Tag: Travel Tips

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Places to Visit in India

Uncover Hidden Gems Near Hyderabad on Your Next Trip

places to visit near hyderabad within 300 kms

The city of Hyderabad has many nicknames – City of Pearls and City of Nizams. The capital of the youngest state of India, Telangana, is full of incredible tourist attractions but there are also several excellent tourist attractions near this city. This article will discuss the best tourist attractions near the city of Hyderabad. Here is the list of places to visit near Hyderabad within 300 kms – some of them are only half an hour’s ride away.

Find Your Next Adventure Near Hyderabad

Let us get started:

1. Osman Sagar Lake

The first and one of the best tourist attractions near Hyderabad is Osman Sagar Lake which is located at a distance of mere 22 kilometers from the city of Nawabs. Also known as Gandipet, this beautiful lake is spread over 46 square kilometers. The lake is also surrounded by beautiful gardens. A lake is a perfect place for Hyderabad residents. One can also try boating and stunning. One must note that the pristine lake is best visited during day hours and one may want to spend at least a couple of hours a day.

2. Sanghi Temple

Sanghi attempted is one of the most magnificent temples of Telangana. Located at a distance of mere thirty-two kilometers, it is built in Chola – Chalukya style of architecture. The temple complex sits on a hillock called Paramanand Giri Nad is fifteen feet tall. It has several minor temples dedicated to several minor deities. It is only thirty kilometers from Hyderabad.

3. Ramoji Film City

Another excellent must-see tourist spot near Hyderabad is Ramoji Film City. The city is the largest film studio complex in the world and has several lush gardens. There are several excellent sites where some of the best movies have been shot.

4. Pillalamarri

This attraction is an eight hundred old tree located about a hundred kilometers from Hyderabad. The temple is a Pilgrimage destination. An important tourist attraction nearby is the Sri Rajarajeshwara temple

5. Bhongir Fort

Built by the Chaulakya ruler, Bhongir Fort is built on a single monolith. Besides the oval-shaped fort, which is in almost ruins, there is an excellent trekking opportunity. The fort is only seventy-three kilometers from the city of Pearls.

6. Wargal Saraswati Temple

Situated at a distance of merely fifty-three kilometers, the temple is in a village named Wargal. Dedicated to the goddess Saraswati, the temple has Aksharabyasam for kids. Popularly known as Sri Vidya Saraswati Temple, its construction was started in 1989. There are also Sri Lakshmi Ganpati Temple and Lord Shiva temple nearby.

6. Rachakonda Fort

Rachakonda Fort is located at a distance of about sixty kilometers. The two-story structure is built in medieval Hindu architecture. It is home to a number of temples dedicated to Hanuman, Lord Shiva, and Manimandapam. It also has eight feet tall temple.

7. Yadagirigutta Temple

Situated at a distance of mere sixty-two kilometers, Yadagirigutta Temple is the abode of Narasimha Swamy. It is located in a pilgrimage town of the same name. According to a popular legend, this is the place where Lord Vishnu stored Vedas, thus giving it the name Yadarigutta Temple. That gives it the name Vedagiri. This temple is also known as Vedagiri.

8. Kolanupaka Temple

Located at a distance of about a hundred kilometers from Hyderabad, Kolanupaka Temple is a Jain temple. The two-thousand-year-old temple is also known as kulpakji. There are some incredible idols here of Lord Mahavira, Lord Rishabhanatha, and Lord Neminatha along with eight others.

9. Anantagiri Hills

Anantagiri Hills is situated in Vikarbad of Rana Reddy district and just about eighty kilometers from the city of Nawabs. The Hills are an off-beat tourist attraction and make for an excellent vacation, especially during winter.

10. Medak Fort

Last but not least in this list of tourist attractions, Medak Fort is about ninety-five kilometers from Hyderabad. The fort was built during the reign of Pratap Rudra around the twelfth century

FAQs

There are several questions relating to tourist attractions in the vicinity of Hyderabad. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) :

Question: What are some of the other tourist spots near Hyderabad?

Answer: The above list contains only some of the most prominent historical spots including the following:

  • Nalgonda – Prehistoric settlements located at a distance of about 115 kilometers from Hyderabad.
  • Domakonda Fort – The granite fort is built in Mauryan style and is stituqt3d at a distance of 115 kilometers.
  • Sri Edupayala Vana Durga Bhavani – A temple and a pilgrimage destination dedicated to goddess Durga which is situated at a distance of about 120 kilometers from Hyderabad.

Question: How can these tourist spots be best explored?

Answer: These tourist Spots can be explored on personal vehicles, by hiring a cab, or through bus and train rides. They can be explored in a single day.

If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.

The Bottom Line

One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that there are several excellent tourist attractions near Hyderabad and one must explore them as much as possible.

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Travel Tips

10 Brilliant Hacks for Making International Flights Fun

Airways is the youngest means of transport; it is also a strange kind of experience. People who aren’t traveling by air regularly will encounter annoyances that might spoil their experience despite the smiling rosy faces of the air hostess and their sweet melodious voice, especially if they are in for international travel that might be long trips. However, a few hacks can help make the experience of flying a lot more enjoyable. This article will explore some of the most valuable such hacks in detail.

Top 10 Flying Hacks for Traveling Internationally

1. Things to put in a carry-on bag

Keeping some essential items in the carry-on bag is vital when traveling internationally via a flight. It is always wise to assume that luggage will get stuck somewhere, and one won’t be able to retrieve it for hours or even days. Thus one should always carry the various essential items in one’s carry-on bag. Similarly, one should have all the things one believes to be necessary for a long journey. A list of such items that it is wise to carry in a carry-on bag includes the following:

  • A water bottle and lip bam – to avoid dehydration. A savvy tourist always carries a water bottle of their own
  • Pen – to fill the customs forms.
  • Scarf and warm clothes – if the weather is likely to be colder. A savvy tourist should always carry a staff with them. It is not merely headwear; it can act as a make-shift pillow or can even be used as a temporary holder to contain one’s things.
  • Travel documents, IDs, vaccination certificates, etc.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Sunscreen, bathing clothes, maps, etc.
  • Sanitizers
  • Earphones – for always having an option to block everything out.

