Seabourn's Innovative "Between Friends" Promo: Save $1,500

Here's an interesting new promotion from The Yachts of Seabourn that will net you a $1,500 per couple cruise credit to be used for private shore excursions on most 2009 European itineraries.

Dubbed "Between Friends," the promotion encourages you to invite two or more couples to sail with you on a 2009 European voyage. One couple must be first-time Seabourn guests. If your group meets this criteria, each couple will receive a $1,500 onboard credit to be used for private shore excursions through Seabourn's Signature Service Desk.

Your group can tour together or separately, with your own guide, driver, and private vehicle. Seabourn can suggest a variety of tour itineraries, including:

• Joining a top Italian chef for a hands-on, three-hour cooking class in Florence.
• Going on a tasting tour in Rapallo, Italy, with specialty food expert Guido Porrati who will introduce you to focaccia, pesto, olive oil, salame Sant’Olcese, Avetano cheese, strusciata cake and excellent local wines.
• Sailing via private yacht to Birla, Sweden to tour Viking Age ruins, including an in-depth tour of Gronsoo, a privately owned castle on the lake.
• Riding a mountain bike through the wonderful landscape of the Mounts of Malaga in Spain.
• Letting an expert local shopping guide show you around Stockholm’s most famous boutiques with the most internationally acclaimed brands.

To learn more about this promotion, contact your travel agent or call Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.

Nandi Teertha Temple, Bangalore

Malleswaram, located in the north-west of Bangalore, derives its name from the famous Kaadu Malleshwara temple originally, a village named Mallapura.

Malleswaram is one of the areas in Bangalore where you can find many Hindu Temples. It has old Hindu constructed using the Dravidian architecture which were built during King Venkojirao Bhonsle of Thanjavur's (17th century B.C.) like the Kadu Malleshwara temple. Other famous temples in the area are Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Sri Krishna temple, Circle Maramma Temple, Kannika Parameshwari Temple.

The 17th cross, 2nd main road, Temple Street is adorned by various temples. One among them is Nandi Teertha Temple. Here one can see water fall onto an idol of Shiva through the mouth of Nandi. This was discovered in the year 1999, but it has stood for 7,000 years on that spot. Being buried over the years hasn't diminished its aura at all. The temple was completely buried and the land above it was a flat stretch. When the land was dug, they found buried underneath, this temple and it was in perfect condition, preserved by the thick layers of soil. This underground temple was enclosed within a stone cut courtyard supported by ancient stone pillars. At the far end of the courtyard, a Nandi was carved out of a black stone with eyes painted in gold. From its mouth a clear stream of water flowed directly on to a Shivalinga made out of the same black stone at a lower level. There were steps that led to a small pool in the centre of the courtyard where the water flowed and collected. The pool's center had a 15 feet deep whirlpool.

Nobody knows where the water comes from and how it passes from the mouth of the Nandi idol on to the Shivalinga. Nobody knows how the whirlpool came into being, the source of water, the sculptor, even the time when it was built remains a mystery.

For more visit Watery Wednesday.

Save 60% in Europe with Seabourn in 2009

Still shopping for the perfect holiday gift? How about a 7-, 9-, or 14-day Seabourn cruise at 60% off brochure fares? The cruise line has announced a one-week sale on the following European itineraries:

Seabourn Legend
June 20, 2009: Cote D'Azur & Spanish Isles from Monte Carlo to Barcelona (7 days)
July 11, 2009: Sardinia, Corsica & Cote D'Azur from Rome to Monte Carlo (7 days)

Seabourn Spirit
June 20, July 11, or August 1, 2009: Italian Idyll from Venice to Rome (7 days)

Seabourn Pride
April 14, 2009: Mediterranean Panorama from Athens to Lisbon (14 days)
August 20, 2009: Norwegian Fjords Copenhagen roundtrip (9 days)

For more information, contact your travel agent or call Seabourn at 1-(800) 929-9391.