Travel Tourism - Mumbai to Delhi to Amritsar

After staying a few days in Mumbai and meeting up with friends ad family we fly to New Delhi to start our journey to the North of India.
Our first stop is Delhi, just for the night. Traffic undoubtadely is again painful, but the Metro Light rail system is already up and running here.
One thing I couldn't get over in Delhi was their obsession with toilets... and that too weird ones.
Look at the two pictures below... The big grey building has sign on it "Toilet Complex". I was so curious to see what it was about, but took the picture from our taxi.
The next one was a very ugly bad toilet at the train station going from Delhi to Amritsar. It is titled "Deluxe Toilet".. nothing deluxe about it!

Amritsar is a sacred city for Sikhs where there are beautiful temples. It falls in the Punjab state, which is huge agricultural land.
The train journey from Delhi to Amritsar was around 7 hours. It does start early, so you can see my mom doozed off and my Dad hoping to fall asleep. :) Tried some color effects in my camera too.

I couldn't fall asleep as the journey was so scenic. The train goes through endless acres of lush green fields. They extend all the way to the horizon.
I believe the picture below is of a rice field. Needless to say the food in the Northern region of India tastes so much better. There is a lot of flavor in the vegatables which is not found at other places.

But then the other factor that makes everything tastes so good in Punjab is the deep frying. Check out these fritters (potato, cauliflower, onion etc..) not fried once but "twice" to perfection. Well known as "Pakoras"
It has to taste good.

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Tourism & Travel - Visiting The Gambia

Responsible tourism policy for Gambia
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Gambian Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Travel Association worked together to form what is referred to as ‘the responsible tourism policy for Gambia’. Its main objective is to increase the contribution of tourism to the economy and to raise the living standards of Gambians by maximising the positive impacts of tourism and minimising the negative ones.


Eco-tourism an emerging trend
Eco-tourism is an important and rapidly growing niche within the travel and tourism industry. Gambia is in a great position to capitalise on this, but recognises the need to develop a sustainable eco-tourism programme since the country has only a few national parks and wildlife reserves that lack accessibility and comfort for tourists. Therefore, in addition to regulating its development and ensuring that real benefits are felt in local communities, it is also aiming at minimising future environmental impact.


Bright outlook for tourism in Gambia
The travel and tourism industry in Gambia has a very bright future, particularly considering the active role being played by the government to grow and diversify the market. The present initiatives that have been introduced by the Gambian Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Travel Association will have a significant positive impact on the industry and domestic economy over the mid to long term. It is also expected that as the tourism industry diversifies, Gambia will become a place to visit all year round.


Our members are involved in Gambian restaurants, tours, excursions, eco-tourism, car rentals, and shops within the vibrant Gambia Tourism Industry.

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Travel Fun - Hop on Hop off across the US

It has been a while since I said Hello here and I blame it purely on travelling, lack of time, low online connectivity and laziness. It has been about 20 days since I landed in New York and then I have been criss crossing the country to see places like Phoneix, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, LA, Santa Barbara, SFO ,Monterey - Big Sur on the coast and now back to NY-NJ. Met a lot of friends and family and its been a great time bonding while travelling around.

Ironically, this has never been my style of travelling. I usually do a lot of research and plan an itinerary before landing anywhere and then see places which are a combo of touristy and non touristy and spend quite a bit of time everywhere. This time though, its been like literally being on a hop on hop off bus across the US and trying to see whatever I can within the short span of time. In most places, we had friends and family giving us company, taking us around and guiding us, except in Vegas where we were on our own. And its been fun either ways.
Im heading to Manhattan in a few hours if the weather holds as its been raining here and the temperature is in single digits..else am planning to snuggle up and read and enjoy the warmth of the heater next to me.

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Safari Tips for Thriving on a South African

1. Layers, layers, layers: Even though temperatures can easily hit over 90 degrees during the summer and 80 degrees in the winter, they can drop to the 40's and 50's in the mornings and evenings. Layering a warm jacket or sweater over T-shirts and tanks can help you keep warm on morning and evening safaris.

2. Consult with your family doctor: Immunization shots for tetanus and yellow fever as well as malaria pills are insisted upon, particularly if your lodge is in a malaria area. Guests traveling to a game reserve like Shamwari on the Eastern Cape of South Africa are in a malaria-free zone.

3. Check your passport: Visiting South Africa requires two completely empty pages in your passport alongside each other. Avid globe-trotters can add additional pages to their passport for a nominal fee.

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Travel and Tourism - Travel to Vienna Austria

vienna catedral

The origins of the word Osterreich (eastern empire, or eastern realm), stretch back over a thousand years to the era when the Austrian lands were joined to the Holy Roman Empire. In AD 966, a document marked the existence of the Ostarrichi domains.

