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Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
10 non-beachy things to do in Goa
Let's get something out of the way: Goa is not just a beach with a state attached to it. Sure, the sand and surf are iconic, but if you take a detour, you'll discover a wildly eclectic Goa—one that's quirky, culturally rich, and a bit eccentric (in the best way). If you're the kind of traveler who likes exploring the off-beat, here are 10 gloriously non-beachy things to do in Goa that prove the sunshine state is more than what it seems like. Hop on the Chorao Island Ferry No, it's not a scene from Life of Pi . The ferry to Chorao Island is your gateway to the Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, where the only thing crashing is the sound of wings in a mangrove forest. Herons, egrets, and maybe even a crocodile. Read more: Top 10 national parks in India ranked by tiger population Visit Fontainhas to time travel Wander into Panjim's Latin Quarter, where Portuguese-era homes wear pops of pastel like they're at an eternal Easter parade. It's like Instagram meets a history book—with less dust and more gelato. Play your tunes at the ruins of Cabo de Rama Fort Perched dramatically above cliffs, this centuries-old fort offers haunting ruins, breathtaking views, and possibly a ghost or two. Bonus: zero beach umbrellas. Check into a 200-year-old Portuguese mansion Think chandeliers, creaky floors, and colonial nostalgia. Stay at one of Goa's heritage homestays like Figueiredo House or Casa Menezes and live your 19th-century best life—with Wi-Fi, of course. Groove at a Silent Disco in Palolem Okay, it's near a beach—but dancing in silence with headphones under the stars while three DJs battle for your ears? That's next-level quirky. Explore the spice plantation Visit a spice plantation in Ponda, where cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom grow wilder than your beach hair. Bonus: elephants sometimes make guest appearances. Hike to the Tambdi Surla Temple Trek through dense forest to this 12th-century gem Mahadev Temple made of black basalt. It's a Hindu temple so ancient that you will feel like getting transported to some other time. Read more: 5 Buddhist sites in Andhra that feel like time travel Catch a film at the Cinephile Club Tired of sun and sand? Join Goa's coolest cine-lovers at the Cinephile Film Club in Panjim for indie and world cinema, often screened with commentary. Get lost in the Friday Mapusa Market It's chaos, it's color, it's bargaining galore. From local sausages to brass trinkets, you'll leave with a full bag and an even fuller photo roll. Learn to cook Goan Food Sign up for a Goan cooking class. Learn to work that coconut, conquer that xacuti, and basically level up your dinner parties forever. If you are keen to experience the other side of Goa, you will have ample choices. Whether you're sipping feni in a forest, spotting birds, or learning the delicate art of prawn balchão, the off-beach adventures are what truly set Goa apart. So next time, ditch the towel and dive into Goa's wonderfully weird inland wonders. You'll come back sun-kissed… and surprisingly well-read. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Where To Eat In Pondicherry If You Are Not Just Here For The Photos
You can blame Instagram for the post-pandemic rush of visitors to Pondicherry in the 2020s. Travellers no longer just drive in from Chennai or Bengaluru for the weekend - they arrive from all over India, drawn to the photogenic charm of this former French colony. The French Quarter (also known as White Town) has become the epicentre for content creators who have already marked out the best photo spots. Think bougainvillaea-draped yellow villas and sun-dappled streets, especially around Romain Rolland Street. It is here, on this iconic street, that you will now find Pondicherry's newest lifestyle cafe. Chennai's beloved Ciclo Cafe has opened in Upasana - a century-old French villa that comes with more than just retro architecture. Ang Lee's Life of Pi pushed Pondicherry onto the global map yet again with four Oscar wins and eleven nominations. Upasana, which features in the film as Pi's childhood home, has been one of Pondy's most photographed buildings ever since. We round up some of the best cafes in Pondicherry - places that double up as lifestyle destinations and serve more than just good coffee and dessert. Whether you are here for French toast or artisanal cocktails, White Town's cafe scene is all about slow living with great flavour. Also Read: Pondicherry: This French-Inspired Indian Town Will Make You Hit The Brakes On Life Looking For The Best Cafes In Pondicherry? Start With These Favourites: 1. Ciclo Cafe Ciclo Cafe is the latest entrant in a town known for its laidback cafe