Here's the weather forecast for some of the cities in Egypt. They are the averages for the time we will be there:
Alexandria - 84
Aswan - 98
Abu Simbel - 93
Cairo - 87
Luxor - 95
Sharm El Sheikh - 89
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
To Do In Cairo
Welcome to Egypt! Alas! Welcome to the last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Great Pyramid of Giza. Before heading straight to Giza here are some suggestions on sites to see and whereabouts to go within Cairo.
For all religious buffs Old (Coptic) Cairo is the place to venture. Many of Egypt’s churches are here and it is the center of Old Christian community. If one wants to visit this area be sure to stop by at the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra synagogue which is Egypt’s oldest synagogue. If one is a religious historian the old cobbled streets and Roman remains in this area should interest one thoroughly.
For those interested in exploring streets and shopping at bazaars, venture to Islamic (Medieval) Cairo. Here there are mosques, the Citadel, and the big bazaar called the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar. On of the major mosques in this area is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali (Editors note, this is the mosque of the prophet, not the boxer.) If you like to do big things, the Ibn Tulun is located here and it is one of the largest mosques in the world.
Since there are no more artifacts in the tombs, these have all been relocated to the Egyptian Museum. There are mummies and other relics that houses all of Egypt’s glory. Some have described the boy-king’s death mask that is made of solid gold as on e of the most beautiful objects ever seen. The museum is open from 9-5 daily. Do not miss this!
The City of the Dead (Qarafa) is located on the east side of Cairo. This is a “living cemetery” because many live in these cemeteries. Not only do they live here many of Cairo’s poor work here as well. Quite interesting.
Since the Nile is in Cairo one MUST take a felucca ride on the Nile. A felucca is an ancient sail boat and who wouldn’t want to ride one on the second largest river in the world? Walk to the Garden city which is across from the Meridian Hotel for your launch along the Nile. Many say that this is awesome and not too expensive. So we knowledgeable librarians highly recommend this fun activity.
Another suggestion is dinner at Cairo Tower which is a slowly revolving restaurant located on Gazera Island. It allows for a great panoramic view of the city and would be lovely at sunset. It is open from 9am-1am.
One last cultural activity one should do in Cairo is only available on Wednesday and Saturday nights. There are free performances by Sufi dancers at the Mausoleum of Al-Ghouri in Islamic Cairo and also at the Citadel. If one has the slightest idea of what a whirling dervish is, one should surely venture after going to Cairo Tower for dinner. If one does not know, wiki it since its free!
For all religious buffs Old (Coptic) Cairo is the place to venture. Many of Egypt’s churches are here and it is the center of Old Christian community. If one wants to visit this area be sure to stop by at the Hanging Church and the Ben Ezra synagogue which is Egypt’s oldest synagogue. If one is a religious historian the old cobbled streets and Roman remains in this area should interest one thoroughly.
For those interested in exploring streets and shopping at bazaars, venture to Islamic (Medieval) Cairo. Here there are mosques, the Citadel, and the big bazaar called the Khan Al-Khalili bazaar. On of the major mosques in this area is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali (Editors note, this is the mosque of the prophet, not the boxer.) If you like to do big things, the Ibn Tulun is located here and it is one of the largest mosques in the world.
Since there are no more artifacts in the tombs, these have all been relocated to the Egyptian Museum. There are mummies and other relics that houses all of Egypt’s glory. Some have described the boy-king’s death mask that is made of solid gold as on e of the most beautiful objects ever seen. The museum is open from 9-5 daily. Do not miss this!
The City of the Dead (Qarafa) is located on the east side of Cairo. This is a “living cemetery” because many live in these cemeteries. Not only do they live here many of Cairo’s poor work here as well. Quite interesting.
Since the Nile is in Cairo one MUST take a felucca ride on the Nile. A felucca is an ancient sail boat and who wouldn’t want to ride one on the second largest river in the world? Walk to the Garden city which is across from the Meridian Hotel for your launch along the Nile. Many say that this is awesome and not too expensive. So we knowledgeable librarians highly recommend this fun activity.
Another suggestion is dinner at Cairo Tower which is a slowly revolving restaurant located on Gazera Island. It allows for a great panoramic view of the city and would be lovely at sunset. It is open from 9am-1am.
One last cultural activity one should do in Cairo is only available on Wednesday and Saturday nights. There are free performances by Sufi dancers at the Mausoleum of Al-Ghouri in Islamic Cairo and also at the Citadel. If one has the slightest idea of what a whirling dervish is, one should surely venture after going to Cairo Tower for dinner. If one does not know, wiki it since its free!
Using UVa Databases on your laptop
If you have been trying to use the UVa databases on your personal laptop and have been getting error messages after typing in your UVa password (NOT your 24 Online password), there is a solution!
You need to configure your browser to accept the proxy server on your laptop. How to do this when you are in the browser:
Using Explorer for PCs and Macs
1. Tools menu
2. Internet options
3. Connections
4. Lan settings
5. Use automatic configuration script
6. Address: http://proxy.virginia.edu/
7. OK
Firefox for PCs
1. Tools menu
2. Options
3. Advanced
4. Network
5. Under Connecton, hit Settings
6. Use Automatic proxy configuration script
7. URL: http://proxy.virginia.edu/
8. OK
Firefox 1.5.0.12 for Macs
(Safari does not work with the proxy server)
1. Firefox menu
2. Preferences
3. General
4. Connection settings
5. Automatics proxy configuration
6. http://proxy.virginia.edu/
7. OK
Firefox 2.0.0.4 for Macs
(Safari does not work with the proxy server)1. Firefox menu
2. Preferences
3. Advanced tab
4. Network tab
5. Settings
6. Automatic proxy configuration URL
7. http://proxy.virginia.edu/
8. OK
To access the UVa Library Databases:
1. To to: http://library.semesteratsea.net
2. Follow the links to the UVa Free databases
3. Choose a database
4. Enter your proxy server id and password
If you get the 24Online login screen when searching UVa databases, all online time after that will be charged to your shipboard account. If you get this screen, talk to the librarian for other research options before entering your 24Online id and password.
You need to configure your browser to accept the proxy server on your laptop. How to do this when you are in the browser:
Using Explorer for PCs and Macs
1. Tools menu
2. Internet options
3. Connections
4. Lan settings
5. Use automatic configuration script
6. Address: http://proxy.virginia.edu/
7. OK
Firefox for PCs
1. Tools menu
2. Options
3. Advanced
4. Network
5. Under Connecton, hit Settings
6. Use Automatic proxy configuration script
7. URL: http://proxy.virginia.edu/
8. OK
Firefox 1.5.0.12 for Macs
(Safari does not work with the proxy server)
1. Firefox menu
2. Preferences
3. General
4. Connection settings
5. Automatics proxy configuration
6. http://proxy.virginia.edu/
7. OK
Firefox 2.0.0.4 for Macs
(Safari does not work with the proxy server)1. Firefox menu
2. Preferences
3. Advanced tab
4. Network tab
5. Settings
6. Automatic proxy configuration URL
7. http://proxy.virginia.edu/
8. OK
To access the UVa Library Databases:
1. To to: http://library.semesteratsea.net
2. Follow the links to the UVa Free databases
3. Choose a database
4. Enter your proxy server id and password
If you get the 24Online login screen when searching UVa databases, all online time after that will be charged to your shipboard account. If you get this screen, talk to the librarian for other research options before entering your 24Online id and password.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Database Du Jour
The OED Online!!!!
Did you know that the term pirate has been used since 1387? How did we become so knowledgeable about the entomology of words? By using the Oxford English Dictionary database, brought to you by the University of Virginia for free! This database gives examples of literary works when the word in question is used. For example, “a1616 SHAKESPEARE Twelfth Night (1623) V. i. 65 Notable Pyrate, thou salt-water Theefe.” As one can read, the date, author, and title of the work are given, along with the sentence. Not only does the OED give the definition and the entomology, it usually gives a number of definitions for the word. The first definition for pirate is “a person who plunders or robs from ships at sea.” The second definition is “a vessel used for piracy or manned by pirates.” The third definition is “a person or company who reproduces or uses the work of another (as a book, recording, computer program, etc.) without authority and esp. in contravention of patent or copyright; a plagiarist.” There are not only three definitions for the pirate, there are six. If you are so intrigued by this lovely database feel free to use your proxy id and password to learn other uses for pirates and the entomology of many other words.
Did you know that the term pirate has been used since 1387? How did we become so knowledgeable about the entomology of words? By using the Oxford English Dictionary database, brought to you by the University of Virginia for free! This database gives examples of literary works when the word in question is used. For example, “a1616 SHAKESPEARE Twelfth Night (1623) V. i. 65 Notable Pyrate, thou salt-water Theefe.” As one can read, the date, author, and title of the work are given, along with the sentence. Not only does the OED give the definition and the entomology, it usually gives a number of definitions for the word. The first definition for pirate is “a person who plunders or robs from ships at sea.” The second definition is “a vessel used for piracy or manned by pirates.” The third definition is “a person or company who reproduces or uses the work of another (as a book, recording, computer program, etc.) without authority and esp. in contravention of patent or copyright; a plagiarist.” There are not only three definitions for the pirate, there are six. If you are so intrigued by this lovely database feel free to use your proxy id and password to learn other uses for pirates and the entomology of many other words.
Friday, October 12, 2007
CHEAP AIRFARE FOR INDIA
HEY EVERYONE!!
We know everyone is looking for cheap flights in India but the prices we are finding online are excessive! To try and help everyone out we asked a friend in India to suggest some cheap airlines. She suggested Indigo Airlines, Air Deccan, and Spice Jet. Indigo Airlines seems to be the cheapest.
Also We were able to find VERY CHEAP TICKETS via
http://www.makemytrip.co.in/makemytrip/flightSearchSubmit.do
This site is very cheap but it takes forever to find your flights. It keeps erasing the info and takes forever ...but just keep trying and eventually you will find super cheap tickets. Also, beware of taxes which often add up to the same amount as the ticket! Finally, we asked our friend if non-Indian students would be able to take the cheaper flights. Thankfully she responded yes. Hopefully this will save you quite a bit of money!
We know everyone is looking for cheap flights in India but the prices we are finding online are excessive! To try and help everyone out we asked a friend in India to suggest some cheap airlines. She suggested Indigo Airlines, Air Deccan, and Spice Jet. Indigo Airlines seems to be the cheapest.
Also We were able to find VERY CHEAP TICKETS via
http://www.makemytrip.co.in/makemytrip/flightSearchSubmit.do
This site is very cheap but it takes forever to find your flights. It keeps erasing the info and takes forever ...but just keep trying and eventually you will find super cheap tickets. Also, beware of taxes which often add up to the same amount as the ticket! Finally, we asked our friend if non-Indian students would be able to take the cheaper flights. Thankfully she responded yes. Hopefully this will save you quite a bit of money!
Doris Lessing- 2007 Nobel Peace Prize
Hey SASers... FYI: Yesterday, Doris Lessing, the novelists best known for her works in "The Golden Notebook," won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize in Literature! Below is an article on the anouncement of her award as well as an interview found in "The New York Times." Check it out in between studying for the Global Exam #2!!!...
The Arts/Cultural Desk; SECTA
Nobel to Lessing, Incisive Voice of Women's Fate
By MOTOKO RICH and SARAH LYALL; Motoko Rich reported from Frankfurt, and Sarah Lyall reported from London.
1169 words
12 October 2007
The New York Times
Late Edition - Final
1
English
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
Doris Lessing, the Persian-born, Rhodesian-raised and London-residing novelist whose deeply autobiographical writing has swept across continents and reflects her engagement with the social and political issues of her time, yesterday won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Announcing the award in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy described her as ''that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny.'' The award comes with a 10 million Swedish crown honorarium, about $1.6 million.