Austrian power on the world stage reached its zenith under the Habsburg dynasty, who reigned from 1298 to 1918. The Habsburgs really got into their stride in the sixteenth century, and the defeat of the Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 saved Austria from disaster.

Austria remained a major player on the world stage, with the Habsburgs piecing together a vast swathe of Central Europe. Vienna provided the location for the famed Congress of 1814-15, when the kings, dukes and princes of Europe tried to undo the changes that Napoleon had created. However, in the age of rising nationalism, the Habsburgs struggled to keep their Empire under control - concessions to the Hungarians, Poles and fellow nations were introduced.

After losing the First World War, Austria was divided up amidst the clamour for independence of the nation states. The Austrians voted to be joined to Germany, but the Allies declined, wary of a swift return to power. The 20's and 30's were a trying era, and Austria was ultimately absorbed into Hitler's German Reich in 1938. Hence followed one of the blackest periods in Austria's history.

After the Second World War, Austria was temporarily administered by the Allies, with Vienna itself divided into French, Russian, English and American zones. However, fortune turned in Austria's favour and the country was not subjected to long-term Soviet, or indeed any other other form of foreign rule. In 1955, the Allies agreed for a withdrawal and the Republic of Austria was declared.

Today, Austria is one of the wealthiest countries in the European Union, with a high standard of living. It is a land-locked country, bordered - following the arm of the clock - by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. Austria's landscapes endure as amongst the country's leading attractions, and the Austrian stretch of the Alps remains a favourite with skiers. Politically, the country has been a democracy since 1955, but it has not all been plane-sailing. Waldheim's late 80's presidency sparked controversy, whilst the Far Right caused a rumpus in 1999 when they gained 27.2 per cent of the vote. In 2006, the socialists returned to power, with the Far Right vote shrinking to 15%. However, as a democracy, Austria's post-war Human Rights record remains impeccable.

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Travel and Tourism - Yacht Charter in Thailand

The best of yacht allotment in Thailand is advanced and includes; bareboat yacht charter, affluence crewed yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, monohull and baiter allotment and both captain and motor yacht charter.

Many of admirable islands of Thailand are abandoned attainable by sea and a yacht allotment is a abundant way to analyze this area. The basic yacht allotment breadth is amidst the islands of the Andaman Sea.

Different aboriginal cultures accept existed in Thailand back the time of the Baan Chiang culture. Due to its bounded location, Thai ability has consistently been abundantly afflicted by India and China as able-bodied as the neighbouring cultures of south east Asia. The aboriginal Thai accompaniment is commonly advised to be the Buddhist commonwealth of Sukhothai founded in 1238. A aeon later, the beyond Siamese commonwealth of Ayutthaya overshadowed Sukhothai's power. Ayuthaya fell in 1767 to Burmese forces. The accustomed era of Thai history began in 1782 afterward the enactment of Bangkok as basic of the Chakri absolutism beneath King Rama I the Great.

European admiral began travelling to Thailand in the 16th century. Despite European pressure, Thailand is the abandoned Southeast Asian country never to accept been colonized by a European power. Despite this, Western admission led to abounding reforms in the 19th aeon and above concessions to British trading interests. This included the accident of the three southern provinces, which afterwards became Malaysia's three arctic states.

In 1932, a anesthetic anarchy resulted in a new built-in monarchy. During the war, Thailand was affiliated with Japan. Yet afterwards the war, it became an accessory of the United States. Thailand again went through a alternation of coups d'état, but eventually progressed appear capitalism in the 1980s

Thailand, Phuket and the Andaman Sea accept acquired a acceptability for actuality a top yacht allotment destination. There is an affluence of islands to visit, some developed but best not. Several civic parks and reefs action abundant opportunities for diving and fishing. Best of these arresting islands of the Andaman Sea are attainable by baiter abandoned and a yacht allotment is one of the few means to see them.

Yacht allotment in Thailand is about accessible and adequate with able-bodied charted waters, baby flat ranges, an absence of able currents, and an affluence of cloistral yacht anchorages with accomplished captivation ground. Sailing altitude are abutting to absolute all year round. Basic aliment like fuel, water, beginning aftermath and accoutrement are readily accessible and may be begin on abounding of the islands. The amnion are abundant with angle which you can bolt yourself or which you can buy or bargain for with fishermen. Best of the islands will additionally accept bargain restaurants area you can adore Thailand's abundant cuisine.

