Thursday, January 31, 2019
When most people think of RV travel the word exotic does not come to mind. This is unfortunate because RV travel is by far the best way to travel in a van or a house on wheel to remote and often at times exotic travel destinations whether in spring or summer. In fact, there are many such locations where RV travel is the best way to go to the most exotic vacation destinations and still have access to the comforts of civilized life.
Does escaping the crowds in a beautiful, remote location that is a 45 minutes walk away from civilisation sounds like your kind of adventure? If so, you're in for a treat. Living off-the-grid can be an incredibly relaxing and humbling experience. On this trip you'll stay in beautiful cottages without electricity (only basic lights), with an intimate fresh water source and pond to cool down. All of your cooking and heating needs will be met by a cozy wood fired oven.
Other than being surrounded by natures untouched beauty, what else is there for you to do? Well, relax and take it all in of course! There is a beautiful garden with a lush flowing creek flowing through the property - the back drop to a perfect reading spot if you ask us. Exploring breathtaking hiking trails and learning to cook local dishes in a wood fired oven to maximise your off-the-grid experience.
So if digital detox is your thing, and being away from your buzzing phone and laptop sounds like the right way to unwind and recharge your battery, let us know.
Here in this blog are some of the best RV trips that families can plan today with RV tips for first long trip.
Glacier National Park is home to the Rocky Mountains, some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery in the US. This remote location was described in the movie Forrest Gump as he recounted the experience of the beauty of the clear mountain lakes as he ran down the Going to the Sun Road.
The open road itself was built between 1921 and 1932 and traverses the park from Apgar village on the west end to St Mary's lake, where the Forrest Gump footage was shot, on the east side. Much of it is carved right out of the granite face of the mountains and it provides amazing views of the remote mountainous regions of the park. It is often referred to as the Alps of the United States.
Glacier National Park and the surrounding national forests make up a vast wilderness area that would take a lifetime to explore. In addition to traveling the Going to the Sun Road there are opportunities for boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and whitewater rafting.
The neighboring town of Whitefish, MT is a great place to visit with a clean, welcoming native american town center and plenty of dining and entertainment options to choose from.
RVing here is easy. There are RV sites available on the east and west end of the parks, with the west side having the greatest selection and access to more local resources. There are also numerous campsites available in the park with Apgar Village being the largest area.
The incredible thing is this is a great jump off location for other amazing locations nearby while traveling America. You can choose to head over to the Pacific Northwest for vast stunning coastline and rainforest along the Columbia river, or you can head south to Yellowstone National Park for a look at the immense power of Old Faithful.
Travel with van down the iconic Route 66 to the Grand Canyon. Most RVers would consider this route to be a must visit place and exotic in its own right with its prestigious position as the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. However, most people also go there, stand on the edge of a roadside on a viewing platform, let out a few oohs and ahs and then leave.
There is so much more to the Grand Canyon that most visitors never experience. One of the best cases in point is Havasu falls. Havasu falls is a waterfall that pours over a deep red cliffside into a deep blue pool and it is absolutely stunning to see. It is lightly visited for a couple of reasons. First it is located on Havasupai tribal land which controls access through a permitting system.
Next, getting there requires a 10 mile hike each way from the nearest access point, or the help of a helicopter which can fly you in and land you nearby. Most trips to see the falls involve hiking back and camping in the wild at a nearby primitive campground, then hiking back out the next day. If you want to visit a truly exotic location while in the Grand Canyon region, this is the place to go.
Afterwards, take a side trip to explore city life. Just a hop, skip and a jump away is Las Vegas, world renowned destination for nightlife and entertainment. Take out your party outfit or head a little further west to Ventura, a coastal city, northwest of Los Angeles. Among the things to do, southern California offers a lot. Go for a tour of Hollywood, Disneyland or Sunset Cliffs in San Diego and enjoy some amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is home to Plitvice Falls which is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of Croatia. This area contains 16 sapphire blue, crystal clear lakes which are terraced relative to each other. Water cascades down the terraces between the lakes, creating one of the most breathtaking Croatian waterfall landscapes in the world.
There are several campgrounds around the park where caravaners can stay. These areas range from small inexpensive campgrounds to larger higher end state parks. This exotic area should be high on any RVers bucket list of places to see. The best time to visit Croatia is during May to June and September to October during the yacht week.
The Australian outback is a truly exotic location which is one of those places that almost requires a RV to visit. The shortest trip across is a 39-hour drive along the north/south route between Darwin and Adelaide, with Alice Springs falling at about the halfway mark. In Darwin visit the Kakadu National Park, World Heritage Site. For anyone exploring the Northern Territory during their stay in Australia, it is a must-visit place.
South of the majestic Kakadu, the Nitmiluk houses magnificent waterfalls and gorges of the Katherine River. In Litchfield we can visit the Katherine canyon and the aboriginal communities of the Arnhem Land islands and the Tiwi islands. This trip allows for the true outback experience and passes near Uluru, or Ayers Rock, which is accessible as a short side trip, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek and the Devil's Marbles.
The outback is largely very remote and can be an unforgiving place so make sure you prepare properly. If the RV road trip across the Outback wasn't enough, Melbourne is only a day's drive from Adelaide and Sydney is another day from Melbourne. Both are world class cities and offer attractions for everyone and has some of the best places to visit in Australia on a road trip.
Traveling the east coast of the USA is a trip through history. Starting in Cape Cod, one of the favorite RV destinations, the New England experience and the flavor and culture of the Atlantic Ocean is quite tantalizing. Among the things to do, enjoy rich clam chowder as you watch the waves roll in Martha's Vineyard. From there stop in New York City for something completely different, park the RV for the day, take the subway and explore like a local.
The exotic sights and sounds of the city, will be traded for a lesson in history as Washington DC is the next stop. There is so much to see and do, but the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The entire west coast in USA is full of unique stops and historical places.
The country of the United States was born and shaped along this trail. Reaching Florida, you can choose to stay near the theme parks and cities or check out Downtown Hollywood or the beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Coast, and Florida Keys.
The North and South Islands of New Zealand are both outstanding exotic locations for an RV trip to travel New Zealand. RVing is extremely popular with the locals, which makes obtaining a rental RV an easy process. The South Island is larger and is known for its mountains and rocky fjord like coastline.
Either island offers excellent RV infrastructure and will make a great choice for a unique exotic vacation while visiting New Zealand for honeymoon. This is one of the very popular RV vacation destinations in summer.
Christchurch promises an eclectic combination of historical elegance and contemporary culture as the most English city outside of England. As an entrance to the South Island, it is an essential stop on any itinerary. An unmissable activity is to take the famous TranzAlpine train that will take you through the Southern Alps and through thick masses of native beech forest.
Akaroa is the crater of an extinct volcano. Akaroa offers countless activities, but perhaps the most remarkable is swimming with Hector dolphins. This species of dolphin is one of the smallest and rarest of the world. Unfortunately they are almost on the verge of extinction. Northwest of Christchurch, is Hanmer Springs, a small alpine village that has hot springs.
Kaikoura is located on the east coast of the South Island, 180 kilometers north of the city of Christchurch. At the southern end of the city is the Kaikoura Peninsula, which, when entering the sea, causes marine currents to drag abundant animal life from the nearby Hikurangi Trench.
Due to the proximity of this pit and the abundance of food, Kaikoura is the ideal place to spot sperm whales, Dusky dolphins, sea lions, albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters.
Also, take the path that will take you to the viewpoint of Mount Fyffe. Located on the west coast of the South Island, the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers are the only ones that descend from the Southern Alps. They are two of the most accessible glaciers in the world. Scenic flights are the best alternative to take an image that you can hardly forget among things to do on the South Island.
The fjord is home to penguins, sea lions and dolphins that can be seen regularly during sailing. It is also possible to meet whales. You can also include a visit to the underwater observatory. Here you can observe part of the fauna that inhabits the fjord and admire coral formations that in general can only be seen offshore. If the alpine road you came by road seemed beautiful, try to crown this experience with a helicopter or plane on return.
Milford Sound is a fjord located in the southwest of the South Island and within the Fiordland National Park. Located 300 km from Queenstown, it is a destination worth visiting. It has been rated as one of the best tourist destinations and called the Eighth Wonder of the World. This fantastic and beautiful fjord stretches for 15 kilometers from the Tasman Sea to the interior of the South Island. There are two permanent waterfalls called Lady Bowen and Stirling.
Aoraki or Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. At night, the view of the sky from the area offers one of the clearest views in the world.
30 km from Omaru and 85 km north of Dunedin, the wonderful Moeraki Boulders or Moeraki rocks are scattered on the beach. On this deserted New Zealand beach you can see these strange and giant stones formed 65 million years ago. The Marlborough region is also famous for its vineyards, highlighted and awarded worldwide for the Sauvignon Blanc variety.
Invercargill is at the southern tip of the South Island and one of the southernmost in the world. Invercargill is the starting point to visit the port city of Bluff popularly known for its oysters. This is the settlement located further south on the South Island. From Bluff you can take the ferry to Stewart Island.
Half Moon Bay is the only settlement on Stewart Island, the third largest island in New Zealand. It is a fishing village that works as a base for those who make excursions and observe dark shearwaters, albatrosses, capensis datings and different types of penguins. While touring the interior of the island, you will be able to see and hear the Maori Bellbird, the Tui, the fantail, the kaka and many more. From Half Moon Bay, you can jump on the trails of Rakiura National Park.
Whether you are looking for a new experience across the world, or you want to find the exotic a little closer to home, traveling by RV offers flexibility. If you want to find the unexpected, there is no better way than to pack up your RV or rent one and head out on an unforgettable trip. So get out there and explore some exotic RV traveling with these tips for long RV trips.
Does escaping the crowds in a beautiful, remote location that is a 45 minutes walk away from civilisation sounds like your kind of adventure? If so, you're in for a treat. Living off-the-grid can be an incredibly relaxing and humbling experience. On this trip you'll stay in beautiful cottages without electricity (only basic lights), with an intimate fresh water source and pond to cool down. All of your cooking and heating needs will be met by a cozy wood fired oven.
Other than being surrounded by natures untouched beauty, what else is there for you to do? Well, relax and take it all in of course! There is a beautiful garden with a lush flowing creek flowing through the property - the back drop to a perfect reading spot if you ask us. Exploring breathtaking hiking trails and learning to cook local dishes in a wood fired oven to maximise your off-the-grid experience.
So if digital detox is your thing, and being away from your buzzing phone and laptop sounds like the right way to unwind and recharge your battery, let us know.
Here in this blog are some of the best RV trips that families can plan today with RV tips for first long trip.
1. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Glacier National Park is home to the Rocky Mountains, some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery in the US. This remote location was described in the movie Forrest Gump as he recounted the experience of the beauty of the clear mountain lakes as he ran down the Going to the Sun Road.
The open road itself was built between 1921 and 1932 and traverses the park from Apgar village on the west end to St Mary's lake, where the Forrest Gump footage was shot, on the east side. Much of it is carved right out of the granite face of the mountains and it provides amazing views of the remote mountainous regions of the park. It is often referred to as the Alps of the United States.
Glacier National Park and the surrounding national forests make up a vast wilderness area that would take a lifetime to explore. In addition to traveling the Going to the Sun Road there are opportunities for boating, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking and whitewater rafting.
The neighboring town of Whitefish, MT is a great place to visit with a clean, welcoming native american town center and plenty of dining and entertainment options to choose from.
RVing here is easy. There are RV sites available on the east and west end of the parks, with the west side having the greatest selection and access to more local resources. There are also numerous campsites available in the park with Apgar Village being the largest area.
The incredible thing is this is a great jump off location for other amazing locations nearby while traveling America. You can choose to head over to the Pacific Northwest for vast stunning coastline and rainforest along the Columbia river, or you can head south to Yellowstone National Park for a look at the immense power of Old Faithful.
2. Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon, USA
Travel with van down the iconic Route 66 to the Grand Canyon. Most RVers would consider this route to be a must visit place and exotic in its own right with its prestigious position as the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. However, most people also go there, stand on the edge of a roadside on a viewing platform, let out a few oohs and ahs and then leave.
There is so much more to the Grand Canyon that most visitors never experience. One of the best cases in point is Havasu falls. Havasu falls is a waterfall that pours over a deep red cliffside into a deep blue pool and it is absolutely stunning to see. It is lightly visited for a couple of reasons. First it is located on Havasupai tribal land which controls access through a permitting system.
Next, getting there requires a 10 mile hike each way from the nearest access point, or the help of a helicopter which can fly you in and land you nearby. Most trips to see the falls involve hiking back and camping in the wild at a nearby primitive campground, then hiking back out the next day. If you want to visit a truly exotic location while in the Grand Canyon region, this is the place to go.
Afterwards, take a side trip to explore city life. Just a hop, skip and a jump away is Las Vegas, world renowned destination for nightlife and entertainment. Take out your party outfit or head a little further west to Ventura, a coastal city, northwest of Los Angeles. Among the things to do, southern California offers a lot. Go for a tour of Hollywood, Disneyland or Sunset Cliffs in San Diego and enjoy some amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
3. Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia is home to Plitvice Falls which is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of Croatia. This area contains 16 sapphire blue, crystal clear lakes which are terraced relative to each other. Water cascades down the terraces between the lakes, creating one of the most breathtaking Croatian waterfall landscapes in the world.
There are several campgrounds around the park where caravaners can stay. These areas range from small inexpensive campgrounds to larger higher end state parks. This exotic area should be high on any RVers bucket list of places to see. The best time to visit Croatia is during May to June and September to October during the yacht week.
4. The Australian Outback
The Australian outback is a truly exotic location which is one of those places that almost requires a RV to visit. The shortest trip across is a 39-hour drive along the north/south route between Darwin and Adelaide, with Alice Springs falling at about the halfway mark. In Darwin visit the Kakadu National Park, World Heritage Site. For anyone exploring the Northern Territory during their stay in Australia, it is a must-visit place.
South of the majestic Kakadu, the Nitmiluk houses magnificent waterfalls and gorges of the Katherine River. In Litchfield we can visit the Katherine canyon and the aboriginal communities of the Arnhem Land islands and the Tiwi islands. This trip allows for the true outback experience and passes near Uluru, or Ayers Rock, which is accessible as a short side trip, Kings Canyon, Tennant Creek and the Devil's Marbles.
The outback is largely very remote and can be an unforgiving place so make sure you prepare properly. If the RV road trip across the Outback wasn't enough, Melbourne is only a day's drive from Adelaide and Sydney is another day from Melbourne. Both are world class cities and offer attractions for everyone and has some of the best places to visit in Australia on a road trip.
5. East Coast USA
Traveling the east coast of the USA is a trip through history. Starting in Cape Cod, one of the favorite RV destinations, the New England experience and the flavor and culture of the Atlantic Ocean is quite tantalizing. Among the things to do, enjoy rich clam chowder as you watch the waves roll in Martha's Vineyard. From there stop in New York City for something completely different, park the RV for the day, take the subway and explore like a local.
The exotic sights and sounds of the city, will be traded for a lesson in history as Washington DC is the next stop. There is so much to see and do, but the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The entire west coast in USA is full of unique stops and historical places.
The country of the United States was born and shaped along this trail. Reaching Florida, you can choose to stay near the theme parks and cities or check out Downtown Hollywood or the beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Coast, and Florida Keys.
6. New Zealand
The North and South Islands of New Zealand are both outstanding exotic locations for an RV trip to travel New Zealand. RVing is extremely popular with the locals, which makes obtaining a rental RV an easy process. The South Island is larger and is known for its mountains and rocky fjord like coastline.
Either island offers excellent RV infrastructure and will make a great choice for a unique exotic vacation while visiting New Zealand for honeymoon. This is one of the very popular RV vacation destinations in summer.
Christchurch promises an eclectic combination of historical elegance and contemporary culture as the most English city outside of England. As an entrance to the South Island, it is an essential stop on any itinerary. An unmissable activity is to take the famous TranzAlpine train that will take you through the Southern Alps and through thick masses of native beech forest.
Akaroa is the crater of an extinct volcano. Akaroa offers countless activities, but perhaps the most remarkable is swimming with Hector dolphins. This species of dolphin is one of the smallest and rarest of the world. Unfortunately they are almost on the verge of extinction. Northwest of Christchurch, is Hanmer Springs, a small alpine village that has hot springs.
Kaikoura is located on the east coast of the South Island, 180 kilometers north of the city of Christchurch. At the southern end of the city is the Kaikoura Peninsula, which, when entering the sea, causes marine currents to drag abundant animal life from the nearby Hikurangi Trench.
Due to the proximity of this pit and the abundance of food, Kaikoura is the ideal place to spot sperm whales, Dusky dolphins, sea lions, albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters.
Also, take the path that will take you to the viewpoint of Mount Fyffe. Located on the west coast of the South Island, the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers are the only ones that descend from the Southern Alps. They are two of the most accessible glaciers in the world. Scenic flights are the best alternative to take an image that you can hardly forget among things to do on the South Island.
The fjord is home to penguins, sea lions and dolphins that can be seen regularly during sailing. It is also possible to meet whales. You can also include a visit to the underwater observatory. Here you can observe part of the fauna that inhabits the fjord and admire coral formations that in general can only be seen offshore. If the alpine road you came by road seemed beautiful, try to crown this experience with a helicopter or plane on return.
