Sillong, a peaceful city inside India

(Gotravelings.com) Shillong city , Meghalaya state in the North-East India is known as Scotland of the East because of its natural peaceful and magnificent beauty .

Shillong is the destination of visitor all over the world. In Shillong, tourists can take from 5 to 6 days to explore the city without being bored . Police Bazar area (often known as PB) is a commercial area of the city, which is close to the main bus station with lots of shops, restaurants and hotels . It is very convenient for tourists to visit the city's sightseeing .

Laitumukra area has many cafes, bars, and entertaining places for young people. Cuisine in Shillong also plentiful with dishes from China, North and South India .

On Jaiaw road, visitors can go to the butterfly collection showroom of Mr.Wankhar, a resident of the city. If you prefer, you can buy all kinds of butterflies are framed as a souvenir . Gallery always welcome guests from 11 am to 4 pm everyday from Monday to Friday every week.

The majestic forests are still primitive with lots of picturesque waterfalls , lush green hills dotted with deep blue lakes . (Photo: Cherrapunjee)

Take a tour around the city, you might go to several ancient churches. Stepping into Christianity cathedral , you will admire the beautiful works with stained glass windows and arches. Nearby are Ward lake, the city library, and the church All Saints church which was built in the 19th century .

There is a place you should not miss , it's Burra Bazaar . In the morning Burra Bazaar will have a market called Iewdu , the largest market in the Northeast. This market will introduce to visitors lovely scenes of everyday life of city residents .

The Khasis market has many things for tourists to choose from. You can buy more local agricultural products, all kinds of souvenirs such as hand-woven scarfs, mountainous butterflies, wild honey, wild mushrooms, berries and many other things. Many tourists carry cameras to filming the normal life here .

Leisurely taking a walk up the hill to explore the huge forests, you will see a dreamy landscape with Elephant waterfall, the Sillong peak, golf yard, Lady Hydari Park, and Polo Ground . You can relax for hours at Ward lake, which is shaped like a horseshoe. In the lake, there are many carps. There are also many beautiful roads with cafe lounges along the two sides. In the orchid garden, where you can admire the orchid flower from Meghalaya and rich vegetation. The opening hours are from 9.30 am to 6 pm, and the ticket is free.

Visitors can relax and daydream in the sunshine in the early morning, and see that life seems to slow down . Photo: Heartyindia .

You also should not ignore Mawsinram and Cherrapunjee, the places where you can admire the world's highest waterfall as Cherrapunjee. The two places about 60 km far from Shillong. You can not go to two locations on the same day. You will have to take a day just to explore one place only. Car transport may cost between Rs 1,500 (30 USD) to Cherrapunjee and Rs 1,800 (40 USD) to Mawsinram .

Only 10 km from the city, if you are kind adventurous person, you can hike to the top of Shillong (1,960 m high) or Lei Shillong, where you can see the city. Or you can climb to Sohpetbneng peak, which is 20 km far from the city, and where Hynfiiewtrep tribes live. Additionally , you can choose for yourself a tour to Mawphlang, whic is 24 km far from the city to admire the 0.4 hectares pristine forest; or Cherrapunji (57 km from the city) to admire the great waterfalls Nohsngithiang , Kshaid Dain - thlen and Noh Kailikai.

From Mumbai , tourists can take a direct flight to Guwahati and then take a taxi to Shilliong, which is nearly 100 km far. Or you can go to Guwahati airport by train or flight from anywhere in India, then drive to the North-East to Shillong. From Kolkata also has direct flights to Shillong.

The nature here is to make visitors fascinated . Photo: Heartyindia .

Shillong is the preferred location of domestic and overseas travellers.

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10 places to travel in November

(Gotravelings.com) November with the cool weather is the ideal time for traveling. Here are 10 places that you should visit in this month.

1. Maroc

In November, the heat in Maroc's desears is going down dramatically which is only around 32 celcius degree. That's why this is an ideal time for travelers who love sunbathing or discovering deserts. You also can visit the capital city Marrakesh to go shopping, or register for tours to the Atlas.

2. Canary Island, Cyprus

The weather in Canary is very beautiful in this season. The temperature is around 20 celcius degree which is a great temperature for wandering, or swimming. You can also visit Larnaca city to discover and learn about the culture and history of  Cyprus area.

