s economy.Known as the industrial hub of India, the city operates sectors from textiles to petrochemicals and serves as the headquarters for many companies. Important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India occupy the land of Mumbai.
The city houses around 14 million people from various backgrounds. This metropolitan city has beautiful colonial architecture, double-decker buses and suburban rail system which carry about 2.2 billion passengers every year.

2. Delhi

The national capital contributes the second highest GDP of $167 billion. With a large consumer market, the city has been successful in attracting foreign direct investments.Delhi is known for its fastest growing retail industries and the city’s economy consists of integral sectors like construction, power, telecommunications, health and community services and real estate.Delhi has a population of 16.3 million as of 2011. This metropolitan city has a large expatriate population in the country.Considered as one of the biggest commercial center in South Asia, Delhi’s transport system includes buses, auto rickshaws and metro rail.

 

 3. Kolkata

The capital of West Bengal, Kolkata contributes a GDP of about $150 billion after the highest from Mumbai and Delhi. This city houses many industrial units and steel, mining, cement, pharmaceuticals, food processing, agriculture, textiles and jute are the major sectors responsible for economic growth.

The city is one of the important financial hubs of East and North-East India and houses the Calcutta Stock Exchange.
The city has around 4.5 million residents and attracts many tourists for its stunning architecture.
Kolkata is the only city in eastern India to have an international airport. Cycle rickshaws and metro rail has plays an important role in the city’s transport system.

4. Bangalore

The garden city of India contributes GDP of $83 billion. It is popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India as many information technology companies are set up in the city.Many reputed corporate companies like Wipro and Infosys and several public undertakings like Indian Space Research Organisation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited are headquartered in the city. It also considered a hub for the biotechnology sector.
With an estimated population of 8.5 million, the city is the third largest in terms of high net worth individuals. Bangalore is a multicultural city where people flock in and out for its pleasant climate and various tourist attractions.
The city’s transport system includes buses, taxis, autos and metro and the transport infrastructure business however, has major scope for growth.

5. Hyderabad

The capital of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad contributes a GDP of about $74 billion. Information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries are the main sectors which contribute to its economic growth.The city has the highest number of special economic zones among all the cities in the country.
Hyderabad has a large informal economy that employs 30% of the labour force. It is known for its Genome Valley and other technology parks.
The city has a population of 6.8 million and is noted for its unique culture. It is a tourist destination for many interesting monuments, museums and bazaars.
As a hub for education and research, this city has about 13 universities and business schools. It is also known for the development of a township with technological infrastructure.

6. Chennai

The capital of Tamil Nadu contributes a GDP of $66 billion. The city is considered as the country’s second largest exporter of information technology and business process outsourcing services. The automobile sector is based in the city is the backbone of the economy.

Automobile, computer, technology, hardware manufacturing and healthcare sectors includes Chennai’s major business activities. The city is a host to many textile manufacturers and the Southern suburb of the city acts as a special economic zone to manufacture apparel and footwear.
This fourth largest metropolitan city in the country has a population of 8.9 million people.
Chennai is sometimes referred to as the city of flyovers because this city has the highest number of flyovers in India.
 

7. Ahmedbad

This largest industrial hub in Gujarat contributes a GDP of about $64 billion. The city is a home for the developing textile and garment industry.Ahmedabad houses two of the largest pharmaceutical companies of India—Zydus Cadila and Torrent Pharmaceuticals and headquarters other important companies like Nirma and Adani Group. The automobile sector plays an important role in the city’s economy.
Ahmedabad has a population of more than 5.5 million and is credited for its architecture, gardens and parks. It is one of the fastest growing cities in India with improved systems of portable water and electricity.
 

