A whale for dinner


The whole town of Barrow, Alaska, gathers for a momentous event. The subsistence-fishing Irupiat whalers of the region celebrate as a 60-foot Bowhead Whale is hauled in from a boat. The catch is significant - it will provide the entire community with food for the harsh winter that is slowly closing in. In the biting cold, the community hacks away, cutting, slicing up the whale. Following tradition, a section of the skin and blubber will be reserved for the captain of the boat, who will open his home to the community for a feast in the coming days.
This photo-essay by photographer Gregory Bull documenting the way of life of a people through a single event is a feast of visual richness.
 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a cutter slices through skin and blubber atop a bowhead whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Following tradition, a section of the skin and blubber will be reserved for the captain of the boat, who will open his home to the community for a feast in the coming days.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a whale is pushed onto a frozen metal landing strip for butchering in a field near Barrow, Alaska. The whales, which can reach sixty feet in length and weigh more than 100 tons, can take a Herculean effort to move, both at sea and on land.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Qaiyaan Aiken, second from left, walks his son along the giant mouth of the bowhead whale he harpooned, after making his way back to shore near Barrow, Alaska. The skills for the hunt are learned first by watching, and then by doing, as the tradition is passed forward.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a boy holds on to the baleen of a bowhead whale before work begins to butcher the whale near Barrow, Alaska. A chilly celebration takes place on the frozen fields as a whale is brought ashore. The hours-long process of butchering the whale brings the town together for the event.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Qaiyaan Aiken, center, gets a hug from his wife as he is congratulated for harpooning a bowhead whale after making his way back to shore near Barrow, Alaska. The crews that bring in a whale are celebrated in town, and their stories of exactly how the whale was harpooned are heard throughout town.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Fredrick Brower, center, helps cut up a bowhead whale caught by Inupiat subsistence hunters on a field near Barrow, Alaska. Drawing on tradition, and keeping within the closely monitored Aboriginal subsistence whaling guidelines, a bowhead whale is carved and divided by a crew armed with knives and hooks, and then shared according to custom.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a cutter takes a break and drinks a soup of boiled bowhead whale meat and blubber while butchering a whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. As workers continue with the cutting and hooking of the whale blubber, others prepare a soup to warm the crews.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, men in boots move through blood from a bowhead whale as they finish with the butchering process on a field near Barrow, Alaska. After a whale is divided and shared, blood and some remains are hauled off farther from town.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, cutters divide sections of skin and blubber while butchering a bowhead whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Young whalers often learn to help in butchering by learning to use the hook to pull off the giant slabs of skin and blubber. Later, they may move to the more skilled task of cutter.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a cutter slices through skin and blubber atop a bowhead whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Blades lashed to poles are are used to cut down through the blubber in sections, to be hooked and hauled off.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, an Inupiat whaler looks on from a boat on a trailer as a bowhead whale is hauled onto shore after a catch near Barrow, Alaska. During the fall, whaling is done in small boats and few crew members. Once a whale is caught, it is pulled ashore by the tiny boats, in an effort that often takes hours.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Crawford Patkotak carries a harpoon attached to a buoy after his crew landed a bowhead whale, as the whale is hauled ashore in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Most members of a whaling family pitch in once a whale is caught. Often, three generations of a whaling family are at the task of butchering and dividing the whale.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a man hauls whale blubber as a bowhead whale is butchered near Barrow, Alaska. The whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, is prized by the Inupiat, and often eaten frozen.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, family members and friends of the Anagi whaling crew celebrate the capture of a bowhead whale after it was brought ashore near Barrow, Alaska. The celebration begins earlier in the town when a whaling captain radios to shore, "hey, hey, hey!," a sign to all of a captured whale. From there, news spreads. By the time the boats and whale make it to shore hours later, much of the town is there to greet the hunters.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Molly Pederson, right, and daughter Laura Patkotak take a picture as a bowhead whale caught by Alaska Native subsistence hunters from their family is brought ashore in Barrow, Alaska. Whaling is a community event in Barrow, as family members and town residents race to the beach to congratulate the hunters and help to butcher the catch.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, men haul sections of whale skin and blubber, known as muktuk, as a bowhead whale is butchered in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Once divided, muktuk is shared throughout the community. Some sections are even placed into duct-taped coolers and shipped by plane to elders living in warmer climates farther south.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a light running on a generator illuminates a man as he passes the giant bones of a bowhead whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Whale bones are coveted by many in Barrow, often used to adorn the grave sites of loved ones.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Crawford Patkotak, above center, leads a prayer flanked by his sons Josiah, in green suspenders, Arnold, in white bib, and Samuel, fourth from right, after his crew landed a bowhead whale near Barrow, Alaska. Both revered and hunted by the Inupiat, the bowhead whale serves a symbol of tradition, as well as a staple of food.

