This Songkran, treat yourself to a rejuvenating wellness getaway in Thailand with Airbnb’s Sabai Sabbatical

Embrace the Thai wellbeing philosophy of ‘sabai’ and celebrate the Thai New Year with Airbnb’s ultimate wellness getaway

One winner and their companion will enjoy three unique Airbnb Stays and Airbnb Experiences across Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket – domestic flights included* 

15 March 2023: This Songkran, Airbnb invites you to explore Thailand and discover the unique Thai philosophy of ‘sabai’ – an overall sense of relaxation, contentment and comfort encompassing the ideal Thai way of life. 

Airbnb’s Sabai Sabbatical contest offers one winner from India and their companion the opportunity to rest, rejuvenate and reconnect, through an incredible nine-day journey of wellness and self-discovery across the country.

Amidst the water fights and cultural festivities this Thai New Year, one traveller and their companion will win the special opportunity to enjoy three wellness-focussed Airbnb Stays and Experiences across Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket and free domestic flights up to a maximum value of USD 1,600*. 

The pair will get off the beaten path and discover the hidden sabai side to Bangkok’s bustling urban metropolis, explore Chiang Mai’s stunning mountains and ancient temples, and relax amidst Phuket’s beaches and rolling hills; all while enjoying the local culinary specialities of each city.

“The return of travel and increasing focus on physical health and mental wellbeing, especially since the pandemic, have led to a rise in wellness travel globally. Thailand makes for the perfect wellness getaway with its beautiful natural landscapes, delicious cuisine and rich cultural heritage – and not to forget its warm hospitality and traditional Thai massage. This Songkran, we are delighted to showcase the best of the country’s local offerings and hidden gems, and encourage travellers from around the world to plan their own rejuvenating Sabai Sabbatical in Thailand,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

About The Sabai Sabbatical

During their Sabai Sabbatical journey from 11 to 19 April 2023, one lucky winner from India and their guest will enjoy the following: 

11-13 April, Bangkok: Stay at the Japanese Muji Loft, a unique designer house with Japanese influences and arts, and explore the floating market and orchard farm with the Boat Trip to Floating Markets and Orchid Farm experience. 

14-16 April, Chiang Mai: Enjoy a peaceful stay at the Wander House, located in the middle of a forest, and enjoy a Lanna Northern Thai Cooking Experience.

17-19 April, Phuket: Enjoy the beauty of the hills of Chalong while staying at the Treetop Villa with a private pool, and enjoy a Phi Phi Private Longtail Day Tour from Phuket - Maya Bay experience.

Apply now! 

Go to www.airbnb.com/sabaisabbatical-in and tell us why you deserve to win this once-in-a-lifetime wellness getaway. Entries open 10:00 India time on 15 March 2023 and close 23:59 India time on 21 March 2023. The Winner will be selected on 23 March 2023 and notified by Airbnb via email within 2 calendar days thereof. Entrants must have a verified Airbnb profile and be at least 18 years old.**

*Airbnb will provide reimbursement for domestic flight transfers from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and from Chiang Mai to Phuket, up to a maximum value of USD800 per person, ie. USD1,600 for the winner and their companion.

**For more information, please see Official Contest Rules.

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About Airbnb

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National Legislators' Conference Bharat – An Unprecedented Gathering of India's Elected Representatives

National (March 11, 2023) – The National Legislators' Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) is envisioned as a historic event that brings together Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Legislative Councils (MLCs) across India's States and Union Territories to share their ideas and commendable practices on a common platform. The conference will take place in Mumbai from June 15th to June 18th, 2023. It would be the first unprecedented gathering of elected representatives in the history of India.

What is NLC Bharat?

NLC Bharat is a non-partisan platform for legislators to interact and learn from each other. Its cherished goal is enhancing legislative effectiveness and promoting good governance. The four-day event will see more than 80 parallel thematic participatory sessions of MLAs and MLCs. These legislators will engage in experiential learning and thematic discussions in thoughtfully curated sessions. Acclaimed national/global leaders as well as various party leaders are invited to participate in sessions aimed at strengthening democracy. Interactions with delegates from democracies abroad are also planned.

