Traveling is an unique passion , in my opinion. Some go around in search of adventure, some for daredevil acts (like bungee jumping,para sailing,sky diving etc..), and one breed of travelers is there (like me) ,who primarily aim towards exploration of unseen, and never before experiences ,events, landmarks and legends which have often been glorified in the pages of human history.The sole objective of these ventures always remain satisfaction of unquenchable thirst for MORE !!!
Well putting philosophy aside , let me enlist some of my personal suggestions for making your trips and journeys more pleasant,safe and cherish able.
Trips are often meant to explore something earlier unknown.So better prepare yourself with adequate knowledge about terrain,culture,general traditions,lifestyles and most importantly CLIMATE.Depending upon time,season and place of journey, you should select your clothing,fooding and other related belongings.Suppose you venture to Himalayas, that too in Nov. or Dec when mercury dipping to minus ,you should not be crazy enough to brave the spline chilling cold with bare minimum.You may plan for some good woollen stuffs at the destination, but general winter wardrobe is advisable to accompany you during the journey.
Similarly while heading towards sunny beaches of Goa especially during end of winters or beginning of summers, you MUST have sunscreen lotion and a hat/cap with you.In fact GTDC (Goa Tourism Development Corporation) strongly recommends the same. As obviously understood don't forget to take some light clothing like T-shirts, bermundas and/or swim wears (if you are comfortable in showing off bit of your skin).
If you are traveling in India, then a bit of knowledge on clothing style will be handy,because India being culturally diverse has different clothing sentiments at different corners. Moreover, Indians mostly are very particular about what they wear and what you are wearing as a GUEST.
For an instance, lets imagine you are in Goa now and you have nothing to wear except some knee length (or still lesser) skirts or only shorts,with western style trendy tops or T-shirts.Then Goans wont be perturbed by any of those ,even while strolling at the centre of the city under broad daylight, since men and women over there are comfortable in them.Sharply in contrast to this, if you land up in Rajasthan or in the heritage town of Hampi in Karnataka, then you are surely those shall raise many eyebrows.Interestingly in Hampi, the local authorities have taken quite a pain in putting up instruction boards at different public places in the town like bus stands,auto rickshaw stands, major squares, hotels, local markets etc.,where they read " PLEASE DRESS RESPECTFULLY".Owing to this, many local shops have sprung up in the Hampi bazaar selling traditional attires and dress material which shall label you as "RESPECTFULLY DRESSED" !
So better choose you wardrobe accordingly before you attract local wrath or discontentment.
Versatility in cuisines and delicacies is an attractive feature in Indian journeys.They too deserve to be cherished and explored.Mouth watering aroma of spicy curries,tasty tandoori es and thirst quenching lassies shall forever remain in your memories.But a word of caution, try them only to taste. Don't take them like your staple food.Locals have developed resistance against the ill effects of over eating through ages,right from their birth.And most significantly,prefer ONLY properly bottled mineral water.
Coming to accommodation, I personal suggestion is to opt for Govt. recognised or Govt. undertaking hotels,lodging or guest houses.In some cases, Govt. tariffs may drill a deeper hole in your pockets, but considering safety of self , family members or your fellow traveler, those are advisable.
Traveling again I recommend should be through Govt. run transportation corporations or agencies because they are more comfortable,easy to book, and qualitative in service.All these together makes your journey more fun and free from ambiguity.
Once you reach at your planned destination, you often become desperate to venture out and in the process of same, many often end up hiring an agency or guide who come out with bits and pieces with most of the information being not authentic or, not up to your satisfaction level.To add to the agony, you may also need to pay more at the end of the day. So its always better to do some homework before you leave for the place.Try consulting your friends,colleagues and other acquaintances for some valuable inputs.
In this context, I prefer to book a Govt. approved Guide before reaching at the place. The same can be done well through local tourism offices or reputed travel agents.Information on the contacts addresses or no.s can be easily found from popular travel guides, frequently published and updated by esteemed publishing houses like Times,Outlook,Penguin,TV Today etc.You can anytime pick up your copy from the nearest book store or news stand.
Always be extra cautious of your financial assets like cash and debit/credit cards.I personally prefer to carry less cash and do maximum transaction through cards,but the luxury also comes with a bit of strain on mind. Be vigilant while the shopkeeper processes your purchase through cards.In case of any intentional/unintentional error , its becomes bit difficult to follow up with those people for recovery, as you are only a GUEST in that place.
This particular tip may not be suitable while traveling in rural or secluded areas where facilities like ATMs and card acceptance are remote possibilities.Hence do carry enough cash with you or better distribute the cash lots among your fellow traveler(s).
Not the least, if you are quite enthusiastic in capturing your magical moments while on trip or holidays, then arms yourself with a cameras ,preferably digital compact types or ammeters and hobbyists may go for entry level DSLRs or better (depending on your proficiency levels).
I personally own a Sony Alpha 200W DSLR with two no.s of kit lenses which fullfills all my photography requirements while I am in a journey.
Also do carry enough enough batteries or battery charger and in case of film cameras, two or three spare rolls should be handy.
In addition to above I shall continuously update this blog with some more tips for making your traveling passion still MORE passion able.
Till then HAPPY & SAFE journey !!!
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