 In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, Kendra Aiken stands wearing a parka made by her grandmother, as she poses for a picture for her parents in front of work on a bowhead whale in a field near Barrow, Alaska. Children of Barrow too small to help with the hooking and cutting, are still brought down to the whale, while family members point and explain the process.

In this Oct. 7, 2014, photo, a cutter stands atop a bowhead whale as work continues into the night, dividing the whale for the community on an field near Barrow, Alaska. The bowhead whale, which can weigh 100 tons, is valued to the Inupiat community, who use the meat, baleen, bones and organs for food, art, household goods, and construction.


7 Must-Visit Places In Singapore That Will Make Your Honeymoon Memorable



Honeymoon is one of the most important times in the life of a newlywed couple. This is when, both the partners get to spend a lot of time together, and know each other well. As there is no one to disturb them on this romantic getaway, a picture-perfect location with a lot of romantic spots is all that they need to make this trip an unforgettable affair.
Well, if you are also on a lookout for the perfect destination for your honeymoon that offers you various places to get cosy with your partner, then Singapore is the place for you. It has many unusual spots that can make your honeymoon all the more romantic and memorable. So, take a look at some of the most beautiful places of Singapore that can make your honeymoon memorable.


#1. Gardens by the Bay





One of the top 10 indoor gardens of the world, the Gardens by the Bay, is a beautiful biome. There are several exotic plants in this place from every continent except Antartica.







 Furthermore, there are gorgeous nature trails where you can take a romantic stroll with your partner. And while doing so, do not miss admiring the water and energy conserving Supertrees- very high trees extending into the sky.




#2. The Chocolate Bar



There is nothing that spells romance more than chocolates. Indulge in a sweet buffet at the Cheese and Chocolate Bar in the Sands SkyPark hotel, and go wild choosing from a large variety of handcrafted desserts.







 Located at the 57th level, this place will also allow you and your partner to enjoy a striking night view of the city.




#3. Fort Canning Trail



Hailed as one of the most popular spots for lovers, the Fort Canning National Park, allows you to enjoy each other’s company amidst the lush greenery. You can follow the well-marked trails and learn about the Singapore's history while enjoying a wide variety of the local treats at various eateries.







 En route, you will come across a lot of vintage buildings that might interest you, such as Chesed-El Synagogue, Church of the Sacred Heart, etc.




#4. The Singapore Flyer



The Singapore Flyer, is a Ferris wheel in Marina Centre, that takes you 165 metres above the ground level. The half an hour long ride will provide you a panoramic view of Singapore.







 We suggest you to plan for an evening ride as you two would then be able to enjoy a truly romantic view of Singapore.


 #5. Cable Car Ride, Mount Faber



If you are looking for a perfect spot to surprise your spouse on the honeymoon, then you can plan for an out-of-this-world dining experience in a cable car. It is a 90-minute ride that shuttles to and fro between Sentosa and Mount Faber thrice. This is one of the best ways to get cosy with your partner in Singapore, as you two gaze into the night sky while enjoying a romantic meal.









 If you want to make your experience even more romantic, then you can also opt for the cable car decorated with the flowers.




#6. Little Guilin Park



This place resembles the Guilin in China- a granite rock situated within a lake. It is one of the favourite spots among the couples for a romantic outing. Take a walk with your partner along the banks of the lake, and you might even reach some of the lookout points that are as high as a 10-storey building.







 The towering rock cliffs, tranquil lake and the lush greenery would provide an amazing backdrop for your romantic pictures.




#7. Stroll the Singapore River



Going on a cruise with your partner is a must when you are on your honeymoon in Singapore. So, book yourself for a cruise down the Singapore River to experience the amazing white sand beaches, mystifying ancient cities, colourful open-air markets, and lush tropical rainforests.








Enjoy the enthralling view of Singapore’s skyline with your partner to make yet another addition to the timeless memories of your life.











