Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Traveling to Asia

September 17th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

AsiaImmensely popular as a tourist destination, Asia provides a peek into a rich history and an even richer culture. In fact, some of the great wonders of the world can be found within the boundaries of this continent.

Travelers to Asia will probably have the Great Wall of China as their first stop. Extending to about 2,414 kilometers or 1,500 miles with a height of about 25 feet, the wall has been said to be visible even in outer space. Erected by the Qin dynasty?s first emperor Shihuangdi to defend the city from the nomadic people, the wall is made out of earth and stone.

Another worthy travel spot in Asia, particularly in China is the Terra-cotta Warriors and Soldiers Museum in Xi?an China, which is considered to be one of the world?s greatest archaeological find. Another tourist destination that should be in the list of any traveler to Asia is the Forbidden City, now known as the Palace Museum in Beijing. The enclosed location holds the former palaces of Chinese emperors. Tiananmen Square, which is also located in Beijing, set adjacent to the Forbidden City. A witness to a series of student-led demonstrations and rallies in 1989 calling for the removal of Deng Xiaoping, the square is now a memorial of those whose lives were sacrificed. Asian travelers will probably want to also go to Dunhang, where ancient Buddhist frescoes in caves can be found.

One of the wonders of the ancient world, the Angkor is a major archaeological site located in the northwest parts of Cambodia. A historical travel spot in Asia, the ruins have two Hindu temple complexes, the Angkor Wat and the Angkor Thom, which is less popular having been built later. And though the site has been damaged much by warfare, a traveler in Asia can still feel the ancient spirit of the place living on.

Taj Mahal is another ancient site that continues to lure travelers in Asia into its midst. Located in Agra, India, the temple was made by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace) who died in childbirth after bearing him 14 children.

Bangkok, Thailand is another travel spot in Asia. One of its most popular tourist destination is the Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

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Ways To Identify Your Luggage Before the Trip

August 24th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

When planning a trip there is something many leave out; something which can save a lot of time if you are ahead of the game. If you have ways to identify your luggage quickly once you deplane, you’ll be able to get out of the airport much faster – and spend more time enjoying your vacation!

It’s not always easy to figure out which luggage is yours in the bustle of an airport baggage claim – next time you’re waiting at the baggage carousel, make a note of how many identical black canvas bags you see. I’m guessing this accounts for the bulk of the bags there in the carousel, right? This is why baggage mix-ups happen so often; a lot of people have baggage which is the same color, size and style as everyone else!

If you are in the market to purchase new luggage, consider getting something a bit offbeat. While it’s impossible to be completely unique unless you have a custom design, you can move away from the standard black or brown bags most people gravitate toward. For the more creative types perhaps bold patterns or bright colors will do the trick. Of course, this strategy isn’t for everyone.

Making A Statement And Finding Your Bags

You can make your luggage stand out from all the other bags on the carousel by tying a brightly colored ribbon or patterned scarf to them. You should go for a color or pattern which is more unusual to minimize the chance that someone else with the same idea will accidentally grab your luggage or vice versa. For this reason, you should always check your luggage tags, no matter how unique you think your ribbon or scarf to be.

Another problem with ribbons or scarves is that they could become caught on something during the handling process. Not only can this slow down or damage the handling equipment, your luggage identification may become damaged or removed completely. If you still want to use this strategy, make sure you also include an actual tag listing all of your contact information.

You should also have your contact information inside all of your bags. Why? In the event that your bag is lost or mistaken for someone else’s bag, this can help you and your luggage be reunited. It’s also useful in the event all of your tags are somehow lost during handling.

A growing number of travelers have turned to personalized luggage tags as a way to keep better track of their belongings.

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What You Should Know About Online Hotel Booking

August 19th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

It is always a good idea to book the hotel rooms online when you are planning for your trip. You can get a lower price when you do so. Yet in order to avoid any scam, you will need to be very carefully when you are booking online. You should try to think about the following.

First of all, you will need to know the website allows you to cancel your booking online. If it does not allow you to cancel online, you may not want to book with this site since it will not be flexible enough in case you have to cancel the trip for some reason.

Without any surprise, the prices will be the most important when you are making your decision. As a result, you should read carefully about the prices stated on the site. Is the price per person or per room? You will also need to know if taxes will be added when you book.

