Backpackers are the soft targets for the notorious and merciless thieves in Southeast Asian cities especially in Phnom Penh. It surprises me to know that the thieves have obliterated the conventional way of bag snatching and they have adapted the unconventional art of bag snatching, like comfortably knocking off the victims while they are on a motorbike ride. This sends the warning bell to the Backpackers who are already alienated by the locals.

The precautionary measures taken by the Backpackers by carrying their bags in the front and stretching a helping arm around their bags simply do not seem to be of any help when these thieves outsmart them completely. If you thought, you could take care of yourself without facing any problems, you could yet once again be proven wrong for the these thieves are well equipped with weapons which could do you harm any moment.

So, the trick is to be on a high alert and walk in groups in the streets and not alone. It shocks me to learn that the crime rate has risen in Phnom due to the deterioration of its economy. Survival of the fittest has once again come into practice literally. You must be smart enough to brave the animal instincts of those thieves who may hack you off any moment. So, arm yourself with high alerts and a defending weapon perhaps.

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Via: GadLing

I wonder airport security standards could be so high yet immoral that it urged a woman to miss her scheduled flight. The criterion of not allowing change in pockets or jewellery seems to be a passé now and thanks to the revised version that considers women underwire bra on the top of to-be-deeply-scanned object list. The thumb rule is women with underwire bras won’t be allowed to enter the airlines and if you dare to break the rule (even out of ignorance) then possibility is you may have to face the destiny similar to Nancy Kates.
Jet Blue passenger Nancy Kates went through the same pain at the Oakland International Airport whils getting the security check done. The mental detector on duty sensed within minutes the presence of underwire bra alarming TSA agent to do the needful by pulling her out of the queue. Kates was treated no less than a criminal for wearing that particular “Bra” and accused the agent for being too personal as she said: “The woman touched my breast.”

Kates managed to meet the supervisor and reminded him of the fact that Constitution bars perverse searches and that “examining a woman’s brassiere is certainly unreasonable.” The entire incident is so unnerving that I can’t stop imagining the highest standards of security that travelers would be expected to meet (especially women) before flying. And isn’t getting the “reasonable” rejoinder in the form of a pat-down is humiliating?
Via Sfgate

I like the man called Aamir Khan. Don’t worry this post will not be a documentation on the actor. It’s just that he has an uncanny knack of knowing how to make a difference to India (maybe Aamir feels that he should concentrate on his motherland first and take on the world later). First, it was ‘Rang De Basanti’ that gave the Indian Youth a whole new perspective. Spoke to them out loud about their responsibilities towards their nation. Then came, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, which was full of childhood and innocence begging the society to preserve both in the young ‘uns. And now, Aamir has come forth to add value to the age old Indian belief ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (our guest is like God to us).

Signing up as the brand ambassador for Incredible India’s Atithi Devo Bhava campaign, Aamir will now been seen grooming tourist guides and taxi drivers. He shall be conducting training sessions on personal grooming and appropriate behaviour. That’s something we really needed to look into. It amazes me how Aamir is able to reach out to help in such incredible ways. C’mon what have tourists always meant to Indians? Purses of money? Cattle to be misguided? When was the last time a taxi driver actually showed respect to a foreigner? He is more like to shear him/her of all the money he /she possess or should I say of his/her modesty. And when was the last time, we gave correct directions to a tourist or passerby? Yes, these are simple questions with tough answers.

I have been living in Tokyo for the past three months and never once, have I come across a rude person (despite the language barrier) who is not willing to help me find my way. Believe it or not, but here a policeman actually takes out a map and helps you find your destination. Cops here aren’t hooligans that we try to avoid at every instance in India. They are here to help…US!!! I’m glad that at least one famous person in India has decided to change things around and not just sit pretty on the heap of money he has made. Wish you luck Aamir.

Via ibnlive 

Democratic White House contender Barack Obama has given a chance to his critics to bad mouth him as he decides to take a week-long vacation in his place of birth Hawaii. Apparently, the Obama family is going on a holiday to recharge before the November’s election. “I am going to see my Grandma after so long,” the Illinois senator exclaimed.
The Beijing Olympics start today and Obama has the support of polls that suggest Americans are thirsting for a break from a year and a half of non-stop politicking on the White House trail. But even then John McCain’s spokesman Tucker Bounds didn’t leave an opportunity to accuse Obama of sunning himself while his voters suffer from an economic squeeze. Obama, in his defence, said, “According to a poll by the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press released Wednesday, 48 percent of voters feel they have been overexposed to news about the Democrat. We are going to correct that this week.” Obama quipped. A smart choice indeed.
Via afp

Iceland- the country known for its glaciers and whaling practices is not set to become a pioneer in sustainable and eco-friendly practices. According to Iceland Review reports, the country will soon come up with a ‘green map’. The latter will inform locals and tourists about eco-friendly places, environmentally-certified products and services available in Iceland.

The ‘green map’ will be developed by University of Iceland Tourism Department in association with website natturan.is (natturan= nature; an environmentalist website). The map which follows an example set by greenmap.org, is a compilation of different categories: organic, health products, recycling, home remedies, certification, transportations, education, eco-friendly, fair trade, certification procedure, innovation, homemade, restaurants and travels service and last but not the least, technology.

Anna Karlsdottir, geographer and lecturer at the University of Iceland said,” It has been time for a while now to publish such a map and it will first and foremost be accessible on the internet,” Thus efforts to collect data about the green companies and services available in the country are already started by natturan.is. The green map thus produced will be downloadable and will be available on the website of Google Maps as well.

Source IceNews

How many of you actually express your concern or remorse if you are traveling and someone lays dead on the road; or if you are in a train and someone skips under its wheels; or if you are on board and someone jumps into the water? … Either you keep growling about an hour-long traffic jam or you grieve more for your train being delayed or you get immensely annoyed for your sea-excursion being interrupted…

According to the cruise industry, more than 30 people have disappeared from cruise ships over the last four years. In March, an American was reported to have leapt 60 feet into the water from Carnival Glory while under the influence of alcohol and lived to tell the tale despite being eight hours in the water. Ten days later, a couple plunged 50 feet off their balcony on Grand Princess and was also rescued.

These people were fortunate enough to be saved, but many submerged. Take the man who fell from his balcony on Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas last month. His body was never found. Or the German woman found missing from QE2 when it docked in Southampton in January. In 2005, a Vietnamese couple vanished from Carnival Destiny. The same year, honeymooning George Smith disappeared from Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas. Most incidents have tragic ends.

And it’s not wrong to assume that people jump intentionally because it would be very hard to fall overboard accidentally (the railings are too high). This plaintively proves that either foul play or that they went on board specifically to commit suicide – or that they were drunk and fooling about on the balcony railings, and simply toppled over the edge. And since there are no police at sea, so no proper investigations can be carried out.

And then fingers are poked up at the cruise lines for being unsafe and insecure. But are we not already cautioned with ample warnings about the danger of leaning over railings – or getting burned in a hot shower. So is it justified to blame the cruise lines for the jumpers?

The Passenger Shipping Association still maintains that incidents like this are rare and that cruising is one of the safest holidays you can take.

And the other people on board get all the more furious because their pleasure gets perturbed and their journey dawdles. Today’s world is running at such a fast pace that nobody has a second’s time to ponder over what makes people put an end to their own lives. Holidaying and having fun remain their first priorities.

via telegraph