Ustad Rais Khan of Indore/Pakistan .....

I deserve better access to Indian fans: Rais Khan

Malini Nair | March 17, 2012

Even at 74, Rais Khan is every inch the flamboyant genius ustad with a remarkable knack for setting off controversies. Lahore has been home for him for two decades but this is where his music and heart lie.
He is the last of his tribe, the ustads with larger-than-life personalities who are impetuous, stylish, opinionated, acerbic and with fiery musical talents. Ustad Rais Khan, in fact, lives up to his name. There is nothing small or retiring about the sitar wizard who moved to Pakistan in 1986 and has since lived in a state of longing for his fan base back home in India.

"This is the gaddh (home) of classical music. I need to play here. I say give me a visa for a year, five years. I was born in Indore, grew up in Bhopal, studied at St Xavier's in Mumbai, got my taleem (education) here. Meri mitti yahan ki hai (I belong to this soil) Surely I don't deserve this, " he says querulously. 'This' is the never-ending visa battle the ustad has to wage every time he comes to India, which is often for half a year.

There is a fair chance that almost every Indian has heard Rais Khan play sitar. Not on the concert stage but as keen - or even chance listeners - of Hindi film classics. Unless you lead a hermit's life, you are likely to have heard the bright sitar strains of Baiyaan na dharo or Nainon mein badra chhaaye in a passing auto or at the istriwallah's table. And that is no mean achievement for a high-brow musician. From OP Nayyar to Madan Mohan, he has played for some of the most famous composers of Bollywood of the '60s and '70s.

"Everyone says classical music is up there, I say film music of those years was right next to it, " he says. The ustad is sitting at Rikhi Ram Music Shop in Delhi's Connaught Place getting his sitar sorted. Two months ago, instrument maker Sanjay Rikhi Ram managed to rig up a sitar that, the ustad says, is an instrument he has been searching for for 50 years.

The last few months have been good for the ustad. He managed to be 'home' for longer than visa red tape would allow him, performed at about four concerts, and is being invested next Thursday with the Pandit Amarnath Vaggeykar Samman instituted in the memory of Ustad Amir Khan's foremost disciple. "Bahut badi baat hai (it's a big thing)... for someone from Pakistan, " he adds.

His angst is easy to understand. Of his 100 listeners, says his very talented son Farhan, only five live in Pakistan. The rest are here. It is a limited but loyal fan base which never really grew because of his absence from the concert stage. Why did he move? That is a question which gets thrown at him a lot. "I ask aisa koi hai jisne mohabbat nahin ki (is there anyone who hasn't fallen in love)? " he says referring to the fact that he crossed the border for his Pakistani wife, Bilquees Khanum, and the mother of his two sons.
His move to Lahore had been fraught to say the least - he was said to have alleged a bias against Muslim artistes in India (he now denies this). The bitterness this caused swelled and survived over two decades and soured for good his relationship with the Indian music fraternity. There was even a call to prevent him from singing in Mumbai recently.

And then there is the unending, very acerbic and publicly fought gharana feud between him and the family of Ustad Vilayat Khan (his maternal uncle) over the authorship of the gayaki (singing) style of playing the sitar. In January, at a concert in Delhi, Khan had in a prelude to his performance spoken of how he evolved the gayaki style of playing his sitar. Vilayat Khan's daughter, Yaman, present in the audience had publicly berated him for appropriating the credit for what she maintained was her father's gift to music.

"I belong to Mewat gharana and I play the style my father Ustad Mohammed Khansaheb taught me. Mujhe aur kisi se matlab nahin hain (I'm not bothered about anyone else), " he says imperiously but this display of diplomacy is short lived. "Likho, " he says listing the names of his ancestors going back to the Hassu-Haddu-Nathu Khan triumvirate who are said to have founded khayal singing. "It takes three-four generations and more than 100 years for a gharana to be formed. Otherwise, who is to stop Bombay, Calcutta, Patna, Hyderabad gharanas?" he asks, bursting into an infectious cackle at his own joke.