culture - places where breakfast at 11 am and lunch at 4 pm are perfectly acceptable. Set in a restored villa and spread across 7,000 sq. ft., Ciclo's Pondy outpost unfolds over two levels. Most diners are drawn to the upper floor, which offers sweeping views of the street below - the perfect setup for living your best Pondy life. The menu includes signature dishes like fig bruschetta, mutton biryani and thin-crust pizzas. The highlight, however, might be their small-batch ice creams - do try the Nutella or Pistachio. The cafe also serves hearty brunches and gourmet coffee. Location: Rue Romain Rolland 2. The Spot The yellow exterior wall of this cafeis one of Pondicherry's most Instagrammed backgrounds. But step inside and there is more - rooftop views of the Bay of Bengal, a laidback vibe and a menu that jumps between Italian and Indian. The Pain Perdu (that is French toast, in case you are wondering) and Tiramisu are worth ordering, as are the wood-fired pizzas and Pondicherry-style chicken curry. Location: Dumas Street 3. Coromandel Cafe Brought to life by the team behind Chennai's Amethyst, this stylish cafe is set in a pastel-hued French villa called La Maison Rose. With vintage Athangudi tiles underfoot and lush greenery all around, it is a mood. The menu blends European dishes with Indian accents, there are also seasonal specials and hand-crafted cocktails. Location: Rue Romain Rolland Also Read: 6 Of Pondicherry's Best Outdoor Dining Spaces 4. La Villa This restaurant is part of the boutique hotel La Villa and is tucked into a 19th-century mansion. The garden setting and columned arches give it a colonial-era feel. While the menu leans towards French fine dining, the kitchen uses fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Choose from à la carte dishes or go for the Chef's tasting menu if you are in the mood for something elaborate. Location: Rue Surcouf 5. Anthe Located close to the Rock Beach (as locals call it), Anthe is one of Pondicherry's newest fine dining restaurants. Opened in late 2023, it features four distinct seating areas, including an alfresco garden space. The menu covers a wide range - from fresh catch of the day to decadent desserts. Anthe comes alive in the evenings, making it an ideal dinner spot. Location: Rue Romain Rolland Also Read: Ironhill India Bangalore: Where Craft Beer Meets Culinary Delights And Good Vibes 6. Bread & Chocolate If you have ever been to Auroville, you know Bread & Chocolate. The White Town outpost brings that same energy, simple, high-quality bakes and croissants that rival anything you will find in Paris. The Pain au chocolat is possibly the best in town and pairs beautifully with their hand-brewed coffees. Also worth trying: the house-made sourdough and rich chocolate spreads. Location: Marine Street, near Aurobindo Ashram 7. Le Petit Four Pondicherry may have had French influence for centuries, but it took a while for proper Paris-style macarons to arrive. Le Petit Four finally fixed that. This charming little bakery serves up the finest macaroons, baguettes, croissants and sandwiches. A must-stop for anyone craving an authentic French pastry experience. Location: La Bourdonnais Street Advertisement About Ashwin Rajagopalan I am the proverbial slashie - a content architect, writer, speaker and cultural intelligence coach. School lunch boxes are usually the beginning of our culinary curiosity hasn't waned. It's only got stronger as I've explored culinary cultures, street food and fine dining restaurants across the world. I've discovered cultures and destinations through culinary motifs. I am equally passionate about writing on consumer tech and travel. For the latest food news, health tips and recipes, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and YouTube. Tags: Pondicherry Pondicherry Guide Cafes Show full article Comments
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How far mini-LED TV tech has evolved in 9 years and the 'dark side' of Netflix – what I learned on my visit with TCL
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. TCL is a major competitor in the TV market, especially in the world of mini-LED TVs. It has been responsible for some of the best TVs over the past few years, including last year's excellent TCL QM851G in the US and the TCL C855 in the UK. I recently attended an event showcasing TCL's 2025 UK and European TVs, including the C-series mini-LED models, which look primed to take on the best mini-LED TVs from Samsung and Hisense. TCL also carried out various tech demos at the event, including one that showed the inner and outer workings of a mini-LED TV. Three demos caught my eye in particular: one showing the evolution of TCL mini-LED TVs through the years; the deconstructed mini-LED mentioned above; and, lastly, one that revealed how bright or dark the picture can be with shows and movies on streaming services (in this instance, Netflix). Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 The first demo showed the evolution of mini-LED, specifically 65-inch TCL models from 2016 to 2025. The TVs used were the 65X1 (2016), 65X10 (2019), 65C825 (2020), and the 65C8K (2025). Over the years, TCL has added more local dimming zones to the backlights of its TVs, starting with 288 on the X1 and ending with 1,680 for the C8K. Seeing these models side-by-side, the picture quality advantage of having more zones was clear. Watching Life of Pi on the C8K, during a nighttime dream sequence, black levels were rich and contrasted well with the swirling, bright white lights of the spirits, thanks to the TV's greater number of dimming zones. The X10 was surprisingly the next best, but backlight blooming was more apparent, and shadows took on more of a dark gray tone. With a daytime sequence in Life of Pi, the C8K showcased the highest brightness and the most accurate color. Once again, the X10 was second, but the C825 fared better here with bolder colors in the tiger's fur and a stronger perceived depth. Unsurprisingly, the C8K reigned supreme, showing mini-LED's evolution and how important having more dimming zones can be to picture quality. Next up was a demo of the new TCL C-series mini-LED backlight in action, but without a screen to cover it. With the flagship C8K and mid-range C7K side-by-side, both showing the same fireworks video (also displayed on a 'master' screen), the C8K's backlight demonstrated not only higher brightness but more refined detail and stronger contrast than the C7K, which still looked great. Alongside these TVs was a deconstructed mini-LED TV, which had been cut to show the various layers you'd find in one of TCL's sets. This included the mini-LED backlight array (the layer on display in the demo) and three other layers, including one for Light Diffusion (for improved uniformity), QDEF (for enhanced colors) and Light Alignment for better brightness efficiency. Finally, there was the panel that we see on top (although this was turned off). Seeing the panel with its various layers, you could watch the picture taking form as it got further along, adding in the full details as the layers progressed. Netflix may be one of the most popular streaming services, but a Netflix 4K stream is the equivalent of a 1080p Blu-ray, at least in terms of bit-rate. (Streaming often averages around 17 Mbps, whereas standard Blu-ray averages around 40 Mbps, and 4K Blu-ray can hit as high as 128 Mbps, giving it superior picture clarity.) What about brightness? In TCL's demo, a Live Video Analyzer was hooked up to a C-series TV, showing not only the color gamut coverage of a Netflix 4K show but also its average and maximum brightness (in nits). Starting with Emily in Paris, the show hit an average of 40 nits throughout one scene. Doesn't sound very bright, does it? Changing to The Crown, a darkened hallway scene averaged 1 nit. Yes, only 1 nit! This was the same story when cycling through various movies and TV shows on Netflix: the average brightness was lower than I anticipated. The Cloverfield Paradox had a potential max brightness of 700 nits, but only averaged 17 nits in one particular scene. Planet Earth II also hit similar numbers, despite having a very colorful green frog on screen. The takeaway? Your TV may be capable of high brightness, but not everything you watch will take advantage of that capability. I saw a mini-LED 4K TV demo without the pixels – and wow, do more local dimming zones make a difference OLED, mini-LED, LED – which TV type is best for energy efficiency? I spent weeks reviewing the feature-filled TCL QM7K, and it's a great TV that fixes a big problem with mini-LED
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
10 Movie night food ideas at home
Whether you're hosting a film night, or snuggling up on the couch with your loved ones, here are 10 movie night food ideas to turn your living room into a cinematic feast. Cosy up, press play, and dig in! 10 at-home movie experiences 1. Fantasy feasts Movie inspo: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Life of Pi, Pirates of the Carribean Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Life of Pi, Pirates of the Carribean Menu idea: Think hearty, magical, and medieval Think hearty, magical, and medieval Recipe ideas: Classic roast chicken (don't forget the 'tater's precious), shepard's pie, veggie ragu, and pumpkin pie for dessert Classic roast chicken (don't forget the 'tater's precious), shepard's pie, veggie ragu, and pumpkin pie for dessert Tip: Pair with home-made butterbeer or hot chocolate (with extra marshmallows for full Hogwarts vibes) 2. Thriller and horror night bites Movie inspo: Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Silence