Aurangzeb- villain or hero?

One of its most controversial figures has been Aurangzeb (1658-1707). It is true that under him the Mughal empire reached its zenith, but Aurangzeb was also a very cruel ruler some might even say monstrous.

What are the facts?

Aurangzeb did not just build an isolated mosque on a destroyed temple, he ordered all temples destroyed, among them the Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the most sacred places of Hinduism, and had mosques built on a number of cleared temple sites. Other Hindu sacred places within his reach equally suffered destruction, with mosques built on them.

A few examples: Krishna's birth temple in Mathura; the rebuilt Somnath temple on the coast of Gujarat; the Vishnu temple replaced with the Alamgir mosque now overlooking Benares; and the Treta-ka-Thakur temple in Ayodhya. The number of temples destroyed by Aurangzeb is counted in four, if not five figures. Aurangzeb did not stop at destroying temples, their users were also wiped out; even his own brother Dara Shikoh was executed for taking an interest in Hindu religion; Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur was beheaded because he objected to Aurangzeb's forced conversions.

Yet, Percival Spear, co-author with Romila Thapar of the prestigious A History of India (Penguin), writes:

'Aurangzeb's supposed intolerance is little more than a hostile legend based on isolated acts such as the erection of a mosque on a temple site in Benares.' L'histoire de l'Inde moderne (Fayard), the French equivalent of Percival Spear's history of India, praises Aurangzeb and says, 'He has been maligned by Hindu fundamentalists'. Even Indian politicians are ignorant of Aurangzeb's evil deeds. Nehru might have known about them, but for his own reasons he chose to keep quiet and instructed his historians to downplay Aurangzeb's destructive drive and instead praise him as a benefactor of arts.

Since then six generations of Marxist historians have done the same and betrayed their allegiance to truth. Very few people know for instance that Aurangzeb banned any kind of music and that painters had to flee his wrath and take refuge with some of Rajasthan's friendly maharajahs.

Thus, we thought we should get at the root of the matter. History (like journalism) is about documentation and first-hand experience. We decided to show Aurangzeb according to his own documents. There are an incredible number of farhans, original edicts of Aurangzeb hand-written in Persian, in India's museums, particularly in Rajasthan, such as the Bikaner archives. It was not always easy to scan them, we encountered resistance, sometimes downright hostility and we had to go once to the chief minister to get permission. Indeed, the director of Bikaner archives told us that in 50 years we were the first ones asking for the farhans dealing with Aurangzeb's destructive deeds. Then we asked painters from Rajasthan to reproduce in the ancient Mughal style some of the edicts: the destruction of Somnath temple; the trampling of Hindus protesting jaziya tax by Aurangzeb's elephants; or the order from Aurangzeb prohibiting Hindus to ride horses and palanquins; or the beheading of Teg Bahadur and Dara Shikoh.

People might say: 'OK, this is all true, Aurangzeb was indeed a monster, but why rake up the past, when we have tensions between Muslims and Hindus today?' There are two reasons for this exhibition. The first is that no nation can move forward unless its children are taught to look squarely at their own history, the good and the bad, the evil and the pure. The French, for instance, have many dark periods in their history, more recently some of the deeds they did during colonisation in North Africa or how they collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War and handed over French Jews who died in concentration camps (the French are only now coming to terms with it).

The argument that looking at one's history will pit a community against the other does not hold either: French Catholics and Protestants, who share a very similar religion, fought each other bitterly. Catholics brutally murdered thousands of Protestants in the 18th century; yet today they live peacefully next to each other. France fought three wars with Germany in the last 150 years, yet they are great friends today.

Let Hindus and Muslims then come to terms with what happened under Aurangzeb, because Muslims suffered as much as Hindus. It was not only Shah Jahan or Dara Shikoh who were murdered, but also the forefathers of today's Indian Muslims who have been converted at 90 per cent. Aurangzeb was the Hitler, the asura of medieval India. No street is named after Hitler in the West, yet in New Delhi we have Aurangzeb Road, a constant reminder of the horrors Aurangzeb perpetrated against Indians, including his own people.

Finally, Aurangzeb is very relevant today because he thought that Sunni Islam was the purest form of his religion and he sought to impose it with ruthless efficiency -- even against those of his own faith, such as his brother. Aurangzeb clamped down on the more syncretic, more tolerant Islam, of the Sufi kind, which then existed in India. But he did not fully succeed. Four centuries later, is he going to have the last word? I remember, when I started covering Kashmir in the late '70s, that Islam had a much more open face. The Kashmir Muslim, who is also a descendant of converted Hindus, might have thought that Allah was the only true God, but he accepted his Kashmiri Pandit neighbour, went to his or her marriage, ate in his or her house and the Hindu in turn went to the mosque. Women used to walk with open faces, watch TV, films.

Then the shadow of Aurangzeb fell on Kashmir and the hardline Sunnis came from Pakistan and Afghanistan: cinemas were banned, the burqa imposed, 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits were chased out of Kashmir through violence and became refugees in their own land and the last Sufi shrine of Sharar-e-Sharif was burnt to the ground (I was there). Today the Shariat has been voted in Kashmir, a state of democratic, secular India, UP's Muslims have applauded, and the entire Indian media which went up in flames when the government wanted Vande Mataram to be sung, kept quiet. The spirit of Aurangzeb seems to triumph.

But what we need today in India -- and indeed in the world -- is a Dara Shikoh, who reintroduces an Islam which, while believing in the supremacy of its Prophet, not only accepts other faiths, but is also able to see the good in each religion, study them, maybe create a synthesis. Islam needs to adapt its scriptures which were created nearly 15 centuries ago for the people and customs of these times, but which are not necessarily relevant in some of their injunctions today. Kabir, Dara Shikoh and some of the Sufi saints attempted this task, but failed. Aurangzeb knew what he was doing when he had his own brother beheaded. And we know what we are saying when we say that this exhibition is very relevant to today's India.

