10 Reasons to Backpack and be a Backpacker

Introduction

Over the past 40-50 years, being a backpacker has become a global trademark of a sort for a traveler or adventure seeker. The backpack has rapidly become a universal and unmistakable symbol for people who want to explore what the world has to offer for them. Backpackers come in many shapes, sizes, colors, nationalities, and creeds. Certain people have a desire to explore the world around them before they become old. They want to see many people and culture. Many of them later end up writing travelogue on what they have seen or experienced. From these valuable data, we understood many things that have happened in the past. In this blog post, we would be looking at the compelling reasons for adventure seekers to venture out to see different places.

Funny Reasons for Exploration

People generally go backpacking for different reasons. Each person has his own reason for that. If you need a little encouragement, here are a few fun reasons to be a backpacker. Happy Backpacking and enjoy the world out for you to explore and draw the inspiration from.

1. Meeting people: You meet amazing people from around the world and their cultural backdrop.





2. Visiting places: You get to come across and buy exotic things these places have to offer. These things can then be used to decorate the drawing-room.





3. Self reliance: Backpacks are more economical as you can stuff in a lot of things. Yet, don’t lose your mobility. This way you learn to become independent even when you are mobile.





4. Luggage packing: Backpacks are typically easier to handle than moving around with suitcases when space is a constraint. You learn this way to systematically carry the luggage and yet remain mobile.





5. Adjustments: You can use it as the pillow when you are traveling in the night. This way you become accustomed to different situations. This enables you to get sleep under all conditions.





6. Easy access: Taking a backpack is easier and you can climb to any height to see whatever exotic scenery you have at a destination. The spirit of trekking remains high even when you have a luggage to handle.





7. Generate sympathy: Being a backpacker is like being a student. People feel your pain. They will know you don’t have a lot of money. Hence, they are willing to help you along the way.





8. Visit any place: You end up in some random places. No self-respecting tourists could ever end up in the same places and situations that most backpackers do.





9. Adventurism: You feel like your own when you are on the move. The backpackers are universal sign of adventure. People like to see such persons and come forward to help them.







10. Feel Mobility: You don’t have to worry about those funny rolling suitcases. Since you have the backpack strapped to you for optimal performance, you feel as if you are free while negotiating a difficult trekking trail.

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Indian Government Comes With Ordinance to Curb Old Note Possession

Introduction

The Cabinet in India has brought in an ordinance to impose a penalty for possession of the scrapped notes beyond a cut-off point. The penalty of possessing the demonetized Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes beyond certain numbers may even include a jail term or 5 times the value of the seized notes or both. In this blog, we will look at the salient features of this ordinance for the benefit of readers.

Ordinance to Curb Old Note Hoarding

In a swift move, just before the window period of exchange of old notes with new ones comes to an end, the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the center promulgated an ordinance to curb the possession of old legal tender after March 31, 2017 when the RBI window for exchange of old notes also ends. The Central government will now send the ordinance to the President of India for the final approval.  According to this bill, the possession of more than 10 old notes will become punishable by law. The authorities can levy a fine of Rs. 50,000 or five times the total value of notes in possession, whichever is lesser. However, the official sources could not say whether the penal provisions would apply for holding the junked currency after the 50-day window period to deposit them in the bank ends on December 30 or the final window of note exchange in selected branches of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) comes to an end on March 31, 2017.  The penalty may also include a jail term of up to 4 years in certain cases.

Ordinance on Limiting Government Liability

The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved an ordinance to bail the government and the central bank from future litigation. In a thoughtful move, the Finance Ministry, working with Law Ministry, has brought an amendment to the RBI Act to extinguish the liabilities of the government and the central bank on the demonetized high-denomination notes. This move will help the government to stand in good stead when citizens and opposition parties try to corner it through a battery of future litigation in the courts of the country.

Demonetization Policy

While announcing the demonetization of the old currency on November 8, 2016 the government had allowed holders of the older notes to either exchange or deposit them in bank and post office accounts. The facility to exchange the old notes was withdrawn on December 15, 2016. However, depositors have time till December 30, 2016 to deposit the holding demonetized notes in their accounts. Giving more time, the Central Government has given another window of opportunity to the holders of old currencies to deposit them in selected branches of RBI across the country. This step was taken by the Central Government to stop the menace of black money and fake currency funding the unlawful activities, including the covert war against nation by terrorists from across the border, corruption, illegal currency hording, etc.

