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Mumbai Screenplays Contest

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Mumbai Screenplays Contest

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Rock stars, maharajas, and heads of state have stayed at the landmark hotel that overlooks the Arabian Sea.

Mumbai Screenplays Contest

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Streets in the late evening, Bombay/Mumbai, India, 1994 As the sun sets over this busy Bombay/Mumbai intersection the buildings are bathed in a magical golden light. Working from top to bottom, the scene appears to increase in speed as we move downwards towards the main road. The river of taxis speeding to left and right serve as a striking counterpoint to the street life above.

The Taj Mahal Palace, a Mumbai landmark since 1903, is India’s most famous hotel and the very embodiment of opulence. A Victorian extravaganza that is an exotic mix of Moorish and Renaissance style, it gazes serenely over the Arabian Sea and has welcomed a host of luminaries, from maharajas to Mick Jagger.

Mumbai Screenplays Contest

Splendidly uniformed doormen usher locals and guests into the deliciously cool, gleaming, white-marbled interior of the elegant Palace Wing; the high floors of the 30-story Tower wing, built in 1972, offer views of the sea and the stately Gateway of India. The arched, harborside monument was built by the British to welcome King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 (the only visit to the Raj by a reigning monarch). It was also the point of departure when the last British colonialists left in 1948. From here, catch a breezy ferry ride for the 6-mile trip to Elephanta Island, where a complex of 6th- to 8th-century cave temples honoring the Hindu god Shiva are carved into the rocks. It is an excellent, leafy vantage point for a view of Mumbai’s skyscraper-studded skyline.

Mumbai Screenplays Contest

Decompress at the hotel’s Jiva Spa, with yoga, meditation, or any of the time-honored Indian holistic healing treatments that rejuvenate after a frenzied day of sightseeing. Join the stylish Mumbaikars (Mumbai residents) who come for high tea and desserts, like masala tea crème brûlée at the contemporary Sea Lounge or at the open-air Aquarius café overlooking the hotel’s legendary swimming pool. Or book dinner at one of the many fine restaurants, including Masala Kraft for all-time Mumbai favorites created at various cooking stations.

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Mumbai Screenplays Contest

The Taj Mahal Palace was built by J. N. Tata after, it is said, he was refused lodging at one of the city’s hotels because he was Indian. The Taj Group—a sliver of the massive Tata Group, in its fifth generation of stewardship—now owns more than 60 hotels in India and abroad. The Taj was the target of a devastating terrorist attack in November 2008, during which 31 guests and staff were killed and hundreds injured. Heavily damaged by fire, the hotel was repaired within the year. A simple plaque serves as a memorial to an event that succeeded in bringing the people of Mumbai closer together while securing the hotel a place of honor in their hearts.

Mumbai Screenplays Contest

Info: Tel 91/22-6665-3366; in the U.S., 866-969-1825; http://www.tajhotels.com. Cost: from $275; dinner at Masala Kraft $40. Best times: Oct–Mar for most pleasant weather; Feb for dance festival on Elephanta Island; Aug for Ganesh Chaturthi festival; Oct–Nov for Diwali (Festival of Lights) on Chowpatty Beach.

A Place of Extraordinary Peace Where Everyone Is Welcome
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The Golden Temple
Amritsar, Punjab, India
In the bustling city of Amritsar, India’s dazzling Harmandir Sahib, also called the Golden Temple, seems to float on an island in the middle of a serene lake whose name means “pool of nectar.” One of the country’s most beautiful buildings, the temple is the Sikh religion’s holiest shrine and one that welcomes everyone, irrespective of religion, race, or caste.

Construction of Harmandir Sahib began in 1574 on the site of the lake, which was believed to have healing powers, in order to house the book of holy scriptures. Since then, the three-story temple, connected by a man-made causeway, has seen many restorations and embellishments, including the addition of over 220 pounds of gold to cover the upper stories and an inverted, lotus-shaped dome in the 19th century. Signifying the importance of acceptance, the temple has open doors and balconies on all four sides, and the interiors are decorated with inlaid marble, carved woodwork embossed with gold and silver, and intricate mosaics. The atmosphere is both festive and serene. As with Muslims and Mecca, every Sikh hopes to visit the Golden Temple at least once in his life.