Milford Sound is a fjord located in the southwest of the South Island and within the Fiordland National Park. Located 300 km from Queenstown, it is a destination worth visiting. It has been rated as one of the best tourist destinations and called the Eighth Wonder of the World. This fantastic and beautiful fjord stretches for 15 kilometers from the Tasman Sea to the interior of the South Island. There are two permanent waterfalls called Lady Bowen and Stirling.
Aoraki or Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. At night, the view of the sky from the area offers one of the clearest views in the world.
30 km from Omaru and 85 km north of Dunedin, the wonderful Moeraki Boulders or Moeraki rocks are scattered on the beach. On this deserted New Zealand beach you can see these strange and giant stones formed 65 million years ago. The Marlborough region is also famous for its vineyards, highlighted and awarded worldwide for the Sauvignon Blanc variety.
Invercargill is at the southern tip of the South Island and one of the southernmost in the world. Invercargill is the starting point to visit the port city of Bluff popularly known for its oysters. This is the settlement located further south on the South Island. From Bluff you can take the ferry to Stewart Island.
Half Moon Bay is the only settlement on Stewart Island, the third largest island in New Zealand. It is a fishing village that works as a base for those who make excursions and observe dark shearwaters, albatrosses, capensis datings and different types of penguins. While touring the interior of the island, you will be able to see and hear the Maori Bellbird, the Tui, the fantail, the kaka and many more. From Half Moon Bay, you can jump on the trails of Rakiura National Park.
Whether you are looking for a new experience across the world, or you want to find the exotic a little closer to home, traveling by RV offers flexibility. If you want to find the unexpected, there is no better way than to pack up your RV or rent one and head out on an unforgettable trip. So get out there and explore some exotic RV traveling with these tips for long RV trips.
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Rajasthan is the land of Royals – a place rich in its culture, tradition and history. There are various tourist attractions in the state that you will not stop alluring. The castles in India, forts and palaces at Jodhpur and Udaipur, camel riding at the sand dunes in Jaisalmer, the shopping streets in the pink city of Jaipur and you name it. From travel to food, you will love everything about Rajasthan.
When out for sightseeing, you can also have a travel guide to show you places and share the underlying history and fascinating stories. But make sure you hire a verified guide with proper ID. If you are a travel blogger or photographer, audio guide would be a better option for you. Have you finalized a 5 days for your Rajasthan trip? Ensure your Rajasthan travel package cover maximum of the places within this short yet valuable time.
No matter if you are on a tour of Rajasthan from Mumbai or Kolkata or Bengaluru, you just cannot miss the cultural hotspots in the royal state. It is this culture and heritage that make Rajasthan unique from all other tourist destinations in the country.
The most important cultural hotspots in Rajasthan are Chittorgarh Fort, Mount Abu, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City palace and Choki Dhani in Jaipur (a cultural village), Bagore Ki Haweli in Jaipur, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and vast desert safari camps in Jaisalmer.
Over time, Rajasthan has turned into an important tourist destination in India inviting travelers from all across the world which has led to better accommodation facilities in the state. You can choose from the wide range of accommodation types from luxury resorts to heritage hotels to small havelis to guest houses to home-stays. Whatever suits your comfort and budget will be yours! However, make sure to book hotels in advance as there’s rush during peak season.
There are a lot of places for shopping in the state. If you are on a tour of Rajasthan from Delhi, being a delhite you probably would be aware of the popular shopping streets like Johari Bazaar in Jaipur, Nayi sadak and Clock Tower in Jodhpur, MG Road in Bikaner, Bada Bazar in Udaipur and Sadar Bazar in Jaisalmer. You never heard about these? Well, now you know about it all!
Rajasthan offers all kinds of cuisine as now it is one of the top tourist attractions in the country. However the traditional food of the state stands unique from any other dishes served in the hotels, streets or homes. Some of the best Rajasthani food that you must try includes Dal Baati Churma, Gatte ki Sabzi, Pyaaz Kachori and Laal Maas.
In Chokhi Dhani near Jaipur, the thaali there is vegetarian and absolutely humongous. It starts with 9–10 absolutely varying dishes all from Rajasthan. You eat and you eat till you can eat no more. And then you turn around to tell your partner that and what do you know? The servers sneak more food on to your plate. Food just keeps coming on and they won’t let you get up. Each dish tastier than the previous one. Divine, fresh food!
The first thing that strikes one's mind is what would be the best time to visit a destination and when the place is Rajasthan, the question becomes more prompt. To answer this direct, you must plan for a trip to Rajasthan in between the months of October and February. During winters the temperature drops to an average range of 25 degree Celsius to 12 degree Celsius.
The next best time to visit Rajasthan after if not winters could be monsoons. The sight of dancing peacocks is worth to behold my friend. So, if you cannot wait till October, book your tickets somewhere in between June and August this year. However, you might have to drop some of the places from the itinerary as they might be closed due to rains.
On your trip to Rajasthan, you have to cover four of its major cities – Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. A trip skipping any of these cities in the Rajasthan packages won’t be called complete so make sure you spend a minimum of 2 nights in each city which makes the total number of days to 10 days. Your Rajasthan trip shouldn’t be less than 10-12 days if you want to cover all the major destinations across the state.
Rajasthan has plenty of local transport systems such as tuk-tuk, e-Rickshaw, Local buses, tourist buses, auto-rickshaws, cabs and tourist permit cars. You can hire tourist cabs dealing with a tour operator for convenience, especially if you want to have a road trip.
Last but in a way the most important point is what to wear when traveling in Rajasthan. If you are going on a trip to Rajasthan in December, pack some cotton wears and flats for the day and get woolens like hoodies, sweaters, jackets, etc. for the chilly nights.
We hope you have a great time exploring the royal land of culture and tradition with a Rajasthan holiday package. Get your rajasthan tour packages and tickets booked and head to the city.
When out for sightseeing, you can also have a travel guide to show you places and share the underlying history and fascinating stories. But make sure you hire a verified guide with proper ID. If you are a travel blogger or photographer, audio guide would be a better option for you. Have you finalized a 5 days for your Rajasthan trip? Ensure your Rajasthan travel package cover maximum of the places within this short yet valuable time.
No matter if you are on a tour of Rajasthan from Mumbai or Kolkata or Bengaluru, you just cannot miss the cultural hotspots in the royal state. It is this culture and heritage that make Rajasthan unique from all other tourist destinations in the country.
The most important cultural hotspots in Rajasthan are Chittorgarh Fort, Mount Abu, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City palace and Choki Dhani in Jaipur (a cultural village), Bagore Ki Haweli in Jaipur, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and vast desert safari camps in Jaisalmer.
Accommodation in Rajasthan
Over time, Rajasthan has turned into an important tourist destination in India inviting travelers from all across the world which has led to better accommodation facilities in the state. You can choose from the wide range of accommodation types from luxury resorts to heritage hotels to small havelis to guest houses to home-stays. Whatever suits your comfort and budget will be yours! However, make sure to book hotels in advance as there’s rush during peak season.
Shopping in Rajasthan
There are a lot of places for shopping in the state. If you are on a tour of Rajasthan from Delhi, being a delhite you probably would be aware of the popular shopping streets like Johari Bazaar in Jaipur, Nayi sadak and Clock Tower in Jodhpur, MG Road in Bikaner, Bada Bazar in Udaipur and Sadar Bazar in Jaisalmer. You never heard about these? Well, now you know about it all!
Famous food in Rajasthan
Rajasthan offers all kinds of cuisine as now it is one of the top tourist attractions in the country. However the traditional food of the state stands unique from any other dishes served in the hotels, streets or homes. Some of the best Rajasthani food that you must try includes Dal Baati Churma, Gatte ki Sabzi, Pyaaz Kachori and Laal Maas.
In Chokhi Dhani near Jaipur, the thaali there is vegetarian and absolutely humongous. It starts with 9–10 absolutely varying dishes all from Rajasthan. You eat and you eat till you can eat no more. And then you turn around to tell your partner that and what do you know? The servers sneak more food on to your plate. Food just keeps coming on and they won’t let you get up. Each dish tastier than the previous one. Divine, fresh food!
Best Time to Visit Rajasthan
The first thing that strikes one's mind is what would be the best time to visit a destination and when the place is Rajasthan, the question becomes more prompt. To answer this direct, you must plan for a trip to Rajasthan in between the months of October and February. During winters the temperature drops to an average range of 25 degree Celsius to 12 degree Celsius.
The next best time to visit Rajasthan after if not winters could be monsoons. The sight of dancing peacocks is worth to behold my friend. So, if you cannot wait till October, book your tickets somewhere in between June and August this year. However, you might have to drop some of the places from the itinerary as they might be closed due to rains.
How many days required to visit Rajasthan?
On your trip to Rajasthan, you have to cover four of its major cities – Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. A trip skipping any of these cities in the Rajasthan packages won’t be called complete so make sure you spend a minimum of 2 nights in each city which makes the total number of days to 10 days. Your Rajasthan trip shouldn’t be less than 10-12 days if you want to cover all the major destinations across the state.
Transport in Rajasthan
Rajasthan has plenty of local transport systems such as tuk-tuk, e-Rickshaw, Local buses, tourist buses, auto-rickshaws, cabs and tourist permit cars. You can hire tourist cabs dealing with a tour operator for convenience, especially if you want to have a road trip.
Clothing in Rajasthan
Last but in a way the most important point is what to wear when traveling in Rajasthan. If you are going on a trip to Rajasthan in December, pack some cotton wears and flats for the day and get woolens like hoodies, sweaters, jackets, etc. for the chilly nights.
We hope you have a great time exploring the royal land of culture and tradition with a Rajasthan holiday package. Get your rajasthan tour packages and tickets booked and head to the city.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
As poets, artists and philosophers have shown us for centuries, the natural world is a great inspiration. People marvel at the beauty and wonder of the natural environment all over the world. And it's never too young to start getting your little ones to take note of the earth and its many offerings. In fact, simply getting children to play outside when they are young can spark off a true passion for the environment.
So here's how as a parent you can get your kids love playing outside and not just play indoors and get inspired by the natural world.
The benefits of the natural world for little ones
Most adults know that a walk in nature can make us feel better on even the gloomiest of days or a swim at the beach, or an adventure in the jungle. And children are no different. They just don't yet know how to spend time outdoors. Help them get excited about playing outside so that the child loves seeing what the places around them have to offer.
There are lots of different ways to do this. You could start by simply encouraging them to play sports and team games that need to be done outside. For example try introducing easy soccer ball and cricket games for kids or take them on an orienteering walk where they'll be able to take in the environment while engaging with something fun.
Ways to get your kids to enjoy an outdoor activity
Want to get your children enjoying the outside fresh air, but not quite sure how? Here are few fun ideas:
One really fun way of getting kids to play outside is to set them a treasure hunt. Hide simple clues in different parts of your neighbourhood and send them out in teams (with a responsible adult attached!) to race towards the end.
The outdoors is a pretty massive place so if you want to get your kids excited about it try showing them some of the variety. Use holidays and weekends to explore rivers, mountains, jungles and oceans.
Want your kids to see the real opportunities the natural world brings? Go for playdates in a local zoo and let them see what it’s like to work with animals. Or let them help out in the garden and see how much they learn about growing plants.
Easy cricket games for kids are a great starter here - it's not something that can be done in the living room and inspiring a love of cricket will mean older children will also have a reason to get out of the house. If cricket isn't their thing, try other sports like hockey, football or athletics.
Those are just a few ways to help inspire your children not to watch TV and reduce screen time but to get outside and be physically active. In these screen-filled times when it seems that childhood is increasingly taken up with social media posts and selfies help kids explore what’s really going in the great outdoors.
So here's how as a parent you can get your kids love playing outside and not just play indoors and get inspired by the natural world.
The benefits of the natural world for little ones
Most adults know that a walk in nature can make us feel better on even the gloomiest of days or a swim at the beach, or an adventure in the jungle. And children are no different. They just don't yet know how to spend time outdoors. Help them get excited about playing outside so that the child loves seeing what the places around them have to offer.
There are lots of different ways to do this. You could start by simply encouraging them to play sports and team games that need to be done outside. For example try introducing easy soccer ball and cricket games for kids or take them on an orienteering walk where they'll be able to take in the environment while engaging with something fun.
Ways to get your kids to enjoy an outdoor activity
Want to get your children enjoying the outside fresh air, but not quite sure how? Here are few fun ideas:
1. Plan a treasure hunt
One really fun way of getting kids to play outside is to set them a treasure hunt. Hide simple clues in different parts of your neighbourhood and send them out in teams (with a responsible adult attached!) to race towards the end.
2. Show them lots of different environments
The outdoors is a pretty massive place so if you want to get your kids excited about it try showing them some of the variety. Use holidays and weekends to explore rivers, mountains, jungles and oceans.
3. Link the natural world to different opportunities
Want your kids to see the real opportunities the natural world brings? Go for playdates in a local zoo and let them see what it’s like to work with animals. Or let them help out in the garden and see how much they learn about growing plants.
4. Do things that you couldn't do inside
Easy cricket games for kids are a great starter here - it's not something that can be done in the living room and inspiring a love of cricket will mean older children will also have a reason to get out of the house. If cricket isn't their thing, try other sports like hockey, football or athletics.
Those are just a few ways to help inspire your children not to watch TV and reduce screen time but to get outside and be physically active. In these screen-filled times when it seems that childhood is increasingly taken up with social media posts and selfies help kids explore what’s really going in the great outdoors.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Traveling is a great way to get refreshed whether it is for business or just plain fun. Traveling is just awesome. Therefore, we are going to talk about some of the best portable travel gadgets today. If you are a regular traveler, you must have an idea of how important it is to carry certain gadgets. We provide you the list of best gadgets to enhance your traveling experience.
Here's the big question. Why should you carry portable gadgets during travel? The world that we live in is digital. We revolve around technology. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, everything has just gone digital. Just like the world has become a global village. It's important to keep track of where the digital world is going.
Therefore, to keep your traveling experience over the top without any compromises in the technology department while being in the context of technology, it's very important to keep all these portable gadgets with you all the time. Even if you're on vacation rentals, you might need these gadgets to enhance your travel experience. Now let's talk about the best travel gadgets essential for your traveling experience.
Here are the top portable gadgets:
It's important to have a traveling plug adapter if you're a chronic traveler. There are all sorts of adapters available. However, choosing the best one should be your priority.
Having a universal plug adapter can make you travel experience rather seamless and less worried. Europe, Asia, and America use different plug adapters. Therefore, there are universal plug adapters that provide you all these different plugs. There won't be any problem no matter in which country you go to.
Music brings life to boring travel. If you're bored while traveling then music is a great way to bring life to your time. At least temporarily. However, you must choose headphones that are great for this purpose. A lot of companies are making the best headphones suited solely for traveling purposes. So why should you choose noise cancellation headphones?
The main significance of using a noise cancellation headphone is that it can reduce noise coming out of your headphones and vice versa. Therefore, it's best suited for air travel where there is a lot of noise. This makes noise cancellation headphones one of the best travel gadgets on our list.
If you're a YouTuber or a content creator, it's always important to have a portable hard disk at your disposal. A portable hard disk allows you to transfer data from one medium to another or you can just use them to edit current videos or have a large amount of data without having to worry about the storage capacity of any machine.
Therefore, choosing the right hard disk is important. There are all types of them. Ranging from 250 GB up to many Terabytes, it depends upon your budget. This is why portable hard disk is considered as a great portable travel gadget.
Many planes still don't have outlets. Power bank is a must-have for you in all scenarios to power your devices. If, you don't find any plugs while traveling, it's important to have a portable power bank in your backpack. With the use of this awesome piece of tech, you can easily charge your devices without having to worry about batteries dying. Choose a power bank with a high charging capacity.
If you are traveling, consuming media might seem a little weird on your smartphone. The world is a large place. Therefore, you need a bigger product to consume in the outside world. Having a notebook or tablet is a cool way to consume media. Even if you're a content creator, notebooks can help you in producing your content without you having to carry those bulky laptops out there.
Samsung, HP, and some other companies like LG are producing some of the best notebooks out there. Carry small iPad with downloaded movies.
Vlogging is a great way of showing others what you're doing. But how do you achieve it? While smartphone cameras are getting better are better, they are still not suited for Vlog styled videos. That's where the action cameras come in. You can find a lot of great cameras like GoPro and others to shoot your travel experience or Vlogs too. That is why action cameras are one of the best travel gadgets to use.
Smartwatches are an awesome tool to use especially when you're traveling. Imagine checking your phone every second. Smartwatches enable you to check notifications and stuff right from your watch without having to worry about a thing at all. Therefore, a smartwatch is an awesome device to have.
This one is important, especially when you're on vacation rentals. While many rentals provide you with LCD's, how about your smartphone? You have all your songs on your smartphones. Therefore, if you want to listen to your favorite song, you can just use Bluetooth speakers. A lot of companies like JBL are providing some of the best Bluetooth speakers in this game.
After traveling to various places, you realize the importance of water back at home. Water varies from place to place. Somewhere, you might even be drinking dirty water. To avoid that, all you need to do is just buy a decent water purifier. Water purifiers clean water for people who have difficulty in finding clean water. For the most part, you might need to change the water filter. However, everything else is just an automatic process.
