Up steep steps, down a brightly signposted street in Tokyo, and behind a windowless door sits a “snack bar” that locals have long loved but has been closed to visitors—until recently. Snack bars are warm, nostalgic places that can be found all over Japan. They are frequently jam-packed into tiny spaces and have karaoke machines that reverberate long into the night. Usually, a lady known by the moniker “mama” runs them and engages in small talk with patrons while serving drinks and little bites like dried squid, almonds, or modest cooked meals.

Though the little, hidden pubs have been a mainstay of Japanese nightlife since the post-war era, their narrow layout can be daunting, particularly to foreign visitors. A company, thus, provides guided excursions to snack bars in the capital’s Shimbashi business sector, such as Kuriyakko. A family of Americans is heard singing “Hey Jude” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” while a poster depicting art deco is warmly illuminated by soft lights that bounce off the red wall tiles inside.

After viewing the trip on Instagram, Nora, who had lived in Japan, told AFP that she made reservations for her parents, sister, aunt, and uncle. “I’ve always seen the signs for snack bars, but I wasn’t sure of how to enter them, or what to do,” the 30-year-old stated. She did not want her last name to be made public and is currently based in San Francisco. “My family hasn’t really been in Japan very often, so it was a good opportunity to get a real experience of the bar culture” in a “jovial” yet “intimate” manner. A tour guide from Snack Yokocho shows the party how to say “cheers” in Japanese, “kanpai!” and how to order whiskey highballs and plum wine.

Roots of red light
“Mama” Kuri Awaji, who has been running Kuriyakko for 25 years, stands behind the bar wearing a sophisticated pastel kimono and wearing her hair up in a traditional manner. This snack bar is one of about 100,000 in Japan, according to Snack Yokocho, and some have a male “master” despite the majority being owned by women. With an emphasis on convivial discussion, the ambiance at snack bars is less sexually charged than at contemporary host and hostess clubs, although its origins may be traced back to Japan’s red-light districts.

According to Snack Yokocho spokesperson Mayuko Igarashi, several women turned to sex work after World War II in order to live, but anti-prostitution legislation were established around the time of the 1964 Olympics. They thus “took a simple wooden box to the regular street and served drinks and snacks” in order to generate income. These early snack restaurants gradually relocated indoors to smaller spaces that the women could run without needing to make elaborate food.

As per Igarashi, a lot of them were divorced and parenting their kids by themselves, which is why they were called “mama”. “It was difficult for them to work during the day when the children were around, so after they went to bed, women stood at the counter to work in the evening,” she continued.

In person
According to Igarashi, there were 200,000 snack bars in Japan in the 1950s and 60s, but as the “mama” retire or sell up, the number has decreased. Snack Yokocho reports that interest in their excursions is rising as a result of the record number of visitors to Japan. In addition to well-known locations like Kuriyakko, the company’s tour guides take guests to snack bars with unique themes, like a golf bar featuring an artificial putting green.

It also occasionally arranges excursions for Japanese ladies who are interested in learning about the culture of snack bars but are hesitant to knock on a closed door by themselves. Igarashi claimed that practically all of the patrons of the bars were guys for a long time. However, snack bars have evolved a “place for them to relax, or talk to ‘mama’ about their problems”.

Social media is where people chat a lot, but nothing matches in-person conversation after a difficult day, the speaker continued. “At a snack bar, people can look into each others’ eyes, and get to know each other very quickly — even strangers.”

General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in 
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in/

More than 70% of the planet is covered by the ocean, which is also our primary source of protein for more than a billion people worldwide. The ocean also generates at least 50% of the oxygen on Earth and is home to the majority of the planet’s species. Not to mention, the ocean is essential to the world economy, with 40 million jobs in ocean-based sectors predicted by 2030. There is a fascinating world of marine life hidden in the depths of the ocean; as many as two million marine species are still undiscovered, out of the approximately 230,000 that are currently described. Of course, one can also visit the well-known wrecks, such as the USS Saratoga, SS Thistlegorm, Hilma Hooker, SS Yongala, and RMS Titanic.

Top scuba diving spots in the world
Krabi, Thailand: One of Thailand’s largest coral reefs, Bamboo Island, is tucked away within the Phi Phi archipelago. This underwater wonderland, which spans nearly four football fields, has depths ranging from two to six meters. Float gracefully over stunning coral reefs in the Arabian Sea, which are teeming with colorful marine life.

Where to stay: The Ritz Carlton Reserve on Krabi’s Phulay Bay. In addition to guided dive adventures, the ultra-luxurious hotel arranges visits to the Phi Phi Islands, the Hong Islands, and Phang Nga Bay.

Diving Trip: Thai Bhat (TBH) 4,500 includes a guide, two dinners, hotel transfers, equipment rental, and two nights plus TBH 600 for national park fees (equivalent to Rs. 10,211 + 1,361).

