We are into the latter part of summer, but that doesn’t mean many of us are not still traveling on vacations. Here are a few last minute tips to help you out.

First and foremost, figure out if you will need a passport for your trip. Recent regulation changes have been implemented that require you to have a passport to reenter the US from practically any country. This includes Mexico and Canada. The new regulation has led to a massive backlog, so make sure you have a current passport. If you need a new one, find out how long it will take and any exceptions that might apply to your destination.

A second issue to take into account is the end of summer weather. Mentally, we all usually equate the end of summer with cooling temperatures. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is not true. August is one of the hottest months and September will bake as well. Only in the latter half of September can you expect things to cool down. Plan and dress appropriately for the heat.

Electricity is the same everywhere except when it is not. If you live in the US, you should know the rest of the world for the most part run their electronics on a different voltage. If you are heading outside of the country, make sure you have a power converter. There is no better way to ruin a trip than to plug in the old laptop, here a crackling noise, smell a bad odor and know something very, very bad has happened!

If your wallet is light, try to look for charter air flights. These airlines offer intermittent flights through the summer. As summer comes to a close, the ticket prices can get super low. Once you buy a ticket, try to upgrade when checking in. I once paid $75 for an upgrade to first class on a flight from Paris to Los Angeles. Best $75 I ever spent!

Finally, avoid the doom and gloom. For some reason, we have become a species of complainers. Yes, the summer is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you need to sit around and complain about it. Doing so is not going to make time stop, so don’t! Get out there and enjoy yourself.

About the author

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of writing journals for the outdoors

 The name Kottayam is derived from the word “Kotta” which means “Fortress” in Malayalam. The old town of Kottayam was originally founded on the hilltop now known as Kunnumpuram. The small hamlet developed within the walls of the fort and thus was derived the present name from the words “Kottackk Akam” which literally means “Inside the Fortress”. It is commonly believed that down the ages this gradually assumed its present form, Kottayam.

Kottayam has the distinction of being the first fully literate town in the whole of India. The first English school was started here by the missionaries of the Church Mission Society of the erstwhile Anglican Church. Kottayam has been a centre of learning and in recognition of this fact the Government established the Mahatma Gandhi University here.

Places to see in Kottayam:

* Bharananganam
An important Christian pilgrimage centre, the town of Bharananganam is known as the site of the internment of Sister Alphonsa (1916 - ‘46) in a chapel next to the St. Mary’s Church. This millenium-old church features an attractive grotto of Virgin Mary.

* Valiyapalli Church
Dedicated to St. Mary, the Valia Palli is a church built in 1550 for the Knanaya Orthodox Syrians situated in Thazhathangadi, 2 km from the centre of the town. It is famous for its 8th century Persian cross and the Pahalavi inscription on the cross.

* Cheryapalli
Located near the Valia Palli, the smaller church of Cheria Palli, also dedicated to St. Mary, built in 1579, has some Murals and paintings of Biblical and other themes.

* Mannanam
Housing the famous St. Joseph’s Monastery, Mannanam is an important Syrian Christian centre. The town is associated with the name of Father Kuriakose Elias of Chavara (1805 - 1871), one of the saintly figures of the Syrian Catholic Church of Kerala. Established in 1844, St. Joseph’s Press is one of the oldest printing presses in India, where one of the oldest of Kerala’s newspapers was printed.

* Thirunakkara Mahadev Temple
The temple built in the indigenous style is situated in the heart of the town of Kottayam. It features several murals and is thronged by a large number of devotees during the annual festival held in the third week of March.

Excursion of Kottayam:

* Vembanad Lake
16 kms from Kottayam town is a vast network of rivers and canals, which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vemanad Lake, which is situated in Kumarakom village. The lake is an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourist destination. It provides boating, fishing and sight seeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The Kumarakom tourist village also offers houseboat cruises and holiday packages.

* Ettumanoor Temple
A famous Hindu pilgrimage, Ettumanoor Temple is known for its unique and original architecture, wooden carvings and murals. The one that truly deserves a special mention is a statue of Shiva as Nataraja in a stunning pose. The temple is also famous for its 10 day long annual festival held during February-March.

* Grampi Hill
A great place to relax and unwind, the Grampi hill station is a beautiful place to visit and rest in nature’s lap.

* Champakara (Ayurvedic Centre)
18 kms from Kottayam is Champakara, which is an important Ayurvedic Centre for ‘Thirummuchikilsa’. Sreerangam CVN Kalari Chikilsa Kendram attracts people from all over India and abroad.

* Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Located at a distance of 12 kilometers from Kottayam town, this bird sanctuary is known to be home to local as well as migratory birds.