This one is not important to take. However, especially when you're hiking and doing stuff like that, you must take all the precautions you can. That's where Flask light comes in. These lights have inbuilt GPS so security shouldn't be an issue. You can be tracked in real time. So if you're loss of having difficulty, don't worry. It's not 2002 anymore. That is why flask light with GPS is one of the best portable travel gadgets to use.
Overall
So far we've covered some great portable travel gadgets. Whether you're going on a trip or business, you need to have these items in your bags so that you won't suffer as many people do nowadays.
Here's the big question. Why should you carry portable gadgets during travel? The world that we live in is digital. We revolve around technology. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, everything has just gone digital. Just like the world has become a global village. It's important to keep track of where the digital world is going.
Therefore, to keep your traveling experience over the top without any compromises in the technology department while being in the context of technology, it's very important to keep all these portable gadgets with you all the time. Even if you're on vacation rentals, you might need these gadgets to enhance your travel experience. Now let's talk about the best travel gadgets essential for your traveling experience.
Here are the top portable gadgets:
1. Universal (All-in-One) Plug Adapter
It's important to have a traveling plug adapter if you're a chronic traveler. There are all sorts of adapters available. However, choosing the best one should be your priority.
Having a universal plug adapter can make you travel experience rather seamless and less worried. Europe, Asia, and America use different plug adapters. Therefore, there are universal plug adapters that provide you all these different plugs. There won't be any problem no matter in which country you go to.
2. Noise Cancellation Headphones
Music brings life to boring travel. If you're bored while traveling then music is a great way to bring life to your time. At least temporarily. However, you must choose headphones that are great for this purpose. A lot of companies are making the best headphones suited solely for traveling purposes. So why should you choose noise cancellation headphones?
The main significance of using a noise cancellation headphone is that it can reduce noise coming out of your headphones and vice versa. Therefore, it's best suited for air travel where there is a lot of noise. This makes noise cancellation headphones one of the best travel gadgets on our list.
3. Portable Hard disks
If you're a YouTuber or a content creator, it's always important to have a portable hard disk at your disposal. A portable hard disk allows you to transfer data from one medium to another or you can just use them to edit current videos or have a large amount of data without having to worry about the storage capacity of any machine.
Therefore, choosing the right hard disk is important. There are all types of them. Ranging from 250 GB up to many Terabytes, it depends upon your budget. This is why portable hard disk is considered as a great portable travel gadget.
4. Portable Power Bank/Charger
Many planes still don't have outlets. Power bank is a must-have for you in all scenarios to power your devices. If, you don't find any plugs while traveling, it's important to have a portable power bank in your backpack. With the use of this awesome piece of tech, you can easily charge your devices without having to worry about batteries dying. Choose a power bank with a high charging capacity.
5. Tablet/Notebook
If you are traveling, consuming media might seem a little weird on your smartphone. The world is a large place. Therefore, you need a bigger product to consume in the outside world. Having a notebook or tablet is a cool way to consume media. Even if you're a content creator, notebooks can help you in producing your content without you having to carry those bulky laptops out there.
Samsung, HP, and some other companies like LG are producing some of the best notebooks out there. Carry small iPad with downloaded movies.
6. Action Camera
Vlogging is a great way of showing others what you're doing. But how do you achieve it? While smartphone cameras are getting better are better, they are still not suited for Vlog styled videos. That's where the action cameras come in. You can find a lot of great cameras like GoPro and others to shoot your travel experience or Vlogs too. That is why action cameras are one of the best travel gadgets to use.
7. GPS Smartwatch
Smartwatches are an awesome tool to use especially when you're traveling. Imagine checking your phone every second. Smartwatches enable you to check notifications and stuff right from your watch without having to worry about a thing at all. Therefore, a smartwatch is an awesome device to have.
8. Bluetooth Speaker
This one is important, especially when you're on vacation rentals. While many rentals provide you with LCD's, how about your smartphone? You have all your songs on your smartphones. Therefore, if you want to listen to your favorite song, you can just use Bluetooth speakers. A lot of companies like JBL are providing some of the best Bluetooth speakers in this game.
9. Water Purifier Bottle
After traveling to various places, you realize the importance of water back at home. Water varies from place to place. Somewhere, you might even be drinking dirty water. To avoid that, all you need to do is just buy a decent water purifier. Water purifiers clean water for people who have difficulty in finding clean water. For the most part, you might need to change the water filter. However, everything else is just an automatic process.
10. Flask Light with GPS
This one is not important to take. However, especially when you're hiking and doing stuff like that, you must take all the precautions you can. That's where Flask light comes in. These lights have inbuilt GPS so security shouldn't be an issue. You can be tracked in real time. So if you're loss of having difficulty, don't worry. It's not 2002 anymore. That is why flask light with GPS is one of the best portable travel gadgets to use.
Overall
So far we've covered some great portable travel gadgets. Whether you're going on a trip or business, you need to have these items in your bags so that you won't suffer as many people do nowadays.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Do you dream to go up the Col du Tourmalet, one of the best hikes in France and cycling climbs in the world in your mountain bike. Col du Tourmalet, the colossus, the giant, the myth of all the climbs is the one that all cyclists dream of climbing once in their lives. The Col du Tourmalet, or simply Tourmalet goes without any doubt to the story of great cycling achievements. The Tour de France has added a patina of legend to this high mountain pass in such a way that it is already inseparable from the sport of cycling.
The Col du Tourmalet Bike Climb is situated in Midi-Pyrenees. The Col du Tourmalet ascent is 17.2 km long starting from Sainte Marie de Campan. You have to climb 1268 meters. The maximum slope is 10 %. PJAMM Cycling has the list which contains the best bike climbs in the world. Where to stay to face the climb up the slope of St. Marie de Campan is always a matter of doubt.
It is true that Campan is close to the climb. Many people stay in this town and wheel to warm up in the direction of Bagnères de Bigorre (7 kilometers away) to then return and start the climb. Bagnères de Bigorre is a very touristy town and there is a wide range of accommodation.
For those who are new to cycling sport, you will reach a time where you must climb the hill and much more likely. To perform this task effectively, there are some tips that you should think about so as not to waste all your energy or increase heart rate while climbing the hill. Many first-time cyclists end up falling into bad habits that hinder their ability to climb hills.
Once you develop a method, it's hard to get out. So be sure to start the right foot when it comes to climbing the hills. The last thing you want to do is to be scared of the roads with names like Old Mountain Road, Granite Hill, and Hill Crest Lane. You will use not only your legs to push yourself up the hill but your arms as well.
If you climb a hill correctly, you will notice that your arms will be cumbersome like your leg muscles are pulling down on your bars. Try not to disturb the "pull" from pulling the rails. Eventually, cyclists who tend to pull their rods lose momentum, and their body will work unevenly, making it even more troublesome.
Making a bicycle lighter for cycling uphill is an option that many cyclists choose. They will remove their rear brakes because more power and control comes from the front brakes anyway, but if you are competing, you will need to check the regulations to make sure you can do so and still qualify for the competition.
You can use smaller windows, although this step may bring some comfort away from your trip, you will not notice much because steep climbs reduce travel speed. Some riders under 65 kg lose weight and will use the old road bike seat and remove all padding to ride the open plastic mold only. You will be invited to rule on your part if you can ride without stuffing, by all means, try it.
Mountain bike water bottle holders and cages are almost unnecessary for horse riding for an hour or less. Ready-made cyclists must already compete for water, then respray it immediately afterward, and there is no need to take a huge water bottle. Breathing is one of the most important aspects of climbing the hill.
For your muscles to get the oxygen you need, your breathing techniques must be correct. Make sure to keep your chest open, and breathe deeply through the diaphragm (lower abdomen) instead of the upper chest and shoulders. Skeletal breathing across the chest can increase ventilation, where you will have to breathe twice several times to get the same amount of oxygen as if you had proper techniques in place.
Often the most experienced pheasant has already recovered on the hills. They do this by breathing profoundly and expanding the lungs. RPMs or revolutions per minute can vary from pheasant to pheasant, but on average they will be about 80 rpm when climbing the hill. This can vary due to the composition of the cyclist's body, not because of individual strength.
The important thing is to lift the truck effectively. Do not wait until the current gear becomes very difficult. This somewhat late also focused on pulling the pedal stroke to the top as much as you push them down. One good way to think about it is by guiding your heels down and driving your heels through the ground on the stroke.
On the opposite end of the stroke focus on throwing the knees into the handlebars. This will push the tendons and glutes to work as hard as the thighs do. Otherwise directly burn your thighs out and quickly. The mental aspect of climbing hills with a bicycle is one of the most important parts. Remember mountains like road names?
It has been shown that knowing that you can perform a task is 95% of the battle, and the rest is material. Why do people often surrender? Their minds are trained for this event even if they are their bodies. You will need to be in the right mind mode to climb that hill, see yourself advancing, top up and up with energy to spare you and carry you forward. Just remember this, at the top of each hill you climb there is always a trip back down.
When you recover, you want to see everything, photograph everything and of course enter the bar museum, where you will surely enjoy the most comforting drink and food of your life. From what great being a cyclist we encourage everyone to live this great experience. Numerous cyclists from all over the world reserve a few days in summer to face the climb of the Tourmalet, much more than a mountain pass. Do you dare?
The Col du Tourmalet Bike Climb is situated in Midi-Pyrenees. The Col du Tourmalet ascent is 17.2 km long starting from Sainte Marie de Campan. You have to climb 1268 meters. The maximum slope is 10 %. PJAMM Cycling has the list which contains the best bike climbs in the world. Where to stay to face the climb up the slope of St. Marie de Campan is always a matter of doubt.
It is true that Campan is close to the climb. Many people stay in this town and wheel to warm up in the direction of Bagnères de Bigorre (7 kilometers away) to then return and start the climb. Bagnères de Bigorre is a very touristy town and there is a wide range of accommodation.
For those who are new to cycling sport, you will reach a time where you must climb the hill and much more likely. To perform this task effectively, there are some tips that you should think about so as not to waste all your energy or increase heart rate while climbing the hill. Many first-time cyclists end up falling into bad habits that hinder their ability to climb hills.
Once you develop a method, it's hard to get out. So be sure to start the right foot when it comes to climbing the hills. The last thing you want to do is to be scared of the roads with names like Old Mountain Road, Granite Hill, and Hill Crest Lane. You will use not only your legs to push yourself up the hill but your arms as well.
If you climb a hill correctly, you will notice that your arms will be cumbersome like your leg muscles are pulling down on your bars. Try not to disturb the "pull" from pulling the rails. Eventually, cyclists who tend to pull their rods lose momentum, and their body will work unevenly, making it even more troublesome.
Making a bicycle lighter for cycling uphill is an option that many cyclists choose. They will remove their rear brakes because more power and control comes from the front brakes anyway, but if you are competing, you will need to check the regulations to make sure you can do so and still qualify for the competition.
You can use smaller windows, although this step may bring some comfort away from your trip, you will not notice much because steep climbs reduce travel speed. Some riders under 65 kg lose weight and will use the old road bike seat and remove all padding to ride the open plastic mold only. You will be invited to rule on your part if you can ride without stuffing, by all means, try it.
Mountain bike water bottle holders and cages are almost unnecessary for horse riding for an hour or less. Ready-made cyclists must already compete for water, then respray it immediately afterward, and there is no need to take a huge water bottle. Breathing is one of the most important aspects of climbing the hill.
For your muscles to get the oxygen you need, your breathing techniques must be correct. Make sure to keep your chest open, and breathe deeply through the diaphragm (lower abdomen) instead of the upper chest and shoulders. Skeletal breathing across the chest can increase ventilation, where you will have to breathe twice several times to get the same amount of oxygen as if you had proper techniques in place.
Often the most experienced pheasant has already recovered on the hills. They do this by breathing profoundly and expanding the lungs. RPMs or revolutions per minute can vary from pheasant to pheasant, but on average they will be about 80 rpm when climbing the hill. This can vary due to the composition of the cyclist's body, not because of individual strength.
The important thing is to lift the truck effectively. Do not wait until the current gear becomes very difficult. This somewhat late also focused on pulling the pedal stroke to the top as much as you push them down. One good way to think about it is by guiding your heels down and driving your heels through the ground on the stroke.
On the opposite end of the stroke focus on throwing the knees into the handlebars. This will push the tendons and glutes to work as hard as the thighs do. Otherwise directly burn your thighs out and quickly. The mental aspect of climbing hills with a bicycle is one of the most important parts. Remember mountains like road names?
It has been shown that knowing that you can perform a task is 95% of the battle, and the rest is material. Why do people often surrender? Their minds are trained for this event even if they are their bodies. You will need to be in the right mind mode to climb that hill, see yourself advancing, top up and up with energy to spare you and carry you forward. Just remember this, at the top of each hill you climb there is always a trip back down.
When you recover, you want to see everything, photograph everything and of course enter the bar museum, where you will surely enjoy the most comforting drink and food of your life. From what great being a cyclist we encourage everyone to live this great experience. Numerous cyclists from all over the world reserve a few days in summer to face the climb of the Tourmalet, much more than a mountain pass. Do you dare?
Saturday, January 26, 2019
The number of men and women who are looking for no strings attached relationships or love is on the rise, who abandon the traditional holiday destinations in favor of increasingly exotic places. The number of men and women of different age groups is growing, who caress the idea of finding love or even just fleeting relationships on vacation.
To push many of them to places with a high rate of fun and low inhibitions is not only sexual desire, but also the desire for different relationships. Therefore, the idea of a break leads to relationships that can last only two weeks and which do not exclude a sort of reward in economic terms or gifts to the occasional partner.
During a holiday the rest from busy daily rhythms increases sexual desire. In the summer, moreover, the action of the sun has a decidedly positive effect on the hormones, stimulating the production of serotonin and testosterone. Even the desire for transgression increases, to subvert the habits, in every field and in the erotic one, testing new pleasures.
A trip to India is an opportunity to discover another approach to well-being using techniques ranging from the ancient wisdom of tantra and lush natural landscapes. It's about taking the romantic relationship to the next level, both in the bed and in the outside world. In India the Kamasutra and Tantra were invented hundreds of years ago and they had a very open, advanced and spiritual vision of love.
Without becoming too philosophical, the experience of a vacation is associated with certain pleasures, that is, an escape from normality. For a first approach, it is quite easy to learn different methods of meditation in states like Goa for example, where there are many centers that offer courses to tourists.
In Arambol, there are centers that offers many classes in yoga and meditation, including Tantric meditation, also called sexual meditation. Through breathing exercises, relaxing the body and exchanging energy, the goal is to enter into communion with the energy of our environment and that of our partner.
With a little practice, it can unlock the flow of energy in the whole body and even reach ecstasy without going through orgasm. It is an ideal practice for those who want to live their sexuality better, often held back by cultural taboos around sex in our society. You learn a lot about yourself and your relationships with others.
Ayurveda can be found in India as a whole, but even more so in the state of Kerala, in the south of the country, and the cradle of this medicine. For a first approach, try abhyanga massage, which is a massage of the whole body with essential oils. The coconut available here abundantly is a symbol of fertility in India. In addition, Coconut oil is used as an excellent lubricant and stimulant.
Many retreats in Kerala offers accommodation in cabins with palm trees on the coast of the Arabian sea, as well as sensory-sensual exploration sessions, erotic inspiration, and wild euphoria. Many couples have often resorted to them not because they were necessarily traveling, but as an escape to find romance and eroticism.
It's the same kind of pleasure you feel when you eat a chocolate bar or smoke a cigarette. Oh, and let's not forget those wonderfully clean and fresh sheets, room service, pools, smells, and the list goes on and on. You will learn erotic imagination techniques, and you will enjoy the gifts left in your room like sex toys and homemade aphrodisiac truffles.
Many top hotels offers sensual rooms to unleash the fantasies of the travel couple that allow you to spend a crazy night with the help of intimate products. These are offered in different chests of spectacular design inspired by the seven deadly sins to experience wild, sensual, sweet or perverse fun with the toys, ultrasexy lingerie, bath oils, exfoliants and a massager so that it is she who enjoys a relaxing night. The best? That the next day you can take the chest to continue the fun at home.
In addition to accommodation and toys, many packages includes a bottle of champagne in the room, and strawberries with cream. On the other hand, the therapists use the fertile energy of the earth to allow the tourists to connect with their natural rhythms and find their most pure and primal sensuality through yoga and meditation oriented to sex.
The contemporary tantra concepts lead ancestral practices of tantra to the modern world, combining ancient wisdom with current therapeutic tools that allow couples to build both spiritual and erotic connections. In the north of the country at the foot of the Himalayas is the Disneyland of Yoga. Rishikesh, a sacred city, has dozens of ashrams to choose from and lots of courses of all varieties of Yoga.
Here I reviewed many of the beliefs I had about sex and learned a whole new way of coping with life. In tantra there are two oranges that together form the symbol of infinity and this connects them with everything that exists. No one will enter there for codependency, need or attachment, but by pure celebration of force itself.
After the break it is important that couples are able to incorporate into their daily lives what they have learned during the holidays and to help improve sexual wellbeing. In India breaking away from traditions and taboos, there are now online stores from where you can easily get products ranging from personal lubricants, vibrating rings, foreplay games and sexy lingerie to spice up your fantasies whether you are a single or a couple looking to break the monotony.
