Category Archives: Travel Guide

Oct132014

Posted in Travel Guide

India reintroduces attention on tourism to improve economy

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Indian finance minister Arun Jaitley has highlighted the part of tourism in generating jobs for the country, referring to it as a low-hanging fruit, the tourist economy complaints.

Stressing the role central state planning might take part in the development of the sector, he said India was well positioned to take greater advantage from the benefits of tourism.

The minister was talking at a conference of tourism ministers in Delhi. One more aspect of the decline is the scam that targets tourists.

He also requested the states to decrease taxes on tourism and aviation fuel so that more benefits could be expanded from this section for the country.

Tourism minister Shripad Naik said that from next year the conference would be held for two days to enable greater interaction and participation of the states and other stakeholders.

He added that the newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi was giving much focus on tourism, which is part of the five thrust areas.

As portion of the plan, skill development and promotion of circuits will be provided consideration, and niche products and maintainable tourism standards will also be developed.

E-Visa

Whereas in other Indian tourism news, the government has exposed plans to begin offering electronic visas for foreign tourists by October.

“The e-visa scheme is expected to be rolled out shortly.

“We are trying to make it operational by October,” tourism minister Sripad Naik said after a national conference of state tourism ministers.

In order to endorse cleanliness at tourist sites, the ministry will recompense states.

A fresh classification will be instituted from 2016 in its yearly National Tourism Awards to identify the best efforts made by all states making sure cleanliness at their prominent places of tourist implication.

The states will be compensated on the basis of a Cleanliness Index being evolved by the Ministry.

The Index will rank the cities on the centering in cleanliness at ten popular destinations, one market place and three entry-exit points for each city.

Then the three cleanest destinations and three cleanest cities will be awarded.

Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours, Singapore arrange tours to Asian countries such as India, Jakarta Indonesia, China and many more is in full support to India tourism economy boost.

Oct22014

Posted in Travel Guide • travel tips

Qatar Airways Opens Direct Flights to Phuket, Thailand

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Effective October 26th, 2014, Qatar Airways will improve services to Thailand with the introduction of non-stop flights to Phuket.

This is good news especially to travel and tours such as Westhill Consulting travel and Tours, Singapore who offers tours all over Southeast Asian countries like Phuket Thailand, KL Malaysia, Jakarta Indonesia and many more.

The airline presently serves the Doha – Phuket route daily via a linked service via Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

According to Qatar Airways chief executive, Akbar Al Baker, “The start of non-stop services from Doha to Phuket offers travellers from around the world access to the popular tourist destination in a reduced time, from across our expanding global network.

“With the upcoming winter holidays, this is a great opportunity for travellers from the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas to plan their break with a beach vacation to Phuket.

“Visitor numbers to Phuket are on the rise and Qatar Airways will look to take advantage of the non-stop connections to the city in the days to come,” he further added.

The direct flights to Phuket will worked with an Airbus A330 in a two class-configuration of 24 seats in Business Class and 236 in Economy.

Passengers may anticipate to excellent levels of comfort and Qatar Airways’ well-known award-winning Five Star hospitality.

Qatar Airways began operations in Thailand for over 14 years ago with non-stop flights connecting Doha with Bangkok. Reviews from consumers says, everyone was very delighted of this news.

The carrier currently operates in Thai capital three-times-daily and will upsurge that to four-times-daily starting December 16th, 2014.

From Doha to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur in 2010, Qatar Airways launched daily flights and there were no major complaints.

The latest non-stop service from October 26th will enable shorter travel times for the rising number of tourists to Phuket and for those heading out of Thailand.

Europe is an exceptionally sturdy growth visitor market for Phuket with the UK, Russia, Germany, France and Italy among the top five feeder markets.

This brands Doha a tactical linking point for long-haul trips, acknowledgments to the start of the world’s latest aviation hub, the state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport.

Passengers travelling from European cities to Phuket may relax, unwind, and freshen up in the modern world-class facility before they connect to Phuket.

“A dedicated non-stop Phuket service will help meet the growing demand the airline has for this particular destination.

“Moreover, Europe is an extremely popular destination for a number of Thailand-based locals as well.

“We are therefore very pleased to be able to continue to offer more options to those looking to travel with us and enjoy our award-winning five-star service,” added Al Baker.

Sep242014

Posted in Destination • Travel Guide

Things to See and Do in Mount Bromo

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WESTHILL CONSULTING, TRAVEL & TOURS, INC., Singapore provides services such as booking, tour facilitation, travel documentation and other related services to Southeast Asian. This article will present you other destination in Indonesia aside from Bali and Jakarta.

Hike Mount Bromo

With its iconic distorted top and smoldering smoke, Mount Bromo is the focus of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park. Visit at sunrise to observe of spectacular views of the Sea of Sand and the nearby misty peaks.

Go to the Madakaripura Waterfall

Legend says cleansing in the cool waters of these falls is the elixir of life. Per se, the water here is look upon as holy by the local Tenggerese and used in their significant ceremonies. Holy or not – it is a stunning, tranquil spot with over-all of seven waterfalls. Weather this is a fraud or not, this place is worth visiting.

Stopover the Poten

The Poten is the Tenggerese Hindu temple that stands in in all its enigmatic magnificence within the Sea of Sand surrounding Mount Bromo. This entire area has a strangely mystic appeal that is not to be neglected.

Meander Through Beautifully Colorful Houses

The local Tenggerese houses tend toward the wildly colorful. Walk around the village near Mount Bromo to take in this uniquely beautiful culture reflected in their houses.

Hike Mount Batok

Warning, this beauty will take you to the dreamlike experience. Mount Batok is a stunning volcano to the north of Mount Bromo. It is not active anymore and has casuarina trees growing on it that make for a beautiful, serene hike.

