The natural marvel of the Dead Sea which is also known as the ‘Sea of Salt’ is a body of water which has one of the highest levels of salinity in the world. The Dead Sea is located between Israel and Jordan in a rift valley of the River Jordan. The Sea was so named  because no flora or fauna can survive within its waters due to their extremely high levels of salinity. This immensely salty lake has been a well known tourist attraction from times immemorial as the abundant minerals salts found in its waters are believed to have curative properties.

Every year however on the second Friday in the month of April, both professional and amateur runners gather in Jordan’s enchanting capital Amman not to indulge in the various delights of the Dead Sea but to take part in the challenging Dead Sea Ultra Marathon which is an extremely demanding race that is conducted over 52 kilometers in the desert of Southern Jordan. This year this endurance testing race will be conducted on the 10th April from 6.30 am onwards.

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International travelers will need a passport to leave their domestic countries and arrive in mainland China, but visitors are also required to apply for and receive a Tourist Visa or an L Visa that must be issued by the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China.

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa

The first step is to locate the closest Consulate offices. In many cases, an applicant may be required to utilize the services of a visa agent who is authorized to present documentation and information to the Consulate for approval.

Applicants must submit the following documents:

· Valid passport (with at least 1 blank visa page in it)

· Completed Visa Application (Form Q1)

· Passport photo stapled to application

· Children of Chinese descent must provide a copy of their birth certificate when applying

· Be prepared to show travel arrangements (air tickets and hotel reservations)

When Applying:

· Applicants do not need to make an appointment, but they should check the consulate hours to allow for plenty of time to submit their paperwork and have it verified.

· Mailed in applications will be refused.

· Visas can be mailed to recipients after the application is approved

· Processing time is roughly 4 working days

· Always check with the Consulate information or website for price

Due to the high volume of incoming tourists to Beijing since the Olympics, it is best to plan ahead. The Embassy needs confirmed travel plans and tickets prior to issuing a visa. There are strict rules against issuing visas to any individuals suffering from AIDS, mental disorders or contagious diseases. There are a number of travel packages available to Beijing including airfare, hotel stays and more. Be sure to complete all research before heading to China’s consulate or embassy offices to save time.

Diwali which is popularly also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ is festival is celebrated in many parts of India and several other countries of the world where there are large expatriate Indian populations or local populations which are of Indian origin like the UK, Singapore and Malaysia. The festival holds much significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and is usually celebrated in the early November or late October in accordance with the dates of the Hindu calendar. This year the festival will be celebrated  on Tuesday the 28th of October.

Good triumphs over Evil

The festivities of Diwali are usually spread over five days and the festival has several different legends and stories associated with it. The most popular legend of Diwali is a story taken from the epic known as the Ramayana that states that Diwali is celebrated to commemorate the home coming of King Rama of the Kingdom of Ayodhaya after he had spent fourteen years in exile in the forests.  During his arduous exile, King Rama had protected the virtue of his wife Sita by destroying the demon, Ravana who had spirited her away to Sri Lanka. This legend is largely believed by Hindus of North India and Nepal who celebrate the festival and rejoice at the triumph of good over evil. read more

As we grapple with the effects of global warming and the detrimental effects of carbon emissions, we are becoming increasingly aware of a ‘greener’ way of life. This has permeated the world of leisure and hospitality as travelers are more conscious nowadays about issues like reducing their carbon foot print and taking volunteer vacations that make a difference. Hotels and airlines are also responding to the growing needs of ecotourism as travelers the world over are embracing this green ethos. Everyone who is interested in ‘green travel’ and ecotourism, should perhaps then make time to visit the  wild and wonderful rock garden of Chandigarh which is the creation of a genius of recycling, an artist called Nek Chand.

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Mumbai city is the financial and commercial capital of India and a teeming metropolis which is home to nearly 19 million people. This exciting and vivacious city is usually your gateway to other destinations in India and it is worth spending a few days in Mumbai city to discover its curious energy, which has often led Mumbai to be called the ‘New York of India’.

Mumbai, which is still called by its old name of ‘ Bombay’ by most of its residents, has two distinct sections, North and South Mumbai. While North Mumbai is considered to be suburban and populated by ‘New money’, South Mumbai is considered to be the epicenter of the city and is home to ‘Old Money’.

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