To push many of them to places with a high rate of fun and low inhibitions is not only sexual desire, but also the desire for different relationships. Therefore, the idea of a break leads to relationships that can last only two weeks and which do not exclude a sort of reward in economic terms or gifts to the occasional partner.
During a holiday the rest from busy daily rhythms increases sexual desire. In the summer, moreover, the action of the sun has a decidedly positive effect on the hormones, stimulating the production of serotonin and testosterone. Even the desire for transgression increases, to subvert the habits, in every field and in the erotic one, testing new pleasures.
A trip to India is an opportunity to discover another approach to well-being using techniques ranging from the ancient wisdom of tantra and lush natural landscapes. It's about taking the romantic relationship to the next level, both in the bed and in the outside world. In India the Kamasutra and Tantra were invented hundreds of years ago and they had a very open, advanced and spiritual vision of love.
Without becoming too philosophical, the experience of a vacation is associated with certain pleasures, that is, an escape from normality. For a first approach, it is quite easy to learn different methods of meditation in states like Goa for example, where there are many centers that offer courses to tourists.
In Arambol, there are centers that offers many classes in yoga and meditation, including Tantric meditation, also called sexual meditation. Through breathing exercises, relaxing the body and exchanging energy, the goal is to enter into communion with the energy of our environment and that of our partner.
With a little practice, it can unlock the flow of energy in the whole body and even reach ecstasy without going through orgasm. It is an ideal practice for those who want to live their sexuality better, often held back by cultural taboos around sex in our society. You learn a lot about yourself and your relationships with others.
Ayurveda can be found in India as a whole, but even more so in the state of Kerala, in the south of the country, and the cradle of this medicine. For a first approach, try abhyanga massage, which is a massage of the whole body with essential oils. The coconut available here abundantly is a symbol of fertility in India. In addition, Coconut oil is used as an excellent lubricant and stimulant.
Many retreats in Kerala offers accommodation in cabins with palm trees on the coast of the Arabian sea, as well as sensory-sensual exploration sessions, erotic inspiration, and wild euphoria. Many couples have often resorted to them not because they were necessarily traveling, but as an escape to find romance and eroticism.
It's the same kind of pleasure you feel when you eat a chocolate bar or smoke a cigarette. Oh, and let's not forget those wonderfully clean and fresh sheets, room service, pools, smells, and the list goes on and on. You will learn erotic imagination techniques, and you will enjoy the gifts left in your room like sex toys and homemade aphrodisiac truffles.
Many top hotels offers sensual rooms to unleash the fantasies of the travel couple that allow you to spend a crazy night with the help of intimate products. These are offered in different chests of spectacular design inspired by the seven deadly sins to experience wild, sensual, sweet or perverse fun with the toys, ultrasexy lingerie, bath oils, exfoliants and a massager so that it is she who enjoys a relaxing night. The best? That the next day you can take the chest to continue the fun at home.
In addition to accommodation and toys, many packages includes a bottle of champagne in the room, and strawberries with cream. On the other hand, the therapists use the fertile energy of the earth to allow the tourists to connect with their natural rhythms and find their most pure and primal sensuality through yoga and meditation oriented to sex.
The contemporary tantra concepts lead ancestral practices of tantra to the modern world, combining ancient wisdom with current therapeutic tools that allow couples to build both spiritual and erotic connections. In the north of the country at the foot of the Himalayas is the Disneyland of Yoga. Rishikesh, a sacred city, has dozens of ashrams to choose from and lots of courses of all varieties of Yoga.
Here I reviewed many of the beliefs I had about sex and learned a whole new way of coping with life. In tantra there are two oranges that together form the symbol of infinity and this connects them with everything that exists. No one will enter there for codependency, need or attachment, but by pure celebration of force itself.
After the break it is important that couples are able to incorporate into their daily lives what they have learned during the holidays and to help improve sexual wellbeing. In India breaking away from traditions and taboos, there are now online stores from where you can easily get products ranging from personal lubricants, vibrating rings, foreplay games and sexy lingerie to spice up your fantasies whether you are a single or a couple looking to break the monotony.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Are you wondering on how to travel solo in Europe or looking for some solo female travel tips for backpackers? Europe is one of the safest places to travel when you are on your own and travelling Europe alone on a budget as it has some of the cheap places to travel. It can be a great place to meet people and fellow travellers as well and you can also travel cheap especially in May and June or October and November.
The eastern parts of Europe attracts with its rich history, magnificent architecture and cultural experiences. In 2020, more and more travelers will replace the most traditional weekend cities like London, Paris and Barcelona, the cities located to the east of Europe. Europe is a continent and hence it is impossible to explore it in just one trip.
What you can do in 15 days is choose places that will be a tad bit light on your pocket and get to know them well. Here you will find a melting pot of culture, interesting food traditions and unique travel experiences with slightly lower prices than elsewhere in Europe - a real win-win. Now you have two options to pursue.
Travel to a lot of places in a touch and go manner and add up to your list of places covered. Travel to a few places but explore them really well.
It's far better and cheaper than the others. The apps that we usually use in our trips and that we also recommend for Europe are Uber, offline Google Maps, public transport, or Zomato. They still work with the GPS but do not incur roaming charges, when abroad. Print off all documents. Mobile phones now have convenient apps which display e-tickets. But your phone might stop working just as you need it. Also bring printed schedule.
You need pens to do some documentation almost everywhere you go. Carry a pen. Also, carry photos and other documents if the country is visa on arrival.
If you are a bachelor, you should always prefer hostels to hotels. Hostels in Europe are great and you get to interact with people from all over the world when you stay there. Book a hostel near a railway station/old town. Then you save a lot of effort walking/travelling to there. If you are travelling alone or with friends, search for hostels before you book Airbnb or hotels.
Chances are you will have a much cheaper stay and also you will make some friends on the way.
Try to stay in hostels as much as possible. You don’t need to bunk in a dorm. You can avail single rooms as well. The best hostel properties can be booked from sites like Hostel World and Agoda. You can use Airbnb or hostels if you're friendly and it'll save funds. Book a good AirBnb (of course, after checking the reviews). In southern Europe, they’re abundant — though cheap rentals are putting a real pinch on locals looking for a place to live.
The really great thing about southern Europe is that there’s usually plenty of accommodation options for under $40 a night. Cheap things for tourists often have a serious downside for locals. Higher prices in the Nordic countries are one reason why, for the most part, they’re not a swamp of tourist selfie-sticks.
Don't feel shame in asking discounts at hotels. You may get it. Not all want to lose customers. Ask for the WiFi password if the hotel have a WiFi. You paid for it. It's your right.
Try to walk through the cities than the Hop on Hop off buses, you will get know much better idea of the cities, culture and architecture. Almost all big cities in Europe offer free walking tours which usually take place twice a day from the city center or famous attractions. Make sure to arrive there on time, and tip at the end of the tour what you want and can afford.
Go visit around some unplanned locations that were not originally on your list, and see what unexpectedly amazing memories you create. Your best memory will be the evening you spent wandering around with no specific plan, the beer you drank in a piazza while you gazed at the fountain, or the unexpected conversation you had with an interesting stranger who you’ll never see again.
If you really want to enjoy any country, try local food, stay, local travelling options like bicycles in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and events. Christmas markets are best in some parts of Europe, like Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria) and Dusseldorf (Germany). You can try Glühwein, it beats the cold. Accept a fika (Swedish word for afternoon coffee/tea with cookies) if you are asked to.
Italian men never wear shorts, very young Italian women do, occasionally. Do not forget that in Italy summer can be hot and sunny, you may not like getting extensive sunburns. Bermuda shorts are not considered very elegant but are usually OK, so are those horrible mid-calf trousers (capri in English, pinocchietto in Italian). But stay away from shorts.
The risk of a trick-roll is very high while travelling, you’ve no idea what mess they hold with them. Think long and hard as to whether the Red Light district in Amsterdam is something you really want to do. You might think you need to do it, or think you want to do it. Until you’re in the middle of a bunch of gawking stag party types, most of whom are drunk or aimlessly milling about or both, crammed into a very small part of the city.
Make sure you bring contraception in case you get lucky.
Follow local customs and have a bit to eat with your drinks. You will find that it has its merits. Do not take an aggressive exchange of words for an invite to physical violence. It is a rare event should it happen and seen as a lack of wits. Do not take loud exchange of words and shouting for aggression. It is just the way people talk, the more south the louder. Just live with it and join in.
Do not complain over kids out late with parents at the bar. This is a different custom and they really do have it under perfect control. Just live with it.
In case you are a student, carry your ID. A lot of places in Europe offer discounts to students. Apply for a multiple entry Schengen Visa before making bookings of flights, trains and accommodations. Once your visa is approved, then go ahead and plan. Always make a habit of uploading or saving copies of your important docs on cloud.
In many Schengen countries, like Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, carrying an official ID document (which for foreigners normally means passport or EU ID card) at all times is compulsory to some degree. In others, like Germany, there is no requirement to carry official ID, but it is advisable to have some form of ID.
It’s not always easy to find out what the rules in any given country are. Now, in some countries you may risk a fine if you’re checked by police when you don’t have your passport on you. This is fairly unlikely in the first place. If you’re a tourist, you’re carrying a photocopy of your passport, and you’re polite, most police officers will probably be lenient even if they could theoretically fine you.
Depending on what you’re doing and how old you are, you might also need your passport for other purposes, like buying alcohol or getting age-based discounts in museums. Now you have to weigh the risk of pickpockets against the possible inconvenience and the risk of a fine.
If you're using Uber or Lyft, be certain the vehicle that shows up is legit. Compare the picture of the driver you are expecting with the person driving. Download offline maps of your route. You can't trust network everywhere. Just download the maps of all the cities in your phone and you wouldn't need to buy a local SIM card everywhere.
Saving offline maps can help but you always need to search hotels/metro time and all. Buy a local plan. You can find its much cheaper than what you pay in-country for an international plan. It also helps to find when is your next metro bus train. Learn to read the metro lines in the google app. It's helpful.
See who is carrying a DSLR. If someone is carrying a DSLR, infer that they would not run away with cellphone and that they would know something about clicking pictures. Ask only these people to take pictures.
Do not click photos from people near popular tourist attractions if you want to save money. Because many of them click your picture and Photoshop it with their pre-developed template and charge you way more than what a single picture would cost. This is optional in most of the cases, but once you see your picture hanging around the wall of all the pretty faces you will eventually buy them, its a trick.
Eat as much as possible from supermarkets and small local stores and street shops. Eating at a restaurant can easily set you back from $10-$20 per person, per meal depending on which country you are. Europeans prefer parceling the leftovers but aren’t familiar with the concept of sharing food.
It doesn’t matter where you go; eat like the locals do! Many are afraid to try any of the street food because of fear of food poisoning. You’ll experience the place through its food. You’ll enjoy plenty of the boring McDonald’s tastes back home. Eat more at small eateries than plush restaurants. If possible, cook yourself in case you have a kitchen in your hostel or if you’re staying in an Airbnb apartment.
There are two main distinguishing features of the breads of Northern Europe including Germany, Scandinavia and Poland as compared to the breads popular in countries like France, Italy and Britain. They typically use rye rather than just wheat for flour. In Germany, breads made from mixtures of different grains are quite popular, but breads made predominantly from rye are also common.
They normally use sourdough for leavening rather than baker's yeast; this gives them their characteristic sour flavour. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other wonderful styles of bread. Take a nice baguette, for instance! Depending on what you’re comparing it to, there may be more to it, though: a good German or Danish rye bread, a fresh baguette, a warm pita bread – those are solid.
Prices in most of southern Europe are more on par with prices in the rural Midwest or South, at least when it comes to food. Specially for people who do not eat meat, should carry their own snacks. Even though vegan culture is largely spread across different countries now, there are still very less options for veg/vegan food.
Before starting your day, do visit a supermarket in that particular city. Like Albert heijn in Amsterdam, Lidl in Germany, they provide lot of ready to eat options and are way cheaper than the restaurants you will see on your way. Don’t waste money on buying food at the airport, have some rice wafers or peanuts with you.
The further south you go, the later meals are. If you are hungry around 6 pm you may consider having an aperitivo, which means ordering a long drink (non-alcoholic options are OK) and grab whatever you like from a buffet. Most larger bars offer some kind of aperitivo, which range from just a few strips of pizza and focaccia to an array of finger foods, to pasta and meat in covered warmers.
Try to stay close to the centre and walk everywhere. Unless you need to visit a spot outside the city, public transportation tickets are not necessary. This is also why traveling by train or by bus is the best mode of travel in Europe when it comes to proximity to centre and reducing your travel costs.
Budget airlines in Europe are abundant, and it’s normally as cheap or cheaper to fly than it is to take a bus, train, or definitely to drive yourself. EU doesn’t tax jet fuel, so that keeps airfare low. If you are crossing large distances, do check out cheap flight options such as Ryan Air, Easy Jet and Wizz Air.
The only catch is that they do not allow a checked luggage and have very specific carry on dimensions. Check-in bags can cost a small fortune, and you really can pack a lot into your hand luggage suitcase or soft back. Always take a drawstring bag, too - it is a lifesaver in so many cases!
Bookmark sites like Skyscanner and Expedia for staying aware of offers and discounts on flights. Keep checking them months before your trip. Always use Google flights and a few other websites to compare flight prices. Always take a look at flights price on incognito mode. Also, some countries have visa restrictions for transit.
Not always flying will be the best option - it’s always worth checking the price of trains or even buses. It can turn out that they get you from point A to point B in similar time, but lower price. Traveling solo in Europe is easy thanks to the excellent public transportation networks which criss-cross the country.
When looking through traveling organization tips, you’ll hear a lot about using public transport. Yes, that works for big cities. Travel in Local transport as much as possible. You will save upto 80℅ in travelling. Take the train. Aircraft travel is cramped and disorientating. Trains are relaxing, sometimes taking scenic routes.
Sleeping cars, dining cars and a convivial atmosphere makes for a great travel experience. Trains are an easy and budget way of commute in Europe. Within cities, use local subway trains and outside cities, travel by connecting trains. Check out the official website of Eurail Pass to understand the route and pricing. A Eurail Pass is the cheapest way to travel around Europe.
There are sleeper cars and a lot of long distance trains have restaurant cars that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Train travel also provides a great opportunity to meet other travelers and hear about where they have been what what places they recommend. Tourists stretch public transportation capacity to its maximum. Some metro stations in Prague, Paris or London to name a few random names, are sometimes über-crowded.
But when you’re exploring remote destinations, it doesn’t work. Plan to rent your vehicle before getting to your destination, so you won’t waste time searching around. It can wait for you at the airport. Car rentals in southern Europe are often so cheap they’re almost free. You can rent a car in Spain for $11 a day, and one in Croatia for something like that.
Explore all travel options. Buses in Europe are very cheap and comfortable. Also, when you book overnight buses you can easily save money on accommodation for a day. For an early morning flight, you could even consider reaching the airport the night before if you are really thrifty.
Invest in a good quality Travel Backpack, its a good idea to carry a single backpack than bunch of small bags.
Have all your cosmetics in a box. Your personal hygiene items in another one. Your chargers and electronics in a third box. You’ll have another plastic box for your camera equipment. When you keep everything neat and organized, packing and unpacking will be a breeze. Don't forget your earphones. Carry a powerbank with you. It helps a lot. Charger won't help you everywhere.
Carry a pair of slippers with you. Else you will regret. Shoes may get wet sometimes. Prefer wearing rugged shoes rather than sport shoes while travelling. While packing the luggage, prefer rolling rather rather folding, it'll save space.
This is one of the most practical traveling organization tips you’ll get, although it doesn’t sound like one. You’ll benefit from the experience and knowledge of locals, as well as from connections with other tourists. Even if you want to spend a lot of time alone or with your partner, being friendly is still important. You’ll have questions and you’ll need recommendations. Being known as the kind person in the group goes to your advantage.
There is more to a solo Europe trip than ticking off girls trips to Paris and Barcelona. You should take the time to explore more than just the traditional options. The map of Europe forms a rich and diverse tapestry. And then, there is the behaviour. Scandinavians are, by any measure, very quiet, understated, and ever so slight. They tend to be introverts, very modest, and diplomatic.
Danes are known for cosiness, Finns are among those who drink the most coffee in the world, the Norwegians are known for their rides, hiking, skiing, camping trips and cab rides. While the Swedes love to spread coffee culture. Learn to say hello and thank you in the local language and you’ll have an even better experience with the locals. In Europe you are supposed to apologize even if you touch someone by mistake.
Talk to the locals. Ask for help if you get lost. Never ask only one person for directions. Ask a few people for directions to the same location because chances are, one of them is wrong.
I cannot tell how much money you’ll be able to save during that time of the year. You will have to pay around 2 to 3 times more money if you have not planned your travel, stay and itinerary way before the pick season. Book your train tickets, air, airbnb, hostel as soon as your travel itinerary is confirmed. Exchange currency in your own country, before leaving!
The popular myth is that the Nordic countries are super expensive, but in fact, they’re pretty much on par with the expensive parts of the United States. A sit-down dinner with a waiter in Helsinki is probably going to cost you $30+, especially if you order alcohol. Northern Europe in general is going to be pricier than southern Europe, but, northern Europe has other options.
You don’t have to eat at a sit-down restaurant. And you don’t have to stay at a hotel. In fact, once you cover certain places in Europe on your first trip, the trips that follow in the future will be all budget friendly trips.
