Travel Safety Tips Every Student Should Know

Nothing ruins an adventure than getting defrauded or looted away from home. When traveling abroad, it is imperative that you be extra vigilant not to land in the hands of fraudsters and burglars. This post explores some of the safety precautions you can take as a student traveler.

But before we jump into the meat and potatoes of this topic, have you booked your visa yet? If you haven’t or if you are struggling to satisfy the many visa application requirements, it will help if you book a dummy flight itinerary with a reliable travel agency. Get a fake flight reservation instead of paying for an actual airplane ticket before your visa is approved.

Let’s now look at the travel security and safety considerations for traveling students:

1. Stay sober

Getting too drunk or high when you travel is too risky even for a young college student. Anything can be happening around (or to you) without your knowledge. It is okay to enjoy yourself and explore the local nightlife, but you have to do it responsibly. Always focus on what is happening around you – whether you are in a crowded tourist spot or walking along a street.

Eat healthy meals and drink sufficient water before you drink any alcohol. Keep away from hard drugs so you don’t get in trouble with the authorities. Also, note that most drug dealers are potentially nefarious who could have other ulterior motives. They can mislead, rob, or harm you, if not worse.

Eat healthy when traveling

2. Travel in numbers

The bigger your group is, the more the eyes are on your valuables and the more the bodies are available for self-defense. A group is also a much more intimidating physical presence, which helps ward off thieves. Safety aside, traveling as a group is relatively cheaper compared to solo visits. 

3. Write down emergency info

You are traveling to unknown neighborhoods- You must prepare for the unknown. Get the contact information for the local police, ambulance services, nearest embassy or consulate and other local emergency departments. You never know when a disaster will strike. This information is easily accessible on government websites- You just need to know where to look. 

4. Be vigilant with your money

Keep your finances in check while traveling. Set an emergency fund while traveling in case you run into some trouble and you need to book an earlier ticket home or you need emergency medical attention. You can save tons of cash by leveraging college student discounts when booking tours or accommodation.

Avoid being flashy with money as this can attract thieves and pickpockets. Don’t carry wallets in trouser back pockets- pickpockets mostly target those pockets! If you are backpacking, acquire a backpack that is fitted with small lockable pockets where your money and important documents are 100% inaccessible by pickpockets. Lastly, don’t keep all your money in one pocket.

Be vigilant with your money

5. Stay aware of your surrounding

Thieves, burglars, and pickpockets often target tourists who are distracted or disengaged from their surroundings. Try and blend in with the locals and their culture. Ensure that your appearance is almost similar to that of the local students- don’t look different especially in fashion.

As a student, you can learn a new language faster than older tourists. Learn as much as you can. Also, it will help if you could familiarize yourself with the maps of the host city even before leaving home.

6. Keep your important documents safe

Have photocopies of all your important documents, for example, the student ID, passport, and travel tickets in case of theft or loss. Leave some copies at home so that, if need be, your parents/friend can fax or mail it to you. Keep the others in your suitcase as spare copies. Also, avoid keeping all the important documents in the same wallet, or together with your petty cash. Having to remove the documents in public places every time you want to pay for something is a bit too risky.

In case your documents get stolen, report to the nearest police station as fast as you can. You never know what evils a fraudster will commit with your documents, which could precipitate unwanted legal processes and liabilities.

7. Do your research

Get to know your destination in depth before you arrive. You’re a student- doing your homework isn’t a new thing for you. Read reviews online and consult with local students in the safest neighborhoods. Avoid neighborhoods that have been reviewed to have high incidences of crime.

Conclusion

There are many ways of lowering your vulnerability when on the road. Of greatest importance, be composed, lock up your valuables, don’t mingle too much with strangers, and have a first aid kit in case of injuries.

You are now armed with safety travel tips; it’s time to get out and explore the world. Travel safely.

