India on the RailsWritten by Roozbeh Gazdar
If life is a journey than, in India at least, it chugs along on two parallel steel lines… railways. No reference here to local trains of Mumbai, India’s commercial capital, where citizens spend a substantial portion of their waking hours commuting increasing distances within ever expanding city-limits.This one is grand - a vast rail network criss-crossing length and breadth of country, spanning over plains and rivers, through forest and deserts, reaching out to obscurest of villages and connecting them to rest of this immense, wonderful conglomeration of people, towns, animals, history and culture, that is India. While air travel saves you time and driving by road lends flexibility to your schedule, there is really no better way to know India than by train. The general compartment especially is a startling microcosm of multi-caste, multi-lingual eclecticism of country that immediately disarms you with its robust back-thumping welcome. No formalities here as you are expected to roll up your sleeves and join in abundant overflow of food, drink, conversation. Personal details are unabashedly pried into, common ground or acquaintances traced over a maze of memory, addresses exchanged and promises to visit, made… A long Indian railway journey is an unparalleled display of lay of land. As train traverses across different states it unfolds a fascinating tapestry of gradually changing landscapes, people, houses, shops and signboards. From my favourite perch, on steps at door, I have never failed to harvest intimate glimpses into rural life: a peasant tending his field or enjoying a meal under a shady tree, a young cowherd driving a boisterous herd to pasture, women transporting water over a parched terrain, a herd of deer peeping nervously through dappled afternoon shadows…
| | Things you need to know before you book a hotel onlineWritten by Chloe Lim
Does it seem as if every time you look around on internet for a hotel room, you find more web sites that say you can get a hotel room for less? Though it may sound enticing, online hotel booking has its own set of challenges. An online discount hotel booking web site should provide following basic things: •Offer real time hotel room booking •Allow date amendments and cancellations online •Rates should clearly indicate what currency is being quoted, whether rate is per person or per room, and what is and what is not included in rate, and, if taxes are not included, how much they will be •The location information of hotel should be listed on hotel description page. This can help identify distance from hotel to certain landmarks or airport •All information regarding hotel (such as facilities and rates) should be located on each hotel's web page •Pictures of hotel •Star quality rating, consumer ratings with consumer reviews •Does online hotel booking site have a membership program (like http://www.ratestogo.com/membership) that offers reward points and privileges Checklist before and after you book a hotel room online If you follow this checklist, you're less likely to have nasty surprises in store for you: •Have you seen hotel on a map, and do you understand exact location? •Do you know what rate is, which currency it is quoted in, whether this rate is per person or per room, per night or per complete stay? •Do you understand standard/quality of hotel? •Does rate include everything or are taxes, surcharges, gratuities, service fees, etc, extra? How much are such extra costs if they exist? Are there any other mandatory costs that you might have to pay?
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