Archive for the ‘travelling’ Category

Medical Survival Guide

Friday, February 20th, 2009

When you’re on your travels, losing your luggage or having a wallet stolen is a right pain. However, this pales into insignificance next to the heartache that can arise from falling ill or sustaining an injury whilst abroad.

Not all countries have a free health service, so you could run up thousands on a medical bill if you fall sick. For this reason, it is smart (to say the least) not only to take out travel insurance, but also to be sure that you get an adequate level of cover from your policy.

Doctor Doctor - when do I pay my medical bills?

If you’re only shelling out small amounts each time to pay for medicine or minor treatment, then it’s less hassle to pay straight away - then you can claim the expenses back later.

In more serious cases, then be sure to contact your insurance provider’s emergency contact line when you run into trouble. Then you should be able to bill larger medical expenses directly to your insurer. Bear in mind that you might be required to cover the policy excess in such cases.

Doctor Doctor - what are the exclusions?

Your policy may be declared void by your travel insurance provider if you fail to inform them of pre-existing conditions. Therefore it’s best to tell them if any of those travelling on the policy:

* have any pre-existing medical conditions

* are pregnant (usually more than 20 weeks, although check your insurance provider’s limit to be sure)

* are awaiting surgery, or some form of medical investigation

* are travelling against their doctor’s advice

Also, although you may be in rare health, you might put yourself at risk by taking part in any activities deemed hazardous by your insurance provider. If you suspect that this is the case, then ask your insurance provider to define which activities are considered to be hazardous, and you can then determine the right level of cover.

Doctor Doctor - what about my medication and vaccinations?

Whatever your destination, it’s a good idea to be fully insured for any medical emergency, including repatriation.

If you’re taking any medication with you, be sure to check first that it’s legal in the country you’re visiting. If it’s prescribed medication, then it’s a good idea to take the prescription and ideally a doctor’s letter with you.

Pack any medication in your hand luggage, as it’s less likely to get lost.

Thailand Food and Culture

Friday, February 20th, 2009

Thailand food
It is beyond any doubt that food is a part of any gathering, thus, becoming the part of social occasions or itself the reason to celebrate. Normally, as per the western culture, a normal meal in any restaurant consists of starter, main course and then dessert. But in Thailand, the custom is a bit different with regard to Thailand food, as there is no single dish for a single person. As a general, all present in a gathering share the same dish together. So, it’s better to have many guests together around the table than to enjoy with one or two as eating alone is considered a bad luck in the country.

One of the good things about Thai food is that they never dispose away the leftover food, as they consider it inauspicious and an enraging act to a female deity, ‘God of rice’. Generally there are four seasonings in Thailand food- sweet, sour, salty and spicy. The food is satisfied only if it contains all the four tastes. Thai dinner mostly include meat, fish, noodles, vegetables and soup followed by desserts including fresh fruits and colorful rice cakes. Besides meals, there are snackers consisting of chicken or beef satay, spring rolls, salads, raw vegetable with spicy dips and sweets.

Thailand culture
Thailand culture is highly influenced by Buddhism in addition to some influence of Hinduism and other Southeast Asian neighbor. Thai art is the main item included in Thai Culture. Buddha image is the main constituent in different period having distinctive styles. At present, there is a fusion of traditional art with modern techniques. India has also laid much influence on Thailand literature. It includes the most notable work, Ramakien, the version of Indian epic, Ramayana. The poetry of Sunthorn Phu is also quite famous in Thailand.

Spoken drama is not given any importance in Thailand, but instead there is Thai dance, divided into three categories- Lakhon, Likay and Khon. A form of shadow pay, Nang Drama, is popular among southern Thailand. Folk music and classical music both are have their significance in addition to pop music.

Apart from it, one of the common customs included in Thailand is Wai, a common gesture that is similar to Indian Namaste. The hospitable and generous people of Thailand pay a lot of respect and homage to their elders, as it is the core of their faith and spiritual belief. Seeking blessings from the elders is considered important mark of respect.

Before You Travel

Friday, February 20th, 2009

International travel is fun, but the organisation stage can be a little bit stressful. Also, there are a few things that you should not forget. If you do forget them, it could ruin your holiday. The purpose of this article is to give you some advice on the three main things that you need to do before you go overseas to ensure that you have a great holiday.

  • Organise travel insurance- Whilst it is unlikely that anything bad will happen to you on your holiday, there is always a possibility. You should make sure that you take out travel insurance in case of an emergency. For an extra couple of hundred dollars, it is in your best interests to ensure that you are covered in case something bad happens.
  • Make sure that you organize someone to collect your mail- Criminals keep an eye on neighborhoods. They keep an eye out for houses where mail is not collected or bins are not put out. If you are going away, you need to ensure that you organize somebody to collect your mail so your mailbox does not overflow. You should also organize somebody to put your bins out for that extra level of looking like your house is lived in.
  • Organise an International SIM card so you can save a fortune- Most people do not think about how they are going to keep in touch whilst they travel. They end up taking their home mobile and paying a fortune in global roaming costs. If you want to save a bucket load of money, make sure you pick up an International SIM card. One of these cards could save you up to 70% compared to what you would spend on global roaming costs.

It is important to ensure that you are fully prepared before you travel. The tips mentioned above are ones that you may forget.