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Posts Tagged ‘Road’

Road Trip Vacation Planning – Some things to consider

October 9th, 2011 Comments off

Route planning holiday travel – Some things to consider

Thinking of going on a family trip? If you have not planned or is it a road trip before, it is important to anticipate and know what things to carry. Planning a vacation Road trip is important in determining the success of your road trip. Poor planning vacation Road Trip lead to frustration and many problems and can potentially ruin your holiday. Be sure to note the following:.

1 Transport

If you bring your own car, the tires were marked, to carry oil and check the condition of your car. You do not want to bother with car trouble in the middle of a road trip. If you decide to rent a car, choose carefully. Choose a car that suits your family and your luggage comfortably. Of course, make sure the car is strong enough to withstand rain, terrain, and /> 2. Power

While there may be several fast food chains along the route, you’ll save time if you bring your own food. A cooler, and bring snacks and drinks to limit unnecessary stops.

3. Entertainment

For entertainment, bring your music or audio books. Hours on the road are inevitable, so be sure to keep busy. If you are bringing children, bring toys or books, or playing games fun.

4. Entertainment

Finally, enjoy! This is not the time to be a killjoy! Family travel by road should be fun, enjoyable and memorable for all.

Explore popular places in the road less traveled as part of its plans next exotic trip

February 11th, 2011 Comments off

Discover places dynamics outside the box as part of your next exotic travel plans

Visit the beautiful and strange at least once in your life is a trick not shared only with travel operators and tour, but the travelers themselves who have experienced the best of both worlds -. simple agitation in the streets of the city with the rest of the most fabulous works of history and fascinating architecture and nature trips enjoyable. “Been there, done that.”: The fate of the remote locations where authenticity is the aim and where the passion for travel is unlikely to Say Think Botswana, Pattaya, and Ho Chi Minh, or all the way to Catalonia, Spain – all interesting exotic travel options that have attracted the interest of a growing number of travelers and adventurers from around the world.

If your heart has been conquered by Thailand, you’re in a wonderful exotic journey your destination, you can enjoy thoroughly with your spouse or friend. There are elephant rides, floating markets, and water sports and Thai massage and unique cultural events that can add to an unforgettable journey. For accommodation, Pattaya offers hotels that offer first class accommodation at a pace that will not break the bank.

Ho Chi Minh or Saigon, another great exotic travel , is a place that is steeped in ancient culture while showing a fairly modern city. All roads in central Ho Chi Minh has restaurants and shops. art shops remarkable recreations of famous paintings in the world. Must see attractions are the tunnels that show visitors how Vietnam has experienced one of the most horrific wars in Asia. A controversial museum also shows violent past in Vietnam and aircraft displays, helicopters, tanks, artillery and forms a bygone era. After taking in the sights of Saigon, to relax in a hotel with character and charm, situated in the heart of Saigon. Ho Chi Minh hotel offers several options that can meet the needs of international travelers at a reasonable cost. There are also a stone’s throw from the world of city affairs, entertainment and shopping.

Another exotic destination that has impressed many visitors with its famous landmarks, climate, beautiful beaches and tasty treats is Barcelona, the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. Before digging outside the modern city’s most famous monuments of the Basilica of Antoni Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, you can book yourself into one of the boutique hotels in the fashionable heart of the city. Some rooms have views of Gaudi’s Casa Mila, construction of residential housing a museum dedicated to the famous artist. Other alternative hotels are those that are part of a chain of hotels worldwide and facilitate access to the city’s architectural wonders, museums and restaurants. Some hotels have spacious floor suites with views over the city. off-season rates are available. More worth checking out is an impressive hotel of 124 rooms in a 19th century palace building, whose rooms are decorated with original Egyptian, Roman and Hindu art. An exotic trip to Spain is complete without tasting local products, so you can enjoy dinner in the cloister of the hotel or the hotel dining room where you stay, offering a blast from the past .

Family Travel Tips: 18 ways to enjoy a road trip

January 20th, 2011 Comments off

Family Travel Tips: 18 ways to enjoy a road trip

Each time one of my friends returns from some time, I wonder, “Is it a holiday, or was it just a trick?”

