Some useful tips for first-time travelers in India

Do you think that India is chaotic, bamboozling, intoxicating, crazy, exasperating, wonderful, squalid, beautiful, daunting, overwhelming or fantastic? How can you possibly prepare yourself? Start with these tips for taking the ultimate travel plunge: going to India for the first time.

Bring a scarf

If you have a scarf handy, cover your head. If you do not have one, you will be offered one. Wear it. This goes for both men and women. India is an inspiring country and for solo female travelers, it is not as scary as you might think.

Indian people are so friendly but they are shy

You absolutely can try to talk to them on trains and buses, they will even let you take photos of them. They might stare sometimes, but it is just curiosity and is not as rude in their culture. On the other hand, if you try to chat to an Indian businessman, you might be surprised to see that he spends half his time abroad and looks down on you.

Place your plate and cup on the ground

Volunteers will come around dispensing food from shiny stainless steel buckets. You should indicate whether you want a small portion. If not, you will get the full serve.

Money matters

Use travel cards, debit cards, credit cards, travelers’ cheques and money wallets for transactions. You can exchange money at the airport, banks or travel companies. Access to international banks and ATMs is quite easy in Indian cities. If you need money and for some reason cannot get it at an ATM, you can have it transferred to you via Western Union.

How to receive your chapattis

For this flatbread treat, cup both hands, raise them to the volunteer with the basket and one will be dropped into your hands with a plop, etc. bring your hands and chapatti close to your forehead in a gesture of thanks.

Read more: Top 5 amazing temples in India

Dress modestly

In India, you should also dress according to the place and customs. Some tourist spots, like a mosque, temple or other holy places require you to dress modestly by covering your head with a scarf and taking off your shoes before entering. In big cities you can wear whatever you want, but when visiting small towns, dress modestly. It is good to aim to blend in with the rest of the population.

Source Internet

Taste of Nepalese cuisine in Kathmandu

Are you traveling to Nepal and curious about what to eat there? Nepalese cuisine bears a lot of Indian and Tibetan influences but has its own distinctive dishes. Below are some of the famous foods in Nepal that you should definitely try.

Dal Bhat

Dal Bhat is probably the most famous food in Nepal, it is such a staple for locals you could even call it Nepal’s national food. If you are going trekking, expect to be served traditional dal bhat at every homestay at least twice a day.

Dal Bhat Tarkari means lentil soup (dal), rice (bhat) and curried vegetables (tarkari). The set is usually served on a metal platter and is “all you can eat”. It is traditionally vegetarian but occasionally you might find it served with chicken or meat.

Momo

The quintessential Nepali food, be it in the home of a local or on the streets of Kathmandu, this is one dish you absolutely cannot leave Kathmandu without trying. To the untrained eye and palette, it could be confused for Chinese dumplings but it is anything but, the spices used in the filling plus the chutney (dip) takes the momo to a whole new level.

Thukpa

Thukpa is a noodle soup that originated in the eastern part of Tibet. It consists of boiled, hand-pulled noodles, vegetables and meat, normally shredded buffalo.
The punchy Nepalese variation features garam masala and chili.

Chatamari

Locals will often refer to dish as the Nepali pizza but it could well be labelled a taco given that Chatamaris are generally folded and served with fillings. However, what sets the Chatamari apart from pizzas and tacos are the distinct Nepali spices used and the crepe which is made using rice flour. The best Chatamaris are served in ‘Newari Khaja Ghars’ and you will find many of between New Road and Thamel.

Sel Roti

Kind of like a doughnut meets bagel, sel rote is a crisp, puffy dough that is been deep fried. You will find this street stall snack along roadsides and during Hindu festivals like Tihar and Dashain. They are best eaten as a breakfast snack with yogurt, or as an afternoon snack with some veggies.

Tingmo and Aloo phing

The influx of Tibetan refugees to Nepal since the exile of the Dalai Lama in 1959 has also brought an influx of Tibetan foods, like this dish.

Tingmo is a steamed, porous bread, designed for dipping into soups and broths. Aloo phing consists of translucent noodles, potatoes and vegetables in a hot broth. Sliced radish and rice are served on the side.

Julebi

This neon snack looks like an orange lattice swirl. It is made from a dough batter drizzled to form a circular shape, then dunked in some sweet sauce. The color was a little intimidating but it tastes very similar to a funnel cake. It is very sweet.

Read more: Cultural destinations in Kathmandu, Nepal

Yomari

These cute fish-shaped treats are steamed rice-flour dumplings containing sweet fillings such as chaku and chocolate. They are normally served with a sweet dip. A popular festive dish, yomari are often eaten around the post-harvest celebration of Yomari Punhi. But you can enjoy them anytime.

Source Internet

Visit 4 best beaches in Cambodia

If you’re planning a trip to Cambodia, don’t forget to check out at least one of these spectacular beaches in Cambodia. Cambodia is also home to a large number of beautiful coastal destinations along the Gulf of Thailand.

Coral Beach

Just off the coast of Southwest Cambodia, near the Ream National Park, is the island of Koh Ta Kiev. While the island has some development, a lot of it is still pristine and natural. There are several beaches to choose from on Koh Ta Kiev, with one of the most scenic being Coral Beach. This tropical beach boasts accommodation as well as food and drinks. This makes it the ideal place to relax and unwind when you want to get away from it all but still remain comfortable. You’ll arrive by boat, and you can choose to rent a hammock for the day. If you visit, you can try out snorkeling, cliff diving or even spearfishing.

Sok San Beach

Koh Rong is an island off Sihanoukville that boasts miles of scenic coastline and pristine beaches. Sok San Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. Also known as Long Beach and 7km Beach, thanks to the size, Sok San Beach is accessible by foot or by boat. The television show Survivor was recently filmed on Sok San, which has increased tourism significantly. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful and uncrowded place to enjoy the water or go snorkeling. At night, the phosphorescent water actually sparkles when it is disturbed, which is a spectacular reason to visit after sunset.

Koh Tonsay

Along the coast, and near the Vietnam border, is the island called Koh Thonsáy. In English, this means Rabbit Island. This island is seeing slow development, which means that visitors can expect plenty of seclusions and virtually no crowds. Aside from a handful of local fishing huts, there are only a few bungalows and restaurants catering to tourists. To get to Koh Tonsay, you can take a 20-minute boat ride from Kep. Common ways to enjoy Koh Tonsay include hiking inland, scouting out secluded spots on the beach and taking snorkeling trips.

Koh Pos

Just off the coast of Sihanoukville is Koh Pos, which translates to snake island. There is a small bridge that leads to Koh Pos, making it more accessible than many of the other beaches on Cambodian Islands. The bridge is called Techo Morakat Bridge, and it leads to the lush green island with scenic, rocky beaches. The aptly named Treasure Island Seafood Restaurant is the island’s hub, and it attracts many visitors in search of waterfront dining, beautiful views and plenty of seafood. A short walk from the beach and you’ll get to the jungle, which is home to everything from monkeys to pythons.

Read more: Explore Kampot, Cambodia’s hidden gem

Source Touropia