2. Remember the luggage

While still on the subject of lost luggage, it is essential to remember exactly what it looked like. An intelligent way of getting a couple of good snaps of the bags so that if one has to fill out forms to demand the lost luggage, one will always have proof of ownership.

3. Be flexible wherever possible

Air travel is constantly growing expensive, and it is thus an intelligent thing to look for ways of making air travel inexpensive – even without compromising on the quality of seats. If time is not of the essence, one should always look for cheaper tickets. Online ticket booking platforms can let one check the prices of access to a given destination on different dates and for various lengths of flights. It is always possible in such cases to save significant amounts of money that way.

4. Fully charge the electronics and fill them with some entertainment

Air travel internationally can last for several hours; while flights entertain, it is always wise to carry one’s entertainment with oneself in a mobile handset or tablet – several hours of it. That is doubly important if one is unsure of finding a good internet connection at the destination.

5. Be Careful with the choice of seat

Choosing a seat is a significant consideration, and these days one can look at seat plans of the flight to find a seat best suited to one’s needs. For example, a seat next to the window is best if one wants to sleep through the journey or look at the clouds; it can, however, affect one’s mobility. Seats nearest to washrooms should be avoided too.

6. Always count the points

Unless one is sure of never traveling by the airways again, one should collect any reward points that may come across one’s way – while booking tickets, maybe because one has lost the luggage, etc. Also, check out our article on why you need international travel insurance in detail here!

7. Be nice

International flights are long, and they may become several times longer if the social environment in the flight were to turn hostile. Thus it is always a smart strategy to be nice to other people.

8. A Bassinet Seat for babies

Some international flights also offer baby bassinet seats – these seats are ideal for anyone traveling with a baby.

9. Know how to use the phone apps

It is always wise to have a working knowledge of various smartphone apps and how to get the best out of them. For example, almost everyone knows about google maps. Still, very few people understand that one can download and use google maps in offline mode – something that can be greatly helpful in areas where the internet signal is not steady enough.

10. Plan a sleeping routine

It is also essential to consider that one may have to sleep for several hours during the flight. Now, this might be difficult if one hasn’t planned for it. Things like a scarf doubling as a pillow or a neck pillow can come in handy at this stage. One should have something to cover one’s head (wearing a hoodie can help), earphones for voice cancellation, etc.

This is, of course, by no means an exclusive list of hacks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A lot of people have doubts and questions regarding gold lockers. Some of the most important of these frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are discussed in detail below:

Question: What kind of clothes are best to wear to a flight?

Answer: It is best to dress comfortably for long flights in loose, easy clothes with several lays – that can be removed if the need arises. Wearing a hoodie and carrying a scarf can help sleep, as mentioned earlier, and a jacket can come in handy to provide an additional layer of warmth.

Question: What should be the size of the carry-on bag?

Answer: The carry-on bag should contain all the essential items, but it should not be too heavy or troublesome to carry around (which is its whole purpose).

If the reader has any other doubts or questions, they should feel free to ask.

The Bottom Line

One can quickly wrap up the above discussion by concluding with the hope that these tips will come in handy for the readers the next time they plan internationally.

Categories
Travel Tips Travel Trends

Zodiac sign and travelling habits

This is not one of those quizzes where you check whether your chances of success in life are determined by your zodiac signs. But your zodiac does determine many of your behavioral traits and as such your traveling habits too. Based on that, see whether you are what your sun sign says you should be. And if yes, then we recommend some fantastic places which you will love.

  1. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Those born with Aquarius as their zodiac sign are adrenaline junkies and are always looking for their next high. They love meeting strangers and striking new conversations. They prefer off-beat getaways and places that are still unexplored by most travellers. Though quite energetic, Aquarians are easy-going and looking for inner peace while travelling. They find secluded beaches, museums and insider places that only locals know of. You won’t find an Aquarian fearful of eccentric places. Most of the time, Aquarians volunteer for Peace corps or involve themselves in volunteer travel activities because they feel deeply impacted by injustices and everything that is wrong with the world.

Travel Tip: Aquarians are not good at specifics so they have trouble making reservations in hotels and transportation.

Which places will Aquarius love: Sri Lanka, Andaman and Nicobar, Moscow, Ooty, Mukhteshwar, Finland

  1. Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Pisces born are wandering souls but quite impulsive. Just like their zodiac sign, they love water and will prefer travelling to coastal areas, booking cruises or staying in houseboats. They are the ones who make last-minute travel plans and head out on epic adventures. Packing is not their strong point and they will throw together whatever first hits their mind. They do not plan ahead or organise their travels. Going with the flow is their essential trait. But that also makes them forgetful with their come-what-may attitude. They have great intuitions about their surroundings and love freedom while travelling. Even in hotels, they like spending time by the pool. Pisces are not comfortable with new people and tend to spend some time in solitude to recharge.

Travel-Tip: Try having a to-do list or a checklist of all things you should carry for your travels.

Which places would Pisces love: Goa, Fiji, Bali, Pondicherry, Malaysia.

  1. Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Those born with Aries as their zodiac sign are true foodies. They are the ones you find with food blogs and ask for culinary advice. Aries-born will always look for the best restaurants and special local cuisines to try when they travel. They love outdoors but are very impatient. Aries usually have an itinerary at hand and wish to cross off all places on their list. Since they want to see everything, they do not wait to soak in the beauty of the place or appreciate the essence of travelling. Trying to make it to every place makes it more like a chore than travel for Aries. But Aries born love to travel, they are outgoing and enjoy taking out some time to visit new travel destinations. They are independent travellers and don’t mind going solo to enjoy their journey. They have a child-like curiosity for every place and tend to pick up travelling partners along the way. Travelling with Aries means so many stories to tell and an unforgettable trip. If they decide they want to go somewhere, you can be sure, they will make it there, even if it is challenging.

Travel tip: Put “a leisurely afternoon, enjoying sunset” in your itinerary.

Which places will Aries love: Manali, Dubai, Darjeeling, Portugal, Rome.