When traveling with kids, true vacations are pretty hard to get. The packaging, car seats, changing sleep schedules, and all the inevitable whining that comes, it would be easier to stay home (especially if you travel by car.)

However, travel is important. When we travel, we open ourselves to a world previously unknown to us. Touch of other cultures lifestyles, develop our own perspectives and understand, finally, that our little problems are just.

When traveling with children, open our eyes to all this and more. Even when we take a simple trip to visit distant relatives, we show a world of love that I had not known existed.

eighteen are suggestions to help you enjoy road trip traveling with their children.

Before the trip:

1. Use of websites online travel planning to find Kid parks, historic monuments and other places of interest in advance. Allow at least one activity aimed at children every day, even in the days of driving. Involve your children in planning your vacation will help them excited about, too.

2. When you do your research and book your destination, consider an all-inclusive. These types of agreements (in which accommodation, restaurants, attractions and activities included) can really help you relax and enjoy your precious vacation time.

3. Have each child pack their own backpack with small books, workbooks, and activities that you want to go.

4. Having a kid-friendly travel card in hand and a pair of binoculars.

5. Consider buying or borrowing a portable DVD player. But we go on long trips, but have been very useful, especially if you travel long distances.

6. Make each child a special book of games, puzzles, coloring books or simple, just for the unit, and some washable markers.

7. Bring some music that everyone love to sing. We like our CD of songs old campfire. You can even create your own CD of favorite family.

8. Bring a Frisbee or a football when he stopped in a park. Want to help your kids burn some energy in a reasonable time.

9. Pack healthy snacks like nuts, dried fruit, apples, energy bars and bottled water. A package of baby wipes is often very useful for chips in the car, too.

10. Pack a journal and a disposable camera for each child so they can document the trip in his way. These items can be gift wrapped and given to children who need a distraction from boredom or sibling arguments.

11. Be sure to talk about the holidays and is the ultimate adventure. The enthusiasm that will lead to the possibility of accumulation in a car will help considerably.

By car:

12. If possible, do everything possible to travel while their children are asleep. Of course, security is paramount. If you’re at all sleepy, stop and change with your spouse or find a hotel.

13. If you do not drive at night, or driving through the countryside who want their children to see the light of day, be sure to allow enough travel time. on up to seven hours of driving per day plan. Get up early, a little practice, you can connect to your hotel late afternoon and enjoy the pool. Have a nice dinner, relaxed and fun to see some local sites at night.

14. While driving during the day, a plan to quit at least once every hour and a half. Stretch, take some to go to the bathroom, and remember that getting there is half the adventure.

15. pointing fingers really helps my children to spend time. All you need is a ball of wool. There is no disorder and found that the online instructions to make a simple Google search for “finger knitting.” During our road trip last time we all reach our destination with beautiful pink knitted scarves finger.

16. During a routine stop for fuel, ask each child to choose five or six cards, they can send to your friends. Remember to bring your address book and stamps so you can send an email on the road.

17. Allowing a child to be the “navigator” each day. The browser looks at the map and gives recommendations on where to stop for snacks, gas and meals.

18. Try these games way trip
The alphabet game: Find all the letters of the alphabet in order, plates, signs and traffic lights. Or find objects that start with each letter.
I Spy: One person spies something in the landscape or in the car and give clues. (A possible variation of this game is 20 Questions. “) Plates />
Plates alphabet: Find all the letters of the alphabet in order, on the plates.
Letter Bingo: Bingo sheets printed with clip art, or words that represent the sites you see on your trip.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that there is nothing like the perfect family vacation. as much as possible before preparing and relax and unwind.

Categories: Travel Map Tags: , , , , , ,

Road Trip Vacation Planning

November 27th, 2010 Comments off

Road Trip Vacation Planning

summer months just around the corner a lot more people are preparing to do something serious Road vacation travel planning. If you’re on the road with family or friends, a little advance work will become the first in his life. It is true that “getting there is half the fun” and there are ways to ensure your holiday is not hampered by boredom and frustration.