There is no organized worship, but during the day, the scriptures are chanted and hymns are sung from the Adi Granth (the Sikh Holy Book) beneath a jeweled canopy, while a small group of musicians plays an accompaniment. At night, thousands of worshippers line up for the Palki Sahib ceremony, when the holy book is returned on a palanquin to its resting spot.

No pilgrimage for Sikhs would be considered complete without a visit to the Langar, a giant communal dining hall run by volunteers, who feed more than 30,000 people daily for free—twice that during holidays. Stop by to experience the spirit of hospitality and equality that are central to Sikhism and that make a visit to Amritsar so special.

Where: 254 miles/410 km northwest of Delhi and 40 miles/64 km east of Lahore, Pakistan. Golden Temple: http://www.goldentempleamritsar.org. Where to stay: Ranjit’s Svaasa is a family-run boutique hotel in a 19th-century building. Tel 91/183-256-6618; http://www.svaasa.com. Cost: from $125. How: U.S.-based Asia Transpacific Journeys leads a 15-day trip through the Himalayas that includes Amritsar. Tel 800-642-2742 or 303-443-6789; http://www.asiatranspacific.com. Cost: $10,995. Originates in Delhi. When: Sep. Best times: Sunrise or late afternoon, when the golden domes are illuminated and reflected in the waters; Sep–Nov and Feb–Mar for pleasant weather; mid-Apr for the Sikh holy days, such as Vaisakhi.

Strictly for the Birds
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Keoladeo National Park
Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
White-throated kingfishers find sanctuary in Keoladeo.

Between the historic cities of Agra and Jaipur (see here and here) lies the diminutive Keoladeo Ghana National Park, aka the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It has the reputation of being India’s (and perhaps all of Asia’s) best avian sanctuary, especially during the winter months, when its marshland attracts staggering numbers of birds arriving from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China, Siberia, and Europe. More than 400 resident and migrant species, including egrets, storks, herons, and cormorants, build over 10,000 nests annually, with the highly endangered Siberian crane occasionally making an appearance. Previously the private duck-hunting grounds of the maharaja, the park includes a plaque giving testament to successful hunts from the recent past, including a day in 1938 when a British viceroy bagged 4,273 birds.

The 18-square-mile park is car-free, navigable only by bicycle, horse cart, or rickshaw. The latter is the best mode for the novice ornithologist, as the rickshaw pullers have been trained by park management and are quick to spot birds. Remember to look down as well; pythons, porcupines, mongooses, jackals, civets, wild boars, nilgais (Asia’s largest antelope), and the endangered jungle cat reside here too.

The nearby Bagh Hotel is set on 12 acres of 200-year-old gardens and has resident naturalists who delight birders with their knowledgeable presentations and who lead guided tours of the park.

Where: 34 miles/55 km west of Agra. Visitor info: Tel 91/564-422-2777. The Bagh: Tel 91/564-422-5415; http://www.thebagh.com. Cost: from $125. Best times: Oct–Feb (after monsoons) for migratory birds and Aug–Nov for resident birds; early mornings and evenings at sunset for greatest bird activity.

Where Royal Concubines Watched the World Go By
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Palace of Winds
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
The architect of the palace, with its many perforated balconies and crown-like shape, also planned Jaipur city.

Pink is the Rajput color of hospitality, and Jaipur, capital of the desert state of Rajasthan, is known as the “Pink City.” It is a worthy home for Hawa Mahal, the five-story, salmon-hued “palace of winds,” built in 1799 and adorned with delicate floral motifs and fronted with honeycomb windows. The upper two stories (of five in all) are really an elegant façade, just one room deep but pierced by 953 windows from which the Hindu ladies of the royal household in purdah (concealment from men) could enjoy the breeze while viewing state processions or the parade of everyday life in the Old City below. In the late-afternoon light, the sandstone palace takes on a special glow. The building is just around the corner from the rambling City Palace complex, an exotic blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture that still houses the former maharaja and his family on a high floor.

