April 27th, 2009
Okay, so you are novice or have been to trekking for once or twice. No problem, there is the Annapurna Circuit Trek for you. Known as most popular and classical trek in the Annapurna region and considered as one of the twenty best trekking trails all over the world the tour demands just 16 days from you. Throughout the trekking trail get a glimpse of the villages with great mountain views, small fields of millet and wheat, flock of sheep and goats, meet with the Gurungs, Magars, Brahmins, Chhetris, Newars!.
Annapurna Tekking Route
Kick start your Annapurna Circuit Trek from Besi Saha and trek through different small villages like Khudi, Bhulbule, Ngadi, Lampata, Bahundanda, Jagat, Khorte, Dharapani.
Schedule:
Day 1 – Besi Sahar to Bahundanda
Day 2 – Bahundanda to Chamje
Day 3 – Chamje to Bagarchhap
Day 4 – Bagarchhap to Chame
Day 5 – Chame to Pisang
Day 6 – Pisang to Manang
Day 7 – Acclimatisation Day in Manang
Day 8 – Manang to Letdar
Day 9 – Letdar to Thorung Phedi
Day 10 – Thorung Phedi to Muktinath
Day 11 – 16 – Muktinath to Pokhara
What say want to give it a try?
Tags: Annapurna Circuit Trek
Posted in Beaches, Jungle, Mountains, Places of Interest | No Comments »
April 27th, 2009
So has the trekking bug bit you once more, leaving you wondering which way to push off? Well, for you trekkers here are some top trek destinations that you would like to walk through at least once in your lifetime. I am listing a few of them, and if you have any more names to add then please feel free to put in your comments.
1. Himalayas (Nepal) – A beautiful country where the Himalaya is at its best. Proud to have the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, which includes 8 out of the 10 of the highest peaks in the world, Nepal beckons trekkers to walk the beaten path or create their own.
2. Gunung Tahan (Malaysia) – The highest point in Peninsular Malaysia, Mount Tahan (2,187m), is located in the Taman Negara national forest in Pahang state.
3. Ladakh (India) – It is the highest altitude plateau in India, formed over 45 millions of years. Well known for its mountain beauty and culture, Ladakh is also known as “Little Tibet”.
4. Sierra Nevada (USA) – Located in California this amazing mountain range is also popularly known as the High Sierra, the Sierra, and the Sierras.
5. Inca Trail (Peru) – This is a famous road system used by the Incas in pre-Columbian South America. It connects all parts of the Inca Empire and a trek on this trail is like a walk down the path of history.
In the words of Gary Snyder, in The Practice of the Wild, “Walking is the great adventure, the first meditation, a practice of heartiness and soul primary to humankind. Walking is the exact balance between spirit and humility.” So, let’s get into some serious walking, pack the rucksacks and get set go!
Tags: Gunung Tahan, Himalayas, Inca Trail, Ladakh, Sierra Nevada, top trek destinations
Posted in Mountains | No Comments »
April 16th, 2009
So, you have decided to trek the big daddy – Himalaya. Let me tell you, it is extremely important to know about the weather conditions of the place that you will visit, and carry the essentials accordingly. Getting a clear picture about the trekking essentials is even more important if you are a first time trekker.
Trekking essentials
Here’s a brief list to get you going if you are traveling in the Himalayas:
* Sleeping bag
* Inflatable sleeping pad
* Sleeping bag liner made of silk, cotton or fleece
* Thick thermal top
* 4 to 7 pairs of underwear
* Pee bottle
* Flashlight or torches with LED bulbs or headlamps
* Boots
* Snow gaiters
* Snacks and nutrition (vitamins and chocolate)
* Money pouch/ inside pocket/ belt
* Books or light paperback novels for reading
* Leak proof water bottle
* Toiletries – toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues, and roll-on deodorant
* Sunglasses to escape the glare
* A small towel
* Sunscreen and lip care
* Swiss Army knife
* Heavy down jacket
* Hydration pack with water cleansing equipment or chlorine tablets
* Breathable and waterproof rain or wind jacket
* Trekking poles
* Moisturizer
* Warm hat
* Day wear tops and bottoms
* Insulated pants
* Gloves
* Thermal underwear top and bottom
* Sleeping sheet
* Film
* Nightwear thermal top
* Still camera or video camera
* Insulated or fleece pants
* Thick socks
* Personal medicines
* Passport photos
* First aid kit
* Sun hat
* Down booties
* Batteries
* Rucksack
* Tent
* Woollen monkey cap
* Self inflating mattress
These trekking essentials are good for Himalayan trekkers, especially, in the winter season. So pack your bags and have a nice trek!