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Google Launches Free Roaming Facility Across the World

Introduction

A mobile operator rumored to associate with Google is planning to offer free international roaming facility to its customers. The search engine behemoth has stuck a deal with Hutchison Whampoa in the United Kingdom for this purpose.  It provides an opportunity for the Google users to call and text the near and dear ones at home when they are abroad. The company claims that it offers this service at the local call costs. This facility would also allow the users to avail the data connectivity of the local service provider while traveling abroad without paying the roaming charges.

International Roaming Facility

In order to give pan world international roaming facility, Google has entered into a deal with the owners of three reputed UK brands to offer largest coverage of mobile network. The agreeing parties are in for a wholesale access agreement that allows them to give free roaming facility to Google’s customers. This facility will allow the customers to send texts and user data, and make calls to their friends without incurring any other cost. In connection with this, the search engine behemoth has said that it is looking for a partner to set up its own mobile carrier. Google further added that its foray has limited ambitions to cater to a small section of customers. Apart from Hutchison, the company has leased the network capacity of Sprint and T-Mobile to set up the new service.

Different Enablers

The analysts in the field believe that Google would be able to offer its US mobile customers some of the benefits of the Three UK brands as a result of this new tie-up. The Hutchison tie-up would give the customers an ability to call and text home from overseas at local call cost. This facility would also allow the users to avail their monthly data allowance when they are traveling abroad. The company claims that this service would be supported in the countries like Australia, Ireland, the US, France, the Nordics, Italy, Hong Kong, etc. In the later stage, this service benefit would be extended to more countries for the benefit of its users. This is a good offer as often people cannot come out of the contract they had entered into with a local provider at home when they are in a foreign country.  Currently, they have to substitute the existing SIM card with local SIM of the foreign country they are visiting to avail the local service facilities there.

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Widening of Congested Thycaud Flyover is on Cards

Introduction

If reports are true, the Kerala Government is mulling over a project to widen already congested Thycaud flyover, near Thampanoor Railway Station in Trivandrum. Many town planners have already talked about this in the past. But nothing happened in the past. This project envisages the widening of the congested flyover into a four-lane type to ease the traffic near the city center. The Trivandrum Corporation is planning to include this in the Trivandrum Metro Rail Project to find the extra fund for this. If this gets approved, it will be the fourth flyover construction as part of the Trivandrum Metro Rail Project. However, the latest addition needs the approval from the Central Ministry of Urban Development. Let us keep our fingers crossed and expect the best. In this blog post, we will see what the municipal corporation wants to do this old Thycaud flyover in the capital city of the state.

Construction of Flyovers

As part of the revised blueprint that will go for approval, a total of four flyovers will be constructed as part of Trivandrum Metro Rail Project. Apart from Thampanoor flyover, new ones will come up at Sreekaryam, Pattom and Ulloor junctions to ease the traffic in the national highway. Returning to the Thampanoor construction, the metro pillars will come over the new flyover that runs from Railway Mail Service junction to Chenthitta. While undertaking the widening of the existing flyover, the approach roads to the flyover will also be widened to ease the traffic through the proposed four-lane flyover. Hence, the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation is planning to widen the existing flyover to improve the traffic movement from Thycaud and Chenthitta to Thampanoor. The estimated cost of this project Rs. 180 crore.

Issues with Present Flyover

Currently, the junction on the flyover that connects Chenthitta and Thycaud to Thampanoor is too narrow. This leads to the traffic bottleneck during the peak hours. Sometimes, the traffic snarls become very long as there is no provision for the pedestrian movements on the flyover. The traffic police posted at this flyover junction will have harrowing time during the peak hours. The accidents involving pedestrian movements are also on the rise. Adding to the fuel fire is the lack of traffic signals at this junction to aid the traffic police. This always leads to commotion and traffic jams at this junction. The Trivandrum Corporation wants to put an end to this logjam by widening this flyover at the heart of the city. It believes that the construction of the four-lane flyover and the widening of the approach roads will considerably ease the traffic through this point.

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Nokia Android Phone EDGE 2017 – First Impressions

Introduction

About 5-6 years back, the Nokia was the most trusted brand and there were many cult members who followed the brand. Though the brand was good enough and its operating system not that user-friendly, there were many takers due to the trust factor. After a while the Android operating system was introduced with many easy-to-use features. More over, the application development in the Android environment became easy. Hence, the mobile brands using earlier operating systems began moving towards the Android operating system. Due to this development, the production costs came down, way below that for making Nokia phones. Therefore, the companies like Samsung, Karbonn, Micromax and Spice could pass on the benefit to the customers by offering their Smartphones at lesser price. Thus, the Nokia brand began to lose its space to other competitors in the mobile market. Despite the loss of space, Nokia tried to linger with its customized operating system in its mobiles, which did not go down well with the trusted users who slowly moved away from it. Now, it seems the Nokia has learned its lessons from its past mistakes. It has now decided to come out with the Android mobile in 2017. The details of this Android phone are now in the public domain. Its name is Nokia EDGE 2017. In this blog post, we will be looking at the new Android phone to know its features.