Amritsar- An Ideal Gateway For The Traveller

The iconic and holistic city of Amritsar was historically known as Ramdaspur. Founded in the year 1574 by Guru Ram Das, it is the chief pilgrimage destination of Sikhs around the world. Popularly known as the ‘Golden City’ after the famous Golden Temple or Harmindar Sahib, the beautiful city portrays the rich culture of Punjab.

Explore the rich culture and sacred places in Amritsar

The glorious city of Amritsar plays a vital role in standardising Punjabi language and folk literature. The city speaks loudly about its chivalric history and number of battles which were fought for its independence. People, here, are highly patriotic and have greatly contributed to the freedom struggle. Gidda and Bhangra are the special folk dance and the popular festivals celebrated here include Vaishakhi, Guru Purab, Hola Mohalla and Basant Panchami. Famous temples of the city include:

• Golden Temple: It is known as the holiest shrine for the Sikhs which signifies sacredness and religious fervour. Despite several demolitions, it was built again by Maharaja Ranjit Singh from pure gold. The centre point is the tank or Amrit Sarovar. The city is named after this tank. The tranquillity of the place is divine which can only be felt.
• Akal Takht: Regarded as the ‘Throne to the Immortal,’ it holds great significance to religious and political history. It was built by the sixth Sikh Guru named Guru Hargobind and was built within the complex of Golden Temple.
• Mata Lal Devi Temple: Popularly known as the Mirror Mahal or Sheesh Mahal of Amritsar, women from all over the country visit here to seek blessings from God to bear a child. The temple is famous for uplifting the fertility rate in women.

Other popular temples worth visiting include Mukteswar Mahadev Temple, Gurudwara Baba Atal Rai, Shri Durgiana Temple, Gurdwara Mata Kaulan and so on.

Historical places of Amristar

 Jallianwala Bagh: Located in the Central Amritsar, it is the living memoir of the drastic tragedy in the Indian history commemorating the biggest massacre of April 1919. On the auspicious day of Baisakhi, 13th April 1919, a public meeting was held where the British open fired killing more than 1000 people without any escape. Bullets mark can be seen until today.

• Wagah Border: Located in GT road between Amristar and Lahore, it is the road border crossing between India and Pakistan. Since 1959, a grand ceremony named lowering of flags is held every evening. Indian and Pakistani soldiers in their uniforms perform an energetic parade which is an astonishing scene.
• Ram Bagh: This is the beautiful garden surrounding the famous summer palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This is the finest garden separated into different sections by water channels and beautiful fountains on it. One can find rare botanical species like Coniferous trees.
• Partition Museum: this is the first-ever museum revealing the trauma and bloody consequences faced by millions of people during the ruthless partition of India and Pakistan.

Experience shopping and lip-smacking food in Amritsar

One can experience the rich culture in the delicacies of Amritsar. The famous Guru ka Langar served at Gurudwaras, Makki ki roti is eaten with sarso-da-saag, Amritsari kulcha or stuffed pita bread and spicy chole are its few vegetarian delicacies. Well, the versions of Chicken tikka and kebabs are highly delicious. The famous rajma chawal and a Lassi to digest all such heavy stuff should be tried. Grab the handicraft products from the local shopping markets. Embroidered shoes, handcrafted textile products and the local salwar suit for women are few things one should buy here.

Blissful experience at Golden Temple during night

A night at the Golden temple is sure to rejuvenate your soul and mind. Peaceful temple environment, experiencing the hopping of fishes in the Amrit Lake which glimmers brightly due to the golden lights is highly mesmerising. Take a visit to the kitchen where Langar is being prepared. One can enjoy the tasty stuff at a huge hall free of cost. The complete ambience is so charming that you would not like to return.