As a solo female traveler or singles you have the freedom to set your own itinerary. There are lot of beautiful cities and places than the one we normally see on social media. Paris is not so romantic, but Nice in France is. Do not plan trip to 7 countries in 10 days, just to update them all on your timeline. You will not even enjoy half of them, because you will be exhausted while travelling and there is much more than a single monument in any city.
Planning down to each hour would be little excessive, as you might end up spending more than planned time at a certain place or the place you really want to visit is closed. This is particularly relevant when you travel to see natural phenomenon such as the aurora. You need to spend at least 3 days in the middle of nowhere to increase your probability of being able to see the northern lights. So make an itinerary, but keep enough buffer.
European countries have diverse landscape and unless you visit it all you would not know. However for the first time traveler, it would be impossible to visit each and every city. Visit one of the Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland or Denmark. Visit the beaches of Lisbon in Portugal, Barcelona in Spain, Nice in France, Naples in Italy, or Athens in Greece.
Visit cities rich in art and history like Paris in France, Rome and Florence in Italy, Vienna in Austria. Visit east European cities like Hvar, Plitvice national park in Croatia, Krakow in Poland, Budapest in Hungary. Visit cities that are not in the list of first time travelers like Budapest in Hungary, Prague in Czech Republic, Valletta in Malta, Berlin in Germany.
If you are on a one week trip through Germany or Austria and want to see a theatre play every evening in a different city, you can accomplish it with ease by driving perhaps 50 kilometres a day. There will be theatres and cultural offerings every few steps.
Try that approach in Sweden, and you are spending the days in your car, powering through probably more like 200 kilometres of blissful scenery to get to the next town with a theatre. That’s because Sweden is three times the size of Germany, but with only one-eighth the population. There’s simply nobody here!
Visit cities that are not touristic but beautiful Sofia in Bulgaria, Tallinn in Estonia, Andorra la Vella in Andorra. Visit the cities at its best like Amsterdam when tulips are blooming during March to May, Provence region when Lavenders take over the landscape in July, Cologne in Germany during the Carnival or Oktoberfest, Swiss mountains when they are covered in snow.
Do visit places that you always wished to visit even if it is a tourist trap. Yes Eiffel towel is overrated, the Oia sunset in Santorini is overcrowded, but when you grew up reading about these places and wished to visit these once, you should. If you went to Paris, and didn’t see the Eiffel Tower, did you even go to Paris?
Plan in your mind what is it that you exactly want to cover, and read reviews online. You’d maximize the satisfaction you get after the trip. Book tickets for popular monuments like the Eiffel, Louvre online beforehand or you might have to stand in long queues.
Time is money and you wouldn't want to waste 2 hours standing in a queue just to book tickets! Book tickets at least 3 months in advance. Book in advance for the best prices and make sure to be flexible. The more flexible your itinerary is, the more advantage you can take of last minute events and festivals, which never seem to end in Europe.
Don’t buy souvenirs right in front of or near to attractions. If you are in a very popular city, chances are you will get the same stuff at a very less price 1-2 km far from it. Haggling and bargaining won’t work everywhere, if possible take a local acquaintance with you for shopping, ask the hotel personnel or AirBNB host where to buy stuff.
So do your research where you are going, timing of attractions (some churches in Europe get closed in afternoon and again open in evening), where you will stay, how you will commute from Airport/Railway station to your hotel/Airbnb, about local cuisines, local transportation, daily pass and many more. Reading articles will help in many ways.
Make the most of the internet by researching, booking and planning your travel and accommodation. Don’t leave things to chance especially in busier summer months. Make sure you choose different types of countries to avoid getting fed up! Mix it up between ones with beaches, jungle, tropical, mountains and more cultural.
Any travel destination on Instagram is probably over rated and overcrowded already. Many people tend to have a romantic notion of certain European countries, and when they visit them, many people are disappointed in seeing the not-so-romantic parts of them. Because no country is perfect, not every part of those countries are flawless, but that’s what they saw in brochures and videos before the actual trip.
Don't rely on one source while making decision, confirm, research then make a final decision like food, laundry, currency exchange etc. A lot of travelers feel that Europe is damn expensive. Well it isn’t of you have the time and the passion to plan ahead and plan well.
As a traveler, you will be spending a lot on flights and visa. But compensate the extra cost bu saving hugely on accommodation, food and sightseeing. A 15 day trip to this part of the world should not cost you more. Europe isn’t as expensive as people imagine it to be. All you need to do is spend more on exploration and not on bookings.
The dark side of Italy is that too many tourists come with a checklist of things they must see, they rush through it all with barely enough time to appreciate where they are, and return home with nothing but a few pictures that nobody will remember in 6 months and a bit of extra credit card debt.
Your brain can only absorb so many works of art before it gets saturated. No matter how well you plan, you’re not going to see everything, and if you try to hard you’ll ruin your vacation. Try to deeply enjoy a few things, and give yourself plenty of time to relax. Your greatest memory won’t be craning your neck in the Sistine Chapel while 139 people are pushing you.
There are various free day tours in almost every city where you get to explore the city with a guide. Note that you are expected to tip the guide in the end.
Bring prescription medication you need and enough of it to last you the whole time, unless you are going to countries where you can buy it over the counter. Check the availability in countries you are going to.
Finally, respect local culture, laws and traditions. If its not allowed to drink at public places (Amsterdam), swim in Venice canals don’t do it, even if you can without someone noticing you.
The entire trip will be an immersive experience. It is about getting lost in the streets, stumbling upon great places, meeting people and preserving memories. It is about people gazing in Paris, calmness of canals in Amsterdam, sunrise at Charles Bridge in Prague, spine-chilling bull fighting in Madrid, serene beaches in Ibiza and Spanish music in Barcelona.
The Ring Scam is one seen in Paris. You, the unwitting tourist, are walking on one of the paths in the Tuileries Gardens when you see a glittering gold wedding ring lying in very plain sight. When you pick it up, the person who laid it there, usually standing unobtrusively about 40 feet away, rushes over to either sell you the ring she has lost or demand a payment from you.
The other variation is for them to run up for the ring just as you reach for it and then let you keep the ring you both found if you just give them a small payment. The language varies but the ruse is all based on your picking up the ring. So just don't.
In fact, go off to an unobtrusive distance yourself and watch how the scam artist manages the whole process with the next unwitting tourist. It is a bit like watching a creative squirrel raid a bird feeder -- fun to watch if you are not the bird.
So why not take the time to opt for the road less travelled on your next vacation with our travel destinations?
The eastern parts of Europe attracts with its rich history, magnificent architecture and cultural experiences. In 2020, more and more travelers will replace the most traditional weekend cities like London, Paris and Barcelona, the cities located to the east of Europe. Europe is a continent and hence it is impossible to explore it in just one trip.
What you can do in 15 days is choose places that will be a tad bit light on your pocket and get to know them well. Here you will find a melting pot of culture, interesting food traditions and unique travel experiences with slightly lower prices than elsewhere in Europe - a real win-win. Now you have two options to pursue.
Travel to a lot of places in a touch and go manner and add up to your list of places covered. Travel to a few places but explore them really well.
1. Use apps for travel
It's far better and cheaper than the others. The apps that we usually use in our trips and that we also recommend for Europe are Uber, offline Google Maps, public transport, or Zomato. They still work with the GPS but do not incur roaming charges, when abroad. Print off all documents. Mobile phones now have convenient apps which display e-tickets. But your phone might stop working just as you need it. Also bring printed schedule.
You need pens to do some documentation almost everywhere you go. Carry a pen. Also, carry photos and other documents if the country is visa on arrival.
2. Book a good hotel/AirBnb
If you are a bachelor, you should always prefer hostels to hotels. Hostels in Europe are great and you get to interact with people from all over the world when you stay there. Book a hostel near a railway station/old town. Then you save a lot of effort walking/travelling to there. If you are travelling alone or with friends, search for hostels before you book Airbnb or hotels.
Chances are you will have a much cheaper stay and also you will make some friends on the way.
Try to stay in hostels as much as possible. You don’t need to bunk in a dorm. You can avail single rooms as well. The best hostel properties can be booked from sites like Hostel World and Agoda. You can use Airbnb or hostels if you're friendly and it'll save funds. Book a good AirBnb (of course, after checking the reviews). In southern Europe, they’re abundant — though cheap rentals are putting a real pinch on locals looking for a place to live.
The really great thing about southern Europe is that there’s usually plenty of accommodation options for under $40 a night. Cheap things for tourists often have a serious downside for locals. Higher prices in the Nordic countries are one reason why, for the most part, they’re not a swamp of tourist selfie-sticks.
Don't feel shame in asking discounts at hotels. You may get it. Not all want to lose customers. Ask for the WiFi password if the hotel have a WiFi. You paid for it. It's your right.
3. Ask your hostel or research for free walking tours
Try to walk through the cities than the Hop on Hop off buses, you will get know much better idea of the cities, culture and architecture. Almost all big cities in Europe offer free walking tours which usually take place twice a day from the city center or famous attractions. Make sure to arrive there on time, and tip at the end of the tour what you want and can afford.
Go visit around some unplanned locations that were not originally on your list, and see what unexpectedly amazing memories you create. Your best memory will be the evening you spent wandering around with no specific plan, the beer you drank in a piazza while you gazed at the fountain, or the unexpected conversation you had with an interesting stranger who you’ll never see again.
If you really want to enjoy any country, try local food, stay, local travelling options like bicycles in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and events. Christmas markets are best in some parts of Europe, like Budapest (Hungary), Vienna (Austria) and Dusseldorf (Germany). You can try Glühwein, it beats the cold. Accept a fika (Swedish word for afternoon coffee/tea with cookies) if you are asked to.
4. Do not wear shorts if you are an adult
Italian men never wear shorts, very young Italian women do, occasionally. Do not forget that in Italy summer can be hot and sunny, you may not like getting extensive sunburns. Bermuda shorts are not considered very elegant but are usually OK, so are those horrible mid-calf trousers (capri in English, pinocchietto in Italian). But stay away from shorts.
5. Avoid casual or random flings
The risk of a trick-roll is very high while travelling, you’ve no idea what mess they hold with them. Think long and hard as to whether the Red Light district in Amsterdam is something you really want to do. You might think you need to do it, or think you want to do it. Until you’re in the middle of a bunch of gawking stag party types, most of whom are drunk or aimlessly milling about or both, crammed into a very small part of the city.
Make sure you bring contraception in case you get lucky.
6. No binge drinking
Follow local customs and have a bit to eat with your drinks. You will find that it has its merits. Do not take an aggressive exchange of words for an invite to physical violence. It is a rare event should it happen and seen as a lack of wits. Do not take loud exchange of words and shouting for aggression. It is just the way people talk, the more south the louder. Just live with it and join in.
Do not complain over kids out late with parents at the bar. This is a different custom and they really do have it under perfect control. Just live with it.
7. Always bring at least one physical photocopy of your passport
In case you are a student, carry your ID. A lot of places in Europe offer discounts to students. Apply for a multiple entry Schengen Visa before making bookings of flights, trains and accommodations. Once your visa is approved, then go ahead and plan. Always make a habit of uploading or saving copies of your important docs on cloud.
In many Schengen countries, like Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, carrying an official ID document (which for foreigners normally means passport or EU ID card) at all times is compulsory to some degree. In others, like Germany, there is no requirement to carry official ID, but it is advisable to have some form of ID.
It’s not always easy to find out what the rules in any given country are. Now, in some countries you may risk a fine if you’re checked by police when you don’t have your passport on you. This is fairly unlikely in the first place. If you’re a tourist, you’re carrying a photocopy of your passport, and you’re polite, most police officers will probably be lenient even if they could theoretically fine you.
Depending on what you’re doing and how old you are, you might also need your passport for other purposes, like buying alcohol or getting age-based discounts in museums. Now you have to weigh the risk of pickpockets against the possible inconvenience and the risk of a fine.
8. Compare the picture of the driver
If you're using Uber or Lyft, be certain the vehicle that shows up is legit. Compare the picture of the driver you are expecting with the person driving. Download offline maps of your route. You can't trust network everywhere. Just download the maps of all the cities in your phone and you wouldn't need to buy a local SIM card everywhere.
Saving offline maps can help but you always need to search hotels/metro time and all. Buy a local plan. You can find its much cheaper than what you pay in-country for an international plan. It also helps to find when is your next metro bus train. Learn to read the metro lines in the google app. It's helpful.
9. Don’t give your expensive cellphones to random people to take a picture
See who is carrying a DSLR. If someone is carrying a DSLR, infer that they would not run away with cellphone and that they would know something about clicking pictures. Ask only these people to take pictures.
Do not click photos from people near popular tourist attractions if you want to save money. Because many of them click your picture and Photoshop it with their pre-developed template and charge you way more than what a single picture would cost. This is optional in most of the cases, but once you see your picture hanging around the wall of all the pretty faces you will eventually buy them, its a trick.
10. Try to fit to meal times
Eat as much as possible from supermarkets and small local stores and street shops. Eating at a restaurant can easily set you back from $10-$20 per person, per meal depending on which country you are. Europeans prefer parceling the leftovers but aren’t familiar with the concept of sharing food.
It doesn’t matter where you go; eat like the locals do! Many are afraid to try any of the street food because of fear of food poisoning. You’ll experience the place through its food. You’ll enjoy plenty of the boring McDonald’s tastes back home. Eat more at small eateries than plush restaurants. If possible, cook yourself in case you have a kitchen in your hostel or if you’re staying in an Airbnb apartment.
There are two main distinguishing features of the breads of Northern Europe including Germany, Scandinavia and Poland as compared to the breads popular in countries like France, Italy and Britain. They typically use rye rather than just wheat for flour. In Germany, breads made from mixtures of different grains are quite popular, but breads made predominantly from rye are also common.
They normally use sourdough for leavening rather than baker's yeast; this gives them their characteristic sour flavour. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other wonderful styles of bread. Take a nice baguette, for instance! Depending on what you’re comparing it to, there may be more to it, though: a good German or Danish rye bread, a fresh baguette, a warm pita bread – those are solid.
Prices in most of southern Europe are more on par with prices in the rural Midwest or South, at least when it comes to food. Specially for people who do not eat meat, should carry their own snacks. Even though vegan culture is largely spread across different countries now, there are still very less options for veg/vegan food.
Before starting your day, do visit a supermarket in that particular city. Like Albert heijn in Amsterdam, Lidl in Germany, they provide lot of ready to eat options and are way cheaper than the restaurants you will see on your way. Don’t waste money on buying food at the airport, have some rice wafers or peanuts with you.
The further south you go, the later meals are. If you are hungry around 6 pm you may consider having an aperitivo, which means ordering a long drink (non-alcoholic options are OK) and grab whatever you like from a buffet. Most larger bars offer some kind of aperitivo, which range from just a few strips of pizza and focaccia to an array of finger foods, to pasta and meat in covered warmers.
11. Make use of public transport
Try to stay close to the centre and walk everywhere. Unless you need to visit a spot outside the city, public transportation tickets are not necessary. This is also why traveling by train or by bus is the best mode of travel in Europe when it comes to proximity to centre and reducing your travel costs.
Budget airlines in Europe are abundant, and it’s normally as cheap or cheaper to fly than it is to take a bus, train, or definitely to drive yourself. EU doesn’t tax jet fuel, so that keeps airfare low. If you are crossing large distances, do check out cheap flight options such as Ryan Air, Easy Jet and Wizz Air.
The only catch is that they do not allow a checked luggage and have very specific carry on dimensions. Check-in bags can cost a small fortune, and you really can pack a lot into your hand luggage suitcase or soft back. Always take a drawstring bag, too - it is a lifesaver in so many cases!
Bookmark sites like Skyscanner and Expedia for staying aware of offers and discounts on flights. Keep checking them months before your trip. Always use Google flights and a few other websites to compare flight prices. Always take a look at flights price on incognito mode. Also, some countries have visa restrictions for transit.
Not always flying will be the best option - it’s always worth checking the price of trains or even buses. It can turn out that they get you from point A to point B in similar time, but lower price. Traveling solo in Europe is easy thanks to the excellent public transportation networks which criss-cross the country.
When looking through traveling organization tips, you’ll hear a lot about using public transport. Yes, that works for big cities. Travel in Local transport as much as possible. You will save upto 80℅ in travelling. Take the train. Aircraft travel is cramped and disorientating. Trains are relaxing, sometimes taking scenic routes.
Sleeping cars, dining cars and a convivial atmosphere makes for a great travel experience. Trains are an easy and budget way of commute in Europe. Within cities, use local subway trains and outside cities, travel by connecting trains. Check out the official website of Eurail Pass to understand the route and pricing. A Eurail Pass is the cheapest way to travel around Europe.
There are sleeper cars and a lot of long distance trains have restaurant cars that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Train travel also provides a great opportunity to meet other travelers and hear about where they have been what what places they recommend. Tourists stretch public transportation capacity to its maximum. Some metro stations in Prague, Paris or London to name a few random names, are sometimes über-crowded.
But when you’re exploring remote destinations, it doesn’t work. Plan to rent your vehicle before getting to your destination, so you won’t waste time searching around. It can wait for you at the airport. Car rentals in southern Europe are often so cheap they’re almost free. You can rent a car in Spain for $11 a day, and one in Croatia for something like that.