His impetuousness has caused him more trouble than he would care to remember, including a falling out with the legendary Madan Mohan, a loss for music lovers because they were a crackling creative team (Khan's vocalised playing style worked wonderfully for movie tunes). Sitar was a constant base to Mohan's film tunes so much so that in many of his songs it is hard to figure out if the music director showcased Rais Khan's brilliance or the sitarist raised the tunes to greater heights (see box). Madan Mohan's son Sanjeev Kohli says that after the two men fell out over payment issues, his father never again used the sitar in his songs.

But his concert style is radically different from that of his contemporaries - Pandit Ravi Shankar and the late Vilayat Khan. There is a lot of banter, questions and chit chatting with the audiences, which is unheard of in sombre classical concerts. "Kyon bhai, pasand nahin aaya?" he calls out to a youngster scurrying out of the IIC auditorium last week in the middle of a lovely Charukeshi raga. And after playing a brilliant gamak, he peers into the hall and asks: "Kaisa laga (how was it)? "

He is defiant about his informal concert style. "Bana rehna chahiye (have to remain connected ). I am playing to connoisseurs so I need to ask 'Taan saaf hai na? (Is the phrase clear)' Arre, if they say no I can always rectify myself, " he says.

His sisters' home in Mumbai is his anchor in India. In Delhi, he has been frequenting the Rikhi Ram music shop which he has had a connection with since the patriarch of the business set up shop. "He has a unique style, his music is vocal, open and has unique tonal variations, bright, sharp and very sweet to hear, " points out Rikhi Ram, himself an accomplished musician.



SITAR SCORES 
Ham hain mataye kucha | 'Dastak' | 1970 
Aaj socha to aanso bhar aaye | 'Hanste Zakhm' | 1973 
Maine rang li aaj chunariya | 'Dulhan Ek Raat Ki' | 1967 
Nainon mein badra chhaaye | 'Mera Saaya' | 1966 
Tumhari zulf ke saaye main | 'Naunihal' | 1967 
Baiyaan na dharo | 'Dastak' | 1970 
Meri ankhon se koyi | 'Pooja ke Phool' | 1964 
The 'Pakeezah' theme | 1972 

​The Ustad plays Raag Nand Kalyan......​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YmE-WoIzWQ0#at=502

Flowers are a kind of F-word ............

FLOWERS THAT CAN SPEAK

Applied Fashion: real or fake, flowers are nature’s walk-in wardrobe. For Rebecca Willis they burst with ready-to-wear allure

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, July/August 2013

A curious thing happened to me not long ago. As I walked along a rather stuffy, upmarket street in central London, complete strangers smiled at me. Odder still, some stopped and spoke to me, and made complimentary remarks. It was like being in a twisted version of a Lynx advert. I was suddenly eye-catching and attractive to both men and women. And this is why: I was carrying an armful of enormous, glorious, in-full-bloom hydrangeas. Each flower-head was about six inches across, in shades from lovat green through powder-blue to inky violet. They were lush and bursting with life, a beautiful blast of nature in the middle of the city. And people could not resist them.

Even if we don’t talk to them, flowers communicate with us. People respond to them with lit-up faces and the "aaah" noises they usually reserve for babies and puppies. A coiffed dowager-type told me they made her want to dance; a Vietnamese man said that in his country hydrangeas were special. I love flowers, but I’d always thought Interflora’s "say it with flowers" slogan was really about levering money out of repressed males who couldn’t articulate their feelings. On that day, though, over the course of a few hundred yards, I realised that flowers can speak, and that what they say makes people happy.

Flowers are the most natural form of adornment. Nature’s jewellery, if you like. People have probably been plucking them and sticking them in their hair or behind an ear since, well, since people began. They show no signs of stopping. Flower-printed fabrics are ubiquitous in the clothing business, but I’m talking here about three-dimensional blooms. Last year, Lady Gaga wore a full-face helmet made of flowers. In 2007 Alexander McQueen showed his Sarabande dress, so embroidered with artificial and fresh flowers it looked like it needed a full-time gardener. Chanel has put tweed flowers on shoes, Prada suede ones. Lulu Guinness has made handbags that look like flower pots with a single large silken bloom on top. Flowers appear on hats and fascinators at weddings and the races, on flip-flops down at the beach and on hair-slides in kindergarten.