May the Spirit of Dara Shikoh come back to India and bring back Islam to a more tolerant human face.

Akbar had 14 Hindu Mansabdars (officials) in his court.

Aurangzeb had 148 Hindu Mansabdars (officials) in his court.

For torturing Hindus & smashing their temples, a ruler has to use his army. The supreme army leader of Aurangzeb was Raja Jaysingh. Other big Generals were Rana Jaswant Singh, Raja Indra Singh, Raja Rajrup, Kabir Singh, Arghanath Singh, Prem Dev Singh & Dilip Roy. With so many high caste Hindu Generals, who can demolish Hindu temples? Only an insane Hindu will think of this idea!

A stone inscription in the historic Balaji Vishnu Temple, located north of Chitrakut Balaghat, still shows that it was commissioned by Aurangzeb himself.

Aurangzeb granted land for famous Hindu religious sites in Kasi. These historical documents are available even today.

Aurangzeb gave written orders to his army for not damaging the Ellora caves!

If he was anti-Hindu How come many of his advisors were Hindus.

- Aurangzeb had the practice of widows being burned banned.
- Aurangzeb did not use public money for his personal needs.
- Some Hindus complain about him implementing Jizya (a tax on non-Muslims).

But this is used instead of the draft and forcing him to join the army. Moreover Aurangzeb removed over 50 taxes that were previously taken from people. Muslims had to pay Zakat and Ushar tax which non-Muslims did not have to.

- If he was anti-Hindu how come except a few all Hindu temples were untouched and their worshippers allowed to pray in peace.

- The few temples that were attcked were

1) due to rebellion and

2)in one case priests from a temple kidnapped and killed some princesses who had come to pray. Aurangzeb at the request of the Raja sent Hindu troops to punish the kidnappers.

Overall Aurangzeb was one of the greatest rulers India has seen.

All you want to know about Cancer - in a different way

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

>1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

>2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime

>3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumor

>4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

>5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

>6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

>7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

>8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

>9 When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

>10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

>11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

>a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour.

>Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

>b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soya milk cancer cells are being starved.

>c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

>d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts)and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

>e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

>12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

>13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

>14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

>15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

>16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHNHOPKINSHOSPITAL, U S - PLEASE READ

>1. No plastic containers in micro.

>2. No water bottles in freezer.

>3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

>Dioxin chemicals causes cancer, especially breast cancer.

>Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

>Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

>Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers.

>This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

>Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper.

>The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

>Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Disclaimer: read in the internet

Concept of God in Hinduism / Sanatan Dharma and other concepts

We can gain a better understanding of the concept of God in Hinduism by analysing Hindu scriptures.

Bhagavad Gita (Smriti)

The most popular amongst all the Hindu scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita.


"Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures." [Bhagavad Gita 7:20]

The Gita states that people who are materialistic worship demigods i.e. ‘gods’ besides the True God.


Upanishads (Sruti)

The following verses from the Upanishads refer to the Concept of God:

"Ekam evadvitiyam"


"He is One only without a second."


[Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1]

"Na casya kascij janita na cadhipah."


"Of Him there are neither parents nor lord."


[Svetasvatara Upanishad 6:9]

"Na tasya pratima asti"


"There is no likeness of Him."

[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:19]


"Na samdrse tisthati rupam asya, na caksusa pasyati kas canainam."

"His form is not to be seen; no one sees Him with the eye."


[Svetasvatara Upanishad 4:20]


The Vedas (Sruti)


Vedas are considered the most sacred of all the Hindu scriptures.


There are four principal Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda and Atharvaveda.


Yajurveda

"na tasya pratima asti



"There is no image of Him."

[Yajurveda 32:3]


"shudhama poapvidham"


"He is bodyless and pure."


[Yajurveda 40:8]

"Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste"

"They enter darkness, those who worship the natural elements" (Air, Water, Fire, etc.). "They sink deeper in darkness, those who worship sambhuti." Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol, etc.


[Yajurveda 40:9]

Atharvaveda

The Atharvaveda praises God in Book 20, hymn 58 and verse 3:

"Dev maha osi"

"God is verily great"

[Atharvaveda 20:58:3]

Rigveda

The oldest of all the vedas is Rigveda. It is also the one considered most sacred by the Hindus. The Rigveda states in Book 1, hymn 164 and verse 46:

"Sages (learned Priests) call one God by many names."

[Rigveda 1:164:46]


Yajurveda:

Describing Almighty God in anthropomorphic terms also goes against the following verse of Yajurveda:

"Na tasya Pratima asti"

"There is no image of Him."

[Yajurveda 32:3]

Brahma Sutra


"Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste kinchan"

"There is only one God, not the second; not at all, not at all, not in the least bit."


Thus only a dispassionate study of the Hindu scriptures can help one understand the concept of God in Hinduism.

Caste System in Hinduism  - by Deepak Kumar Vaid 

(with my additional inputs)

The Hindu caste system is comparable to class structures in other countries, except that this Indian system has been rigidly enforced and has lasted for two or three thousand years. The caste system was enforced as law throughout the subcontinent until the adoption of the Indian constitution in 1949, which outlawed the caste system. However, it remains a deeply ingrained social structure, particularly in rural India.

There are four main castes into which everyone was categorized. At the very top were the Brahmins -- the priests, scholars, and philosophers. The second highest caste was the Kshatriyas. These were the warriors, rulers, and those concerned with the defense and administration of the village or state. Third came the Vaishyas, who were traders, merchants, and people involved in agricultural production. The lowest caste was the Shudras -- the laborers and servants for the other castes. Each caste included many hierarchical subcastes divided by occupation.

...The Shudras were the Untouchables. These people had no caste at all. They performed the most menial of jobs, such as dealing with dead bodies and cleaning toilets. Higher-caste people believed that if they touched one of the caste-less, they would be contaminated and would need to go through cleansing rituals.

