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Scotland: Historic Dunoon Burgh Hall is now a tourist info centre
Dunoon (TAN): A historic building in this small town has been turned into a tourist information centre.
Dunoon Burgh Hall, an Historic Environment Scotland Category B listed building, has joined the group of over 140 VisitScotland iKnow Partners across Argyll & the Isles, the country’s national tourism organisation said in a statement.
The iKnow Partner programme harnesses the local knowledge to make varied choices available to visitors so that they can make the most of their trip to Scotland. Continue reading Scotland: Historic Dunoon Burgh Hall is now a tourist info centre →
A Japanese Diwali: How it’s different from India
Among the many things travel teaches you is how things you take for granted back home don’t come easily to everyone else. A fine example of this is fireworks.
Back home in India, even if it’s not Diwali, it’s easy for anyone to go to a store or order fireworks online. And then, unless there is a specific ban at a certain place/time, you are free to light them up at weddings, birthdays or for no reason at all.
Not so in many countries. Certainly not in Japan, where a fireworks show conducted by the government is an occasion for hundreds of people to dress up and go witness. Continue reading A Japanese Diwali: How it’s different from India →
Those rocks in Lake Thetis aren’t really rocks
WHY I WENT?
Some weeks before I was about to leave for Australia, a colleague of mine lent me a book and said, “Arnab, as someone visiting Australia, I believe you’ll find this book very interesting.”
I had no idea who Bill Bryson was before reading Down Under.
But I am so glad I read it before Australia because the author’s wit is infectious and the book definitely made my trip richer. It was in this book that I read about stromatolites and I went to Lake Thetis to see them.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
Exactly for the same reason I went. To see how the modern versions of Earth’s first living organisms look like.
Continue reading Those rocks in Lake Thetis aren’t really rocks →
Take an Australian Aboriginal culture tour on Rottnest Island
Perth (TAN): Rottnest Island off the Western Australia coast has more to offer to visitors than just quokka selfies.
Visitors to the island can also experience traditional Aboriginal culture as part of new cultural tours made available on the island.
A company called Go Cultural Aboriginal Tours and Experiences offers visitors a walking tour to learn about Rottnest’s past and its spiritual significance to Noongar people. Continue reading Take an Australian Aboriginal culture tour on Rottnest Island →
Western Australia eyes Indian tourists through MasterChef
Perth (TAN): Western Australia is set to promote itself as a tourism destination on top-rating cooking TV show MasterChef Australia. The state government is especially excited about the exposure they will get in India through the show.
Optus Stadium, Perth, the Swan Valley, Margaret River and Rottnest Island will feature in the show, a government statement said.
Western Australia’s tourism minister Paul Papalia said a major reason why they were excited about this partnership was the show’s popularity in India, a “key tourism target market for WA”. Continue reading Western Australia eyes Indian tourists through MasterChef →
SAS strikes deal with pilots’ union, week-long strike ends
Stockholm (TAN): Good news for travellers flying across northern Europe. The Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) pilot strike has come to an end following an agreement on Thursday.
All flights in Denmark, Norway and Sweden will resume ‘as soon as possible’, SAS said.
The seven-day strike that affected approximately 360,000 passengers, led to cancellation of 4,015 flights after the pilots stopped work on April 26. Continue reading SAS strikes deal with pilots’ union, week-long strike ends →
Travel for travel’s sake: When you have to go, you have to go
Today, May 3, 2019, S. Vikram of Madurai is leaving home. He is off on an epic journey from India’s southernmost town, Kanyakumari, to Kashmir in the north. On foot.
The 23-year-old has left his job of 1.5 years at a car service centre and is off on his big adventure. He has almost no money. But his will is strong. He believes things will fall in place once he is on the road.
The travel bug is a complicated thing. Or maybe it’s not. When it bites you, you tend to do things many people would consider illogical. Continue reading Travel for travel’s sake: When you have to go, you have to go →
23-year-old set for 4000-km walking adventure across India
(TAN): A 23-year-old man from Madurai will on Friday — May 3 — embark on an incredible journey from South India’s Kanyakumari to Kashmir in the country’s extreme north. On foot and on his own.
Speaking to TAN, S. Vikram, who left his job of 1.5 years at a car service station to go on this odyssey, said he has not done many adventurous things in his life yet. But he felt he couldn’t let life just go by.
“I have been inspired by several people, especially Shubham Dharmsktu, who is just about the complete his Kashmir-to-Kanyakumari solo walking expedition,” Vikram said. Continue reading 23-year-old set for 4000-km walking adventure across India →
I took an overnight Scania bus from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Here’s how it went
Earlier this year, my Ahmedabad to Mumbai journey by an overnight bus happened at very short notice.
My Plan A had been to go to Kutch with a friend. When the friend became unavailable, I did not want to visit Kutch alone and decided to head to Mumbai. Looking at options, I realised I didn’t want to pay that much money for the short flight and train tickets weren’t available. Bus seemed like the best choice.
I did not choose the cheapest option, which was be less than INR 500. I was not expecting a sound sleep, but I did expect a somewhat comfortable rest, which is why I chose an air-conditioned sleeper Scania coach operated by Chirag Travel Company. I made the booking through Redbus and it cost me INR1,166. Continue reading I took an overnight Scania bus from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Here’s how it went →
Thailand sits up and takes action as tourist numbers fall
Bangkok (TAN): Thailand experienced a rare drop in the number of tourist arrivals and spending in March.
Data collected by data and media firm Bloomberg show visitor numbers fell by 0.7 per cent from a year ago to 3.5 million. Spending by visitors was THB 184.5 billion, a drop of 1.3 per cent.
The tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s economy and the government has already taken notice and initiated action to woo tourists. Continue reading Thailand sits up and takes action as tourist numbers fall →
Don’t go to Sri Lanka unless essential, India advises its citizens
New Delhi (TAN): The Indian government has advised citizens “not to undertake non-essential travel” to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the April 21 terror attacks that left hundreds dead on the island nation.
India is a huge tourism market for Sri Lanka.
“The government of Sri Lanka has beefed up the security in the country. A nation-wide emergency including night-time curfew is in place at present which may also affect travel within Sri Lanka,” a statement by India’s ministry of external affairs said on Saturday. Continue reading Don’t go to Sri Lanka unless essential, India advises its citizens →
Glasgow from Edinburgh on an electric ScotRail train
Edinburgh (TAN): Scottish railway company ScotRail has launched the first-ever Hitachi class 385 electric train on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route that runs through the town of Shotts.
The electric train was introduced on the route after electrification of the line that cost Network Rail GBP 160 million to complete.
“We are delighted to be introducing the first Hitachi class 385 electric train on the Shotts line and we thank customers for their patience during the improvement works,” ScotRail Chief Operating Officer Angus Thom said. Continue reading Glasgow from Edinburgh on an electric ScotRail train →