of the Lambs, Hereditery, The Conjuring Gone Girl, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Silence of the Lambs, Hereditery, The Conjuring Menu idea: Nail-biting scenes call for indulgent snacks. Bonus points if your dessert is darker than the plot twists Nail-biting scenes call for indulgent snacks. Bonus points if your dessert is darker than the plot twists Recipe ideas: Create a spook-worthy charcuterie board for anxious-eating, or devilled eggs, bloody beet soup, and pair with an indulgent dark chocolate tart for dessert Create a spook-worthy charcuterie board for anxious-eating, or devilled eggs, bloody beet soup, and pair with an indulgent dark chocolate tart for dessert Tip: Have a glass of fine red wine at the ready to calm those nerves 3. Sci-fi suppers 4. Italian mobster feasts 5. Action-packed fuel Movie inspo: Taken, Mission Impossible, The Bourne Series, Fast and Furious, Captain America: The Winter Soldier Taken, Mission Impossible, The Bourne Series, Fast and Furious, Captain America: The Winter Soldier Menu idea: Quick, bold, and satisfying Quick, bold, and satisfying Recipe ideas: Loaded burgers, chicken wings, vegan nachos, and beef short rib tacos Loaded burgers, chicken wings, vegan nachos, and beef short rib tacos Tip: Make sure to wash it all down with a cold local beer or mocktails with a punch 6. Rom-com comfort food Movie inspo: 10 Things I Hate About You, No Strings Attached, Notting Hill, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Anyone But You 10 Things I Hate About You, No Strings Attached, Notting Hill, How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Anyone But You Menu ideas: Think cute, comforting, and a little bit cheeky Think cute, comforting, and a little bit cheeky Recipe ideas: Mac and cheese with a twist, pan-fried lobster, grilled cheese sandwich, oxtail pot roast, and pair with a dreamy chocolate dessert to end with something sweet 7. Comedy crowd pleasers 8. Romance night in Movie inspo: The Idea of You, The Notebook, Me Before You, Pretty Woman, Brokeback Mountain The Idea of You, The Notebook, Me Before You, Pretty Woman, Brokeback Mountain Menu ideas: Elegant and indulgent Elegant and indulgent Recipe ideas: Coq au vin, classic steak dinner, creamy alfredo pasta, and pair with a refreshing matcha-coconut panna cotta for dessert Coq au vin, classic steak dinner, creamy alfredo pasta, and pair with a refreshing matcha-coconut panna cotta for dessert Tip: Soft music, candles, and your favourite person 9. Disney and Pixar marathon meals 10. Drama and bold flavours Movie night has never sounded (or tasted) this good. With a little planning and the right company, an ordinary night in becomes an unforgettable feast. Which movie night food ideas will you try first? ALSO SEE: Creative, fun and delicious cocktail drink alternatives The post 10 Movie night food ideas at home appeared first on Food & Home Magazine.
Los Angeles Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Life of Pi' at the Ahmanson: An enchanting journey on the high seas
The natural world is aswirl in 'Life of Pi,' a marvelously inventive stage adaptation of Yann Martel's 2002 Booker Prize-winning novel. This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish. Rather than try to compete with the technological thrills of the 2012 film that earned director Ang Lee an Academy Award, this national tour of 'Life of Pi' succeeds through magical simplicity. My senses were dazzled when I first saw the show on Broadway in 2023, but my heart was completely won over at the Ahmanson Theatre, where this production opened on Wednesday. The story revolves around the survival at sea of a 17-year-old boy named Pi Patel (a mesmerizing Taha Mandviwala) after the Japanese cargo ship transporting his family sinks en route to Canada. The souls lost on board include Pi's zookeeper father's fantastical collection of animals. In a lifeboat with barely any supplies for 227 days, Pi somehow manages to escape the fate that leaves his parents, sister and most (but not all) of his bestial companions at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. How did he pull off the miracle? That is the question posed at the start of Lolita Chakrabarti's adaptation by two visitors to Pi's hospital room: Mr. Okamoto (Alan Ariano) from the Japanese Ministry of Transport and Lulu Chen (Mi Kang), from the Canadian Embassy, both of whom have traveled to Mexico, where the boy was washed ashore. Pi, whose mathematical name is derived from Piscine, the French word for swimming pool, is recovering from his near-death journey. Mr. Okamoto, charged with preparing an official report, is determined to find out the exact circumstances of the shipwreck. But Pi is only able to relate the fanciful version of events that allowed him to