Caste was determined by birth -- you fell into the same caste as your parents, and there was almost no way to change it. The caste system dictated your occupation, choice of spouse, and many other aspects of your life. If you did something outside your caste, you could be excommunicated from your caste. That would cut you off from doing any work to support yourself because you could only do the jobs allowed by your caste.

Many believe the caste system began as a form of subjugation of local populations by the Aryan peoples who invaded and settled India. The Aryans were in the higher castes, and they put the native peoples of the subcontinent into the lower castes. The system favored those at the top economically, so they were motivated to maintain the status quo. Both Buddhism and Jainism sought to reform the caste system, but were unsuccessful. Finally, the Industrial Revolution had an impact on centuries of history.

While the caste system is not explicitly religious, the Hindu religion has played a large part in maintaining its structure. Hinduism preaches a cycle of birth and reincarnation, in which a person's soul is reborn into a new form after death. Your actions in this life determine your fate when you are born again. If you are faithful and dutiful in this life, next time, you'll get a better lot. The caste system fits well with this belief. Lower-caste people believed that if they lived a good life, they could be reborn in a higher caste in the next.

Today, features of the caste system linger throughout Indian society. Laws prohibit discrimination based on caste, and the government runs affirmative action programs for lower castes, especially the Untouchables (now called Dalits). But caste continues to play a part in marriages, and some politicians actually campaign for caste-based votes. Maybe the system will change more dramatically in this new millennium.

Life for a Hindu person

Shakespeare divided life into "seven ages". In Hinduism, human life is believed to comprise four stages. These are called "ashramas" and every man should ideally go through each of these stages:

The First Ashrama - "Brahmacharya" or the Student Stage
The Second Ashrama - "Grihastha" or the Householder Stage
The Third Ashrama - "Vanaprastha" or the Hermit Stage
The Fourth Ashrama - "Sannyasa" or the Wandering Ascetic Stage
Brahmacharya - The Celibate Student:

This is a period of formal education. It lasts until the age of 25, during which, the young male leaves home to stay with a guru and attain both spiritual and practical knowledge. During this period, he is called a brahmachari, and is prepared for his future profession, as well as for his family, and social and religious life ahead.

Grihastha - The Married Family Man:

This period begins when a man gets married, and undertakes the responsibility for earning a living and supporting his family. At this stage, Hinduism supports the pursuit of wealth (artha) as a necessity, and indulgence in sexual pleasure (kama), under certain defined social and cosmic norms. This ashrama lasts until around the age of 50. According to the Laws of Manu, when a person's skin wrinkles and his hair greys, he should go out into the forest. However, in real life, most Hindus are so much in love with this second ashrama that the Grihastha stage lasts a lifetime!

Vanaprastha - The Hermit in Retreat:

This stage of a man begins when his duty as a householder comes to an end: He has become a grandfather, his children are grown up, and have established lives of their own. At this age, he should renounce all physical, material and sexual pleasures, retire from his social and professional life, leave his home, and go to live in a forest hut, spending his time in prayers. He is allowed to take his wife along, but is supposed to maintain little contact with the family. This kind of life is indeed very harsh and cruel for an aged person. No wonder, this third ashrama is now nearly obsolete.
Sannyasa - The Wandering Recluse:

At this stage, a man is supposed to be totally devoted to God. He is a sannyasi, he has no home, no other attachment; he has renounced all desires, fears and hopes, duties and responsibilities. He is virtually merged with God, all his worldly ties are broken, and his sole concern becomes attaining moksha, or release from the circle of birth and death. (Suffice it to say, very few Hindu men can go up to this stage of becoming a complete ascetic.) When he dies, the funeral ceremonies (Pretakarma) are performed by his son and heir.
What About Women?:

Although these ashramas are predominantly designed for the male, females too have a vital role to play in each one of them. So women are not actually excluded because they are always supposed to have an active social and religious life at home. However, a woman's role is of a dependent nature since, traditionally, they need the protection of a responsible male at every stage of life.

History of Ashramas:

This system of ashramas is believed to be prevalent since the 5th century BCE in Hindu society. However, historians say that these stages of life were always viewed more as 'ideals' than as common practice. According to one scholar, even in its very beginnings, after the first ashrama, a young adult could choose which of the other ashramas he would wish to pursue for the rest of his life. Today, it is not expected that a Hindu male should go through the four stages, but it still stands as an important "pillar" of Hindu socio-religious tradition.


Favorite traditional festivities

Diwali is a five day festival that represents the start of the Hindu New Year. It honors the victory of good over evil, and brightness over darkness. It also marks the start of winter. Diwali is actually celebrated in honor of Lord Rama and his wife Sita returning to their kingdom of Ayodhya, following Rama and monkey god Hanuman's defeat the demon King Ravana and rescue of Sita from his evil clutches (celebrated on Dussehra).It is celebrated almost everywhere India and is the most important festival in India one can say, though for example in West Bengal Durga Puja is most important.

When is Diwali Celebrated:

In October or November, depending on the cycle of the moon. In 2012, Diwali starts with Dhanteras on November 11. Each day of the festival has a different meaning. The main festivities take place on the third day (this year, on November 13), while the the fourth day is celebrated as new year's day. Merchants open fresh accounts for the new year, and offer prayers. On the fifth and last day, brothers and sisters get together and share food, to honor the bond between them.

Where is Diwali Celebrated:

Throughout the whole of India. However, the festival isn't widely celebrated in the state of Kerala, as it's not part of their culture. This is because Diwali has traditionally been a festival of wealth for merchants, and being a Communist-ruled state, the Hindus of Kerala have never freely engaged in trade.
One of the best places to experience Diwali is in the "pink city" of Jaipur, in Rajasthan. Each year there's a competition for the best decorated and most brilliantly lit up market. It's a dazzling display that attracts visitors from all over India.