Explore all travel options. Buses in Europe are very cheap and comfortable. Also, when you book overnight buses you can easily save money on accommodation for a day. For an early morning flight, you could even consider reaching the airport the night before if you are really thrifty.
12. Pack everything in boxes
Invest in a good quality Travel Backpack, its a good idea to carry a single backpack than bunch of small bags.
Have all your cosmetics in a box. Your personal hygiene items in another one. Your chargers and electronics in a third box. You’ll have another plastic box for your camera equipment. When you keep everything neat and organized, packing and unpacking will be a breeze. Don't forget your earphones. Carry a powerbank with you. It helps a lot. Charger won't help you everywhere.
Carry a pair of slippers with you. Else you will regret. Shoes may get wet sometimes. Prefer wearing rugged shoes rather than sport shoes while travelling. While packing the luggage, prefer rolling rather rather folding, it'll save space.
13. Be friendly
This is one of the most practical traveling organization tips you’ll get, although it doesn’t sound like one. You’ll benefit from the experience and knowledge of locals, as well as from connections with other tourists. Even if you want to spend a lot of time alone or with your partner, being friendly is still important. You’ll have questions and you’ll need recommendations. Being known as the kind person in the group goes to your advantage.
There is more to a solo Europe trip than ticking off girls trips to Paris and Barcelona. You should take the time to explore more than just the traditional options. The map of Europe forms a rich and diverse tapestry. And then, there is the behaviour. Scandinavians are, by any measure, very quiet, understated, and ever so slight. They tend to be introverts, very modest, and diplomatic.
Danes are known for cosiness, Finns are among those who drink the most coffee in the world, the Norwegians are known for their rides, hiking, skiing, camping trips and cab rides. While the Swedes love to spread coffee culture. Learn to say hello and thank you in the local language and you’ll have an even better experience with the locals. In Europe you are supposed to apologize even if you touch someone by mistake.
Talk to the locals. Ask for help if you get lost. Never ask only one person for directions. Ask a few people for directions to the same location because chances are, one of them is wrong.
14. Travel during off-season
I cannot tell how much money you’ll be able to save during that time of the year. You will have to pay around 2 to 3 times more money if you have not planned your travel, stay and itinerary way before the pick season. Book your train tickets, air, airbnb, hostel as soon as your travel itinerary is confirmed. Exchange currency in your own country, before leaving!
The popular myth is that the Nordic countries are super expensive, but in fact, they’re pretty much on par with the expensive parts of the United States. A sit-down dinner with a waiter in Helsinki is probably going to cost you $30+, especially if you order alcohol. Northern Europe in general is going to be pricier than southern Europe, but, northern Europe has other options.
You don’t have to eat at a sit-down restaurant. And you don’t have to stay at a hotel. In fact, once you cover certain places in Europe on your first trip, the trips that follow in the future will be all budget friendly trips.
15. Do your own research
As a solo female traveler or singles you have the freedom to set your own itinerary. There are lot of beautiful cities and places than the one we normally see on social media. Paris is not so romantic, but Nice in France is. Do not plan trip to 7 countries in 10 days, just to update them all on your timeline. You will not even enjoy half of them, because you will be exhausted while travelling and there is much more than a single monument in any city.
Planning down to each hour would be little excessive, as you might end up spending more than planned time at a certain place or the place you really want to visit is closed. This is particularly relevant when you travel to see natural phenomenon such as the aurora. You need to spend at least 3 days in the middle of nowhere to increase your probability of being able to see the northern lights. So make an itinerary, but keep enough buffer.
European countries have diverse landscape and unless you visit it all you would not know. However for the first time traveler, it would be impossible to visit each and every city. Visit one of the Scandinavian countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland or Denmark. Visit the beaches of Lisbon in Portugal, Barcelona in Spain, Nice in France, Naples in Italy, or Athens in Greece.
Visit cities rich in art and history like Paris in France, Rome and Florence in Italy, Vienna in Austria. Visit east European cities like Hvar, Plitvice national park in Croatia, Krakow in Poland, Budapest in Hungary. Visit cities that are not in the list of first time travelers like Budapest in Hungary, Prague in Czech Republic, Valletta in Malta, Berlin in Germany.
If you are on a one week trip through Germany or Austria and want to see a theatre play every evening in a different city, you can accomplish it with ease by driving perhaps 50 kilometres a day. There will be theatres and cultural offerings every few steps.
Try that approach in Sweden, and you are spending the days in your car, powering through probably more like 200 kilometres of blissful scenery to get to the next town with a theatre. That’s because Sweden is three times the size of Germany, but with only one-eighth the population. There’s simply nobody here!
Visit cities that are not touristic but beautiful Sofia in Bulgaria, Tallinn in Estonia, Andorra la Vella in Andorra. Visit the cities at its best like Amsterdam when tulips are blooming during March to May, Provence region when Lavenders take over the landscape in July, Cologne in Germany during the Carnival or Oktoberfest, Swiss mountains when they are covered in snow.
Do visit places that you always wished to visit even if it is a tourist trap. Yes Eiffel towel is overrated, the Oia sunset in Santorini is overcrowded, but when you grew up reading about these places and wished to visit these once, you should. If you went to Paris, and didn’t see the Eiffel Tower, did you even go to Paris?
Plan in your mind what is it that you exactly want to cover, and read reviews online. You’d maximize the satisfaction you get after the trip. Book tickets for popular monuments like the Eiffel, Louvre online beforehand or you might have to stand in long queues.
Time is money and you wouldn't want to waste 2 hours standing in a queue just to book tickets! Book tickets at least 3 months in advance. Book in advance for the best prices and make sure to be flexible. The more flexible your itinerary is, the more advantage you can take of last minute events and festivals, which never seem to end in Europe.
Don’t buy souvenirs right in front of or near to attractions. If you are in a very popular city, chances are you will get the same stuff at a very less price 1-2 km far from it. Haggling and bargaining won’t work everywhere, if possible take a local acquaintance with you for shopping, ask the hotel personnel or AirBNB host where to buy stuff.
So do your research where you are going, timing of attractions (some churches in Europe get closed in afternoon and again open in evening), where you will stay, how you will commute from Airport/Railway station to your hotel/Airbnb, about local cuisines, local transportation, daily pass and many more. Reading articles will help in many ways.
Make the most of the internet by researching, booking and planning your travel and accommodation. Don’t leave things to chance especially in busier summer months. Make sure you choose different types of countries to avoid getting fed up! Mix it up between ones with beaches, jungle, tropical, mountains and more cultural.
Any travel destination on Instagram is probably over rated and overcrowded already. Many people tend to have a romantic notion of certain European countries, and when they visit them, many people are disappointed in seeing the not-so-romantic parts of them. Because no country is perfect, not every part of those countries are flawless, but that’s what they saw in brochures and videos before the actual trip.
Don't rely on one source while making decision, confirm, research then make a final decision like food, laundry, currency exchange etc. A lot of travelers feel that Europe is damn expensive. Well it isn’t of you have the time and the passion to plan ahead and plan well.
As a traveler, you will be spending a lot on flights and visa. But compensate the extra cost bu saving hugely on accommodation, food and sightseeing. A 15 day trip to this part of the world should not cost you more. Europe isn’t as expensive as people imagine it to be. All you need to do is spend more on exploration and not on bookings.
The dark side of Italy is that too many tourists come with a checklist of things they must see, they rush through it all with barely enough time to appreciate where they are, and return home with nothing but a few pictures that nobody will remember in 6 months and a bit of extra credit card debt.
Your brain can only absorb so many works of art before it gets saturated. No matter how well you plan, you’re not going to see everything, and if you try to hard you’ll ruin your vacation. Try to deeply enjoy a few things, and give yourself plenty of time to relax. Your greatest memory won’t be craning your neck in the Sistine Chapel while 139 people are pushing you.
There are various free day tours in almost every city where you get to explore the city with a guide. Note that you are expected to tip the guide in the end.
Bring prescription medication you need and enough of it to last you the whole time, unless you are going to countries where you can buy it over the counter. Check the availability in countries you are going to.
Finally, respect local culture, laws and traditions. If its not allowed to drink at public places (Amsterdam), swim in Venice canals don’t do it, even if you can without someone noticing you.
The entire trip will be an immersive experience. It is about getting lost in the streets, stumbling upon great places, meeting people and preserving memories. It is about people gazing in Paris, calmness of canals in Amsterdam, sunrise at Charles Bridge in Prague, spine-chilling bull fighting in Madrid, serene beaches in Ibiza and Spanish music in Barcelona.
The Ring Scam is one seen in Paris. You, the unwitting tourist, are walking on one of the paths in the Tuileries Gardens when you see a glittering gold wedding ring lying in very plain sight. When you pick it up, the person who laid it there, usually standing unobtrusively about 40 feet away, rushes over to either sell you the ring she has lost or demand a payment from you.
The other variation is for them to run up for the ring just as you reach for it and then let you keep the ring you both found if you just give them a small payment. The language varies but the ruse is all based on your picking up the ring. So just don't.
In fact, go off to an unobtrusive distance yourself and watch how the scam artist manages the whole process with the next unwitting tourist. It is a bit like watching a creative squirrel raid a bird feeder -- fun to watch if you are not the bird.
So why not take the time to opt for the road less travelled on your next vacation with our travel destinations?
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
What's a fun way other than visiting museums in Bangalore? It is to know the history of a place by visiting places of historical importance and Bangalore has a lot! Bangalore is a beautiful city to enjoy in South India and some nearby one day trips are really enjoyable there.
Actually Bangalore is famous as it is the IT sector hub and for the various jobs, and its nightlife. The places to visit in Bangalore include Lalbagh, a botanical garden and you can see many beautiful flowers there and you can even enjoy the flower shows in spring season.
We have selected some places to visit in Bangalore with your children.
Designed by Kempe Gowda I and built by Reverend J. Garrett, the Bangalore Palace is a must-see historical place of the city. The Tudor-style palace has 35 rooms and now belongs to the royal family of Mysore. There is a guided audio tour, which is perhaps the best option to know the history of the place. It is a great place for photographers and is one of those places to explore for kids in Bangalore.
Location: Vasanth Nagar
Attractions: The royal coat of arms, the Jockey chair
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Registration fee: 230 INR per person for Indian nationals, 460 INR per person for foreigners
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The entrance fee is relatively high compared to other historic places in the city. So go there only if you think the kids will appreciate.
One of the many royal residences and must-see places in Bangalore, the Summer Palace and Fort Tipu Sultan represent the beautiful fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture. The architectural marvel is small, but is an excellent structure for photography enthusiasts. Children may not find the story interesting, but you can tell them by weaving an interesting story about Tipu.
Location: Chamrajpet, Bangalore
Attractions: Portraits and paintings of people of the time, a replica Tipu tiger
Days Open: Every day
Hours: 8h 30 to 17h 30
Registration fee: 15 INR per person for Indians, 200 INR per person for foreign nationals
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: If you are not a photography travel enthusiast, do not spend more than 30 minutes here; otherwise the children will get bored.
Vidhana Soudha is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, located in the heart of the city. The massive structure is supposed to be built in the Dravidian styles or Mysore style and was completed in 1956. The building is spread over an area of 11 hectares and is built with granite and porphyry rocks. An interesting fact about the building is that it was designed and built to give the city a clean architectural style.
Location: Sampangi Rama Nagara, Bangalore
Attractions: Architecture, the building is illuminated on holidays and Sundays
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 9h to 17h
Things to consider: Participation is allowed only with special permission.
Built by Kempe Gowda I, Bangalore Fort was a mud fort in 1537. Haider Ali, father of Tipu Sultan and ruler of the state of Mysore, rebuilt it in stone in 1761. The fort has a church, a cemetery and also a school, although the school has now been relocated. Unfortunately, most of the structure was dismantled and ruined by the British who besieged it in 1791. What remain are the Delhi Gate and some bastions.
Location: New Tharagupet, Bangalore
Attractions: Delhi Gate, a 500-year-old Ganapati Shrine
Days Open: Monday to Saturday
Hours: 10h to 18h
Registration fees: 5 INR for Indian nationals, 100 INR per person for foreign nationals
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: Like Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Bangalore Fort has little interest for children.
The Ramakrishna Math in Bangalore is one of the largest and oldest places in India. The center was built in 1908 by some modest followers of Swami Vivekananda, and today it is more than that. The maths has a temple, a bookstore, a library and an open air auditorium. It is located in Basavangudi, near the Bull Temple and attracts many people seeking answers to spiritual questions. Maths also has a branch in Ulsoor.
Location: Basavangudi, Bangalore
Attractions: the bookstore is full of information about Swami Vivekananda
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 9h to 18h 30
Approvals: Parking, toilets
Things to consider: Math is not really a tourist place, but a place where you can take your children to introduce them to the concept of spirituality.
The Mysore Palace is one of the places to visit near Bangalore. The biggest attractions of Karnataka are the Mysore Palace or the Amba Vilas Palace, property of the Mysore Royal Family. You must set aside a day for Mysore. The palace was built in the early 1900s and opened in 1912. The sprawling mansion has spacious halls, rooms and hallways - all adorned with beautiful artwork from floors to ceilings.
Location: Mysore (140km from Bangalore)
Attractions: Palace architecture, Golden Throne, Dollhouse
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 10am to 5:30 pm
Registration fees: 40 INR per adult and 25 INR per child, 200 INR for foreigners
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The best time to visit the palace is during Dussehra, when it is prepared for the festival. It is also the busiest time of the year.
Many say that Begur is where Bangalore was born. The small municipality near Bangalore has a fort, which stretches for about 1 4km2. The fort is located near a small temple and is a place purely for history buffs. The fort is located on the road to Bangalore-Hosur and is one of the places in the Heritage Intach Walks (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage).
Location: Bangalore-Hosur Highway
Attractions: Naganatheshvara Temple
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: Around the day
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: There is not much left to see. So, if you pass this route, take the time to stop and visit this tourist attraction in Bangalore.
Nandi Hills is a picnic spot which is a few kilometers from Bangalore and if you go early morning then you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise there. So sure you will love to enjoy in this place.
Actually Bangalore is famous as it is the IT sector hub and for the various jobs, and its nightlife. The places to visit in Bangalore include Lalbagh, a botanical garden and you can see many beautiful flowers there and you can even enjoy the flower shows in spring season.
We have selected some places to visit in Bangalore with your children.
1. Bangalore Palace
Designed by Kempe Gowda I and built by Reverend J. Garrett, the Bangalore Palace is a must-see historical place of the city. The Tudor-style palace has 35 rooms and now belongs to the royal family of Mysore. There is a guided audio tour, which is perhaps the best option to know the history of the place. It is a great place for photographers and is one of those places to explore for kids in Bangalore.
Location: Vasanth Nagar
Attractions: The royal coat of arms, the Jockey chair
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Registration fee: 230 INR per person for Indian nationals, 460 INR per person for foreigners
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The entrance fee is relatively high compared to other historic places in the city. So go there only if you think the kids will appreciate.
2. Tipu Sultan Summer Palace
One of the many royal residences and must-see places in Bangalore, the Summer Palace and Fort Tipu Sultan represent the beautiful fusion of Indo-Islamic architecture. The architectural marvel is small, but is an excellent structure for photography enthusiasts. Children may not find the story interesting, but you can tell them by weaving an interesting story about Tipu.
Location: Chamrajpet, Bangalore
Attractions: Portraits and paintings of people of the time, a replica Tipu tiger
Days Open: Every day
Hours: 8h 30 to 17h 30
Registration fee: 15 INR per person for Indians, 200 INR per person for foreign nationals
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: If you are not a photography travel enthusiast, do not spend more than 30 minutes here; otherwise the children will get bored.
3. Vidhana Soudha
Vidhana Soudha is the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, located in the heart of the city. The massive structure is supposed to be built in the Dravidian styles or Mysore style and was completed in 1956. The building is spread over an area of 11 hectares and is built with granite and porphyry rocks. An interesting fact about the building is that it was designed and built to give the city a clean architectural style.
Location: Sampangi Rama Nagara, Bangalore
Attractions: Architecture, the building is illuminated on holidays and Sundays
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 9h to 17h
Things to consider: Participation is allowed only with special permission.
4. Bangalore Fort
Built by Kempe Gowda I, Bangalore Fort was a mud fort in 1537. Haider Ali, father of Tipu Sultan and ruler of the state of Mysore, rebuilt it in stone in 1761. The fort has a church, a cemetery and also a school, although the school has now been relocated. Unfortunately, most of the structure was dismantled and ruined by the British who besieged it in 1791. What remain are the Delhi Gate and some bastions.
Location: New Tharagupet, Bangalore
Attractions: Delhi Gate, a 500-year-old Ganapati Shrine
Days Open: Monday to Saturday
Hours: 10h to 18h
Registration fees: 5 INR for Indian nationals, 100 INR per person for foreign nationals
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: Like Tipu Sultan's summer palace, Bangalore Fort has little interest for children.
5. Ramakrishna Math
The Ramakrishna Math in Bangalore is one of the largest and oldest places in India. The center was built in 1908 by some modest followers of Swami Vivekananda, and today it is more than that. The maths has a temple, a bookstore, a library and an open air auditorium. It is located in Basavangudi, near the Bull Temple and attracts many people seeking answers to spiritual questions. Maths also has a branch in Ulsoor.