NLC Bharat is supported by various state Legislatures, respected senior bureaucrats, and members of civil society. Patrons and the Governing Council for NLC Bharat include former Lok Sabha speakers Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Dr. Meira Kumar, Shri Manohar Joshi, Shri. Shivraj Patil and the Honourable incumbent Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla. The MIT School of Government, Bhartiya Chhatra Sansad, and Atulya Bharat Nirman Foundation are sharing the responsibilities to organise the conference.

A visioning exercise

On 11 March 2023, some NLC Bharat's patrons, legislative assembly speakers, political leaders, bureaucrats, and industry heads congregated at the Jio World Convention Centre for a visioning exercise, aimed at charting the organisation's future course. The discussion in this exercise was attended by Dr. Meira Kumar, Former Diplomat and Chancellor, Shri. Gian Chand Gupta, Hon’ble Speaker, Haryana Legislative Assembly, Shri.Ramesh Tawadkar, Hon'ble Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri. Prithviraj Chavan, Hon'ble MLA (INC, Karad South) and Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Dilip Walse Patil, Hon'ble MLA and Former Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shri. Rahul Narwekar, Hon'ble Speaker, Legislative Assembly Maharashtra, as well as other dignitaries. A media briefing was conducted by Shri Rahul V. Karad, Convenor, NLC Bharat, outlining the way forward for what is envisioned to be a pivotal moment in Indian polity. 

“NLC is an attempt to cohesively build the nation,” said Shri Rahul V. Karad, Convenor, NLC Bharat. “All those present here and all those supporting us are the custodians of NLC Bharat. It is the result of a long-term vision. A platform that has participation from lawmakers from across parties and states can help strengthen our democracy.” 

“Rahul Karad is a hardworking, young visionary with no political ambitions,” said Dr. Meira Kumar, Former Speaker, Lok Sabha. “Let us support him in his mission to make NLC Bharat a great success.”

“As we all know, India’s strength lies in its diversity,” said Adv. Rahul Narwekar, Hon’ble Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. “The multicultural and multilingual society that exists in India is unparalleled to any other country in the world. I believe that the diversity in legislative bodies across the country also contributes to the strength of this country and therefore, conferences like NLC Bharat, which shall embark upon tomorrow’s India’s foundations, is definitely welcome and will certainly contribute immensely towards the creation of a new and stronger India.”

“The relationship between legislators has become bitter over time,” said Shri Satish Mahana, Hon’ble Speaker, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. “I feel that this conference will reduce that bitterness amongst us. Ultimately, no matter what party you are from, our goal is one and the same: that we need to serve the people of our country.”

Mission: NLC Bharat

The conference has a mission to enhance the skills and capacities of legislative leaders, legislators, and legislative staff in the States and Union Territories of Bharat, to enhance their effectiveness, independence, and integrity in law-making and policy formulation. The conference also aims to improve the interconnectedness between State Legislatures and thinkers, promoting cooperation and quality of legislative discourse. It will foster education and training through interstate cooperation by exchanging information, experiences, knowledge, and practices amongst the participants of NLC Bharat.

Origins of NLC Bharat

The idea of NLC Bharat emerged out of a long and tenuous process of establishment of the MIT School of Government (MIT-SOG) by Shri. Rahul V. Karad in 2005 to provide political training to youngsters interested in joining politics. In 2022, four former Lok Sabha Speakers, namely, Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Dr. Meira Kumar, Shri. Manohar Joshi and Shri. Shivraj Patil, as well as incumbent speakers of State Legislative Assemblies and Chairpersons of State Legislative Councils, got together and envisioned a single national organisation to support, defend and strengthen state legislatures. A conceptual exercise was held in Pune, Maharashtra on the 16th of September 2022 and a visioning exercise was organised in New Delhi on the 7th of November 2022 for the formation of the National Legislators' Conference, Bharat in June 2023. A planning workshop was organised in Pune on 6th December 2022 to give final shape to the conference. The exercise in Mumbai sharpened the focus and crystalised the thought process underlying NLC Bharat. Shri Karad informed that the registration process for this conference has already commenced.