Likely Features

According to the information shared by the Nokia executive, the Android phone from the brand is likely to hit the shelves all across the globe in the month of February. He chose to name the Nokia Android mobile as Nokia EDGE 2017. He further added that the new phone will have some great features and specifications which enable it to successfully compete with its strong contenders in the mobile industry. Let us see what all things the executive from the brand has revealed to the media persons.

1. Display: It will come with a 5.5-inch and high resolution display. The onscreen resolution for the image may go up to 2K.  It will also have an edge display as shown in the Samsung S7 edge Smartphone. It will show all the notifications that come in the phone. It will also have a pixel density of 441ppi. The company has failed to mention about the display protection.


2. Camera: The new Nokia phone is likely to sport a 23 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens fitted back camera. This feature will offer image resolutions that are comparable to those provided by `DSLR cameras. The front camera of the mobile will have an 8 megapixel resolution. Other features of the back camera include Autofocus, Touch Focus, Geo-Tagging, Digital Zoom, Panorama and Face Detection. It will also have a flash facility.


3. Storage: The device will have internal storage memory of 32GB, which is expandable up to 64GB using micro-SD cards.


4. Battery: The power backup of the new Nokia phone will come from a lithium-ion battery. It will have the power capacity of 3600mAh.


5. Chipset: The new Android phone will gets power from Octa-Core Processor, 3GB RAM and Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.


6. Connectivity: Mobile set is most likely to give connectivity through Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/n, GPS, Radio, EDGE, GPRS, 4G LTE, 2G and 3G options. The Bluetooth connectivity option will also be featured in the set.


7. Other Features: The mobile will have the latest technology features like Fingerprint Scanner, Proximity, Compass and Gyro sensors, and Accelerometer. It is also likely to feature reversible C-Type 1.0 USB connector. See the following picture shared by Tekz24.com to get fairer picture.

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Thakkaaram – Authority on Genuine Malabar Food

Introduction

The customers can find Thakkaaram at Naaz Tower, near Pulimood Junction in Thiruvananthapuram City.  Formed in 2008 in Kannur, it has become a must-stop restaurant for diners who love peaceful environment and tasty food. The staffs of this unique restaurant boast of providing a unique settings and variety Malabar food. The name of this restaurant comes from the colloquial Malabar word Thakkaaram that translates to “Salkaaram” in normal Malayalam language or “To Greet” in English language. This word is not familiar to people who are living in other parts of Kerala.

Mission of Thakkaaram

The restaurant aspires to spread its tentacles of good work all across the globe in the coming years, banking on its customer-oriented services and the love for large variety of Malabar cuisines.

Unique Selling Proposition

Thakkaaram Restaurant has caught the imaginations of people in a short span of time due its unique selling propositions. All these propositions have made the guest feel as they are royalties. Once people step their feet inside the premises, they swear to come back again after having tasted the food served there. The propositions of the business are as follows.

• Treats every customer as its guests.
• Provides authentic Malabar variety recipes at affordable costs
• Serves more than 70 variety dishes to its customers.
• Customers get a special dish and all the 70 varieties of cuisines every day

Hotel Interior and Ambience

When we interacted with its founder Mohammed Shihab, one thing that struck me was his love for the uniqueness and perfection in job. A visitor to this hotel situated at Palayam would see the uniqueness in interior design. Its interior is converted to that of a Bus and a Train.  These carefully drafted structures are well decorated to offer much-needed peace and ambience to the customers. Thakkaaram’s Menu Catalogue has also got a unique display of menu titles.  Such titles cannot be seen elsewhere in other restaurants across the state. What is more interesting is that the customers get a menu catalogue in Malayalam.