Muscat the capital of Oman :is a unique mix of modern and old buildings. It is well-known for its vibrant markets, mouthwatering seafood, museums, and perpetually blooming gardens. Muscat is nestled between mountains and the ocean. Unbeknownst to many, the city is home to a fantastic underwater playground that is located right off the coast of Oman. There are more than 20 diving spots, including the renowned Al Munassir wreck and vibrant coral gardens.

Where to stay: Shangri-La Muscat is the ideal setting for water adventures, combining elegance and excitement.

Omani Rial (OMR) 60 for a guided dive, equipment rental, and an intro dive supplement (Rs. 12,947) is the cost of the diving trip.

Qatar: It should come as no surprise that this adventurer’s paradise is encircled by water. Beyond its sandy landscapes are amazing reefs, intriguing wrecks, and some enormous pelagic animals, such as whale sharks up close and dugongs feeding quietly on sea grass and sergeant majors gliding in and out of reefs. A unique diving experience is produced when you combine it with shore diving locations where the ocean and dunes meet, as well as offshore wrecks like the Pericles and the Mo. Explore the reefs’ lowest points, which reach maximum depths of 15 metres and swim alongside Arabian Blue Fish, Barracudas, or even nurse sharks.

At Poseidon Dive Center, beach dives, equipment rentals, underwater photography, refreshments, and transportation to the inland sea cost 1,400 Qatari Rials (Rs. 32,040).

Seychelles archipelago: Consisting of 115 distinct islands, the Seychelles archipelago lies tucked away in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Beneath the glittering azure surface are a variety of marine life and vivid coral reefs. With their glistening waters and towering granite boulders covered in greenery, the inner islands of Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue provide an amazing underwater exploration backdrop. There are interesting wrecks to investigate among these immaculate seas, such the Ennerdale, a sunken oil ship that is currently occupied by creatures from the deep.

The astounding diversity of marine life on the outer islands, where encounters with manta rays, whale sharks, and other marine species are common, complements the wall dives. Scuba diving the outer islands’ waters offers the possibility of amazing dives into Desroches Island’s caves and canyons, vibrant wall dives off Alphonse, and current dives into the primary artery feeding the world’s biggest elevated coral atoll, Aldabra Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Big Blue Divers: Total Rs. 6321 + Rs. 3612 (EUR 70 for guided dive, equipment rental, and underwater camera rental). The cost may differ based on the location and is for dives off the coast of Beau Vallon, Mahe.

Ras Al-Khaimah: From tranquil coral gardens to fascinating wrecks, Ras Al-Khaimah’s underwater worlds are a diver’s paradise, presenting a rich mosaic of marine life and hidden treasures. At a depth of 25 to 38 meters, the Alya Wreck is a unique dive site that appeals to both technical and recreational divers. Imagine yourself discovering sunken treasures, exploring vibrant coral gardens, and coming across inquisitive marine life against the backdrop of unending blue skies and crystal-clear waters.

Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island is the place to stay.

Diving Trip AED 400 for equipment rental, underwater photography and film, and guided dive (Rs. 9,000).

Reef Magnificence in all directions: With the exception of microorganisms and fungi, over 800 species of reef-building corals produce habitats that support an estimated 32% of all known marine species; 91% of marine species are yet unidentified. But not everyone is able to take in the beauty and richness of the ocean by diving in. However, The Ocean Agency’s 360-degree photos allow you to take in a 360-degree panorama of the beauty of the reef while lounging at home. On the UN page, you may also perform a 360-degree dive.

General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in 
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in/

As the financial hub looks to strengthen relations with mainland China, a new high-speed sleeper train service is expected to slash travel times between Hong Kong and Beijing and Shanghai by around half.

According to a statement from MTR Corp., the services, which begin on June 15 and operate Friday through Monday, will cut the average travel time between Beijing and Hong Kong from over a full day to 12.5 hours. Shanghai travel times will now just take 11 hours instead of 19.5, as announced by Hong Kong’s mass railway operator.

Travelers can spend as little as HK$937 ($120) to visit Beijing; a trip to Shanghai starts at HK$682 ($87), and sleepers are more expensive. This is in contrast to roughly $100 for a 3.5-hour journey in mid-June from Hong Kong to the capital of China and as little as $78 for a flight that takes less than three hours to go to Shanghai.

In addition to taking longer, the overnight train services will only operate once daily, while there will be at least twelve flights between Hong Kong and the two mainland cities during the weekend. On the route that is well-liked by both tourists and business travelers, long-haul daytime train services that last almost eight hours will still operate.

According to MTR, customers may now “maximize their travel time and conveniently plan their business or leisure itineraries” thanks to the introduction of sleeping trains. On June 5, tickets for the new service will go on sale.

General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in 
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in/