To escape the teeming carnival of street life, repair to the exquisite Oberoi Rajvilas hotel, just a few miles outside of town, where the fantasy of Rajasthan’s princely life lives on. This 32-acre oasis of exotic pavilions, pools, open courtyards, and fountains, with a pink fortress at its heart, looks like a royal village that has always been here, although it was actually built in 1997, the first of India’s new luxury hotels. Relax in one of the teak-floored, ultraluxe royal tents, and visit the spa for an Ayurvedic shirodhara treatment. For Jaipur’s real-deal princely homes—historic digs redolent of the days of the maharajas, where overnight guests are welcomed—stay at the Samode Palace Hotel, the Samode Haveli, the Taj Rambagh Palace (for information on these see here), or any of Udaipur’s opulent contenders such as the inimitable Taj Lake Palace .

Where: 162 miles/260 km from New Delhi. Oberoi Rajvilas: Tel 91/141-268-0101; in the U.S., 800-562-3764; http://www.oberoihotels.com. Cost: from $675. Best times: Sep–Mar for pleasant weather; sunrise and late afternoon, when the palace glows; late Feb or Mar for the festival of Holi; Jul–Aug for premonsoon Teej Festival, dedicated to the goddess Parvati.

‘Zootopia’: A delightful menagerie, with a worthwhile message

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‘Zootopia’: A delightful menagerie, with a worthwhile message


Sly fox Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) works with new police recruit Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) as they investigate a missing otter case in Disney’s “Zootopia.” (Walt Disney Animation )
Using animals to tell kid-friendly stories that dispense important life lessons is a practice as old as Aesop. But with “Zootopia,” a thoroughly engaging new film from Walt Disney Animation — a studio that knows a thing or two about cuddly, anthropomorphic critters — this familiar narrative approach gets a jolt of new, culturally relevant life. The idea that a cartoon starring an adorable bunny, a slippery fox and a shrew that does a halfway decent Marlon Brando impression might have something meaningful to say about race relations, especially in #BlackLivesMatter America, sounds pretty ridiculous.But it’s true.

The determined rabbit-protagonist of “Zootopia” is Judy Hopps (enthusiastically voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin of “Once Upon a Time”). Having longed to be a police officer, Judy finally gets the chance, thanks to a “mammal-inclusion effort” focused on recruiting cops of diverse backgrounds. After she is assigned to the downtown precinct in Zootopia, a vibrantly realized metropolis whose neighborhoods range from the miniaturized Little Rodentia to the lush Rainforest District, Judy shows up for work bright-eyed, quite literally bushy-tailed and ready to start upholding the law. But when she’s stuck in a demoralizing stint issuing parking tickets, she realizes that being an officer is going to be more messy than imagined. Among other things, she’ll have to overcome unfair preconceptions about her abilities, forge a tentative partnership with that untrustworthy fox (voiced, with perfect slyness, by Jason Bateman) and investigate a missing-otter case that uncovers the institutional biases and political corruption lurking beneath Zootopia’s surface.

The genius of “Zootopia” is that it works on two levels: It’s a timely and clever examination of the prejudices endemic to society, and also an entertaining, funny adventure about furry creatures engaged in solving a mystery. The adults in the audience may see connections between Judy’s initial belief that predators are genetically designed to turn savage and the misguided assumptions some human cops make in real life. Younger audience members, on the other hand, will be busy giggling and gawking at the rich, colorful animalscape that directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore, along with their co-director Jared Bush, have brought to the screen.

