India Kerala Travel Guide

Kerala having beautiful sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and networked by forty four rivers, kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destination in Asia. An equiable climate. A long shore line with serene beaches. Tranquil stretches of emerald Backwaters. Lush hill stations and exotic wild life, Waterfalls. Sparwling plantations and paddy fields.Ayurvedic health holydays. Enchanting art forms. Magical festivals. Historic and cultural monuments.



Area 38,863 sq km, which is 1.27% of India's total land area and is located at the Southwest tip of the India's main land

Travel Formalities A Visa is a must to enter India. You can contact the Indian Embassy / High Commission in your country for the same. It is best to carry your passport on you all the time. You may also carry a travel insurance

Spoken Languages Malayalam; however English is widely spoken and understood by the fully literate populace of Kerala

Major Cities Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi(Ernakulam district) & Kozhikode (Calicut)

Communications Kerala has a well-knit communications network. With telephone, fax and internet centres in almost every corner. Enabling you to get in touch with any part of the world easily

Health Centres Hospitals and health centres in Kerala offer world-class facilities

Time Kerela is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT , 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Australian Standard Time and 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of American Standard Time

Currency In Kerala, as elsewhere in India, the currency is the Indian Rupee (100 paise). All major credit cards find wide acceptance.

Transport Access

By air :- The International airports at Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) , Kochi (Cochin) & Calicut (now Kozhikode) facilitate easy access by air. Direct flights operate from Singapore, Colombo, Maldives, Kuwait, Muscat,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dehran, Riyadh, Doha and Bahrain.

By rail :- All major tourist destinations and important cities of India are well-connected by rail to Kerala.

Food

Most restaurants, coffee shops, eateries or cafes offer a Cosmopolitan fare for Chinese, Continental, Indian or American. You can find many who specialize in Kerala Delicacies Clothing Ideally light cottons. However the cooler hill stations may warrant woollens.

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Erawan National Park : Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Erawan National Park was designated in June 1975, Thailand''s 12th National Park in Kanchanaburi. This is an area of 550 Km.2 of high mountains and beautiful valleys. The mountain in eastern 996M. To cut limestone cliffs.

Topography
Erawan National Park was designated in June 1975, Thailand's 12th National Park. This is an area of 550 km2 of high mountains and beautiful valleys. The eastern mountains of 996m. To cut limestone cliffs. The mountains protect the park from east monsoon resulting in low average rainfall.

Climate
The mountains protect the park from east monsoon resulting in low average rainfall. During the sweltering summer, but it is great between the cool from November to February.

Flora and fauna
The main features of the park is the beautiful Erawan waterfalls created an abundance of small channels unite for the fall of steep cliffs. Deciduous forests covered about 78% of the park with Pterocorpus macrocarpus, Hopea adorata, Afzelia xylocarpa Spondias pinnata and some of the dominant tree species. There is also dipterocarp, dry and Evergreen bamboo forests. Wildlife survey of mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians were conducted. It you are lucky you can catch a glimpse of the elephants, Gibbons, Siamese catch the feet, flying squirrels, Eagles, White-eye, king cobra and pythons. Fish, crabs and insects are abundant in many mediums.

This is the one destination you don't miss to go to kanchanburi to see the real deep jungle in Thailand forest.

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Why is September a good month to visit South Korea?

My good friend went to MATTA Fair yesterday which is held from 4-6 September 2009 in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. The crowd is lesser compared to last March according to him. Probably because of H1N1. I try not to go this time. Simply because it is so tempting to see others crazily seeking for good bargain of travel packages and flight fare. I don't want to be tempted. It's a sin. Hehehe.

Right now the Tourism Korea booth is promoting the autumn season travel. From the excerpt of The Travel Times on Why is September a good month to visit South Korea? "It's a good time to visit South Korea in September , as it is the autumn season. The weather which ranges between 18 to 23 degree Celcius, is gentle. "

Autumn is my favourite season after I watched the drama 'Autumn in My Heart'- super duper heartbreaking story line, which I don't prefer that much but attracted by the autumn sights. The colors is simply breathtaking and it's cool. Just the way I like it.

According to the Travel Times "There are 10 mosques and 50 temporary musala in South Korea, especially since the local Muslim community numbers to around 100,000. " This fact, I need to know so it would be easier for other fellow Muslims to pray while visiting the awesome sights in South Korea.

Some of the mosques (source: www.islamicfinder.org) :

1. Al-Madina Mosque
Near to cheonan bus terminal,
Cheonan, SOUTH KOREA

2. Ansan Mosque
kyungido ansan city danwon-ku wonkuk dong,
An-san, kyungido 741-5, SOUTH KOREA

500 to 600 meters far from Ansan subway station (ask any one about muslim mosque( muslim sawon ) in korean language

3. Anyang Masjid
Kyongi-do Anyang-Si Anyang 5 dong 618-132.

It's very close to Anyang University. Just Go left street from main gate of University. From Myeonghak train station (line 1) just take a taxi (about 3000 won - august year 2008 rate) to Anyang university.

4.Aqsa Daegu Islamic Center
882-5 Bisan Dong, Seo-gu
Daegu.

In front of Bukbu Bus Terminal

5. Bilal Islamic Centre
Kongdan Sangga 402HO, 456-16 Naedong - Changwon,
Masan, Changwon

In front of Changwon Hospital, go by taxi from Changwon Terminal or Changwon Station.

6. Busan Al-Fatah Masjid
30-1 Namsan-dong Keumjeong-ku, Pusan, Korea.

Nearby Dusil subway station (Line 1)

PUMITA - Persaudaraan Umat Muslim Indonesia Al-Fatah

7. Changwon Mosque and Islamic Centre
Changwon city, Palyong dong 17-13
Masan

Opposite Changwon bus terminal

8.Daejeon Mosque - Islamic Center of Daejeon
Yuseong-Gu Kung-Dong, 404-9 (2nd Floor), Daejeon


View David Hasenick's collection of autumn gorgeous colors in South Korea here.

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Precaution for H1N1 in Korea

My family has been bugging me to stop traveling due to H1N1 pandemic but I just wouldn't budge. The stubborn me. ^^

I am worried! Who says I'm not?

I must take some precaution before I go.

Those travelers like me that still want to travel to Korea but worried about the virus, here are some necessary info to help you if it really happen. Touch wood!

1. Wash your hands frequently especially after visiting crowded places.

2. Make sure to cover your nose and mouth with a tissue, handkerchief or your clothes when you cough.

3. If you develop symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, wear a mask and contact your tour guide for information on the nearest hospitals or state-designated clinics where you can receive the proper medical treatment.

4. Patients with chronic diseases (including lung diseases, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and liver disease), pregnant women, the elderly over 65, and babies under 59 months are especially vulnerable to influenza A. If they show signs of fever or respiratory symptoms, take them to nearby hospitals or state-designated clinics to get further medical care.

5. If you experience fever or respiratory symptoms, avoid crowded places and get proper medical care.

Contact no:

1339 (Emergency Medical Information Center)
- Available in English, Japanese and Chinese 24/7
- Consults on symptoms of Influenza A and provides information and guidance on the nearest hospital that provides service in your language.

129 (call center run by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs)
- Partial English and Japanese service available
- Consults on symptoms, provides information and guidance on the nearest hospitals for travelers

1330 (Korea Travel Hotline)
- Available in English, Japanese and Chinese 24/7
- Provides information on nearby hospitals or state-designated clinics where you can receive treatment.

Note: Costs incurred other than the anti-virus medicine will need to be covered by patients themselves.

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