Kuala Lumpur as a Foodie's City

Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur can so easily be rechristened as Asia’s food capital. Someone who has been to this city will neither disapprove of this statement nor raise any skeptical eyebrow. KL, as in short, is clearly high on food. So, someone who likes to flaunt the badge of a foodie won’t mind doing the repeat visit to this city which is literally brimming with cuisines and gluttons the way Shakespeare’s novels brim with romance and melancholy. If you need a clear picture of KL’s food joints, you should spend some time over the net and leaf through personal blogs by devoted foodies from around the world.

India itself is a den of foodies who live in a hush-hush manner and show their true colors only when they land up at such tasty corners. You may think them to be anorexic food-haters or people indifferent to different cuisines but the moment something like over-fried noodles or coconut-enmeshed rice materializes before their eyes, they forget all their well-faked manners and transform into greedy wolves. Well, we can’t blame them, given the deliciousness of this city. Just to show you a little more promise, Malaysia packages are far less expensive than you may be thinking. So the day is not far when you can run your tongues over foods which are anything from bizarre to steal-worthy.

It is said that a true food destination is one where the best meals are served right on street. Forget the hygiene factor, they are dirt cheap! Oh, and by the way, they are quite hygienic too and you will not be able to resist a third helping.

Nasi Lemak is one of the belly-filling dishes in the city. It is basically a rehash of rice but with coconut mixed in it. The result is a yummy combination of fat and lure; something which will seem adequate for an empty stomach and one which will not burn any hole in your wallet. Nasi Lemak has its many avatars and experimenting with them can be risky, but adventurous.

But if you are a safe player and abhor the idea of toying with your food habits, you can easily find the familiar Chinese cuisines and even those Indian naans and parathas. Then there is udon which is a fresh form of noodles. No doubt, it is sumptuous but more than the taste you will cherish the newness it brings to your plate.

There is so much more to say. But we will not reveal all the cards. You go there and find out yourself. No matter what else you do, eating and eating at street stalls is amongst the tastiest activities to do in Kuala Lumpur. So, don’t you dare skip it!

Thailand’s Best Beaches

Thailand tourism thrives on a lot of things, nightlife, shopping, water sports etc, but the most attractive of all are the pristine beaches of Thailand. The beaches are the real crowd pullers among all the places to visit in Thailand. Below is a list of Thailand’s top ten beaches:

• Railey Beach – This spectacular beach is all about white sands, crystal clear waters, majestic cliffs and small islands scattered in the horizon. It is one of the quietest and least developed beaches so you can enjoy an undisturbed peaceful day here.
• Patong Beach – This is the largest beach in Phuket and has a wide and long coastline. The waters are calm and warm and ideal for a swim. This is also one of the most happening places to visit in Thailand.
• Phra Nang Beach - Voted among the best beaches in the world, Phra Nang has clear waters and nice waves. There is also a cave at the end of the beach that is open to tourists. This is a good place to relax and simply admire nature’s splendor and glory.
• Nai Harn beach – The Nai Harn Beach is one of the most tranquil places to visit in Thailand. There are only a few hotels here so it is less crowded. The The Royal Phuket Yacht Club is also located at this beach.
• Maya Bay – accessible only by a boat, this beach is dotted with tall limestone cliffs and offers visitors fantastic scenery. Here are no hotels here so it can be visited only for a day trip.
• Kata beach – Located on the west coast of Phuket, the Kata beach offers great scenic beauty. The island has a village like feel and one can see fishermen out in the sea with their boats.
• Hua Hin Beach - The Hua Hin beach is a great place for a family outing. There are a variety of shops and water sports here. This is also the place where you can find some of the best Golf courses in Thailand.
• Sairee Beach - A chilled out place to enjoy a quiet day at the beach, Sairee beach was earlier famous for diving. But now more tourists are visiting this white sand beach for its scenic views and cheap accommodation.
• Lamai Beach – At the Lamai Beach you will be greeted by a line of resorts offering great on the beach accommodation options. His is a great beach for relaxing and you can also enjoy a massage on the beach here.
• Kamala beach – This quiet and peaceful beach has a diving centre and also is relatively cheaper than the other beaches in Thailand. You can enjoy a Thai massage here or just lie on the beach.

Thailand tourism is known for its spectacular beaches which are some of the best in the world. The star attraction of Thailand are definitely its beaches that beckon travelers to bask on the sunny beaches. Among the best places to visit in Thailand, the beaches would definitely top the list.

An A to Z Guide to the IRCTC eWallet

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways handling functions such as online ticketing processes, catering, and tourism continues to revolutionise the face of railways in India. In yet another development, the IRCTC has come up with the concept of eWallet for its website. Under the eWallet concept, customers may advance money to IRCTC and use the same later when they need to obtain the services of the IRCTC website at their own convenience. Get familiar with the finer points of IRCTC eWallet.

How to register for the eWallet?

Go to ‘Plan my travel section’ and select the option of ‘eWALLET registration’. After selecting this option, you need to furnish your PAN card number and deposit a fee of INR 250. This is a one time fee and is not refundable. The registration process also involves creation of a transaction password/PIN number.

How much does it cost?

Besides the registration fee of INR 250, you would be required to deposit a sum of at least INR 100 in your eWallet account. The maximum permissible limit is INR 5,000. The sum you deposit is non refundable only multiples of INR 100 are allowed for making the deposit. Every transaction you make through your eWallet involves a charge of INR 5.

How to Book through eWallet?

Once you finalise your journey, the eWallet will show up as an additional option for making the payment. You would be required to select this option and enter your eWallet transaction password. The payment would be deducted from your account, provided your account balance is higher than the price of the ticket. Once the payment is made, you would get a regular electronic ticket.

How does it Work?

Customers get a separate link with complete details such as payment history, eWallet deposit, and transaction history.

What is the cancellation policy?

If you cancel a ticket, the amount gets refunded to your eWallet account on the next day.

Are there any timings?

eWallet is not available from 8 am to 12 pm.

Does it save Money?

Yes, it saves payment gateway charges levied on tickets.

Does it save Time?

Yes, while making the payment, you save the time that you otherwise spend on making the transaction through other channels.