If you'd prefer a more traditional Diwali, head to Varanasi where the river banks are lined with the glow of candlelight, people chant, and bathe in the river in the early hours. It's magical! The Varanasi Ganga Aarti is also a highlight there.

In Goa, the focus of Diwali celebrations is on the destruction of demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Competitions are held in every village and city to see who can make the biggest and scariest effigy of the demon. Some are really huge! They're burned at dawn on Narakasura Chaturdashi, the day before the main day of Diwali.

How is Diwali Celebrated:

On the third day, lots of small clay lamps (called diyas) and candles are lit and placed in houses, and fireworks are let off everywhere, giving Diwali its name of “Festival of Lights”. People also clean and decorate their homes with Rangoli (Hindu folk art), buy new clothes, gamble, and give each other gifts and sweets during the festival.
What Rituals are Performed During Diwali:

The rituals vary according to region. However, special blessings are given to Laxshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The Goddess Laxshmi is believed to have been created from the churning of the ocean on the main Diwali day, and that she'll visit every home during the Diwali period, bringing with her prosperity and good fortune. It’s said that she visits the cleanest houses first, therefore people make sure their houses are spotless before lighting lamps to invite her in. Small statues of the Goddess are also worshiped in people’s homes.

What to Expect During Diwali:

The candlelight makes Diwali a very warm and atmospheric festival, and it's observed with much joy and happiness. However, be prepared for lots of loud noise from the fireworks and firecrackers going off. The air also becomes filled with smoke from the firecrackers, which can add to breathing difficulties.
Diwali Safety Information:

It's a good idea to protect your hearing with ear plugs during Diwali, especially if your ears are sensitive. Some crackers are extremely loud, and sound more like explosions. The noise is very damaging to hearing.

Honeymoon destinations

6 Honeymoon destinations

Outlook Money helps you zone in on six foreign destinations that come at less than Rs 2 lakh for a week. Koh Samui, Thailand. With its cheap and exquisite cuisine, Thailand has been a honeymoon favourite for the last few years. Koh Samui, a 75-minute flight from Bangkok, draws not only food lovers but also people who love fishing, deep sea diving and cable rides. It is also a shopping heaven. These apart, don’t miss out on the Chaweng Beach, the Na Muang waterfall, the butterfly garden and the Big Buddha statue. After all this travelling and shopping, treat your aching body to a luxurious Thai massage. “Two nights in Bangkok and four nights in Koh Samui, inclusive of airfare, airport transfers, breakfast and sight sightseeing, will cost around Rs 75,000 for a couple,” says Vikas Suda, managing director of Delhi-based travel company, Vdoit4u. You can stay at the three-star First Bungalow Beach Resort at Chaweng Beach or the four-star Bandara Resort at Bo Phut. Male, Maldives. You won't blame us for recommending Male, even if you're a ‘no-beach’ person. The capital of Maldives is not only an island of exotic beaches but also has amazing marine ecosystems and wildlife. To get there, you can go from Delhi to Colombo and then on to Male, six hours by air. A perfect destination to roll in the sand, soak in the sun, and take long walks along the coastal stretch that is home to over 700 varieties of fish. “To set your heart racing and your blood pumping, try out some of the adventure activities here-parasailing, scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing,” say Manisha and Sanjeev Nangia of Delhi-based Saltours. A sunset cruise or a castaway lunch will give that perfect Male experience. What this will cost you is around Rs 1.15 lakh for six nights and seven days. Barcelona, Spain. Soccer fans, this one’s for you. Barcelona is the Mecca of European football. A match with rivals Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium is a huge crowd puller and, for an Indian, this will be quite an experience. This soccer crazy state, situated in Catalonia, Spain, is also ideal for connoisseurs of modern art. Pay homage to Pablo Picasso, by visiting the museum dedicated to him. Savouring a bottle of the very popular Catalan champagne, Cava, would make it a perfect dream tour that you would never want to see get over. “The city is for the young. Unlike some of the other European cities, it exudes youthfulness and vivacity exemplified by the architecture of the great Antonio Gaudi,” says Richa Goyal of Delhi-based Stic Group. Barcelona is not a very big city in terms of size, 100.4 sq km, so it is possible to explore it and its surroundings in a short span of time. The beautiful fresh water lakes near the city makes it a romantic place for long walks. As Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage in architecture and is a sports hotspot, it is fast becoming a popular travel destination. Strasbourg, France. This European city is located on the northeast border of France with Germany. Apart from a rich cultural heritage, the city has many small, picture-postcard beautiful villages around like Colmar and Obernai. Says Goyal, “These villages are about an hour’s drive from Strasbourg city.” Lodging can become very affordable if couples live in service apartments and not luxurious hotels. “The service hotels are very popular and one can get a room for €85-100 per day,” says Goyal. Next to Strasbourg is a popular tourist attraction called Le Petit France, which literally means ‘The small France’. It has preserved historically significant artefacts for years. “It will make people feel that they have gone back in time,” says Goyal. Another must-see is the world’s largest replica of the Statue of Liberty in Colmar. Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty, was born here. Turkey. This Eurasian country holds sway with its beaches, artefacts, food and wine. To truly enjoy the rich cultural heritage of Turkey, your stay should cover Istanbul, Ephesus and Cappadocia. A five-hour flight from Delhi will not tire you too much. Once there, you must visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, the ancient cities of Aphrodisias and Pergamon, Virgin Mary’s House and Pamukkale, the sacred spring. “Turkey is an epic drama, an awesome land with a rich culture that forever charms and delights,” says Suda of Vdoit4u. A six nights seven days trip to Turkey covering three nights in Istanbul, two in Ephesus, and one in Cappadocia, inclusive of airfare, airport transfers and breakfast would cost around Rs 1.2 lakh for two. Egypt. Famous for its ancient civilisation and some of the world’s most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and the Great Sphinx, Egypt is a land of archeological wonders. It’s an eight-hour flight, via Dubai, from Delhi. A seven-nights eight-days trip, covering three nights in Cairo and four on a cruise covering Luxor, Aswan, Esna and Edfu, including airfare, accommodation, and travel to and within cities, would cost a couple around Rs 1.4 lakh. Satisfy your historical palate, devouring the beauties of the 4,500-year-old Sphinx, a national symbol of Egypt, Karnak temple, Khan el-Khalili, once known as the Turkish bazaar during the Ottoman period and ancient cities of Memphis and Sakkara.

