The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

Christmas Gift Guide For The Hard To Buy For

by

With November almost over and Christmas well and truly on the way, it can be a bit nerve wracking and daunting knowing that soon you will have to put aside most other things and focus on Christmas and getting Christmas gifts. While some people find this aspect of the season a fun part and love buying gifts for others, many other people find it tiresome, annoying and one of the hardest things to do, especially when trying to buy for those people who either are impossible to shop for or who have everything already. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – we have your back. Here’s a handy gift guide for the person who has it all.

Awesome Trips

Imagine your loved one on Christmas Day with just an envelope in front of them from you, figuring it’s the same old gift card to their favourite restaurant or for their favourite shop when – surprise! – it’s tickets on an amazing cruise or other fantastic trip. You can look around for the best cruise offer easily and find great deals – especially on ‘no fly’ cruises which can sometimes be only hundreds of pounds per person. If you organise the gift with other members of the family too, you can all surprise someone like your dear old parents with the gift of a lifetime! Make it more fun by wrapping it up in several boxes, similar to ‘pass the parcel’ and keep them guessing layer after layer.

Excursions And Days Out

Off the back of the trip idea, if it’s not quite in your budget this year, why not consider getting that special someone a day out or an excursion of some kind. Many websites such as Red Letter Days offer great ideas for days out ranging from high teas at posh country estates, hotels and tea rooms all the way up to hot air balloon rides and test driving sports cars at certain regional tracks. Whatever you decide to do in terms of days out for your special someone, rest assured that experiences almost always trump “stuff”.

Something Handmade

When it comes to something for the hard to buy for, something handmade is always a winner. Consider making scarves, mittens, blankets, socks, or even something like calendars or planners for the new year. Many websites today such as Vista Print will help you create great, professional looking photo calendars of your family, pets and other various things such as landscapes or artistic photography that you’ve done. You can also create coasters, magnets and other trinkets that can make great gifts for many people in question, but of course you don’t need to use an online vendor to do this. Consider also painting someone a picture, baking them some goodies or something else that says “I love you” through the time it takes to put it together.

So with Christmas around the corner and gifts to be bought, hopefully this gift guide for the hard to buy will help you narrow down some great ideas for those people you dread shopping for. Good luck, and happy holidays!

 

How to Take the Stress Out of Vacation Planning

by

While vacations provide the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind, the preparation can often be more than a little bit stressful. Not only will you need to research a destination, but you will also need to discover the best accommodation, flights and excursions for your needs and budget.

For those who find traveling a stressful occasion, follow these following steps:

Step 1: Research Airline Tickets in Advance

If you are planning a vacation overseas, you should research airline tickets in advance to discover the best deal. It is often wise to buy flight tickets between 40 to 60 days prior to a trip, so you will receive the best price for your budget. As a result, you will have more money to spend on your accommodation, activities and vacation clothing.

Step 2: Easily Find Accommodation to Suit Your Budget

Rather than spending your days browsing the internet for the best accommodation options, you can find the perfect vacation rentals from the best travel sites all in one place. You’re bound to find the right accommodation to suit your destination, budget and accommodation needs. Comparison sites can keep stress at bay and limit the time spent on searching for the ideal accommodation.

Step 3: Visit a Travel Doctor

There’s nothing like contracting an illness or disease to ruin your vacation abroad. Protect your health and enjoy your vacation from start to finish by visiting a travel doctor before a trip overseas.

It’s important to note that you might need to receive several shots over a select period before you travel, so give yourself plenty of time to receive them, or you could be denied entry into a country. Some vaccinations also need to be in your system for a specific amount of time before it is safe to travel to certain destinations.

Step 4: Pack a First Aid Kit

Not every destination overseas will provide tourists with a large pharmacy, which is why you should ensure you have the basics in your suitcase. When packing a first aid kit, include the following essentials:

  • Bandages
  • Plasters
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Tweezers
  • Paracetamol (check the location to ensure you can bring them)
  • Scissors (pack in your check-in bag)
  • Wound-cleaning gauze

Step 5: Buy Travel Insurance

Unfortunately, a lack of travel insurance could land you with a hefty medical bill, should you experience an accident, injury or illness abroad. Rather than enjoying your vacation, you might spend your time worrying about how you will pay for the expensive medical bills. However, travel insurance will provide you with peace of mind that your emergency transportation, medical treatment and medical evacuation costs will be covered should the worst happen.