All travel on road must have a destination if it must be the first decision is made. No matter where he goes as long as you chart a course in advance. You can use the Internet to determine the total mileage and highways for use. This type of planning road trip vacation will reduce the chances of missing or vague, according to the instructions to get from point A to point B. With the instructions printed on the hand will always be a handy reference map to use.

Determine the sights or a special stop will be along the road. Then everyone has a role in the business decision making. The children were delighted to know they have at least one special event to wait on the trip. Discover the cities that guides you through the places and what can not be waiting for your group upon arrival.

If you need to spend the night during a trip, it is advisable to book in advance so you know you will stay. Sometimes, there may be a special celebration occur and motels and campsites may be full. To avoid such disappointment and discomfort, you should do some research and reservations at least 2 -. 4 weeks before departure date

As you continue planning your road trip, you must decide if you want to rent a car or use your own car. If you go to rent, you must make reservations while rooms are confirmed. Using your own car or RV makes things a little easier, but you must take your car for a tune, and remember to check the tires and all fluid levels. A little proactive concern can mean the difference between a trip without incident and the hours spent beside the road waiting for a tow.

Pack early and make a list of things you need to go. Do not forget sunscreen, a first aid kit, map, cell phones and chargers. towels, hand, snacks and beverages will also be stored on board. A GPS device for the car is not necessary, but it is very useful and worth its weight in gold for every traveler.

Keep books, snacks, sunglasses and children’s games in hand so you do not stop the car and get these items from your trunk or the top automaker. Remember that even if they created a calendar before planning your road trip, you need to take breaks every few hours for everyone to stretch and refresh. This will help you keep things in control levels and low boredom. Now get busy with planning their travel and holiday fun.

Categories: Travel Plan Tags: , , ,

Road Trip Vacation Planning – Some Things To Consider

November 25th, 2010 Comments off

Road Trip Vacation Planning – Some Things To Consider

Are you planning to go on a family road trip? If you have never planned or went to a road trip before, it is important to anticipate and know what things to bring. Road Trip Vacation Planning is important to determine the success of your road trip. Bad Road Trip Vacation Planning will lead to frustration and a lot of hassle, and may potentially ruin your vacation. Be sure to take note of the following:

1.    Transportation

If you’ll bring your own car, have your tires checked, have an oil check, and check the overall condition of your car. You wouldn’t want to bother yourself with car problems in the middle of a road trip. If you decide to rent a car, choose carefully. Opt for a car that will fit your family and luggage comfortably. Of course, make sure the car is sturdy enough to withstand the rain, the terrain, and the woods.

2.    Food

While there may be several fast food chains along the road, it will save plenty of time if you bring your own food. Pack a cooler, and bring snacks and beverages to limit unnecessary stopovers.

3.    Entertainment

To keep yourself entertained, bring music or audio books. Hours on the road are unavoidable so make sure to keep yourself busy. If you’re bringing kids, bring small toys or books, or engage them in fun road games.

4.    Fun

Lastly, have fun! Now is not the time to be a killjoy! Family road trips should be fun, enjoyable and memorable for everyone.

Frugal Rv Traveling Tips: Keeping an Eye on the Road ? and your Budget

November 6th, 2010 Comments off

Hitting the road in your RV and the RV lifestyle can be one of the most economical ways to travel. If you do a little planning and research ahead of time, it’s easy to save even more – without ever feeling like you’re pinching pennies.

One obvious way to take the frugal route is to plan your RV travel during the “shoulder seasons” – before and after prime travel time – when discounts are often offered at various campgrounds and attractions. Here are 5 cost-cutting RV travel tips that are good any time of the year:1. RV Travel On One Tank of Gas

Remember the ending to The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says she doesn’t have to look any further than her own backyard to find her heart’s desire? Well, we’re not suggesting camping out right outside the house, but think about going to places not too far away that you’ve always meant to check out.