Location: Basavangudi, Bangalore
Attractions: the bookstore is full of information about Swami Vivekananda
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 9h to 18h 30
Approvals: Parking, toilets
Things to consider: Math is not really a tourist place, but a place where you can take your children to introduce them to the concept of spirituality.
6. Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace is one of the places to visit near Bangalore. The biggest attractions of Karnataka are the Mysore Palace or the Amba Vilas Palace, property of the Mysore Royal Family. You must set aside a day for Mysore. The palace was built in the early 1900s and opened in 1912. The sprawling mansion has spacious halls, rooms and hallways - all adorned with beautiful artwork from floors to ceilings.
Location: Mysore (140km from Bangalore)
Attractions: Palace architecture, Golden Throne, Dollhouse
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: 10am to 5:30 pm
Registration fees: 40 INR per adult and 25 INR per child, 200 INR for foreigners
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The best time to visit the palace is during Dussehra, when it is prepared for the festival. It is also the busiest time of the year.
7. Begur Fort
Many say that Begur is where Bangalore was born. The small municipality near Bangalore has a fort, which stretches for about 1 4km2. The fort is located near a small temple and is a place purely for history buffs. The fort is located on the road to Bangalore-Hosur and is one of the places in the Heritage Intach Walks (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage).
Location: Bangalore-Hosur Highway
Attractions: Naganatheshvara Temple
Days Open: Everyday
Hours: Around the day
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: There is not much left to see. So, if you pass this route, take the time to stop and visit this tourist attraction in Bangalore.
8. Nandi Hills
Nandi Hills is a picnic spot which is a few kilometers from Bangalore and if you go early morning then you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise there. So sure you will love to enjoy in this place.
Monday, January 14, 2019
There is no end of tourist places to visit in Bangalore. The Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore, or Bengaluru as it is called today, is a place that every tourist should visit. The city's cosmopolitan culture, combined with its rich heritage and history, makes it an attractive destination for singles, families and groups.
We have compiled a list of museums and best places to visit in Bangalore you should take time to visit during your visit to the state capital of Karnataka.
Where will you learn the history of a place? If you said museums, you're right! Bangalore is a city with a rich past, which your children would like to know. Even if they are not, taking them to these museums may arouse their interest.
Established in 1865 by the former state of Mysore, the Karnataka Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in India. It is the second oldest museum in southern India. The museum has a large collection of coins, artifacts, weapons and weapons, jewelry and paintings from the past. It is also here that the earliest kannada inscription, the Halmidi inscription, is preserved. Children will particularly love the collection of coins used by ancient civilizations that flourished in Mohenjo-Daro, Vijayanagar and Halebid.
Where: Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore
Attractions: Ancient coins and objects
Opening days: Tuesday to Sunday
Opening hours: 10h to 17h
Registration fees: Rs. 10 per adult and Rs. 5 per child
Amenities: Parking, toilets and canteen
Things to consider: A little orientation can make the visit interesting. It will also help your children understand the value of the artifacts and treasures exhibited in the museum.
Airplanes are one of many things that kids love. Young boys and girls will enjoy a visit to the HAL Aerospace Museum. It is the second largest HAL museum in India and has several life-size models of aircraft, copters and more designed and manufactured by the company. There is also an aerodynamic modeling club, and a library. It gives you detailed information on the history of aeronautics in India.
Where: Marathahalli, Bangalore
Attractions: The flight simulator is to try
Opening days: Every day except public holidays
Hours: 9h to 17h00
Registration fee: Rs. 30 per person
Amenities: Parking, Washroom, Souvenir Shop
Things to consider: You will need at least two hours for the Hindustan Aeronautics Museum visit and is a must for Indian aviation fanatics.
Chitrakala Parishath is not just for modern art lovers. If your children have any interest in drawing and the arts, take them to this place for inspiration. The gallery has museums dedicated to Nicholas Roeric, a renowned Russian artist, and H.Kejriwal, connoisseur of Indian art. There are also galleries of folk art and international art and galleries dedicated to Indian artists like Srikanta Shastry Kukke and Krishna Reddy.
The Parishath also has a section dedicated to the traditional paintings of Mysore. Locals may also participate in recreational classes that the gallery organizes from time to time.
Where: Kumara Krupa Rd, Bangalore
Attractions: Art Museums and Annual Exhibition, if you are in town at this time.
Opening days: Monday to Saturday
Hours: 10:30 to 19:30
Registration fee: Rs. 50 per person
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The place is truly a paradise for art lovers. If you want to expose your children to the world or art, this is the place.
The Janapada Loka or Karnataka Folk Museum is dedicated to folk arts of the village in the state. The place has a museum of artifacts used by the tribes in Karnataka, an auditorium with costumes and masks. There are also live performances with young boys performing folk dances and fights for visitors. The place also has a gift shop where you can buy wooden crafts and toys made in Chennapattana.
Where: 53 km from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway
Attractions: Masks, puppets, models and live performances
Opening days: Every day except Tuesdays
Hours: 9h to 17h
Registration fee: Rs. 10
Services: Parking, toilets, restaurants
Things to consider: Getting there can be complicated unless you have your own vehicle or taxi.
The boys will love. The girls will be fascinated by this. You can simply be impressed! The Museum of Motorcycle Legends is a small museum and vintage café, where you can admire bikes dating back to the post-war period. The museum has some of the oldest and heaviest bikes such as the 1924 BSA 250 cc, the 1942 Norton 500cc and the 1962 Cezeta. This place has several bikes and scooters collected by Prabhu, a motorcycle fanatic, for 20 years.
This museum is a great place to relax with a cup of coffee and a sandwich.
Where: Pulikeshi Nagar
Attractions: Old motorcycles, dating from the time of the Second World War.
Closing days: Everyday
Hours: 6am to 11pm
Amenities: Parking, toilets, cafe
Things to consider: Visit When you want to take a break from sightseeing, you can enjoy good food, music and also watch vintage bikes.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is managed by the Bangalore Association for Science Education. The planetarium has a science park, a sky theater and a showroom where children can see models and performances. Photos of the solar system, planets and other astronomical phenomena. The planetarium hosts several events for children during holidays and weekends.
Where: Sri T. Chowdaiah Road, Bangalore
Attractions: The Sky Theater
Opening Days: Every day except Monday and the second Tuesday of the month
Hours: 12:15 to 16:30
Registration fee: Rs. 35 per adult, children under the age of three are not allowed in the Sky Theater
Facilities: Parking, toilets
Things to consider: If you are in town during an astronomical event, the Taralaya is the best place to experience it.
Unit of the National Council of Science Museums, the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum is a place of interest for science buffs in Bangalore. The museum was created in honor of Sir M. Visvesvaraya. He was a prominent engineer who designed the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and also the flood prevention system in Hyderabad.
The museum also houses artifacts such as the mechanical calculator, the Edison phonograph, a steam wagon and a jet turbine.
Where: Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bangalore
Attractions: Machine Room, 3D Theater, Models of Space Ships and Satellites, Enclave Dinosaur
Days Open: Every day except Ganesh Chathurthi and Deepavali
Hours: 10:30 to 17:30
Registration fee: Rs. 40 per person, free entry for children under 5 years
Amenities: Parking, toilets, food and water, guided tours
Things to consider: Your children do not necessarily want to see all the exhibits. So talk to the guide and see if you can spend more time at exhibitions (machine room, dinosaur exhibits, fun science rooms, etc.) that appeal to kids.
We have compiled a list of museums and best places to visit in Bangalore you should take time to visit during your visit to the state capital of Karnataka.
Where will you learn the history of a place? If you said museums, you're right! Bangalore is a city with a rich past, which your children would like to know. Even if they are not, taking them to these museums may arouse their interest.
1. Government Museum
Established in 1865 by the former state of Mysore, the Karnataka Government Museum is one of the oldest museums in India. It is the second oldest museum in southern India. The museum has a large collection of coins, artifacts, weapons and weapons, jewelry and paintings from the past. It is also here that the earliest kannada inscription, the Halmidi inscription, is preserved. Children will particularly love the collection of coins used by ancient civilizations that flourished in Mohenjo-Daro, Vijayanagar and Halebid.
Where: Gandhi Nagar, Bangalore
Attractions: Ancient coins and objects
Opening days: Tuesday to Sunday
Opening hours: 10h to 17h
Registration fees: Rs. 10 per adult and Rs. 5 per child
Amenities: Parking, toilets and canteen
Things to consider: A little orientation can make the visit interesting. It will also help your children understand the value of the artifacts and treasures exhibited in the museum.
2. HAL Aerospace Museum
Airplanes are one of many things that kids love. Young boys and girls will enjoy a visit to the HAL Aerospace Museum. It is the second largest HAL museum in India and has several life-size models of aircraft, copters and more designed and manufactured by the company. There is also an aerodynamic modeling club, and a library. It gives you detailed information on the history of aeronautics in India.
Where: Marathahalli, Bangalore
Attractions: The flight simulator is to try
Opening days: Every day except public holidays
Hours: 9h to 17h00
Registration fee: Rs. 30 per person
Amenities: Parking, Washroom, Souvenir Shop
Things to consider: You will need at least two hours for the Hindustan Aeronautics Museum visit and is a must for Indian aviation fanatics.
3. Karitaka Chitrakala Parishath
Chitrakala Parishath is not just for modern art lovers. If your children have any interest in drawing and the arts, take them to this place for inspiration. The gallery has museums dedicated to Nicholas Roeric, a renowned Russian artist, and H.Kejriwal, connoisseur of Indian art. There are also galleries of folk art and international art and galleries dedicated to Indian artists like Srikanta Shastry Kukke and Krishna Reddy.
The Parishath also has a section dedicated to the traditional paintings of Mysore. Locals may also participate in recreational classes that the gallery organizes from time to time.
Where: Kumara Krupa Rd, Bangalore
Attractions: Art Museums and Annual Exhibition, if you are in town at this time.
Opening days: Monday to Saturday
Hours: 10:30 to 19:30
Registration fee: Rs. 50 per person
Amenities: Parking
Things to consider: The place is truly a paradise for art lovers. If you want to expose your children to the world or art, this is the place.
4. Folk Museum or Janapada Loka
The Janapada Loka or Karnataka Folk Museum is dedicated to folk arts of the village in the state. The place has a museum of artifacts used by the tribes in Karnataka, an auditorium with costumes and masks. There are also live performances with young boys performing folk dances and fights for visitors. The place also has a gift shop where you can buy wooden crafts and toys made in Chennapattana.
Where: 53 km from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway
Attractions: Masks, puppets, models and live performances
Opening days: Every day except Tuesdays
Hours: 9h to 17h
Registration fee: Rs. 10
Services: Parking, toilets, restaurants
Things to consider: Getting there can be complicated unless you have your own vehicle or taxi.
5. Legends Motorcycle Museum
The boys will love. The girls will be fascinated by this. You can simply be impressed! The Museum of Motorcycle Legends is a small museum and vintage café, where you can admire bikes dating back to the post-war period. The museum has some of the oldest and heaviest bikes such as the 1924 BSA 250 cc, the 1942 Norton 500cc and the 1962 Cezeta. This place has several bikes and scooters collected by Prabhu, a motorcycle fanatic, for 20 years.
This museum is a great place to relax with a cup of coffee and a sandwich.
Where: Pulikeshi Nagar
Attractions: Old motorcycles, dating from the time of the Second World War.
Closing days: Everyday
Hours: 6am to 11pm
Amenities: Parking, toilets, cafe
Things to consider: Visit When you want to take a break from sightseeing, you can enjoy good food, music and also watch vintage bikes.
6. Jawaharlal Nehru or Taralaya Planetarium
The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is managed by the Bangalore Association for Science Education. The planetarium has a science park, a sky theater and a showroom where children can see models and performances. Photos of the solar system, planets and other astronomical phenomena. The planetarium hosts several events for children during holidays and weekends.
Where: Sri T. Chowdaiah Road, Bangalore
Attractions: The Sky Theater
Opening Days: Every day except Monday and the second Tuesday of the month
Hours: 12:15 to 16:30
Registration fee: Rs. 35 per adult, children under the age of three are not allowed in the Sky Theater
Facilities: Parking, toilets
Things to consider: If you are in town during an astronomical event, the Taralaya is the best place to experience it.
7. Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum
Unit of the National Council of Science Museums, the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum is a place of interest for science buffs in Bangalore. The museum was created in honor of Sir M. Visvesvaraya. He was a prominent engineer who designed the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and also the flood prevention system in Hyderabad.
The museum also houses artifacts such as the mechanical calculator, the Edison phonograph, a steam wagon and a jet turbine.
Where: Sampangi Rama Nagar, Bangalore
Attractions: Machine Room, 3D Theater, Models of Space Ships and Satellites, Enclave Dinosaur
Days Open: Every day except Ganesh Chathurthi and Deepavali
Hours: 10:30 to 17:30
Registration fee: Rs. 40 per person, free entry for children under 5 years
Amenities: Parking, toilets, food and water, guided tours
Things to consider: Your children do not necessarily want to see all the exhibits. So talk to the guide and see if you can spend more time at exhibitions (machine room, dinosaur exhibits, fun science rooms, etc.) that appeal to kids.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
Have not they stolen your stuff? Have you not lost any documents? Were you not afraid? It has always seemed surprising to me that most of the questions that people asked us after our great trip through Africa had to do with security. Many of them often had to want to know how to take money and documents during a great trip.
The truth is that the world is a much safer place than we think at home, but we still have to take some precautions. I use a combination of means and places to keep money. When making a trip it is always important to have all our documentation in the respective order, to avoid any type of inconvenience. Something very useful in these cases, is to load it in a place that we can have at hand.
I have always had a pouch bag to have documentation on hand and every time they ask me for some document and it does not come out the first time I get nervous. I feel that everyone looks at me badly for making them wait. So I decided to order the URBY Wanderlust passport holder from the numerous options available in their website.
The website is easy to access with different products ranging from wallets for men, ladies wallets, toiletry bag, luggage tags etc.
I received it in excellent condition wrapped in a canvas drawstring pouch in a very elegant black case. For a serial traveller like me this is the perfect portfolio as the large surface allows me to distribute the content in an orderly manner but above all to maintain a thin thickness. Contactless protection is essential. I misplaced my credit card recently in London and it was certainly an important factor that made me opt for this safe wallet.
Having a passport together with cash and cards is essential for me. I often forget the document in the hotel with the separate old pouch bag for having a passport. The pockets of credit cards are abundant and soft and allow a very fast extraction of the content.
This universal leather passport holder from URBY is indispensable for those who travel regularly to get optimal protection for your identity documents. It can easily be used as a wallet because on one side the passport can be kept and on the other side there are pockets for storing cards and cash.
There are six pockets with the big one for the passport and 3 small for credit cards and a medium size pocket for cash and an open section for boarding pass. It is well made, soft to the touch and beautiful to look at in a perfect size that fits comfortably in the back pocket of the pants. The space for cards and for money or any identity card is perfect.
The product is made of excellent material and good a kind of very soft synthetic leather. The synthetic leather material is very resistant and of the highest quality and after use there is not even a sign on the surface. This leather cover is available in a large number of colours, so you can choose a different one for each and every member of your family!
I got it in brown, which is the most neutral colour for anyone in the family to use. It is a very nice and elegant brown. It perfectly fits a passport and have many pockets and slots to keep credit cards, boarding pass, luggage tags, etc. The sewing and the details give the feeling that this organizer will last me for a lot of trips. For the price I have to say that it is excellent.
Of excellent workmanship and beautiful design, it has become the perfect custody for my passport and allows me to have together also the various loyalty cards of the airline companies, keep temporary paper visas and business cards. I am very satisfied with the purchase.
The truth is that the world is a much safer place than we think at home, but we still have to take some precautions. I use a combination of means and places to keep money. When making a trip it is always important to have all our documentation in the respective order, to avoid any type of inconvenience. Something very useful in these cases, is to load it in a place that we can have at hand.
I have always had a pouch bag to have documentation on hand and every time they ask me for some document and it does not come out the first time I get nervous. I feel that everyone looks at me badly for making them wait. So I decided to order the URBY Wanderlust passport holder from the numerous options available in their website.
The website is easy to access with different products ranging from wallets for men, ladies wallets, toiletry bag, luggage tags etc.
I received it in excellent condition wrapped in a canvas drawstring pouch in a very elegant black case. For a serial traveller like me this is the perfect portfolio as the large surface allows me to distribute the content in an orderly manner but above all to maintain a thin thickness. Contactless protection is essential. I misplaced my credit card recently in London and it was certainly an important factor that made me opt for this safe wallet.
Having a passport together with cash and cards is essential for me. I often forget the document in the hotel with the separate old pouch bag for having a passport. The pockets of credit cards are abundant and soft and allow a very fast extraction of the content.
This universal leather passport holder from URBY is indispensable for those who travel regularly to get optimal protection for your identity documents. It can easily be used as a wallet because on one side the passport can be kept and on the other side there are pockets for storing cards and cash.
There are six pockets with the big one for the passport and 3 small for credit cards and a medium size pocket for cash and an open section for boarding pass. It is well made, soft to the touch and beautiful to look at in a perfect size that fits comfortably in the back pocket of the pants. The space for cards and for money or any identity card is perfect.