3. Normandy

The countryside Normandy in France with the magnificent cities such as Boulogne, Calais will definitely impress all the travelers. The fresh and cool climate also support visitor to travel around the area.

4. India

November is a great time for travelers who love parties and festivals. Especially, visitors can enjoy in the lighting festival Diwali of the Hindu which is taken place in 5 days. During this festival, Indian people will light up candles during the night, which makes India really beautiful and sparkling.

5. Germany

November is the time when the German start to shop to prepare for Christmas Eve. In all the markets, German people sell everything from sausage, photos to the sparkling pine tree decorated stuffs. The great places to visit in Germany is the ancient city Nuremberg, Munich, or Berlin.

6. Birmingham

The second biggest market for Christmas after Germany and Austria is in Birmingham, Enlang. At this time last year, 5 millions visitors from all over the world came to visit 193 shops in Victoria square. And this year, the exhibition taken place on 15th November is expected to welcome more visitors.

7. Zermatt

Zermatt is a famous skiing place in Switzerland in particular, and in Europe in general. Here, visitors can stay in the beautiful woody mountain house, and enjoy special delicious meals of North Europe area.

8. Sao Paulo

People who love sport will surely not miss Sao Paulo in November this year; because in the 25th of November, the Grand Prix Formula 1 will be taken place here.

9. Paris

Paris is always the city for people who love art and the beauty. In this November, there will be a paintings exhibition of the artist - Salvador Dali opened in this place. As a painter surrealist, to enter his exhibit, you will have to go through an egg into and out of a brain model.

10. London

This year is the year of events in London. This November, in the capital of United Kingdom, there will be a photography exhibition at Tate modern museum. The exhibition also shows famous costumes of Hollywood stars. There is also Bonfire firework festival in Battersea park which is expected to attract a lot of visitors.

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Safe Traveling Destinations for Women

It is very difficult for those who desire to travel like us to evaluate which destinations are good or not for the women to travel.

Throughout the world, there are many cities as well as countries which are safe and reliable enough for women to travel.  These destinations listed below may be considered safe, but we cannot measure all the risks when you get there; because no one know what would happen. Therefore, whether you are in a safe place, you cannot lose vigilance and wise when go sightseeing, shopping, or dining.

 

We did not want to give prominence to any places, bu what we mention here are drawn from many stories, and advices of the readers sent to our blog.

 

Amsterdam - The Netherlands

Almost all the cities in Western Europe are acknowledge to be safe for women who go there for traveling; even you go alone or in a group. The transportation means are also secure. All people can speak English so it is very convenient when you want to communicate with the. In addition, in Europe, women are treated equally. Among those city, we recommend Amsterdam - Netherlands. 

 

 

Evelyn Hannon - an editor of Journeywoman website - has many experiences of traveling - said: "Amsterdam is a very safe place for women to travel because everybody there communicate by English. The Dutch follow realism and they believe that women have the right of freedom, independence, and have to be treated equally as men. Rarely did I see women harassed by men in this city".

 

Phyllis Stoller - chairman of Women Travel Club - also a tour provider for tourists - agreed with Hannon's opinion: "The Dutch and Amsterdam are the most friendly in the world because they all communicate with each other by English". 

 

Kate Hamman of SmaterTravel website had spent a month to travel around Europe in Autumn 2005, in which she spent 3 days in Amsterdam. As you may know, Amsterdam is well-known for drugs; and prostitution is admitted as an official industry in this city; so you may think different if you have never been here. Hamman said: "I thought I might be disturbed when I got there, but I was wrong. I do not advice you to take a walk alone in the evening around Red Light District; except for that place, you can go anywhere you like".

 

Ireland

Ireland is the next destination in the list, and of course it is also a secure place for women to travel. This place is famous for friendly people, the beautiful views of countrysides, and the traditional taverns which attract a lot of tourists and guests all day and night.

When asked about the friendly countries for women, traveling executive Pauline Frommer said: "A safe country for women ? Of course it is Ireland! Coming to there, you will be welcomed very warmly, which create a feeling of being at home. And the traditional bars/ taverns are not noisy and crowded like at the other places but close and friendly". Moreover, Mrs. Frommer continued to emphasize that many families in Ireland allow tourists to stay at their homes and live with them; therefore, you can understand more about the culture of this beautiful country. It is a very effective way for you to communicate and get acquainted with local people, or tourists come from different countries around the world. People can share and exchange the traveling experiences such as where to eat delicious food, or which places worth visiting, etc.