* Peerumedu
A small hill station located at a height of 914 meters above sea level, Peerumedu derives its name from the famous Sufi saint, Peer Mohammad.

How to get There:

By Air
Nearest Airport is at Cochin, 76 kms away. The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is 152 kms.

By Rail
Kottayam Railway Station 2 kms. away from the Central Bus Station and is connected with major cities and tourist centres.

By Road
Kottayam is connected to major cities of South India by good motorable roads. There are two bus stations, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus station on TB Road and a private bus stand near the railway station. Buses to major centers operate from the KSRTC bus station.

For more details on Kottayam Travel visit www.times2travel.com

About the author

Vinay Chaubey
SEO Manager
vinay.choubey@mobilex.in
 

Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area (2006). It is Zimbabwe’s largest city and its administrative, commercial, and communications centre. It is a trade centre for tobacco, maize, cotton, and citrus fruits. Manufactures include textiles, steel, and chemicals, and gold is mined in the area. Harare is situated at an elevation of 4,865 feet (1,483 metres) and has a temperate climate. (”Harare.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Aug 2007, 21:29 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7 Aug 2007 . )

Its name is a derivative of a Shona tale. A King was seriously ill and his subjects thought that he was not going to ’sleep’ and live another day. In Shona ‘Ha a rare’ literally means He will not sleep. And the place where the sick king lived became to be known as ‘Chikomo che HA A RARE’ meaning the mountain where he won’t sleep.

Harare is home to some two million people, with most in central Harare but some 500,000 in the surrounding districts of Rural Harare, Chintungwiza and Epworth. Once a city of modern buildings, wide thoroughfares, numerous parks and gardens, it is now in increasing disrepair thanks to Zimbabwe’s economic downward spiral.

By Plane

Harare’s airport is the major gateway for flights into the country. Air Zimbabwe also operates a small network of domestic flights. International flights are easily available, with Air Zimbabwe with flights direct to London and Johannesburg. In recent times Air Zimbabwe flights often had to be cancelled due to a lack of spare parts and fuel. Flights are however more frequent now foreign airliners include South African Airways and low-fare Kulula.com, both flying from South Africa’s Johannesburg International Airport.

By Car

A National Road from Johannesburg allows easy access. Buses are easily available ranging from greyhound to the local ones for those saving

Getting Around

Although the best option to get around is by car, it can become difficult, as there are fuel shortages in Zimbabwe.

Since Zimbabwe redistributed farms, there have been limited exports, meaning there is no foreign currency available to import fuel into Zimbabwe. All gas stations in the country have been closed since about 2004, and the only way to buy fuel is on the black market from someone who has brought it in bottles in the back of his or her car from a neighbouring country. Buying and selling fuel is illegal in Zimbabwe, so be discreet. Prices are about 30-40% higher than those in South Africa (where the bulk of smuggled fuel comes from)

Roads: The condition of the roads in Zimbabwe has deteriorated dramatically in recent years since the government has failed to maintain them. Most of the country is now without street lights. The main highways are still in a good state of repair outside of the cities - traffic is so light now that damage from trucks is minimal. You should be OK without a 4×4 unless you head into rural areas and game parks. If you enter from South Africa, be sure that your insurance waiver is valid for travel in Zimbabwe.

Things to see

There is a strong appreciation for the city’s cultural and historical heritage and a number of the older buildings have been preserved. The Mining Pension Fund Building at Central Avenue and Second Street is one example and many more are to be found along Robert Mugabe Road between Second Street and Julius Nyerere Way.

• The National Gallery houses not only a valuable and interesting national collection but also hosts travelling international exhibitions and has a permanent display of some outstanding Shona soft-stone carvings.
• The priceless collection of Rhodesiana and Africana in the form of diaries, notebooks and reports of various origins, are housed in the National Archives. Some of the original works of some of the greatest names in African exploration and missionary can be viewed.
• Other institutions which are well worth visiting include the Queen Victoria Museum and the Queen Victoria National Library, both at the Civic Centre; in Rotten Row.
• The city was laid out with large open spaces like the 68ha National Botanic Garden with more than 900 species of wild trees and shrubs from all over the country. The Mukuvisi Woodlands is 277 hectares of remarkably preserved natural woodland that stances astride the banks of the small Mukuvisi stream. A variety of bird and of wild animal species such as giraffe, zebra, impala, tsessche, wildebeest, bushbuck, steenbuck, reed buck and eland can be viewed.
• The Kopje, a granite hill rising above the south-west corner of central Harare, is a great place to go for views of the city.

What to eat

Zimbabwe’s Staple food is Sadza: a thick white porridge (a bit like mashed potato), that’s made from corn meal. It’s eaten at every meal, accompanied by vegetables or meat in some form.

