Europe Travel> Posing for your Visa photo

Image: Tips to get your visa photo done

Image by: Chadrogers

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Here are some handy tips that travel experts recommend while going in for a passport size photograph.

Your face has to show clearly. So, a well combed hair and a neat shirt should do the trick. Avoid hair covering your face or smiling too much at the camera. As far as possible keep a straight face. Avoid the happy expressions.

Usually, embassies prefer passport photos with a white backdrop. While this criterion may differ from one embassy to another, it’s best to research before going in for a passport photograph. In fact, some embassies and travel agents have photo booths to take your photographs, but this can cost a bomb as compared to your local photo studio.

Editor's note: Compare rail pass prices at the cheapest source of rail passes online: Rail Pass and Rail Europe.

Europe Travel> What to pack for a Europe trip

Image: A checklist before packing for a Europe trip

Image by: Mil8

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Ready, steady and hop on to the Eurail. Your pulse is racing and you are excited as you embark upon a journey to see a beautiful continent. The best time to visit Europe is in the summers, where the balmy sun will keep your spirits high.

But before all this, it’s important to pack wisely. So here are some handy hints –

Backpack: Start with a backpack. Consider it as an investment so buy a good quality backpack that will not wear out during your trip.

Documentation: Set aside your passport, travel passes, air and train tickets, student identity cards etc. Localize them into one single place where you can find them when you need them. To be on the safer side, keep a photo copy of all these documents separately in your bag.

Sealable plastic bags: Carry all your toiletries in sealed plastic bags to prevent them from leaking and spoiling your clothes and accessories.

Maps & Calendars: Get hold of city maps, road maps and the Eurail route maps to help you decide where all you want to go. A foldable paper calendar can be used to jot down your travel plans and view them at a glance.

Guide books & Address books: The source of your research could be guide books, internet downloads, inputs from previous travelers and better still getting hold of their travel book where they have jotted down everything in detail. Address books come handy to drop in a line or call back home in case of an emergency.

Linen: If possible, carry a couple of bed sheets and inflatable pillows that you can use at a hostel. At times, hostel beds may not be as clean.

Medication: To prevent any sickness during your trip, carry medicines along with a doctor’s prescription. Just in case you are searched by security personnel, then your possession of medicines should be justified.

Money matters: Traveler’s checks, ATM/ Debit cards and some amount of cash (maybe up to $400) should be with you at all times.

Checklist for general items –

1. A small lock for a locker in the hostel.
   
2. An umbrella to take shelter from the rain or if the sun gets unbearable.
   
3. A small flashlight to help you through the dark.
   
4. A couple of good novels to drive boredom blues away.
   
5. Mobile phone, iPod, laptop/ notebook to keep you connected.
   
6. Insect repellents, first aid kit, sunscreen lotions and sunglasses are a must.
   
7. A travel journal and a camera to keep memories with you forever.

Note: You can compare rail pass prices at the cheapest source of rail passes online: Rail Pass and Rail Europe.

Europe Travel> How to Choose a Travel Website

Image: Flight
Image by: Leginmat

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Getting the cheapest airfare for travel can be the hardest part. Hence a thorough online research will help you find the cheapest airfare and discounts. And how do you go about this hunt? A range of travel portals will give you options of itinerary and its respective fares. But then again, you are faced with another dilemma as to which is the best travel portal!

Here are some tips to help you find reliable websites that will offer you a good deal on airfares:

1. Check if the travel website is registered under any authoritative body – such as the Better Business Bureau.
2. Some travel websites have a tie-up with several universities and only specialize in student traveling. These websites are worth a try.
3. Read up testimonials for the given website to give you an idea of the services and fares offered by that site.
4. Remember, you need to be a student to avail of special airfares, so try not faking any details. Usually the travel website will verify your details from your school for further processing.
5. Check whether the special discount rates offered to you are inclusive all taxes.
6. Student travel websites should offer valuable inputs and updated travel information to its readers.
7. Ideally, a travel website should offer you flexible options such as – date change, one way fares, and open tickets etc.
8. The travel website should be able to provide you with links to other local/ international travel agencies, hostels and hotels in Europe for you to make prior bookings once you reach there.
9. And yes, don’t forget to bookmark the sites that you have short listed.
10. Popular student travel websites worth checking out are –
    ~ Studentuniverse
    ~ STAtravel
    ~ Travelcuts