8. Pune

The second largest city of Maharashtra, Pune contributes a GDP of $48 billion. Although Pune is known for its educational facilities, the city has developed its manufacturing, glass, sugar and forging industries. Other prominent industries in the city are the automotive and information technology sectors.The city accommodates automotive companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes Benz, Force Motors (Firodia-Group), Kinetic Motors to automotive component manufacturers like Saint-Gobain Sekurit, TATA Autocomp Systems Limited, Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Visteon, and Continental Corporation are located here.
According to the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, Pune has been the single largest hub for German companies for the last 60 years.
It has a population of more than 4 million and takes its cultural activities very seriously.
 

9. Surat

The well developed commercial city of Gujarat, Surat has contributed a GDP of $40 billion. The city is popularly known as the diamond capital of the world and the textile capital of India.Diamond studded gold jewelry and real estate is the new emerging businesses in the city and 92% of the world's diamonds are cut and polished in Surat. Steel, petrochemical and jari manufacturing are among other major industries contributing to the economy.
Apart from having the highest number of embroidery machines in the country, 40% of India’s art silk is manufactured in Surat. The city has a population of more than 4.6 million.
Surat’s infrastructure includes a computerised water distribution system and computerised drainage system.
 

10. Visakhapatnam

The industrial city, Visakhapatnam has contributed a GDP of $26 billion. The city is home for various state owned heavy industries and a steel plants.Apart from accommodating various international information technologies and banking firms, the city is a hub for iron ore and other minerals which are exported to China and other countries. The fishing and real estate industry has seen a tremendous growth.
The city has a population of over 1 million. It is appreciated for its natural beauty and described as the land of destiny.
 

11. Jaipur

The largest city of Rajasthan, Jaipur has contributed a GDP of $24 billion. The city pays importance to both traditional and modern industries. It is a large exporter of stone, diamond and gold jewelry in Asia.Emerging as one of the main global outsourcing cities, Jaipur is projected to become a hub for modern business development in the coming years.
Jaipur has a population of about 3.1 million. It is popularly known as the Paris of India and The Pink City. The city has remarkable architecture with pre-modern infrastructure.
 

12. Lucknow

The capital city of Uttar Pradesh has contributed a GDP of $22 billion. Aerospace, pharmaceuticals, technology, design and tourism are some of the important industries supporting the city’s financial system.Information technology, manufacturing and processing is the backbone of the economy. It is also considered as a potential in the handicraft sector and accounts for about 60% of the total exports of the state.
It has a population of about 2.5 million. It is known as a multicultural city which has prospered as the artistic capital of North India. The cityscape was heavily influenced by several emperors and the city portrays its natural charm.

13. Nagpur

The winter capital of Maharashtra has contributed a GDP of $15.1 billion. It is a major trade center for oranges which are cultivated in the city.The banking sector and food manufacturing sectors are important to the city in terms of finance. It is also considered a major commercial and political center of Maharashtra.
Nagpur is the headquarters for national level scientific and governmental establishments. It is also the home of National Academy of Direct Taxes. Nagpur has a population of 2.5 million. It is recorded as the third largest city of Maharashtra. The city is administered by Nagpur Municipal Corporation and plays a host to cultural events throughout the year.

 

14. Indore

The commercial capital and the largest city of Madhya Pradesh, has contributed a GDP of $14 billion. Automobile, pharmaceutical, software, retail, textile trading and real estate are some of the major industrial sectors of the city. Several IT sectors also present in the city.Indore has a population of approximately 2.3 million. It is the only city which has both an Indian Institute of Management and an Indian Institute of Technology.
Indore’s local transport system includes buses and radio taxis. However, the metro taxi service of Indore is supposed to be best in India. It includes the Government run Maruti Suzuki SX4 Cars, which are GPS enabled and air conditioned.
 

15. Patna

Patna has the highest GDP of $10.5 billion in Bihar. The city has seen a sustained economic growth and agriculture is the backbone of the economy.The city is an important center for trade and its most active exports includes grains, sugarcane and sesame. Along with green revolution businesses, Patna has one of the fastest moving consumer goods industry and service industry.
This city has a population which estimates over 1.6 million. While tourists visiting the city accounted for 41% of the total for Bihar, the cultural heritage of Patna has attracted many tourists into the city.