From the flotilla of tiny financial experts who stream out of Lemming Brothers Bank to the eye-popping train ride through the terrains of Zootopia to that mob-boss shrew (who looks and sounds a lot like the title character in “The Godfather”), there’s an attention to inspired detail here that’s very much in keeping with the standards set by Disney and its cousin, Pixar. Some of the set pieces — most notably a visit to a DMV staffed entirely by slow-moving sloths — are as hilarious and deftly paced as anything you might find in a live-action comedy.

In short, “Zootopia” is the best animated film of the year, as well as one that conveys a message rarely heard in movies for children: Getting exactly what you hoped for isn’t the end of the journey. It’s just the beginning of the hard work of becoming the best, most open-minded bunny you can be.

PG. At area theaters. Contains rude humor, action and some mature thematic elements. 109 minutes.

Epcot: Landscaping

Epcot: Landscaping

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Morgan “Bill” Evans was the original landscape architect for both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom (and the surrounding resort area). About landscaping Epcot, he stated:

Epcot Center is going to be a tougher assignment than the Magic Kingdom. We’re trying to create a typical landscape from foreign nations. We’re trying to show trees typical of Japan, Canada, Mexico, and China. We have France, England, Italy, and Germany.

Japan and China are particularly fascinating. There will be Chianthus Petusa, a Chinese fringe tree that is covered with white blossoms; the Japanese pagoda tree; the Chinese scholar tree; and the Japanese black pine, which looks like a giant Bonsai.

For the China Pavilion, Tony Virginia, the director of horticulture for Walt Disney World, acquired a hundred-year-old weeping mulberry he had found in New Jersey. The tree was fifteen-feet tall and very wide and distorted—the “look” sought for the area.

The tree was prepared for the long trip south using a procedure known as B & B, or ball and burlap. The root ball was held together with burlap. The tree was laid on its side aboard a flat-bed trailer. Trees as large as twenty-five-foot flowering pears from New Jersey had already been moved to Walt Disney World.

Some of the largest trees at Epcot (30–35 foot oaks) had to be transported vertically, aboard flat-bed trailers at Preview Boulevard at Lake Buena Vista (where they had been grown from saplings) and moved to a temporary holding area in the Epcot Center parking lot.

Routes were selected to avoid overhead wires, highway overpasses, and monorail beams (generally sixteen to eighteen feet above the ground on the route originally planned to move the trees). A permanent road avoiding the monorail was built.

While attempts were made to use trees authentic to the different countries, sometimes “look-alikes” had to be used to achieve the right appearance. Hemlock is a tree common to Canada and would be necessary to create an authentic landscape, but hemlocks would not survive in central Florida. “They need cold, cold winter weather, and they don’t like humidity,” stated Virginia.

Instead, Disney substituted Cedrus Deodora, a cedar native to the Himalayas that looked similar to the hemlock, but had the advantage of being able to thrive in central Florida.

Roughly 12,500 trees representing 125 species, over 100,000 shrubs of 250 species, 14 acres of Emerald Zoysia grass, and over three acres of annual flowers were planted for the opening of Epcot Center.

“And I won’t tell you how much Argentina Bahia sod,” said Virginia. That drought-resistant grass was used extensively “wherever we haven’t installed irrigation”.

Annuals, which normally last 45 days before replacement, began to be planted during mid-September 1982. Most of the annuals were planted in Future World, including 40,000 square feet of hillside beds at the Land pavilion. In total, 3.5 acres of annuals (over 40,000 plants) were planted before the park opened.

In the World Showcase Lagoon, on what was then known as “the islands of the world”, slash pines predominated among a half-dozen island tree varieties so that it would “look like Florida woods—like we just carved it out”, stated Bill Coan, the project landscape architect.

Morgan Evans recalled:

It doesn’t make any difference how carefully you contrive the planning or how good the material is or how efficiently it is all installed. The whole thing depends on maintenance and Walt Disney World is doing a first-class job. Walt Disney believed people would know the difference between good landscaping and bad landscaping and [Disney] is the best.