These 7 Cities Are The New Urban Wonders Of The World



 The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the tallest twin towers in the world. A global campaign to name various new Seven Wonders of the World has announced the results of its Cities competition.
The New7Wonders project was created by Bernard Weber in order to highlight some of the greatest natural and man-made wonders of the world not covered in the original list.  The Cities project is the third of Weber's installments — i n 2007, more than 100 million people voted in his New Seven Wonders of the World competition.
Weber’s latest campaign to find the best cities on Earth aimed to showcase the "cities that best represent the achievements and aspirations of our global urban civilization," according to the New7Wonders website.
The global competition began with more than 1200 nominees from 220 countries.  That list was reduced to 77, since there was a limit of one city per country. Then the 77 remaining cities were narrowed down by a panel of experts headed by  Federico Mayor, former director-general of UNESCO, to 28 suggestions.
Following the announcement of the 28 finalists, the winning seven cities were chosen by voters from around the world.
The seven winning cities beat out finalists such as Istanbul, London, St. Petersburg, Seoul, Reykjavik, and Chicago. None of the world’s seven winning cities are in Europe or the US.
Below are the seven cities that have been named the new urban wonders of the world (in alphabetical order):
1. Beirut, Lebanon
The capital city of Lebanon has been rebuilt several times due to unrest. Beirut's architecture is a stunning mix of modern, Ottoman, and colonial French.
The Middle Eastern hub is often referred to as "The Paris of the Mediterranean."
 2. Doha, Qatar
Qatar’s capital, Doha, first gained prominence when it began tapping into its expansive natural-gas reserves. Doha’s wealth of natural gas and oil have helped make Qatar one of the richest nations in the world — and Doha one of the world's most beautiful cities.
 3. Durban, South Africa
The beach city of Durban in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal is the busiest port in Africa, but it's best known for its incredible beaches and surfing.
 4. Havana, Cuba
Havana is a centuries-old city covered in vibrant colors.  The historic center of Havana has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason.
 5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The cultural hub of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is known for its towering skyscrapers. The iconic Petronas Twin Towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world.
 6. La Paz, Bolivia
Perched atop the Andes Mountains, La Paz is 11,975 feet above sea level. It is the highest capital city in the world.
  7. Vigan, Philippines
Vigan is one of the few Hispanic towns lefts intact in the Philippines. Known for its cobblestone-covered streets and unique architecture, the city is a World Heritage Site.


First five-star hotel in Indias North East opened in Guwahati



The first five-star hotel in India's northeastern region was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam, recently.


Guwahati, known as the gateway to Northeast, has now become a growing hub for trade and commercial activity.





In the last few years, the city has witnessed a mushrooming of shopping malls, showrooms, apartment complexes and hotels.





The changing face of the city coupled with an expanding tourism sector is attracting many investors.















 Recently, the Radisson Blu, was officially inaugurated.







The hotel group is prospecting to open hotels in the state capitals of Northeastern states.





Raj Rana, CEO, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, South Asia, said, "I
think the Northeast has great potential. The infrastructure and
connectivity with other parts of the country is increasing every day.
The population here is well educated, modern and wants to experience
hotels like this. As more business comes in and of course the tourism
opportunity that Guwahati or entire Northeast offers, all this can be
built on further as long as good accommodation for people who come here
is available."










Nikhil Vahi, an official of a
hotel promoter group, said, "This hotel is a proof that everything is
really going on well here and this is a standing example of how nice
this part of the country is. There is a lot of potential in Assam and
Northeast. I see a lot of development happening. This will encourage
other developers and operators to come in to this part of the country."





With a booming economy and a steadily growing tourism sector, the hotel industry will only expand further.










Three more 5-star category hotels are coming up in Guwahati.





The growth of hospitality sector has also opened new job avenues for the youth in the region.





Arindham Mitra, a hotel employee, said, "Almost 70 per cent of the
employees and hotel staff is from the Northeast and 60 per cent is from
Assam only. It's very important. Also, it is a very good platform for
young hoteliers who are working in this hotel to get groomed and become
trained for the next level which is very important for them."





Boby Singh, an employee from Manipur, said, "This is amazing. This is
the first of its kind hotel here in Northeast and it has created a lot
of interest. It has created a lot of job opportunities as well."





The gradual return of peace and normalcy has brought about significant socio-economic change in the entire Northeast.



And in the coming years it will prosper manifold.