Ms. Lessing, who turns 88 this month, never finished high school and largely educated herself through voracious reading. She has written dozens of books of fiction, as well as plays, nonfiction and two volumes of autobiography. She is the 11th woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Ms. Lessing learned of the news from a group of reporters camped on her doorstep as she returned from a visit to the hospital with her son. ''I was a bit surprised because I had forgotten about it actually,'' she said. ''My name has been on the short list for such a long time.''
As the persistent sound of her ringing phone came from inside the house, Ms. Lessing said that on second thought, she was not as surprised ''because this has been going on for something like 40 years,'' referring to the number of times she has been mentioned as a likely honoree. ''Either they were going to give it to me sometime before I popped off or not at all.''
After a few moments, Ms. Lessing, who is stout, sharp and a bit hard of hearing, excused herself to go inside. ''Now I'm going to go in to answer my telephone,'' she said. ''I swear I'm going upstairs to find some suitable sentences, which I will be using from now on.''
Although Ms. Lessing is passionate about social and political issues, she is unlikely to be as controversial as the previous two winners, Orhan Pamuk of Turkey or Harold Pinter of Britain, whose views on current political situations led commentators to suspect that the Swedish Academy was choosing its winners in part for nonliterary reasons.
Ms. Lessing's strongest legacy may be that she inspired a generation of feminists with her breakthrough novel, ''The Golden Notebook.'' In its citation, the Swedish Academy said: ''The burgeoning feminist movement saw it as a pioneering work, and it belongs to the handful of books that informed the 20th-century view of the male-female relationship.''
Ms. Lessing wrote candidly about the inner lives of women and rejected the notion that they should limit their lives to marriage and children. ''The Golden Notebook,'' published in 1962, tracked the story of Anna Wulf, a woman who wanted to live freely and was, in some ways, Ms. Lessing's alter ego.
Because she frankly described anger and aggression in women, she was attacked as ''unfeminine.'' In response Ms. Lessing wrote, ''Apparently what many women were thinking, feeling, experiencing came as a great surprise.''
Although she has been held up as an early heroine of feminism, Ms. Lessing later denied that she herself was a feminist, for which she received the ire of some British critics and academics.
Ms. Lessing was born Doris May Tayler in 1919 in what is now Iran. Her father was a bank clerk, and her mother was trained as a nurse. Lured by the promise of farming riches, the family moved to what is now Zimbabwe, where Ms. Lessing had what she has called a painful childhood.
She left home when she was 15, and in 1937 she moved to Salisbury (now Harare) in Southern Rhodesia, where she took jobs as a telephone operator and nursemaid. She married at 19 and had two children. A few years later, feeling imprisoned, she abandoned her family. She later married Gottfried Lessing, a central member of the left-wing Left Book Club, and they had a son.
Ms. Lessing, who joined the Communist Party in Africa, repudiated Marxist theory during the Hungarian crisis of 1956, a view for which she was criticized by some British academics.
When she divorced Mr. Lessing, she and her young son, Peter, moved to London, where she began her literary career. Her debut novel, published in 1950, was ''The Grass Is Singing,'' which chronicled the relationship between a white farmer's wife and her black servant. In her earliest work Ms. Lessing drew upon her childhood experiences in colonial Rhodesia to write about the collision of white and black cultures and racial injustice.
Because of her outspoken views, the governments of Southern Rhodesia and South Africa declared her a ''prohibited alien'' in 1956.
When ''The Golden Notebook'' was first published in the United States, Ms. Lessing was still unknown. Robert Gottlieb, then her editor at Simon & Schuster and later at Alfred A. Knopf, said it sold only 6,000 copies. ''But they were the right 6,000 copies,'' Mr. Gottlieb said by telephone from his home in New York. ''The people who read it were galvanized by it, and it made her a famous writer in America.''
Speaking from Frankfurt during its annual international book fair, Jane Friedman, president and chief executive of HarperCollins, which has published Ms. Lessing in the United States and Britain for the last 20 years, said that ''for women and for literature, Doris Lessing is a mother to us all.''
Ms. Lessing's other novels include ''The Good Terrorist'' and ''Martha Quest.'' Her latest novel is ''The Cleft,'' published by HarperCollins in July. Much of her work in the latter half of her career has not received the critical response of her warmly received early material.
She has dabbled in science fiction, and some of her later works bear the imprint of her interest in Sufi mysticism, which she has interpreted as stressing a link between the fates of individuals and society.
Lynn Bryan, a friend of Ms. Lessing, spent some time at the author's home yesterday as flowers arrived, Champagne was served and the phone rang off the hook. Ms. Bryan said she asked Ms. Lessing why she thinks she won the prize this year.
'''I don't know,''' Ms. Bryan said the author replied. '''I am genuinely surprised because they rejected me all those years ago.'''
The phone rang again, Ms. Bryan said. It was another friend, whom Ms. Lessing was to meet that evening at a Chinese restaurant. She apologized and told him she couldn't. She had just won the Nobel Prize.
PHOTOS: Doris Lessing at her London home yesterday. On the Nobel: ''I had forgotten about it actually.''(PHOTOGRAPH BY KIERAN DOHERTY/REUTERS)(pg. A1); The Nobel Prize-winner Doris Lessing, who turns 88 this month, at her London home yesterday.(PHOTOGRAPH BY LEFTERIS PITARAKIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS)(pg. A6)
The Arts/Cultural Desk; SECTA
Nobel to Lessing, Incisive Voice of Women's Fate
By MOTOKO RICH and SARAH LYALL; Motoko Rich reported from Frankfurt, and Sarah Lyall reported from London.
1169 words
12 October 2007
The New York Times
Late Edition - Final
1
English
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
Doris Lessing, the Persian-born, Rhodesian-raised and London-residing novelist whose deeply autobiographical writing has swept across continents and reflects her engagement with the social and political issues of her time, yesterday won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Announcing the award in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy described her as ''that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny.'' The award comes with a 10 million Swedish crown honorarium, about $1.6 million.
Ms. Lessing, who turns 88 this month, never finished high school and largely educated herself through voracious reading. She has written dozens of books of fiction, as well as plays, nonfiction and two volumes of autobiography. She is the 11th woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Ms. Lessing learned of the news from a group of reporters camped on her doorstep as she returned from a visit to the hospital with her son. ''I was a bit surprised because I had forgotten about it actually,'' she said. ''My name has been on the short list for such a long time.''
As the persistent sound of her ringing phone came from inside the house, Ms. Lessing said that on second thought, she was not as surprised ''because this has been going on for something like 40 years,'' referring to the number of times she has been mentioned as a likely honoree. ''Either they were going to give it to me sometime before I popped off or not at all.''
After a few moments, Ms. Lessing, who is stout, sharp and a bit hard of hearing, excused herself to go inside. ''Now I'm going to go in to answer my telephone,'' she said. ''I swear I'm going upstairs to find some suitable sentences, which I will be using from now on.''
Although Ms. Lessing is passionate about social and political issues, she is unlikely to be as controversial as the previous two winners, Orhan Pamuk of Turkey or Harold Pinter of Britain, whose views on current political situations led commentators to suspect that the Swedish Academy was choosing its winners in part for nonliterary reasons.
Ms. Lessing's strongest legacy may be that she inspired a generation of feminists with her breakthrough novel, ''The Golden Notebook.'' In its citation, the Swedish Academy said: ''The burgeoning feminist movement saw it as a pioneering work, and it belongs to the handful of books that informed the 20th-century view of the male-female relationship.''
Ms. Lessing wrote candidly about the inner lives of women and rejected the notion that they should limit their lives to marriage and children. ''The Golden Notebook,'' published in 1962, tracked the story of Anna Wulf, a woman who wanted to live freely and was, in some ways, Ms. Lessing's alter ego.
Because she frankly described anger and aggression in women, she was attacked as ''unfeminine.'' In response Ms. Lessing wrote, ''Apparently what many women were thinking, feeling, experiencing came as a great surprise.''
Although she has been held up as an early heroine of feminism, Ms. Lessing later denied that she herself was a feminist, for which she received the ire of some British critics and academics.
Ms. Lessing was born Doris May Tayler in 1919 in what is now Iran. Her father was a bank clerk, and her mother was trained as a nurse. Lured by the promise of farming riches, the family moved to what is now Zimbabwe, where Ms. Lessing had what she has called a painful childhood.
She left home when she was 15, and in 1937 she moved to Salisbury (now Harare) in Southern Rhodesia, where she took jobs as a telephone operator and nursemaid. She married at 19 and had two children. A few years later, feeling imprisoned, she abandoned her family. She later married Gottfried Lessing, a central member of the left-wing Left Book Club, and they had a son.
Ms. Lessing, who joined the Communist Party in Africa, repudiated Marxist theory during the Hungarian crisis of 1956, a view for which she was criticized by some British academics.
When she divorced Mr. Lessing, she and her young son, Peter, moved to London, where she began her literary career. Her debut novel, published in 1950, was ''The Grass Is Singing,'' which chronicled the relationship between a white farmer's wife and her black servant. In her earliest work Ms. Lessing drew upon her childhood experiences in colonial Rhodesia to write about the collision of white and black cultures and racial injustice.
Because of her outspoken views, the governments of Southern Rhodesia and South Africa declared her a ''prohibited alien'' in 1956.
When ''The Golden Notebook'' was first published in the United States, Ms. Lessing was still unknown. Robert Gottlieb, then her editor at Simon & Schuster and later at Alfred A. Knopf, said it sold only 6,000 copies. ''But they were the right 6,000 copies,'' Mr. Gottlieb said by telephone from his home in New York. ''The people who read it were galvanized by it, and it made her a famous writer in America.''
Speaking from Frankfurt during its annual international book fair, Jane Friedman, president and chief executive of HarperCollins, which has published Ms. Lessing in the United States and Britain for the last 20 years, said that ''for women and for literature, Doris Lessing is a mother to us all.''
Ms. Lessing's other novels include ''The Good Terrorist'' and ''Martha Quest.'' Her latest novel is ''The Cleft,'' published by HarperCollins in July. Much of her work in the latter half of her career has not received the critical response of her warmly received early material.
She has dabbled in science fiction, and some of her later works bear the imprint of her interest in Sufi mysticism, which she has interpreted as stressing a link between the fates of individuals and society.
Lynn Bryan, a friend of Ms. Lessing, spent some time at the author's home yesterday as flowers arrived, Champagne was served and the phone rang off the hook. Ms. Bryan said she asked Ms. Lessing why she thinks she won the prize this year.
'''I don't know,''' Ms. Bryan said the author replied. '''I am genuinely surprised because they rejected me all those years ago.'''
The phone rang again, Ms. Bryan said. It was another friend, whom Ms. Lessing was to meet that evening at a Chinese restaurant. She apologized and told him she couldn't. She had just won the Nobel Prize.
PHOTOS: Doris Lessing at her London home yesterday. On the Nobel: ''I had forgotten about it actually.''(PHOTOGRAPH BY KIERAN DOHERTY/REUTERS)(pg. A1); The Nobel Prize-winner Doris Lessing, who turns 88 this month, at her London home yesterday.(PHOTOGRAPH BY LEFTERIS PITARAKIS/ASSOCIATED PRESS)(pg. A6)
USEFUL INDIA INFORMATION
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIA
Scroll down and look for the highlighted topic that pertains to you. Also, if you think of anything else that would be useful on the library blog, please tell us!! This site is for you!
American dollar currently worth 39.2 rupees
Changing Your Money
It's relatively straightforward changing money, especially in the larger cities. You are supposed to be given an encashment certificate when you change money at a bank or an official moneychanger; you'll need these encashment certificates to change Indian currency back into foreign currency when leaving India (at the international airport), however for exchanges below INR10000 certificates aren't necessary.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa; MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted. Credit cards can also be used to get cash advances in rupees at some banks. Nowadays, almost all Indian cities have 24-hour ATMs that may accept Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus and Visa. It's wise to check in advance with your home bank whether your card can access banking networks in India and if so, what the charge per transaction is and whether there are schemes to minimize these.
