August 2008
Monthly Archive
Sat 30 Aug 2008
Posted by Anil P. under
RecapLeave a Comment
My Interview With Jamie James, Author of The Snake Charmer
Mr. James was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book, his travel experience, and living in Indonesia.
Ever Wonder Why You Get Constipated When Traveling?
It turns out there are 5 main culprits that prevent you from taking shits pooping.
My Travel Plans For Delhi, India
Yesterday I asked for your help in planning my trip to Delhi this week and here’s my list to follow.
Calculate International Cab Fares With World Taximeter
Find out how much it will cost you to get from point A to point B via taxi in major international cities around with World Taximeter.
Thu 28 Aug 2008
Posted by Anil P. under
Car ,
MoneyLeave a Comment
Find out how much it will cost you to get from point A to point B via taxi in major international cities around with World Taximeter.
The free online service gives you a break down of the price for 15 North American and European cities. A simple query for a fare from the Chrylser Building to Penn Station shows the 3.14km ride to take about 9 minutes and cost $10.28. World Taximeter estimates the cost not only based on the distance, but the average wait time, any peak hour surcharges, and 15% tip.
Although the search helps you by suggesting famous landmarks, the service is a bit shoddy unless you use specific street addresses. Hopefully World Taximeter will expand its list of cities offered (they are currently taking suggestions).
Knowing how the approximate distance and fare for any cab ride when you travel around the world is the best way to avoid getting ripped off.
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Wed 27 Aug 2008
It hadn’t been 5 minutes since I cleared customs in Delhi when a young Indian guy asked me if I needed a taxi and lead me to his green and yellow car sitting right outside of the airport. I knew better, but want to see what he was up to. The entire time he was rather talkative, asking questions about where I was from and doing in India - none of which I answered truthfully. Then I asked him how far away the hotel was, “25 kilometers” he replied for 3875 rupees (~$89 dollars).
Of course I didn’t get in, I went over to a prepaid taxi stand, paid 270 rupees ($6.20) for a short 5km trip down the road to my hotel.
I read about such cons at Indian airports before my previous trip to Bangalore, but it’s easy for someone to get taken in the confusing atmosphere outside of the terminal. Fortunately, it’s just as easy to avoid getting ripped off (or worse) with a few simple precautions.
Always Get Your Cab From A Prepaid Taxi Stand - These government-run booths are located toward the exit of the major airports with bold yellow signs. The prices are set by the state and the licensed drivers can be trusted to take you straight to your destination. You will also be provided an official receipt after prepaying.
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Wed 27 Aug 2008
Posted by Anil P. under
General[3] Comments
The best travel plans are those that take under 10 minutes. The basic steps are to research, organize, and prioritize your travel goals. A rudimentary travel plan is essential, especially for short trips to prevent you from wasting time in hotel rooms.
I posted my travel plans for Delhi yesterday and I’d like to walk you through the steps so you can create basic travel plans, even if you’re not a planner.
Research (3 Minutes)
A simple Google search for ‘places to see in’ or ‘Singapore tourism’ will give you an idea of the biggest tourist draws in the area. The top three search returns should be enough to come up with 3 sites at equidistant points.
- Take the legwork out of researching by posting your questions on social networks (like Facebook), travel blogs, and forums for suggestions on what to do. I’ve found personal recommendations to rarely disappoint.
Planning your trip around the major sites will help you with the next step, prioritizing.
Prioritize (3 Minutes)
Yesterday I categorized my Delhi travel plans into 3 categories.
- “Musts” - The 1,2 or 3 places and things that you simply cannot leave without visiting or doing.
- “Hopefuls” - Time permitting some items you can add to your itinerary. For example, if I have some time after visiting Chandni Chowk, I’l make my way over to the Akshardham Hindu temple.
- “Try if There’s Time” - Anything that could be cool with unexpected time, like if a flight is delayed or your business trip extended.
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Tue 26 Aug 2008
It is not imperative that you stick to a plan, but for short trips, it is essential you come up with at least a basic one. The best resources are people who’ve been to your destination you can turn to for advice, recommendations, and other ‘insiders’.
Yesterday I asked for your help in planning my trip to Delhi this week and here’s my list to follow.
My “Musts”
- Taj Mahal - Approximately 5-6 hours (by bus) south of Delhi, in Agra, famous mausoleum is surrounded by other interesting tombs and monuments.
- Chandni Chowk - The Red Fort was on my original list, and being close by, it makes sense to add one of Delhi’s oldest markets to my visit there, upon Taylor Davidson’s advice.
- A Trip To The Ganges River - I’m still trying to nail what exactly to do here, but I’ll narrow that down once I arrive.
Other “Hopefuls”
Taylor Davidson was kind enough to provide me with a number of places to see, here are the places I’m hopeful I can get to.
My “Try if There’s Time” List - Humayun’s Tomb, and some local temples. I’ll add to this list beginning from the “hopefuls” if I get tight on time.
The organization of this list is not at random, there is some method to my madness. Tomorrow I’ll talk about how to easily create your basic travel plans without being a planner. You can keep up with my India travels over the next week by subscribing to my RSS feed or daily email updates.
Tue 26 Aug 2008
Enter to win a chance to win a free laptop when you sign up for Charter’s digital cable, high speed Internet, or phone services. Packages begin at $20 a month and you’ll be eligible for Charter’s Laptop A Day Giveaway.
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Mon 25 Aug 2008
I’ll be headed to New Delhi tomorrow and have begun my initial research for places to see, things to do, and of course eat.
My First Google Search Terms
- Delhi tourism
- Places to see in Delhi
Despite the varying quality of the websites that my searches returned, most of them recommended a small set of places consistently. As I go through my research the following places keep peaking my interest.
I’d really like to get your help in narrowing my list and get your recommendations on what to do in the New Delhi area, especially on temples and outdoor activities.
Leave me your advice in the comments section of this post or send me an email with the things I should see and do in Delhi. Tomorrow I will post the results of my preliminary research along with your comments and list the places I’ve decided to go.
Mon 25 Aug 2008
New York Bus Charters offers experienced drivers and discounts for medium sized groups. The company specializes in transporting passengers to and from a variety of events.
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Mon 25 Aug 2008
The 5th annual DC Asian Festival was held in my backyard and I paid the free event two weekends ago. I began by watching a demonstration of the Philippine dance, tinikling.
Some trinkets on sale.
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Mon 25 Aug 2008
Destina, the formerly Spanish-only online travel agency is opening its doors to the English speaking audience. The site is well organized and returns a variety of high-end hotels to choose from.
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