Maharashtra Postal Circle, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day

Maharashtra Postal Circle, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, 8th March 2023, released a special cancellation at the hands Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle, Shri. K. K. Sharma at Mumbai GPO, Philately Bureau. Ms. Swati Pandey, Postmaster General, Mumbai Region and Shri Abhijeet Bansode, Director Postal Services (Head Quarters), Maharashtra Circle graced the occasion. While speaking on the occasion Shri. K. K. Sharma, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle emphasized that the celebration of women should not be limited 8th March, but should be celebrated throughout the year. Smt. Swati Pandey, PMG Mumbai Region, stressed on women empowerment.

  The cancellation design depicts the aim of IWD 2023, “Embrace Equity”. The cancellation is available at all the six bureaus of Maharashtra Circle i.e at Mumbai GPO, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Panaji – Goa.

श्री किशन कुमार शर्मा ने मुख्य पोस्टमास्टर जनरल, महाराष्ट्र सर्किल का पदभार ग्रहण किया ।

1990 बैच के भारतीय डाक सेवा के अधिकारी श्री किशन कुमार शर्मा ने 27.02.2023 को महाराष्ट्र डाक सर्किल के मुख्य पोस्टमास्टर जनरल का कार्यभार ग्रहण किया । उनकी शैक्षणिक पृष्ठभूमि वाणिज्य, वित्त और कराधान के विषयों पर है और उन्होंने दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय से एम.कॉम और एम.फिल किया है । 1990 में भारतीय डाक सेवा में शामिल होने से पहले उन्होंने शुरुआती दौर में दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के पीजीडीएवी कॉलेज में वाणिज्य के व्याख्याता के रूप में काम किया ।

डाक विभाग की सेवा में आने के बाद श्री शर्मा ने महाराष्ट्र डाक सर्किल में कई प्रभार संभाले, जिसमें डाक मंडल के प्रमुख, डाक पारेषण, विदेश एवं हवाई डाक, लोक शिकायत एवं सतर्कता के प्रभारी के पद शामिल हैं । इसके पश्चात वे कई महत्वपूर्ण पदों पर रहे जिनमें निदेशक डाक सेवा, दक्षिणी क्षेत्र, मदुरै, तमिलनाडु सर्किल एवं निदेशक, प्रशिक्षण और स्थापना प्रभाग शामिल हैं ।

श्री शर्मा पहले ऐसे अधिकारी थे जो वर्ष 2010 में यूआईडीएआई, बैंगलुरू में सहायक महानिदेशक के रूप में शामिल हुए थे और उन्होंने दक्षिण भारत में कर्नाटक, तमिलनाडु, केरल, पुडुचेरी और लक्षद्वीप के संघ शासित प्रदेशों में यूआईडीएआई के क्षेत्रीय कार्यालय की स्थापना में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई थी । मई-2015 में उन्होंने कर्नाटक सरकार के वित्तीय नीति संस्थान, वित्त विभाग में दो वर्ष के लिए सलाहकार का पद संभाला और वित्त विभाग के अंतर्गत राज्य स्तरीय सिविल सेवाओं की क्षमता निर्माण पर काम किया ।

श्री शर्मा पुनः अपने मूल मंत्रालय में आए और डाक विभाग के आईटी क्षेत्र की रीढ़ माने जाने वाले सीईपीटी, मैसूरु में मई-2017 से सितंबर-2020 तक महाप्रबंधक के रूप में अपनी सेवाएं दीं । उच्च प्रशासनिक ग्रेड पर पदोन्नति मिलने पर उन्होंने अक्टूबर-2020 से सीईपीटी, बेंगलुरु में मुख्य महाप्रबंधक के रूप में काम किया । वहां से उनका स्थानांतरण मुख्य पोस्टमास्टर जनरल, बिहार सर्किल के रूप में हुआ ।