Category: Travelling

It may sound daunting, but travelling with baby does not have to be a nightmare! A little preparation and forward planning is all you need for a successful trip with your tiny traveller.

There are certain supplies that are essential for any trip with your baby. The most important, of course, is enough food and milk for the journey. Always pack more than you think you’ll will need and contain a lot of finger foods if your baby is old sufficient — these are wonderful for helping to maintain him occupied! If you’re breastfeeding and will need to express milk, it is possible to store it in a cooler, with ice, for up to 24 hours. It is possible to also store bottles of pre-made formula inside the exact same way — alternatively, it is possible to add pre-measured powdered formula to the bottles, then top it up with cooled, boiled water as needed.

One more alternative would be to bring “ready to drink” cartons of formula. Whilst ideal for the journey itself, be conscious that you may well not be allowed to take these cartons with you into specific countries. Sealed containers of formula don’t typically present a difficulty.

Solid foods might be packed into a cooler, even though a greater idea is to bring foods with you that you can easily prepare during the journey. Avocado pears and bananas are good examples, as they can be simply peeled, mashed and served to your baby at room temperature.

Always bring your own feeding bowls and utensils when travelling with baby – many eating establishments do not have cutlery appropriate for an infant’s use. A travel high chair is incredibly useful, too — and means that you can comfortably feed your baby wherever you go. Disposable bibs, or a wipe-clean plastic bib, can be very convenient when travelling and they certainly cut down on the laundry!

If you ask for food or milk to be warmed for you, be Very careful to check the temperature on its return. Busy waiters or cabin crew may overheat the food and you will need to wait for it to cool down. With this in mind, ask for any food or milk to be warmed well before you’re actually going to need it!

Many parents worry about how to sterilise feeding equipment when travelling with baby. There are many products available to assist with this, from microwave steriliser bags to disposable bottle liners. Most stores dealing with infant feeding equipment will offer a range of travelling accessories such as these.

Other essential items for your trip will include nappies/diapers and scented diaper bags. If you’re heading to a warm destination, adequate sun protection is a must! Also, consider bringing a small nightlight – if you’re breastfeeding, it can be very useful in a dark, unfamiliar hotel room.

To help your baby cope with the trip and to reassure him in new surroundings, be sure to bring his favourite blanket. This can also serve as a handy “curtain” to shield an aeroplane sky cot/bassinet from the light, or for naps in his stroller when out and about.

Dress your baby in light layers when travelling, not only does this make it easier to cope with fluctuating temperatures, but if your baby spills his food, for example, you can easily remove the top layer of clothing. Bring a change of clothes for yourself, too baby’s mess tends to have a habit of transferring itself to his parents!

Korea boasts a number of festive holidays. Leading the list is Seollal, or New Year, when people enjoy a bowl of tteokguk (rice cake soup) or play traditional games with their families. On Chuseok, the entire family gathers to enjoy the bounties of the autumn harvest. On Dano, people wear colorful hanboks, ride on swings, and wash their hair in iris-essence water. And there is Sambok, when people eat especially nutritious meals and cool off in a mountain brook during the hottest period of summer.

If you have ever been to Korea or have an interest in the country, you may have heard a little about the holidays of Seollal, Chuseok, and Dano. How about Sambok? The word Sambok may sound unfamiliar to you, but if you want to beat the heat of summer in Korea, then you might want to learn more about it. Here is what Korean people enjoy doing during Sambok.

What is Sambok?

In the past when most Koreans depended on farming for their livelihood, all family members worked in the fields from spring to fall. But when the scalding heat of summer made field work nearly impossible, everyone would take a short respite from the sizzling sun. Part of this summertime ritual was eating a carefully prepared, nutritious meal meant to build stamina and cool the body: a wise and easy way to recover from fatigue and gear up for the fall harvest.

