How to explore Jaipur, Rajasthan, for a pittance

Air Asia X has launched four-times weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jaipur, Rajasthan, with special fares starting from just RM 199 ($65).

The promotional one-way fares are available through to February 11 at www.airasia.com.

The first Air Asia X flight landed in Jaipur on Monday night and the route was launched at the Radisson Blu hotel in Jaipur on Tuesday.

“India is one of our key growth markets,” said Air Asia X group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun.

Since 2010 Air Asia group has carried over 16 million passengers in and out of India. There are direct  connections with Australian capital cities.

Lie-flat beds are available on flights, as well as budget seats. Air Asia now serves a total of 19 Indian cities. See www.airasia.com 

A glass of 118-year-old Champagne for you sir?

Pol Roger has unearthed bottles of Champagne from the 19th century which have been buried beneath its cellars in Epernay for the past 118 years.

The local L'Union newspaper reported that the cellar master of Pol Roger, Dominique Petit, has discovered intact bottles of Champagne believed to be from the 1898 vintage in a sealed-off cellar.

Pol Roger has pondered for years whether there might be bottles buried beneath its facilities for many decades, and, using sonar technology, had recently detected a cavity beneath its site on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay.

Now, having dug underground, it has been confirmed that there is a stash of historic Champagne beneath Pol Roger’s current headquarters.

It was trapped there in February 1900, when, after heavy rains in Champagne, Pol Roger’s cellar caved in, bringing down both levels of its facility, and destroying as well as burying the equivalent of two million bottles of Champagne. Barrels of wine were lost as well as bottles.

“The wine is perfectly clear inside,” Petit told L’Union, adding, “The level is correct and the cork is depressed, which suggests that the wine is well preserved.”

Although the exact date of the Champagnes has yet to be confirmed, it is believed the bottles are from the 1898 vintage.

Back to the 60s with a new pop-inspired seaside hotel

The Swinging Sixties: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Twiggy and The Shrimp, Carnaby Street.

Now members of the British band The Libertines aim to recreate the sixties for those who missed the antics of the likes of Andy Warhol and The Who.

The Libertines, known for hits like “Can’t Stand Me Now” and “Don’t Look Back Into the Sun” aim to create a hip space in a former rundown bed and breakfast in the seaside town of Margate in Kent.

The new hotel will be called The Albion Rooms in homage to an East London apartment where the band hung out their early years, The Guardian reports.

The hotel will be “inspired by the celluloid co-habitation antics of the Beatles and the Monkees,” according to a statement from the band, and will function as a “a living art space [and] a Warholian factory, with guest rooms, a bar, and studio."

Each room, it is promised, will be "individually designed … each with a distinctly Libertines’ style”.

It all sounds like an early April's Fool joke, but it is apparently true. The five-story, 10-room Albion Rooms will open in the middle of the year.

Members of the band plan to be actively involved in the hotel, and may even pour pints for guests who stop by the bar.

The Libertines have already moved into the hotel and are working on their fourth studio album from inside its walls. Once the album is complete they will premiere both the hotel as well as the album with a launch party. 

The bed and breakfast, formerly known as The Palm Court, was rated by TripAdvisor at the worst in Margate, and one of the poorest in Britain.  

Langham Hotel in Melbourne lays the romance on thick

I stayed at The Langham Hotel in Melbourne last week; it was full to capacity but still managed a chic, sleek vibe.

The Langham is a favourite with pretty party people, which makes it a "go to" destination for Valentine's Day on February 14.

The award-winning Melba Restaurant is catering for couples with the restaurant's impressive open kitchen serving a host of romantic dishes and known aphrodisiacs including fresh oysters, red velvet cheesecake, strawberry éclairs and Champagne pink macarons.

The menu will include a strawberry chocolate fountain as well as made-to-order sushi, roasted Atlantic salmon, freshly made naan and luxurious lobster thermidor.

The $165.00 per person price tag includes Melba's renowned buffet as well as choice of a Chocolate Raspberry Kisses cocktail or Crown Lager (very blokey, bloke) upon arrival.

Couples can secure a window table for an additional $25 per person (you'll know he's a cheapskate if he doesn't) and arrange a choice of free-flowing sparkling wine, a Chocolate Raspberry Kisses cocktail or Crown lager for $30 per person.

Dinner is available from 5pm until 8pm (If you can't wait to get home for some romance) or 8.30pm until 11pm.

Melba Restaurant also has lunch bookings available for $64 per person and the option to arrange a window table and free-flowing beverages. Diners can feast upon Japanese, fresh seafood, Indian dishes, steaks grilled to order, Chinese dumplings, Malaysian stir-fries, Italian pasta dishes, wok-fried noodles and more.

Afternoon tea is another option - right through the week. 

The Langham is offering a Cupid's High Tea at Aria Bar & Lounge on weekdays from Thursday, February 8, until Thursday, February 15 - a great opportunity to get loved up without sharing the evening with dozens of slobbering couples.