Budget Travel tips to South East Asia - Singapore/ Malaysia,Cambodia etc.

How to go to South- East Asia etc cheaply from India?

a. First make your passport.

b. Buy ticket with the help of :

Portals :

makemytrip.com or

yatra.com or

cleartrip.com or

http://www.cosmos.com/Vacations/ (for European tours) or

ixigo.com or

http://www.skyscanner.in

or directly through Low cost airlines(LCC)/ cheap airlines :

airasia.com or

www.tigerairways.com or

www.jetstar.com or

www2.lionair.co.id or

www.mandalaair.com or

www.batavia-air.comor

www.merpati.co.id

@@ Some of the places you cannot go from India (you have to use LCC Kuala Lumpur). E.g. you cannot buy ticket to say Indonesia from Calcutta, through Tiger airlines.

C 1A. Apply for visa - for Singapore ( IT CAN BE DONE ONLY THROUGH AN AGENT)

I.   2 photos - 3.5  * 4.5 cm - 80% of face appearance (in white background only  ,

II. 6 month Bank statements

III. Identity card of office- for office goers (not required for retired person)

IV. For self employed, you need to show a visiting card

IV. Duly filled up and signed visa form -

(http://www.makemytrip.com/legal/visaregulations-Singapore.php)

That's all, though Singapore is neither Visa free nor Visa for arrival (VOA) for Indians. Right now it is free for Thailand. However it is VOA for Cambodia and Indonesia.

For visa log in to: http://www.ica.gov.sg/services_centre_overview.aspx?pageid=252&secid=165

You can see the following useful portal for visa info:

http://www.visasforindians.com/visa-not-required-for-indians-in-india.html or

http://www.evisaasia.com/visa-requirement-english/tourist-visa-requirements-for-india-citizens-in-english/ or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Indian_citizens

C 2. Apply for travel insurance (call Deb at 9088 2040 12 at Kolkata)

C 3. Apply for forex : You should buy hard currency ($) and also have travel card.

Travel card is cheaper. Every time you load it with Indian rupee , they(banker like Axis bank, HDFC etc) will take Rs 165 (Rs 150 + service tax) as loading charges and if you return from your tour then, again, you have to pay around Rs 113 (Rs 100 + service tax) to surrender the card and get back the money. What is good about Travel card is that, it will be cheaper e.g. if the banker sells you dollar at 45.90 , then for travel card they will sell you at (say) 45.10.

Documents required for applying travel card and hard currency are :

Visa copy, E ticket copy, Pan card copy and Passport copy (If your passport is not having current address, then you need to give last 3 months bank's statement).

1. You need to fill up form A2

(http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Forms/PDFs/fema-f2.pdf )

2. For travel card you have to fill up a form - which can be downloaded from the site of Axis bank (http://www.axisbank.com/personal/cards/travelcurrencycard/Travel-Currency-Card.asp).

For this you don't need to have a bank account with Axis bank.

You can contact Debabrata Panja, 9830 44 22 37 of Axis bank ( for Travel card and forex) who is very helpful and will do the needful for you at your doorstep.

C4 For hostels

Best is http://www.hotelscombined.com for comparison of hotels across various sites

use either Hostel World (http://www.hostelworld.com/) or 

Hostels.com or 

Hostel Bookers (http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/) or 

Hostelling International (http://www.hihostels.com/) or

http://www.agoda.com/asia .

I have used http://www.hostelworld.com , hostelbookers.com and 

Hostels.com,

For insurance, try World Nomads (http://www.worldnomads.com/), probably the cheapest.

C 1B  Apply for visa - for Malaysia

(http://www.makemytrip.com/legal/visaregulations-Malaysia.php)

There is departure tax at airport , normally it is included in the air ticket (in my case - AirAsia)

Same as above

** sometimes it is cheaper to go to Singapore via Malaysia/Bnagkok by Air asia. i.e get a ticket upto Malaysia and catch another flight to go to Singapore from Malaysia(or take a ktmb train from KL to Singapore for Rs 300/450 - cheapest one : 3 different timings, early morning, after noon & overnight.

Desc.	Train No.	Train Name	Origin	Destination	Departure	Arrival
Direct Train	1	EKSPRES RAKYAT	SENTRAL KUALA LUMPUR	SINGAPORE	14:07	21:10:00
Direct Train	13	EKSPRES SINARAN SELATAN	SENTRAL KUALA LUMPUR	SINGAPORE	09:00	16:41:00
Direct Train	25	SENANDUNG SUTERA	SENTRAL KUALA LUMPUR	SINGAPORE	23:00	07:00:0

Its 6 hours journey by train or there is bus service also. I have booked ticket on-line fromwww.ktmb.com.my

You can try 15-20 days prior to your travel date. I have booked it 15 days before the journey date.

The trains are usually full on weekends. They are good for the cheap & best travel option. KTMB operates 3 trains a day from Sentral KualaLumpur to Singapore.)

HOW TO BUY YOUR TRAIN TICKETS. 4 ways...

1) AT THE STATION:

Just walk into any KTM train station and buy your ticket (in this case it's the Tanjong Pagar station)

2) ONLINE: at www.ktmb.com.my

Click on 'e-ticketing' and proceed to register as a user.
Next, book your tickets and pay by credit card.
Print out your temporary ticket and collect the real ones at any KTM station.