Now that artificial flowers have become so realistic, the attitude to them has changed and we’re less snobbishly resistant to them. Perhaps that’s one reason fake flowers now feature so much in what we wear. They still keep to their rightful seasons, though. The fashion industry has failed, despite repeated
efforts, to get us to wear even prints of flowers in winter. And they remain female territory: although Paul Smith has successfully appropriated floral prints for men’s shirts, you don’t often see men wearing real (or fake) flowers unless they’re on a catwalk or in morning dress. Even if they’re carrying a bunch on Valentine’s or Mother’s Day, they tend to have that self-conscious, these-are-for-someone-else look on their face.

The story of Western art has a trail of blossoms running through it: Botticelli’s possibly pregnant Primavera, Rembrandt’s portraits of his wife Saskia as Flora, goddess of flowers and spring, Manet’s Olympia, who has a bloom the same colour as her lips behind her left ear, Georgia O’Keeffe’s overtly sexual flower paintings, which depict petals like intimate folds of flesh. Flowers and fertility have always gone together, and that’s not symbolism, that’s biological fact. A flower is designed to attract pollinators with its colour and smell, and so aid reproduction. Fashion would be mad not to make use of such powerful, ready-made allure—often to the same end. In paintings of Adam and Eve there are images of fruit rather than flowers: the Fall happened in the Fall, when there were apples on the trees. Flowers are about both innocence and sexual promise, fruit is its fulfilment.

If you think about the sex-life of flowers for too long—and you might say I have—it begins to feel almost uncomfortably explicit to wear them. I don’t want to be part of the sexualisation of the modern world, but I am starting to see my stroll along the street with those gorgeous hydrangeas in a different light. They were pumping out fertility signals with the power of a radio beacon. It may be subliminal, but no wonder people paid attention. Now I know why they put a smile on people’s faces: flowers are a kind of F-word. 

Rebecca Willis is our associate editor and a former travel editor of Vogue

Illustration Bill Brown

"Beijing 2008" by Chinese-Canadian artist Liu Yi

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ainting "Beijing 2008" by Chinese-Canadian artist Liu Yi.

The woman with the tattoos on her back is China. On the left, focused intensely on the game, is Japan. The one with the shirt and head cocked to the side is America. Lying provocatively on the floor is Russia. And the little girl standing to the side is Taiwan.

This painting, named “Beijing 2008”, has been the subject of much discussion in the west as well as on the internet. What’s interesting is that this painting is called “Beijing 2008”, yet it depicts four women playing mahjong, and conceals a wealth of meaning within…

China’s visible set of tiles “East Wind” has a dual meaning. First, it signifies China’s revival as a world power. Second, it signifies the military might and weaponry that China possesses has already been placed on the table. On one hand, China appears to be in a good position, but we cannot see the rest of her hand. Additionally, she is also handling some hidden tiles below the table.

America looks confident, but is glancing at Taiwan, trying to read something off of Taiwan’s expression, and at the same time seems to be hinting something at Taiwan.

Russia appears to be disinterested in the game, but this is far from the truth. One foot hooks coyly at America, while her hand passes a hidden tile to China, both countries can be said to be exchanging benefits in secret. Japan is all seriousness while staring at her own set of tiles, and is oblivious to the actions of the others in her self-focused state.


Taiwan wears a traditional red slip, symbolizing that she is the true heir of Chinese culture and civilization. In one hand she has a bowl of fruit, and in the other, a paring knife. Her expression as she stares at China is full of anger, sadness, and hatred, but to no avail; unless she enters the game, no matter who ends up as the victor, she is doomed to a fate of serving fruit.

Outside the riverbank is darkened by storm clouds, suggesting the high tension between the two nations is dangerously explosive. The painting hanging on the wall is also very meaningful; Mao’s face, but with Chiang Kai Shek’s bald head, and Sun Yat-Sen’s mustache.

The four women’s state of undress represent the situation in each country. China is naked on top, clothed with a skirt and underwear on the bottom. America wears a bra and a light jacket, but is naked on the bottom. Russia has only her underwear left. Japan has nothing left.

