JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai

The world’s top five tallest hotels are located in United Arab Emirates. Take a look at the world’s 25 tallest hotels…

JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai

Height: 1,296 ft
Stories: 77
Year: 2012
Country: United Arab Emirates

Rose Rayhaan, Dubai

Rose Rayhaan, Dubai

Height: 1,092 ft
Stories: 72
Year: 2009
Country: United Arab Emirates

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Height: 1,060 ft
Stories: 60
Year: 1999
Country: United Arab Emirates

Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai

Height: 1,014 ft
Stories: 56
Year: 2000
Country: United Arab Emirates

The Address Downtown Dubai, Dubai

The Address Downtown Dubai, Dubai

Height: 1,004 ft
Stories: 63
Year: 2008
Country: United Arab Emirates

Baiyoke Tower II

Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok

Height: 997 ft
Stories: 85
Year: 1997
Country: Thailand

The Cullinan South Tower, Hong Kong

The Cullinan South Tower, Hong Kong

Height: 886 ft
Stories: 68
Year: 2008
Country: Hong Kong

Grand Lisboa.

Grand Lisboa, Macau

Height: 846 ft
Stories: 52
Year: 2008
Country: Macau

Lanko Grand Hyatt Hotel

Lanko Grand Hyatt Hotel, Chongqing

Height: 846 ft
Stories: 60
Year: 2004
Country: China

State Tower, Bangkok

State Tower, Bangkok

Height: 810 ft
Stories: 63
Year: 2001
Country: Thailand

Centara Grand Hotel

Centara Grand Hotel, Bangkok

Height: 771 ft
Stories: 57
Year: 2008
Country: Thailand

Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel.

Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel, Shanghai

Height: 741 ft
Stories: 52
Year: 2007
Country: China

JR Central Hotel Tower, Nagoya

JR Central Hotel Tower, Nagoya

Height: 741 ft
Stories: 53
Year: 2000
Country: Japan

Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore

Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore

Height: 741 ft
Stories: 73
Year: 1986
Country: Singapore

Detroit Marriot.

Detroit Marriot, Renaissance Center, Detroit

Height: 727 ft
Stories: 73
Year: 1977
Country: United States

Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel.

Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel, Atlanta

Height: 73
Stories: 723 ft
Year: 1976
Country: United States

Ritz-Carlton Jakarta

Ritz-Carlton Jakarta Tower I and Tower II, Jakarta

Height: 696 ft
Stories: 48
Year: 2005
Country: Indonesia

Four Seasons Hotel

Four Seasons Hotel, New York

Height: 682 ft
Stories: 52
Year: 1993
Country: United States

Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel

Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel, Shanghai

Height: 679 ft
Stories: 47
Year: 2002
Country: China

Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong

Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong

Height: 673 ft
Stories: 55
Year: 2005
Country: Hong Kong

Tower A Berjaya Times Square.

Tower A Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur

Height: 666 ft
Stories: 48
Year: 2003
Country: Malaysia

Renaissance Hotel Tianjin

Renaissance Hotel Tianjin

Height: 666 ft
Stories: 48
Year: 2002
Country: China

Yuanyang Building, Dalian

Yuanyang Building, Dalian

Height: 659 ft
Stories: 83
Year: 1973
Country: China

Royal Mediterranean Hotel

Royal Mediterranean Hotel, Guangzhou

Height: 659 ft
Stories: 48
Year: 1998
Country: China

Radisson Hotel Shanghai

Radisson Hotel Shanghai

Height: 656 ft
Stories: 46
Year: 2005
Country: China

Experience the quintessential Taj hospitality across select hotels.

This season, corporate travellers can look forward to a plethora of offers with the ‘Room for More’ packages from Taj Group of Hotels.

Experience the quintessential Taj hospitality across select hotels with packages that ensure something for everyo#8800 extended stays to unbelievable value additions, room upgrades to hotel credits and more.

Taj is offering additional room for children.

Discover a destination or just indulge with ‘Stay A Bit Longer’ offer that includes a complimentary additional night stay for two- and three-day package at select Taj hotels.

Families planning a vacation with children can make their trip even more memorable when they get an additional kids room at no extra cost across select Taj hotels from April 4 to July 31, 2013.

Package provides host of additional privileges.

