More Images From Aero India 2009 at Bangalore

- Reuters Photos

Aero India 2009 Day 1 Pictures

Aero India, South Asia's biggest air show opened here on Wednesday with firms from 25 countries showcasing their latest hardware in a chase for multi-billion dollar contracts with the Indian military.

Also Visit:
A Look at New MiG-29K Fighter Planes Inducted Into Indian Navy

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Surya Kiran aerobatic team display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.

Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran aerobatics team performs during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 in Bangalore.

A Saras display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airforce station on the outskirts of Bangalore.

A Sarang helicopter display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009.

A Sarang helicopter display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore


A Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009

Paratroopers perform during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.

Members of the Indian Air Force Band take photographs of aircraft displays during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at the Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.


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Google Mobile Internet Bus Launched in India

The Internet Bus Project is an attempt educate people about what the Internet is, and how it may be beneficial to their lives, by taking the Internet experience to them through a customised Internet-enabled bus, which will travel to several towns and cities across India.

This very unique initiative is launched by Google India to educate the offline population in India about the benefits of Internet.

It is a web connected bus that will travel to different cities of India giving people an opportunity to experience the Internet first hand through the various computers installed inside the bus.

The Internet Bus website is http://google.co.in/internetbus. Here you can see the exact itinerary of the bus or check out Picasa - http://picasaweb.google.com/internetbusindia/ for more photos of this Internet bus.

The bus was flagged from Chennai and will cover most cities in the state of Tamil Nadu over the next six weeks. Prem Ramaswami & Srikanth Belwadi of Google India say that the bus will showcase Internet services like search, email, social networking, maps and others.

Rashtrapati Bhawan Glitters After Dusk On Indian Republic Day

Dome's day - Rashtrapati Bhawan glitters after dusk on Indian Republic Day (26th January 2009)

Sweden’s Ice Hotel Created in Winter, Melts to The Ground by Summer

Hundreds of couples marry in Sweden’s Ice Hotel every year; the 91-room structure, created in winter, melts to the ground by summer

SWEDEN: The temperatures are sub-zero, the walls are covered with snow, there are no doors or bathrooms.

Every bit of furniture, even the crockery, is carved out of ice.
The Jukkasjaervi Ice Hotel is expected to host over 150 weddings before the summer, when it will melt back into the river.

Every year just as winter begins, a team of snow builders, architects and artists from across the world gather at Jukkasjaervi, a small town far north of the Arctic Circle.

The hotel is created over a 6,000 sq m area using ice from the nearby Torne River, and stands from December to April.

The hotel also has a tiny chapel where, just as in the rooms, the temperature is minus five degrees Celsius.

Yet hundreds of couples brave the chill to have a memorable ceremony. They’re brought into the chapel in sleighs pulled by reindeer.

The food at the reception is served in bowls carved out of ice as the couples raise a toast using ice glasses.

That’s one well-iced cake!

Bush Twins Advise Obama's Girls

Barack Obama's Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama at the inauguration

WASHINGTON: Just in time for move-in day, the Bush twins offered their best advice Tuesday to Sasha and Malia Obama on living in a "magical place" called the White House.In an open letter to the Obama kids, 27-year-olds Barbara and Jenna Bush advised the girls to relish it all — to "go to anything and everything you possibly can"."Just go," they wrote in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal. "Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!"

The twins reminisced about their favourite memories of the White House, and gave plenty of specific advice, too, to seven-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia:

>>Surround yourselves with loyal friends.
>>Trick-or-treat down the plane aisle if you're travelling on Halloween.
>>Cherish your pets "because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide."
>>And this: "Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play."

Daddy's the best

The twins turned serious at the end, recalling how the public image of their own father got distorted over the years.

"He is our father, not the sketch in the paper or part of a skit on TV," they wrote.
As for the Obama girls' dad, they added, "Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is."

Barack Hussein Obama Was on Tuesday Sworn in as America's 44th President

Obama is administered the oath of office as the 44th US President by Chief Justice John Roberts with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha by his side.

Barack Hussein Obama was on Tuesday sworn in as America's 44th President, bringing a message of hope to a nation hungry for change after eight years of George W Bush regime.
The 47-year-old first African-American to enter to the White House, Obama was sworn in by the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts at noon at the Capitol Hill.

Anil Ambani, A Regular At The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon

Some things never change. Anil Ambani, a regular at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, is seen here practising on Saturday (18th Jan 2009) morning at Marine Drive

Circus Arts in Goa Had Performers From Across the World Participate in InJuCo

Circus arts gained centrestage in Goa last week as performers from across the world participated in InJuCo, the Indian Juggling Convention, started by a German national in India

The moment you step into InJuCo you realise you've stepped into a whole new world that isn't anything like the one we've been living in all these years. People are artists, work is play and smiling, a way of being. For those who don't know what InJuCo is, it's short for the Indian Juggling Convention that took place in Goa all of last week. And for those who don't know what a Juggling Convention is, well, it's time you quit your job, join in and find out for yourself. I did!

At first, you maybe blinded by the dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings all around but once you get over that you'll start noticing the real essence behind all this hippy-ness. Simply put, it's a space where artists — jugglers, acrobats, fire dancers, staff and poi spinners, clowns, street artists, healers and musicians — come together to showcase their talent, develop their skills and selflessly share their magic with all those around. This is addiction taken to a whole different level. They practise relentlessly, from morning to night. There are times when the hoola refuses to spin anymore, the staff knocks the spinner hard on the head and the three colourful balls fall straight to the floor after their many-attempted flights of fantasy — but the artist doesn't stop. He's at it from morning to night. You'll always see a ball balancing on a juggler's head and a pen rotating between a staff spinner's fingers — be it when he's eating a meal, indulging in conversation or just sitting idle. Their art has not only become part of their lives but part of themselves as well.

"India needed a space for artists to come together. That's what InJuCo is all about. A space where artists meet, explore and exchange ideas," says Tom Heine, a German national who started InJuCo last year for the first time in India. "What I like most about conventions are the innocent child-like smiles on each face. We sometimes forget how important it is to play. And what could be better than learning to master your game from some of the best artists of the world."

It may seem like a completely international event with just a handful of local participants, which isn't much of a surprise as circus arts has not really been the most popular thing we've seen while growing up. But it's interesting to notice that one of the key organisers of the event, Lata Seth, 27, is an Indian, born and brought up in Pune. She has been performing for over 10 years, in India and internationally, and attends as many international conventions as she can in a year. "Performing, for me, is meditative. It takes care of my physical and emotional well-being," says Lata. "While practising you don't think as you have to be focused and that helps you to always live in the present."

The convention is a completely non-profit event. The artists conduct workshops for free. Every evening sees hair-raising performances, which are also free. And the core team works voluntarily to organise the convention. "It's all about your love for the arts and selfless giving. Internationally renowned artists come here, but not for the money, just for the pleasure of teaching, of passing on the magic," says Lata.

Last year the proceeds were handed over to Lion's Club for a community service project but this year the plan is to open a fund for InJuCo, which will help the convention to sustain itself each year. "InJuCo is just a start. My vision is to build a village of local and international artists; where people from all over the world come together. Art is communication — communication is understanding — and when there is understanding, there is peace," philosophizes Tom.

InJuCo in its humble avatar shares its spirit with its artists — modest yet overwhelming. No grand advertising, no great PR activities and no, I wasn't 'assigned' to write this story. I was part of InJuCo, I learnt well and the little I can do is to try to pass on the magic. Keep playing.

Source: Mid-day