At first glance, America appears to be most composed and seems to be the best position, as all the others are in various states of nakedness. However, while America may look radiant, her vulnerability has already been exposed. China and Russia may look naked, yet their key private parts remain hidden.

If the stakes of this game is that the loser strips off a piece of clothing, then if China loses, she will be in the same state as Russia (similar to when the USSR dissolved). If America loses, she also ends up in the same state as Russia. If Russia loses, she loses all. Japan has already lost everything.

Russia seems to be a mere “filler” player, but in fact is exchanging tiles with China. The real “filler” player is Japan, for Japan has nothing more to lose, and if she loses just once more she is immediately out of the game.

America may look like she is in the best position, but in fact is in a lot of danger, if she loses this round, she will give up her position as a world power. Russia is the most sinister, playing along with both sides, much like when China was de-occupied, she leaned towards the USSR and then towards America; as she did not have the ability to survive on her own, she had to weave between both sides in order to survive and develop.

There are too many of China’s tiles that we cannot see. Perhaps suggesting that China has several hidden aces? Additionally China is also exchanging tiles with Russia, while America can only guess from Taiwan’s expression of what actions have transpired between Russia and China. Japan on the other hand is completely oblivious, still focused solely on her own set of tiles.

Taiwan stares coldly at the game from aside. She sees everything that the players at the table are doing, she understands everything that is going on. But she doesn’t have the means or permission to join the game, she isn’t even given the right to speak. Even if she has a dearth of complaints, she cannot voice it to anyone, all she can do is to be a good page girl, and bring fresh fruit to the victor.

The final victor lies between China and America, this much is apparent. But look closely; while America is capable, they are playing Chinese Mahjong, not Western Poker. Playing by the rules of China, how much chance at victory does America really have?

The ability to hire well is random

“We found that brainteasers are a complete waste of time. How many golf balls can you fit into an airplane? How many gas stations in Manhattan? A complete waste of time. They don’t predict anything. They serve primarily to make the interviewer feel smart.”

That was just one of the many fascinating revelations that Laszlo Bock, Google’s senior vice president for people operations, shared with me in an interview that was part of the New York Times’ special section on Big Data published Thursday.

Bock’s insights are particularly valuable because Google focuses its data-centric approach internally, not just on the outside world. It collects and analyzes a tremendous amount of information from employees (people generally participate anonymously or confidentially), and often tackles big questions such as, “What are the qualities of an effective manager?” That was question at the core of its Project Oxygen, which I wrote about for the Times in 2011.

I asked Bock in our recent conversation about other revelations about leadership and management that had emerged from its research.

The full interview is definitely worth your time, but here are some of the highlights:

The ability to hire well is random. “Years ago, we did a study to determine whether anyone at Google is particularly good at hiring,” Bock said. “We looked at tens of thousands of interviews, and everyone who had done the interviews and what they scored the candidate, and how that person ultimately performed in their job. We found zero relationship. It’s a complete random mess, except for one guy who was highly predictive because he only interviewed people for a very specialized area, where he happened to be the world’s leading expert.”

Forget brain-teasers. Focus on behavioral questions in interviews, rather than hypotheticals. Bock said it’s better to use questions like, “Give me an example of a time when you solved an analytically difficult problem.” He added: “The interesting thing about the behavioral interview is that when you ask somebody to speak to their own experience, and you drill into that, you get two kinds of information. One is you get to see how they actually interacted in a real-world situation, and the valuable ‘meta’ information you get about the candidate is a sense of what they consider to be difficult.”

Consistency matters for leaders. “It’s important that people know you are consistent and fair in how you think about making decisions and that there’s an element of predictability. If a leader is consistent, people on their teams experience tremendous freedom, because then they know that within certain parameters, they can do whatever they want. If your manager is all over the place, you’re never going to know what you can do, and you’re going to experience it as very restrictive.