Sambok refers to the three hottest days of summer, which mark the peak of the growing season. After these days have passed, farmers look forward to the ripening of the rice. According to the lunar calendar, the sambok period extends over a month and is marked by the three days of chobok (beginning), jungbok (middle), and malbok (last). There is a 10-day interval between chobok and jungbok, and a 20-day interval between jungbok and malbok. This year, chobok is July 20, jungbok is July 30, and malbok is August 9 after the monsoon season (June 10, 20, and July 10 respectively by the lunar calendar). And since Sambok is counted according to the lunar calendar, the days are different every year.

What Do People Do on Sambok Days?

In the past, Sambok was a holiday for farmers worn out by farming chores. During the dynastic period, the royal court distributed ice from the palace icehouse to its high-ranking officials. In those days, however, ice was a rarity for the common people. So, when the heat of summer made it impossible to work the land, people did chores instead, or took a few days off to go to a cooler place.

Usually, people took refuge in a nearby mountain valley or at the seacoast. Such trips were mostly common among housewives. They would flee from labor and spend a leisurely cool summer vacation, enjoying a footbath in a cold mountain brook or a sand bath on the beach. This was also a time for them to visit their parents and family members.

Nowadays, there are no special sambok traditions, but people still continue the custom of eating nutritious and rejuvenating foods, which is why you’ll find a long line of customers waiting to be seated at samgyetang or other sambok-special restaurants.

Korean’s Favorite Sambok Meals!

Koreans are most interested in foods that help restore stamina weakened by the scorching heat, and the most popular are samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup) andjangeogui (grilled eel). According to Eastern medicine, blood concentrates near the skin in hot weather in order to cool the body, and this may lead to bad blood circulation in the stomach and muscles. For this reason, it is not uncommon to lose one’s appetite or feel exhausted in summer.

On those days, people will want to eat foods that warm the body. For example, chicken, the main ingredient in samgyetang, warms the body, and ginseng too promotes heat in the body. One might ask: why eat hot foods when the weather is already so hot? From ancient times, the custom was based on the Oriental medicinal theory that even though there is heat in the body, the internal organs are relatively cold. It was believed that by warming up the inner body, not only would one overcome summer heat, it would also prevent illness and fatigue. And because poor nutrition reduced energy, which could ultimately lead to a bad harvest, people usually prepared nutritious and energizing meals on sambok days. It addition to samgyetang, people also eat jangeogui (broiled eel), patjuk (red bean porridge), or summer fruits like melon.

Samgyetang – The Most Popular Sambok Dish

Samgyetang, the most popular Korean dish for sambok days, is prepared with a tender young chicken (one small chicken each for individual servings), ginseng, garlic, jujube dates, and glutinous rice.
In addition to samgyetang, you can also try the chogyetang (cold noodles with chicken) or yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), which are made from chicken. It is said that a hot meal that induces perspiration has more health benefits than a cold meal in summer.

Patjuk Drives Away Spirits, So Why Not Heat?

Patjuk, red bean gruel, is eaten not only on sambok days, but also on Dongji (winter solstice). Ancient records show that because the color red was avoided by evil spirits, people threw red beans at the front gate of their home or ate red bean porridge to drive away evil spirits. For this reason, it is customary for Koreans to make patjuk in hopes of bringing peace and health to the family. In some regions especially, people have long believed that eating patjuk on sambok days helps drive away heat and illness, so it has become customary to make patjuk. A sweet tasting legume, red beans are rich in protein, fat, fiber, and vitamin B1, and help relieve swelling.

Chueotang and Jangeogui Make for Younger-Looking Skin

Rich in vitamin A and E, jangeo, or eel, stimulates blood circulation and helps prevent ageing and wrinkles. Freshwater eel or mudfish has 200 times the vitamin A in beef. Eel is known to be effective for people suffering from rheumatism, pneumonia, or osteoporosis. In Korea, grilled eel is especially popular among men, as it is believed to be an aphrodisiac thanks to the eel’s rich content in zinc. Other natural foods rich in zinc are oysters and abalone, and it is said that the legendary libertine Casanova never forgot to eat 50 oysters a day. Moreover, because of its high retinol content that helps prevent wrinkles and ageing, eel is also widely enjoyed by women.