Keeping in mind the needs of the corporate jetsetter, for whom the room doubles up as an office, Taj has designed ‘Suite Celebrations’ to make their stay a delightful experience.

Apart from being able to conduct a business meeting at the Taj Club Lounge, the package provides host of additional privileges; exclusive flexible check in/ checkout to speedy transfer from the airport to the hotel, lavish breakfasts and evening cocktails featuring a selection of carefully crafted petit fours and hors d’oerves to access to fully equipped fitness centre with steam, sauna and Jacuzzi facilities. The offer is valid across Taj properties from April 7, 2013 – September 30, 2013.

Guests can even redeem credits.

Relax, unwind and redeem credits at indulgent spas, celebrated bars, outstanding dining destinations, or even better, save it for your next stay with ‘Hotel Credits’, on offer until July 31, 2013.

Guests are also offered free nights.

For frequent corporate travellers, ‘Corporate Advantage’ offer earns the guest a free nights’ stay for accumulated eight nights until July 2013.

Winner, Low Light, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.

The World Photography Organisation has revealed the winners for the Open, Youth and 3D categories of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.

The winning images capture in a single shot a huge variety of subjects from the moment before a couple get married to the Mangystau night sky in Kazakhstan and the ‘Fung Shun’ fire dragon dance in Southern China, plus much more.

Shortlisted images:

World Photo Awards: BEST from the young shutterbugs

2013 World Photo Awards: STUNNERS from the pros

2013 World Photography Awards: And the FINALISTS are…

Judged on a single image taken by an amateur photographer, the winning Open category photographers were selected from nearly 55,000 entries.

The ten open category winners will now compete for the Sony World Photography Awards Open Photographer of the Year title.  The overall winner will be revealed at a ceremony on April 25 and this photographer will receive $5,000 (USD).

Splash

Photographer: Matias Galvez, Chile

Winner, Split Second, Open Competition 2013

14:00:00

Photographer: Martina Biccheri, Italy

Winner, Architecture, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Martina Biccheri says: “I took this photo in spring 2012 in Rome, my hometown. It was taken with a monorail view camera (5×6 film) and manually developed, after it has been scanned and post produced. I took care of the entire process and working on film, it took me quite many tries to have the perfect shadow and exposure; I had to go back to the location several times to and always hope it was sunny enough, once I spent the whole day in front of that wall, just to check at which time of the day the shadow was looking more geometrical, eventually it was at 2pm.”

Fire Dragon of 'Fung Shun'

Photographer: Gilbert Yu, Hong Kong

Winner, Arts and Culture, Open Competition 2013

Gilbert Yu says: “‘Fung Shun’ fire dragon dance is a traditional ceremonial event held on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year in the Fung Shun area of southern China, and it has a history of more than 300 years.

The dragons are composed of bamboo, metal wire and paper and are meticulously hand-made and painted by local artists before the event each year.”

Storm

Photographer: Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vietnam

Winner, Enhanced, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Rush Hour

Photographer: Manny Fajutag, Philippines

Winner, Travel, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

The image was taken during a vacation at Sibuyan Island, Philippines in May 2012.

Welcome to the world of the spider

Photographer: Krasimir Matarov, Bulgaria

Winner, Nature & Wildlife, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards.

My Old House

Photographer: Yeow Kwang Yeo, Singapore

Panoramic, Winner, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Wedding

Photographer: Hisatomi Tadahiko, Japan

Winner, People, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Cebula

Photographer: Ming Hui Guan/ Mac Kwan, China

Winner, Smile, Open Competition 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Youth Category winners

Traditions

Photographer: Alecsandra Dragoi, Romania

Winner, Culture, Youth Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Nature's fightback

Photographer: Xu Wei Shou, Taiwan

Winner, Environment, Youth Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Ariadna in Urquinaona

Photographer: Berta Vicente, Spain

Winner, Portraits, Youth Competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

3D category winner

Timekeeper

Photographer: Matjaz Tancic, Slovenia

Winner, 3D competition, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

Timekeeper is inspired by the set up of Hui-style living rooms in the old village houses of Yixian. As one enters these dwellings, the eye is again and again greeted by the same sight: a small altar comprised of a clock, two vases and a mirror.

Why were these altars created? What do they signify? In Chinese, the Zhong Sheng Ping Jing (clock, vases, mirror) has the same pronunciation as lifelong tranquility. But what at first glance gives the impression of sacred artifacts and hints at an exciting tradition, is later revealed to be only objects to the majority of today’s villagers. The young have all but forgotten the original purpose of their house altars, just as old traditions and ancestral values slowly but surely fade away.