GPAs don’t predict anything about who is going to be a successful employee. “One of the things we’ve seen from all our data crunching is that G.P.A.’s are worthless as a criteria for hiring, and test scores are worthless — no correlation at all except for brand-new college grads, where there’s a slight correlation,” Bock said. “Google famously used to ask everyone for a transcript and G.P.A.’s and test scores, but we don’t anymore, unless you’re just a few years out of school. We found that they don’t predict anything. What’s interesting is the proportion of people without any college education at Google has increased over time as well. So we have teams where you have 14 percent of the team made up of people who’ve never gone to college.”

That was a pretty remarkable insight, and I asked Bock to elaborate.

“After two or three years, your ability to perform at Google is completely unrelated to how you performed when you were in school, because the skills you required in college are very different,” he said. “You’re also fundamentally a different person. You learn and grow, you think about things differently. Another reason is that I think academic environments are artificial environments. People who succeed there are sort of finely trained, they’re conditioned to succeed in that environment. One of my own frustrations when I was in college and grad school is that you knew the professor was looking for a specific answer. You could figure that out, but it’s much more interesting to solve problems where there isn’t an obvious answer. You want people who like figuring out stuff where there is no obvious answer.”

Harvard study : Smart Phones

Smartphone use may make you wussy, says Harvard study

Harvard study shows that the size of a device, and your body posture using it, influences your behavior and demeanor.

by Amanda Kooser

 June 24, 2013 10:37 AM PDT

Do you hunch when you work on your smartphone?

(Credit: Apple)

Your reputation as a tough, hard-nosed business go-getter may take a hit if you spend a lot of time using your little smartphone. A study conducted by researchers at Harvard Business School suggests that using devices with small screens can cause people to behave less assertively than those using larger screens.

"Grounded in research showing that adopting expansive body postures increases psychological power, we hypothesized that working on larger devices, which forces people to physically expand, causes users to behave more assertively," reads the abstract of the paper, titled "iPosture: The Size of Electronic Consumer Devices Affects Our Behavior."

The study used 75 participants who were randomly assigned to perform tasks on various devices. The researchers chose to go with Apple products representing a range of sizes, though the results could be extrapolated to other brands. Participants used an iPod Touch, aniPad, a MacBook Pro, or an iMac.

Once the tasks were finished, the researcher told the participant, "I will be back in five minutes to debrief you, and then pay you so that you can leave. If I am not here, please come get me at the front desk." The researcher then waited up to 10 minutes to return. Participants who had been using smaller devices took longer to go fetch the researcher than those using larger devices.

The paper concludes with a bit of advice. "Many of us spend hours each day interacting with our electronic devices. In professional settings we often use them to be efficient and productive. We may, however, lose sight of the impact the device itself has on our behavior and as a result be less effective. We suggest that some time before going into a meeting, and obviously also during it, you put your cell phone away."The researchers trace this correlation to the body posture people adopt when using devices. Smartphones and tablet users tend to hunch over their devices and contract their bodies. Desktops users tend to have a more open posture."Participants interacting with smaller devices were less assertive than participants interacting with larger devices," says the study.

How long the participants waited to get the researcher, and whether they left at all. (Click to enlarge.)

(Credit: Harvard Business School)

"Do we have enough Jews......?

The General at a Russian Military Academy  gave a lecture on "Potential

​ ​

Problems and Military Strategy in Future Wars".  At the end of the lecture,he 

asked if there were any questions.

 An officer stood up and asked, "Will there be a third World War? And will

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Russia take part in it?" The general answered both questions in the

​ ​

affirmative. Another officer asked, "Who will be the enemy?" The general

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replied, "All indications point to China." Everyone in the audience was
 

shocked... A third officer remarked, "General, we a nation of only 150

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million, compared to the 1.5 billion Chinese.  Can we win at all, or even

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survive?"

 The general answered, "Just think about this for a moment :  In modern

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warfare, it is not the quantity of soldiers that matters but the quality of

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an army’s capabilities.  For example, in the Middle East we have had a few

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wars recently where 5 million Jews fought against 150 million Arabs, and

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Israel was always victorious."

 After a small pause, yet another officer – from the rear of the auditorium

​ ​

asked, "Do we have enough Jews......???"