  1. Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

They just want luxury. Taurus love pleasure and getting pampered. They would book the best resorts, avoid crowded places, spend time in high-end restaurants and posh areas sipping freshly brewed tea. Taurus enjoy spa massages and relaxing evening at beaches. Any place with a plush surrounding and excellent food will automatically become their top priority. Taurus is an earth sign, so they enjoy nature and natural settings. Seeing a tea garden or living in a cottage at the top of hills, that is their ideal travel plan. They are fond of aesthetics and visually appealing places and will prefer food that looks as good as it tastes. Taureans also are a victim of habits and will prefer travelling to the same location more than once just to get a sense of security. They like being in control and knowing what will happen next so you can’t expect impulsive decisions or last-minute travel plans. But wherever they travel, they take their time. They would experience everything slowly to absorb things and sights.

Travel Tip: Try something new – a new destination or a new café might inspire you to explore more.

Which places will Taureans love: Paris, Thailand, Cape Town, Kochi, Daman and Diu.

  1. Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Geminis are inquisitive when it comes to travelling. They want to go sightseeing but also know the history of the place. They have a deep thirst for knowledge and wish to have a better understanding of the world. They are the ones who will interact most with locals to find everything about the place they are visiting. Gemini can be spotted in a group because they will be the ones following the guide and listening keenly. But there’s another side to Geminis as well. They also like having an adventurous and active nightlife. They bring energy with them when they travel and party hard. Geminis are good with languages and so don’t have much trouble while travelling to a completely new place. Geminis have varied interests and you can never tell what they will plan next. Geminis like connecting with people and will have friends all across the globe.

Travel Tip: Social by nature, let Geminis do the talking while travelling to a new place.

Where Geminis would love to travel: Jaipur, Ajanta Caves, Venice, Rameshwaram

  1. Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Those with Cancer as their Zodiac sign are looking for laidback travel expeditions. They like going on tours and picnics with their family and friends where they can relax, enjoy and don’t have to do much of the planning. Their ideal vacation is getting to stay at a homestay with their favourite person and just relaxing indoors, though they wouldn’t mind exploring new things. Cancerians seek peace and comfort so they would prefer travelling with companions they are familiar with. They are quite balanced and so they prefer an itinerary that has both adventure and relaxation. They would love to go trekking but would also want to lay in the sun and enjoy the natural beauty of the place. While travelling alone, Cancerians stay timid and avoid conversations with strangers. It takes time for them to trust someone and so they won’t be asking anyone for help either. They have an easy-going attitude about travelling and so going on a trip with a Cancerian is the most fun.

Travel Tip: Go for a spa at the resort you are staying at because it will give you a home-like feel and also revitalise you.

What places would Cancerians love to visit: Hawaii, Munnar, Philippines, Bora Bora

 

  1. Leo(July 23 – August 22)

Nobody loves glamour as much as Leos. They are spoiled and would love to show-off each and every bit of their exquisite travel adventures. They want luxurious experiences and so tend to pick the best places, the best hotels and the best restaurants. You would find Leos booking months in advance just to get the aeroplane seat they want. Leos also enjoy art and culture as much as adventure sports. So it is easy to spot a Leo at the Grand Canyon or even at an art gallery. They are an optimist but also cautious and so they travel in style. They wish to be the centre-of-attention and so while travelling with a Leo, you will constantly be asked to click pictures. Whether it is a stay at an underwater hotel or going paragliding in Manali, Leos are always up for it.

Travel tip: Budget Travellers should never pick Leos as travelling partners because glam life does not come cheap and Leos are all for spending lavishly when it comes to having a good time.

Which places would Leos love: Singapore, New York, Los Angeles, Switzerland

 

  1. Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Virgos travel for a purpose. Most of their travels include business trips rather than leisure holidays. Out of all other Zodiac signs, they like travelling the least. But they do travel for work or to settle their curiosity. Virgos are perfectionists and so they have everything meticulously planned and organised. They take note of all the places they have visited so they can strike them off the checklist. They also have some pre-travel ideas of what their holiday should contain and so they try to make it possible.

As introverts, Virgos prefer travelling solo instead of with a companion. They are always prepared for their travel whether it is to a museum or off to a forest. Since they are analytical in nature, they decide their travel destination very carefully and analyse every aspect of their travel. Their trips are mostly scheduled and well-thought-out. With a Virgo, you can be sure that all the bookings will be confirmed and well in time.

Travel Tip: Do try going with the flow every once in a while and explore a new place just for getting a new experience.

Which places would Virgos like? Morocco, Tokyo, Kolkata, Sikkim, Amsterdam.

 

  1. Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Libras are hopeless romantics at heart and want their travel expeditions to be dreamlike. They have a creative persona and want to infuse that creativity in their travels as well. They wish for a vacation that is stylish yet romantic. They would love to be surprised by a sudden trip to their dream destination. Walking through vineyards or tea garden, flying in a hot-air balloon, these are some of the activities that Libras would like. They always worry about their travelling companion and whether they are having fun or not. Libras would always keep shopping on their itinerary and also small luxuries like visiting a chic café or going to a museum. Libras are very sociable and can easily charm others. They are so easy-going that everyone around them feels relaxed. They like having fun but also want everyone else to have just as much fun. Known for being a balanced sign, they plan a trip to include everybody’s interests.

What places would Libras like: Maldives, Mexico, Alleppey, Gulmarg, Australia

Travel tip: Do buy souvenirs for your friends and family in a nice gift shop.

 

  1. Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Scorpions are passionate about travelling and exploring new things. They do not like mainstream tourist places where there are lots of crowds but instead want to be in an unexplored place, somewhere offbeat, undisturbed by others. They like being on their own and having the liberty to plan the trip according to their whims and wishes. So Scorpions would be found going on solo travels so they don’t have to compromise on their Me-time. Scorpions are very compassionate to the locals and give due respect to their traditions and rituals. As for being social, depending on their mood, either Scorpions would be complete loners and enjoy the trip by themselves or they would befriend everyone. They enjoy getting familiarised with new places and new people. If the locals tell them of a place that is off the radar, they will go out of their way to see it. They get very focused and stubborn once they have something on their mind. Travelling with a Scorpio is a life-changing experience.

