Best Time to Visit India - Travel Documents

The best time to visit India is between October and March. The summer heat has abated by then in the northern plains and in Rajasthan’s arid landscape. The wet Northeast becomes somewhat drier, the south becomes a breathtaking scene of swaying coconut palms and rain showers spray Tamil Nadu. Most

of India’s colourful festivals are in this period. Dussehra, which is celebrated like Guy Fawkes Day but with dramatis personae from the epic drama of Ramayana, is followed 20 days later by the festival of light, firecrackers and joyous pyrotechnics, Diwali. Come March, come Holi: coloured powder, water fights and sweetmeats! Besides these that are universal favourites across the country, there are regional festivals. Harvest festivals, car festivals, dance festivals and numerous temple celebrations pepper south India’s calendar in December-January. Pretty Pushkar in Rajasthan holds Asia’s largest camel fair in November; Mardi Gras in Goa and the muezzin’s call heralding Id. The winter is also ideal for wildlife enthusiasts. The major deterrent to visiting during any other time is the heat. However, the months from March-May and September-November are prime trekking time in the Himalayas, and if you plan to concentrate on hilly areas then this is a better period in which to visit.

There’s enough variety in tourist accommodation in India for the visitor to always find comfort; degrees of luxury though will be directly proportionate to the degree of the depth of your pocket. Hotels are graded on the star system: 5-star being fully air conditioned, with a coffee shop, multiple

speciality restaurants, pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, health centre, in-house shopping and all the razzmatazz. Down to hostels, ashrams, and Public Works’ guesthouses at the other end of the spectrum: dormitory style living with rationed hot water (just about enough for a decent shave!), no-smoking no-drinking restrictions and curfew! There are numerous other options and you’ll never be stuck in a heap because there isn’t a choice. Even the smallest tourist destination has mid-rung establishments. Some have common bathrooms but there usually will be the option of renting a room with an attached bathroom. Some mid-rung establishments are better than others. There are many that have cosy atmosphere and make up in character what they lack in frills. In many wildlife sanctuaries, there is accommodation in the park’s buffer zone. Forest guesthouses are very basic accommodation, and some require you to bring your own provisions, but their privileged location more than compensates. Heritage hotels and palace hotels are probably an Indian peculiarity. Some old rajahs, especially in Rajasthan, have converted part of their palaces into hotels. These give the visitor a great shot at savouring famed Indian hospitality at its quaint and genteel best. The government is promoting Home Stays where some pre-approved families provide paying guest accommodation and this has taken off in a big way in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. There are beach resorts that give you access to exclusive sand so you may sun and surf in style. Houseboats in Kashmir, hardy little huts along trekking trails and numerous camping sites only widen the range that the traveller can choose from. Home stays are fast catching on and have become quite popular. This is a great way to get an insight as to how Indian families live.

Government of India Tourist Office (GITO), 88 Janpath, New Delhi 110001. Tel: (11) 23320342, (11) 23320005, (11) 3320008, and (11) 23320266. Fax: (11) 23320109. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), L 1 Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001. Tel: (11) 23320331 and (11) 23322336. Fax:

(11) 23320331. States have their own individual tourism boards that promote and organise travel within the state.

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How to Handle Snake Bite

Snake bites can be fatal if not treated. They have a greater impact on children because of their smaller size.

If a person is bitten, running after the snake to catch it may not be a good idea.

Here are some tips that would guide you in the event of a snake bite!




Beat the Panic

The first step in the event of snake bite is to calm the patient.

Panic increases BP and pulse rate and carries the venom faster through the victim's body.



Restrict Movements

If the snake - bite is on the arm, then use a sling bandage for support.

If the bite is on the leg, then use a splint and tie it to the leg using a cloth. Do not tighten the cloth. The purpose is to immobilize the leg till treatment.

Remove any rings or bangles to avoid complications in case of swelling.


Symptoms

Common symptoms -

Difficulty in breathing/speaking
Droopy eyelids/blurred vision
Bleeding from gums/wounds
Increased swelling
Dizziness/convulsions/
Severe pain
Loss of consciousness
Nausea/fainting
Increased thirst


Treatment

Lack of treatment can be deadly even if symptoms do not appear.

Shift the patient to the hospital, for modern treatment, as soon as possible.

An injection with the right anti - venom is life-saving!

Herbs, snakestones or traditional medicines would be a colossal waste of precious time.


DO NOT

Do not cut the bite with sharp tools, like blade
Do not apply pressure, such as by using cold compressors
Do not use tourniquet
Do not suck out the venom orally
Do not feed or give anything to the patient orally
Do not give medicines, unless instructed by a doctor
Do not try to raise the site of bite to above the level of heart


Prevention

It may not be possible to completely avoid snake bite but the following steps may be considered -

Avoid areas where snakes are commonly found such as under rocks and logs
If you are a frequent trekker then carry a first aid kit for emergencies including snake bite
Make a tapping noise when you trek. Snakes will slither away and avoid you
Never provoke a snake


Time is Precious

Don't waste time and lose life!