HANDLING BEGGARS
If you are traveling to India, you are bound to come across beggars. Mostly you will find them begging at the red lights. Following are some tips for handling Indian beggars. So, if you want to know some Indian beggar handling tips, read on:
If the beggar is a healthy person, don’t give him any money or anything else. Ignore such people. Just walk past them or pull up the windows if you are in a car.
In case of a physically handicapped person, you can give some money or even something to eat.
If you come across children begging on the street, don’t be surprised. Its better to give the children something to eat. If you give them money, it will most probably go into the pockets of their parents or some other person. They will hardly ever benefit from it.
Always give beggars money at the time of leaving a place, as you get in the car. Otherwise, there is a possibility of your getting mobbed.
Give a tip to beggars between Rs. 2 to Rs. 10. If you give more money than this, you will run the risk of getting mobbed by beggars.
Useful Phrases
When traveling in India, having an idea of common Indian phrases will help you in communicating more effectively with the locals. These frequently used phrases in India are usually very handy when you want to know your surroundings better and mingle with the locals. It also ensures that you are not taken for a ride in an unknown country. You will find help right away if you are stuck in a situation, as you are able to communicate at a more personal level with people around you. Check out this list of common helpful phrases for conversing with people in India.
English to Hindi
Hi or Hello ....Namaste
Please ...... Please
Thank You ....... Shukhriya
Yes....... Haan
No ........ Nahin
Where can I find .......... Kahan milenge
I want water ....... Mujhe paani chahiye
I want a ticket ....... Mujhe ticket chahiye
Where is the toilet ...... Bathroom kahan hai
Is this very far........ Kya ye bahut door hai
How much is this ........ Ye kitne ka hai
This is too expensive ....... Ye bahut mehenga hai
Make this price less ......... Bhaav kam karo
How are you? ....... Aap kaise hain?
Sorry ............ Maaf kijiye
Please ........... Kripaya
Ok ........... Theek hai
What? .......... Kya?
Where? ........ Kahan?
How? ........... Kaise?
When? .......... Kab?
Who? ............ Kaun?
Why? ........ Kyon?
What is the price? ........Iska kya daam hai?
I don't understand ........... Mai samjha nahi
Tell me the way please ........... Kripya raasta bataiye
Customs of India
India is a modern country yet the customs and traditions are religiously followed in urban as well as rural India. These traditions of India are what give India an individual identity and lend a mystical essence to the atmosphere. One finds a unique and harmonious co-existence of many different religions in India. This gives rise to an umpteen number of traditions. India is a secular country and everyone has the right to pursue a religion of his/her own choice. Indian customs and rituals vary from one region to another, yet they are known in a collective form of Indian traditions. Read on further to know about the unique customs, rituals and traditions of India.
Traditional Welcome In India
a guest is considered as equal to God. So welcoming a guest is no less than an event. The guest is given a very warm traditional welcome in which he/she is garlanded and given a welcome drink. Then a "tikka" (vermillion) is applied on the forehead and a small "aarti" is performed. The Indian phrase for this is "Atithi Devo Bhava". This phrase is also used for a campaign launched by the Tourism Ministry of India to highlight the rich culture of India.
Lighting Lamp/Diya
A small lamp, which is known as "diya" is lit before the picture or idol of god. Along with the diya, incense sticks are also lit. It is lit in the early hours of morning or evening or both. It is considered to bring good luck to the house and is also considered sacred.
Namaskar/Namaste
People in India greet each other by joining the palms at almost the chest level and saying "namaste". It is used for both "hello" and "goodbye".
Prostrating
The youngsters in India show respect to elders by prostrating before the elders of the family. They kneel down and touch the feet of their parents as a sign of respect and to receive their blessing and good wishes. The elders bless by touching the head of the child.
What to Wear in India
While in India, carry basic clothing with yourself. However don't pack so much that you find it difficult to handle your own baggage. Indian clothing pattern changes according to the seasons. You will find many varieties of clothes to wear in India while traveling and shopping. There is no such definite answer to the question of how to dress up in India because we don't adhere to any dress code as such. However, India still sticks to tradition and some heads turn if you dress up provocatively in public. Also, you might invite unwanted attention from certain men who stare and pass comments at women to amuse themselves. Read on further to know what to wear in India.
First check the season you are traveling in. Is it summer or winter? Both the weather conditions can reach extremes so it is better that you pack according to the season.
If you are traveling in summers, pack light cotton clothes. Do not wear synthetic as you may develop some skin allergy or heat burns.
If you are traveling in winters, pack some warm clothes, as it can get mercilessly chilly in the northern parts of India.
Take your basic jeans and some full-sleeved shirts and tee shirts for comfortable traveling. Full-sleeved clothes are ideal protection against sun tan during the day and mosquito bites at night.
Carry good sturdy shoes with you since your feet will be dusty and dirty while traveling. It is best to avoid dangerously high heels and flat sandals will do just fine.
For women, there are no restrictions on wearing jeans, trousers and long skirts. You would want to avoid shorts, tank tops and exposing vests while in India as it may hurt some Indian sensibilities. Sleeveless shirts, if decent can be worn without any problems. It is advisable to carry a light stole or scarf with you to cover your head in case it gets too hot. Some religious places also require you to cover your head, so it may come handy then.
Look around you and observe how people dress up in India. You can always pick some tips from the trendy yet decent youngsters.
In case you want a different style and dress up in the Indian way, opt for knee length "kurtas" that can be worn with jeans or cotton pants called "pajama". The traditional Indian attire for women that looks like a kurta pajama is called "salwar kameez" and is easily available in many garment stores.
Local Transport in India
There is no dearth of local transport in India. There are many cheap and affordable means of transportation in India that are available almost everywhere and anytime. Most locals depend on these means of transport for commuting from one place to another. The local Indian transport is a highly developed network that connects the busiest places as well as the remotest locales. Read on further about the local transport for commuting within India.
Buses
Buses are the cheapest means of local transport in India. Almost every city in India has a highly developed network of buses that ply from one place to another and cover long distances in a short time. It is best to enquire the routes before boarding a bus. You can ask fellow passengers on the bus stop as to which bus will go to your destination.
Auto Rickshaws
An auto rickshaw is also called auto or a three-wheeler. An auto is a small vehicle, usually in a combination of green and yellow or black and yellow. There are no doors or seatbelts. The right side of the auto is usually bound by iron rods to prevent anyone from falling. There is a single seat in the front for the driver and a wider space at the back for seating minimum 3 people. All autos are provided with a meter for calculating the fare, though most auto drivers don't use the meter. So while hiring an auto, fix an amount and negotiate. T
Taxis/Cabs
You can find many cabs on the roads or you can always hire one from the numerous taxi stands strewn across the major cities. There are pre paid taxis also available at major railway stations and airports. You can also hire luxury vehicles from certain travel agencies.
Cycle Rickshaws
The cycle rickshaw has been on the Indian roads since ancient times. It is like a big tricycle that has a seat in the front for the rickshaw puller and a wide seat at the back to accommodate two people. It is an experience in itself and is the cheapest mode of transport for traveling short distances. The rickshaw pullers charge a nominal amount for their service. If you feel the amount is too much, do not hesitate to bargain.
Metro Rail
The major cities have a well-planned metro rail network. Calcutta has the oldest network of metro in India. Though metro is not available all through India, most cities like Delhi have a pretty good system of metro rail. Mumbai's metro system is under construction and will be ready soon. NCR regions (near Delhi) like Noida and Gurgaon also have extensive metro system plans in the pipeline.
LET'S GO SUGGESTED ITINERARIES:
From scaling the world’s highest mountains to spelunking its ancient caves, from racing on a camel to raving on a beach, you can do it all in India and Nepal.
Holy Places
Visit some of the Subcontinent’s most sacred sites and witness the rituals and traditions that have remained intact for thousands of years. Hinduism’s holiest city, Varanasi, is the chosen home of Lord Shiva himself, and the place where many pious Hindus come to spend their last moments of earthly existence. Trace the footsteps of the 9th-century saint, Shankara, who established India’s four major dhams (divine abodes): Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Rameswaram in the south, and Puri in the east. Take in some of the finest Hindu temple architecture in India at Bhubaneswar, or sing songs of praise to Lord Krishna in his playground, Vrindaban. The holiest city for Sikhs, Amritsar houses the beautiful Golden Temple. Free yourself from all worldly desires in Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, or circumambulate Nepal’s most important stupa in Boudha. Jains head to Mount Abu and its gorgeous Dilwara temples or to the foot of the 17m-high Jain saint Bahubali in Sravanabelagola. Worshippers flock to the Har-ki-Pairi ghat in Haridwar to bathe at sunrise, while followers of the sun god watch the sunset at the Sun Temple in Konark. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai amazes visitors with over 30 million sculptures. Finally, those with iron stomachs can witness animal sacrifices to the goddess Kali at Dakshinkali in Nepal and in Kalighat south of Kolkata.
Oldies but Goodies
It shouldn’t come as much of a shock that one of the world’s oldest civilizations also has some of its most fascinating monuments. Delhi’s Red Fort and Jama Masjid are an impressive introduction to the relics of India’s Mughal rulers. The abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri is an architectural time-machine that will whisk you back to the Mughal era faster than you can say Shah Jahan. The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho allure and enchant, while carvings in the caves at Ellora and Ajanta are equally seductive, if somewhat less racy. Patan’s Durbar Square is full of ancient temples. The skeletons of such holy spaces are all that remain at Hampi’s breathtaking Vijayanagar ruins. The Lake Palace in Udaipur encapsulates the romantic allure of Rajasthan, but it is just one of many famous forts and palaces in India, including Gwalior Fort, Jaipur’s City Palace, the windswept Jaisalmer Fort, Hyderabad’s Golconda Fort, and Mysore’s Maharaja’s Palace. Oh, and don’t forget the Taj Mahal.
WAves‘N’ Raves
For some serious beach action, nothing beats Goa. From the tourist-trafficked shores of Anjuna to the less-crowded strands of Benaulim and Palolem, Goa has more sand than you can shake a coconut at. Party your way north to Dwarka, whose shores are lapped by the waves of the Arabian Sea. Pretend you’re in the south of France on the beaches of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. The white sands of Kovalam and Puri are outdone only by the pristine shores of Varkala and temple-studded Mahabalipuram. The Andaman Islands, 1000km off shore in the Bay of Bengal, have been attracting greater numbers of tourists in recent years, but are still far off the beaten track. If you’ve traversed both coasts and still haven’t gotten enough sun or sand, leave the waves behind and catch the next camel out to Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
Trekking, Rafting, and Tiger-spotting
Adventure-seekers and trail-blazers already know that the best trekking in the world is in the Himalayas. Journey past Mount Everest, the Annapurna Range, and the Langtang Valley, and watch tiny Nepali villages become even tinier Tibetan hamlets against a backdrop of rock, water, and ice. The Kinnaur-Spiti Road in Himachal Pradesh passes through the most remote regions of India, with some great hikes along the way, particularly near Kalpa and Kaza. Trek through Western Sikkim, wander across the desert plateau of Leh, or marvel at Kashmir’s Nubra Valley. Coast your way down the Himalayas on the white water rapids of the Karnali River or battle Jaws as you zip down Sun Kosi. Get up close and personal with rhinos in Kaziranga National Park or with bears in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Elephants rumble and trumpet their way through Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Tiger enthusiasts can enjoy the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Corbett National Park, and birders will get an eyeful at the world-renowned Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Estuarine crocodiles slink along the muddy shores of Sunderbans National Park.
Out of Sight
The best way to avoid the crowds is to travel off-season, but some fascinating places see surprisingly little traffic regardless of the season. Kausani in Uttaranchal, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Bikane in Rajasthan, Mandvi and Bhuj in Gujarat, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, and Kirtipur, Manakamana, and Tansen in Nepal, stay serene no matter the time of year. If political volatility and the occasional bomb aren’t enough to get you ruffled, nothing beats a night on a houseboat in Kashmir or watching the closing of the Indo-Pakistani border at Wagah. If safety is what you crave, breath easy in the eucalyptus- and kurinji blossom-scented air of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.