BrahMos can't be intercepted in next 20 years

BrahMos, developed jointly in a strategic partnership between Indian DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is a stealth cruise missile with a range of 290 km and travels at a speed of Mach 2.8 to 3.

NEW DELHI: BrahMos, the world's only supersonic cruise missile and a symbol of theIndia's military prowess has been billed to be "uninterceptable" for the "next 20 years", by none other than the "father of BrahMos" himself.

"The equivalent of BrahMos is yet to built. And, in the next 20 years, it cannot be intercepted by an enemy," says A Sivathanu Pillai, scientist, and CEO and MD of BrahMos Aerospace sharing the vision for the future trajectory of growth for the iconic missile technology developed jointly by India and Russia.

Pillai, also Chief Controller (R and D), DRDO and hailed largely as the "father of BrahMos" mentions "missile technology" as one of the 10 key and "unique leap-frog technologies" for building a securer and greater future of India, "driven by youth power" in a new book which he has co-authored with the former President APJ Kalam.

Titled "Thoughts for Change: We can Do It", by two renowned scientific minds aims to be a clarion call to the youth of India to "reclaim its ancient scientific wisdom" even as it exhorts them to embrace and work towards building a future where "multiple technologies will intersect and interoperate".

"We take pride in the fact that BrahMos, world's only supersonic cruise missile, a symbol of Indo-Russian co- operation, where India provided the guidance, avionics, software and airframe components, etc, has been successfully delivered to both the Indian Navy and the Indian Army and the aerial version for the Indian Air Force too shall be ready in few years time," Pillai said in an interview.

BrahMos, developed jointly in a strategic partnership between Indian DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya, is a stealth cruise missile with a range of 290 km and travels at a speed of Mach 2.8 to 3.

The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

Among other technologies that the authors believe will lay the roadmap for the future of war theatres and health care, etc, in India is the convergence of Information, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology (nano-info-bio).

Other technologies in the list include - Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Sciences; Sensor Technology; Materials Technology; High Energetics; Fusion Technology; Space Technology; Hypersonics and Green Technology.

"Nano-info-bio and their convergence will redefine the future as we know it, whether in changing the dynamics of the war theatre where information technology will be coupled with the existing biotechnology and the new and emerging field of nanotechnology or health care. A simple looking bird flying in the air could be a surveillance and reconnaissance device.

"As per health, drug delivery through nano tech has been tried on Parkinson's Syndrome and Epilepsy patients outside India and has shown to stop their symptoms like shaking of limbs and has even allowed them to walk, not possible otherwise. And, it is definitely a future India is looking to, given its huge youth bank," says Pillai.

Divided into five sections, the book in fact lays a special emphasis on the youth power, especially in the final section titled 'Future India' where it asks the young India to "think big" and to "assume the leadership role" in building a "knowledge society" for the world.

"India has currently 580 million youth population. And, every one among the youth of India must prepare himself or herself to do remarkable work, which will create a place for him or her in the history of the world. History is not written for cowards and one who thinks small," he said.

Fending off worries that the Indian youth has been diverted by a current phase of commercialism, the 'father of BrahMos' urges them to remain positive and "believe in the power of India".

"This current phase of commercialism luring the youth is only a temporary phase. After ten years, you will see, the youth of India will change. And, I and Mr Kalam, himself a popular force among the youth of the country, we both believe that the future of India is great. And, we have to be a positive force and not a negative one, and tackle the problems of the nation," he says.

Commenting on the lack of research culture in Indian universities and organisations, Pillai emphasised the need for government's greater attention and allocation of resources towards building a "research-based paradigm" in educational and research institutions.

"Government is spending 1.7 crore to make one IIT graduate. And, after graduation, the best brains go for either corporate jobs or to US universities, among others. And, then that country becomes a great country.

They leave because they don't have research opportunities back home and that's why we need to focus more on research - based paradigm. Because, when science grows, country grows," he said.

The book has been brought out by Pentagon Press and also contains illustrations accompanying the text.
.

Work Intelligent.....

Do you wash your hands properly? Maybe not ............

