Things to do before going on a vacation

The last minute hustle and bustle is inevitable before leaving your home for a long awaited vacation. You would definitely not love to have the sinking feeling of something being left undone while you are on your way to the airport. You think you have forgotten something- but you have already fed your dog, turned off the main switch, locked the front door. Then it strikes you that you forgot to lock your garage door!

Things are lot more easier when you plan out the activities beforehand and maintain a checklist of things that need to be done. Here is a list of things you must do before you leave for your vacations and get a peace of mind.

It is very necessary to put all the newspaper and mail subscriptions on hold for the time you would be away. A pile of newspapers outside the main door signifies that the house is empty. It is an open invitation to incidents like theft.

Leave your pet dog/cat at the pet care center a couple of days before you start off. You will be sure whether or not your pet has adapted and is comfortable staying there.

Inform someone in the neighborhood whom you trust that you won't be in town. Give them a spare key to your house and request them to visit once in a while. Keeping an eye on the house is the least they can do.

Unplug your television, stereo, computer, toaster and other appliances. Also turn off the water heater so that your electricity bill doesn't go up unnecessarily. Turn off all the taps and showers. Pour some anti-freeze solution in the toilet if you're travelling during winters. This will prevent the porcelain to crack from the frozen water.

Get an interior timer installed. Set it to turn a couple of lights on every evening.

Empty your fridge of anything that will go bad soon. You don't want to come home to a stinking fridge.

Pay all the outstanding bills before you go on a trip. Buy prepaid recharge vouchers and international roaming cards for your cell phones so that you stay connected to people back home.

Close all the doors, windows and pull the curtains so that no one can see inside the house from the outside.

Make sure there is no wet laundry in the bathrooms or washing machines. Take out the garbage. Water your plants.

Talking about the important documents like passport, visa, tickets and travel insurance policy, make sure they are in place well in advance. Check if your name on the ticket matches the one mentioned on your passport. If not, get it rectified as soon as possible. Make photocopies of these documents and keep them along while you travel. Keep the originals and photocopies in separate places just in case you lose any set. You can also upload and save scanned copies of these documents online or in your mail box.

Make sure your travel insurance policy covers the places you're visiting. Some European insurance companies do not cover Turkey under the travel insurance policies they have to offer.

Visit your bank to inform them about your trip, so that they do not think that your cards are stolen while you use them to withdraw cash in London. Buy foreign currency from your bank to get a better exchange rate.

You can save a lot of money if you book a parking at the airport well in advance rather than at the last moment. Also check out if any cheaper alternative is available. Such services also offer pick-up and drop facility.

Check if you are carrying excess baggage. You may need to pay extra charges for the weight exceeding the limits prescribed by the airlines.

It would be really wise if you take some time out to do a research over the internet about the customs prevalent at the places you are planning to visit. This will help you avoid troubles and embarrassment. For example, people in certain conservative countries do not like women wearing shorts and tees. So carry suitable outfits.

You definitely don't want to sour your trip by getting sick. So get yourself vaccinated against rabies and malaria, especially if you are planning to visit Asian or African countries. In some countries it is mandatory for you to get certain injections and show the proof of the same, before they allow you in the country.

So this is all about the things that need your attention. I hope you find these tips useful next time you plan your vacations. Thanks for reading. Bon Voyage!

P.S.- Check out these useful links for online cell phone recharge

Vodafone mobile recharge

Airtel recharge

Road trip to Amalner.

Hello my dear Readers! I'm writing about my last weeks's 2 days road trip to  Amalner. Amalner is a small town in Jalgaon District in Maharashtra (India). We went to Amalner to visit a famous temple of Mangal Graha (Planet Mars). There are only 2 such temples in the entire world, one being in Amalner, another one in Kolkata. So it was a really good opportunity to visit one of these temples.

Chain of mountains on throughout the way.

According to Vedic astrology, Mangal (Planet Mars) signifies strength, anger, energy, impulsiveness; and it is considered malefic in nature. Mars is the ruler of blood, marrow and muscles.