The timekeepers now tell a new story — a story of today. The 3D technique lets the spectator get closer and experience the story more intimately.

CRH380 (China Railway High-speed)

China is set to open a 2,298-km high-speed railway line, the world’s longest, in about two weeks, linking the capital city with the country’s trading hub of Guangzhou.

According to the Ministry of Railways (MOR), the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway will open on December 26, the birth anniversary of late Chairman Mao Zedong.

CRH380 (China Railway High-speed) Harmony bullet trains are seen at a high-speed train maintenance base in Wuhan, Hubei province.

HEMU-400X

Design speed: 400 km/h

Operating speed: N/A

Start of service: 2014

Operator: Korail, South Korea

Global rank: 1

CRH380 D & DL.

CRH380 D & DL

Design speed: 380 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2012

Operator: Ministry of Railways, China

Global rank: 2

CRH380 B, BL & CL.

CRH380 B, BL & CL

Design speed: 380 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2011

Operator: Ministry of Railways, China

Global rank: 3

CRH380 D & DL.

CRH380 D & DL

Design speed: 380 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2012

Operator: Ministry of Railways, China

Global rank: 4

Avril

Avril

Design speed: 380 km/h

Operating speed: N/A

Start of service: 2012

Operator: Renfe, Spain

Global rank: 5

Italo ETR 575.

Italo ETR 575

Design speed: 360 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2011

Operator: NTV, Italy

Global rank: 6

ETR 1000.

ETR 1000

Design speed: 360 km/h

Operating speed: N/A

Start of service: 2013

Operator: NTV, Italy

Global rank: 7

AVE Class 103.

AVE Class 103

Design speed: 350 km/h

Operating speed: 310 km/h

Start of service: 2006

Operator: Renfe, Spain

Global rank: 8

CRH2 C.

CRH2 C

Design speed: 350 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2008

Operator: Ministry of Railways, China

Global rank: 9

CRH3 C.

CRH3 C

Design speed: 350 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2008

Operator: Ministry of Railways, China

Global rank: 10

AVE Class 102 - 112.

AVE Class 102 – 112

Design speed: 330 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2005

Operator: Renfe, Spain

Global rank: 11

KTX-I

KTX-I

Design speed: 330 km/h

Operating speed: 305 km/h

Start of service: 2004

Operator: Korail, South Korea

Global rank: 12

KTX-II.

KTX-II

Design speed: 330 km/h

Operating speed: 305 km/h

Start of service: 2010

Operator: Korail, South Korea

Global rank: 13

Eurostar e320.

Eurostar e320

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: N/A

Start of service: 2014

Operator: SNCF and Eurostar, Europe

Global rank: 14

ICE 3 DB Class 407.

ICE 3 DB Class 407

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Start of service: 2011

Operator: DB, Germany

Global rank: 15

Shinkansen 500.

Shinkansen 500

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1997

Operator: JR West, Japan

Global rank: 16

Shinkansen E5

Shinkansen E5

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2011

Operator: JR West, Japan

Global rank: 17

Shinkansen E6.

Shinkansen E6

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: N/A

Start of service: 2013

Operator: JR West, Japan

Global rank: 18

TGV Reseau.

TGV Reseau Thalys PBA

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Start of service: 1991

Operator: Thalys, SNCF, Europe

Global rank: 19

TGV POS.

TGV POS

Design speed: 320 km/h

Operating speed: 320 km/h

Start of service: 2008

Operator: SNCF, France

Global rank: 20

AVE Class 100.

AVE Class 100

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1992

Operator: Renfe, Spain

Global rank: 21

ETR 500 3 kV.

ETR 500 3 kV

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 250 km/h

Start of service: 1992-2007

Operator: Trenitalia, Italy

Global rank: 22

Eurostar

Eurostar

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1993

Operator: Eurostar, SNCF, Europe

Global rank: 23

TGV Sud-Est

TGV Sud-Est

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1981

Operator: SNCF, France

Global rank: 24

TGV Atlantique

TGV Atlantique

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1989

Operator: SNCF, France

Global rank: 25

Thalys PBKA.