You’ll be surprised at how many new and interesting destinations are just one tank of gas away. A lot of territory can be covered in just a few hundred miles, and you’re bound to discover exciting locations you never knew existed so close to home. Tip: Your neighborhood library is a terrific resource for researching local and state information and attractions – and most of it is free!2. Put Your RV On A Diet And Get Better Gas-Mileage

It’s a simple fact that the less your RV weighs, the more mileage you’ll get on the road. Look around for places in your rig where you can institute a “less is more” policy.

For example, you don’t have to set out with a full, fresh water tank for your RV excursion. Take what you need for the first day’s travel, plus a small reserve, and fill up once you’ve reached your day’s destination.

Forget that bulky, economy-sized can of coffee: empty a smaller amount into an airtight plastic container that you can refill later. (One place not to cut back, though, is tire inflation: riding on fully inflated tires is a sure way to increase your gas mileage. )Tip: When buying food staples, consider dehydrated items like soup and dried fruit, and transfer cereal and pasta from bulky boxes into heavy-duty plastic bags – not only do they take up less space, you can reuse them once they’re empty!3. Plastic not Paper Dinnerware – A More Economical Approach Overall

Sure, the eat-and-toss approach of paper plates and cups is the easy way to go – and might even seem economical when you buy in bulk. But lightweight, inexpensive plastic dishes are easy to find, and while they might not last forever, they’ll certainly see you through the duration of a long-distance RV excursion.

Choosing plastic over a big stack of paper goods is also another way to save on weight, especially when you’re starting out on your RV trip. Tip: Buy your plastic ware in a mix-and-match variety of vibrant colors, and these snazzy dishes will brighten up even the simplest road fare!4. Drive Less, Stay More – Save on Gas AND Get Campsite Discounts

When creating your RV travel itinerary, consider making fewer stops and spending more time at each destination. This will save on fuel and campsites costs as most of them offer discounts for lengthier stays.

By driving less and staying more, you’ll receive an additional benefit: It’s much more relaxing to know that once you’ve turned off the ignition you’re settling in for a while. Also, by spending more time in one place, you’ll be able to do some more in-depth exploring of the area. Tip: Look online at the local newspaper for the area you’ll be visiting. Check for listings of events that you might not hear about otherwise … and don’t forget to look in the classifieds for yard sales and flea markets, too!5. Stop and Shop – At Local Discount or Dollar Stores

When you need to refill on groceries avoid supermarkets and convenience stores where prices are at a premium. Instead, look for local discount and dollar stores and roadside fruit and vegetable stands — depending on the season. You might not save much money there, but there’s nothing better than freshly picked produce.

Keep an eye open for discount outlets in the area. And stop at flea markets and yard sales where you might find a one-of-a-kind treasure. Not only do these unconventional choices offer the opportunity to find unusual items, it’s a great way to get to know the local neighborhoods and people. Tip: Keep your birthday and holiday gift list handy – you might spot the perfect knickknack for a family member at someone’s yard sale!Some Final Frugal RV Travel Tips:

- Make use of the cheaper parks, like state parks

- Join Good Sam Club for 10% discount at their parks

- Subscribe to RV magazines for great ideas on RV travel

- Shop around for best prices on camping stuff like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, GI Joes – instead of RV stores

- Avoid buying your RV “supplies” – like toilet paper – that claim to be for RVs/motorhomes. Save money and buy the cheap stuff.

- Save money and cook all your meals in the RV; don’t eat out. You can even make dishes ahead and store in your RV’s refrigerator

- Ask for senior discounts everywhere you go

- If members of AAA, see if any campgrounds give discounts. Look at a “Trailer Life Campground Directory” at your local library to compare camping fees.

- Plan!!