As I said, Mangal is considered malefic by nature, it is one of the concept in astrology and is a subject of worry.  If a person who has Mangal Dosh in his/her birth-chart, marries someone who is not a mangali, may cause strife, lack of prosperity and other troubles, including death of the spouse. These are the assertions by the Vedic astrology.

The town of Amalner was not very big, not very clean, but the visit to this temple made our trip memorable. My mind was at peace. The temple atmosphere was very holy, spiritual with the priests chanting shlokas in Sanskrit. There were many devotees who had come to offer prayers, that went on for an hour. They performed rituals so that the Mars God would calm down and prosperity will come their way, and they will get relief from the troubles that they face due to the mangal dosh.

We offered our prayers and red lentils to the Lord Mars. We got a whole coconut as a prasaad (holy offering from the temple), that we  are supposed to eat. We then spent some time in the garden listening to the holy shlokas.

The temple had a beautiful garden, with idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva. I took some pictures to share with you all. However, nobody is allowed to take pictures of the main temple and the idol of Lord Mars. So this is a picture of Lord Mars that I took from a holy scripture called as Mangal Strotra.

The holy scriptures for the pilgrims given by the priest.

An idol of Lord Krishna.

Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva.

The garden in the temple.

Outside the temple there were various stalls selling things required for prayers, like flowers, garlands, incense, coconuts, red lentils, etc. Other items like framed pictures of various deities, brass idols of gods, holy scriptures, finger-rings, key-chains, pendants with a picture of gods on it, etc. were being sold.

Brass idols of God.

Threads to tie on the wrist.

Key-chains!

This was the best part of the trip!

Now talking about the not-so-good part. Its really difficult to find a decent place for the stay. Hotels don't exist there! There are guest houses that have super-dirty rooms at a high price. It was so dirty that I wouldn't stay there even for free. We were then planning to go to Jalgaon city, 65 km from Amalner. But fortunately a guy told us about a lodging. We got an air-conditioned room at just 800 INR! That is about 12 Euros or 15 USD.

Hell cheap. But again it was not very posh, but way better than those guest houses.

How to reach Amalner?

I stay in Nasik city. Its around 190 km from Dhule. And the temple is 40 km from Dhule. So it was our first time, we didn't know anything about the town. Hence, now that you all know, I would suggest, if you ever plan a trip to Amalner, go to Jalgaon city by train and book a room there. Jalgaon city is 65 km from Amalner. So you can take a cab or a bus to Amalner. That would be more convenient.

Do not miss these!

1. This is a Gurudwara in Dhule. Do pay a visit!

2. This Lassi (A preparation of curd, served chilled) in Amalner. It was simply awesome just 20 INR per glass! Shop name- Saibaba Ice-creams!

During this time of the year, when summer heat is at its peak, Amalner, Jalgoan and Dhule are really hot. The temperature goes beyond 40 degrees Celsius! In fact it was unbearable. There is load-shedding for 5-6 hours a day in Amalner, which adds to the trouble. I would say its better to go there during winters.

National highway was awesome. It was a smooth ride, except for some unnecessary super-bumpy speed breakers. The petrol started leaking. A guy on a bike came speeding from behind and told us to stop. God bless him. I thought we had our petrol-tank damaged in the middle of nowhere. There was a two-wheeler garage nearby and the man came to our rescue. He checked and the leak stopped. A pipe had come out and the tank wasn't damaged! We heaved a sigh of relief....Stupid speed-breaker, you can now imagine how bumpy it could get.

I got some nice pics of the country side. Some pics I took from the moving car itself. We came back home the next day at midnight!

National Highway 3.

So that was around a 40 hours long trip. Well it was a good trip over all. Something I would fondly remember.

Globe-trekking with my Soul-mate.