Tips for booking online:

- Tickets may booked up to 60 days in advance.
- Kuala Lumpur is listed under 'S' as 'Sentral Kuala Lumpur'.
- The 'Label/slot' field refers to your choice of coach - K1,K2,K3
- You can also indicate the seat of your choice
- The best 2nd class sleepers are located in the middle of the coach
- Lower berths, thought slightly more expensive, are wider than upper berths


3) BY PHONE:
+6 03 2267 1200 (outside Malaysia)
03 2267 1200 (within Malaysia)

No need for any explanation here except be aware of KTM's office hours which are 08.15 to 17.00

4) BY EMAIL:callcentre@ktmb.com.my

When booking by email, simply specify the dates and class of travel preferred. The reservations centre will reply with a reference number which you will need to quote when you present yourself at the station to pick up and pay for your ticket.

(http://www.real-malaysia-travel-secrets.com/train-travel-to-malaysia.html)

If you reach LCCT (low cost terminal of Air Asia - http://www.malaysiasite.nl/lccteng.htm) late at night, then it is better to stay near Sentral KL for onward journey to Singapore next day by train, since the train station is at Sentral KL. e.g. you can stay at original backpacker travellers In at Jalan sultan (for details and booking google it). In fact i have stayed the night in LCCT airport and took the aerobus only in the morning.That is what most travelers do.

For that either take aerobus (last bus leaves at 1.30 am - time taken is 1 hour) for MYR 8

(http://www.lcct.com.my/transportation/aerobus/about-aerobus )

or

sky bus (last bus leaves at 3.30 am - time taken is 1.15 hour) for MYR 9

( http://www.lcct.com.my/transportation/skybus/about-skybus )

{A train also goes to Bangkok but have to change at Alor Star & need to wait for 8 hours to take another to Bangkok. Say about 24 hours journey}.

@@ But you may need multiple entry visa (a visa allowing someone to enter a country as often as they like) in Malaysia (@ Rs 1500 - 1750/- depending upon the agent) for that.

Visa fee for Singapore(basically multiple) according to the website is S$30 + service charge of Rs 300 , if you are in Calcutta then agents take around Rs 1750 -1900/-. I paid Rs 1500 for Malaysian and Rs 1750 for Singaporean visa to Alps Tours opposite American consulate in Kolkata- Ph No. 2282 2031.It took around 14 days to get the visa

The information given below is provided by Hemant Abhare, Bangalore.

http://hotelmurah.panduanwisata.com/asia/malaysia/langkawi.html

A very Good hotels in Pantai tengah,Malaysia:

Charlie Motel for Rs 1200/- or Bella Vista Hotel (I liked it best for its offerings (has sea facing rooms too) for around Rs 1500/- (but remember these rates do not include taxes.)

C 1C  Apply for visa - for Cambodia -

( http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/)

For Indian passport holder, getting Cambodian Visa is very easy. It can either be E-visa or VOA(visa on arrival) . I have gone for VOA. It is very easy without any hassles; it should not take more than 15 minutes. I have not seen anybody facing any problem whatsoever. In fact i have been told that in e-visa sometimes they create problems.

The charges are 20 UD $. There is a departure tax also of 25 US $. In our case it was included in the air ticket, like Malaysia.

Go to Foreign ministry website to apply for e-visa : http://www.mfaic.gov.kh/There will be link for going to e-visa section. What you need to have before you apply for e-visa.

- Passport photo scan copy
- Credit card
- Tentative date of travel
- Port of entry (you can get info about entry port on the same website. You can enter through specific border points of Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos)
Port of entry is something which you will need to know before, just to make sure that you have your route mapped.

## Most of the people travel to Cambodia via Thailand and most popular port of entry is Poi Pet which is 4 hours from Bangkok.

Steps involved:

- Update your personal information
- Update passport information
- Update date, travel mode (you can feel anything and its okay if you don’t know vehicle no), port of entry
- Update photo
- Pay money

Once you apply for Visa, within 2 days you will get Visa copy on your email. Take a printout and carry it with you while crossing the border. There will be immigration section where they will take your e-visa and will stamp entry date in your passport.

I think this Visa is valid for one month which is more than enough to travel across Cambodia.

I am told that somebody who has applied for e-visa,got his visa in 2 hours!!

From Poi Pet, in 4 hours you can go to Siem Reap. Cambodia is one of my most favorite travel destinations.

or

VOA

For VOA take your tickets and fly to Siem Reap from KL(say). It is super easy and they need just your passport, filled up VOA form, 1 passport size white background photo and in 10-15 minutes the visa is stamped on your passport

According to Manish Banthia :

Some extras about Siem Reap:

~"Cambodia Backpackers" just walking distance from Pub Street. Moun is also a CSer and gives away free dorms and even free pickups from the airport. Very nice guy, very helpful. Else you also find dorm beds starting $1 at most places.

~ATMs dispense USDs, so don't bother exchanging currencies to Riels [Though $1=4000 riel is the usual calculation]

~Don't miss out on the "Traditional Apsara Dance", which happens most days in different places. Keep asking the CSers/locals :-)

~Pub Street and Night Market are worth a visit. It is difficult to believe Pub street is in Asia.Amazing place.

According to Sandeep Sekharamantri

ATM's charge 2$ per transaction + the transaction charge that your bank imposes; so factor this in when you withdraw cash!

(In my case my debit card was charged 4 US $ for withdrawal on 16/5/2011.)

Apart from pub street & the night markets, I can recommend "Happy Herbs" pizza place. Ask for extra happy pizza and the owner will know what you need!

C 1D. Apply for visa - for Vietnam -

( http://www.vietnam-visa.com/)

Well, if you try to find the info online, it is pretty much scattered, so it is possible for you to get confused. Here I am telling you the info, the stuff I did when I travelled to Vietnam.