Tags: Himalayan trekkers, trekking essentials
Posted in Mountains | No Comments »
March 31st, 2009
Only after after landing in Singapore you get to know why the message “Uniquely Singapore” is being used by the Tourism Board. With beautiful landscape and even beautiful monuments, Merlion makes Singapore stand out. If you want to imbibe the true flavors of Asia then paying a visit to Sentosa to visit the marvelous monument called Merlion is a must.
Built in 1964 this monument soon went on to become an icon of Singapore to the rest of the world. Lighted Merlion with the fountains surrounding and the park that is attached alongside this monument makes this place truly magical. Originally, the monument was located nearby the Marina Bay area but now it has been relocated to bustling city center of Esplanade bridge (near Sentosa). The statue has a lion head and the body of a fish floating on the crest of waves. The statue is 8.6 metres high and weighs 70 tonnes. It is made of cement fondue, porcelain plates and small red teacups. There is a fountain that pours out from the mouth of the Merlion.
Merlion is one of the most beautiful monuments found in Asia and why not it was designed by Mr. Fraser Brunner and was built by the renowned artist Lim Nang Seng!
Merlion
Tags: Merlion, Singapore
Posted in Places of Interest | No Comments »
March 30th, 2009
The power to travel
Jonas, my child hood buddy and a Boston University student, often quips, “Having been on a world tour with three distinct credit cards in my pocket, I could not really capitalize on the benefits offered by the issuers. Neither did my credit score total up to a significant amount, nor did my savings.” Well in my friend’s case, his shopping expenses bore the brunt of not using a selective
credit card with low foreign transaction fees. But there are many who are on the same boat.
Using a credit card while shopping overseas has quite a few rewards. But what really dampens the shopping spree while traveling overseas is the international or foreign-transaction fee charged by the credit card issuers on each purchase made while traveling abroad. This might seem to be a nominal amount for one-time travelers, but for those who love to shop abroad; the fees may burn a real big hole in their pockets!
Go by the teaching of your Grannies – look before you leap. Carry out an extensive research for selecting your credit card and go on board. The popular, Visa and MasterCard tax 1% processing fee and then the fee of the issuing bank is added, which ranges from 0% to 3%. A consultation with a professional is a good option. Or else, you can induct a new card into your travel inventory.
Check out some of the key points while using your credit card to shop overseas.
Exchange rates offered by the card
Interest rates and annual fees also need consideration
Reward programs and discounts on heavy purchases made overseas should also be a mandatory benefit offered to you from the issuers.
Special packages, such as airline fare benefits should be considered while scanning the arena of credit cards suited for international travel
Ensure, that your credit card is actually ‘on your side’ while you shop and travel overseas. Or else, buying that oh-so-beautiful antique piece while in Egypt or India may end up costing you much more than you would have actually imagined.
Tags: credit card
Posted in Travel essentials | No Comments »
March 25th, 2009
While flying over the seven seas, little do we think of the rising plane fare. Its only after we land down to Earth do we become aware of the rising airfare. How can I travel cheap is the question that worries all. At times even I feel frustrated while hunting for the best deal.
Well, these are the sort of ravings from my friends that I often come across. So here are the 5 ways by which you can cut down on your airfare significantly:
As soon as you have the confirmation of making a trip start your search for discounts that the airlines companies offer. All you dillydally people, its time to wake up. Book your tickets now. Otherwise you can come across disappointment grumbling against the rising airfare.
If there are no offers available then it would be judicious on your part to wait for the final couple of weeks or even the last couple of days. At times the companies provide last minute deals in order to fill up the vacant seats.
Minimize your fascination for bigger companies because the smaller companies are the ones that offer all sorts of rebates and charge less.
Communicating directly with the airlines company often gets you greater discounts which you might miss out if you happen to be searching online.
Paying a visit to a travel agency might land you up with a proficient deal. Travel agents are pros and are likely to find a better deal for you than you yourself might.
Bon Voyage!
Fly to your destination
Tags: air fare
Posted in Travel essentials | No Comments »
March 20th, 2009
Back to nature – if this happens to be your mantra then, there is no better place to visit but the jungles of Masai Mara. The dark continent will open in front of you the vast, unscathed animal kingdom. Far from the maddening crowd stretching over an area of 1510 km, the Masai Mara is the most famous wild life sanctuaries in Kenya, Africa. The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley.