In Harare there are many westernised restaurants serving European or American style food - but far more exciting are the (surprisingly cosmopolitan) outdoor cafes:

• 40 Cork Road, Avondale, Harare is an outdoor cafe, art gallery, and sculpture garden. Very much the place to be seen.
• 167 Enterprise Road, Chisipite, Harare - an old house converted into a restaurant with a huge garden with a pool, an art shop, gallery etc…

What to drink

Try Chibuku, a popular local beer. It comes in “scuds” - large 2litre brown plastic containers. The beer is lumpy and opaque beige, but is surprisingly good, and painfully cheap.

Where to stay in Harare

Meikles Hotel - Corner Jaso Moyo - Harare, Zimbabwe The hotel is situated In The City Centre Opposite Africa Unity Square And Was Built In 1915 Showing A Long History Of Experience And Resilience.

Protea Hotel Harare Safari LD - Lake Chivero - Harare, Zimbabwe.  Situated On The Shore Of Lake Chivero, There Are 10 Lodges Built Out Of Rock, With Thatched Roofs. - There Are Also 12 Rooms In 2 Blocks, 6 Of Which Are Designed For Conference Delegates. All Rooms And Lodges Have En Suite Facilities.

 SouthwestAirline.biz has recently published an online guide to getting the best deal when buying an airline ticket. The best deals on airline tickets can be found at reputable online sites guaranteeing the lowest price. The full article is available at http://www.southwestairline.biz/airline-ticket.htm.

The purpose of southwestairline.biz is to provide you with the most comprehensive online airline ticket source on the Internet. Whether you are an occasional or frequent airline traveler, it pays to shop around for the best ticket price. The site that offered the best ticket price last week or last month may not be the site with the best price for your next airline ticket purchase. Recent research shows that at least 37% of air travelers visit several online sites to get the best deal for their travel dollar.

While you may be lucky enough to find online airline ticket sources which provide cheap last minute tickets, booking your flight two to three weeks (14 to 21 days) ahead of time is the most effective means of reducing the price of your ticket. Students and military personnel can often get the best price on their airline ticket with their student or military identification.

Although price is an important factor in most airline ticket purchases, many travelers are now taking quality of service into account as well. Some consumers are willing to pay a bit more for an airline ticket with a carrier having a good record of timely departures and arrivals or food and beverage service.

Keep in mind that it is easy to be fooled by some web sites offering online airline tickets because they do not include the various taxes and surcharges in the ticket price.

Online airline ticket sites are able to offer different prices due to the buying privileges each has with the various airlines or ticket consolidators, so it really pays to shop around when buying airline tickets online.

The full article on obtaining the best online airline ticket price is available at http://www.southwestairline.biz/airline-ticket.htm. southwestairline.biz may be contacted by telephone at (208) 464-1127, or by e-mail at info@southwestairline.biz.

 by Auckland Semper Jr

It is a well-known, and widely accepted, fact that airline tickets are expensive. However there are ways to keep the cost of flying down. The purpose of this article is to discuss the top 10 tips to finding an inexpensive airfare.

Be willing to compromise on departure dates. If you agree to leave on a day other than your desired date, you may be able to receive a discounted flexible rate. Airfare prices rise when a specific departure date is requested.

Shop online. There are many websites on the Internet that specialize in providing travelers with low airfares. Just be sure to read all the conditions and fees associated with the airplane ticket.

Avoid major airports. By flying into a smaller airport located close to your destination, you’ll be able to avoid the higher price that the largest airports command.

Give at least two weeks notice. Plan on buying your tickets two weeks or more before you plan on leaving in order to get the best price.

Use an Internet track to stay informed about airplane ticket rates. Travelers are able to download tracking programs online that will monitor the airfares and alert the user if a cheap rate surfaces.

Don’t fly on the busiest holiday days. Airfares will be more expensive on the days people prefer to fly, so leave a day later or come back a day earlier and you’ll save money.

For international flights, stop in London. It is less expensive to fly to the western area of Europe. By flying to London and then catching a flight to your final destination, you can lower the price of your total airfare.

Book your flight with a low-cost carrier. Low-cost carriers offer discounted ticket prices for flights without all the little amenities that raise the airfare rates. This is a good way to save money when traveling by plane.

Look into package deals. Sometimes travel agencies will offer flights including with hotel stay and rental car. By bundling your services you can end up paying less overall.

If you find yourself needing to fly often, look into signing up for a frequent flier program through your travel agent, preferred airline, or credit card company. This is one of the best ways for frequent fliers to reduce their costs of flying.

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