Categories: Tourism Tags: , , , , ,

Foreign Office Travel Advice: Thrilling Road Trip Travel Advice

October 29th, 2010 Comments off

Readiness is an important quality which every traveller should really possess to be prepared to cope with even the most troublesome of scenarios which could possibly show up during a getaway. So there are quite a few things which should not be regarded lightly like travel alerts for example, because those pieces of information in many cases can make all the difference with on how well a trip ends up to be. The actual key goal of this article is without a doubt to talk about the different travel advice you really need to take into account ahead of getting that very much wanted getaway. The traveling it requires to get to a vacation destination can possibly definitely provide a series of fond memories for the travelers. That particular road trip can certainly addionally build up into a series of uneventful incidents that can become a total calamity. Wonderful thing there are century old time proved travel advice that will be the difference between a succesful vacation and a disastrous one. Quite a few quality travel advice can potentially help show travelers in exactly how to spend less bucks, information on how to stay safe at all times, as well as ultimately practical ideas on how to best enjoy a holiday trip. For example, a traveler with an unreliable vehicle can easily be better off by just simply renting one for a specific trip. Getting a rental car would still call for the need of an extendable insurance policy just in case. A person considering using a very own car would probably be clever to observe a few travel advice that pertains to having the vehicle completely inspected by a certified auto mechanic. Have a mechanic take a look at all of the parts of the vehicle from the wheels, fluids, and even the wind shield wipers. It is really important that any vehicle to be used for traveling is reported a 100 % capable of doing so. Some travel advice is to keep tires maintained in terms of checking the inflation levels as well as being careful of the wear and tear in the tire treads before departing. This would help to make sure the vehicle does not get damaged and also ensures the security of every person on board, as well as maintains effective gas utilization all during the trip. Tire pressure is merely one of the worries that can certainly be achieved with a car’s user’s handbook. One other great travel advice to remember is to get roadmaps from mapping sites online. Having directions and alternative routes from point A to point B could certainly help a trip run easily and more effectively. Every traveler may want to have an emergency kit that is equipped with a cellular phone, blanket, some food, drinking water, lights and other important items. Travel advice for speed would most likely encourage that vacationers maintain a speed of 60 kph or less if possible for fuel efficiently. Operating at a steady speed could help a traveler reach a destination avoiding crashes in the process. Control the speed specially for scenarios when the road could possibly be icy or wet wherein the pace will need to be slowed down even more. A traveler can potentially make use of coupons or discounts for hotels and restaurants and this is good travel advice given that most people would probably not understand that the largest percentage of expenses can certainly come from these sources alone. Children usually stay without charge in several places and internet restaurant coupon codes are very easily available so it is without a doubt a disgrace not to take advantage of such an offer. These could result to unforeseen savings significant enough to be have the ability to start you off on funding your next trip. Very last travel advice, which may be the most crucial of all, is to keep things exciting and enjoyable for everybody. Several techniques like packing games, books, and music usually are simple yet effective techniques to keep everybody entertained and happy. Any traveler might have a beneficial time during a trip without spending too much so think and enjoy and in the end after the trip one can easily start planning that following holiday.

Mobile Blogging ? What Can This Do for a Blogger Who’s always on the Road

October 19th, 2010 Comments off

Blogging is one online activity that is popular to most of us nowadays. There are a lot of advantages that we can get from it. Aside from being a tool to communicate and interact with other people online, one can also make use of these blogs for other online activities that has to be accomplished. The reason why people are indulged in creating these blogs is because they would like to be able to share almost everything that they experience as well as important information that readers can make use of when they go online. Since blogs are easy to understand and easier to get access to, more and more people are interested to take advantage of reading and creating their own blogs. Now, as more and more people get themselves involved in blogging, technology is now paving way to the ability of bloggers to get access to their blog content through the use of mobile devices. This blogging process is more known as mobloging which is short for mobile blogging. Mobloging allows bloggers to get access to their blogs through the use of mobile devices such a mobile phone. Through this, a person will be able to continue with his/her blogging activities even if the person is not in front of the computer. So this just means that you don’t have to rely on a computer all the time just to monitor and check on your blog regularly. Aside from mobile phones, there are other mobile devices which can be used to get access to those blogs such as a palm top, through Bluetooth technology and through pocket PCs as well. There is not that much dissimilarity when accessing your blogs through a mobile device compared to your computer, so you can definitely make use of this feature while traveling. You can possibly get access to phones and gadgets which are capable of providing you these blogging features. Since we are more and more concerned about technology that can make things easier for us, these manufacturers of innovative devices are capable of providing us the assistance in maintaining our online activities even if we are not in front of a computer. The first thing to consider to make sure that you’ll be able to get access to this convenient feature is that you should verify if the device is capable of supporting blog access, and if your mobile network provider is capable to support such features for that kind of device. It is definitely going to be convenient for you to take advantage of this feature. This will help you entertain others if you are traveling. You can blog about the places that you have been and share those things that you have experienced while you are enjoying your vacation. From here, you can share your thoughts with your readers and have them entertained for awhile while you are away. Just to make sure that this happens, you’ll have to keep in mind that it is necessary to set up a blog on a computer before you’ll be able to get access to it. From here, you may have to check the features of your phone against the blog itself to see if it is possible for you to get access to it through a mobile device. Then, you can now start posting comments to your very own blogs. Mobile blogging will surely make your blogging activities more accessible and you can also be able to monitor these blogs at your own convenience. This time around, you don’t have to worry about being unable to update your readers while you are away. With the help of technology and more understanding about Moblogging, you can now blog without having to acquire the presence of a computer.