Famous places to visit in Amritsar

Apart from the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and Wagah Border, there are many more places which one should surely visit. These include:

• Hall Bazaar: Hall bazaar has a famous Mughal style gate where one can purchase unique ornaments, handicraft and beautiful readymade clothes, best quality books and many more.
• Khair-ud-din Masjid: This mosque was established by Mohamad Khairuddin and is famous for its unique architectural design. It was this place from where the waging of war against the British was announced by Shah Attaullah Bukhari or Tootie-i-Hind.
• Dukh Bhanjani Ber Tree: Considered as the most sacred tree of Amritsar is known as the ‘eradicator of suffering.’ The pond beside the tree is believed to cure a person of their pain.
• Gobindgarh Fort: This is the perfect place to know about the past stories of Punjab. It describes 257 years reign starting from Bhangi Misl era and ending with the Indian Army.
• Bliss Aqua World: The perfect water park to eliminate the scorching heat offers varieties of water rides both for adults and children.

How to reach Amritsar?

The city is well connected with other states through different transportation modes. Amritsar International airport connects it from other Indian states and International cities. Check out the best deals at Air India flight booking online portal. It is well connected with the rest part of India through Northern Railway. Several inter-state buses run daily. However, you can even hire a cab or taxi from Patiala, Delhi, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and many more.

Where to stay in Amritsar?

From luxurious to budget hotels, there are many options for all kinds of people. There are options of 5 star, 4-star hotels and Amritsar resorts who want a luxurious stay. Well, the budgeted hotels are also good to stay without any lack of comfort. Be it the stay, food or places to visit, Amritsar welcomes its visitors with a great heart and in a grandeur way.

Keep Calm and Say WAHEGURU

Bhojpuri Language of India

Though India is categorized as a country, in reality it is a continent in itself. It is country with so many religions, traditions, food, cultures and languages that no place will look similar to one another. The appearance of the country keeps changing at a distance of few miles. The people start speaking all together a new dialect once you cross a boundary of a region. For a language to stand out in this milieu and create a niche of its own is no easy task, but Bhojpuri which is not even a official language of India has achieved this impossible task. Some of the great politicians, freedom fighters, leaders, actors and other famous personalities have lent their own style to this language. Apart from the national official language Hindi, Bhojpuri is one of the most widely spoken and understood local language of India.

Due to cultural reasons, the language is considered to be a dialect of the Hindi language. Many lovers of the language are working to give it a separate status as it will face the danger of extinction if it is not recognized and promoted in the present era where local languages are taking a back seat. The advent of internet and globalization has brought English language to the forefront and pushed other languages behind. Without proper promotion and encouragement, the language which is loved by many people may die out soon. It has already been forgotten in the country of Pakistan, where the Mujahirs spoke the dialect earlier. Today they speak only Urdu. The same fate has been seen in the countries of Guyana and Trinidad, where people are forgetting the language and not many people are able to even recognize it anymore. The activists who are working for the official status of this language hope to see that it will be included in the 8^th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

Only some of the languages out of 1,652 different dialects spoken in India are known outside their own region. Bhojpuri spoken by nearly 33,099,497 according to the 2001 census is one of those languages that have been recognized, used and loved all over the country. It is estimated that nearly 200 million Indians speak the language which even if not spoken, is recognized by many more people of India, especially those who speak Hindi. The people of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand speak Bhojpuri besides it usage in countries like Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Bhojpuri Songs are very popular amongst Bhojpuri and Hindi speaking people. This particular song called “Dabe Paon Aiha Nazariya Bachake” is a popular one.

Bhojpuri language is one of the important languages of the Bihar state besides Angika, Magadhi, Maithili and Bajjika. Though it has spread to other parts of the world, the roots of the language still lay in the state of Bihar. The schools of Bihar teach the language as a compulsory subject to students up to intermediate level, though the students have a choice to study at higher levels.

Unlike many languages of India which were influenced by foreign invasions, Bhojpuri is an independent language which was in use since ancient times. The rich and famous Bhojpuri literature holds testimony to this. Kabir with his touching soulful nirgun poetry brought the language to be noticed by everyone, though there had been the Siddha and Naths who had written poetry in the language earlier. The rich literature of Bhojpuri language has been enriched further with works by Rahul, Sankrityayan, Vivek Rai, Bhikhari Thakur, Teg Ali Teg, Ramdatta Shukla, Ram Garib Chaube and many more. Deviksaracarita, Badmasdarpan, Jangal me Mangal and Nagari Vilap. The folk literature of Bhojpuri language is so famous that are enjoyed by non-speakers of the language too. Among the folklores the Kijari songs and dramas of Bidesia are very popular.