Step 6: Pack Your Luggage Like a Pro

Start packing your luggage at least a few days before your vacation, as this will give you enough time to organize your clothing, stock up on extra essentials, and sort your travel documents, such as your passport, visa, and insurance coverage. You should also take a photograph of your luggage contents for insurance purposes.

A Local’s Guide to Gangtok

by

Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous state of Sikkim that shares its borders with Nepal and Bhutan. This dreamy and laid back town is the perfect travel destination for adventure lovers, trekkers and nature lovers who can catch the spectacular view of the Khangchendzonga. Its unique culture is well-represented by its serene Buddhist monasteries, colourful local festivals and a homogeneous blend of various religion, tradition and custom of ethnic groups of people living here. Gangtok March to May and October to December are the busiest tourist seasons of Gangtok.

After landing in the Bagdogra airport, tourists have the option of hiring Siliguri to Gangtok Cabs to travel a distance of 114 km over 4 hours to reach Gangtok. Taxi service in Siliguri is available to take travellers through a scenic journey through the winding hills in a hassle-free manner.

Gangtok has some interesting tourist places that should be a part of your travel itinerary.

Monasteries

Sikkim is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Hence one can find ancient monasteries which are Tibetan centres of learning and worship for lamas.

The Rumtek Monastery or the Dharma Chakra Centre is the largest monastery where one can find the golden stupa bearing the relic of the 16th leader.

The protecting deities of Khangchendzonga and Yabdean reside in the famous Enchey monastery that has been aesthetically built with elaborate carvings and architectural style to resemble a Chinese Pagoda.

The other monasteries like the Lingdum, Do Drul Chorten, Ranka and Gonjang Monastery are set in beautiful locations where you can rest, meditate and rotate the prayer wheels.

Nature

Gangtok has some exotic locations for sightseeing. Hidden away from the urban sprawl, The Bakthang Waterfall is a gorgeous natural spring that is a delightful place for photography.

Take a trip to the several viewpoints with your binoculars to catch the sunrise or sunset with the backdrop of the mighty Himalayas. Tashi View Point and Hindu Temples of Hanuman Tok and Ganesh Tok are strategic points from where you can watch the panoramic views of the surrounding hills.

The Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park is a recreational centre. The park’s display document Shamanic traditions of the people of Sikkim. Your kids will love playing around the artificial lake with dragon, gazebos, footbridges and museum hall.

The Flower Exhibition centre is another notable attraction where tourists flock to see rare orchids and flowers. The Himalayan Zoological Park is a wildlife lover’s paradise where a wide variety of animals and fauna species are nurtured in natural conditions.

Heritage

The Namgyal Institute of Tibetology is a museum and a research centre that is worth a visit to see rare photographers of old Sikkim.

Leisure Activities

Take a ropeway ride to get a bird’s eye view of the Gangtok city.

Casino Deltin Denzong is a gaming centre where tourists can spend their evenings playing poker, money wheel, roulette and other exciting games.

Visit the Nathula Pass of East Sikkim to see the China border that is an offshoot of the ancient Silk Road. The Changu Lake and Baba Temple lie on its way. You need to have a government pass to travel to the international border.

Adventure enthusiasts can indulge in outdoor activities like camping, whitewater rafting and rock climbing that are arranged by tour operators.

Food and Shopping

Gangtok has some delightful shopping hubs like the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lal Bazaar and Kanchenjunga Shopping complex where you can pick souvenirs like Tibetan carpets, Sikkim tea, wooden dragon sets, Alpine cheese, black cardamom and handwoven jackets. Thangka paintings, semi-precious stone and silver jewellery items, handcrafted ‘Choksee’ are some of the indigenous products that can be purchased from Gangtok.

Exclusive treats of Sikkim are readily available at the roadside stalls and posh malls of Gangtok. Tibetan style momos with veg and chicken fillings and Thukpas are commonly available and must be tried if your visit the Denzong Inn, Cafe Tibet and Potala restaurant.

Colombo: The Sea City

by

The commercial capital of Sri Lanka is also its largest city with a population of around 5 million. A popular tourist destination, Colombo is situated on the western side coast of the island and is also adjacent to the Greater Colombo area. This city is also the financial center of the island along with being the administrative capital of the whole of Western province. This vibrant city showcases some fascinating colonial ruins and buildings, especially its large harbor, which was located at the prime strategic position for East West trade routes and even till now it is one of the major exporters of cinnamon.