If you are lucky enough you may get a chance to meet with the king – the lion. A meeting with the other “Big Four” present in Masai Mara jungle would be none the less exciting. Wondering who are the the other Big Four? Well, the list includes: African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros and Leopard.
Don’t worry about for your stay in Masai Mara. Inside the Reserve and the Conservation area borders there are lodges and tented camps for the tourists. It’s cheap too.
So, pack up your rucksack and go ahead to explore the “Wild Nature”.
Zebras Drinking Water In Masai Mara
Tags: Africa, Masai Mara
Posted in Jungle | No Comments »
March 13th, 2009
“Fear and Courage hold hands and walk here”, is what a Sherpa had told me about the Himalayas once I set foot in this serene yet fiercely intimidating snow-clad destination. Yes, I do admit, we all were scared. The larger-than-life peaks, the overwhelming white, the stories of the Yeti and the equally merciless weather, the climbers who never made it back and the daunting task ahead of us, made us feel so little and so few in front of the giant Himalayas.
Yet after handpicking the best of Sherpas (that our budget would allow!), making sure that every inch of cover and every grain of available bread was taken along, we set out to trek the great Himalyas! Making our way through the clefts and rugged passes, we slowly crawled our way past the Zoji-La through the Srinagar-Leh road. The snow had melted only a few months before our tryst with the pass, and the slick, shiny path reflected the sun like a million diamonds strewn across the road! We came across a small unnamed stream during our walk uphill, which was unusually warm for all the molten ice and snow spread around.
The whole trek was quite uneventful, as opposed to many of the trek posts you must have found on the internet. Barring a few slips and falls, and a sprain in the left ankle of our dear ol’ Marshal, nothing much had happened. But don’t mistake the lack of events as a sign of boredom. The trek from Srinagar to Leh counts among the most enthralling walks of my whole life, and if we hadn’t been winded up so badly by the time we reached Leh, I would have happily volunteered for a trip downhill too! Whenever you feel like you need a place to taste adventure and yet revel in the lap of nature’s marvelous beauty, all within a short budget, a trek in the Himalayas is the way to go!
Himalaya
Tags: Himalayas
Posted in Mountains | No Comments »
March 10th, 2009
..I didn’t believe it till I actually saw it with my own eyes – huge stones jutting out of the sea looking as if giants have placed them to build a pathway to the mainland from the sea! What a wonderful sight, and almost unbelievable… it is the Giants Causeway in Ireland.
Actually last month my luck has been doing some extra favor to me than ever. For long, it was my dream to visit the eighth wonder of the world – Giants Causeway in Ireland. Finally, the fortune dawned on me when last month when I had to attend a conference in Ireland.
Accompanied by my colleague Jasmine I decided to have a visit to the Giants Causeway. Driving all the way we finally reached the Visitors Centre by car at 10 am and parked our car at Moyle District Council. The most interesting fact about Giants Causeway are the stones formed due to volcanic activity and cooling down of lava, bearing the test of time for millions of years. Through scientific explanations and folk-tales, the Interpretive Audio-Visual Presentation explained how the Giants Causeway was formed.
Jasmine and I took a stroll around the place taking in the beauty of the sea and marveling at the work of nature. On our way back home, we visited the souvenir shop at the centre. I bought few pieces of hand crafted silver and gold jewellery in Celtic designs while Jasmine got a hand cut Crystal for her mom that are sure to make it hard to wash away our memories of visiting this wonderland called Ireland.
Tags: Giants Causeway, Ireland
Posted in Mountains | No Comments »
March 8th, 2009
Does sunshine on your shoulder make you happy? If yes, unwind your self in the sunny beaches of the Caribbean island. Once a den of pirate and thieves, its a place frequented by the best water, shining sand and luxurious hotels. The islands of the Caribbea has many a tale to tell – of the black magic, of the ghost stories and of course stories of the pirate.
The Caribbean Sea is home of the most beautiful beaches. Los Roques, Venezuela, Tulum, Mexico, Placencia, Belize, Bay Beach, Jost Van Dyke, welcomes with open arms in the lap of nature.Since the Caribbean water temperature average is 27 °C and does not change beyond 3°C. With some of the best summer spots in the world.
A trip to The Maya ruins, in the coast that the Maya culture has build will take you back to the time. The Caribbean offers a wide variety of beaches, hotels, wild nights and summer activities like diving, snorkeling or just lying on the beach.
Sun shine on your shoulder will surely make you feel happy
Caribbean Beaches
Tags: Caribbean island
Posted in Beaches | No Comments »