Thalys PBKA

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 1997

Operator: Thalys, Europe

Global rank: 26

THSR 700T.

THSR 700T

Design speed: 300 km/h

Operating speed: 300 km/h

Start of service: 2007

Operator: THSR, Taiwan

Global rank: 27

Rabbits play with tiger cubs at a theme park in Sanya, in south China's Hainan province.

These animals have found some of the most unlikely of friends to keep them company.

Check out our slideshow to see some quirky animal friendship.

A dog rests on a buffalo near Ravi River in Lahore.

A female monkey fondly cuddles

A female monkey fondly cuddles a puppy at a shop in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

Keow Wan, a four-month-old Sun Conure parrot, perches on Yim

Keow Wan, a four-month-old Sun Conure parrot, perches on Yim, a dog whose name means smile in Thai, as their owners take part in a pray for peace ceremony at Royal Plaza in Bangkok.

Lioness 'Soonee' and South Korean traditional breed

Lioness ‘Soonee’ and South Korean traditional breed Jindo dog ‘Tangchil’ play together at a zoo in Chinhae near Seoul.

A dog feeds two tiger cubs in a zoo in Hefei, east China's Anhui province.

Sai Mai, a 26-month-old female tiger, plays with baby pigs at a zoo in Chonburi province near Bangkok.

A Bengal tiger and cougar cubs sit with a german shepherd at a veterinarian's house in Sydney.

Palma the dog plays with a four-month-old Amur tiger cub

Palma the dog plays with a four-month-old Amur tiger cub (L) and a two-month-old Sumatran tiger cub in the municipal zoo ‘Royev Ruchey’ in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

A mouse rides on the back of a frog in floodwaters in Lucknow.

A black swan feeds carps at a wildlife park in Shenzhen, in south China's Guangdong province.

Mohammad Al-Hamoury holds a kitten and a puppy at his house in Amman.

A baby rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) touche

A baby rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) touches the face of a tiger cub as they play together at a zoo in Hefei, Anhui province, China.

Changmao, the ram and Chunzi, the doe stand together during

Changmao, the ram and Chunzi, the doe stand together during a cross-species wedding ceremony at Yunnan Wild Animal Park on Valentine’s Day in Kunming, Yunnan province.

Two lion cubs and a dog play in the courtyard of a domestic house in Kharkov, northeast of Kiev.

A one year-old baby Hippotamus

A one year-old baby Hippotamus, Owen, gets close to his adopted ‘mother’, a giant male Aldabran tortoise at Haller Park on Kenya’s coast of Mombasa.

A Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) and a parrot

A Ring-tailed Lemur (Lemur catta) and a parrot (Gebirgslori) are seen in their enclosure at the Hagenbeck Zoo in Hamburg.

A four-month-old Amur tiger cub

A four-month-old Amur tiger cub (top) plays with a dog in the municipal zoo ‘Royev Ruchey’ in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

One year-old white tiger Bombay plays with 4 year-old Dalmatian Jack at the Circus William in Berlin.

A two-day-old lion cub is seen near a dog at the Royev Ruchey zoo in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

A monkey does a handstand on the head of a sheep during

A monkey does a handstand on the head of a sheep during a performance at a temple fair held to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year in Beijing.

A monkey helps a parrot get rid of lice at a wild animal park in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province.

Nimra, a one-year-old cat, plays with chicks

Nimra, a one-year-old cat, plays with chicks in Amman. Nimra has been taking care of seven chicks after their mother’s death a month ago.

A lion cub caresses a domestic cat as another lion rests in a private house in Kharkov, northeast of Kiev.

A boxer rests as a Dachshund pup approaches it in Sagua La Grande, province of Santa Clara in central Cuba.

A youth jumps into the ocean from a breakwater in Havana.

We bring you some street life scenes from Cuba

For the first time in half a century, Cuba made travel news recently as it changed its migration policies allowing Cuban nationals to travel overseas without a sepcial exit visa. The communist-ruled island, best known for its cigars, has seen locals queuing outside Migrations Offices to request for new passports. So, as the country braces itself for a generation of Global Cubans, we bring you snapshots from inside this country.

A young woman sits on the back of a convertible car

A young woman sits on the back of a convertible car while being driven along Havana’s seafront boulevard “el Malecon” on the way to her 15th birthday “coming out” celebration.