 

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Global cities set for population

Indian cities Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata will be among the world’s largest urban agglomeration by population in 2025, according to the United Nations projections. According to the report Tokyo is currently the largest urban agglomeration with the highest population in the world.

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Costliest hurricanes in U.S. history

Superstorm Sandy has churned its way into the United States of America, interrupting their daily life. The storm was known to have hurled like a monster before it was downgraded as a Superstorm Sandy from Hurricane Sandy.

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Storm of anti-Obama text messages linked to Virginia firm

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A controversial Virginia marketing and polling firm appears to have used a legal loophole to bombard scores of Americans with unsolicited text messages berating President Barack Obama less than a week before Election Day.

More than a dozen different messages landed on the screens of phone users late on Tuesday, originating from mysterious websites instead of phone numbers. They attacked Obama and Democrats on a variety of issues such as abortion, foreign policy, same-sex marriage and taxation.
The domain names of those websites had been registered with GoDaddy.com through a firm that masks original owners.
On Wednesday, Reuters compiled a list of at least nine websites gathered from reporters who received the political text messages. A review of websites that track domain name registrations revealed that three of the nine websites that sent the messages were registered by Jason Flanary. Those sites had been suspended for spam and abuse.
An email for Jason Flanary indicated he works for ccAdvertising, a division of FreeEats.com Inc. Neither Flanary or the firm returned requests for comment.
CcAdvertising's website says: "All ccAdvertising services are compliant with all Do Not Call regulations and exceptions."
Based in Centreville, Virginia, ccAdvertising is a firm that has represented Republican candidates. It has been fined, sued and pursued for aggressive political pushes that state authorities and private parties have argued violate laws against robo-calls and other types of automated phone contact.
It remains unclear who may have paid for the latest wave of messages and how many people received them.
"If re-elected, Obama will use taxpayer money to fund abortion. Don't let this happen," read one of the messages, which were sent out on Tuesday. "Medicare goes bankrupt in 4000 days while Obama plays politics with senior health," read another.
In 2011, Flanary unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for state Senate in Virginia, and his company was sued in Fairfax County, for allegedly unleashing thousands of spam texts in the last days of campaigning.
Federal law generally prohibits sending text messages to phone users who did not give prior consent, but does not specifically address non-commercial messages that originate as email, which includes political ones.
That is how ccAdvertising appears to get around the law: Each phone number by default has an attached email address. The spammer can spray emails to those addresses through trial and error. That way the message goes through as an email but appears to the receiver as a text message and, in fact, can cost consumers money if they do not have unlimited data plans.
ccAdvertising and its work are used as an example in a petition to the Federal Communications Commission to specify a ban on spam email-to-text messages, filed earlier this year by Democratic firm Revolution Messaging.
"The FCC makes exemptions for people to be able to send email for political causes, but let's be honest, just because you're adding an email extension and using an email gateway, you still have to find a phone number," said Scott Goodstein, who runs Revolution Messaging.
Goodstein believes that ccAdvertising has been behind political text spam waves in several states this year.
ccAdvertising lists a variety of political and corporate clients on its website, including Americans for Tax Reform, a non-profit run by anti-tax Republican Grover Norquist.
"Americans for Tax Reform has never done this type of unsolicited text messaging with ccAdvertising or any other vendor, and we never will," said spokesman John Kartch, adding that the group has not done business with ccAdvertising "for more than a year" and, in fact, actively opposed Flanary in his state Senate bid.
The FCC and major phone carriers including Verizon and T-Mobile have encouraged users to report spam messages, which can be done by forwarding them to a short phone number 7726 (spells "SPAM").

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Most annoying habits of women

Nothing compares to the sensuous, seductive caress of a woman; that perfume that gets you heady; the way their soft hands feel in yours; the way those soft, luscious lips feel on your cheeks; the way that fabric hugs their figure.