Reading Road Maps

October 18th, 2010 Comments off

I’m the navigator when we rent a vehicle and ramble on our travels, so reading road maps is something I’ve gotten fairly good at. Why make an effort with a road map when you can use the latest GPS equipment? Well, for one thing, road maps give you the big picture. Lay a map out on a table, and you can see the whole country or region. It makes planning your trip simpler. And what about when you’re on the road? Can’t you just program the GPS and forget about it?GPSs are OK, but they do have their down side. They may take you right through a busy city instead of going around it. The GPS chooses the “shortest route”. It may not be the fastest. . . May I contend that a navigator reading road maps sometimes comes in handy?!? We had this happen trying to find the Des Moines Airport in Iowa recently. . . Reading the roadmap and ignoring the GPS, we avoided driving through the city. We had foreign friends who recently relied on their GPS to find their motel just outside of Yosemite National Park. The GPS insisted that their motel was 11 miles into the forest. . . . . twice! TWICE they drove through town. . . right past their motel and into the forest. The third time, they started reading road maps and looking for themselves instead of relying on the machine, and guess what. . . They had driven right past their motel those first two times, just staring at the GPS. . . had they looked on the side of the road, there it was!Sometimes you can get by with a map that isn’t really a road map! We were traveling in Mali, West Africa one time with a car and driver. He was a very good driver. . . that’s what we had asked for. . . which is whole different story. . . . So yes, he was a very good driver, but he had not traveled the country. When we left Mopti, he turned the wrong way. I was following along on our National Geographic map of the country, and it looked to me like he had turned the wrong way for Bandiagara. At first he said he was on the right road, but when he stopped to ask. Sure enough, we were on the right road. . . . going the WRONG way. Good thing I know something about reading road maps!In the U. S. you will find that major roads are numbered with odd numbers going north and south. . . and even numbers going east and west. As freeways bend around cities this might look confusing. Look out to destinations beyond the city you are close to. . . that way you can tell whether you need to get on the northbound or southbound direction. Traveling in Europe and other countries, maps will sometimes tell you the direction you’re traveling by naming major cities the highway is going to. Again, look out beyond that small section of the map toward the edges, so you’ll know which turn to take. Major roads are in bolder lines, small roads are in thin black lines. Those small “black line” roads are scenic and fun to travel, but reading the road maps and finding your direction is more of a challenge to the navigator. We contend that if you get used to reading road maps, you can get anywhere!