Out of Mind
Whether you seek New Age enlightenment at Osho and Auroville, or centuries-old secrets in Boudha and Bodh Gaya, count on getting earloads of advice about the lastest path to enlightenment from your fellow travelers. Swap travel yarns, drink tea, and make arrangements for the next leg of your journey alongside them at the backpacker meccas of Manali and Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, Pushkar in Rajasthan, Anjuna in Goa, Kovalam in Kerala, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, Puri in Orissa, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Pokhara in Nepal’s Western Hills, and Kathmandu’s Thamel district, to just name a select few. After a couple of days, you’ll know all the newest yoga positions, herbal remedies, and enough meditations to be your own travel guru.
Inside Let's Go India Top Choices
BEST PLACE FOR PACKRATS:
If you’ve ever thought twice about tossing your elephant-shaped foot scrubbers, a visit to the Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune or the Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior will remind you that you’re not alone. Better still, slurp up the sacred spit of the thousands of holy rats that pack the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, Rajasthan.
BEST MOUNTAIN HIGH:
Grass and hippies grow wild in the Himachal hilltop town of Manali, at the base of the Himalayas. For a milder buzz, head to the Happy Valley Tea Estate in the hill station retreat of Darjeeling, and watch workers pluck those world-famous leaves before your eyes.
BEST REASONS TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
Rise at dawn to have buckets of holy water dumped over your head at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, a once-in-a-lifetime experience sure to clear your head and absolve you of the sins of the night before. Keep dry and watch the sun crawl above Mt. Everest from the Nepalese town of Nagarkot, or trace its ascent over the ancient ghats of Varanasi, with the chime of temple bells providing the mood music
.BEST CHANCE FOR GETTING BITTEN:Prowl close to endangered (though still extremely ferocious) tigers at the Chitwan National Park in Nepal or the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. If they don’t get you, head to Kashmir, where lha-ba healers will open wide and suck evil spirits out of your soul.
BEST KEPT SECRET:
Artists and pretty people commune in the calm glow of candlelight at the Villa River Cat in the secluded beach town of Mandrem in Goa. Be sure to find it before it gets found out.
BEST PARTIES IN TOWN:
The largest event of its kind in the world, the International Kite Festival kicks off the month of January in Ahmedabad. Pack it in at Pushkar in November, when 50,000 hump-backs and 200,000 humans squeeze into one square kilometer for the Pushkar Camel Festival.
BEST BENDERS:
Freak out at the full-moon raves on Anjuna beach, Goa, an experience sure to turn your mind inside out. Or be like the Beatles and join thousands of other body benders for the world-renowned International Yoga Festival along the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh. Twist and wind through vibrant valleys, dry, sandstone plateaux, and breathtaking Himalayan peaks along the Manali-Leh Road, one of the highest highways in the world.
BEST PLACE TO FLAUNT YOUR MOUSTACHE
Compete for the crown of Mr. Desert in Jaisalmer if you’re the man who best embodies Rajasthani masculinity with your full-bodied bristles.
Scroll down and look for the highlighted topic that pertains to you. Also, if you think of anything else that would be useful on the library blog, please tell us!! This site is for you!
American dollar currently worth 39.2 rupees
Changing Your Money
It's relatively straightforward changing money, especially in the larger cities. You are supposed to be given an encashment certificate when you change money at a bank or an official moneychanger; you'll need these encashment certificates to change Indian currency back into foreign currency when leaving India (at the international airport), however for exchanges below INR10000 certificates aren't necessary.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Indian cities and larger towns, particularly American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa; MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted. Credit cards can also be used to get cash advances in rupees at some banks. Nowadays, almost all Indian cities have 24-hour ATMs that may accept Cirrus, Maestro, MasterCard, Plus and Visa. It's wise to check in advance with your home bank whether your card can access banking networks in India and if so, what the charge per transaction is and whether there are schemes to minimize these.
HANDLING BEGGARS
If you are traveling to India, you are bound to come across beggars. Mostly you will find them begging at the red lights. Following are some tips for handling Indian beggars. So, if you want to know some Indian beggar handling tips, read on:
If the beggar is a healthy person, don’t give him any money or anything else. Ignore such people. Just walk past them or pull up the windows if you are in a car.
In case of a physically handicapped person, you can give some money or even something to eat.
If you come across children begging on the street, don’t be surprised. Its better to give the children something to eat. If you give them money, it will most probably go into the pockets of their parents or some other person. They will hardly ever benefit from it.
Always give beggars money at the time of leaving a place, as you get in the car. Otherwise, there is a possibility of your getting mobbed.
Give a tip to beggars between Rs. 2 to Rs. 10. If you give more money than this, you will run the risk of getting mobbed by beggars.
Useful Phrases
When traveling in India, having an idea of common Indian phrases will help you in communicating more effectively with the locals. These frequently used phrases in India are usually very handy when you want to know your surroundings better and mingle with the locals. It also ensures that you are not taken for a ride in an unknown country. You will find help right away if you are stuck in a situation, as you are able to communicate at a more personal level with people around you. Check out this list of common helpful phrases for conversing with people in India.
English to Hindi
Hi or Hello ....Namaste
Please ...... Please
Thank You ....... Shukhriya
Yes....... Haan
No ........ Nahin
Where can I find .......... Kahan milenge
I want water ....... Mujhe paani chahiye
I want a ticket ....... Mujhe ticket chahiye
Where is the toilet ...... Bathroom kahan hai
Is this very far........ Kya ye bahut door hai
How much is this ........ Ye kitne ka hai
This is too expensive ....... Ye bahut mehenga hai
Make this price less ......... Bhaav kam karo
How are you? ....... Aap kaise hain?
Sorry ............ Maaf kijiye
Please ........... Kripaya
Ok ........... Theek hai
What? .......... Kya?
Where? ........ Kahan?
How? ........... Kaise?
When? .......... Kab?
Who? ............ Kaun?
Why? ........ Kyon?
What is the price? ........Iska kya daam hai?
I don't understand ........... Mai samjha nahi
Tell me the way please ........... Kripya raasta bataiye
Customs of India
India is a modern country yet the customs and traditions are religiously followed in urban as well as rural India. These traditions of India are what give India an individual identity and lend a mystical essence to the atmosphere. One finds a unique and harmonious co-existence of many different religions in India. This gives rise to an umpteen number of traditions. India is a secular country and everyone has the right to pursue a religion of his/her own choice. Indian customs and rituals vary from one region to another, yet they are known in a collective form of Indian traditions. Read on further to know about the unique customs, rituals and traditions of India.
Traditional Welcome In India
a guest is considered as equal to God. So welcoming a guest is no less than an event. The guest is given a very warm traditional welcome in which he/she is garlanded and given a welcome drink. Then a "tikka" (vermillion) is applied on the forehead and a small "aarti" is performed. The Indian phrase for this is "Atithi Devo Bhava". This phrase is also used for a campaign launched by the Tourism Ministry of India to highlight the rich culture of India.
Lighting Lamp/Diya
A small lamp, which is known as "diya" is lit before the picture or idol of god. Along with the diya, incense sticks are also lit. It is lit in the early hours of morning or evening or both. It is considered to bring good luck to the house and is also considered sacred.
Namaskar/Namaste
People in India greet each other by joining the palms at almost the chest level and saying "namaste". It is used for both "hello" and "goodbye".
Prostrating
The youngsters in India show respect to elders by prostrating before the elders of the family. They kneel down and touch the feet of their parents as a sign of respect and to receive their blessing and good wishes. The elders bless by touching the head of the child.
What to Wear in India
While in India, carry basic clothing with yourself. However don't pack so much that you find it difficult to handle your own baggage. Indian clothing pattern changes according to the seasons. You will find many varieties of clothes to wear in India while traveling and shopping. There is no such definite answer to the question of how to dress up in India because we don't adhere to any dress code as such. However, India still sticks to tradition and some heads turn if you dress up provocatively in public. Also, you might invite unwanted attention from certain men who stare and pass comments at women to amuse themselves. Read on further to know what to wear in India.
First check the season you are traveling in. Is it summer or winter? Both the weather conditions can reach extremes so it is better that you pack according to the season.
If you are traveling in summers, pack light cotton clothes. Do not wear synthetic as you may develop some skin allergy or heat burns.
If you are traveling in winters, pack some warm clothes, as it can get mercilessly chilly in the northern parts of India.
Take your basic jeans and some full-sleeved shirts and tee shirts for comfortable traveling. Full-sleeved clothes are ideal protection against sun tan during the day and mosquito bites at night.
Carry good sturdy shoes with you since your feet will be dusty and dirty while traveling. It is best to avoid dangerously high heels and flat sandals will do just fine.
For women, there are no restrictions on wearing jeans, trousers and long skirts. You would want to avoid shorts, tank tops and exposing vests while in India as it may hurt some Indian sensibilities. Sleeveless shirts, if decent can be worn without any problems. It is advisable to carry a light stole or scarf with you to cover your head in case it gets too hot. Some religious places also require you to cover your head, so it may come handy then.
Look around you and observe how people dress up in India. You can always pick some tips from the trendy yet decent youngsters.
In case you want a different style and dress up in the Indian way, opt for knee length "kurtas" that can be worn with jeans or cotton pants called "pajama". The traditional Indian attire for women that looks like a kurta pajama is called "salwar kameez" and is easily available in many garment stores.
Local Transport in India
There is no dearth of local transport in India. There are many cheap and affordable means of transportation in India that are available almost everywhere and anytime. Most locals depend on these means of transport for commuting from one place to another. The local Indian transport is a highly developed network that connects the busiest places as well as the remotest locales. Read on further about the local transport for commuting within India.
Buses
Buses are the cheapest means of local transport in India. Almost every city in India has a highly developed network of buses that ply from one place to another and cover long distances in a short time. It is best to enquire the routes before boarding a bus. You can ask fellow passengers on the bus stop as to which bus will go to your destination.
Auto Rickshaws
An auto rickshaw is also called auto or a three-wheeler. An auto is a small vehicle, usually in a combination of green and yellow or black and yellow. There are no doors or seatbelts. The right side of the auto is usually bound by iron rods to prevent anyone from falling. There is a single seat in the front for the driver and a wider space at the back for seating minimum 3 people. All autos are provided with a meter for calculating the fare, though most auto drivers don't use the meter. So while hiring an auto, fix an amount and negotiate. T
Taxis/Cabs
You can find many cabs on the roads or you can always hire one from the numerous taxi stands strewn across the major cities. There are pre paid taxis also available at major railway stations and airports. You can also hire luxury vehicles from certain travel agencies.
Cycle Rickshaws
The cycle rickshaw has been on the Indian roads since ancient times. It is like a big tricycle that has a seat in the front for the rickshaw puller and a wide seat at the back to accommodate two people. It is an experience in itself and is the cheapest mode of transport for traveling short distances. The rickshaw pullers charge a nominal amount for their service. If you feel the amount is too much, do not hesitate to bargain.
Metro Rail
The major cities have a well-planned metro rail network. Calcutta has the oldest network of metro in India. Though metro is not available all through India, most cities like Delhi have a pretty good system of metro rail. Mumbai's metro system is under construction and will be ready soon. NCR regions (near Delhi) like Noida and Gurgaon also have extensive metro system plans in the pipeline.
LET'S GO SUGGESTED ITINERARIES:
From scaling the world’s highest mountains to spelunking its ancient caves, from racing on a camel to raving on a beach, you can do it all in India and Nepal.