Another important thing you want to know is whether meals will be included. Some hotel packages will include breakfast while some may even include dinner. In some cases there can be some deduction in price if you do not need the meals to be included.

It will be a good idea to have some previews of the hotels. To this end you may want to view some photos of the hotels. There are some sites which will have photos of the rooms. You can have a general idea of the hotel before you book it.

The reputation of a hotel can also be very essential. As a result you may want to know if there are any people who have been staying in a particular hotel before. It will be very good if there is some kind of commenting system on the website so that you will know if the hotel is a good one.

You should not pay with your credit card if it is possible. It will be perfect if you can pay using some third party gateway such as PayPal and Epassporte.

You will be able to get very good deal if you book the hotel room online. The key is that you should be very careful when you choose the site. You could also visit some online travel forums to see if there are any recommendations by other users.

Image Source: http://www.travelmadeeasy.in

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International Travel Tips

July 29th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Traveling abroad is certainly a wonderful experience. You can see a lot of things that you may have never seen before. And you can also learn the cultures of other countries. Besides, you will probably find that you can have more energy to work after the trip.

One thing you may not know is that it can be very dangerous when you are traveling abroad. Here the notion of danger does not necessarily mean things such as car accidents. It is dangerous because you are in a place that you do not really know very well.

You should never arrive last at night when you are traveling. This can be very dangerous if you travel in a city you have never been late at night. It is true that sometimes you cannot really control the time you arrive. If this is the case, you may consider stay in the airport until next morning so that it will be safer.

You should be very careful when you are taking a taxi. When you are taking a taxi from a hotel, you should take one which is recommended by the hotel staff. On the other hand, there may be people who drive some unofficial taxis in some countries, you should avoid taking these vehicles.

You are not advised to travel on your own. Yet some traveler may love to travel alone since they love the feeling of being alone when traveling. However, you should not do that if it is possible. It is very dangerous to travel alone and you will find it a lot more difficult to seek for help in case something happens.

Never wear very expensive clothes or jewelries when you are traveling. There is no point to show off your wealth while you travel. If there are people who think that you are very rich, they may try to rob you!

When you are in the train stations, remember to take care of your luggage. This is even more important when you are trying to take photos in the stations. People may try to steal your luggage when you are taking photos.

The above are some of the points you should bear in mind when you are traveling. Remember, a safe trip is always the most important.

Image Source: http://www.studyabroad-blog.com

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How To Renew Your Passport

May 29th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

passport renewal

When you’re traveling outside of the United States, you will need a passport as a definitive form of identification. If you have let your passport expire, or it?s been ten years since you have gotten it, you will need to renew your passport in order to keep this important document current.

Very few countries have exceptions to the rule of needing passports to enter them. Only Mexico and Canada do not require passports for entrance, and that is only if you enter them either by sea or land. Otherwise, you will still need a passport to enter their borders if you fly into the country.

Renewing your passport to go to other countries is nothing to fret about – today, the renewal process is simpler than ever. You don’t even need to go to a passport acceptance facility to do it – although there are 9,000 facilities that can help you with renewing your passport in the US.

If you don’t want to renew your passport at a facility in person, now you can mail in your renewal quite easily. The first step is downloading the renewal applications off the US government’s travel.gov website – you don’t even need to leave the house to get this paperwork started.

Getting your passport in the mail requires that you follow a few renewal rules. You must have a passport that is no older than 15 years old, expired is fine, and you must have been at least 16 years of age when you got the passport. A minor passport may be converted into an adult passport.

Your passport may not be mangled or damaged beyond recognition in order to be renewed, because the passport processing service must be able to verify its authenticity. If you think that your passport is too damaged, you will need to reapply to get a new passport.

If you have changed your name since you received your last passport, you unfortunately can’t apply for renewal through the mail. All name changes, be they because of marriage or any other reason, must be processed in person at a passport acceptance facility in person.

Finally, you will need to send in your old passport, along with two identical 2″x 2″ passport photos (which are obtainable at most places that advertise passport photo service) and the renewal documents. The fee for renewing your passport is somewhat less expensive.

Be prepared to wait for your new passport to arrive. The wait times are long – both for people who are applying for the first time for their passport and for those who are renewing their passports.