I have always had these dreams...strange ones...I had a similar dream last night too. Just that this time it was Udaipur.  Udaipur, a city in the northern state of Rajasthan, India. I have never been there. But in my dreams I have been out there, walking down the busy lanes, looking at the shops with awe. They had beautiful things, colorful. Turbans, sarees, folk toys, jewelry, handicrafts. I bought a few things too.

I didn't realize until I woke up to the alarm at 10 am. Yes I dream...I dream about people I have never met...I dream about places I have never visited, like the USA, UK, ..the list is endless. I have even had a dream about my kids. Strange but true. It is said that our dreams are have a connection with the state of our mind, our desires, and our life. They are not just dreams...They come from our sub-conscious mind.

I want to go Globe-trekking the Ian Wright way- Backpacking! Living cheap and going dirty, the way Ian likes, but with a taste of luxury sometimes. Go on crazy adventurous trips! Visit the weirdest and the loveliest places around the world. meet different people, go sight-seeing, learn about their culture, customs and traditions, fashion, history, way of life...and yes, about their food! Food fascinates me the most. Visit the museums and building of historic importance. And then share my experiences with all. 

The people on TLC, and Fox History & Travel inspire me. They take me one step closer to my dream every time I turn these channels on!

I want to go around the world with him....the love of my life. I don't know where is he...What he looks like. But I still await him. The one who is like me, thinks like me, shares common interests. For it takes two to Tango!

I have read in magazines about the couples who go honey-mooning to various countries on bicycles. How adventurous is that! And I would love to try it out...

Other than the adventurous stuff mentioned above, I have always had a dream of visiting Switzerland after I watched the movie 'Dilwaale dulhaniya le jaenge' when I was around 7 years old. We want to see how they make Swiss cheese. I want to walk down those green grassy hills holding his hand as they show in movies, and taking pictures with lovely cows grazing on the hills...And sitting on the banks of a river with our feet immersed in the water...and talking.

Italy...for I am Pizza lover, so would be he..I want to go to Venice for a ride in Gondola. And then Florence...And yes..Milan, the fashion capital, I need to make his pocket lighter!

A month long trip to France. I know one month is too long...But I want to get the feel, how would it be walking down the streets of France like a native French person does? As if I had known that place since ever. Paris is said to be the most romantic city in the world. How it would be holding hands and looking down from the Eiffel tower.

The cities and countryside of Greece, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Spain, Japan, Thailand...And the entire South American continent too. The list is endless.

I know I am talking a lot about Europe...I'm in love with a place I have never seen...Like I have a connection..Ever time I read about or watch these places on TV, I feel they are calling me...

Now I got America fever! How would life be there...Fair and lovely??? Fair in context of government policies, rules and regulations..law enforcement, discipline, cleanliness. The Statue of Liberty has always fascinated me...The night-life in Las Vegas...Hollywood...And yes the snow fall and the storms in USA. Going on a safari, bird watching..visiting a zoo, getting a tattoo and every possible freaky activity.

Walking along the beaches of Miami Florida...White sand blue waters. Writing our names on the sand in a heart! Having a candle-light dinner on the beach under the starry sky with the candles placed in the empty coconut shells! So romantic....Sigh! Not to forget the adventure part..sky-diving and water skiing.

Ice skiing in north Carolina and mountain climbing New Jersey...

Scuba diving in the waters of Hawaii...Falling in love with nature. Trying our hands at surfing. 

We want to to Egypt...Pyramids! Morocco...It seemed to be awesome on Discovery Channel.

And yes! Singapore, Malaysia, Hong kong and Bangkok...Dad says its awesome! Dubai too....for Burj Khalifa and Dubai is a shoppers' paradise...So yet another occasion to splurge!

How can I forget Australia. It as the Opera house and the Bondi Beach. And if we go to Australia we can't miss New Zealand!  And I want to visit the thousand s of cities I didn't mention here.

Will we be able to make it in just one life-time? Travelling around the world and living the way all the people live? Living like a thousands of them...Well if Ian can...So can we! So much to do i life..isn't it?