If you're heading on a business trip to Kochi in the Indian state of Kerala, you will be struck by its lush greenery as soon as you arrive.
During a daytime journey from the airport to your hotel, you will be treated to picture-postcard views of Kerala's backwaters, where fishermen ply their trade and wooden boats gently drift along the meandering waterways.
By comparison to India's bigger, more highly populated cities, such as Mumbai and New Delhi, there is a noticeable change in pace and Kochi is relatively laid-back.
Getting around: Downtown traffic can easily rival that found in any of the larger cities. Allow plenty of time to travel between meetings.
The layout: Kochi, a port city on the Arabian Sea, is divided into distinct areas. Ernakulum, the eastern part of the mainland, is probably the most convenient to be based. Fort Kochi, which is more picturesque and historic, is popular among tourists and can easily be reached by ferries from the mainland or by bridges.
Time out: A good option is to hop on a cruise from Marine Drive on the mainland, which will take you towards Fort Kochi and around the port area. This can be completed in just over an hour and will give you a chance to glimpse some of Kochi's older buildings and marvel at the large Chinese fishing nets, which look spectacular at sunset.
For those looking to impress non-local clients, take a tour of Kerala's backwaters on a houseboat from Kochi, which will take you through some of the small villages.
Eating out: Kerala is known for its seafood and Fort Cochin at the Casino Hotel is a popular option for business travellers looking to sample local food, with dishes including prawn mango curry and fish cooked with spices in a banana leaf.
How to get there: Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Air India and Jet Airways all offer direct flights between the UAE and Kochi.
business@thenational.ae
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Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
The specs: 2019 Subaru Forester
Price, base: Dh105,900 (Premium); Dh115,900 (Sport)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 182hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 239Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.1L / 100km (estimated)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