First of all you need invitation letter to travel to Vietnam for tourist Visa. Don’t get scared, there are plenty of online website/agents, who will take care of this. You just need to pay 20 USD. The one website I used was, http://www.vietnam-visa.com/

Yours truly have done it through http://evietnamvisa.com

How it works?

Go to the website http://evietnamvisa.com . Select appropriate options like, application, type of visa, duration of the stay. Then it was ask you duration of stay, port of entry and other details.

Once you pay the money online, you will get a invitation letter in 2-3 days on your email. It will be scan copy of invitation letter when you can find quite a few names in the list along with your name. Don’t be scared. They just process invitation letter for 10-20 people at once. Inmy case it took only 1 day ! Dont go stamping sevice.

Once you get the invitation letter, all you need to do is to fly to specific airport you mentioned, go to visa on arrival counter and get the stamp. Simple isn’t it?

Now, for the people, who hates flying, like me (or want to experience road travel) can opt for another option, which is to get Visa prior of travel.

You need to do about thing in any case. In case of applying for prior visa you need to first get the same invitation letter from the above mentioned website.

Take this letter to Vietnam embassy, feel the form, pay the fees and you will get your Vietnam Visa in about week or so. Once you get the Visa, you can cross the Vietnam border by land.

C 1E. Apply for visa - for Laos -

(visit http://www.laoembassy.se/visa.html)

There are two options to get Visa viz; VOA or prior visa
VOA:
Visa on arrival is applicable for Indian passport holder though service is available at only to airports.
Visas can be obtained on arrival only at Wattay and Luang Prabang International Airports and at theFriendship Bridge, Vientiane. All other crossing points require a valid visa on arrival
I guess the fee is something like 30-40 US$ and you get a month entry or three month entry.

(According to Manish Banthia, " I got my VOA at Pakse for $40 and there weren't any exit airport taxes. It was easy and simple. One peculiar thing when I took my flight to Bangkok from Vientiane; the airport people asked me to show $500 in cash, that was so weird.I had only $200 in cash and some Indian Rupees, equivalent to $180. I played the trick and told 'em that the Indian money I have equals more than $350. Even funny, they totally accepted. Thanks to them for not checking online then" )

Prior visa:

There is not much information available online, hence you need to go to embassy to apply for visa.Benefit of having Visa prior, you can cross the border by land from following entry points;

- Two checkpoints in Vientiane Prefecture - Wattay airport and the Mekong River "Friendship Bridge" from Northeast Thailand;
- One at the Luang Prabang International Airport;
- Two in Savannakhet Province: one between Savannakhet town and Mukdahan in Thailand, and one between Densavanh and Laobao in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam;
- One in Northwestern Bokkeo Province at Houai Sai and one at Tonpheung bordering Thailand's Chiang Rai Province;- One at Boten in Luang Namtha Province bordering China;
- One at Thakhek in Khammouane Province bordering Nakhon Phanom Province in Thailand;
- One in Vangtau in Champassak Province bordering Ubon Rathchatani Province in Thailand;
- One in Nam Phao in Borikhamsay Province bordering Cau Treo in Ha Tinh Province in Vietnam.

What you need?

1) 1 completed application form (visit http://www.laoembassy.se/visa.html)
2) 2 photos
3) Valid passport
4) Visa processing fee (SEK 300) foreign currency

Forex converter is given in my blog

According to Manish Banthia :

Some extras about Vientiane:

~Sukuran Pub, by the Mekong River-side is a cool pub to hang out. Lao Beer at 10000KIP :P

~Silom Guest House on Silom Road is a nice, safe and clean place. Something around $10-$15 for a private double bedroom.

~Very near to "Patuxai" and "That Luang" is resto http://www.khopchaideu.com/main.htm and I loved to hang out in this place.

~The tallest building in Vientiane has a cool semi open air whole night discotheque on the 13th floor[one can locate it standing by the river side]

~People and Tuk Tuks charge you as they wish, so bargain and negotiate. The people are actually most lovely.

C 1F. Apply for visa - for Indonesia

see earlier posts

VOA is 25 USD and there is departure tax too. But VOA is fairly simple and super fast without any hassles. The departure tax on May 2011 was Rupaih 40,000 from Bali to Java(Jogja) and Rupaiah 150,000 from Bali to Singapore.

Places of Interest – Borbodur and Bali. Ubud of Bali is one of the most amazing place i have ever visited.

Borobudur is in Jogjakarta/Yogyakarta, so you need to take a flight to jogja which takes like 1 hour from Bali.

Lion Air or mandala Airlines has some cheap tickets.

Bus is other option but then it takes like almost 12 hours to get to jogja and you need to cross bali strait to get to Java island. It sometimes costs the same as flight ticket and mostly of the trip is at night (night bus).From Jogja you can get to Borobudur by taxi or bus. It will take around 1 hour .

C 1F. Apply for visa - for Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka ,its VOA at Colombo for thirty days for Indians, I am told.

C 1G Apply for visa - for Thailand (as on 12.08.2012)

a. 2 Photos

b. Rs 2000 visa charges in cash for 30 days tourist visa

c. Bank statement for 6 months

d. Return ticket

e.proof of hotel booking

visa timing in consulate office Kolkata 9 am to 12 am

** filled up form to be submitted 1st day and get the visa next day within 9 am to 12 am. There is no need to go personally.

Address	:	Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata 18B, Mandeville Gardens, Ballygunge, Kolkata 700-019
Tel.	:	(91-33)2 4403229, 2 4407836, 2 4409723
Fax.	:	(91-33)2 4406251 http://www.thaiemb.org.in/en/consulate/kolkata.php

VISA RULES

Entry date reminder

When applying for a Visa, you’ll need to write an entry date on the application, but backpackers may find it hard to predict the exact date that they’ll arrive. Usually, you can just put down an estimated date. Here’s a tip, pick an earlier date, rather than a later one. If you pick an early date and arrive later, it shouldn’t be a problem, but not the other way around.