The requirements for horses when travelling are similar to those of a horse in a loose box / stable. He should be warm in the winter and kept from being too hot in the warmer months. Have a plentiful supply of fresh air without a draught, a non slip surface / footing and the least amount of noise / disturbance as can be maintained. Many horses adapt well to traveling and will travel well if given the space and are driven with care and consideration along with the suspension of the transporter being good.

Many horses sweat when traveling so common sense will tell the handler what rug would be the most suitable for the journey that is to be undertaken. On long journeys regular checks should be done to ensure that the horse(s) stay comfortable and content throughout their journey. It is important to remember that the more horses travelling in the horsebox, the higher the temperature will be. Temperature can be regulated in trailers with the opening / closing of the back doors of the trailer (they should not be left open when on motorways, extreme cold or in heavy traffic). Food and water are not required on short journeys although the availability of hay can calm nervous horses. On long journeys water should be offered regularly and hay available.

Clothing for the horse should be chosen with consideration, temperature on the day of travelling, travelling alone or with company, type of horse, type of vehicle and length of journey will all affect the types of clothing chosen for the horse. Essential items for every horse when travelling include head collar and clip on lead rope, bandages and leg pads or travel boots, tail bandage or tail guard, sweat rugs / summer sheet / or other day rugs (dependant on the temperature). A sweat rug is the most effective on longer journeys for regulating the horses temperature should he sweat. All rugs should be secured with a roller if they do not have cross over surcingle straps.

The most important thing to remember is common sense, safety and the welfare of the horse.

India’s vibrant culture, tradition and heritage often attracts people from all over the world. Cities in India like Agra, Jaipur, Goa, Kashmir, Kerala, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Darjeeling, etc., are some of the popular tourist destinations in India.

India is a tropical country with diverse climate features and there are chances of foreign tourists being exposed to a variety of germs, bacteria and viruses. If you are planning to visit India, you need to take certain precautions, especially in terms of food, to stay healthy and safe.

Following are some tips that help you stay healthy and avoid falling sick while travelling in India.

Food – What to eat and what to avoid

Avoid eating street food: Many cities in India like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad are famous for street food. The Chandni Chowk area in Delhi is popularly called as ‘Street Food Capital of Delhi’. You will find a variety of snack items like Pani Puri, Pav Bhaji, Bhel Puri, Samosa, etc., in these areas. They look colourful and are tempting. Try them if the premises are clean and hygienic. But in most cases it’s better to avoid because we can’t guarantee the quality and hygiene. There are chances of the food being contaminated.

Avoid eating spicy food: India is the country of spices and the people here like to add spices in many of their dishes that make them hot and spicy. Especially some Indian cuisines like Hyderabadi cuisine that includes Biryani, Tandoori Chicken, Keema, Masala Tea, etc., Goan cuisine from Goa includes Murgh Malvani, Phanasachi Bhaji; Gujarati cuisine, Kerala cuisine are popular for their spicy dishes. People who are not used to them cannot handle them.

So, whenever you are ordering food at a restaurant or at a food stall ask the server to make the dish less spicy or else go for less spicy food like Fried rice, Idli, sweet dishes, Dokla, Daal Bhati, etc.

Avoid eating raw vegetables and fruits: Some restaurants and food stalls in India use tap water (supplied by local government) to wash vegetables and fruits (sometimes they may not wash). This water is more likely to get contaminated during its transit through various pipelines. Moreover, we are not sure whether the knives they use are sterile or not. So, it’s better to avoid raw fruits or vegetables that will be served as salads with most Indian dishes.