You can get into the city through its Bandaranaike International Airport, which invites both national and international flights. You can even book Dubai to Colombo flights, LA to Colombo flights, Singapore to Colombo flights and more so easily as well from trusted services.

Upon reaching here you would like to have a handy guided of the must visit place and the must-do things in here, like:

Ministry of the Crab: Being in a coastal city and not enjoying seafood and especially crabs will be a mistake. This posh restaurant is all about crabs and aims to celebrate the fresh produce. Do try out their spiced crab curry and Singaporean chili crab if here.

Galle Face Green: This is a long open space which faces a narrow beach. Originally cleared off by the Dutch so as to give the cannons on top of the fort a clear line of fire. Now, it has long shed its original aspirations and is a popular spot for rendezvous by the seaside. You will find people just enjoying themselves there as vendors bring their supplies of deep fried treats. Do try a shrimp fritter, isso Wade and a lime juice. The space here is just so expansive it feels freeing to be here.

Viharamahadevi Park: Originally known as Victoria Park, this is Colombo’s biggest park. The most notable feature it has are its flowering trees which bloom in the moths of March, April and then till early May. You might also be able to see elephants who were used ceremonies and then left in the park to rest and have some of the palm branches. The park is well maintained and features, landscaping, walkways and benches.

Vesak Poya: This festival is conducted to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Lots of crackers are burst and a lot of competing groups put up smaller displays. It is just food and fun everywhere. If you do attend this festival then attend it in the area surrounding the Gangaramaya Temple and South Beira Lake.

Dutch Period Museum: The museum was actually the residence of a Dutch governor in the 17th century and has since then been used for various purposes like that of a military hospital, Catholic seminary, post office and police station. There’s a garden courtyard on the outside and the exhibits include various types of Dutch colonial artifacts and furniture. Moreover, it was actually in this place that the king of Kandy, Rajasinghe II signed a 1638 treaty that opened up in Sri Lanka to the Dutch.

Colombo is a city which has successfully preserved its own heritage while also assimilating the best features of the various cultures which had entered the land. That balance alone makes it such a delight to visit.

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Those Hard To Buy For People

by

Source

It happens to everyone at some point or other – being faced with having to purchase gifts for the person who has everything or who is notoriously difficult to buy for. At Christmas particularly it can be difficult to devote the time to thinking of the perfect gift for the person who seemingly has everything, which is why sometimes it’s easier to play it simple. Here are a couple of fantastic ideas for small gifts to put into a stocking for those hard to buy people this year. Stay stress free this holiday season and stick with the simple suggestions!

Lottery Tickets

It goes without saying that lottery tickets and scratch cards are popular items to add into a stocking as a stuffer. Many shops have special Christmas packets as well which make fantastic gifts with the potential to win even more frequently than normal, making it a great option for the person who has everything or as a general stocking stuffer for everyone. You can buy lottery tickets both online through subscription and in your local gas station, with online subscriptions becoming more and more popular. Consider giving someone a subscription for Christmas with several months already loaded to their account so they never have to think twice about whether they’re in next week’s draw.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are a hugely popular option for everyone at Christmas with options to buy gift cards for everything from various shops, outings, online retailers and more. This is a great idea for the person who has everything, especially when you opt for things like prepaid Visa or Mastercard where they can use it anywhere, including online. Do they like a specific restaurant, shop or activity? There’s a gift card for that, most probably.

Days Out

If you have a friend or family member that is impossible to buy for, why not consider getting them a day out somewhere. As mentioned before, gift cards can be a great way to do this, but if you know they’re planning to go on a vacation or a trip in the next several months (or even a year from now!) you can opt to purchase an activity, event or day out on their trip that they would enjoy. Extra activities on cruises are a great example of something you can buy for the person who has everything if they’re going on a cruise soon. Use your imagination – even a couple nights at a luxury resort in their destination can be a great gift!

Movie/Theatre Tickets

Does your loved one enjoy getting out to the cinema or theatre? Purchasing tickets to a specific show they’ve been wanting to see can be a great option for the person who is hard to buy for or who has everything. Some theatres even do yearly passes for a price that give you tickets to every show they have on, the ultimate experience for theatre lovers.

So if you’re dreading Christmas because you don’t have time to think up the perfect gift for those people who are impossible to buy for, don’t fret. With these great ideas you will be the talk of the family with your great gift ideas. You might even get people coming to you for advice for next year!