Categories: Tourism Resources Tags: , ,

Travelling on the Grand Trunk Road’

October 16th, 2010 Comments off

Some once said that you don’t take the Grand Trunk Road to your destination, but rather it takes you. It was the middle of June, and it was taking me by courtesy of a reworked 1950′s Morris Oxford taxi through a maelstrom of cows, camels and elephants all the way to Calcutta. The late afternoon temperatures were climbing and had crossed one hundred and ten degrees for the fifth day in a row. From the front seat, I watched the vortex of bicycles, rickshaws, bullock carts and pedestrians that formed the lifeblood of the Indian highways, pass around us in every direction. A statute of Krishna, dangled hypnotically from the vehicle’s front mirror, moving in slow oscillations to the rhythm of the potholed road below us. I realise now that a more appropriate adornment would have been an image of Kali, the goddess of destruction, because after two miles of clanking, the car gave out one last metallic groan and ground to a halt in the middle of the road. A stony silence filled the cab as our fearless tank driver got out and opened the bonnet to survey the damage. As everywhere in India, there were people in abundance to help us with our problem, and before long another wayward charioteer found the tattered strip of electrical cable hanging under the engine, which indicated that our dynamo was missing. Our frantic eyed driver, Sandjit started pacing around the vehicle, continually cursing his luck and looking excitedly for the missing component. “It can’t have fallen off very far away because I see one of the bolts”, he said, before tumbling into the crowds and bending down to pick something up out of the dust which looked like it might have fallen off a British cannon on route to Peshawar. Suddenly, I was preoccupied by the desperate drivers of the cycle-rickshas who stopped looking for custom, and hardly noticed the man in the white dhoti approaching the car. I suppose he could have been a Swami, or holy man but he looked too disraggled to be of Brahmin caste. He moved with a slight limp, and measured me with a challenging look in his eye.

“Master Sahib, is this what you are looking for? ” he enquired, thrusting the generator in my direction.

“My name is Chandrapal, and please Sahib I am travelling to Calcutta”

“Sahib, could you please aid me in my journey?” he continued.

I looked at the holy man, tall in the crowd, his body covered in the only possessions he owned in the world, his craggy lined face worn like the sculpted staff he carried. He came towards me, grinning. I noticed how his eyes had a different quality, piercing and yet at peace, visually indifferent to the chaos that surrounded us. There was a certain aura about him and I sensed he would be interesting company en route to Calcutta. He lowered his head and looked over at Sandjit who was now busily repairing the taxi.

“This taxi is already fully booked out!” he said, without even bothering to lift his head from underneath the half-open bonnet.

“Please leave! You can see that we have no more place in this vehicle” he continued, scowling at the very thought of mixing trade with compassion. I indicated to the driver, that I would pay for the shaman’s passage, but his eyes widened further and his finger gesticulated excitedly indicating there was to be no more talk about carrying the holy man in the taxi. I then turned back to the poor man and said.

“Sorry, Chandrapal, but he’s the boss!”"I’m sorry you can’t travel with us, but might I take a picture of you?” I respectfully inquired. He agreed, standing away from the car in poised silence, passing no remark on the taxi driver’s intolerance, which we both knew was probably caste driven and the unspoken way of life in India.

“Here are some rupees for the picture!” I continued.

“I never take money, I only accept food in order to live and I beg for your assistance in helping me to go about to my pilgrimages!”

“But why do you not take money?” I queried.

“I do not want to carry money, …it would buy me only trouble, you see”

“If I had your money, then the robbers would follow me and I would not sleep at night”

“But if you had my money you could pay for a taxi to go to Calcutta!” I replied.

“I never buy what kindness can be given from the heart!” he responded.

“Here, take this money from me and get an autoricksha to take you a little further on your way to Calcutta!We stood looking at each other as I passed some money into his aluminium bowl. The holy man began murmuring some haunting chant from a Hindu mantra as I got back into the taxi to continue the rest of my journey. The sun was climbing in the sky as he drifted away, walking behind a passing bullock cart, timing his step to the rhythm of the creaking wheels. From the back window of the taxi I could see him pausing and looking into the begging bowl to count his takings. Then he lifted something high in the air and gave it a fling. My money!

 

Categories: Travel Plan Tags: , , ,

Jobs on the Road for the Vagabonds

October 9th, 2010 Comments off

In order to sustain and maintain traveling accessories and equipment, the vagabond with a small or even non existing bank account, may sometimes find themselves stopping over to earn payment for services.   The form and amount of payment may depend on the specific job, but as long as the vagabond can attain enough resources to continue trekking, any job will do.