Holy Places
Visit some of the Subcontinent’s most sacred sites and witness the rituals and traditions that have remained intact for thousands of years. Hinduism’s holiest city, Varanasi, is the chosen home of Lord Shiva himself, and the place where many pious Hindus come to spend their last moments of earthly existence. Trace the footsteps of the 9th-century saint, Shankara, who established India’s four major dhams (divine abodes): Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Rameswaram in the south, and Puri in the east. Take in some of the finest Hindu temple architecture in India at Bhubaneswar, or sing songs of praise to Lord Krishna in his playground, Vrindaban. The holiest city for Sikhs, Amritsar houses the beautiful Golden Temple. Free yourself from all worldly desires in Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, or circumambulate Nepal’s most important stupa in Boudha. Jains head to Mount Abu and its gorgeous Dilwara temples or to the foot of the 17m-high Jain saint Bahubali in Sravanabelagola. Worshippers flock to the Har-ki-Pairi ghat in Haridwar to bathe at sunrise, while followers of the sun god watch the sunset at the Sun Temple in Konark. The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai amazes visitors with over 30 million sculptures. Finally, those with iron stomachs can witness animal sacrifices to the goddess Kali at Dakshinkali in Nepal and in Kalighat south of Kolkata.
Oldies but Goodies
It shouldn’t come as much of a shock that one of the world’s oldest civilizations also has some of its most fascinating monuments. Delhi’s Red Fort and Jama Masjid are an impressive introduction to the relics of India’s Mughal rulers. The abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri is an architectural time-machine that will whisk you back to the Mughal era faster than you can say Shah Jahan. The erotic sculptures of Khajuraho allure and enchant, while carvings in the caves at Ellora and Ajanta are equally seductive, if somewhat less racy. Patan’s Durbar Square is full of ancient temples. The skeletons of such holy spaces are all that remain at Hampi’s breathtaking Vijayanagar ruins. The Lake Palace in Udaipur encapsulates the romantic allure of Rajasthan, but it is just one of many famous forts and palaces in India, including Gwalior Fort, Jaipur’s City Palace, the windswept Jaisalmer Fort, Hyderabad’s Golconda Fort, and Mysore’s Maharaja’s Palace. Oh, and don’t forget the Taj Mahal.
WAves‘N’ Raves
For some serious beach action, nothing beats Goa. From the tourist-trafficked shores of Anjuna to the less-crowded strands of Benaulim and Palolem, Goa has more sand than you can shake a coconut at. Party your way north to Dwarka, whose shores are lapped by the waves of the Arabian Sea. Pretend you’re in the south of France on the beaches of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu. The white sands of Kovalam and Puri are outdone only by the pristine shores of Varkala and temple-studded Mahabalipuram. The Andaman Islands, 1000km off shore in the Bay of Bengal, have been attracting greater numbers of tourists in recent years, but are still far off the beaten track. If you’ve traversed both coasts and still haven’t gotten enough sun or sand, leave the waves behind and catch the next camel out to Rajasthan’s Thar Desert.
Trekking, Rafting, and Tiger-spotting
Adventure-seekers and trail-blazers already know that the best trekking in the world is in the Himalayas. Journey past Mount Everest, the Annapurna Range, and the Langtang Valley, and watch tiny Nepali villages become even tinier Tibetan hamlets against a backdrop of rock, water, and ice. The Kinnaur-Spiti Road in Himachal Pradesh passes through the most remote regions of India, with some great hikes along the way, particularly near Kalpa and Kaza. Trek through Western Sikkim, wander across the desert plateau of Leh, or marvel at Kashmir’s Nubra Valley. Coast your way down the Himalayas on the white water rapids of the Karnali River or battle Jaws as you zip down Sun Kosi. Get up close and personal with rhinos in Kaziranga National Park or with bears in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park. Elephants rumble and trumpet their way through Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. Tiger enthusiasts can enjoy the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Corbett National Park, and birders will get an eyeful at the world-renowned Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Estuarine crocodiles slink along the muddy shores of Sunderbans National Park.
Out of Sight
The best way to avoid the crowds is to travel off-season, but some fascinating places see surprisingly little traffic regardless of the season. Kausani in Uttaranchal, Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Bikane in Rajasthan, Mandvi and Bhuj in Gujarat, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, and Kirtipur, Manakamana, and Tansen in Nepal, stay serene no matter the time of year. If political volatility and the occasional bomb aren’t enough to get you ruffled, nothing beats a night on a houseboat in Kashmir or watching the closing of the Indo-Pakistani border at Wagah. If safety is what you crave, breath easy in the eucalyptus- and kurinji blossom-scented air of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.
Out of Mind
Whether you seek New Age enlightenment at Osho and Auroville, or centuries-old secrets in Boudha and Bodh Gaya, count on getting earloads of advice about the lastest path to enlightenment from your fellow travelers. Swap travel yarns, drink tea, and make arrangements for the next leg of your journey alongside them at the backpacker meccas of Manali and Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, Pushkar in Rajasthan, Anjuna in Goa, Kovalam in Kerala, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, Puri in Orissa, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Pokhara in Nepal’s Western Hills, and Kathmandu’s Thamel district, to just name a select few. After a couple of days, you’ll know all the newest yoga positions, herbal remedies, and enough meditations to be your own travel guru.
Inside Let's Go India Top Choices
BEST PLACE FOR PACKRATS:
If you’ve ever thought twice about tossing your elephant-shaped foot scrubbers, a visit to the Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune or the Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior will remind you that you’re not alone. Better still, slurp up the sacred spit of the thousands of holy rats that pack the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, Rajasthan.
BEST MOUNTAIN HIGH:
Grass and hippies grow wild in the Himachal hilltop town of Manali, at the base of the Himalayas. For a milder buzz, head to the Happy Valley Tea Estate in the hill station retreat of Darjeeling, and watch workers pluck those world-famous leaves before your eyes.
BEST REASONS TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
Rise at dawn to have buckets of holy water dumped over your head at the Ramanathaswamy Temple, a once-in-a-lifetime experience sure to clear your head and absolve you of the sins of the night before. Keep dry and watch the sun crawl above Mt. Everest from the Nepalese town of Nagarkot, or trace its ascent over the ancient ghats of Varanasi, with the chime of temple bells providing the mood music
.BEST CHANCE FOR GETTING BITTEN:Prowl close to endangered (though still extremely ferocious) tigers at the Chitwan National Park in Nepal or the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. If they don’t get you, head to Kashmir, where lha-ba healers will open wide and suck evil spirits out of your soul.
BEST KEPT SECRET:
Artists and pretty people commune in the calm glow of candlelight at the Villa River Cat in the secluded beach town of Mandrem in Goa. Be sure to find it before it gets found out.
BEST PARTIES IN TOWN:
The largest event of its kind in the world, the International Kite Festival kicks off the month of January in Ahmedabad. Pack it in at Pushkar in November, when 50,000 hump-backs and 200,000 humans squeeze into one square kilometer for the Pushkar Camel Festival.
BEST BENDERS:
Freak out at the full-moon raves on Anjuna beach, Goa, an experience sure to turn your mind inside out. Or be like the Beatles and join thousands of other body benders for the world-renowned International Yoga Festival along the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh. Twist and wind through vibrant valleys, dry, sandstone plateaux, and breathtaking Himalayan peaks along the Manali-Leh Road, one of the highest highways in the world.
BEST PLACE TO FLAUNT YOUR MOUSTACHE
Compete for the crown of Mr. Desert in Jaisalmer if you’re the man who best embodies Rajasthani masculinity with your full-bodied bristles.
INDIA: IMPORTANT TIPS FOR WOMEN TRAVELERS
Tips for Women Travelers to India:
Even after the modern influence of western countries, India still remains a conservative country. Some western habits are perceived as inappropriate and degrading if practiced by women here. Here are some travel tips for women in India:
Don’t wear revealing clothes while in India. They do not appeal to Indian sensibilities. You will attract unwanted attraction and advances if you are wearing skimpy outfits.
Apart from the big cities, touching between people of the opposite sex in public is very unusual. Even married couples avoid any display of affection publicly. It will be better if you do not shake hands with a person of the opposite sex unless the other person extends his/her hand first.
Among Hindus, the way to greet is by bring your palms together in front of your chest, or simply saying 'Namaste'. You can say Hello or Hi also. But some old people may not appreciate it.
Smoking by a woman is not acceptable anywhere in India, except for the metro cities. A woman who smokes/drinks is thought to be having a loose moral character, especially amongst the middle class.
Discos, dance clubs, pubs, 5-star hotels are areas with a modern touch. You can easily head there for some entertainment or for drinks. However, having a male companion or at least another female with you is quite a good idea.
Even at beaches, the people here are fully clothed. First find out what kind of attire is appropriate for the beach you are heading to. In some places like Goa, the visitors to beach mainly consist of foreigners. There, you may wear swimsuits on the beach. However, even there it is inappropriate to roam about dressed in swimwear away from the beach.
In local trains, some cars reserved only for women. It is advised for you to travel in those.
Avoid talking in a friendly manner with men you meet in buses, trains, restaurants, shopping places, etc. It may be viewed as a flirtation. It may also lead to unwanted and unexpected sexual advances. However, befriending Indian women can be a wonderful experience for female travelers. But, you may have to start the conversation.
Even after the modern influence of western countries, India still remains a conservative country. Some western habits are perceived as inappropriate and degrading if practiced by women here. Here are some travel tips for women in India:
Don’t wear revealing clothes while in India. They do not appeal to Indian sensibilities. You will attract unwanted attraction and advances if you are wearing skimpy outfits.
Apart from the big cities, touching between people of the opposite sex in public is very unusual. Even married couples avoid any display of affection publicly. It will be better if you do not shake hands with a person of the opposite sex unless the other person extends his/her hand first.
Among Hindus, the way to greet is by bring your palms together in front of your chest, or simply saying 'Namaste'. You can say Hello or Hi also. But some old people may not appreciate it.
Smoking by a woman is not acceptable anywhere in India, except for the metro cities. A woman who smokes/drinks is thought to be having a loose moral character, especially amongst the middle class.
Discos, dance clubs, pubs, 5-star hotels are areas with a modern touch. You can easily head there for some entertainment or for drinks. However, having a male companion or at least another female with you is quite a good idea.
Even at beaches, the people here are fully clothed. First find out what kind of attire is appropriate for the beach you are heading to. In some places like Goa, the visitors to beach mainly consist of foreigners. There, you may wear swimsuits on the beach. However, even there it is inappropriate to roam about dressed in swimwear away from the beach.
In local trains, some cars reserved only for women. It is advised for you to travel in those.
Avoid talking in a friendly manner with men you meet in buses, trains, restaurants, shopping places, etc. It may be viewed as a flirtation. It may also lead to unwanted and unexpected sexual advances. However, befriending Indian women can be a wonderful experience for female travelers. But, you may have to start the conversation.
A way to get more respect from Indians is to wear traditional Indian clothes, such as salwaar kameez or sari.
Do not venture in isolated places alone. It is also advised not to go outside alone after it is very late and dark.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Database Du Jour - JSTOR
Today's database is called JSTOR. It is an excellent resource for finding information in a wide variety of important journals. It is an archival database which means that it does not have current issues of journals. There may be a gap, from 1 to 5 years, between the most recently published journal issue and the and the back issues available in JSTOR. So, if you need a historical perspective or articles on a wide variety of topics - this is an excellent resource to use.
So - how do you use it?
1. Go to http://library.semesteratsea.net and click on semester at sea
2. Click on "UVA databases"
3. When the page loads, click on "J" under "Databases by Title"
4. Scroll down until you see JSTOR and click on it.
5. You can either enter a search term on the "Basic Search" box or click on "Advanced Search" and enter your terms there so that you are assured of full-text access with the results. They are both very simple to use and will provide some wonderful articles on the subject you need.
So - how do you use it?
1. Go to http://library.semesteratsea.net and click on semester at sea
2. Click on "UVA databases"
3. When the page loads, click on "J" under "Databases by Title"
4. Scroll down until you see JSTOR and click on it.
5. You can either enter a search term on the "Basic Search" box or click on "Advanced Search" and enter your terms there so that you are assured of full-text access with the results. They are both very simple to use and will provide some wonderful articles on the subject you need.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
TAJ MAHAL
Ahoy India!
The MV Explorer arrives in Chennai, India on October 15th, we depart on October 19th which gives all of 4 days to jam as much India as possible. Don’t be like half of the ship, and me, by booking flights and hotels the night before, be on the ball so you can stand there and snicker at everyone else who is stressed, or so you can enjoy some heavy reading at the library!
