Categories
Travel

Up In The Air

My return flight from my vacation is around 22 hours, you can spend some time sleeping, some time watching the movies, but 2 segments of the journey never had entertainment on the flight. So I used this time to capture some take offs and landing of the A 310, A340 etc . If you are fascinated how the plane takes off and lands and see how the ailerons on the wings are doing their job this is a video for you. But if you just like watching the beautiful sky and clouds then you will like this video too.

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Beaches Favorite Get aways Nature Travel

Beaches – Kollam

I can watch the oceans for hours, it never tires me out. What better way to get a glimpse of the oceans and waves other than capturing it digitally and publishing it. You can go to the oceans when ever you like. This is one of my digital getaways. I’m sure you will enjoy this beach on the shores of the Arabian sea. I have spend quite a bit of my time here, when ever I get time to travel to this part of the world.

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Europe Favorite Get aways Nature Paris Travel

Paris, Ride on “La Siene”

One way to visit all the important tourist spots is to take a ride on the “Hop on Hop off” boat and bus ride. You can take a one day or two day pass and visit 9 important tourist spots. I started the ride from the Eiffel tower. The following is a view of the boat that takes your around.
Love this country, still enjoyed my second trip to this country and I am sure I will try to revisit again.

Categories
Europe Favorite Get aways Travel

Canada to Europe to Sub-Continent

Multi Continent – Multi city travel 2012

This summer I have planned a multi-city, multi-continent travel, these are some aspects that I came across, in the planning process. I am sure I will get a better perspective once I have executed my plan.

International Sector – Tips
While booking my journey with a travel agent from North America through Europe to the sub-continent, this is one least expected outcome. Normally when you travel from North America to any destination you are permitted 2 bags – 2 pieces of luggage and a carry on.
Since I was breaking my journey in Paris, France, this is how I planned my flight. Toronto Pearson to Paris, CDG airport by Air Canada, From Paris to the subcontinent using a different airline. So this is what Air Canada does, it gives me just 1 piece of baggage for checking in however, the rest of my journey and return I have two pieces of baggage that I can check in. This is ridiculous, so now I have to pay extra for an additional piece of baggage while I am traveling from Toronto to Paris, but I don’t have to pay for the return flight that is Paris to Toronto. Which means Air Canada is not interested in my business; while I am trying to show how Canadian I am and try to help the national airline this is what they choose to do. One reason why I will not fly Air Canada the next time. So make sure, that your travel agent is clear about such aspects and not be caught off guard at the airport. Before buying the ticket you will have a better chance of negotiating a better price for such anomalies, so make sure.

Traveling within France ( or Europe) – To south of France.
Once you arrive at CDG Charles De Gaulle airport, and if you plan to see the city and travel to other cities, it is good to get an accommodation in and around Montparnasse. The railway station (Gare as it is called in France) is a good starting point for most of the cities.

From the Airport you can get shuttle buses that bring you to the different railway stations, it is also possible to get airport to city rides by using “Paris-City-Line” You can make a booking on-line and they will pick you up from the airport. Rates are not too cheap. From CDG to Gare Montparnasse it costs about Euro 80/- and it takes about 45 minutes, time depends on the trafic.
If you plan to travel in Europe and visit more than one city it would be a good idea to buy a “Rail Europe” pass
“Rail Europe” Website
http://www.raileurope.ca
What are your options
1. Buy a rail pass
2. Buy a round trip ticket
3. Buy one way tickets to and from destinations.

Comparing the prices I find that the best option is to buy a rail pass as the rates are good for it. Round trips may be slightly cheap, this is good if you are not travelling to any more than destinations.

Once you buy a “Rail Europe” pass it does not guarantee a seat on a train. Some trains need a seat reservation. You will have to make a reservation on the train you have chosen, if there are no seats on the train you may be disappointed when you arrive at the railway station.
Here is the link for reservation of your tickets if you have a “Rail Europe” pass.
http://www.raileurope.ca/canada/rail/point_to_point/passholderrequest.htm

If you have an iPhone or iOs device you can install the Rail Europe app and you can have a lot of information in you hands here is the link to the app on iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rail-europe/id430956244?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

This is a free application.

Apparently it works very well in the US and European currency, not so much in the Canadian currency, hopefully it would have been updated and fixed. You will have to enable location services on your device. In spite of this you can still access a lot of other information necessary for your travel. I would recommend it.

Once you have planned your multi-city trip buy the ticket and just wait for that wonderful experience.

Will post some videos of my trip once I am back, and some of the actual experiences and differences since my last travel in 2006.

Categories
Beaches Events Favorite Get aways

Canada Day 2012 July

Here are a few sights of the Canada Day parade in Toronto, Brimley and Lawrence. There are a number of locations with interesting activities for the day. The Fireworks in the night is another attraction of the day.
The Choo, Choo Train.

Hill Billy Gals

Fire works at night