Guests will sip quality teas accompanied by a high-tea stand laden with hand-dipped pink chocolate strawberries, raspberry meringue kisses, raspberry tart with rose petal, buttermilk scones with rose jam and slices of lychee almond sponge with rose ganache.

High tea costs $59 per person or $73 if you opt for free flowing premium sparkling wine.  The Cupid's High Tea is $69 per person on Valentine's Day.

To make Valentine's Day even more memorable, The Langham is collaborating with Cartel flowers to deliver a personalised box of premium red roses ($185) to be waiting at Melba Restaurant or Aria Bar & Lounge upon arrival. That should guarantee a successful date.

Bookings can be made by calling 1800 641 107.

Macao attracts gourmets with a year of wine and food celebrations

Macao's fascinating culinary traditions were recently acknowledged by the award of UNESCO Creative Cities-Gastronomy recognition.

Now a member of an elite list of 26 global cities earmarked for their cuisine, the former Portuguese enclave in China will celebrate by promoting 2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy.

Among the major food-related events for the year is Macao's hosting of the prestigious Asia's 50 Best Restaurants promotion from March 25-27, complete with dining experiences, lectures, a chefs' feast and a gala awards ceremony.

Throughout the Chinese Year of the Dog, Macao will be highlighted by a congested calendar of colourful festivals and events, along with the opening of a contemporary international hotel – the 1390-room MGM Cotai.

“Being recognised by UNESCO for its gastronomy is an exciting development for Macao which has always been renowned for having one of the world's earliest forms of fusion food,” said Helen Wong, general manager of the Macao Government Tourism Office (Australia and New Zealand).

“Over four centuries, Macao has seen the evolution of what is known as Macanese cuisine, where families have prepared home-cooked dishes, recipes with elements of Portugal, Africa, India, Malaysia and China creating a real melting pot of tastes,” she said.

“During that time, Portuguese traders brought to China capsicum, curry, shrimp paste, pickled cod fish and other spices. These ingredients were combined with the evocative flavours and aromas from south-east Asia such as cinnamon, coconut milk, tamarind, garlic and red chilies' along with the vegetables and fruit grown in the region.

“The story of Macanese cuisine is just as enticing as the taste of the food itself.”

Macao will kick off 2018 with its annual Chinese New Year celebrations, including two vibrant family street parades have been organised for the evenings of Sunday, February 18 and Saturday, February 24.

From April 27-29, it will host the sixth Macao International Travel Industry Expo (MITE) at The Venetian Macao, this year's exhibition increasing to 500 booths.

Over five Saturday evenings from September 1 until October 1, the skies over the Macau Tower will explode into a kaleidoscope of colours as countries from around the world compete in the 29th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest.

For the first time in its history, the annual contest was cancelled in 2017 after Macao was devastated by the fury of Typhoon Hato which struck in the days leading up to the event.

On September 27, Macao will celebrate World Tourism Day with an array of colourful activities while, in October, it will host the Global Tourism Economy Forum.

Giant steins will be raised throughout the same month as the MGM Macau celebrates its annual Oktoberfest with all the food and singing expected at such a German-style gathering.

More food for thought in November will be the 18th Macau Food Festival, while December will be another busy month with the hosting eighth Macau Shopping Festival, the Macao Light Festival and the third International Film Festival and Awards – Macao (IFFAM).

Despite last year's impact of Typhoon Hato, Macao boasted a record-breaking 2017, attracting more than 32.6 million visitors – an increase of 5.4% on the previous record-breaking year.

For more info go to www.visitmacao.com.au

New wine and food trail for Western Australia

The Mount Barker region of Western Australia has launched a new gourmet trail to appeal to visiting wine and food lovers. 

The Mount Barker Wine and Food Trail was celebrated today at an official launch at Plantagenet Wines attended by local politicians and regional wine-making pioneer Tony Smith.

The trail aims to expose visitors to stories of the local family-owned vineyards as they meet vineyard owners and wine makers.

The region grows riesling, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, along with other varietals such as chardonnay, pinot noir, Müller-Thurgau and sauvignon blanc.   

Among the wineries on the trail are: Arcadia Wines, Gilberts Wines, Galafrey Wines, Plantagenet Wines (below), Poacher’s Ridge, West Cape Howe Wines and Windrush Wines.

Cellar door offerings  range from platters, pizzas, coffee and cake to gourmet lunches, which can be enjoyed against the backdrop of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges.

"Whether you choose to self-drive, take a guided tour or stay overnight, you will be sure to be impressed with the quality of our produce and the warmth of our welcome when you visit the Gateway to the Amazing South Coast - Mount Barker," says Kim Tyrer from Galafrey Wines. 

http://trailswa.com.au/trails/mt-barker-wine-food-trail/print