The custom dates back to the Spanish colonial era and has survived in Communist Cuba, where debutantes dress up in muslin dresses that showcase their bodies and pose for cameras with uninhibited sensuality.

Parents save up for the event, which can cost $300-500, a small fortune in a country where monthly salaries average $20.

A Cuban groom kisses

A Cuban groom kisses his Canadian bride underneath the Cuban flag in Havana.

A man walks past a graffitti that reads

A man walks past a graffitti that reads “Long live Fidel” in Santiago de Cuba. Cuba celebrated the 53rd anniversary of the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power on January 1, 1959.

Fork lightning lights up the sky during a storm

Fork lightning lights up the sky during a storm above an illuminated bronze silhouette of revolution leader Che Guevara, the work of Cuban sculptor Rafael Avila, on the facade of the Cuban Interior Ministry (MININT) in Havana’s Revolution Square.

A street entertainer waits

A street entertainer waits for tourists in Havana.

A tourist poses for a picture at colonial-era fortress

A tourist poses for a picture at colonial-era fortress ‘El Morro’ with Havana in the background as storm clouds gather in the sky.

Cubans use a makeshift awning beside their car for shade

Cubans use a makeshift awning beside their car for shade, as they spend a day at a beach on the outskirts of Havana. Cuba’s beaches are an attraction for tourists the world over, whether they are foreigners paying thousands of dollars to reach them, or Cubans paying as little as five dollars for a three-day vacation in a seaside cabin.

A worker fits Cohiba cigars in a box at the Partagas factory in Havana

A worker fits Cohiba cigars in a box at the Partagas factory in Havana. According to Cuban cigar executives, Cuban cigar sales have been rising as smokers in China and the Middle East helped counter the effects of anti-smoking laws sweeping the globe, said.

Personal items used by late Nobel-prize winning author Ernest Hemingway

Personal items used by late Nobel-prize winning author Ernest Hemingway are seen inside his house at Finca Vigia in Havana. Different universities and institutions from the US have helped renovate Finca Vigia, a Spanish style mansion of top of a hill over Havana.

Air Fuel Synthesis.

A small British firm claimed to have developed a revolutionary new technology that can produce petrol using just air and electricity.

A company in the north of England has developed the “air capture” technology to create synthetic petrol which experts have hailed as a potential “game-changer” in the battle against climate change and a saviour for the world’s energy crisis.

The technology, presented to a London engineering conference this week, works by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, The Telegraph reported.

Air Fuel Synthesis process

The ‘petrol from air’ technology involves taking sodium hydroxide and mixing it with carbon dioxide before ‘electrolysing’ the sodium carbonate that it produces to form pure carbon dioxide.

Hydrogen is then produced by electrolysing water vapour captured with a dehumidifier.

The company, Air Fuel Syndication, uses the carbon dioxide and hydrogen to produce methanol which in turn is passed through a gasoline fuel reactor, creating petrol.

Peter Harrison, CEO (R) and Investor Relations Director Graham Truscott.

Company officials claimed to have produced five litres of petrol in less than three months from a small refinery in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside.

The fuel that is produced can be used in any regular petrol tank and, if renewable energy is used to provide the electricity it could become “completely carbon neutral”.

The company hopes to build a large plant, which could produce more than a tonne of petrol every day, within two years and a refinery size operation within the next 15 years.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) officials admitted that while the described technology is “too good to be true but it is true”, and said that it could prove to be a “game-changer” in the battle against climate change.

Facility and the CO2 air capture tower.

Stephen Tetlow, the IMechE chief executive, hailed the breakthrough as “truly groundbreaking”.

“It has the potential to become a great British success story, which opens up a crucial opportunity to reduce carbon emissions,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.

“Air capture technology ultimately has the potential to become a game-changer in our quest to avoid dangerous climate change,” Dr Tim Fox, the organisation’s head of energy and environment, added.

Stephen Tetlow (IMechE Chief Executive), Peter Harrison (AFS,CEO), Tim Fox (IMechE Energy and Environment Director) and Tony Marmont (AFS Founder) in front of the facility and the CO2 air capture tower.

Peter Harrison, CEO, Air Fuel Synthesis.

Peter Harrison, the company’s 58-year-old chief executive said that he was “excited” about the technology’s potential, which “uses renewable energy in a slightly different way”.

