Latest news with #Basti
West Australian
8 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Scooting to Vienna on a budget
There's a new option for travellers looking for an alternative, cheaper way to fly to Europe. Scoot last month launched its first flight between Singapore and Vienna, flying three times a week with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. From Perth, it's a comfortable five hours to Singapore on the 6.25pm flight, landing in Singapore just before midnight with a short three-hour layover. We board the inaugural flight at 3am, landing in Vienna just over 11 hours later (after a special onboard performance of classical music by the T'ang Quartet) at about 9am local time. And while it's a budget airline — there are no screens, you have to pay for wifi and water and pre-order meals — our advice is to book Scoot Plus (the airline's version of premium economy) with its spacious leather seats. Scoot chief operating officer Ng Chee Keong says the route opens up opportunities for travellers from the Asia-Pacific to explore Eastern Europe and vice versa. Flights connect to other cities via short flights or train. 'We hope that this new connection helps to bridge cultures and inspire more customers to explore new destinations and create memorable travel experiences,' he says. Vienna Tourist Board chief executive Norbert Kettner says Vienna is the 'heartland of European history'. It also has a centuries-old musical heritage and was home to composers Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. And until earlier this year, Vienna held the mantle for the world's most liveable city. 'Vienna is the fifth biggest city in the European community and one of the youngest cities,' Mr Kettner says. 'And, of course, you have the great combination of what we call northern European efficiency and southern European lifestyle.' After arriving in Vienna we check into the impeccable Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel. From the moment we walk in, the hotel screams luxury. It is also a perfect location for exploring, being on the edge of the Ringstrasse, a grand boulevard built in the mid 1800s that surrounds the city's historic centre and its most famous landmarks. Rebel Tours owner Basti Knobl tells us it replaced the fortress that once surrounded the city and soon became where the rich and noble built their palaces. From the hotel, Basti takes us to the city's ninth district (Vienna is broken up into 23 districts, each with different traits) which is known by locals as 'little Paris'. It also has a rich Jewish history, with this district home to the city's biggest Jewish population before, in 1938, thousands were forced out of their homes by the Nazi regime. The devastating aftermath is still evident today. At points, Basti tells us to look up at the buildings, the architecture makes it obvious where the original buildings were firebombed and destroyed. The next day, we visit the Heidi Horten Collection — a private gallery which houses works from the likes of Pablo Picasso to Andy Warhol. The Wien Museum is next on the agenda, which provides an immersive way to learn about the city's history from its imperial heritage to modern life. And you can't visit Vienna without a taste of its famous Wiener schnitzel. We have ours at Skopik & Lohn in the second district, and it melts in the mouth. Our night rounds off with a visit to Votive Church to see Light of Creation, which is a 30-minute light show accompanied by classical music — a feast for the ears and eyes. The Belvedere Museum is a must. It's home to Gustav Klimt's famous painting The Kiss, painted in the early 1900s and depicting a couple in a golden embrace. The art and history inside the museum is breathtaking, and the grounds are just as beautiful, walking through them makes you feel as though you're in a scene from Bridgerton. The weather in early June was quite warm, and we took public transport or walked everywhere. It is surprisingly easy and stress-free for a visitor to navigate. The public transport system is so efficient most residents opt to pay an annual fee to take the tram, train or subway rather than own a car because it's easier, cheaper — and faster. It is soon time for a spot of shopping, and our personal guide Lucie takes us behind the scenes of the imperial shops that have been the choice for the royals for generations. First stop is R Scheer & Sohne, where seven generations have been making shoes for kings and kaisers since 1860. The shoemakers only make bespoke shoes — your first pair will set you back €10,000 ($17,930). Next, we visit one of the oldest jewellers in Vienna, A.E Kochert. The family has been creating beautiful jewels for more than 200 years, particularly for the royals. We are taken upstairs to view the most exquisite and delicate array of tiaras and jewellery once belonging to regal owners which have found their way back to the Kochert collection. Their most famous design is the Sisi Stars, which were commissioned by Empress Elisabeth. Originally, 27 of the stars were made for Sisi to wear in her hair, but could also be worn as a necklace, broach or in a tiara. The design is so iconic it is still ordered today — some paying up to €400,000 ($717,166) for a piece. At J & L Lobmeyr, we are shown the most exquisite glassware. We also learn it was where the first ever martini glass was designed — along with the first ever electric chandelier. To finish our four days in Vienna, we are treated to a hike through the vineyards, which are found within the city limits. They are accessible via public transport, and wine expert Caroline Derler tells us it's a popular outing for young people and families on a summer's night after work or on the weekend. After a walk taking in the scenic view of the city, we enjoy a spread of cheese with local wine sitting with friends among the vines. Cheers to that. + Shannon Hampton was a guest of Scoot and Austria Tourism. They have not influenced this story, or read it before publication. Scoot economy return flights from Perth to Vienna connect in Singapore. As a guide to prices, economy is from $954 return in August. In September it is from $860 return. In November it is from $883. Scoot Plus in September 2025 is from $1405 return. Economy seats in Scoot's twin-aisle Dreamliner have a seat width of 45cm and a seat pitch of 78cm (that's from one point on the seat to the same point on the seat in front). Scoot Plus seats are 55cm wide and have a pitch of 96cm. Scoot Plus includes 15kg of cabin baggage and 30kg of checked baggage.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Umrao Jaan recently returned to cinema: 4 Urdu novels still waiting for their big screen debut
Umrao Jaan recently returned to movie theatres. And with its return brought nostalgia and a reminder of the great Urdu literature that once inspired Indian cinema's most poetic moments. Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan, adapted from Mirza Hadi Ruswa's novel Umrao Jaan Ada, is much more than a cinematic gem. It is Urdu literature in motion. Lyrical and laced with longing. Urdu literature, widely known for its poetry, has some powerful novels that are largely overlooked. Umrao Jaan has had its moment on screen and many other Urdu novels, equally cinematic, are waiting for their big screen debut. So, as we swoon once more over the song, Dil cheez kya hai, here are some must-read Urdu books. A nation on the brink of change. A woman trying to find herself in the chaos. As India battles for independence, Shamman, a young woman, breaks away from purdah and dives into politics. But her passion for her country's independence is entangled with her love for an Irish journalist. With wit and honesty, Chughtai shows a woman's inner rebellion through love and the tug of war between desire and duty. A bold and way ahead of its time story. What happens when the world you belong to begins to disappear? In Basti, Zakir drifts between memory and reality, love and loss. Cities collapse and nations fracture around him. Intizar Hussain paints a haunting portrait of dislocation of home, time, identity and faith. Very detailed and very introspective. Basti is perfect for a slow, dreamlike cinematic adaptation. The kind that stays with you long after the screen fades. Naim rises from a peasant's son to a war hero. He marries into privilege. But none of it saves him from the weight of history. His love with Azra falters. His ideals collapse. His homeland becomes unfamiliar. What begins as a story of hope takes a twisted turn. The Weary Generations is a powerful tale. A love story between two very different people, just like the uneasy relationship between the British and their empire. A novel that aches to be adapted for the screen. Inside the walls of a haveli, a young woman watches the world fall apart. In The Women's Courtyard, Aliya grows up in a divided household full of secrets and sacrifices. This book shows what Partition looked like from the inside. From kitchens, balconies and broken dreams. As the men chase politics and ideals, the women are left to bear the cost. It's political and it's personal. This is a story that belongs on screen, told through the eyes of women holding everything together as it all falls apart. (The writer is an intern with
