July 12th, 2010
Stuffed parathas (Indian bread) are the most favorite breakfast item in India, especially in north India. Parathas are served with curds, butter, rajma or channa and pickle- a standard complimentary accompaniment. So far, I have never paid for pickle except at Gopal Restaurant on Asvem Beach (Goa, India) in April 2007. It charged INR 10.00 for 3-4 small pieces of mixed pickle, a complete rip-off. I flipped when I saw pickle in the bill, restaurant owner who presented bill snapped, “We charge for it as it is expensive”.
Even high-end hotels do not charge for it. Gopal, covered with a thatched roof, is a functional eatery, serving average food on worn-out plastic tables arranged on loose sand. Service is extremely slow. The most disappointing part of it was we were not informed at the time of placing the order.
Tags: Asvem Beach, Goa, Gopal Restaurant, holidays, India, parathas, Tourism, travel
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
July 10th, 2010
Recession and consequent squeeze on disposable income of common man affected leisure travel in many ways. Solidaying, to holiday alone, is one of the latest trends that probably helps in getting more bang from the buck in the current situation. Package holidays and travel to destinations located near home are gaining momentum because travelers wish to know the exact cost of a holiday in advance and enjoy a vacation in small budget.
A recent research study (January 2010) by Ebookers.com revealed that solidays are increasing in the UK. In 2009, about 15% of the UK holidaymakers traveled alone because family and friends did not have sufficient funds, but solidays lasted for 5 to 7 days only. Some Brits holidaying alone cited a different reason: in search of something different.
Mintel in its research study (July 2009) found out that 5 million people from the UK might holiday solo in 2009. Volume of the solo holidaymakers rose to 5.1 million in 2008 from 4.9 million in 2004 as demand for leisure travel among the singles population grew. However, the 2008-09 economic down turn made single income households more vulnerable, reducing solo travel market growth.
Tags: holiday alone, impact of recession on solo travel market, impact of recession on travel, Soliday, solo holiday, solo travel, Tourism, travel, travel trends
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
June 28th, 2010
R in the word “rights” stand for responsibility, but W in “woman” does not stand for weak. She has proved this time and again. Several talented women have been leading public offices, parliamentary constituencies and companies. Many of them have become successful Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. However, Youth Hostel Association of India (YHAI) believes that she is unfit to become a camp leader. Prerequisites to become the camp leader are simple: experience of two high altitude trekking expeditions, physical fitness and ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. There is no dearth of female candidates having all three qualifications and many of them will be willing to serve as camp leaders.
I have trekked with YHAI many times, but I never met a female camp leader beyond base camp. This fact coupled with my keen interest in trekking aroused my curiosity so I asked field directors and camp leaders one question on many occasions: why female trekkers or climbers are not appointed though at times camps are managed by cooking staff only? These brief interactions revealed three facts:
There is a shortage of camp leaders.
Male mountaineers feel that camp leader duties do not contribute to their mountaineering skills and aspirations.
Female camp leaders are too vulnerable to be posted beyond the base camp.
But I have a different opinion. No doubt, there is a little scope for climbing, but male camp leaders get a chance to live at high altitude, acclimatizing well and faster; improve trekking skills by getting an opportunity to trek frequently between different camps; and ramble through different routes. Moreover, what about their female counterparts who have same set of qualifications, but are entrusted with reception desk duties at the base camp throughout the minimum service period of 21 days? Not all men are articulate, brave and strong enough to survive rough physical conditions and deal with complex man management situations that may occur at high altitude camps. Similarly, not all women are weak and poor managers.
YHAI needs to reconsider its conservative approach towards prospective female camp leaders for its high altitude adventure expeditions.
Tags: Adventure Tourism, Adventure Travel, Camp leaders, Himalayas, India, Tourism, travel, Trekking Expeditions, YHAI, Youth Hostel Association of India
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
June 27th, 2010
In the past, very few people loved to write a personal diary regularly. However, today, millions of personal diaries are freely available online. Thanks to invention of complimentary blog technologies and growing computer literacy! Free access to internet in some countries like the United States of America made blogging easier for anyone who has an interest, basic writing skills especially in English language and time to arrange one’s thoughts lucidly. Unlike traditional diaries, virtual diary owners can even earn from their hobby using free online marketing and advertising programs.
Blogs have stirred investigative minds of scientists and they are trying to develop effective methods to collate useful information from these diaries. For instance, Dr. Gordon is trying to teach computers to mine blogs and gather useful information about personal lives of the bloggers to identify behavioral changes and new trends. To distinguish between non-story and story blogs, he defined a few parameters. For story blogs, he counts pronouns and past tense verbs used in blogs to identify phrases like “I did x so then y happened”. But, can machines read and understand?