“People do find it unusual when I tell them what we are working on and realise what it means. It is an opportunity for a technology to make an impact on climate change and make an impact on the energy crisis facing this country and the world, said Mr Harrison, a civil engineer from Darlington, County Durham.

“It looks and smells like petrol but it is much cleaner and we don’t have any nasty bits,” he said.

A Lamborghini Murcielago.

There are some car companies in the world that are known for producing supercars, but which are the fastest ones in the world?

Let’s take a look at 10 fastest cars of 2013.

Bugatti Veyron LOr Blanc super sports car.

Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Top Speed: 268 mph (431.304km/h)

Engine: 1,200 HP 8.0L W 16 (Quad Turbocharged)

MSRP: $2.4 million

Global rank: 1

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700

Top Speed: 217 mph (349.227km/h)

Engine: 700 HP 6.5L V 12

MSRP: $376,000

Global rank: 2

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Top Speed: 211 mph (339.571km/h)

Engine: 730 HP 6.3L V 12

MSRP: $343,385

Global rank: 3

Ferrari FF.

Ferrari FF

Top Speed: 208 mph (334.743km/h)

Engine: 651 HP 6.3L V 12

MSRP: $295,000

Global rank: 4

SRT Viper.

SRT Viper

Top Speed: 206 mph (331.524km/h)

Engine: 640 HP 8.4L V 10

MSRP: $100,000

Global rank: 5

McLaren MP4-12C.

McLaren MP4-12C

Top Speed: 205 mph (329.915km/h)

Engine: 616 HP 3.8L V 8 (Twin Turbocharged)

MSRP: $239,400

Global rank: 6

Bentley Continental GT Speed.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

Top Speed: 205 mph (329.915km/h)

Engine: 616 HP 6.0L W 12 (Twin Turbocharged)

MSRP: $234,000

Global rank: 7

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Top Speed: 205 mph (329.915km/h)

Engine: 638 HP 6.2L V 8 (Supercharged)

MSRP: $111,600

Global rank: 8

Lamborghini's Gallardo Superleggera.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera

Top Speed: 202 mph (325.087km/h)

Engine: 562 HP 5.2L V 10

MSRP: $237,600

Global rank: 9

Ferrari 458 Italia.

Ferrari 458 Italia

Top Speed: 201 mph (323.478km/h)

Engine: 562 HP 4.5L V 8

MSRP: $229,825

Global rank: 10

A view of Cartier jewellery boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

America has gained some 2,250 ultra-high-net-worth individuals – classed as those with a net worth of $30 million or more (including all assets) – since last year, according to a report from Wealth-X, a financial consulting firm.

Their combined wealth is also 3.3 per cent higher. The world’s richest people have a combined wealth of $25.8 trillion. That’s 1.8 per cent less than a year ago, largely because of the euro-area crisis and slowdown in emerging markets.

Let’s take a look at countries with most ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

A Swarovski showroom in Mumbai.

India

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 7,730

Total wealth (2012): $925 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 8,215

Total wealth (2011): $980 billion

Population change: -5.9 per cent

Total wealth change: -5.7 per cent

Bvlgari boutique along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California.

The United States

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 60,280

Total wealth (2012): $8,285 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 58,030

Total wealth (2011): $8,020 billion

Population change: +3.9 per cent

Total wealth change: +3.3 per cent

A woman looks at a bottle of 'Imperial Majesty' by Clive Christian, which costs $198,197 for 500ml, in the Roja Dove Haute Perfumerie in Harrods, Knightsbridge, London.

The United Kingdom

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 10,515

Total wealth (2012): $1,325 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 10,490

Total wealth (2011): $1,275 billion

Population change: +0.2 per cent

Total wealth change: +3.9 per cent

A view of Escada fashion house in Berlin.

Germany

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 15,770

Total wealth (2012): $2,050 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 15,985

Total wealth (2011): $1,945 billion

Population change: -1.3 per cent

Total wealth change: +5.4 per cent

A fashion show in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 4,640

Total wealth (2012): $865 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 4,725

Total wealth (2011): $925 billion

Population change: -1.8 per cent

Total wealth change: -6.5 per cent

A woman walks by a Louis Vuitton luxury boutique at the IFC Mall in Shanghai.

China

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 11,245

Total wealth (2012): $1,580 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 11,510

Total wealth (2011): $1,695 billion

Population change: -2.3 per cent

Total wealth change: -6.8 per cent

A window cleaner abseils in front of a boutique of the Crocus luxury retailer in Moscow.