Europe Travel> Hostel Discount Cards

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Traveling long distance by the Eurail can make you tired and a need for a good night sleep. You look for the best option available that is a combination of a comfortable room and saving yourself some dough. Maybe you could try using a hostel discount card.

What is a hostel discount card?
With a hostel discount card, you can avail of discounts for a few hostel bunk nights including some additional benefits. These discounts and additional benefits may vary from hostel to hostel. Before signing up for a hostel discount card, its better to find out the kind of discounts offered. Sometimes hostel discount cards only waive off the booking fees. So read the fine print.
There are two kinds of hostel cards that can come handy during your Europe trip -

Hostels of Europe Discount Card: this card offers a discount of $2 for online hostel bookings only. No extra discounts are offered by the hostel.
For more information go to Hotelsofeurope

YHA/ HI Hostels: Youth Hostelling Associations (YHA)/ Hostelling International (HI) are a part of the International Youth Hostel Federation. As a result, hostels under this board stick to certain standards. You can apply for an annual membership of an HI Hostel for about $28.

Pets> Dog Breeds> Doberman

Image: Doberman & a Cat

Image by: Birdfreak.com

Text by: Tanya Munshi
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Overview:
The Doberman belongs to the Pinscher breed of dogs. Pinscher is a category of dogs where their ears and tails are cropped. The Doberman breed also belongs to the domestic category of dogs and they are known for their intelligence, loyalty, alertness and strength.

Dobermans have been used as guard dogs (in some cases still are), watch dogs, or police dogs, but this trend declining in the recent times. Today, Dobermans are also used as show dogs by various dog breeders and pet owners.

A Doberman is usually known as a ‘one man dog’, wherein, it is loyal to only its owner who gives him complete attention, love, care, food and often plays with him. In most cases, a Doberman is more close to a stay at home mom (or a housewife) as she is the only individual the Doberman sees regularly. If rescued from an ill-treated family, the Doberman is fiercely protective and loyal to its rescuer.

Dobermans can be gentle and loving if they are treated with love and care. It is their training and the treatment that determines whether they become a ferocious guard dog or a loving family pet. A pet Doberman is known to attack only if it finds that his family and home is under threat or if it has been ill-treated by a particular person.

Keeping a Doberman is not all that easy. He needs enough space for exercise, and enough mental stimulation to keep him active. If you have a front lawn and a backyard, a bungalow or a single row house or a farm house, a Doberman will be the happiest there.

Size:
The Doberman belongs to the medium size breed of dogs. A male Doberman is about 34 to 45 kgs, while a female Doberman would weigh around 27 to 40 kgs. However, the standards in weight may differ from one kennel club/ breeder to another. Dobermans have a broad and a firm chest and a strong, powerful and toned body.

Coat:
Dobermans have a smooth coat that is short, thick and hard. When well maintained their coats shine like velvet.

Colour:
The Doberman can be found in two colours – black and a deep chocolate brown.

Occupation:
Police dogs, watch dogs, guard dogs and military dogs

Life Expectancy:
A Doberman’s average life expectancy is around 10 years. A Doberman’s overall health depends on the correct breeding standards that encourage this breed to be healthy, strong and fit for as a family dog.

Favourite Name:
My favourite name for a Doberman (when I plan to keep one) – Arrow.
I had rescued a one year old chocolate brown Doberman who was abandoned by his owners on Baner Road, near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. This Doberman was suffering from a medical problem (that was the reason he was abandoned). I named him Choco and had taken the help of Animal Farm in Pune, to provide him the necessary medical attention and care. He was well looked after. Choco died peacefully in his sleep a few months later.