Tags: blog mining, bloggers, blogging, Blogs, non-story blogs, story blogs, Writing
Posted in Writing | No Comments »
June 26th, 2010
China is the fifth largest tourism market for New Zealand following Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Japan. As per International Visitor Survey (IVS) conducted by The Ministry of Tourism, New Zealand, total expenditure by the Chinese holiday visitors to the country increased by 28% in year ended (YE) Mar 05 over the previous year. However, average nights per person plummeted to six from twenty in the same period. Average nights per person did not show any substantial increase in the next half decade and aggregated four in YE Mar 08 and six in YE Mar 10. Another interesting finding is that each Chinese tourist spent NZD 2939 for twenty nights in YE Mar 04 while the tourist shelled out NZD 3204 for a 6-night holiday in YE Mar 10. The number of total Chinese holiday visitors fell by 17% in YE Mar 10, but average expenditure per person rose by 23% and total nights spent in New Zealand grew by about 4%. The number of total nights spent by Chinese visitors in the country never peaked again to the level achieved in YE Mar 04 (560,046) during 2004-2010 period.
Tags: average expenditure per person, average nights per person, China, Chinese Holiday Visitors to New Zealand, New Zealand
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
June 25th, 2010
A large part of verdure Alappuzha district in Kerala, India is covered with backwaters, canals and / or rivers, requiring an efficient water transportation system. A variety of boats such as dugouts, rice barges and long boats are used to negotiate these extensive water stretches. The water bodies of the district are not only known for rich fauna but also for various types of boat races. About 100-foot long snake boats (locally called chundans) are specially manufactured for the races. Each snake boat is rowed by 90-100 people.
Alappuzha, the Venice of the east, will host Champakulam Boat Race, the first of the season in the state, on June 26, 2010. The race that draws huge crowd form within and outside the state will be held on the River Pamba. Go early to find a suitable place along the riverbank to cheer rowers.
Tags: Alappuzha, boat race, Champakulam Boat Race, India, Kerala, River Pamba, Tourism, travel
Posted in Weekend's Itinerary | No Comments »
June 24th, 2010
Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) presents the 6th Southern Illinois Music Festival with Romeo & Juliet theme. A variety of music shows, including ballet, chamber music, jazz, new music, opera and orchestral music are scheduled from June 6- 27, 2010. Most of the performances are free and there is no formal dress code.
Enjoy and appreciate works of the South American, North American, Asian, European artists.
Visit McKendree University, Lebanon, Illinois to watch Charles Gounod’s opera Romeo & Juliet on June 26, 2010.
Attend Beethoven: String Quartet and cello quintet events and profane and sacred dances on June 25, 2010.
Take your kids to “Klassics for Kids” (Jive with Jazz & Piano and Violin Duet) on June 25 and 26.
Tags: Illinois, Music festival, USA, weekend itinerary
Posted in Weekend's Itinerary | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2010
Both the United Kingdom and the United States of America advised its citizens to avoid travel to Nigeria in view of recent incidents and possibility of armed attacks, robbery and kidnapping. The travel warning is especially issued for the City of Jos (Plateau State), Imo, Edo, Abia and Niger Delta States. Criminals disguising themselves as a military or police personnel are a threat in Nigeria. Australia and Canada has also advised the public against traveling to Nigeria.
Tags: Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Tourism, travel, Travel warnings, United kingdom, United States of America
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
June 22nd, 2010
The latest Spanish campaign to ensure that tourists do not walk in bathing suits, bikinis and / or swimsuits beyond the beaches is a bold step as recession and volcanic ash have already adversely affected the travel bookings across the world. The campaign also reflects that civil and decent behavior is more important than the tourist dollars for the country, a commendable stand. Spain has adopted a mild approach to implement the campaign: the Spanish authorities advised travel and tourism establishments not to serve the beachwear-clad tourists and request tourists to properly dress instead of charging a fine. A pictogram, featuring a couple in beachwear with a red line over it-symbolizing prohibition and a couple in acceptable dresses without red line, is placed at important establishments to create awareness. So do not flaunt your beachwear in the Spanish destinations except beaches.
Some may feel that it is an encroachment on their freedom, but freedom (I believe) means to have decency to respect local norms and ethos and follow basic etiquettes because local laws, social norms and weather shape up the dress code of a place.
Tags: ban on bathing suits, Bikini ban, bikinis and / or swim suits, respect local norms, Spain, Tourism, travel
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
June 21st, 2010
We stayed for two nights in Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) run Giri Ganga Hotel at Kharapathar, Himachal Pradesh, India in the first week of April 2010. Its spacious sunny bathroom, featuring white tiles and steel and white bathroom fittings and accessories, was very clean. However, a used mushroom can, hung on one of the geyser pipes to collect water dripping from the leak right above the western commode, looked funny at first, but was very inconvenient. Every time before using the commode we had to ensure that the can was not brimming over. This short cut approach did not leave any doubts about the fact that the management, probably consisting of a bunch of lazy people, was aware of the leak.
On the last day, water supply was stopped when we returned from Giri Ganga Shrine around 11 am on the plea that water pump operator had already left. In fact, all guests had already vacated the rooms so they switched off the motor. We wanted to freshen up before checking out which was scheduled for 12 noon but there was no water. After repeated requests, a bucket of steaming hot water was supplied.
Tags: Giri Ganga Hotel, Giri Ganga Shrine, Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, HPTDC, India, Kharapathar, Tourism, travel
Posted in Travel & Tourism | No Comments »