Russia

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,145

Total wealth (2012): $605 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 1,290

Total wealth (2011): $710 billion

Population change: -11.3 per cent

Total wealth change: -14.8 per cent

Hostesses stand in front of LVMH's Louis Vuitton's jewellery store on Place Vendome in Paris.

France

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 4,100

Total wealth (2012): $475 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 4,415

Total wealth (2011): $535 billion

Population change: -7.1 per cent

Total wealth change: -11.2 per cent

Christian Dior, left, and Armani Ginza Tower at Tokyo's Ginza shopping and amusement district.

Japan

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 12,830

Total wealth (2012): $2,075 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 13,040

Total wealth (2011): $2,270 billion

Population change: -1.6 per cent

Total wealth change: -8.6 per cent

A woman carrying shopping bags is reflected in a wall in central Sydney.

Australia

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 3,350

Total wealth (2012): $410 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 3,140

Total wealth (2011): $390 billion

Population change: 6.7 per cent

Total wealth change: 5.1 per cent

A view of Dolce and Gabbana showroom in downtown Milan.

Italy

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,940

Total wealth (2012): $220 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 2,245

Total wealth (2011): $270 billion

Population change: -13.6 per cent

Total wealth change: -18.5 per cent

Swiss luxury brand Piaget shop at the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich.

Switzerland

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 5,595

Total wealth (2012): $655 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 5,220

Total wealth (2011): $635 billion

Population change: 7.2 per cent

Total wealth change: 3.1 per cent

Louis Vuitton shop on Orchard Road in downtown Singapore.

Singapore

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,305

Total wealth (2012): $155 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 1,355

Total wealth (2011): $170 billion

Population change: -3.7 per cent

Total wealth change: -8.8 per cent

A Bershka store in Barcelona.

Spain

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,520

Total wealth (2012): $180 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 1,880

Total wealth (2011): $225 billion

Population change: -19.1 per cent

Total wealth change: -20 per cent

The Grand Hotel in Oslo.

Norway

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,370

Total wealth (2012): $155 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 1,345

Total wealth (2011): $160 billion

Population change: 1.9 per cent

Total wealth change: -3.1 per cent

The main shopping street in Stockholm's Gamla Stan or Old Town district.

Sweden

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 990

Total wealth (2012): $110 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 970

Total wealth (2011): $115 billion

Population change: 2.1 per cent

Total wealth change: -4.3 per cent

Two girls ride their bicycles in the Irenestraat in Goirle, the Netherlands.

The Netherlands

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 1,205

Total wealth (2012): $135 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 1,225

Total wealth (2011): $145 billion

Population change: -1.6 per cent

Total wealth change: -6.9 per cent

A dog sits as he waits next to his owner to cross a street in Copenhagen.

Denmark

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 685

Total wealth (2012): $75 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 630

Total wealth (2011): $75 billion

Population change: 8.7 per cent

Total wealth change: zero per cent

Tourists take part in the reindeer safari at Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi.

Finland

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 405

Total wealth (2012): $45 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 405

Total wealth (2011): $50 billion

Population change: zero per cent

Total wealth change: -10 per cent

A Prada store in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2012): 3,135

Total wealth (2012): $470 billion

Ultra-high-net-worth population (2011): 3,200

Total wealth (2011): $530 billion

Population change: -2 per cent

Total wealth change: -11.3 per cent

Aashish Sood Get Ahead reader Aashish Sood on eight compelling reasons why one MUST visit and explore India.

I was talking to a South African colleague of mine about Indian culture etc. when he suddenly said to me ‘So Aashish! Sell me India. Why should I visit India?’ I was asked the same thing when dining with his very lovely wife, Veronica. I did the same on a team dinner when I tried to talk a couple of colleagues into coming to India, while being surrounded by a number of SA settled third generation Indians.

I tried to tell them about the great cultural diversity in our land, the myriad variety of foods that we eat, the innumerous dress languages that we have, literally millions of gods and goddesses that we look (literally) up to, a melee of cultural values living with boardroom antics.

And they seem to have been sold on that. But then I thought, am I really doing justice to the incredibleness that is INDIA!