Because of their non materialistic and efficient lifestyle, most vagabonds won’t usually need to find a source of income.   But in times of hardship and when resources get scarce (like worn out shoes), money can always be obtained to provide for whatever a traveler may need.   More elaborate vagabonds usually have higher traveling cost to maintain and provide fuel for RVs, trailers, wagons, campers, towing vehicles, and other expenses attached to motorised traveling.   The vagabonds with larger wagons, typically travel in groups, some having family members sharing one RV, or a caravan of many RVs of other nomads, gypsies, wanderers, drifters, and tramps.

Below is a list of various fields of work that a traveler can look for, all depending on how long the traveler is willing to stay in one area, there is always work to be found anywhere your wheels or feet take you.

A skilled worker is any worker who has some special skill, knowledge, or (usually acquired) ability in his work. A skilled worker may have attended a college, university or technical school. Or, a skilled worker may have learned his skills on the job.

It is just like a home based job, however with today’s communication technology, a vagabond can work out of his RV.   Some mobile communications gadgets are required, for example mobile phone and fax machine, laptop, portable printer and scanner, etc. . .

Plan, organize, and direct activities in local playgrounds and recreation areas, parks, community centers, religious organizations, camp sites, theme parks, and tourist attractions.   Performers, Event Planners, Sports Coordinators, Fishermen and Hunters, etc. . .

Property Care for financial compensation, and sometimes in exchange for rent-free living accommodations.   Ranch Sitters, Bed & Breakfast and Inn Sitters, Property Managers, Estate Managers, Hosts, Mechanics, Electricians, Cooks, Landscapers, Farmers and Gardeners, House Sitters, etc. . .

Someone with health care skills, who is employed to care for another person or pets, can look for jobs like.   Pet Walkers, Teachers, Pet Groomers, Caterers, House Cleaners, Nurses, Hair Stylist, etc. . .

Mystery shopping or Mystery Consumer is a tool used by market research companies to measure quality of retail service or gather specific information about products and services.   Mystery shoppers posing as normal customers perform specific tasks—such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way – and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.

Provide travel related services for weary travelers such guides, tours, and travel arrangements.   Travel agent, Host, Tour Guide, etc. . .

Making information available for public view and getting paid for it can be a vagabond’s source of income.   Using the internet to publish blogs, tips, articles, stories, even novels could be a rewarding way of getting money for the traveler, since there is no need to stop over.

Every day more and more entrepreneurs are building successful businesses using the internet. There is an abundance of opportunity online and depending on the venture; there is often less cost and risk involved when compared with traditional businesses.

Small business can be operated out of an RV, such as selling a product or service in return for money or other means of compensation.

You can earn money just for sharing your opinion; it’s a fun and easy way to make some money help for some travel expenses.   Sign up on the following websites to start some surveys that pay now.

Categories: Travel blog Tags: , ,

Important Reminders for Traveling with your Dog (on the road)

October 4th, 2010 Comments off

It is important to take good care of your dog while traveling by car. Always make sure that there are no possible choking hazards in the car such as bones, pennies, small toys, balls, or socks which your dog could put in their mouth or swallow. Immediately clean up any anti-freeze spills which could harm your dog once ingested. Avoid feeding your dog on canine toxins such as chocolate, grapes, raisins or macadamia nuts, even as you snack on these treats while in the front seat. Bringing some small dog treats for the road is not a bad idea, but do not give your dog too much (it could make them sick).

Just as you should never leave a child alone in a car – do not leave your dog alone in a parked car. This is because your beloved pet will not be able to tell you if he is feeling hot or cold. It is therefore up to you to be aware of the temperature and take extra precautions for your furry friend. If you will be travelling in hot weather for a long time, you should consider investing in tinted windows or sunshades, especially if your dog has dark-colored fur. If you feel that you need a jacket, you should also give your dog a blanket. When it’s hot, you should leave a window open or turn on the air conditioning to avoid you and your dog getting overheated or dehydrated. Also remember that while the air conditioning may be working fine for you in the front seat, it may not be sufficient for your pet in the back seat.

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