While washing your hands is the best way to defend against the spread of infectious diseases, a new study from Michigan State University finds that when it comes to hand washing in restrooms, most of us do a poor job.


Of the 3,749 people researchers observed in public restrooms in bars, restaurants and other public establishments, most people didn't wash their hands long enough to kill germs. One third didn't use soap and 10 percent just opted out of hand washing altogether. To gather their data, student researchers tried to go undetected, standing off to the side and entering results on a smartphone. 

Separated by gender, findings showed that 15 percent of men didn't wash their hands at all, compared with seven percent of women. When men did wash their hands, only half of them used soap, compared to nearly 80 percent of women. Men in particular were found to be more likely to wash their hands if a sign encouraging them to do so was present in the restroom. Another factor that encouraged hand washing: a clean sink.

"These findings were surprising to us because past research suggested that proper hand washing is occurring at a much higher rate," said lead researcher Carl Borchgrevink.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose guidelines the researchers followed, reports that it takes 15 to 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with soap and water to effectively kill germs. Yet, findings from the study showed that most people wash their hands for about six seconds.

The study, announced this week, was published in the Journal of Environmental Health.

Affordable Asia , Expensive Europe

Affordable Asia


Asia is featured heavily in the 10 most affordable international destinations, claiming four cities in total. Hanoi, Vietnam (#2), Bangkok, Thailand (#6), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (#7) and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (#10). With an average cost of $203.79, these Asian escapes offer substantial savings as compared to the TripIndex world average of $321.70.

Least Expensive:

	Destination	Hotel	Return taxi trip	Dinner for two	Cocktails for two	Total cost
1	Sofia, Bulgaria	$96.29	$4.78	$40.44	$16.91	$158.42
2	Hanoi, Vietnam	$115.10	$6.10	$36.71	$18.23	$176.14
3	Warsaw, Poland	$103.30	$13.92	$53.15	$17.08	$187.45
4	Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt	$101.64	$2.90	$65.05	$21.75	$191.34
5	Budapest, Hungary	$103.89	$11.10	$49.98	$28.47	$193.44
6	Bangkok, Thailand	$109.27	$3.13	$69.75	$19.00	$201.15
7	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	$118.81	$2.13	$70.53	$26.26	$217.73
8	Tunis, Tunisia	$156.00	$2.59	$42.86	$17.46	$218.91
9	Cape Town, South Africa	$134.85	$13.69	$62.07	$8.85	$219.46
10	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	$167.38	$6.10	$46.66	N/A	$220.14

Expensive Europe


Europe is home to the most expensive international cities with six of the top 10 destinations: Oslo, Norway (#1), Zurich, Switzerland (#2), Stockholm, Sweden (#3),Paris, France (#5), London, England (#7) and Copenhagen, Denmark (#8). Travelers committed to traveling to Europe can find affordable escapes with Sofia, Bulgaria;Warsaw, Poland and Budapest, Hungary all within the top five least expensive international cities, coming in respectively at first, third, and fifth.

Most Expensive:

	Destination	Hotel	Return taxi trip	Dinner for two	Cocktails for two	Total cost
1	Oslo, Norway	$229.99	$28.97	$276.72	$45.40	$581.08
2	Zurich, Switzerland	$298.77	$38.94	$151.02	$34.68	$523.41
3	Stockholm, Sweden	$243.23	$27.18	$209.50	$41.77	$521.68
4	New York City, U.S.	$379.24	$22.90	$81.50	$32.33	$515.97
5	Paris, France	$322.89	$17.73	$104.72	$66.06	$511.40
6	Sydney, Australia	$231.57	$24.26	$167.28	$37.10	$460.21
7	London, U.K.	$271.00	$41.47	$101.79	$37.09	$451.35
8	Copenhagen, Denmark	$219.35	$38.47	$148.46	$37.30	$443.58
9	Cancun, Mexico	$317.17	$20.20	$80.22	$23.47	$441.06
10	Punta Cana, Dominican Republic	$333.90	$26.59	$53.03	$22.14	$435.66

The full TripIndex Cities world list is available at:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/InfoCenter-a_ctr.TripIndex_Cities_2013_US