survive for so long at sea without food or drinkable water. The staging transitions in dreamlike fashion from the hospital to Pondicherry, India, where Pi grew up in a happy, hectic ferment of adolescence. Chakrabarti turns Pi's teasing older brother, Ravi, in the novel into an older sister named Rani (Sharayu Mahale), a math whiz, in the play. The institutional medical setting becomes the background for a tale that doesn't finely distinguish between memory and imagination, one realm bleeding freely into the next. Fortunately, the scenic design of Tim Hatley, who also did the costumes, isn't bound by the traditional laws of physics. The perfectly adjudged video and animation design of Andrzej Goulding, the magnificent lighting of Tim Lutkin and Tim Deiling and the propulsive sound of Carolyn Downing puts time and space under the able command of director Max Webster. Pi's family is moving to escape an increasingly chaotic society. 'This government shows us bad behavior has no consequences,' Pi's father (Sorab Wadia) laments to his wife (Jessica Angleskhan), in a line that lands differently today than it did two years ago on Broadway. When the opportunity to relocate to Canada arrives, the choice is obvious but no less painful for being so. The animals, having no one else to care for them, will have to emigrate too, transforming the cargo vessel into a modern-day Noah's Ark. An orangutan named Orange Juice, a hyena beyond the reach of human feeling and, crucially, a royal Bengal tiger with an imperious mien named Richard Parker have prominent roles in Pi's recollection of his harrowing voyage after the shipwreck. These animals, the creation of inspired puppet designer Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell, are fluidly deployed by a team of graceful puppeteers, who preserve the essential dignity of these creatures without effacing their ferocity. The sight of Richard Parker, a growling behemoth of musculature and whiskers, is the most fearsome. Pi, who feels at one with the natural world, has to be taught to be afraid of a creature that could end his life with a single swipe of his claw. (The harsh lesson, administered by his father, reaffirms Lord Tennyson's image of nature as 'red in tooth and claw.') Although raised Hindu, Pi partakes of religious services from many sects. His mother is bemused to hear that her son attended mosque, temple and church on the same day. There's a holy fool quality to the boy, who is the subject of teasing. But Pi is precociously enlightened, his innocence not a problem to be rectified but a quality to be reverenced. In New York, Chakrabarti's book struck me as clumsy in places, particularly in the first act. But I had no such misgiving at the Ahmanson, whether because of some slight editing or perhaps just a smoother handling of the setup moments. Some might resist the work's spiritual earnestness, but I'd say it's an ideal time to consider more deeply our belief system. If 'Life of Pi' has a moral to impart, it's that what we choose to believe has as profound an effect on our experience of reality as what we rationally know to be true. The play, following the novel's lead, is a parable of overcoming. Pi confronts tragedy but refuses to lose what gives his life meaning. He makes sacrifices that he never thought he'd have to make. A devout vegetarian, he is forced to capture and kill a swimming turtle, then share the meat and blood with Richard Parker, a carnivore without conscience. 'Life of Pi' doesn't dwell on the deaths of Pi's loved ones. A cloak of magical realism is thrown over aspects of the story that might prove too disturbing. But the inexorable facts of mortality are glimpsed in the way the animals are depicted onstage. As hunger overtakes Pi and Richard Parker, the tiger's skeleton starts to call attention to itself. The turtle is devoured before our eyes in a way that, while cheekily theatricalized, doesn't leave any doubt that the price of this meal is murder. But the darkness of the tale helps us see the shimmering beauty of the universe that keeps Pi from succumbing to a watery grave. The stage transforms into a planetarium of wonder. Are the meerkats that appear near the end of the story real or a hallucination? What difference does it make when Pi sees them as clearly as he holds a conversation with Richard Parker? When he finally offers Mr. Okamoto a starker account of what happened to him, a chronicle affirming his father's long-held view that man is the most dangerous animal of all, the lesson of 'Life of Pi' is thrown into stark relief: Truth is not necessarily the same thing as wisdom. Mandviwala's performance as Pi makes this adventure tale both exhilarating and emotionally profound. In circumnavigating distant seas, this majestic production recovers some lost treasure of childhood.