Europe Travel> International Student Exchange Card (ISE)

Text by: Tanya Munshi
Image: Students traveling in Europe
Image by: mtnwa

Traveling through Europe can be very exciting. You keep jotting down all that you see and where all you have been by the Eurail. When you reach Paris you are pleasantly surprised that one of the student discount cards offers you discounts on the ticket to see the Eiffel Tower, up close and personal. Better still, while buying souvenirs for folks and friends back home you get meaty discounts on certain purchases. Now what kind of card could this be?
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What is an ISE?
Recognized worldwide, the International Student Exchange Card (ISE) is just like the ISIC that offers discounts to young travelers for domestic/ foreign travel.
The ISE Card is the only international identity card that guarantees its discounts are at par/ exceed the amount, as stated by any retail establishment and in competition to other student discount cards. In case you have made a purchase where you find the discount is more than offered on the ISE card, then you will be refunded double the amount and your ISE card validity extended for another year, free of cost.
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Discounts
Some of the benefits offered on an ISE card internationally are:

1. Discounts on sight seeing and tourist activities across Europe – such as 20% discount to all ISE Cardholders under the age of 25 and 20% on the Super Saver package on Mount Titlis in Switzerland etc.
2. Savings on the Eurail while traveling from one destination to another
3. Discounts on food, shopping, site seeing etc.
4. Calling card
5. Medical benefits
6. Hostel/ hotel reservations
7. Airline Bankruptcy Protection – being an ISE card holder, you will receive $2000 as airline bankruptcy protection on buying your air tickets.

Eligibility
There are three categories under which you can be eligible to apply for an ISE card:

Student – minimum age of 12 years and above. There is no upper limit, as long as the student is enrolled for a program for the current/ previous year.

Faculty/ teachers – all educational establishments are eligible to apply for an ISE card for their faculty and teachers. This is in case, our group ropes in a teacher to travel with them. (By the way, this is Merril’s idea.)

Under 26 years of age – this caters to those who are not students or faculty/ teachers, yet they are still eligible to apply for an ISE card – Youth Version. This Youth ISE Card does not provide discounts as it does for students/ teachers, but covers travel insurance and medical benefits.

Payment
You can buy an ISE card for $25 –Online – payment through debit/ credit cardPhone – (800) 255-8000 (toll free from North America and USA) and (480) 951-1177 (for all international calls)Mail – International Student Exchange Cards, Inc., 11043 N. Saint Andrew's Way, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Fax – (480) 951-1216. You have to download the order form (PDF format) form the website isecardAgent – You can contact your local student travel agent for an ISE card
In order to activate your ISE card, go to: isecard/activate

Documentation

• Photocopy of school identity card (it should be valid).
• Photocopy of your report card for the current academic year.
• Photocopy of proof of age, be it passport, driver’s license or student identity card, as long as your age is mentioned on it.
• Photocopy of your employment/ contract as a teacher/ faculty.

Books> My First Book> 'Nosey Parker Badloo' - by Tanya Munshi

Image: Cover page of 'Nosey Parker Badloo'

Meet Badloo, the village nosey parker. Don't enjoy nosey business you say? Relax, the fun only starts with Badloo's nose. Very soon, the entire respiratory system befriends you. While Badloo is busy poking his nose into other people's affairs, you can make friends with the rest of the gang from the respiratory system.

• Age : 10 to 13 years
• Cost : Rs.50/-
• Language : English, Marathi
• Features : 24 pages, full colour illustrations

Details of Nosey Parker Badloo

• Title: Nosey Parker Badloo
• Author: Munshi Tanya
• ISBN: 8189142968
• ISBN-13: 9788189142964
• Binding: Paperback
• Publishing Date: 2006
• Publisher: Iets Publications

Links: http://www.flipkart.com/nosey-parker-badloo-munshi-tanya/8189142968-fw23fi18pf ~ and ~ http://www.ilfsets.com/publication/publi_inside.asp