Here is some useful info regarding the Taj Mahal - and we all know that it is a “must see.” So you have your Rupees (India’s currency), your passport, id, bags, and plane tickets to Delhi. How did you get the plane tickets? You logged onto CheapoAir.com and typed in a flight from Chennai (MAA) to Delhi (DEL). You then purchased your roundtrip ticket for $156 plus tax. This is considerably less than some sites that are trying to scam us for 600$! Yowsa. The flight is 2 hours and 30 minutes long, so be sure to bring your Global Studies books with you. Perhaps there are other cheaper flights –if you find one, the librarians order you to reply to the blog and share your stuff, help our SAS community out!
Anyways you get off of the plane and you decide that you love Dehli so much that you want to put your bags down and stay a while.
Ah you recall that lonelyplanet website, lonelyplanet.com and remember word for word what it said about one of the first hotels on the review,
“
hotel (Mid Range)
TRAVELLER RATING 16.0 / 20
ATMOSPHERE busy & international
Hotel Broadway
4/15 Asaf Ali Rd
"Three-star hotel straddling Old and New Delhi."
REVIEW If you're on the lookout for moderately-priced accommodation straddling New and Old Delhi, the three-star Hotel Broadway fits the bill. Established back in 1956, this enduring hotel seems to be a favourite with European package groups. Broadway's rooms are a tad musty and some are dated when it comes to their interior design, But you can't shake a finger at the price. All the rooms are carpeted (which may explain the slightly stale odour) and come with a colour TV, writing desk, sofa and small coffee-table. Some have floral-printed bedcovers with matching curtains, and many of Broadway's (well-kept) bathrooms sport smart black and white tiles. A few of the hotel's rooms even have distant views of the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Broadway's service isn't crash hot; however, if you wish to stay reasonably close to Old Delhi, this hotel is one of your best bets. On site is the renowned restaurant, Chor Bizarre, which serves formidable Mughlai and Kashmiri fare in quirky surroundings - there's a vintage car salad bar and a curious four-poster bed table.”
You have an amazing memory and call them. They have a room and voila, you are in business. Once getting out of the airport you take a cab perhaps or the railway system which is said to be quite an experience. It is said to be an integral part of India and legendary, so hey maybe you want to get on with your backpack that is 50 pounds. If not you can get in a cab. While sitting in the cab that is taking you to your new home for 3 days, you debate whether or not you should tip your driver. Ah a bubble forms above your head and alas Lonelyplanet.com also had a tipping section that you read earlier,
“Tipping
Baksheesh, a term which encompasses tipping and a lot more besides, is widespread in India. More often than not, you 'tip' in India not so much for good service but in order to get things done. Judicious baksheesh will often open closed doors, find missing items and perform other small miracles. In mid-range and upper-end restaurants or hotels a service charge (usually 10%)is often added to bills, so tipping is very optional. In smaller places, where a service charge has not been added to the bill, a tip is warmly appreciated - the amount you give depends on how happy you are with the service. Anything upwards of IRS20.00 is the norm, but exceptional service should be rewarded with at least IRS50.00.”
Upon arrival you discover that you are simply famished. Hmm where is the Indian food. After dropping your bags off you debate, would I like southern or northern Indian food. Of course one could always ask one’s concierge, which restaurant is better since you did some research. One does have a few days here so it is possible to hit up both of these recommended spots along with a few surprise others. Both reviews are of course taken from LonelyPlanet.com,
Moti Mahal Restaurant
Tasty Tandoori
Northern ; Indian
Mid Range
3704 Netaji Subhash Marg 11002 Tel: 11 2327 3661 (info)
In Old Delhi, the legendary Moti Mahal offers delicious North Indian food. It's particularly noted for its tasty tandoori dishes and lip-smacking butter chicken. The staff are friendly and attentive, and there's live qawwali (Islamic devotional singing) on some nights (telephone for details).
Saravana Bhavan
Southerly Specials
dosa ; Southern
Budget
46 Janpath Tel: 11 2331 7755 (info) Tel: 11 2331 6060 (info)
Saravana Bhavan does great-value dosas (rice flour crepes), idlis (South Indian rice dumplings) and other southern specialities. When it comes to 'Rice of the Day', Friday (tamarind) and Monday (lemon) get gold stars, as do the inventive sweets; the cucumber-seed version of the ladoo (gram flour and semolina sweetmeats) is not to be missed.
Hours: 8:00am-10:30pm
Web: http://www.saravanabhavan.com/
*Librarian’s note, do not forget to take your Pepto Bismal or something similar!! You don’t want to ruin your Taj Mahal experience by sitting in bed and staring at the postcards instead of the real life thing!
MMMMMmmmm. Indian food how scrumptious. Hopefully you were willing to try all of those southern and northern Indian delicacies. After relaxing at your quaint hotel, you decide that you want to dance the night away or watch traditional Indian dancing (culture). Another idea is that you could be Mike Budd’s star student by seeing some Bollywood. Here are two places found on –you guessed it- Lonelyplanet.com,
Nighttime in Dehli
Dances of India
Colourful Classics
dance
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg Tel: 11 2623 4689 (info)
A one-hour performance of regional dances that includes Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Manipuri. Styles range from classical to folk and tribal dance. Tickets are sold on site and performances held every evening.
Hours: 6:45pm-7:45pm
PVR Anupam 4
Sit Back and Relax
cinema
1 Community Centre 110021 Tel: 5100 0458 (info)
Most cinemas in Delhi feature Bollywood films but you can also catch a Hollywood blockbuster at one of the PVR cineplexes. The PVR cinemas also have details online and you can make bookings from their website.
Web: http://www.pvrcinemas.com/
If you are not too tired or if it’s in the wee hours of the night perhaps you would prefer to take a short nap and wake up early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Sunrise and sunset are said to be the best times to see this amazing place, take advantage of this opportunity!
Hopefully someone on this ship found this useful, if others are willing to help please reply to this blog with your insights, travel ideas, tips, and cool places and things to do. Even though librarians know everything.
Nancy is watching you,
Love, those who reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The MV Explorer arrives in Chennai, India on October 15th, we depart on October 19th which gives all of 4 days to jam as much India as possible. Don’t be like half of the ship, and me, by booking flights and hotels the night before, be on the ball so you can stand there and snicker at everyone else who is stressed, or so you can enjoy some heavy reading at the library!
Here is some useful info regarding the Taj Mahal - and we all know that it is a “must see.” So you have your Rupees (India’s currency), your passport, id, bags, and plane tickets to Delhi. How did you get the plane tickets? You logged onto CheapoAir.com and typed in a flight from Chennai (MAA) to Delhi (DEL). You then purchased your roundtrip ticket for $156 plus tax. This is considerably less than some sites that are trying to scam us for 600$! Yowsa. The flight is 2 hours and 30 minutes long, so be sure to bring your Global Studies books with you. Perhaps there are other cheaper flights –if you find one, the librarians order you to reply to the blog and share your stuff, help our SAS community out!
Anyways you get off of the plane and you decide that you love Dehli so much that you want to put your bags down and stay a while.
Ah you recall that lonelyplanet website, lonelyplanet.com and remember word for word what it said about one of the first hotels on the review,
“
hotel (Mid Range)
TRAVELLER RATING 16.0 / 20
ATMOSPHERE busy & international
Hotel Broadway
4/15 Asaf Ali Rd
"Three-star hotel straddling Old and New Delhi."
REVIEW If you're on the lookout for moderately-priced accommodation straddling New and Old Delhi, the three-star Hotel Broadway fits the bill. Established back in 1956, this enduring hotel seems to be a favourite with European package groups. Broadway's rooms are a tad musty and some are dated when it comes to their interior design, But you can't shake a finger at the price. All the rooms are carpeted (which may explain the slightly stale odour) and come with a colour TV, writing desk, sofa and small coffee-table. Some have floral-printed bedcovers with matching curtains, and many of Broadway's (well-kept) bathrooms sport smart black and white tiles. A few of the hotel's rooms even have distant views of the Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Broadway's service isn't crash hot; however, if you wish to stay reasonably close to Old Delhi, this hotel is one of your best bets. On site is the renowned restaurant, Chor Bizarre, which serves formidable Mughlai and Kashmiri fare in quirky surroundings - there's a vintage car salad bar and a curious four-poster bed table.”
You have an amazing memory and call them. They have a room and voila, you are in business. Once getting out of the airport you take a cab perhaps or the railway system which is said to be quite an experience. It is said to be an integral part of India and legendary, so hey maybe you want to get on with your backpack that is 50 pounds. If not you can get in a cab. While sitting in the cab that is taking you to your new home for 3 days, you debate whether or not you should tip your driver. Ah a bubble forms above your head and alas Lonelyplanet.com also had a tipping section that you read earlier,
“Tipping
Baksheesh, a term which encompasses tipping and a lot more besides, is widespread in India. More often than not, you 'tip' in India not so much for good service but in order to get things done. Judicious baksheesh will often open closed doors, find missing items and perform other small miracles. In mid-range and upper-end restaurants or hotels a service charge (usually 10%)is often added to bills, so tipping is very optional. In smaller places, where a service charge has not been added to the bill, a tip is warmly appreciated - the amount you give depends on how happy you are with the service. Anything upwards of IRS20.00 is the norm, but exceptional service should be rewarded with at least IRS50.00.”
Upon arrival you discover that you are simply famished. Hmm where is the Indian food. After dropping your bags off you debate, would I like southern or northern Indian food. Of course one could always ask one’s concierge, which restaurant is better since you did some research. One does have a few days here so it is possible to hit up both of these recommended spots along with a few surprise others. Both reviews are of course taken from LonelyPlanet.com,
Moti Mahal Restaurant
Tasty Tandoori
Northern ; Indian
Mid Range
3704 Netaji Subhash Marg 11002 Tel: 11 2327 3661 (info)
In Old Delhi, the legendary Moti Mahal offers delicious North Indian food. It's particularly noted for its tasty tandoori dishes and lip-smacking butter chicken. The staff are friendly and attentive, and there's live qawwali (Islamic devotional singing) on some nights (telephone for details).
Saravana Bhavan
Southerly Specials
dosa ; Southern
Budget
46 Janpath Tel: 11 2331 7755 (info) Tel: 11 2331 6060 (info)
Saravana Bhavan does great-value dosas (rice flour crepes), idlis (South Indian rice dumplings) and other southern specialities. When it comes to 'Rice of the Day', Friday (tamarind) and Monday (lemon) get gold stars, as do the inventive sweets; the cucumber-seed version of the ladoo (gram flour and semolina sweetmeats) is not to be missed.
Hours: 8:00am-10:30pm
Web: http://www.saravanabhavan.com/
*Librarian’s note, do not forget to take your Pepto Bismal or something similar!! You don’t want to ruin your Taj Mahal experience by sitting in bed and staring at the postcards instead of the real life thing!
MMMMMmmmm. Indian food how scrumptious. Hopefully you were willing to try all of those southern and northern Indian delicacies. After relaxing at your quaint hotel, you decide that you want to dance the night away or watch traditional Indian dancing (culture). Another idea is that you could be Mike Budd’s star student by seeing some Bollywood. Here are two places found on –you guessed it- Lonelyplanet.com,
Nighttime in Dehli
Dances of India
Colourful Classics
dance
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg Tel: 11 2623 4689 (info)
A one-hour performance of regional dances that includes Bharatanatyam, Kathakali and Manipuri. Styles range from classical to folk and tribal dance. Tickets are sold on site and performances held every evening.
Hours: 6:45pm-7:45pm
PVR Anupam 4
Sit Back and Relax
cinema
1 Community Centre 110021 Tel: 5100 0458 (info)
Most cinemas in Delhi feature Bollywood films but you can also catch a Hollywood blockbuster at one of the PVR cineplexes. The PVR cinemas also have details online and you can make bookings from their website.