So I ran a search on the net via Google dev (god) to search why indeed should anyone visit India. Surprisingly, while there was a lot of material on what to visit while visiting India, there wasn’t even a single post on WHY should they be visiting India in the first place?

Having failed in my attempt, I decided to make an effort at penning down a post which might act as a ready reckoner for anyone who is planning to maybe visit India. Maybe I can help tip the scales. Who knows?

So here you go… My top reasons why I feel that India is a must visit for any person (though I myself cannot claim to have seen it all).

Monuments

Culture

Food

When you hear people swear by Indian food, it’s not an exaggeration. Visiting India is a culinary delight for vegetarians and an eye opener for meat lovers. I am often asked why I don’t eat non-veg and I simply say: because I don’t need to with so much vegetarian variety. That’s not to say that we don’t have sufficient craving for chicken or fish. And the best food in India is the one that is sold on the myriad roadside stalls, and not within the four square walls of a fancy restaurant.

On one hand we have a gazillion variety of sweet meats whereas on the other hand we have a range of spicy, taste bud tickling offerings. And worldwide, chicken tikka and tandoori chicken are the words which are just about to get added to the Oxford dictionary.

Language

In the land of one billion people, not only do we have dozens of language, we have several dialects within those languages as well. And not like English the Texas way vis-a-vis English the London way. No Sir! We have languages which a person from other territory might not recognise. The languages are as different from each other as apples from oranges. Did you know that we have 22 official languages and 398 living languages in India.

Unlike other countries, we don’t have a singular language (ofcourse Hindi and English are our two primary languages to communicate in when we go to a different zone of the country). So when somebody asks me to speak in Indian, I am often stumped as there is no language called ‘Indian’.

 

Variety of people

Being in a place like India is as much of an experience as having visited scores of countries because the people are simply so different from each other. And yet, despite all this diversity, they still manage to live in a harmony with each other. While on one hand we have the boastful, garrulous people from Punjab who believe that showing off is the way to communicate with peop#8804 on the other hand we have the passive aggressive folks from South India who believe in simple living high thinking.

On one hand we have the Bengal folks talking about communist way of life, while we have the business minded people of Gujarat where even a five year old has a business of his/her own. ‘Adda’ (useless chitchat between friends) of one place becomes ‘bakar’ in another and ‘gupshup’ in yet another. ‘Bhai’ (brother) of one place undergoes a range of transformation from ‘bhaiyya’ to ‘dada’ to ‘virji’ to ‘cheta’. Such is the wide variety that we have

 

Delhi

For those of you who feel that Slumdog Millionnaire was a reflection of how India is, or are still stuck in India as being the land of snake charmers, a visit to Delhi, the mecca of modern India is a must.

Being in Delhi is no less than being in the heart of New York or Beijing or Tokyo. You have all the major MNCs of the world with facilities that may surpass even the best of the best.

 

Natural beauty

The natural beauty of India is at par with its global counterparts. In the northern part of the country we have the valleys of Kashmir dubbed as ‘the Paradise on earth’, for its beautiful valleys, lakes, rivers, peaks and its people and for which Jahangir once said ‘Its pleasure meadows and enchanting cascades are beyond all description.

There are running streams and fountains beyond count. Wherever, the eye reaches, there is verdure and running water. The red rose, the violet and narcissus grow of themselves in the field’. In the south, we have the serene backwaters of Kerala and its majestic beauty.

 

Spiritual enthusiasts abodes

I feel like the word ‘spiritual tourism’ has been defined with India in mind. Off late, the spiritual tourism industry has seen tremendous growth especially after the popularisation of yoga and traditional Indian remedies and medicines in the western culture.

India offers something for every religion from Hindu to Muslim, from Sikh to Christian to Buddhist. Places like Varanasi, Haridwar, Golden Temple are the ideal destination for spiritual seekers. Four ‘dhams’ and nine ‘devi’ of Himachal are a must see for everyone.

Ancient Indian scriptures quote such cures and remedies and solutions which are increasingly finding their way in the modern lives now that people are trying to live more in tune with nature. Several western countries have tried and failed at getting patents over traditional use items in India such as turmeric for its medicinal property, Basmati rice etc.

Well that was my two cents on this topic. In no way that I believe that I have done justice to the wonder that is India as this is but a mere glimpse of what India has to offer to all. Do let me know as to what you think of this meager attempt to mine to summarise India. All bouquets and brickbats are welcome