Mehrauli: A Giant Cauldron of Wonders (Part 1)

By Indraneel Chakrabarty

Located shortly before you reach the haunted Jamali-Kamali, a world swimming in a cross-junction of history and culture. How else would you describe a place, which on one hand holds trinkets of history, an aura of the supernatural nearby, and on the other the modern day marvel called the Delhi Metro, next to an amalgam of faiths. Boys and Girls, and all you lovely Ladies & Gentlemen - Welcome to Mehrauli.

A multitude of roads and streets would seem rolled-out in all directions, inviting one into her lair, "Come, come, come on in dearie!" (add a teeheehee in there). No really, it can be a bit of Hansel & Gretel. Somewhat a hike from the Qutub Minar at one end to the Mehrauli Bus Ud-dah and a short stroll from the Chhatarpur Metro station at the other (Andhera Mor entrance). These are the commonly known entry-points. There are several more - popping out of out-of-sight neighbourhoods and pouring into the heartland of Mehrauli.

Streets apart, why visit if cartography isn't your thing? Maybe history, eh eh? From the Andheria Mor entrance and a short walk, there's your Hauz-I-Shamshi or the Shamsi Talab as the locals call it. A reservoir built during the Slave Dynasty, it still catches your eyes. If you can hear it, it has a lachrymose whisper of thoughts to share. Or maybe the Jahaz Mahal, where "if" you plan your holiday calendar well, you could even end up enjoying the annual 3-day culture fest called Phoolwaalon ki Sair (September). Boy, out of nowhere, that just reminded me of the song "Sealed with a Kiss".

What if you have a differing holiday schedule? No problem, there's always a sampling of street food, which'll frequently catch your fancy from either side of the street. Kebabs, niharis, tikkas and its culinary ilk. It's business as usual if you get caught in a traffic-jam there. Don't forget to pick up some of the silvery chhabeela or reddish-maroon ratanjyot as you walk on. If you have some meat to melt, a mere half-a-handful is guaranteed to be strong enough.

Besides feasting on delicious Mohammedan cuisine on offer, you may also indulge yourself in picking up a bargain. Dime a dozen, people. There are wooden-frame carvings, pretty uncommon and may well cost a fortune elsewhere in Delhi. But, if you feel you have a strong bargaining acumen, Mehrauli's the place for you. Walking ahead, you may actually find relics from your grandpa's or great grandma's era. Coal irons, and not just regular sized ones, lilliputian ones too to decorate your showcase back home. Manual lawn-mowers and a host of other oddities, Hey! What if you're out of cash? Somehow, just somehow, you have a debit card on you (any Indian bank issue) ATMs are just another short walk away.

If you are more into soaking in the experience, let the wanderer in you loose. And you can literally lose yourself! The many lanes and by-lanes will coax, cajole and beckon you to explore them, with their half drowsy gaze. A photographers delight, wherein you may snap selfies with some really old style houses in the backdrop. If that's a thing with you. A straight walk from the Andheria Mor entrance will lead you, with a bit of winded road, to the Mehrauli Bus Stand or Bus Ud-dah. And hullo? What do we have here. Another piece of history, called the Bhool-Bhulaiya (by popular claim it's a labyrinth or maze). As per historic accuracy, it's the tomb of Adham Khan son of Mughal Emperor Akbar's wet-nurse Maham Anga. That's the beauty of exploring Mehrauli. A single walk can transport you to the diverse shores history, set apart in time by centuries.

Whether you're a foodie, shopaholic, photographer or just the very-very-spirited traveller, Mehrauli has something for each one. Choose a trinket, choose a memory, or choose to lose yourself in it all. Visit Mehrauli, it is waiting for you.

Article Source:  Mehrauli: A Giant Cauldron of Wonders (Part 1)

How To Avoid Travel Troubles

By Rosemarie Sumalinog Gonzales

Everything can now be booked online from flights to accommodation to hiring cabs and leisure activities. But sometimes what is said or seen online is totally different from reality. Your disappointment is beyond compare but you can do nothing about it but to embrace the sudden changes.

Figuring out which online booking sites to partner with is a challenge. It's really confusing. But most online booking sites have significant differences because when you book for economy or low-cost hotels, never expect that you can get what is shown online. Sometimes, hoteliers and booking giants have conflict especially in terms of discounted accommodations.

Accommodation is a problem in travelling abroad. The main problems being that the provider cancelled the booking, overbooked or had no record of the booking, or the room was sub-standard compared to what was booked or advertised online. According to some people I talked with during my stay abroad, I am entitled to get a room that matches what was advertised to me or refund me should I not wish to push through my accommodation. But if you are new to an unfamiliar territory, you are really afraid to change hotels in a short notice.

Based on experience, you need to do some research on the booking site before you book to make sure it's bonafide and legal. If you're travelling out of the country, more likely than not. you'll be travelling by plane. Some of the problems encountered by travelers include flights being either delayed or cancelled. Most airlines will either give a refund or another schedule as soon as space is available without additional charge. However, the irony is that they won't necessarily take responsibility if you fail to make a connecting flight as a result.

