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Arabian night, fusion, fireworks... Three cheers, '04!
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Cool dude DJs are ready and so are mouth-watering menus. Technopark Club, Trivandrum Club and top hotels are high on the New Year eve fever. Where will you be?
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YOU CAN feel it in the air-the New Year fever. The city is gearing up to say goodbye to 2003 and to usher in '04 with customary gaiety and festivity.This year too the city's youth are waiting to paint the town red with their year-end fervour.
All major hotels and restaurants are sprucing themselves up for the occasion and elaborate arrangements are being made to match the spirits of their customers-the young and the young-at-heart.
The South Park is bringing in a live band from Kochi for its customers to rock and sway as they get into the New Year and the DJ will help you choose the music. The food fiesta, there will comprise around 30 dishes. Children will be kept busy with magic shows, games and lots of gifts, while the parents can have a peaceful meal and participate in the merriment. "Our ticket rate is going to be a surprise," says Nagappan Nair, Manager (food and beverages).
Kovalam Hotels are also treading along a similar path. They are also planning a band from Kochi, a DJ from Bangalore and fusion dance. "But our main attraction will be the 13-course multi-cuisine buffet," says Shyam, the hotel manager. But then the night will leave every participating couple poorer by Rs. 3,999.
Muthoot Plaza is planning on an Arabian night theme for their celebrations. The attendants and other staff will be dressed up in Arabian attire and the venue will have the backdrop of a desert. The buffet will have a few Arabian dishes, apart from Continental, Chinese, Indian delicacies. The first 100 entrants will get a gift voucher worth Rs. 250, which could be exchanged for dresses at the Wills Lifestyle store. And the damage to the wallet for the night? Rs. 2,700 per couple.
Clubs in the city are also a new year-eve force to reckon with. The Technopark Club is organizing a bash not only for its members, but also for outsiders. The celebrations will be replete with live music, party games and a multi-cuisine dinner at an aesthetically illuminated venue. While a member pays Rs. 150, the guests have to dish out an additional Rs. 25 as entry fee. There will be fireworks to mark the arrival of New Year.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for something different, you could drop by the Trivandrum Club. The Club has arranged for a music concert by Gangai Amaran's troupe, and Vijay Yesudas will be the main singer. There will also be a mimicry show by Jayaraj Warrier, the indispensable cinematic dance and fashion show. All this, plus a buffet, at Rs. 200 for club members and Rs. 650 for the guests, who are only allowed inside accompanied by the members.
Many competitions are also incorporated into these bashes, prizes for which range from holidays at popular resorts and home appliances to even mobile phone connections.
But there is also a wary lot who want to stay away from the rat race. Says Shanthimohan of the Aakulam tourist village, "Every year we used to organise a heavy bash here for New Year eve. But things get out of hand after the guests have a swig or two." So this year they have rented out the poolside for a company get-together, which, he feels, would be more disciplined and less cumbersome.
Now, the main question is, how many are going to these big-buck, high-decibel celebrations? Not too many, it would appear...
"For the past two years, my friends and me have been celebrating New Year outside Kerala. It was Bangalore then, but this year, we have planned for Chennai, which I hear is a real hip place to be in, this season," says Pravin, a graduate student of Mar Ivanios.
"Go for a New Year bash in Bangalore or Mumbai, you would never want to be here, whatever the city has to offer," says Nitya a plus-two student. She prefers going to Bangalore with her parents and having a gala time with her cousins.
Then there are those who want to be adventurous and go trekking. "We are a gang of 10 and we have planned to go to Agasthyarkoodam. We plan to stay the night in a tent and welcome the New Year differently," says Joe, an MCA student.
Action and merriment! Every way you can think of - that is '04 eve for you.
AMBIKA VARMA
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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