Travel Tip: Go on a group tour and explore popular places as well.

Which places would Scorpio love to travel to: Jaisalmer, Bhutan, Spain, Spiti, Kutch, Prague

 

  1. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Sagittarius are independent travellers mostly found on solo trips with a quest to explore the world. They like unconventional spots and exotic locations where they can stay for a long time. Sagittarius is not fond of sight-seeing much because they prefer having insight into the place by staying and enjoying the culture of the place. They are fun-loving travellers who wander solo and travel on a budget but still end up befriending many people.

They are the ones who truly signify what wanderlust is with their great adaptability to situations and positive outlook about everything. They can be a bit reckless but there is never a dull moment travelling with them. They are looking for a deeper meaning of all the destinations that they visit and they will continue hopping to the next adventure till they find it.

Travel Tip: Have a daily allowance system and set-up a separate fund for impulse buys.

 

What Places would Sagittarius love: Ladakh, Turkey, Myanmar, Kasol, Manali, Iceland

 

  1. Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Capricorns are ambitious by nature and it reflects in their travelling habits as well. They like travelling to places which have a rich history of monarchs, rulers and dictators. They enjoy historic forts, palaces and majestic monuments. They have a fascination for high buildings and tall structures. They love to travel in style and are cautious about having authentic experiences. Capricorns prefer quality over quantity when it comes to travel and would like a few incredible trips than having lots of mediocre tours. They like travelling with their friends so they can enjoy the moment with someone else. You can find Capricorns scaling mountains, going trekking or spending time in royal cities with hotels than reflect the same royalty.

 

Travel tip: Research about authentic cuisines of the place before you visit and find a restaurant fitting to your taste.

 

Which places would Capricorns adore: Agra, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Vienna, London, Hampi

 

That’s all the zodiac signs with their eccentric traits describing how they love to travel. One thing they all have in common is the love for travelling and seeing the world. Meeting new people might be easier for some and very difficult task for others, but it always does one good to take a leap and try out something new. Choose your travelling partner wisely and do try out something out of your comfort zone. Who knows? It might turn out to be a lot of fun!

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Travel Tips Travel Trends

Four lessons solo travel teaches you

In many ways, organizing your travels has never been easier. In the US for example, 48% of smartphone users in the US would be happy to research and book their entire holiday straight from their device. Nothing could be easier! But imagine finding an irresistible bargain to far-off climes, but no one’s available to go with you. Would you go alone?

Many people feel instantly put off by the idea of traveling solo. The notion of negotiating stressful airports and hotel transfers all alone may feel like anything but fun. But many have discovered that traveling alone turned out to be the perfect tonic for the soul and that a solo excursion worked wonders for their character. Here are just four fantastic things traveling by yourself may do for you.

1. Boost your confidence

Traveling solo boosts confidence. Heading off alone shows that you don’t have to depend on others for your own happiness. Encountering situations and dealing with them all by yourself works wonders for your self-confidence and you will begin to discover latent abilities within yourself.

It’s not about becoming an isolationist or a hermit, of course, but it is about tapping into your own inner powers of independence. As an added bonus, these new-found powers may draw more like-minded people into your life.

Image: unsplash.com

2. Find out who you are

You can more easily rediscover who you are deep down when you travel independently. Usually, in the company of our friends and acquaintances, we tend to follow expected patterns of behavior – and we may have been doing this for so long we don’t even realize we’re doing it.

Traveling alone in unfamiliar surroundings surrounded by unfamiliar people somehow lifts the burden of having to conform to expectations. You may realize while on your solo sojourn that you have been acting a part for most of the time. Perhaps you’ve been playing the extrovert so long you don’t notice how exhausted it makes you feel because you’re really an introvert, for example.

Traveling alone puts you back in touch with who you are at your core, giving you the freedom to explore different aspects of your personality without worrying what others may think of you.

Image: unsplash.com

3. Get creative

Traveling on your own gives you the perfect opportunity to tap into your creative powers. Often, creative thinkers find their most inspiring ideas in moments of solitude or when they’re least expecting it.

Remember that creativity isn’t the sole preserve of writers and artists. We all need to think creatively; whether it’s to come up with solutions to personal problems or to work out what we want to do with our lives. Traveling alone offers the perfect opportunity to think beyond the obvious. It even makes us into a more savvy traveler as we recognize we are responsible for our own spending and other actions. Solo travel is a great education in the art of living.

Image: unsplash.com

4. See people in a different light

Very often you will see people in a different light when you travel alone. Traveling solo makes you that little bit more vulnerable, which isn’t always a bad thing. Being that little bit more vulnerable often brings out the best in people around you and will often show you just how helpful people can be when you need it.

While it’s definitely not a great idea to trust everyone, traveling solo will undoubtedly show you that most people are genuine, giving you a brighter view of the world. Of course, balance this bright outlook with research about your destination beforehand, always stay vigilant and precautions.

Image: unsplash.com

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Asia Travel Accessories Travel Trends

Top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore

The lion city of Singapore is one of the biggest tourist magnets of Asia – and very rightly so, its rich history has made it a salad palate with ingredients of many major Asian as well as European cultures. One of the city’s major tourist attractions is, thus, the souvenirs you can buy in it.

Here Ghoomophiro brings you a list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore:

1. Souvenirs that comprise of miniature Merlin

Singapore is anglicized version of city’s original Sanskrit name ‘Singha Pura’ which literally means Lion city. Thus, we don’t think we will surprise anyone that the official mascot of lion city’s tourism department has the head of a lion. Merlin is a man-made creature that has the head of a lion and the body of fish and the obvious choice for being the first in our list of Top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore. While the lion head of Merlin is representing the city’s original name, its fish body shows the city’s origin as a fishing village.

You can find miniature Merlin statuettes both as individual objects as well as products that are shaped like Merlin – key chains, picture frames, can openers, lighters, fridge magnets, ashtrays, cigarette boxes,  coasters, chocolate, sweet, snow globes etc. You can find them almost anywhere in the lion city and they are also one of the cheapest items on this list.