Assistant editor of SmaterTravel website - Ms. Molly Feltner also agree with Mrs. Frommer's point. According to her experience, both Ireland's women and men have the preference of communicating with friends, and women do not feel like changing the outfit or pretend to be shy in front of the men. They are treated fairly, so they chat and act very naturally with even men in the bars, or women can even request for a date. Here, there are no discrimination when women drink wine; unlike in other countries, women drinking wine can be considered as bad women. In Ireland, women can drink freely without being judged or commented by anybody.

Costa Rica

Many countries in Latin America Region are having reputations as unsafe countries for women, because of many stories about thief, disturbance, temptations. However, Costa Rica is different; this country is more developing than other countries in the same region, and is considered one of the most secure destinations in Latin America region, especially on the suburbs of capital San Jose.

The journal of TravelGirl magazine, Stephanie Oswald, who had been to Costa Rica twice, introduced this country for us. Before she and her friend traveled to Costa Rica, her friends had been all worried about the two girls traveling alone without anyone to guide and protect. However, their trip took place very smoothly and successful without any problems. Oswald and her friend drove to Quepos city, across the winding mountain roads, but nothing happened.

Oswald said that the local people there are very friendly with the tourist, which is so different with some countries that she had traveled before. Once time at the public toilet, she dropped her wallet which contained at least 100 USD and her passport. When she contacted to the U.S Embassy, she got back her wallet with a hand-made hanging item by the picker sending to her. Ms Oswald said: "I am hanging that gift in my kitchen to remind me of how nice and kind of the people there"

The people in Costa Rica have the motto "Pura Vida", which has many different meanings, but the common meaning that people often referred to as "living and honest life". The local people live by their motto, so that they always look leisurely, and they always find ways to help the guests and tourist. "In August 2005, I had been to Costa Rica once and had a memory that I still remember until now. In La Fortuna, while I and my friend were walking down an abrupt mountain slope, suddenly, there was a man riding his lorry stopped and give us a lift through that slope. In America, to have a ride like this is not easy, but in a small country like Costa Rica, we were given a ride like this. In addition, the man also took us directly to our hotel.

Costa Rica is really a good traveling destination for women, especially for those who travel on a budget. It is very convenient, secure, and well-equipment; one night in a hotel costs less than 40 USD. If you want, Costa Rica still has many luxurious hotel for you.

India

India has become a familiar name for the backpacker in recent year; however, recently, the business and tourism in India has been likely broken out. Many airlines open flight route to India, besides, there are many cheap flight airlines which help you to travel easier than ever.

India is always crowded, and there are many spectacular places such as Taj Mahal. Many tourists are discouraged by the difficulties to travel to India, but most have acknowledged that "Once you come to India, you can go anywhere you like". It may sound threatening to women, especially those who have never been there before. However, there are many women I have talked with admitted that India is the safe place where women can travel without any problems

Ms Phyllis Stoller, member of  Women Travel Club, immediately suggested India when we asked about the safe traveling destinations for women. She had been there before and had many experiences about this place. She said that the people there are very lovely. In India, women are respected, and they can do some significant jobs for Indian tourism industry like hotel management for instance. Almost all the people can speak English so it is very convenient for tourists to exchange and communicate something.

Ms. Stephanie Oswald of TravelGirl magazine said: "People often think that India is a underdeveloped country, but in recent years, this country has become a very luxurious country". According to Ms. Oswald, the best way to travel in India is to contact with a tour agent or tour company before coming here; they will guide and introduce the accommodation as well as driver for you. Ms Stoller and Oswald both suggest you to stay in the 3 - 4 star hotels when coming there.

Ms Oswald told that she was noticed by everybody because she is an American with blond hair and traveled alone. All the Indian travelers wanted to take photos with her. When coming to some shopping places, everything was sold expensively, but it was not because they thought she was a foreigner or traveled alone, it was because they did it for earning their living.

Vietnam

In 2005, a big Insurance Company AON announced that Vietnam is one of the most secure places in the world. In the past, Vietnam was not known by the tourists like Thailand; however, nowadays, when there are more and more tourists who want to investigate the beauty of South East Asia, Vietnam is a popular destination that you should not miss.