Commitment to Quality, Variety and Hygiene

When the first branch of Thakkaaram hotel was started at Thaliparambu in Kannur, its owner Shihab had placed a giant CCTV camera in the kitchen to enable the customers see how the workers made food in the kitchen. This approach brought an impression that the hotel brand serves only the "Quality and Hygienic" food to its customers. Moreover, the restaurant staff members make sure that the customers happy and satisfied. These attributes of Thakkaaram have helped it gain the faith of the customers across Kerala. The business also boasts of its variety of cuisines. The most common dishes served to the customers include “Samaavar”, “Kathaladakkal”, “Ammayeede Appatharangal”, “Puthiyaapla Set”, “Dum Ka Dum Biriyani”, “Urmath Set”, “Puthiyaapla Koalu”, “Thakkaarathinte Kismath”, “Kozhiyile Melaakkam”, “Thokkilangaadi Subaad”, “Thakkaarinthinte Pousak”, “Aadinte Athrippam”, “Pothinte Athirakkali”, “Kadalinte Khudrath”, “Kayalinte Sambathu”, and “Nangalude Pachakarithottam”.

Working Hours

Unlike other restaurants operating in the state of Kerala, Thakkaaram follows flexible timings keeping in mind the convenience of its customers. Moreover, this flexible timing enables the staff to work with great love and passion towards the customer satisfaction. Usually, the restaurant opens by 11:30 AM and closes by 11:00 PM every day. However, the staff members get an off time between 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM so that they can get some rest during the course of a day.

 

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Poovar – Natural Estuary Island and Beach

Introduction Poovar is a natural estuary land beach found in the southern tip of Kerala. Being a rare confluence of a lake, river, sea, beach and the land, it is a rare geographical formation in the southern part of India. The beach here is unspoilt as it has not been unexplored by the commercial forces of the tourism industry. This place has serene backwaters surrounding a narrow strip of land. These backwaters slowly open to the sea. The golden sand beach skirting the land separating backwater and the sea take you to a totally different realm of experience. This place has strong ties with the history of the state through its association with the legendary King Marthanda Varma. Poovar Geography Poovar Beach and Island are nearer to the most known destination of Kovalam Beach. Geographically, it separates the Neyyar River from Arabian Sea. Being close to the sea, it is primarily a fishing village and it has the smell of fish everywhere. Due to the pristine waters and golden sand beach, it adds beauty to the surroundings. This is the reason souls that love solitude come in large numbers. It is also called the estuary land in the state capital. This place is witness to the merging of lake, river, sea and beach with land. This rare geographical formation overlooks the much famed Poovar Island. Poovar Landscape The beach in this exotic location separates the Neyyar River from the sea. The backdrop of the sea provides a totally different visual cue to the golden sand beach at different points in time. However, the beach is not conducive for the waterfront activities as the sea is known to have strong under currents. Hence, locals stop the visitors from venturing into the sea for swimming exercise. Due to the presence of the fishing community, the sunbathing is not allowed either here. The name Poovar seems to have come from the word “Poo Aar” in Malayalam. The literal translation of this name is a stream of flowers or petals. During the spring season every year, the red flowers from the flora there fall in the river and backwater to give a visual treat of different kind. This probably could have been the reason King Marthanda Varma of the erstwhile Travancore state called it the stream of flowers (Poovar). Flora and Fauna This place is truly considered as a gateway to paradise where all good things co-exist. The visitors get the feeling that time has skipped a beat long time ago looking at the beauty of the place. Hence, they get the feel of timeless beauty everywhere. The area is rich in well-preserved flora and fauna. The tranquillity of nature gets broken only by sweet sound of waves and birds. One can find hundreds of species of spices, coconut groves, banana plantations and exotic flowers in this place. Therefore, the nature lovers would have a ball of the time visiting this exotic place. Activities at Poovar The visitors can undertake a variety of activities at this picturesque spot. For this, people should get informed about what they can do at the destination. We are going to list out such possibilities. Cruise Journeys: People visiting this place can undertake a journey on-board a cruise to a neighbouring fishing village. On request, the tour operators take the informed persons to the centuries-old martial arts village.  A visit to these villages provides the visitors an experience of entering a natural museum. Because these villages offer a bird’s eye view of the traditional lifestyle and rustic life followed in them. Floating Cottages: People can avail the floating cottage facility to enjoy the view of the river front and have the pleasure of staying close to the water body. Medical Tourism: The visitors this place can avail the facilities for Ayurveda way of treatment for some of the common diseases. Local Shopping: There is scope for doing shopping in this beautiful landscape. The visitors can buy articles and things that are unique to this place from these shops. Exotic Local Destinations: With the help of local tour operators, you can visit many of the exotic local tourism spots within the region, which includes Poovar Island, Light House, traditional villages, etc. Fishing: People who like fishing as a hobby can visit many exotic spots for this purpose. At these points, they can devour the beauty of nature and enjoy the art of fishing in the backwaters.

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