2. Kaya

If tasting Kaya once doesn’t turn you into a hoarder than see a tongue doctor. There is something wrong with your taste buds! Kaya is a delicious coconut jam and is widely used in the lion city as in making Kaya toast – the most popular breakfast dish among Singaporeans and thus the natural choice for being the second in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore.  Kaya toast is made by filling a sandwich made of two toasted slices of bread with butter and Kaya. Kaya jam is made of a combination of eggs, coconut milk, sugar, and pandan leaves. This flavored jam can also used as a topping for some desserts and cakes. You can buy kaya jars at most supermarkets in Singapore. Kaya jam bottles are inexpensive too and we, Ghoomophiro sisters, made sure to buy a dozen of these bottles while returning from Singapore

3. Bakkwa

Another souvenir for foodies to bring back home from Singapore is Bakwwa or BBQ meat. It is made of pork or beef with a seasoning of sugar, soy sauce, and spices and grilled over charcoal. A favorite among locals and tourists alike. Its local popularity can be gauged from the fact that it has become the gift that locals give to their parents and friends on Chinese New Year. Bakkwa is a bit on the expensive side in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore but this only makes it a gift to bring to your foodie friends back home.

4. Laksa Paste

Another yummy souvenir for the foodies among us. Laksa Paste is another traditional Singapore food item. Laksa is a noodle soup creating by coming together of Chinese and Malay styles of cooking. Locally it is made of coconut milk, prawn paste, lemongrass, and laksa leaves. What helps it in making it to our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore is that you can find bottles of Laksa Paste – the ready-to-cook paste made of frozen Laksa soup base. Like other food items on the list, they can be easily found all over the island and they are inexpensive too.

5.  Orchid products

The hybrid purple Orchid is the national flower of Singapore. And this is the inspiration behind the fifth of our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore. In fact, you will find it on display in the form a bright flower shining through a framed glass in most souvenir shops.

Besides the flower itself, there are several other Orchid-inspired products you can find in Singapore. Orchid Perfumes from Singapore Memories can be a perfect souvenir for your dear ones back home – or for yourself. They are created by blending several native varieties of Orchid flowers. The perfumes are available in male, female and unisex varieties. And these perfumes have captivating names that remind one of their origins – Orchid by the Bay, One Degree North (Singapore is located at one degree North of Equator). We recommend buying them from Orchard road.

 

Or you can buy Orchid framed jewelry for a loved woman at Changi airport. The jewelry includes these cute earrings that have a glass molding with a real flower inside them. A weakness for a woman. And an inexpensive way to please a woman for men – priced as low as twenty Singapore dollars.

If you are willing to spend more money, consider buying gold plated orchid products from RISIS – made of 24k gold.

6. Singapore Sling

If your tourist destination has given its name to a drink than your tour can’t be complete without tasting it, Singapore Sling is the world popular drink and it is also the national drink of Singapore. It was originally created by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar in the 1930s.  Originally it included a combination of gin, cherry brandy, lime juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Now though you can find all kinds of varieties. The bottled version of Singapore Sling is the perfect item to appear in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore

7. Peranakan Souvenirs

Next in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore is Peranakan products. Peranakan is a local community that gives its name to Peranakan prints – the prints worn by, for example, Singapore Airplane. All kind of fabrics can be made from this print – dresses, bags, pouches etc for both men and women. You can also buy beaded head weaved beads slippers. We recommend Peranakan crockery and cutlery but there is going to obvious trouble with packing or delivery etc – as is often the case with such things.

8. Souvenirs from China Town

China has a major influence on Singaporean culture. So next in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore is Paper cut outs. Paper cutting is an old folk art form of China. As far back as third century BC, the paper cut designs were used for ancestor worship. And people still decorate their homes and workplaces with paper-cut designs for good luck and prosperity. Another souvenir to be bought from China Town is flavored nuts.

9.  Souvenirs from TWG

The famous TWG stores offer all kind of souvenirs that are centered on the theme of tea – tea-flavored cookies in different colors, teacups, handcrafted Tea Pots (including ones with a layer of silver, gold or platinum on them), tea jelly etc

10. Pressed Pennies

The last in our list of top 10 Souvenirs to pick in Singapore is a collection of Singapore pennies. The pressed pennies are elongated pennies that are then engraved with iconic designs. You can make your own pressed pennies by using automatic penny flattening machines that can be found at all popular tourist destinations of the lion city.

We hope you liked the list. Is there anything we miss?

Categories
Travel Tips Travel Trends

Mobile data connectivity in Spiti

Staying connected with our loved ones has become a sort of necessity of the modern era. Gone are the days when people had the patience to wait for letters. Now we start worrying when our loved one won’t pick the phone for five minutes. This need becomes even more imperative when someone is traveling. Here we bring you a list of tips that you can increase your mobile phone connectivity when traveling with a special focus on Spiti Valley.

1. Research about connectivity in advance

Find out all you can about mobile connectivity issues of the region you are traveling in to stay informed and not be taken by surprise.

2. Pre-paid and postpaid connections

The first thing to be considered while traveling is considering whether your prepaid or postpaid connection will work in a given region. When traveling internationally, for example, you may want to consider getting a local number. These connections work well in Spiti Valley though not so much in Ladhakh. Most of the connectivity issues are with routes to the valley and there are some weak network zones and others where there is no network for several kilometers.

2. Selection of the telecom service provider

You might want to have a temporary connection with a service provider that works best locally. As far as Ladhakh and Spiti region go, BSNL is safest and Airtel is your second best bet. Even these connections fail in some routes in the region but the others are worse

3. Inform your friends and family

Inform them when you are about to enter a region with connection problems to save them from needless worries. Don’t tell them when they can next be sure to find you. Rather tell them that you will call them or send them a text whenever you find connection and keep doing it.

4. Satellite phones

In case of an emergency, you can use a satellite phone installed at Chandra dhaba on Manali-Kunzum Pass -Kaza route. The charges are 2 rupees per minute for STD/ISD calls. However, remember it is an emergency phone.