Eat freshly cooked food served steaming hot: In many countries, people are used to cold meals, but it is better to prefer steaming hot food in India, especially when you are having dishes that are boiled in water or steamed like Rice, Idli, Upma, etc. Make sure you ask the server to serve it fresh and hot. When the food is fresh and hot, it is less likely to carry food borne pathogens.

Avoid buffets: In many restaurants in India, morning’s unsold food will be served in the dinner buffets. Unless you have a good review for hygiene of a restaurant from travel guide like ‘Lonely Planet’, don’t take the risk. Stick to what is recommended because you will be sure on the hygienic conditions of the restaurants.

Avoid cold dairy products: In India, many restaurants prepare dishes with dairy products like yogurt, paneer, cheese, milk, etc. Yogurt is served as a side dish for many of the dishes like Indian Thali, Biryani, etc. As cold dairy products are prone to contamination, better to avoid them.

Eat at international food chains: The best thing to avoid all this is to eat at international food chains like KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, etc., that are available across India. Make sure you buy dishes that are customized to India like Rice Bowlz, Aloo Tikki Burger – after all, you are in India you need to try Indian dishes.

Beverages – What to drink and what to avoid

When travelling in India, you need to be very careful while choosing unpacked beverages, as they may be contaminated. Take a look at some of the beverages to avoid.

Avoid drinking tap water: As discussed earlier, water is supplied by local government and it may not be safe to consume.

Drink only bottled water: Go for reputed brands like Bisleri, Kinley, Aquafina, Himalayan or Bailey’s, and check if the cap is sealed.

Avoid ice cubes: While ordering cold beverages like cool drinks, fruit juices, sugarcane juice, etc., ask them to serve without adding ice cubes. Many restaurants use tap water to prepare ice cubes.

Avoid drinking at road-side juice stalls: Avoid drinking lassi (spiced and sweetened butter milk), fruit juices, sugarcane juice, cold yogurt, etc., on the street. Don’t get tempted by seeing the crowd at the stall. Better to go for branded and packaged juices or to the stalls that are hygienic.

Coconut water: India is a land of coconuts. In cities like Kerala, Cochin, Goa, Hyderabad, etc., coconuts are available throughout the year. Though the coconut water is good for rehydrating the body, the sickle may not be sterile. So, better to avoid the water unless you see the sickle is clean.

Hope, this information helps you while travelling in India. Have a wonderful vacation!

Bus is one of the most comfortable methods of travelling. If you are in Singapore and have to visit the numerous neighbouring places, the best and economical way is to travel by bus from Singapore to Malacca. Malacca is in Malaysia on the west coast facing the Straits of Malacca. The best way to travel to Malacca is by road.

During this wonderful journey by road, you will also get to enjoy the sight of oil palm plantation and some evergreen tropical landscape along the North-South Expressway. You will enjoy the travel by bus as the trip is full of excitement. There are a lot of rest areas, stop-over, and strategic view points along the highway so the trip will be pleasant and full of fun and you can even have rest if one needs to have a rest. You can even have some food along the way as there are restaurants along the stopover points.

To travel form from Singapore to Malacca you can get regular buses and luxury coaches; which is a 5 hours journey. Alternatively, taking a train or taxi will be uncomfortable as well as expensive, especially if you are taking a taxi. So most of the people would prefer to take bus from Singapore to Malacca because it is more convenient, moreover, the bus will stop at the centre of the town. By taking, train, it is more inconvenient because you have to stop at Tampin before taking additional ride to the Malacca town.

To get around from other places to Kuala Lumpur, there are well-known express buses companies that will make your journey comfortable as well as inexpensive. They won’t cheat you, it would be best to get from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, in any of the Express bus service. They make the bus travel comfortable as their coaches are luxury coaches with ample leg space.

The comfort of travelling by bus can only be experienced by you when you travel on a bus. The scenic routes and the view offered by the bus will make you wish that the bus service lasts for a long time. The interstate roads are very well made and the make travelling very comfortable for you.