Water way to live!

The water is azure, the sun blazing down on your skin. You have nowhere to be, nowhere to go right this minute. You gaze out into the distance, your eyes traversing sleepily over the clear sands, over to the gulls flying past in a flock, over the horizon where the Earth meets the sky. You slather sunscreen lotion on your arms and legs, sit back in your chair, and pull your hat over your eyes. You’ve finished your drink and it’s a good hour before lunch. You put your book aside and close your eyes.

Now if only you could do this every single day of your life…

A holiday in Goa is the stuff of dreams. Every kind of tranquil peace awaits you in the land of sushegad and seafood, revelry and riotous fun. If you want to detach from your hectic city life and find yourself once again, Goa should be your destination of choice. Of course, it helps that Goa has some of the best tourist spots in the country, apart from some of the warmest, most fun loving people. Every minute spent in this sunshine state will leave you refreshed and energized to take on the rigours of your life once again.

But wait, you’re still on holiday and you have the time to let loose and enjoy Goa in all its glory – you can worry about your job and family responsibilities when you’re back home! You can start by booking good flight tickets for your preferred travel time. Don’t forget to book weekday tickets for cheaper deals, and avoiding the holiday rush is best. Then go on to booking yourself in one of the best hotels – the most excellent holiday often starts with the right accommodation. Look up one of the 5 star hotels in Goa – you can find the most recommended ones online – and book the accommodation that suits you. Many 5 star hotels in Goa offer complimentary airport drop and pick-up facilities as well, so you can start your trip on a hassle-free note.

Once there, draw up your itinerary and head out to explore Goa’s markets (you can pick up cheap alcohol, cashews, straw hats and other odds and ends for good prices), its many temples and churches, its places of interest (we recommend a walk around the late architect Charles Correa’s Kala Akademi, the Basilica of Bom Jesus or a day trip to the scenic Dudhsagar Falls) and its beaches astride a hired bike. There is much culture and history to appreciate as well, or if you’d rather put your feet up and rest, you can take a short walk on the beach and return to your room for a snooze.

The most refreshing trip to Goa entails lazing by the beach with a cold beer and a good book. Just being in close touch with the water will set your jaded mind at rest. Besides, you can eat a meal or sit back with a cocktail as you watch the sun set. Some sightseeing, a lot of rest and partying, and you’ll be all set to embrace your hectic routine once again.

As holidays go, this one’s going to be the one to remember every time your soul yearns for some peace and quiet. 

The documents you need for a US visa

Are you dying to go to the USA? We don’t blame you! It is truly the land of opportunity, making every person’s dream come true. People from all over the world try their best to migrate to the USA, dreaming of a better life and a prosperous future for themselves and their families.

But since not everyone wishes to migrate to the US, the rest of us can contend with a trip to the US to take in the sights and culture. It is one of the largest countries in the world, and it will take one several lifetimes to see it entirely and understand its ethos. Before you make your first trip to the US – or the first of several – let us guide you through the US visa process:

·         Choose the type of American visa on the basis of your purpose of visit and the duration of stay. There are many types of US visas available, so choose the correct category. Tourists wishing to visit the US on a short trip for tourism purposes should opt for the Non Immigrant Visa (NIV). The NIV is valid for tourists and holidayers, students, those visiting the US for office work assignments for a period less than 90 days, and athletes or representatives of Government-registered NGOs going to the US for sports, cultural, educational meets, etc.

·         Tourists can apply for a B-2 US visa. It is meant specifically for tourism only, and cannot be used for work or business purposes.

·         You must apply for a B-1 US visa if you are travelling to the US for work or business purposes.

·         You can choose to apply for the NIV online as well. But you must be careful about the application, because it cannot be retracted if you make a mistake in filling it out. Follow these guidelines when filling this form. If your visa is denied to you for furnishing wrong information, you must fill a new form.

·         On filling the application form, you will be assigned a number by the visa centre. You must keep this number carefully because you will need it to book your visa interview appointment.

·         Pay your visa fees on the basis of the American visa you have applied for. Once you pay the fees, you will be given a receipt number. This number is to be quoted for the US visa interview appointment as well.

·         Use the two numbers – fee receipt number and form application number – and use them to fix an interview date. You will be explained the process from now on in detail: it begins with a time and date for your visa interviews. You have two interviews to pass; one at the Consulate and the other at the visa application centre.

·         The Consulate interview takes place first, followed by the interview at the visa application centre. At both interviews, you must provide your passport details and the two numbers allotted previously. Your photograph may be clicked at the visa centre in the specified format, or you will be told the format for the picture. A second interview at the Consulate will take place, wherein you must submit the confirmation letter stamped at the visa application centre, current passport, and all documents required to support the visa application.

·         Your US visa status can be confirmed only after the second Consulate interview. 

4 things you need to know about living in the UK

It is said that if you want fun and warmth, you can go anywhere in the world but if you’re looking for whimsy, just go to the UK. The country is a curious dichotomy of tradition and modernity, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find the level of discipline and reverence for history that the average British person exhibits, anywhere else in the world. This is one of the few countries where the rural economy thrives as well as its urban counterpart, and where wholesome outdoor exercise and a simple country life sit cheek by jowl with a pulsing, exciting city life.

But don’t take our word for it – just get a UK visa and take a trip around UK to experience this wonderful country yourself. We leave you with just four of the many interesting facets about life in the UK, so that you know what to expect on your travels.

1. The food is great and wholesome. Though the Brits do not favour the use of spices in their food all that much, the fare is still tasty and fulfilling. In fact, the pubs and restaurants in England offer some of the most excellent food that you will find anywhere in the world, and they also stock the best wines and spirits. Many single people in the UK routinely meet at pubs with friends and proceed to have dinner there before turning in for the night. There are also many nightclubs and discos, and the nightlife is quite exciting.
   
   
2. You could lose your job but still pay rent. The Government of the UK follows a welfare system that takes care of all nationals in every possible way. Chief among these is that the Government pays the rent on your home if you are faced with a salary cut or if you are laid off by your workplace. Even those living in tony UK neighbourhoods can avail of aid for rent. However, this aid does not take care of mortgage payments and home loans.
   
   
3. The country is known for its arts. The UK is home to some of the modern world’s best known writers, musicians and actors, and the country is replete with the highest quality of theatre, cinema and television shows. You can regularly go to the opera, indulge your love of classical music and great literature, and take a trip across scenic moors in the country to find the homes and birthplaces of some of the country’s best playwrights and actors.
   
   
4. The UK has the smartest cabbies in the world. On your tourist trails in the UK, you may have noticed how intelligently the cabbies navigate busy junctions and get you to your destination in the least possible time. Their mental acuity comes from an exhaustive six-month testing and preparatory process for taxi drivers, which covers everything from etiquette to road directions and memorising all the routes they ply on. Only about a fourth of applicants get through the exams and receive their license. Cabbies in the UK are under oath to never swindle customers and to take the shortest routes to the end destination.

Plus, your UK visa application should be processed without interminable delays – the visa application offices are known to be prompt with paperwork.