5. Data connectivity

The data connectivity is mostly limited in the Spiti valley.  The data speeds are low in the region. When traveling to such a region, Whatsapp is the most reliable chatting app. It manages to send text messages on very low speed even if it won’t send voice or image or video texts. And that is more than you can say about a lot of chatting apps.

6. Seasonal fluctuations

Connectivity suffers in and around Spiti Valley during winters when it is at its worst. Connectivity might also suffer due to weather changes and might be simply gone for several days for no good apparent reason.

7. Daily Variations

Networks work better during the days especially in mornings compared to nights and thus you will need to plan accordingly in and around Spiti valley. This is particularly true in case of BSNL and you should, thus, plan accordingly. Remember early and early to rise makes a good strategy in Ladhakh

8. Of course, Patience

The biggest problem is often the lack of patience in travelers. They are just too used to high internet speeds of big cities. It might take you several efforts to put through a call or send a single text back home. It is thus a test of patience more than anything else.

Conclusion

This is all on mobile connectivity in Spiti Valley. We hope you find this blog helpful. If there are tips that you think can help to let tourists stay connected, please write to us in the comments below.

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Group Travel Himalayas North India Travel Tips

5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh

It is as Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise; makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Well, normally, we would return with “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man an unhappy wife” but if you are traveling Ladhakh the Benjy advice is very important due to a number of factors. Here we bring you a list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh:

1. Beautiful Scenarios

For you don’t come this far to visit Ladhakh if you do not love its natural beauty. The breathtaking views nature has to offer are at their best in time for sunrise and sunsets. And so the first of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is to have time to go click-happy and ornament your Instagram account.

2. Avoiding delays

There are plenty of construction projects forever in motion in Ladhakh sometimes blocking roads for hours, in fact, there are many scheduled road closures. The later you start, the more chances of being stuck in a road closure. So next in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is that it is your best option if you wish to avoid delays or waiting for long hours in traffic. You may as well stay in your urban city if that is what you were going to do. Right? Besides the fact that delays will eat into your precious time (a traveler can never have enough time), they are just annoying and mood killers.

3. Avoiding snow slides and landslides

Another reason in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is that it is your best option if you wish to avoid snow slides and landslides. With an increase in temperature during the day, the snow starts melting causing problems on roads and even closing roads especially during the latter half of the day.

4. Avoiding shooting rocks

Yes you heard it, there is such a thing as shooting rocks and it is not a very pleasant thing.  The strong wind can carry stones at the speed of bullets which won’t be good for your cars’ glass windows. The later in the day, the more the speed of the wind. It is thus fourth in our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh. Like with watersides, your car might have to suffer from shooting stars because of your laziness. Show mercy on the poor thing!

5. A contingency plan

With so many factors working against you, it is always good to have a contingency plan. For it is not a very good thing if you end up at nowhere place in Ladhakh in the middle of the night. The cold climate, if nothing else, would bug you. Thus the last of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh is to make sure to reach your destination well in time before darkness.

Conclusion

So this is all from our list of 5 reasons to start early and sleep early while in Ladakh. We hope this blog helps in planning your trip. In fact, some of these reasons hold good for traveling in rough mountain regions at high altitudes in particular and all kind of travels in general. If you are lazy or a night animal like us, it is easier said than done but we do hope this blog will give even the laziest among you reason to get up early. ☺

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Travel Tips

Do’s and Dont’s for solo female travel!!

So you’re a female traveling solo in India? Here’s what you should know.

Despite popular belief, India is actually a great place for females to travel solo. India has separate sections reserved for women in transportation, family corners in restaurants and people tend to trust a female traveller more and are eager to take her in and help her out. But with the patriarchal mindset of people and growing cases of eve teasing and harassment, it is better to be prepared. Here are some basic Dos and Don’ts for females traveling alone in India (whether they be of Indian origin or foreigner):

1. Always be prepared and carry the basic maps, food, water and first aid kit with you. You don’t want to be lost and have to depend on someone else in such a situation. Invest in a guide book and that would always be a great help. Be self-reliant because your safety is in your own hands.

2.    Be confident and strike conversations. You would be amazed at how helpful people can be after just one smile and sometimes you discover amazing things by talking to the locals around the area. Everyone will be a stranger to you until you strike up a conversation. Yet, if you feel uncomfortable, it is okay to be rude and walk away. Indians feel very accepting of an alone woman traveling and would be warm and welcoming.

3. It is better to pack light and carry a simple backpack that you can take everywhere. Avoid the hassle of big luggage that might spoil your fun experience. Moreover, you can wear the backpack on your front to avoid typical eve teasers from copping a feel.  Only carry the necessities and avoid carrying things you can easily find where you’re going.

4.Do a little research about the culture of the area you are visiting. Avoid behavior that is frowned upon, like smoking right in front of a temple or any religious place. And while entering a temple or any other religious place, dress modestly.

5.    Be careful while booking a hotel and either depends on a friend already in the area or a highly reputed hotel chain. If you try to book the cheapest room, you might end up in an unfriendly neighborhood. See if there are other female travelers or families staying in that hotel. That is the best indication of whether it is a good hotel or not. Or have someone meet you at the bus stop or the railway station if you are arriving in the middle of the night. Maybe someone from the guesthouse where you are staying.

6.    Try to do most of the traveling by daytime and avoid traveling or exploring at night. And if you do wish to look upon the nightlife, it is better to have a safe means of transportation on hand. If your taxi or rickshaw driver insists on bringing a friend along, say NO or switch to another cab. It might sound paranoid but it is the best course of action. 

7.    At least have one person with whom you keep in touch, be it a phone call or a text. Tell them about all your plans and your location. Use a local sim card as it would cost you less. Send them regular updates about the places you are visiting or where you are staying.

8.    Always carry photocopies of your important documents like passport, visa etc. You don’t want to lose anything that important but it is a possibility, in which case, you should be prepared.

9.    Though some cities in India have become more open to fashion, yet it is recommended to dress modestly to avoid unwanted stares. Chose your outfit based on the local females, or go with the usual T-shirt and jeans. Avoid wearing clothes with low necklines and miniskirts to avoid unwanted attention. Especially while traveling on buses and trains, as you will become the starting spot of every person.