Source - medindia

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What is Diabetic retinopathy ?

Tags - Diabetic retinopathy, vision problems, blindness, eye exams, blood sugar

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that results from damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, however, diabetic retinopathy can result in blindness.



Diabetic retinopathy can develop in anyone who has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The longer you have diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy.

To protect your vision, take prevention seriously. Start by carefully controlling your blood sugar level and scheduling yearly eye exams.

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Basic Eye Care - Eye Care Tips

* Take A vitamin diet to make eyes brighter. (papaya, eggs, fish, milk, cilantro etc.,)
Wash eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes.

* Put sliced cucumber over your eyes to treat dark circles.

* Put potato slices on your eye to get rid off those dark circles.

* Soak amla overnight in water and use this water the next morning to wash the eyes.


* Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min.

* To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.

* To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm's length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four or five times a day.

* If your eye twitches, or your eyes are red and feeling itchy, massage your scalp with curd.

* Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning. This makes your eyes sparkle.

* For Puffy Eyes: Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap.
* Wash your face before sleeping, and ensure that there is no make-up on your face before you sleep, because, make-up creams may spoil your face as it will be there for the whole night. It is better if no cream is applied. What I feel is, wash your face before sleeping and if at all you want to apply any cream, just apply night cream and none other than that.

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Common Sense Advice for Beginners - Yoga Tips

Beginners Yoga Tips
* Borrow or buy a yoga book (or even better a DVD or video) that's aimed at beginners. The health and wellness section of any good bookstore will have good books that offer plenty of yoga tips and visual demonstrations of poses.

* Using the examples in your book, DVD or video to practice at home will help you master some of the poses before you start attending classes, and help build your confidence.

* There are MANY different styles of yoga, each with a different emphasis (eg stretching, strength, or fitness) and it's important to find the one that best suits you.

* Find a teacher that you like and trust, and who gives all their students individual help and attention as needed. A good teacher will gladly pass on his or her own yoga tips.
* The best time for yoga is in the morning before breakfast, or later in the evening.



* Before beginning a yoga class you should empty your bowels and bladder, and remove mucus from your nose, throat and lungs.

* It's best to wear clothing that's loose and comfortable, for easy movement.

*Try to avoid eating (except for a light snack if you need it) for 2 hours before a class, as it will more than likely make you feel tired and heavy.

*Try and be punctual to classes; the poses are done in sequence for a reason.

*Make sure you completely master the easy poses before you move onto the harder ones. DON'T feel foolish if you can't master a difficult pose the first few times you attempt it.
* If you have a permanent injury or condition that you think could be worsened by doing yoga, have a chat with your doctor about which poses might be best avoided.

* Be sure to tell your yoga instructor before the class if you are ill or injured; they can tell you how to alter the poses to avoid making things worse.

* Whatever you do, DON'T force yourself to look exactly like the instructor in the class, the person on the TV or the picture in the book. Just because you mightn't look exactly like your instructor when you do a particular pose, doesn't mean you're not doing it "right". Forcing your body beyond its' limits will only cause injury.

* Be wary of the difference between feeling sensations or resistance and feeling pain; you should not feel pain while doing yoga, and if you do it could mean you aren't doing something right or need to adjust a pose to suit you better.

* Many yoga instructors assist students hands-on; if they try and move your body too much for you, or force your body into various poses, however, you could end up injured.

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Why Wait Any Longer? Use the Power of Yoga

If you have ever tried to lose weight, then you probably already know what doctors and weight loss experts know: most weight loss diets only bring temporary results.

If you take some diet pills and you may lose weight because your appetite is temporarily suppressed. When you stop taking the pills your appetite will return and you will be faced with the same problem. The pills are a short term solution, and in some cases may even be harmful to you.



If you adopt an extreme weight loss diet you may get dramatic results while you stay on the diet, but if you live a normal life, surrounded by your family and friends, you probably will not be able to stay on that diet for a long time. As soon as you quit the diet and return to your old ways, you will gain weight again. In addition, as with pills, many weight loss diets, are not healthy and can even be harmful

For long term weight loss you need to go to the root of the problem and make changes in your life and lifestyle. Excess weight in our society is mostly due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor selection of food. It may also be due to psychological stress and in some cases metabolic problems (that is, your body is not efficient in turning food into energy).

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Lava Mobiles to Roll out Lava A9

Lava Mobiles is going to release its new mobile phone that comes under the name of the Lava A9. The device will be available in the Indian market. It is provided with a full package of features and it is expected that the phone will have a reasonable price.



It is targeted at those consumers that are looking for a handset that does not come with a large sum of money.

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