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Maui: A True Paradise on Earth

May 22nd, 2008 Tushar Mathur

The allure of Maui entices travelers like few other places on earth. As the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is a tropical paradise that tempts visitors with awe-inspiring natural beauty. An exploration of Maui uncovers activities to interest all visitors.

The gentle semi-tropical climate of Maui results in little temperature variation throughout the year. High temperatures on Maui range from the mid 70s to the mid 80s, and lows range from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.

Lightweight clothing, swimsuits and a sweater or jacket for evening are perfect for a Maui vacation. Attire on Maui is generally casual, although attending a luau may call for men to wear a tropical shirt and women to dress in a muumuu or colorful sundress. During summer, daylight lasts for nearly 13 hours.

In 1843 King Kamehameha the Great named the Maui village of Lahaina the capital of his kingdom. Lahaina, once known as the whaling capital of the world, now offers Maui visitors an exciting mixture of both old and new. Visitors can rest under the shade of the Banyan Tree planted in 1873, walk through the Old Courthouse, or wander through small shops featuring Maui souvenirs, gifts, clothing and more.

Visitors can expect to enjoy relaxing days on the beautiful Maui beaches. In addition to the common sand beaches, Maui offers black sand beaches and red sand beaches. From sunbathing to surfing to snorkeling, the beaches of Maui offer something for everyone.

The natural beauty of Maui extends beyond the beaches to the lush mountains. Halekala National Park on Maui has been ranked a top national park by Consumer Reports for good reason. The park offers 32 miles of marked hiking trails.

The stunning sunrise view from the summit is popular among Maui tourists. The temperatures at the summit are cold; during the winter months a dusting of snow is not uncommon so warm dress is required. A visit to the summit provides a dramatic demonstration of the diversity of Maui.

Outdoor enthusiasts find Maui offers plenty of activities. In addition to hiking, Maui visitors can enjoy biking, kayaking and hang gliding. All offer the benefit of up-close viewing of the beauty of Maui.

Golfers will find delight in 17 Maui golf courses. Golf is referred to as Maui’s favorite sport. Courses on Maui are set on gorgeous lagoons, volcanic slopes, and in rainforests. Golf is a year-round sport on Maui with major professional events held during the winter months.

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Traveling to Europe

May 15th, 2008 Tushar Mathur

Traveling to Europe is like traveling through time. Each country will take you from the triumphs of the past centuries to the discoveries of the present. Elaborate palaces, gothic churches and other great structures reflect the beauty that is Europe.

Your travels to Europe can start off with a visit to the Tower of London. Formerly used as a prison house, the Tower now holds the crown jewels of England, making it one of the country?s most popular tourist spots. Another feature that any traveler to Europe should not miss is the Yeoman of the Guard, known as Beefeaters, who still wear the uniforms that date back from the rule of the Tudors.

Another place that travelers to Europe should look into while in England are the Houses of Parliament. Collectively called New Palace of Westminster, this seat of the British legislature is composed of several buildings, including three towers: Victoria Tower, Middle Tower and the very popular Saint Stephen?s or Clock Tower, which houses the Big Ben.

France also offers much when it comes to sight seeing. The Musee de Louvre currently houses the famous Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci as well as the Venus de Milo. Also travel to the Paris? Eiffel Tower and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. A visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral or Disneyland Paris will also make any traveler to Europe sigh with contentment.

Amsterdam is also another European traveler haven. Visit the house of Anne Frank? a girl whose diary accounts of German concentration camps were published years after she died. Also tour the Rijksmuseum, which houses one of the largest collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world, including those of 19th century painter Vincent van Gogh.

Though Italy has been primarily associated with fashion, the country also offers an old-world charm that would make any traveler to Europe swear to come back. Their return is assured, according to tradition, if they toss a coin into Rome?s Trevi Fountain, which was designed by Nicola Salvi.

Traveling to Europe, particularly to Rome will of course not be complete without a visit to the Pantheon, considered as one of the few surviving ancient temples in the world. Equally impressive is the Colosseum, the gigantic amphitheater that witness the combats of gladiators. Though already partly destroyed, the Colosseum continues to fascinate travelers in the country.

Known as the shopping and fashion haven in Italy, Milan is also a major center of arts and architecture.

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