A tour provider Viet Value said: "Tourists who travel alone or women often says that they feel comfortable without worrying about disturbance or fear when traveling in Vietnam". While there are more and more tourists speaking English come to Vietnam, the tourism infrastructure in this country has been developed and improve more than that in the past. Traveling to Vietnam is also a topic in an article of BBC News. Mr Claire Boobyer - a newspaper reporter of Footprints traveling journal - said: "Vietnam has good conditions in services industry, and they know how to use it. There are many types of service for guests, from luxurious hotels to hostels for backpackers who want to travel on a budget. And I am really surprise while traveling on a budget but the quality is not bad". 

Ms Susan Cortell who lives in New York and traveled to Vietnam in a group in May 2008 really like the scenes as well as shopping and relaxing in Vietnam. When asking about the experiences of traveling to Vietnam, Ms Cortell said "I love Vietnam! I felt safe and welcomed, especially in Hanoi and Hoi An". She emphasized that the prices in Vietnam were quite cheap, about 3 USD you could have a considerate evening in Hoi An. Ms Cortell also said that she would come back to Vietnam, besides traveling, she would go shopping.

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Travel Alone to India - Should or Should not

On the crowded roads without any women shadow at Kolkata, and if you are a woman/girl, you will need a hand to survive among those burning eyes from the men; and need a shoulder to lean on when witnessing a scene of  incinerators on Ganges river; and need somebody beside to be petrified for the immortal love symbol of Taj Mahal.

Burning glances in Kolkata

Even if you are a seasoned traveling/backpacking experienced girl, you cannot imagine traveling alone in India. Right after going out of Kolkata airport, you will immediately feel like a fish out of water.

There are a lot of men everywhere with big black eyes staring at you, ready to let out a string of insistent invitation with the voice of power. The city is too large and heterogeneous for you to know where to locate. In fact, when you decide to travel to India, you need even more than a man. It's better to go in a group of more than 4 to 5 people, because you will soon realize that it is the country where women's rights are something so luxurious. Whether you want or not, you have to accept this rules when entering to this country: power is in men's hand.

Men are everywhere.

Men with glossy hair by gel, carrying bag and wearing black shoes are walking in a hurry on the streets. Men drive auto-rickshaw/ taxi/ three-wheel taxi which have odometer. Men sell scarf and women sell clothes on the pavement. Men line up to withdraw cash at the ATM - and a policemen stands near by. Men properly go for a pee at some public toilet without doors built "proudly" like bus stop. Even the public toilet does not have places for women.

A "mish-mash" in Kolkata

On the street, walker - taxi - auto-rickshaw everything for itself. From an old building - vestige of colonial times, a man in a sophisticated suit carrying a handbag goes out. He put his leg on a ladder; immediately another men who is chatting with his friends comes with a woody box, kneeling down, taking a small towel and a brush to clean the sophisticated man's shoes.

A smelly urine stinks strongly from a smeared wall of a public toilet at the corner of the streets; beside it, a man coolly eat a kind of cakes like doughnut.

You will be definitely surprised with a strange scene. A policeman holds a head of a rope as big as biceps, another way of the rope is tied at a pillar on the other side of the road. There are loads of men standing behind that rope in a ready position; when the traffic light turns into green, the policeman drop the rope down to the road, and the crowd rush through the road.

The hostels in Kolkata for the backpackers are placed deeply behind doors opened on a narrow front. Outside, there are a lot of broker-men. They will guide you to the hostel in the area, dividing room and carrying your stuffs. One hostel adjoins another hostel, like a maze. Those brokers also help you to gather sufficient number of rooms; and of course, you have to give them a little tip - about 5USD.

Never think about the cleanliness of the room with 8.2m square and the price of 7 - 10 USD per night; because you will easily see the smeared basin; and you had better not to see the lavabo.

Discover India cuisine

India has a special street food which is milky tea. Hot milky tea is poured out to a wry cup fired thinly and lightly, you can even see sediment at the bottom of the cup. But the price is really really cheap (like you buy for nothing). After drinking, you should break the cup or else the seller will use it again to sell it to another guest.

There is indispensable food in India restaurant which kind of cake made from fried wheat flour, curry, cheese, or a thick mixture made from milk. If you cannot eat vegetarian food, you can choose chicken. But for sure you will love eating the cake mention above and curry cooked with chicken and cheese.