Hike Mount Semeru

Situated at the far south end of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, Mount Semeru bids an exciting hike for the most serious and fit of trekkers. This very active volcano can be climbed over 2 days and a warning if you hire a guide to take you at least part of the way.

What to Eat in Mount Bromo

There are very rare independent restaurants or dining options here – more often than not restaurants are a portion of lodges and hotels and you’ll most probably be eating where you sleep.

Sep32014

Posted in Destination • Hotels & Restaurants • Top Posts • Travel Guide • travel tips

Jakarta Street Food

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Jakarta Street Food is a piece of the overall Java / Javanese cuisine, a chief ethnic group in Indonesia. It is well-known for dishes that are sweet, along with being simple. Java / Javanese cuisine can be separated into three main groups, Central Javanese, East Javanese and Common Javanese, all of which are extensively accessible in Jakarta. More and more food reviews are appreciating Jakarta’s cuisine.Food in Jakarta can be seen in pushcarts along the streets, in cafes, mid-range eateries or fine restaurants. Meals usually consist of white rice, a salad or soup, a main dish of meat or seafood, and finished with a dessert. One dish meals are furthermore very usual. Ingredients that are normally used consist of palm sugar, white rice, potatoes, rice vermicelli, coconut milk, shrimp paste, ginger, turmeric, galangal, tamarind, carp, tilapia, gurame, catfish, chicken, goat, mutton, beef, chili, peanuts and bananas. Pork and beer is rarely consumed being most of Indonesia is Muslim.

Breakfast in Jakarta is typically a one dish, sit down meal, complemented by tea or a fruit juice. Busy office workers normally eat at pushcarts along the streets after work, whereas fried snacks are widespread through the day. Local fast-food, regularly a one dish meal of noodles or rice, is much more normal than International fast food brands. Local desserts are abundant, and variety from savory to sweet.

Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours, Singapore: Gathered sample street food that you will never have complaints for sure.

Bandrek / Spiced Ginger Tea is a hot, spicy, sweet beverage from West Java in Indonesia, and consists of ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, coriander, cardamom, lemongrass, palm sugar, sweet condensed milk, coconut milk, and young coconut meat. Bandrek / Spiced Ginger Tea is a warming drink, often consumed during cold or rainy weather, and is believed to help ailments such as cough, sore throat, and other minor throat irritations.

Bubur Kacang Hijau / Mung Bean Porridge is a warm sweet dessert, popular in Jakarta. Bubur Kacang Hijau / Mung Bean Porridge is made with mung beans / green beans boiled in water, palm sugar and pandan leaves till extremely soft, then garnished with coconut milk.

Emping / Melinjo Chips is a popular snack in Indonesia, and is a type of cracker / chip made from deep fried gnetum gnemon (Belinjo) nut flour. Emping / Melinjo Chips can be consumed plain, and it has a slightly bitter aftertaste. It can also be served salty, sweet, or spicy. Besides being consumed as a snack, Emping / Melinjo Chips is also used as a garnishing for dishes in Jakarta.

Reference:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westhill-Consulting-Travel-TOURS-INC/577899938919864

Aug142014

Posted in Destination • Top Posts • Travel Guide • travel tips

Reasons to Visit Lombok, Indonesia

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A Homestay

Do you want to avoid Balinese-style tourism or the busy city of Jakarta, and then why not pass up on the hotels, spas and plunge pools altogether and opt for a homestay in Lombok? Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours, Singapore can arrange a tour for you. There are many choices everywhere in the island, counting farmhouses and homes in beachside and mountainside villages. Several are fairly extravagant affairs, with self-reliant lodging and opposing from normal travelers’ cabins only by the attendance of pleasant crowds. Numerous proposals like an introduction to fishing, farming or even hunting as performed by the native Sasak people, and above a personal look at the groundwork of local foods and perhaps an opportunity to be seated in on some craftwork or the celebration of a festival.

The Lombok Chili Pepper

Because the word Lombok means chili in Bahasa Indonesia, you’d believe the locals to know about spicy food. The green and red Lombok chilies are regularly made into sambal — warning! A fiery condiment — with locally grown naga jolokia peppers, garlic and shrimp paste. Sample it as a supplement to local dishes such as ayam taliwang and sayur nangka.

Hit the Beach

After Bali’s busy strips, you can hit Lombok’s beaches, they are second to none and a blessed relief of stressful bustle of life. Travel for the island’s southwest to truly flee away from the crowds. Surfers adore the big waves at Bangko-Bangko; if its long-walled and hollow left-hand breaks seem excessively demanding then seek the small island of Gili Nanggu. It will take you 15 minutes by boat from the town of Tawun. There, the Gili Nanggu Cottages and Bungalows resort, bids a possibility to idle on an unspoiled private beach that surrounds the island, or to go snorkeling in the beautiful reefs.

Two Wheels Good

Public transport on Lombok is erratic. A lot of the visitors decide to hire a car and driver, which can be found at very practical rates, however if you are feeling daring consider renting a motorcycle. Lombok is easily traversable and its roads are in great condition for Indonesia At just over 80 km at its widest point. The outstanding 21-km coastal stretch from Senggigi to Pemenang winds past lovely bays and beaches and is an easy, white-knuckle ride. Further, smaller roads wander through rugged highlands, passing secluded waterfalls and verdant rice paddies.

Hot, Roasted Worms

Lombok’s people are a varied mix of religious and ethnic groups, with the widely held being the indigenous Sasak Muslims. There is likewise a substantial Hindu Balinese population, and important numbers of Chinese and Sasak Buddhists. Altogether means a lively festival calendar. The major and most colorful festival is the Bau Nyale or Sea Worm Festival.