10.    Carry a book or earphones with you, to avoid unwanted conversations with people. People can be extremely chatty with tourists, so if you wish to not indulge in such conversations, plug in your earphones or pretend that you are calling someone.

11.    Most of the harassment and unwanted groping happens at what we call ‘party spots’. Try to avoid drinking in public and these crowded spots or night parties. Beaches are also a no-go for long walks at night.  Eve teasing is a major problem in India and you can always report it to the authorities.

12.    Finally, remember to raise your voice if you come across a situation where you feel unsafe. Most men would back off in such a situation. Moreover, the people nearby would try to help out. If you let the people around you know about the situation, the person would feel embarrassed. You can also involve police in extreme cases.

So that is a complete list of things you should keep in mind while traveling alone in India. But don’t let this scare you. India is a magnificent place and a country that will ruin traveling for you because there will be no place that would ever compare to the fun and craziness. 

Drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com and plan your trip to India.

Categories
Travel Tips Travel Trends

Best practices for currency exchange

For travelers, there are many options available for carrying money internationally. It may be in the form of cash or debit and credit cards, traveler’s cheque, and prepaid cards. We are here to discuss how to minimize your spending by adopting better conversion practice. Even avid international travelers find currency exchange to be a pain. And even the best of us are sometimes unable to do the math right. When you see your hard-earned money getting deducted by transaction fees and bank charges, it is a problem.

  1. Say no to Airport conversion.

NEVER exchange currencies on Airport outlets unless it is an emergency and you desperately need money for visa fees or cab fare, in which case, convert only the amount you immediately need. These outlets charge the highest exchange rate and you lose a lot of money.

  1. How much cash do you need?

Get a vague idea of how much money you will need for the whole trip and carry only 30% of the amount in the currency of the country you are visiting with you. The rest of the amount can be withdrawn from ATMs, you can use credit or debit cards or load up your Forex travel card.

  1. Compare exchange rates

There are sites like extratravelmoney.com that let you compare exchange rates quoted by authorized money changers. This will give you a fair idea of what to expect so you won’t be cheated into a higher rate.

  1. Forex card over Debit card

Your debit card contains the currency of your home country and when you withdraw from an ATM overseas, it gives you money in the foreign currency after deducting currency conversion markup up to 5 percent as well as bank charges of 3.5 %. On the other hand, Forex travel cards contain money in the local currency so you won’t have to pay any additional charges.

  1. All you need to know about Forex Card

You can get a Forex card from your bank by paying a fixed price but make sure that your Forex dealer is authorized. Always keep a spare card with you and while some dealers won’t charge for a spare card, you should pay minimal fees if they require it. Just to be on the safe side.

  1. Avoid traveler’s cheques

These were the old Forex cards but have become outdated in today’s age. Most overseas banks charge 4-5% commission on en-cashing these cheques. Better to stick with the cash you brought with you and your Forex card.

  1. Better exchange rates:

It is better to plan ahead and convert your money a few days before your trip. Wait to see if the exchange rates are dropping or rising and buy at the right time to avoid any losses. And keep it simple. It is good to carry a little amount in US dollars since it is accepted in many countries and is a strong currency but doesn’t convert all your money into one currency. Keep in mind the place you are traveling and act accordingly.

  1. The credit card is your friend

For international shopping or any heavy spending, use your international credit card. They give you a better exchange rate and are reliable even in a foreign country. You don’t have to worry about carrying too much cash on the person. Plus many credit cards offer additional benefits that might come in handy.

And that is all. Hopefully, your currency exchange problems will be a little resolved after reading this. Some additional tips for you are: Don’t count your money in public, stay away from black markets and use currency converter apps to know the latest rate and the exact conversion.

Categories
Travel Tips

10 Decisions that helped us achieve our travel goals!!

Being such avid travelers and wandering around India, exploring places has taught us one simple thing and many life-long lessons about travel planning. There is no such thing as free travel. Being a traveler means knowing how to cut costs and making right investment planning. It is simple economics when it comes down to it. The more we save, the more we are capable of traveling. But just saving isn’t enough unless you also invest that money in profitable ways. Sometimes friends who are quite well to do in jobs and earn in lakhs ask us how we can fund our travels, even while earning as less as 20000 INR per month. Yet, we still managed to continue traveling extensively across India. The basic details on how we can do that and how you can do it too are with these ten decisions:

1. Start a travel fund and actually save:

No matter how little you earn, starting a dedicated travel fund and putting away some money expressly for travels is always a good option. Savings is the first step towards funding travels and even though we have earned very low salaries, we could still save enough to be able to travel in India and some other countries easily through our own money. It is all about little pennies and nickels that one day fill up a jar.

How did we create a Travel Fund?

Starting a travel fund is quite easy but the problem comes in maintaining it. For as long as we have known it, travel has been our sole passion and as such, we saved a large chunk of our salaries and stashed it away in the travel fund. This constituted of cutting down majorly on unnecessary costs. But that doesn’t mean we had to lead a dull life on a daily basis apart from when we were traveling, we kept smaller funds for everyday fun things like parties and movies, but there had to be a balance. If we spent too much on, say a movie, then the next travel destination would be a cheaper one instead of an exotic location. This was we were able to live an interesting and exciting life while also fulfilling the travel dreams.

2. Travel in public transport:

Traveling in public transport is actually a big transport and when it is just us, we prefer traveling by public transport. Though it can be sometimes inconvenient and take more time, it reduces the cost a lot. Take the example of traveling from Bhopal to Bhimbetka, while a cab would probably charge around INR 3500, a Government bus would probably charge around INR 50. That is seven times the saving. We actually prefer the govt. buses because along with being really cost-efficient, they are also quite punctual. Same with traveling in sleeper class in trains and metros etc.

Even in abroad travel, public transport is the cheapest way to travel, so we only took metro trains when we were in Dubai and Australia. Traveling in cabs at such expensive places would have emptied more than half our traveling budget. Same was the case when we travelled in Tashkent.