One of the hidden costs of booking online for airfares can be the credit card surcharges tacked on at the end aside from the travel taxes. So if you are booking a promo fare, be ready for the surcharges when you pay them in the counter. It's quite disgusting!

Aside from this, transportation at the airport is also a challenge. Taxis, buses and trains, also cause most common travel trouble especially if you are new to the area. Most often, passengers are being overcharged for trips or being taken the wrong route, their service being delayed or getting poor service from drivers. If you want to be delivered right in front of your hotel, you have to pay the most expensive fare on earth.

A lot of people likewise have troubles with car hire when travelling because of the hidden costs. However, when you go to Malaysia, you can hire Grab taxis which are cheaper compared to other forms of transportation to get around and track your route.

Moreover, booking with a travel agent is also a problem affecting almost all travelers. Of those having travel agent troubles, guests had difficulty rectifying mistakes. Hidden fees weren't far behind, affecting preferences and services not being delivered, such as not getting the right room type.

What I did was see the circumstance in a different perspective. Instead of being dismayed, I even enjoyed my stay in Malaysia. We just need to be open-minded and flexible.

One of the greatest perks of going out of the country is to travel around which may vary from a short train ride to a couple of hours airtime. Just be cautious with your online booking. Be sure that you get what you paid for.

Article Source:  How To Avoid Travel Troubles

How To Overcome Language Barriers In Another Country

By Rosemarie Sumalinog Gonzales

Language barriers are common challenges in Malaysia especially that it is an open country with visitors coming from the different parts of the world. When you're conversing to other people in a foreign land, a lot can get lost in translation. It's very important that we can communicate information so that everyone can understand us.

Even if people are technically speaking the same language, but dialectical differences can create misunderstandings and gaps in communication which leaves a lot of room for linguistic mix-ups! With so many ways language can block our ability to collaborate, it's crucial to have some approaches on how to connect everyone.

People should get in the habit of using simple languages whenever possible. The use of jargon or esoteric vocabulary only creates the chance for miscommunication and makes people feel bad that they can't understand what you're saying. Remember, words have different usages in different cultures.

In cases where you find it hard to communicate, it;s better to use visual methods of communication. Words often fail us, and when they do, showing or acting can be a lot more effective than telling. We can also use pictures or diagrams to explain complicated concepts. Visual queues are invaluable for getting everyone on the same page. We can also use gestures to convey the message we would like our listener to understand. Never expect anyone to remember something you said once. Not all have a typographic memory.

Language barriers can be frustrating. They require patience, understanding, and conscientiousness. We need to talk slower instead of louder to clearly emphasize what we want instead of forcefully. And remember, when someone is working through a language hurdle, it has nothing to do with their actual intelligence or ability to grasp the concept behind what we're trying to say. We just need to continue speaking proper English. We need to search for a common ground in order for us to communicate and learn how to understand correctly, too.

Language barriers can be a challenge, especially when communicating with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Communication becomes difficult in situations when people don't understand each others' language. The inability to communicate is a barrier to communication. Not using the words that other person understands makes the communication ineffective. It prevents message from being conveyed or transferred to the receiver of the action.

Difference in language is the most obvious barrier to communication especially when two people speaking two different languages cannot communicate with each other. he accents and dialect of people belonging to different places differs even if their language is same. The meanings, implications and interpretations of words are different, which may lead to various kinds of conflicts even if the languages are technically the same in people using different dialects and accents.

It is important to choose the right word in describing anything before communicating. The words used by a particular person to show their agreement on something can be taken as sarcasm which is negative in nature because some people have low vocabulary in a particular language whereas some have very high.

Linguistic capability of a person in a particular language.allows him/her to talk with another person leading to miscommunication of whole message.

Article Source:  How To Overcome Language Barriers In Another Country

The Best Alaska Fishing Charters - Kenai Peninsula

By Deziree Valdez

With working in the tourism industry myself, I have found that most tourists planning their Alaska dream vacation can become overwhelmed with the thousands of options Alaska has to offer- especially when it comes to the fishing world! So I've gathered some simple tools to help this process move along.

Finding the BEST Alaska Fishing Charters requires time, effort, and most importantly thorough research! The Kenai Peninsula- which is the most common place to start your fishing adventure, offers several locations such as Seward, Ninilchik, Kenai River, Kasilof River, and Homer! Within these locations, you're looking at over 100 charter companies to dig into and filter out the best from the worst. How can we speed this up? As simple as it sounds-- reviews!

Reviews, such as on TripAdvisor and Google, can make or break a company in several ways. While you can't have the good without the bad, the important thing to look for here is how many bad reviews there are compared to excellent AND what are they saying? Do the guests seem valid in their complaints? Did the company take the time to respond? This is vital to filtering out some of the crap (excuse the frank verbiage) to the legitimate concerns.

Once you've come to about three to five companies of interest from picking through reviews, you'll want to move on to figuring out who has the best options available for what you're looking for! Are you looking for a specific location, boat size, trip length, exclusive or party style fishing, or a specific species? While most of the Alaska fishing charters on the Kenai Peninsula offer roughly the same types of trips, asking these questions amongst your travel companions will help you to narrow down the questions asked when it's time to make the calls!