Though Bhojpuri is a language of Bihar state, it has no connection with Maithili, which is another language of the state and little similarity to Magahi. It is much closer to Hindi, Braj bhakha and Awadhi languages. Though today Bhojpuri has made a mark of its own, earlier it was considered a part of Hindi language by the government.

Besides literature, Bhojpuri language has left its impression on films and television too. It is only language of Bihar that makes full length films. The language has had great impression on Bollywood too. There are many characters in the Bollywood movies that speak the dialect and are characterized in a certain way. One of the most popular characters is a simpleton with heart of gold who is stunned to corrupt ways of the city. It has nearly half a century of movie making which has seen some historical cinema being made in the language. Mahua and Hamar TV are two of the very popular TV channels of the language which are viewed by people who love the language.

In recent years Bhojpuri Songs have become very popular. One of the very popular is the ‘lollipop lagelu’. It is played in almost all parties. You can listen to the Bhojpuri song in the video below.

If you are travelling to Bihar, then here are some Bhojpuri words that might come in handy but do note that Bihar is part of the Hindi heartland hence Hindi words and phrases would be great as well.

Bhojpuri words and phrases in English

Hello – Pranam
Yes – Haa
No – Nahi
Your – Tum
Me – Hum
Mine – Hamar
Your’s – Tohar
Okay – Thik ba
Boy – Laika
Girl – Laiki
Toilet – Paikhana
What is your name – Tohar naam ka ha
Thank you – Dhanevad
How are you – Kaisan bani
Let’s go – Chale ke
Everything is fine – Sab thik ba
Awesome – Garda ura delu
I don’t know – Humka naikhe malum
Father – Babu ji
Mother – Maai

Hindi words and phrases for your travels to India. 

Bhojpuri Songs

In recent years, Bhojpuri songs have become popular! In fact Bhojpuri songs have become so popular that many Hindi movies are now trying to cash in the popularity of Bhojpuri songs by including a song copied (spoofs) from many Bhojpuri songs and films. For instance, the very popular Hindi film “Akhiyon se goli mare” was taken from the Bhojpuri song “Nathuniya se goli maare”. Such is the popularity of today’s Bhojpuri music industry.

You can see this particular Bhojpuri song in the video below.

If you type Bhojpuri songs or Bhojpuri song on Youtube then you will notice that there is a plethora of songs but unfortunately entire Bhojpuri music industry appears to be vulgar in nature. Perhaps this is why Bhojpuri music industry has gained in popularity. On the hand there is a range of Bhojpuri songs that are truly folk in nature such as Bhojpuri nirgun songs and songs sung by Sharda Sinha.

But do not be fooled by these songs, the Bhojpuri language is very sweet and is spoken widely in Bihar and eastern UP. If you travel to any of these states, then you can learn some of the Bhojpuri words and phrases given above.

How to Make Your Dreams of Traveling Abroad a Reality

If you have always dreamed of traveling abroad, you know the extensive planning and budgeting that entails making the trip a reality. Unfortunately, traveling overseas can be expensive, frustrating and confusing. Regardless of where you want to travel, it’s always a good idea to have a plan set for yourself so that you know where you’re going, how much cash you’ll need while there and what you plan on doing. Just because you are on a fixed budget doesn’t mean that you should give up on the idea of exploring a new country.

Create a Plan and Budget

The first step in going on vacation overseas is to create both an itinerary as well as a budget. You need to know where you’re going and how much it’s going to cost when you’re actually there. It might help to figure out currency exchange rates so that you can be fully prepared for being in a different country. Exchanging this currency ahead of time can prevent confusion when getting off of the plane.