Train in India

There is one thing you should experience in India is going by train. With a heavy population, in India, people have to book for train ticket before a long time. However, at the train stations in India, there is always separate area for foreigners. If you can find that place, you only have to give the ticket seller your passport and you will have a prior ticket. 

However, it is only in the case that you can find that area, because the train stations are often very crowded, and there is no English sign in each area. Therefore, there are a lot of brokers around you. When you are "visited" by the broker, they will tell you many reasons to let you be desperate with the prior ticket for foreigners such as "this area is under construction" or "it is torn down" or "it is burnt", etc, but they still have ticket for you. Of course, you will have to pay the prices for that ticket  double or triple higher than the real value.

The best way for you is to go directly to any room, meet a person who you think it is an employee working there, and ask he/she to show you the place selling tickets for foreigners.

There is a notification that the train station in India is always crowded with passengers and beggars. Many people impersonate as the disabled to panhandle.

Train in India is not very new. Even you buy a ticket for the first class - in a air-conditional lying hold, you cannot avoid the shaking.

Ganges is here - Regenerate day by day

At the beginning of the year, the weather in Varanasi, in the Northen of India, is cool in a day and cold at night and in the early morning. Therefore, you should bring a long with light blanket (airline blanket) in your baggage.

The people here mostly have low income. There are many small and zigzag lanes. Sometimes, you can meet small stores selling scarf, fabric, and nice accessories for girls, those stores are like a miracle for girls here.

Thread the way through many deep lanes, the Ganges appears under the magnificent sunset. The river and its banks deep in the tender sun light of the sunset.

The kids play football are laughing in one corner; another corner, there are some Indian girls talking about colorful fabric and amazing accessories. Some house-wives are washing clothes nearby the river. All the scenes are so beautiful under the peaceful sunset. There is a house where they do cremation - many old  decrepit people who think they cannot live for longer live at that house, waiting for the time they return to the sacred river.

Along the river banks are majestic city walls, extending endless. In the evening, people come out from many small lanes. The men quickly prop some long plates towards the Ganges. People put  on the plates small woody table  which is covered by a yellow fabric and decorated by some big shells, flowers, candles, and censer. On each plate, they put some relief shaped like a cobra. People gather around a circle to start singing, and the girls dance. A hundred metre far from the crowd, there are many tied bodies put on the firewood estrade. The cremation begin.

However, the next morning, the river is likely to regenerate. In the bright dawn, young and old people go to the river to have a wash. The ladders are painted colorful, which make the river looks more fresh.

Lovely Agra

If Varanasi is fierce, Agra is lovely and tidy. On every road of this small city, you will always see the Taj Mahal image looming under the fog. The Agra people are the kindest and most decent that you may see in this country.

You don't need to pay 20USD to see Taj Mahal closely. There is a secret place behind the main gate which is on the other side of a ditch. The poor people can see the beauty of Taj Mahal everyday here, behind the barbed wire fence without paying any fee.

Jaipur - a pink city

Small Jaipur - clean and romantic, so that there are many tourists choose to stop and take a rest here. The reason why they call it a pink city is that in the past, queen of king Jaipur really liked pink color, so he decided to paint the city pink.

Jaipur is also famous for gemstone, and it is also the heaven of bags and scarfs. You will be welcomed like a queen in any stores on the streets. The seller often call you "Madam, madam"and invite you to go into the shop and show off a lot of bags, purses, and scarfs.

You have to learn to be brave to bargain and avoid the simulated desperate eyes of the seller,s because then you can buy a lot of things with cheap prices (around 2USD - 3 USD per stuff) while the sellers are thanking you a lot.

SOME SMALL TIPS FOR YOU:

1. Traveling to India is really great, because the trip will be really challenging. The trip help you to know a lot of things about the relationship between person and person and mankind. Any cost is also really cheap.
2. Remember that the thief/robbers in India are considered "professors in pickpocket".
3. New Year Eve in India is in the middle of February. In this occasion, people will throw ball containing multicolor paints at each other.
4. If you want to discover Tibet, it is not necessary to go to China. Dharamshala in India is the capital of Tibetan exiles.
5. Bargain, bargain and bargain with everything! Be brave to choose the right price because prices for stuff in India is really cheap.
6. When moving, you should choose to go by bus rather than by train. The bus is warmer and more convenient and faster than the train.

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