Which brings us to the next step- calling around! Most companies do offer online booking, but if you are new to fishing in Alaska, I recommend calling first to narrow down some details. You'll want to ask important questions like which locations do you offer? Are your trips full days or half days? What times are your trips offered at? What do I need to purchase and what is included? Questions like these are crucial to making sure you are booking EXACTLY what you are looking for!

Once these are answered, you'll be in a position to make a decision! Go ahead and proceed with the booking process of the charter of your choice and get ready to start the preparation for fishing in Alaska!

Alaska Fishing Prep 101:

- Dress in layers
- Bring rain gear
- Treat sea sickness with a remedy PRIOR to the trip
- Bring lunches and beverages on board to snack
- Purchase Alaska fishing license in advance
- Plan out how you want to get the fish home- with you on the plane or shipping
- Bring a camera

And most importantly, great ready to have a trip of a life time!

Finding The Best Alaska Fishing Charters!

By: Deziree Valdez

Personal recommendation to start-   https://ninilchik.com

Ninilchik Charters will offer you a variety in locations to choose from, variety in fishing vessels, top rated crew members, tournament grade equipment and the MOST reviews on TripAdvisor! Check them out today for additional information on choosing the best Alaska Fishing Charters around!

Article Source:  The Best Alaska Fishing Charters - Kenai Peninsula

Benefits of Home Tuition in 2018

By Harshit Marwani

In today's competitive world, every student needs to perform well in their academics so that they can shine in their life. But these days, a lot of premier institutes fail to give individual care to their students.

Every student is different, including their learning capabilities. Some students can understand their lesson quickly, while some students need extra guidance to study effectively.

Therefore, home tuition or private tuition may be necessary in order to get a quality education. A lot of parents are already hiring the best tutor for their children to assist in their studies.

Here I discuss the top 10 benefits of getting home tuition.

1. Get tuition at your convenience

The great advantage of home tutoring is the convenience for the student. Education comes at your door, no need to spend valuable time going to coaching centres.

With home tutoring, students can learn at their own comfort. It gives you the flexibility to decide your preferred days and time for getting tuition. Students can also discuss with their tutor regarding the tuition place, time and days.

2. Opportunities for pre-learning

Home or private tuition gives students the opportunity for learning a subject or concept before it is discussed in school. In this process, the school or classroom can aid students revising their subjects, and infuse confidence in them.

With this model of home tutoring, learning any subject becomes quite easy. Students can quickly gain command over their subject which will also increase their efficiency. The main advantage of this method is that it creates a better image of the student within his circle and among the teachers because he is already updated with all their homework.

3. Detailed productive feedback

An answer to any specific question has many aspects and demands proper guidance to write the correct answer. In school or any conventional coaching centre, a teacher may miss out important subtleties. Due to time limit, a school teacher may be unable to correct all the faulty areas of each student.

Home tuition helps the student in analysing or correcting answers at every step. The tutor gives a detailed productive feedback to students, which also motivates them to improve and do better next time.

4. Get personalised attention

It's quite impossible for teachers to attend to every student, which results in your child not understanding a lesson acutely. Home tuition comes with an assurance that the tutor's prime focus will be entirely on your child and his difficulties.

The other benefit of one-to-one tuition is that it is less restrictive compared to any conventional coaching centre or school.

5. Scope for improvement in student's performance

If a student is weak in any particular subject, then he needs special attention from the teacher to improve performance. This is not often, if at all, possible in school. With home tuition, a student can get distinctive attention from the tutor and devote more time to that subject.

A home tutor is not just for giving tuition on subjects, though. He can also be a mentor to the student, guiding in developing time management and better study skills. This improves student's overall performance.

6. Scope for better learning

Because of this one to one study method of home tuition, tutors are also willing to apply new study techniques. Tutor can take extra care of their students in order to deliver quality education.

7. Positive environment

Students often hesitate to ask a teacher any question in a large classroom setting. The main reason behind this is the competitive class environment where students don't feel comfortable to speak out. But learning with home tuition gives them much needed confidence and freedom to share their thoughts. A positive and encouraging environment is necessary for better learning.

8. Lesser distractions

Students face a lot of distractions in schools, colleges, coaching centers and other public learning venues. Home tuition gives a respite from those distractions, providing a comfortable learning environment.

9. Get tuition from the best

Schools and conventional coaching centers do not provide the opportunity to select teachers, which also directly impacts results.

The major advantage of homeschooling is that here you can choose the best tutor for your particular subject. These days a lot of home tuition agency or private tuition agencies can be consulted as you choose the best tutor. This is crucial because only an excellent instructor can understand the student's needs and offer proper guidance.

10. Involvement of parents

Private tuition provides the opportunity to discuss a child's progress, keep track of performance, and ask for recommendations for improvement. Parents also can check whether their child has completed the assigned homework

Article Source: Benefits of Home Tuition in 2018