Web: http://www.pvrcinemas.com/
If you are not too tired or if it’s in the wee hours of the night perhaps you would prefer to take a short nap and wake up early to see the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Sunrise and sunset are said to be the best times to see this amazing place, take advantage of this opportunity!
Hopefully someone on this ship found this useful, if others are willing to help please reply to this blog with your insights, travel ideas, tips, and cool places and things to do. Even though librarians know everything.
Nancy is watching you,
Love, those who reside in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Database Du Jour
LexisNexis Academic
This is an excellent database to get the most up-t0-date information from newspapers and publications. Here's how to do it...
1) From the UVa database page, click on LexisNexis Academic
2) When the Proxy account box appears, type in your user name and password. Please make sure that you are NOT logged into 24 online because that account will be charged with the minutes you use.
3) To create a search, enter words or phrases related to your subject
4) Select a date range below the search box and press Search
5) If you would like more control over which sources you are searching, use the Power Search tab and follow the selections.
As always, if you experience any problems using this or any other database, please come talk to us in the Information Spa on the 6th deck.
This is an excellent database to get the most up-t0-date information from newspapers and publications. Here's how to do it...
1) From the UVa database page, click on LexisNexis Academic
2) When the Proxy account box appears, type in your user name and password. Please make sure that you are NOT logged into 24 online because that account will be charged with the minutes you use.
3) To create a search, enter words or phrases related to your subject
4) Select a date range below the search box and press Search
5) If you would like more control over which sources you are searching, use the Power Search tab and follow the selections.
As always, if you experience any problems using this or any other database, please come talk to us in the Information Spa on the 6th deck.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Database Du Jour – InfoTrac Onefile
The University of Virginia databases offers options for getting full-text articles when doing research for your papers. One of the best databases for all subjects is called InfoTrac Onefile. It offers a wide variety of articles from both scholastic and popular journals and newspapers.
From the library page (http://library.semesteratsea.net) click on Semester at Sea and choose UVa Library Databases. Click on InfoTrac Onefile at the top of the page. When the proxy server box appears, type in your user name and password – NOT your 24 online password! If you do not have this information, please stop in at the Information Spa and get one.
Once you are in InfoTrac Onefile, scroll down the page until you see the Basic Search box and type in the terms that you need (very similar to doing a Google search). Scroll down a little bit more and you’ll see three boxes where you can limit your search to Documents with Full Text and then click on the Search button next to the search box.
From the library page (http://library.semesteratsea.net) click on Semester at Sea and choose UVa Library Databases. Click on InfoTrac Onefile at the top of the page. When the proxy server box appears, type in your user name and password – NOT your 24 online password! If you do not have this information, please stop in at the Information Spa and get one.
Once you are in InfoTrac Onefile, scroll down the page until you see the Basic Search box and type in the terms that you need (very similar to doing a Google search). Scroll down a little bit more and you’ll see three boxes where you can limit your search to Documents with Full Text and then click on the Search button next to the search box.
Good India Reads
The Small Hands of Slavery; Bonded Child Labor in India
Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Watch Project
Based on interviews with over one hundred children during a two-month investigation in India, this report details their plight in the silk, beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes), synthetic gems, silver, leather, agricultural, and carpet industries. Bonded child labor is outlawed by international and Indian law, but the Indian government has failed utterly to end it.
Neither Man nor Woman; The Hijras of India
Nanda, Serena
This ethnography is about a unique and extraordinarily interesting group, the hijras of India. The hijras are a religious community of men who dress and act like women and whose culture centers on the worship of Bachuchara Mata, one of the many versions of the Mother Goddess worshiped throughout India.
The Bhagavad-Gita; Krishna's Counsel in a Time of War
Miller, Barbara Stoler trans.
An essential text of Hindu culture in India since the time of its composition in the first century A.D. Set on an ancient battlefield where the armies of rival cousins stand ready to do battle, the GITA recounts the epic tale of the warrior-prince Arjuna, as he confronts a life-or-death moral delemma. What is the purpose or justice of war?
Teach Yourself Hindi
Snell, Rupert and Simon Weightman.
A complete course in reading, writing, and speaking Hindi. Its clear and logical approach makes the ideal way to learn Hindi, whether you are a complete beginner or you have learned some Hindi before.
Myths and Gods of India
Danielou, Alain
This study of Hindu mythology explores the significance of the most porminent Hindy deities as they are envisioned by the Hindus themselves.
Within the information spa, also known as the Hall of Mental Cultivation, there are many other books, travel phrasebooks, and maps of India. Stop by!
Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Watch Project
Based on interviews with over one hundred children during a two-month investigation in India, this report details their plight in the silk, beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes), synthetic gems, silver, leather, agricultural, and carpet industries. Bonded child labor is outlawed by international and Indian law, but the Indian government has failed utterly to end it.
Neither Man nor Woman; The Hijras of India
Nanda, Serena
This ethnography is about a unique and extraordinarily interesting group, the hijras of India. The hijras are a religious community of men who dress and act like women and whose culture centers on the worship of Bachuchara Mata, one of the many versions of the Mother Goddess worshiped throughout India.
The Bhagavad-Gita; Krishna's Counsel in a Time of War
Miller, Barbara Stoler trans.
An essential text of Hindu culture in India since the time of its composition in the first century A.D. Set on an ancient battlefield where the armies of rival cousins stand ready to do battle, the GITA recounts the epic tale of the warrior-prince Arjuna, as he confronts a life-or-death moral delemma. What is the purpose or justice of war?
Teach Yourself Hindi
Snell, Rupert and Simon Weightman.
A complete course in reading, writing, and speaking Hindi. Its clear and logical approach makes the ideal way to learn Hindi, whether you are a complete beginner or you have learned some Hindi before.
Myths and Gods of India
Danielou, Alain
This study of Hindu mythology explores the significance of the most porminent Hindy deities as they are envisioned by the Hindus themselves.
Within the information spa, also known as the Hall of Mental Cultivation, there are many other books, travel phrasebooks, and maps of India. Stop by!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Good Vietnam Reads
Here are some good reads on Vietnam.
Chong, Denise
The Girl in the Picture (1999)
Riveting personal history about a victim of the Vietnam war, 9-year-old Kim Phuc severely burned by napalm. A propoganda and a groundbreaking social history that offers a rare view of everyday life in Vietnam during and after the war.
De Paul, Kim ed.
Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields (1994)
An extraordinary book that contains eyewitness accounts of life in Cambodia during Pol Pot genocidal Khmer Rouge regime from 1975- 1979, written by survivors who were children at the time.
Mangold, Tom and John Pennycate
The Tunnels of Cu Chi (1985)
A study of the tunnels and the tunnel war during the Vietnam war.
Olson, James S. and Randy Roberts
Where the Domino Fell (1996)
An informed and documented critique of US policy of Vietnam from the opening years of US involvement in IndoChina during the Truman administration down to the final withdrawl in the mid-1970s the authors have provided an indepth and topically balanced analysis of how and why the US became involved in Vietnam and of the strategy debates that occured over how to win the war.
Van Hey, Nguyen and Laurel Kendall ed.
Vietnam; Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit (2003)
An informed and engaging journey into the social and ritual life of contemporary Vietnam. The contributors offer a unique perspective on the country and its diverse cultural heritage.
Smolan, Rick and Jennifer Erwitt
Passage to Vietnam (1994)
The result of a remarkable collaboration between East and West. The book is a fascinating look at an ancient nation caught in the midst of dramatic change. Spectacular photographs and a detailed text present the most intimate and comprehensive look at Vientam ever assembled. To create this unusual portrait, 70 photographers from fourteen countries were given unprecedented access to a country that is just now emerging from decades of war and isolation.
Chong, Denise
The Girl in the Picture (1999)
Riveting personal history about a victim of the Vietnam war, 9-year-old Kim Phuc severely burned by napalm. A propoganda and a groundbreaking social history that offers a rare view of everyday life in Vietnam during and after the war.
De Paul, Kim ed.
Children of Cambodia's Killing Fields (1994)
An extraordinary book that contains eyewitness accounts of life in Cambodia during Pol Pot genocidal Khmer Rouge regime from 1975- 1979, written by survivors who were children at the time.
Mangold, Tom and John Pennycate
The Tunnels of Cu Chi (1985)
A study of the tunnels and the tunnel war during the Vietnam war.
Olson, James S. and Randy Roberts
Where the Domino Fell (1996)
An informed and documented critique of US policy of Vietnam from the opening years of US involvement in IndoChina during the Truman administration down to the final withdrawl in the mid-1970s the authors have provided an indepth and topically balanced analysis of how and why the US became involved in Vietnam and of the strategy debates that occured over how to win the war.
Van Hey, Nguyen and Laurel Kendall ed.
Vietnam; Journeys of Body, Mind, and Spirit (2003)
An informed and engaging journey into the social and ritual life of contemporary Vietnam. The contributors offer a unique perspective on the country and its diverse cultural heritage.
Smolan, Rick and Jennifer Erwitt
Passage to Vietnam (1994)
The result of a remarkable collaboration between East and West. The book is a fascinating look at an ancient nation caught in the midst of dramatic change. Spectacular photographs and a detailed text present the most intimate and comprehensive look at Vientam ever assembled. To create this unusual portrait, 70 photographers from fourteen countries were given unprecedented access to a country that is just now emerging from decades of war and isolation.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Database Du Jour
Are you interested in getting access to newspapers? The University of Virginia databases offer a way to get articles from some of the top newspapers in the country. You can get daily access to the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Sun Tribune.
If you want to see these newspapers follow these steps:
1. Go to http://library.semesteratsea.net
2. Click on Semester at Sea link
3. Click on FREE access to UVa databases/journals link
4. When the page loads, click on Factiva in the box at the top
5. A window will pop up asking for a password. This is NOT the 24 online password but a UVA password that was distributed to your rooms. If you did not get a password, please stop in at the library.
6. On the green bar at the top, click on News Pages.
7. A list of headlines for each newspaper will appear.
If you need any assistance in accessing this database, please don't hesitate to come to the Info Spa and talk to us.
If you want to see these newspapers follow these steps:
1. Go to http://library.semesteratsea.net
2. Click on Semester at Sea link
3. Click on FREE access to UVa databases/journals link
4. When the page loads, click on Factiva in the box at the top
5. A window will pop up asking for a password. This is NOT the 24 online password but a UVA password that was distributed to your rooms. If you did not get a password, please stop in at the library.
6. On the green bar at the top, click on News Pages.
7. A list of headlines for each newspaper will appear.
If you need any assistance in accessing this database, please don't hesitate to come to the Info Spa and talk to us.
Good China Reads
China Reader
ed. by Orville Schell and David Shambaugh
The China Reader; The Reform Era is a fascinating compilation by two astute China watchers of the most important documents, articles, and statements on China from 1972 to the present.
Mao's China and After; A History of the People's Republic
by Maurice Meisner
In this much-anticipated revision, Maurice Meisner again provides piercing insight and comprehensive coverage of China's fascinating and turbulent modern history.
China; The search for Social Justice and Democracy
by Ranbir Vohra
The author attempts to answer questions about Tianamen Square and the larger issues China will have to resolve to remain a viable entity into the 21st century.
China; The Last Superpower
by Joseph Lam with William Bray
Author Joseph Lam shares an insider's view of life inside this Asian power. Find out how China's technological advances are working with a military build-up to create a beast that must be dealt with.
Chinese as it's really spoken!
Interactive 90-minute cassette including phrase book.
These and other reads are all available in the ship's library(information spa).
ed. by Orville Schell and David Shambaugh
The China Reader; The Reform Era is a fascinating compilation by two astute China watchers of the most important documents, articles, and statements on China from 1972 to the present.
Mao's China and After; A History of the People's Republic
by Maurice Meisner
In this much-anticipated revision, Maurice Meisner again provides piercing insight and comprehensive coverage of China's fascinating and turbulent modern history.
China; The search for Social Justice and Democracy
by Ranbir Vohra
The author attempts to answer questions about Tianamen Square and the larger issues China will have to resolve to remain a viable entity into the 21st century.