Thai cuisine blends bristles axiological tastes: sweet, spicy, sour, absinthian and salty. Some accustomed capacity acclimated in Thai cuisine accommodate garlic, chillies, adhesive juice, auto grass, and angle sauce. The basic aliment in Thailand is rice, decidedly the jasmine array rice, additionally accustomed as Hom Mali rice, which is included in about every meal.

Phuket has emerged as a baton in Thailand's advancing tourism industry. As the hub of the Andaman Sea and Thailand's better island, Phuket is the absolute abject for a yacht charter. There are admirable alien islands and beaches, bright bright waters, adorable cartography in accession to restaurants, nightlife and abundant shopping. From Phuket there is actual admission to sailing in beauteous backdrop and actually hundreds of abandoned yacht anchorages from which to choose.

The Thai bodies are allegorical for their welcome: Thailand is about alleged the " Land of Smiles". The cuisine of Thailand is apparently one of the best in the apple and bistro out is so bargain that there is no allurement to baker on the yacht. Thailand is a adventurous and adorable destination for any yacht allotment holiday.

The all-embracing airport on Phuket offers absolute access to abounding all-embracing destinations in accession to abutting flights from Bangkok. Thai is the official accent and but English is announced widely. The bill is the Thai. US Dollars are acclimated extensively. Above acclaim cards may be accustomed in hotels, restaurants and some shops.

Thailand has two audible seasons. From November to April the acclimate is consistently brilliant and dry with temperatures at about 30°C degrees. The predominantly ablaze to abstinent northeast apprehension are ideal for sailing. From May to October the southwest apprehension aces up and are sometimes absolutely able with casual squalls. Acclimate altitude during this aeon are about good. Although you can apprehend rain showers but they tend to be abbreviate lived. Apprehension draft from 5-20 knots over the two seasons.

Phang Nga Bay is a archetypal Thai yacht anchorage with the beauteous sea-mountains that acceleration angular out of azure waters. Numerous safe anchorages are accessible in the cloistral bay. Use a breakable or baiter to analyze the baby coves, arresting caves and civil lakes.

The amnion about the islands off Krabi are bright clear. Although Krabi can be crowded, its beaches are stunning. Phra Nang bank is decidedly affecting with its aerial bedrock pillars that belfry over creating one of the best admirable beaches in the world.

The Koh Dam Group is acceptable for an brief stop. Koh Dam Khwan has a admirable albino breach bank that is abandoned appear at mid tide. This is a admirable atom to ballast off and adore a few abandoned hours with annihilation abroad around.

The Phi Phi Islands are amid the best amazing of Thailand with their arresting scenery, abandoned accolade and white albino beaches. Adore the restaurants and alive ball offered on the island.

Langkawi with its 99 surrounding islands is a paradise that longs to be discovered. Tourism has is on the increase. Abandoned 4 of these islands are inhabited. If you are attractive for an arcadian abandoned acquaintance these are the absolute canoeing area for you. A one way yacht allotment from Phuket requires 10 canicule and crew.

Diving in Thailand is great. The amnion of the Andaman Sea are abounding with a admirable assortment of abyssal life, including apricot and some of old shipwrecks for diving enthusiasts to discover. Lots of boats able with scuba diving accessories and abounding diving centres about the Islands.

There are several able-bodied accustomed sailing regattas in Thailand; Appointment in December and accompany in the celebrations surrounding the anniversary Phuket King's Cup Regatta that attracts some of the best world's yachtsmen. With a ambit of yacht classes from antagonism yachts, action boats, cruisers and classics. QBE Phang bay Regatta, captivated annually over Chinese New Year, is Phuket's newest Regatta. It is fast accepting a acceptability as one of the best fun Regattas in Asia.

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Amazing Dubai

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Best city to live in Southeast Asia

Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta: the four main cities of Southeast Asia, although quite close to each other, offer a wide variety of lifestyle. Our relationship with our city is always a love-hate relationship, too much traffic but affordable, safe city but expensive, great weather but polluted, unsafe but very fun etc etc…

So to measure the best urban living experience in this part of the world, a good real estate magazine “Property Report” has published recently it’s own reader’s survey on what they like and dislike about their cities. They have measured and analysed cost of basic necessities, prices of apartments, rentals, and interviewed architects and analysts. Here is a sum up of the most interesting results.

Singapore

Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta

Bangkok

So wich city would you choose to live in?

Basically it really depends on what you are looking for. Singapore has high stability and safety but is expensive, KL is affordable with a vibrant nightlife but KLlites do not feel safe (? I feel much safer than in Paris), Jakarta is facing major problems of urbanisation, and Bangkok is affordable and fun but has a lot of pollution.

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