The product is made of excellent material and good a kind of very soft synthetic leather. The synthetic leather material is very resistant and of the highest quality and after use there is not even a sign on the surface. This leather cover is available in a large number of colours, so you can choose a different one for each and every member of your family!
I got it in brown, which is the most neutral colour for anyone in the family to use. It is a very nice and elegant brown. It perfectly fits a passport and have many pockets and slots to keep credit cards, boarding pass, luggage tags, etc. The sewing and the details give the feeling that this organizer will last me for a lot of trips. For the price I have to say that it is excellent.
Of excellent workmanship and beautiful design, it has become the perfect custody for my passport and allows me to have together also the various loyalty cards of the airline companies, keep temporary paper visas and business cards. I am very satisfied with the purchase.
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Getting ready for a trip almost always requires doing some thorough research, but we tend to mostly focus on finding the right restaurant or the perfect shopping mall. However, once you book an exotic river cruise ship, this routine changes. While traveling to faraway places is always exciting and new, such trips planning takes a lot more time, effort, and thought.
After all, visiting your parents for the weekend can hardly be compared to packing your bags and visiting Laos for a couple of weeks, can it? On the other hand, packing smart is not all that it takes in order to make sure that your trip is peaceful and satisfying! There are lots of things to consider and learn before hitting the airport just yet.
And if your next tour happens to be the Mekong river, you can be sure that you will come fully prepared! You can embark from Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City.
Well, without further ado, lets get into the steps you should take if you want to make sure that your next trip is an adventure of a lifetime!
All big rivers can be somewhat of a challenge when it comes to planning out a trip, due to the fact that they, as a rule, have two seasons (the wet one and the dry one). When it comes to the Mekong river, you will be happy to hear that there are Mekong cruises offered throughout the whole year, so the only thing left to do is to determine which season suits you best.
The dry season begins in November and ends in May, and the wet season lasts from May to October. One thing is certain - both of them have their ups and downs, but if visiting the Mekong river via a cheap cruising tour, you should consider doing so in the wet season, due to the higher water levels!
Speaking of the different seasons, you will want to make sure that you are also prepared when it comes to your clothing. This means that your packing routine is about to change! While you will be fine packing a dinner dress for a meal on the cruise ship, you will also want to make sure that all of the other clothes you are bringing along are dry-fit, light-colored, and loose-fitting.
This way, you will be fully protected from the sun and the mosquitoes. Another important thing to pack is a wide-brimmed hat that covers your shoulders!
However, visiting a river also means that you should be prepared for sudden rain showers, so you should also make sure to pack a raincoat, or buy one on the ship (if it is available).
Visiting a faraway place such as Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam also means that you are coming into a whole new culture and a different lifestyle. It also means that you have to make sure to respect all the people you meet and their customs. Dress appropriately, act accordingly, and you can be sure that you will be welcomed anywhere you go!
Going on an exotic trip like Mekong river cruise also requires getting all the shots you need. If you are visiting the Mekong delta, you will want to receive the inoculations for Hepatitis A and B, malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid.
Also, if you have any health conditions, make sure to stack up on your medication for the duration of your trip. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should bring some medication for upset stomachs. Most travelers tend to have stomach-related issues when readjusting to a new diet, so make sure to avoid having to go through this unpleasant stage!
While indulging in exotic meals sounds attractive to most of us, you should still know what you are getting yourself into. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try some local delicacies such as the deep-fried tarantula, grilled snake-head, peanut worms, or blood pudding!
However, doing some research on the local cuisine can be a life-saver if you have any allergies or other medical conditions. You can never be too safe when it comes to your health, can you?
Empurau are members of the tor tambroides species found throughout Southeast Asia - Thailand's Chao Phraya and the Mekong River - but it is the Empurau in Borneo that’s special and more valued. They sustain themselves with a diet of wild fruit that falls from trees overhanging the jungle rivers in Sarawak (Malaysia Borneo).
The fish's fruitarian diet is what gives the flesh a sweet, delicate flavor that is entirely unique. Wild Empurau Fish commands a premium price bracket and have been known to cost as high as RM1,800.00 per kg. A single one-kilogram (2.2-pound) empurau prepared in a restaurant can cost between US$300 to $500.
The steamed Empurau has a creamy fatty texture - due to the diet of eating Engkabang (Ilipe nut; Madhuca latifolia) - native to the island of Borneo. The fish scales are edible.
Once you are all packed up and ready for the next adventure, you should also know what you can expect once you get to the Mekong. The classic trip par excellence for Vietnam is visiting the north with Hanoi its capital and Halong Bay one of the natural wonders of the world, its center with two World Heritage cities Hoi An and Hue, Sapa ending in the South with Ho Chi Minh and its Mekong Delta.
To end the trip you can pass through Laos to see Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls. While navigating the Mekong River you can see the whole city of Luang Prabang, being one of the jewels of Laos. Luang Prabang was the capital of the kingdom of Laos until the revolution of 1975, when it changed to Vientiane until today.
A very interesting point while traveling Laos is the one at the end of the main street of the city, the Sisavangvong Road, right at the confluence of the River Mekong and Nam Khan. There is a small beach where you have the best views. The beauty of Luang Prabang is not only limited to the artistic but nature also plays an essential role and an example are the waterfalls of Kuang Si, located at 30 kms.
The first word that comes to mind is - versatility! The Southeast Asian region is definitely diverse in every meaning of the word so you can expect the unexpected. Whether you are traveling on a charter cruise or just traveling on a budget, you can be sure that you will get to experience the Mekong in a unique and unforgettable way! Happy journey and stay safe while you travel Mekong!
After all, visiting your parents for the weekend can hardly be compared to packing your bags and visiting Laos for a couple of weeks, can it? On the other hand, packing smart is not all that it takes in order to make sure that your trip is peaceful and satisfying! There are lots of things to consider and learn before hitting the airport just yet.
And if your next tour happens to be the Mekong river, you can be sure that you will come fully prepared! You can embark from Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City.
Well, without further ado, lets get into the steps you should take if you want to make sure that your next trip is an adventure of a lifetime!
1. Best Time For Mekong River Cruise
All big rivers can be somewhat of a challenge when it comes to planning out a trip, due to the fact that they, as a rule, have two seasons (the wet one and the dry one). When it comes to the Mekong river, you will be happy to hear that there are Mekong cruises offered throughout the whole year, so the only thing left to do is to determine which season suits you best.
The dry season begins in November and ends in May, and the wet season lasts from May to October. One thing is certain - both of them have their ups and downs, but if visiting the Mekong river via a cheap cruising tour, you should consider doing so in the wet season, due to the higher water levels!
2. What to Wear to Mekong River Cruise?
Speaking of the different seasons, you will want to make sure that you are also prepared when it comes to your clothing. This means that your packing routine is about to change! While you will be fine packing a dinner dress for a meal on the cruise ship, you will also want to make sure that all of the other clothes you are bringing along are dry-fit, light-colored, and loose-fitting.
This way, you will be fully protected from the sun and the mosquitoes. Another important thing to pack is a wide-brimmed hat that covers your shoulders!
However, visiting a river also means that you should be prepared for sudden rain showers, so you should also make sure to pack a raincoat, or buy one on the ship (if it is available).
3. Mekong Delta Culture
Visiting a faraway place such as Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam also means that you are coming into a whole new culture and a different lifestyle. It also means that you have to make sure to respect all the people you meet and their customs. Dress appropriately, act accordingly, and you can be sure that you will be welcomed anywhere you go!
4. Vaccinations for Laos
Going on an exotic trip like Mekong river cruise also requires getting all the shots you need. If you are visiting the Mekong delta, you will want to receive the inoculations for Hepatitis A and B, malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid.
Also, if you have any health conditions, make sure to stack up on your medication for the duration of your trip. Another thing to keep in mind is that you should bring some medication for upset stomachs. Most travelers tend to have stomach-related issues when readjusting to a new diet, so make sure to avoid having to go through this unpleasant stage!
5. Cuisine of Laos
While indulging in exotic meals sounds attractive to most of us, you should still know what you are getting yourself into. If you are feeling adventurous, you can try some local delicacies such as the deep-fried tarantula, grilled snake-head, peanut worms, or blood pudding!
However, doing some research on the local cuisine can be a life-saver if you have any allergies or other medical conditions. You can never be too safe when it comes to your health, can you?
Empurau are members of the tor tambroides species found throughout Southeast Asia - Thailand's Chao Phraya and the Mekong River - but it is the Empurau in Borneo that’s special and more valued. They sustain themselves with a diet of wild fruit that falls from trees overhanging the jungle rivers in Sarawak (Malaysia Borneo).
The fish's fruitarian diet is what gives the flesh a sweet, delicate flavor that is entirely unique. Wild Empurau Fish commands a premium price bracket and have been known to cost as high as RM1,800.00 per kg. A single one-kilogram (2.2-pound) empurau prepared in a restaurant can cost between US$300 to $500.
The steamed Empurau has a creamy fatty texture - due to the diet of eating Engkabang (Ilipe nut; Madhuca latifolia) - native to the island of Borneo. The fish scales are edible.
6. Places to Visit in Mekong Delta
Once you are all packed up and ready for the next adventure, you should also know what you can expect once you get to the Mekong. The classic trip par excellence for Vietnam is visiting the north with Hanoi its capital and Halong Bay one of the natural wonders of the world, its center with two World Heritage cities Hoi An and Hue, Sapa ending in the South with Ho Chi Minh and its Mekong Delta.
To end the trip you can pass through Laos to see Luang Prabang, Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls. While navigating the Mekong River you can see the whole city of Luang Prabang, being one of the jewels of Laos. Luang Prabang was the capital of the kingdom of Laos until the revolution of 1975, when it changed to Vientiane until today.
A very interesting point while traveling Laos is the one at the end of the main street of the city, the Sisavangvong Road, right at the confluence of the River Mekong and Nam Khan. There is a small beach where you have the best views. The beauty of Luang Prabang is not only limited to the artistic but nature also plays an essential role and an example are the waterfalls of Kuang Si, located at 30 kms.
The first word that comes to mind is - versatility! The Southeast Asian region is definitely diverse in every meaning of the word so you can expect the unexpected. Whether you are traveling on a charter cruise or just traveling on a budget, you can be sure that you will get to experience the Mekong in a unique and unforgettable way! Happy journey and stay safe while you travel Mekong!
Friday, January 11, 2019
In terms of shoes, it is sneakers that we all wear very often while traveling, as it's practical, comfortable and it goes with almost everything. But today I wanted to put a little elegance in my locker room and talk about a brand that I have just discovered and that I already love a lot. Cobblestone is a newly launched full-grain and top-grain leather shoe brand in India with shoes designed for the modern men.
And that's what strikes first when I saw the shoes was the beauty of leather! I tried the classic Formal Oxford model, a full grain leather shoe in tan tone. I always prefer Full grain leather as it is the toughest kind of leather that money can buy. It contains all the layers of the animal's hide, and as such lasts the longest.
The only difference between top-grain and full-grain is that top-grain has a processed top-layer, making it smooth. The downside is that it's not as tough or durable as full-grain. Genuine leather is significantly weaker, less durable, cheap and abundant and not quite as valuable.
It's a pair of classic Oxfords, without perforations, a pair of Oxfords in short! There are 5 eyelets to accommodate the laces that are themselves melted in the colour of the leather. It's a colour that I was not used to wearing but the deep hand-worked shade is subtle, and goes with everything from jeans, chinos, brown and blue suit or trousers. It fits easily into a business outfit because the dose of red is sober and moderate.
But what is truly amazing is the comfort of the shoe with an ergonomic fit that adapts to the natural curves of the foot. I wore them for a whole day without terribly hurting while I usually make sure to wear my new shoes slowly, no more than a few hours to avoid the horrible heel blisters we all suffer. The cushioning and flexibility of the sole are also very good to give that added comfort level.
Regarding the sole, the shoes had another small unexpected specificity. The outsole with Neolite is lighter and rubber like texture give more versatility to some casual styles, and it still looks quite like leather soles. This gives a touch of elegant originality to the shoes.
For size, I simply followed the recommendation of the brand by ordering my usual size (a UK mens size 9. My shoes arrived at home in just 3 days and the size is very faithful.
The brand was launched just a few weeks ago. The shoes are available in online shopping stores like amazon and the brands own website. The site is well thought out. The photos are beautiful and allow to see the details of each model. The brand offers different collections, which blend together and are perfectly designed to be worn together.
Cobblestone offers many styles like loafers, Double Monkstraps and brogues that come in different shades like black, coffee brown, and two tone tan. There are collections for all kind of occasions from business parties to weddings and city walks. In the comfort collections, there is additional padding between the inner leather, and the outer leather.
Let's come to the price! I can say that the price-quality ratio is excellent. In summary, I urge you to take a look at this new brand that offers stylish, beautiful, well made, comfortable, and affordable leather shoes.
Finding a pair of quality shoes can be a real headache when you do not know where to look. Quality means a pair of shoes that is beautiful, has naturally-looking leather, which will not mark prematurely, a sewn sole that will keep feet dry and ensure that shoes can be worn for a few years.
In order for you to wear it for several years, you have to take care of it, and that starts with giving them 24 hours of rest between each wear. In other words, you never wear the same shoes two days in a row, otherwise the leather does not have time to get back in place and to restore a little health after being shaken all day.
As I said earlier in the beginning of the review, the colour is particularly subtle. In the shade, she is akin to a light brown with a slight purple hue, and in the sun she finds a glow that is more reddish, but remains moderate and quite portable with a suit. Personally I am seduced. I also really appreciate the approach and the effort made on the price, to make the shoes accessible, in a logic of longevity that really benefits the customers.
I am impressed by the overall quality and the stylistic bias of the brand. Cobblestone wishes to propose a very modern shoe, with a real work on the forms while emphasizing the comfort. The collection from Cobblestone is really beautiful with high quality finishes. I really have beautiful shoes on the feet, elegant just enough without doing too much.
And that's what strikes first when I saw the shoes was the beauty of leather! I tried the classic Formal Oxford model, a full grain leather shoe in tan tone. I always prefer Full grain leather as it is the toughest kind of leather that money can buy. It contains all the layers of the animal's hide, and as such lasts the longest.
The only difference between top-grain and full-grain is that top-grain has a processed top-layer, making it smooth. The downside is that it's not as tough or durable as full-grain. Genuine leather is significantly weaker, less durable, cheap and abundant and not quite as valuable.
The finish is impressive and elegant!
It's a pair of classic Oxfords, without perforations, a pair of Oxfords in short! There are 5 eyelets to accommodate the laces that are themselves melted in the colour of the leather. It's a colour that I was not used to wearing but the deep hand-worked shade is subtle, and goes with everything from jeans, chinos, brown and blue suit or trousers. It fits easily into a business outfit because the dose of red is sober and moderate.
Cobblestone highlights the comfort!
But what is truly amazing is the comfort of the shoe with an ergonomic fit that adapts to the natural curves of the foot. I wore them for a whole day without terribly hurting while I usually make sure to wear my new shoes slowly, no more than a few hours to avoid the horrible heel blisters we all suffer. The cushioning and flexibility of the sole are also very good to give that added comfort level.
Touch of originality on the sole!
Regarding the sole, the shoes had another small unexpected specificity. The outsole with Neolite is lighter and rubber like texture give more versatility to some casual styles, and it still looks quite like leather soles. This gives a touch of elegant originality to the shoes.
For size, I simply followed the recommendation of the brand by ordering my usual size (a UK mens size 9. My shoes arrived at home in just 3 days and the size is very faithful.
Where to find Cobblestone shoes?
The brand was launched just a few weeks ago. The shoes are available in online shopping stores like amazon and the brands own website. The site is well thought out. The photos are beautiful and allow to see the details of each model. The brand offers different collections, which blend together and are perfectly designed to be worn together.
Cobblestone offers many styles like loafers, Double Monkstraps and brogues that come in different shades like black, coffee brown, and two tone tan. There are collections for all kind of occasions from business parties to weddings and city walks. In the comfort collections, there is additional padding between the inner leather, and the outer leather.
A very good price to quality ratio!
Let's come to the price! I can say that the price-quality ratio is excellent. In summary, I urge you to take a look at this new brand that offers stylish, beautiful, well made, comfortable, and affordable leather shoes.
My definition of a quality shoe!
Finding a pair of quality shoes can be a real headache when you do not know where to look. Quality means a pair of shoes that is beautiful, has naturally-looking leather, which will not mark prematurely, a sewn sole that will keep feet dry and ensure that shoes can be worn for a few years.
In order for you to wear it for several years, you have to take care of it, and that starts with giving them 24 hours of rest between each wear. In other words, you never wear the same shoes two days in a row, otherwise the leather does not have time to get back in place and to restore a little health after being shaken all day.
Conclusion
As I said earlier in the beginning of the review, the colour is particularly subtle. In the shade, she is akin to a light brown with a slight purple hue, and in the sun she finds a glow that is more reddish, but remains moderate and quite portable with a suit. Personally I am seduced. I also really appreciate the approach and the effort made on the price, to make the shoes accessible, in a logic of longevity that really benefits the customers.
I am impressed by the overall quality and the stylistic bias of the brand. Cobblestone wishes to propose a very modern shoe, with a real work on the forms while emphasizing the comfort. The collection from Cobblestone is really beautiful with high quality finishes. I really have beautiful shoes on the feet, elegant just enough without doing too much.