3. Choose a budget accommodation wisely

The two major expenses that occurred in traveling are the transportation and accommodation. Everything else is just an add-up cost. So, choosing the right budget accommodation is very important. As a traveler, we rarely spend our time stuck in a hotel room, no matter how luxurious it might be. And unless you are being sponsored, there is no point in spending on an expensive hotel room. We always pay for the most basic accommodation, since the point is to stay out all day and just come back to the room to sleep or often work.

Most of our efforts are in finding a hotel room or a homestay which falls within a price range of INR 500 or below. And it is a fact from experience that often such places are in fact, clean and serve good food and even are located centrally sometimes. But the main problem is that since they aren’t available for booking online, most travelers don’t know about it. We have often had good memories in spending time with local families at places like Fort Kochi. It just cost us around INR 400 and the place was within walking distance of all major points in Fort Kochi.

Even in expensive places, such as Goa it is easy to find inexpensive huts for less than INR 500 and while we were there we found a cool and cheap beach-facing hut with the help of a friend.  The same thing happened in Andaman and we found a hut on an island as cheap as INR 300. Everyone knows that Andaman is not a cheap destination and yet, with some will, we could find a place. Though things aren’t the same about staying outside India. 

4. Travel during off season and save money

Usually, off-season means bad weather conditions and not a right opportunity to see a place in its most magnificent self but that is not always the case. Sometimes off-season is because of prime time for salaried-employees or exams for students which calls for low hospitality services. In case you don’t have these reservations, this might be the best time to travel in luxury and yet at cheap cost. One can easily take advantage of the lesser crowd, negotiate prices and find cheap flights and accommodation easily. It might even mean better service in restaurant just because of low crowds. But sometimes the off-season is specifically due to bad weather conditions like in the case of Ladakh or Goa. In such cases, it is better to book at the far end of season. The good weather would still be there and accompanied by better services. We went to Nubra Valley Leh around October and got pretty good deals. Weekdays are even better options along with-travelling off-season. We have been to Ladakh in both on and off-season and we certainly preferred the latter.

5. Plan travel well in advance:

This is something we don’t really do ourselves but it is probably a good option for cost saving. We just consider ourselves to be more impulsive travellers and as such never plan things beforehand. The only thing that wed o always remember to do is book rail tickets in advance since those are generally sold out quite quickly. A better option is to do the bookings 3 months in advance at least.

Even if the trip ends up not panning out, the most we would lose would be little money in cancellation fees. While buses and flights get pricier every passing day. It is better to book in advance. The expensive tickets to exotic locations like Andaman and Ladakh etc can be quite cheap if booked like a year in advance. And our friend has done that plenty of times.

6. Free things to do in a new country saves cost

Every tourist wishes to travel first to the most known locations and most known popular spots of a country they are visiting but things like this cost money. Australia and UAE are both expensive countries, and so it was hard for us to decide how we would be allocating our budget while we were there. We did not want to spend too much out of our travel fund. We played it smartly and only indulged in free to do things. There is just so much to do in both U.A.E and Australia. Our only expenses turned out to be food and metro charges. Mostly the places of interest were at a walking distance from the metro station so we did not have to take a single cab ride throughout our whole trip.

All fit and healthy travelers should opt for walking and metros. Main places in Dubai like the Burj Khalifa are accessible to metro station, same with the opera house in Sydney. You can always read blogs about the freedom to do things in both nations and come up with an extensive list of options.

7. Traveling with a company also saves money

Though we do prefer our own company while traveling, going solo is not always the most cost-efficient option. We have often traveled with other groups and people with a similar mindset and during those trips, we were able to save a lot of money. The main saving comes from splitting costs of accommodation and food and we were even able to try out more cuisines at restaurants that we usually would have been able to. Moreover, a good company offers more than just cost benefits, it is usually more fun and the enjoyment is manifold.

8. Avoid unnecessary expenses

There is a kind of joy in minimalism and though we don’t suggest shunning everything and leading a boring life, for we know that we don’t, it is still important that one cuts down the costs of unnecessary expenses.  One must know how to strike a balance between usual means of entertainment with the common movie-watching and occasional restaurant visits to enjoy it all. Minimalism is not about shunning all expensive things. We have an expensive camera and a laptop and can still be called minimalist. The main objective is to avoid hoarding things. Never have more luggage than what can fit into a small van. Minimalism is not about sleeping on a mattress or being frugal about it. We give away our old clothes and often gifts as well to maids and poor people, even the ones we meet during travels.

But even more important from not hoarding and letting go of the additional baggage is the shopping habits. We make it a rule to never buy anything that we do not need. Sometimes we do buy stuff for friend and family, some gifts or handicrafts mainly to support the locals but never a souvenir for ourselves that we know would be sitting on a shelf somewhere collecting dust in the days to come.

9. Backyard Tourism

Sometimes in our quest to explore new regions and go off see distant lands, we forget to consider our own cities. There is this treasure house of wonderful experiences sitting right in our backyard that we do not see.  Delhi is such an interesting place. We often go exploring different parts of Delhi on weekends. It costs even less because you know the place like the back of your hand and there are always perks of being a local- Metros, lots of walking, local food stalls and bookstores. Even the popular places that we usually avoided going to, just because it is right there, we finally went sightseeing.

10. Buy Term Insurance To Safeguard from unforeseen events during travel

This is one of the most important things, where one must think about savings and financial security. A traveller must know where to save and term insurance is one such thing. When we started, we were rash and careless and didn’t know where to save but over the years we have gotten more careful. Moreover, now we understand the importance of saving in term insurance. With a term plan , you can safeguard your loved ones’ finances from unpredictable circumstances in case something untoward were to happen while travelling.

About Aegon Life:

With a complete product suite of life insurance plans, superior technology, and customized service, Aegon Life Insurance Company Limited launched its pan-India operations in July 2008. As a joint venture between Aegon – world’s leading financial services and Bennett, Coleman & Company – India’s leading media house, Aegon Life Insurance adopts a local approach to facilitate customer interaction. Our vision to be the most recommended new age life insurance company has enabled us to leverage digital platforms that bring transparent solutions to customer needs. Our financial planning and investment solutions include term life insurance plans, pension plans, unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs), health insurance plans, child education plans, and more.

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