China; The Last Superpower
by Joseph Lam with William Bray
Author Joseph Lam shares an insider's view of life inside this Asian power. Find out how China's technological advances are working with a military build-up to create a beast that must be dealt with.
Chinese as it's really spoken!
Interactive 90-minute cassette including phrase book.
These and other reads are all available in the ship's library(information spa).
Hey everybody,
More useful China information:
One of the books states that if you are traveling independently, you should check local practice about buying tickets through CITS ( China International Travel Service) to avoid a possible foreigners surcharge
Exchange rate:
One American dollar is currently worth 7.51 Chinese Yuan
Bus Schedule/ Train
By TrainQingdao Railway Station is located at No. 2, Tai'an Road, near the Zhan Bridge (Zhanqiao).
Every day, there are thirty or so pairs of trains operating between Qingdao and other cities such as Beijing (about nine hours), Shanghai (about 19 hours), Guangzhou (about 28 hours), Wuchang, Nanchang, Xuzhou, Zhengzhou, Xian, Lanzhou, Xining, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Dandong, and also cities inside Shandong Province such as Jinan (four to six hours), Heze, Yantai (three and a half hours), Zibo (three to four hours), and Weihai. Except for trains to Zibo, Yantai and Weihai, trains stopover at Jinan.
The travelchinaguide site has searchable train schedules. T26 (departs 10:44 AM) and T196 (departs 8:36 PM) travel Qingdao to Beijing, take 9 hours and cost 326 RMB for soft sleeper and 215 RMB for hard sleeper.
More useful China information:
One of the books states that if you are traveling independently, you should check local practice about buying tickets through CITS ( China International Travel Service) to avoid a possible foreigners surcharge
Exchange rate:
One American dollar is currently worth 7.51 Chinese Yuan
Bus Schedule/ Train
By TrainQingdao Railway Station is located at No. 2, Tai'an Road, near the Zhan Bridge (Zhanqiao).
Every day, there are thirty or so pairs of trains operating between Qingdao and other cities such as Beijing (about nine hours), Shanghai (about 19 hours), Guangzhou (about 28 hours), Wuchang, Nanchang, Xuzhou, Zhengzhou, Xian, Lanzhou, Xining, Chengdu, Taiyuan, Dandong, and also cities inside Shandong Province such as Jinan (four to six hours), Heze, Yantai (three and a half hours), Zibo (three to four hours), and Weihai. Except for trains to Zibo, Yantai and Weihai, trains stopover at Jinan.
The travelchinaguide site has searchable train schedules. T26 (departs 10:44 AM) and T196 (departs 8:36 PM) travel Qingdao to Beijing, take 9 hours and cost 326 RMB for soft sleeper and 215 RMB for hard sleeper.
Hello everyone!
We are tryin gto make the library blog a one-stop shop for all your useful travel information. In the future we hope to list hostels, flight info, traing info and other useful information. Today we thought we would include useful phrases to help you get around China.
Hello ( nee how)
níhăo
Thank you [You're welcome] ( sie sie)
xièxiè
Sorry ( dway-boo-chee)
Duibuqi
Where's the toilet? (Cheeng-win, tse-swor dzigh narr)
cèsuŏ zài nálĭ?
How much? (money)
duōshăo qián? ( Daw- Show Chyen)
I don't understand (what you said)
wŏ tīngbùdŏng ( waw boo doog)
Excuse me please, How do It get to....
Quingwen Dao...Zenme zou (Cheeng-win Dow... name of place you are looking for..dzumma dzow
Can you speak English?
nĭ huì jiăng yīngwén ma ( Nee whey Eeng-winma)
Bus station
qiche zhan ( chee-chuh jann)
Bank
yinhang
( yeen hang)
Hostel
ludian ( loo-dyenn)
Travel agent
luxing she ( loo-sing sheh)
It is near/ far
Hen Jin/ Hen yuan
(Hinn jeen/ Hinn ywann)
We are tryin gto make the library blog a one-stop shop for all your useful travel information. In the future we hope to list hostels, flight info, traing info and other useful information. Today we thought we would include useful phrases to help you get around China.
Hello ( nee how)
níhăo
Thank you [You're welcome] ( sie sie)
xièxiè
Sorry ( dway-boo-chee)
Duibuqi
Where's the toilet? (Cheeng-win, tse-swor dzigh narr)
cèsuŏ zài nálĭ?
How much? (money)
duōshăo qián? ( Daw- Show Chyen)
I don't understand (what you said)
wŏ tīngbùdŏng ( waw boo doog)
Excuse me please, How do It get to....
Quingwen Dao...Zenme zou (Cheeng-win Dow... name of place you are looking for..dzumma dzow
Can you speak English?
nĭ huì jiăng yīngwén ma ( Nee whey Eeng-winma)
Bus station
qiche zhan ( chee-chuh jann)
Bank
yinhang
( yeen hang)
Hostel
ludian ( loo-dyenn)
Travel agent
luxing she ( loo-sing sheh)
It is near/ far
Hen Jin/ Hen yuan
(Hinn jeen/ Hinn ywann)
Friday, September 7, 2007
Top ? and Answers
Hello and welcome to the Semester at Sea Library Blog. That the 7 librarians would like to inform you of the regular main questions that are asked at the library desk.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO RETURN THIS?
Books in the regular stacks- 2 weeks
Dvd's in the regular collection, these are located in the right back corner of the library- 3 days
Books on reserve- 2 hours
Doc Nancy's Binders- 1 hour and it must stay in the library in order to share since it is so popular
Dvd's on reserve- 2 hours
WILL MY SHIPBOARD ACCOUNT BE CHARGED IF I FAIL TO RETURN THIS?
If any of these are not returned in the time allotted, the student will be charged a fine of $9.99 for each late item. This may seem like a harsh penatly, but in reality it simply enforces that a student will turn in material on time. This is especially important in cases of course reserves because usually the night before a quiz many students hound the library desk in search for a book. If it is not turned in on time, some students do not get the opportunity to study, which every student does every night (of course). However, there are two exceptions both dealing with course reserves. The first exception is in special importance to the night owls, a book or dvd may be checked out for more than 2 hours only if it is after 22:00. It is then available for the entire night, but it must be returned to the library no later than 8:05 a.m. or in the library drop box by 8:00 in the morning. The second is that a DVD may at times be checked out for more than 2 hours if the DVD is longer than 2 hours. This late fine penalty is impractical and the library recognizes this.
WHEN IS THE LIBRARY OPEN?
The library desk, including the course reserves, are open between the hours of 8:00-23:00. The library does not take lunch breaks and puts the students education at the highest priority. Thus there is always a librarian available to help you find articles in the data base, find books, open the DVD drawers, make copies, check out books, and manage the course reserves. The library is also technically open 24 hours since the table and books are all still available for check out, even if there is no librarian on staff at the time. DVD's and regular collection books are able to be checked out manually by simply writing down one's name, id number, date, and the book's id number. Also, there is a brightly colored box that sits atop the library desk while the library is closed and students are welcome to return books at their convenience. The desks are always open for students looking to brush up on their global studies and what not.
WHAT ARE THOSE BOOKS ACCROSS THE HALL?
These are books for your leisure. They are sorted according to genre and may be taken out AND returned at any time. These book cases are open 24 hours and there is even a travel section that students may peruse before traveling.
CAN I CHECK OUT A DVD AND A VHS?
The library has 2 storages of this material, the first is located in the back right corner if one faces the books and the second is located accross the hall. A dvd may be checked out for 3 days and the library has a wide collection of dvds, not all of them are extremly educational. A few examples include, Hotel Rwanda, Black Hawk Down, and City of God. A VHS is a little more complicated since one is not able to simply play it on one's laptop. In order to watch a VHS, the vcr's are located in classrooms, one must have the classroom approved and have faculty consent. If one is able to obtain this magical consent, there is a multitude of VHS's from Clueless to Semester At Sea 1984.
WHERE IS THE TRAVEL SECTION?
The travel section is located by the maps and by the copy machine. If one does not know where either of these library neccessities are, the travel section is located in the back right corner of the library when one's back is towards the desk. There are many travel books by that are very helpful when planning one's itinerary. One should be aware that these books are only allowed to be checked out for 2 hours, unless one checks it out after 22:00. Also there is a high demand for these books a few days before port, thus be prepared.
HOW DO I MAKE COPIES?
Simply asking the information desk is sufficient. The really cool librarian will then proceed to show you how the copy machine works. Once the copies are made on fills out a small paper that asks room number, name, number of copies, id number, and total. Copies cost 25 cents per page and this is charged to one's student account.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO RETURN THIS?
Books in the regular stacks- 2 weeks
Dvd's in the regular collection, these are located in the right back corner of the library- 3 days
Books on reserve- 2 hours
Doc Nancy's Binders- 1 hour and it must stay in the library in order to share since it is so popular
Dvd's on reserve- 2 hours
WILL MY SHIPBOARD ACCOUNT BE CHARGED IF I FAIL TO RETURN THIS?
If any of these are not returned in the time allotted, the student will be charged a fine of $9.99 for each late item. This may seem like a harsh penatly, but in reality it simply enforces that a student will turn in material on time. This is especially important in cases of course reserves because usually the night before a quiz many students hound the library desk in search for a book. If it is not turned in on time, some students do not get the opportunity to study, which every student does every night (of course). However, there are two exceptions both dealing with course reserves. The first exception is in special importance to the night owls, a book or dvd may be checked out for more than 2 hours only if it is after 22:00. It is then available for the entire night, but it must be returned to the library no later than 8:05 a.m. or in the library drop box by 8:00 in the morning. The second is that a DVD may at times be checked out for more than 2 hours if the DVD is longer than 2 hours. This late fine penalty is impractical and the library recognizes this.
WHEN IS THE LIBRARY OPEN?
The library desk, including the course reserves, are open between the hours of 8:00-23:00. The library does not take lunch breaks and puts the students education at the highest priority. Thus there is always a librarian available to help you find articles in the data base, find books, open the DVD drawers, make copies, check out books, and manage the course reserves. The library is also technically open 24 hours since the table and books are all still available for check out, even if there is no librarian on staff at the time. DVD's and regular collection books are able to be checked out manually by simply writing down one's name, id number, date, and the book's id number. Also, there is a brightly colored box that sits atop the library desk while the library is closed and students are welcome to return books at their convenience. The desks are always open for students looking to brush up on their global studies and what not.
WHAT ARE THOSE BOOKS ACCROSS THE HALL?
These are books for your leisure. They are sorted according to genre and may be taken out AND returned at any time. These book cases are open 24 hours and there is even a travel section that students may peruse before traveling.
CAN I CHECK OUT A DVD AND A VHS?
The library has 2 storages of this material, the first is located in the back right corner if one faces the books and the second is located accross the hall. A dvd may be checked out for 3 days and the library has a wide collection of dvds, not all of them are extremly educational. A few examples include, Hotel Rwanda, Black Hawk Down, and City of God. A VHS is a little more complicated since one is not able to simply play it on one's laptop. In order to watch a VHS, the vcr's are located in classrooms, one must have the classroom approved and have faculty consent. If one is able to obtain this magical consent, there is a multitude of VHS's from Clueless to Semester At Sea 1984.
WHERE IS THE TRAVEL SECTION?
The travel section is located by the maps and by the copy machine. If one does not know where either of these library neccessities are, the travel section is located in the back right corner of the library when one's back is towards the desk. There are many travel books by that are very helpful when planning one's itinerary. One should be aware that these books are only allowed to be checked out for 2 hours, unless one checks it out after 22:00. Also there is a high demand for these books a few days before port, thus be prepared.
HOW DO I MAKE COPIES?
Simply asking the information desk is sufficient. The really cool librarian will then proceed to show you how the copy machine works. Once the copies are made on fills out a small paper that asks room number, name, number of copies, id number, and total. Copies cost 25 cents per page and this is charged to one's student account.
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