Start Saving Money by Reducing Monthly Expenses

Going on a trip abroad can be an expensive venture, and you need to know that you have the cash available to make things happen. One way to save up is to get rid of debts and old loans. If you’ve been bogged down by student loans, it’s time to refinance them in an attempt to save more money. This money can then be put towards the trip itself, allowing you to experience everything you want when arriving to your destination.

Use Credit Card Rewards

If you have a credit card that offers travel-related awards, you’ll want to make use of all of those points that have racked up. Most of these cards accumulate airfare miles and points that can be put towards hotel stays and restaurants. If you use the card a lot, you might have more points than you’d think and it’s about time that you made the account work for you in another way than just for spending cash.

Give Yourself Time to Shop Around

Even if you have all the money in the world to travel with, you still need to shop around to get the best price and deals available to you. Shopping around means finding cheaper airfare as well as a hotel or motel that you can stay in while in another country. Hostels are incredibly popular overseas, and this type of lodging allows you to stay with other travelers to save even more money if you’re on a budget.

Get or Update Your Passport

Before you can get onto a plane to go to another country, you’re going to need your passport. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to get it professionally made. It can sometimes take weeks to have the passport completely finished and officiated, so you’ll want to do this well in advance to the actual voyage. If you already have a passport, make sure that it doesn’t need to be updated. Trying to board a flight with outdated information can stall your plans and waste money that was put into paying for the arrangements.

Traveling to India With a Pet

If you have an emotional support pet, or if you simply do not want to leave your fluffy companion at home while traveling to India, there are a couple of important things that you should know.

Flying with a pet

Before you go ahead and make your flight reservation, you should take your pet to the vet to make sure that it is fit enough to travel. You must consider the fact that flying can be rather stressful and that, once you get to your destination, you might have to take a day off so that your pet can recover from the fatigue and jet lag.

Once you are confident that your companion is healthy enough to travel, it is time to look for a pet-friendly airline. As expected, not all flight companies are. For instance, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India and Jet Airways allow for pets on board, while AirAsia and IndiGo do not.

All pets that are allowed on airplanes have to be vaccinated against Rabies and they have to have a health certificate, a DGFT license, and a NOC certificate. Pregnant pets and those with baby offspring are not allowed on airplanes.

What is more, some companies do not allow customers to fly with aggressive breeds or crossbred animals. Similarly, some companies are against customers taking their pets in the cabin. Most of them require pets to fly as additional baggage or in cargo.

To avoid any unfortunate events that might interfere with your ability to fly to this country, you have to check the regulations that the company that you have selected imposes.

Traveling on trains with pets

One of the cheapest ways to travel in India is via train. Currently, Indian Railways only has policies regarding traveling with dogs. However, other pets can also be transported on trains.

One thing you should know is that you can keep your pet near you when traveling first class. Still, if other passengers complain about your pet, you might be asked to agree to have your pet transported to the luggage car. If you don’t plan to travel first class, you will be required to keep the pet in the luggage car.

Keep in mind that, at all times, you have to ensure that your pet is fed and given water. You can find a large variety of food for cats online. So, be sure to pre-pack all the necessary food before you leave the country.

Pets on buses and cars

Traveling with a pet on a state-run bus can be problematic, as no legislation regarding the transportation of pets exist. Also, on buses, there is significantly less space available for you to travel with your pet, and this can turn into a nuisance.

One of the best ways of transportation you can choose as a pet owner is a car. However, it should be said that, in India, traveling with a pet is not common. So, it is recommended that you keep all the documents that prove that you own the pet close by, in case you are asked to present them.

Plus, you should never leave your travel companion in the car for a long time while the window panes are rolled up, as this might cause distress to the pet.

Accommodation

Not all hotels in India accept travelers who are accompanied by pets. Some estimate that there are around 500 such hotels and resorts that have pet-friendly policies. In some cases, you might be required to pay extra if you bring your pet with you.

Therefore, before you make any reservations you have to do the necessary research and find out if the resort that you have selected accepts pets.