If you’re worried about arriving earlier than anticipated, check with the Visa issuer first before you leave. In most cases, the dates can’t be changed, but they can add a remark and things should be fine. Bear in mind that the moment you enter the country, the countdown on your Visa’s validity begins, and you mustn’t make an exit after your Visa has expired!

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Border Crossing Tips

Border crossings can be much more challenging as compared to entry by flight. In most cases, Visa counters aren’t open 24-hours a day at the border. This means, if you arrive during non-office hours, be prepared to wait there!

Basically, there are two main types of border crossings

– ‘international crossings’ and

- ‘local crossings.’

You should also be informed that some border crossings are open only to locals and not foreigners.

One of the most alarming things about border crossings is the scams. Basically, the officials there will ask you for more money for the Visa, etc. Usually, you can worm yourself out of extra payments by saying that you’ve checked with the ministry of foreign affairs and their immigration department, and that you know how much the Visa is exactly. Usually, they won’t make things difficult for you if you know the ins and outs or are prepared.

Don’t be perturbed by this though, border crossings can be fun. Since not many tourist opt for it, things are usually more casual and you have some time to befriend the locals Before attempting a border cross, however, scope the nearest town from the checkpoint and if public transport is available.

Visa for Kids

Many travellers are unsure of whether or not they need to apply for a Visa for their children, but as a rule, if the child has a passport, he or she will need a Visa, regardless of the child’s age. But, if your child does not have a passport yet, please do speak with the Visa issuer and ask about your child’s Visa requirements before you travel. Applying for a children’s Visa is about the same as applying for an adult’s one, although you may need to submit a few additional documents.

Getting a Visa

For people who rarely travel, getting a Visa seems like such a hassle, but please don’t worry, as you do have several options. Let’s discuss the three approaches that you can explore to obtain a Visa:

i. Apply from an embassy

If you are planning to visit Vietnam, you can apply for Visa at the Vietnamese embassy orconsulate in your country. To search for an embassy near you, just use key words like ‘Vietnam Embassy in (your country).’ If you can’t find one, you can post your passport to a neighbouring country. Do check with the embassy before you post, or ask a travel agent if they can arrange a Visa run, which is basically the same thing, only they go to the embassy for you. With an embassy application, sometimes, you’ll be asked to attend an interview. Once the embassy issues the Visa, it will be stuck onto your passport before you leave the country.

ii. Visa on arrival

Some countries offer a ‘Visa on arrival’ (VOA) or ‘on-ground Visa’ option. The VOA counter will be clearly marked at the airport. Basically, your Visa will be stamped on your passport when you enter the country you are visiting. Usually, you will need to pay a stamping fee.

Some countries, like China, for example, require their citizens to show a valid Visa before flying out from country. In these cases, Vietnam can issue a pre-approval letter, approval code or invitation letter, which will verify that you will get a Visa on arrival.

iii. Electronic Visa

Countries like Cambodia and Australia have electronic Visas or e-Visas. Your application is performed online, and once approved, your Visa can be obtained by email or by downloading it from their website. You just need to print it out and attach it to your passport.

What does a Visa look like?

Let’s talk about the forms that Visas take, shall we? Well, some countries issue Visas in the form of stickers, which is about the size of one page in your passport. All you need to do is stick it into your passport, and you’re all set.

Another type of Visa is one stamped directly onto your passport. It usually has a date which states when you’re entering the country and the Visa’s validity period. When you exit the country, they’ll stamp it again with the date of exit.

Last, but not least, is the self-printed Visa, which is usually in the form of an image or just a number that the immigration can use to check your Visa’s authenticity. This also means that you’ll have to make the number ready for immigration counters to cross check with their systems.

Tips for Online Visas

Picture this scenario, you see a blank page on your computer, you press ‘next’ and it takes forever to load. What’s up? If this happens to you while you’re in the process of applying for an online Visa, make sure that you’re not uploading an image that’s not too big in size. Resize your picture and try again. If not, try with another computer or a different web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.

Another good tip is to have your passport with you while you’re making an application, you’ll definitely need some of the info in there. If you’re applying for friends, make sure you’ve gotten all their details and pictures before you start. This will save you a lot of grief.

Other than credit card payments, many online Visa portals accept Paypal. At the payment page, they will prompt you to log in to your Paypal account using your email address, and then you can make the payment from there. In some countries, you’ve got to go through an extended program in Paypal to verify your credit card.

Always enter your application in ENGLISH (Roman alphabet), not in Chinese or Japanese characters, and make sure you review all your information, especially your passport number and date of birth.

If you have two nationalities, pick one to enter. Use the one where you’re most likely to be approved. If you were born in the country you wish to visit, but are now holding a foreign passport, please check with their embassy. In Cambodia, for example, you need to apply for a special Visa, not a tourist Visa if you were born there. And, in Vietnam, if you were born there, you’re exempted from getting a Visa.

For all qeries on Asian visa see this site:

http://www.evisaasia.com/visa-guide/a-solution-for-visa-hassles-for-indian-backpackers/ or

http://www.evisaasia.com/visa-requirement-english/tourist-visa-requirements-for-india-citizens-in-english/

To dial a number FROM a CALLING CARD in Malaysia, follow these instructions:

 018 or 008

 country code (for Singapore, it is 65, Malaysia 60, Indonesia 62, Thailand 66)

 area code (Singapore does not have any)

 receiver's telephone number

Examples

say My phone number in Singspore is (65) 99987955 [Singapore country code =65]

So, to call me, you have to dial 018 - 65 - 99987955 or 008 65 - 99987955

My friend's US number is (818) 7150941 [USA country code = 1, Los Angeles area code = 818]

So, to call My friend, you have to dial 018 - 1 – 818 - 7150941 or 008 - 1 - 818 -7150941

To call me in India from Singapore 00 – 91 – 9830 xx xx 68.