There is nothing that beats it. They have to simply walk past us in those shiny heels to get us swooning and sighing. It doesn't take much for them to floor us.
But we all know how despite being God's most wonderful creation, they can get to us with those annoying habits of theirs. Those habits that make us tear our hair out. If only women would get rid of these, we will have nothing to complain about, ever. Here are some of them:

1. It's nothing

When in the middle of a sentence, you stop short and say, "I wanted to tell you something, but never mind, it's nothing", we immediately get danger signs popping up left and right. Here's what you actually come across as saying.
a) I don't think you're capable enough of understanding what I was going to say
b) I don't want to share this information with you, I'd rather do it with someone else
c) I have other important things to do, so goodbye.

2. Yap, yap, yap

God, can you women folk talk! We're perfectly okay as long as you're yapping away with your girlfriends. We don't know where you find endless things to talk about, but, we're sorry, we cannot spend five hours on the phone with you. It not only heats up our ears, it sort of nibbles at our brains. If only you'd shut up and listen to us every now and then. Whoever said you're good listeners? You're only just waiting to start off with your story the moment there is a second's silence in the conversation.

3. I don't know you

"You know everything about me, but I hardly know a thing about you," is your common grouse. Now whose fault is that? Did we ask you to tell us every damn thing about your life? Did we come and ask you about every family member in your family and their quirks? If you voluntarily offer information, it is not mandatory, we do the same. And if you think you don't know us, place a hot seat and shoot with the questions, as long as it comes with a guarantee for some action by the end of it.

4. Waterworks

When you bring out the waterworks, that's when you really get to us. Is there a reason you cry at the bat of an eyelid? Do you have a tap up there somewhere, which is at your beck and call? What is it with you women? Do you have to cry for every little thing? You know how to use it well though, because you use it to induce guilt; you use to win arguments; you use it to tilt us to your way of thinking.

5. This or that?

You will hover over something for eternity: this dress or that? Pasta or lasagna? Red shoes or blue ones? God, just pick up a damn thing and get over with it, will you? We don't have the patience until you match every piece of your outfit a million times and just when it seems to be coming together, change your mind and star all over again. We don't really care after a point of time. Yes, we want you to look your best, but we can't wait forever for you to make up your mind.

6. Hairy Harry

I know it is really hard for women. You have to do so much to look good for the men in your life. So much maintenance. I know all of that. But unfortunately that's how it is. We love you for a reason. And when at times there is hair on your upper lips or on your chin, it puts us off. Like you have expectations of us: chivalry, commitment, humor, sensitivity, hygiene etc, we too have certain expectations of you. And don't try to bleach your hair because it's not the colour of your hair that's the problem, it's the hair.

7. Meddlesome monkey

We also don't like the fact you interfere in everything we do: our hairstyle to our clothes to our drinking to the way we talk, walk, the channels we watch etc. Always remember, you chose us for a reason, so why try and change us now? So, please back off and give us some breathing room.

8. Tell us what to say

If you cook something and you ask us for our opinion, we are instantly in trouble. If we say it is good, you say we’re saying it for the heck of it. If we say it’s not so good, you will say we are insensitive and mean. If we say it lacks seasoning, you will make a face and tell us to take charge of the kitchen. Same goes with everything else: from the dresses you chose to something you paint or write or sing or whatever it is. Whatever we say, we are in trouble anyway, so you might as well give us a list of acceptable comments that we shall always follow.

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Worst Superstorm Sandy

Sand is seen covering the front steps and door of a beach front home, as part of the damage caused from Hurricane Sandy in Bay Head, New Jersey, November 1, 2012. At least 82 people in North America died in the superstorm, which ravaged the northeastern United States on Monday night, and officials said the count could climb higher as rescuers searched house-to-house through coastal towns. REUTERS/Adam Hunger.

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