Wednesday 27 April 2016

Top 10 Foods To Eat in Paris


Paris is often considered the food capital of the world. So in between the romantic stroll along the Seine and the mandatory visit to Louvre, ensure you also indulge in some of the best foods in Paris.


The truth is that unless you manage to pull the right strings, you probably won’t get to visit Paris more than a handful of times. And this will barely be enough. But if you do it right, you might at least return home with the feeling that you fulfilled a dream.
So why not book a chic Parisian home and indulge in the finest French cuisine – your palate will probably remember better than your eyes.
Croissants
Start your day with a buttery, warm croissant and a cup of coffee. You are in Paris after all! Sadly, many French bakeries started buying the croissants frozen, so make sure you find a boulangerie that still engages in the old craft.
Fun fact: Croissants are not original French at all. Their ancestor is a Romanian crescent shaped pastry called cornulete.

Croque Monsieur/Madame
Hungry for a mid-morning snack? Have a Croque Monsieur (baked ham and cheese sandwich drowned in bubbling bechamel sauce, even better if a slightly sugared Brioche-like bread is used) or a Croque Madame (the same but topped with a fried egg).
Crepes
The crepes are the native Parisian street food par excellence. You will find stands all over the city and they are just perfect for a mid-afternoon snack, although I honestly enjoy them any time of the day. Make sure you pick a stand that does thin crepes to order. You might be tempted to try all kind of sweet and savory fillings, but true aficionados stick to butter and sugar.
Cheese
Paris hosts some amazing fromageries and farmer’s markets, which guarantees that you are never far away from a delicious slice of cheese. Why not pay a visit to Marché International de Rungis, the largest wholesale food market in the world and rub elbows with the most famous Parisian chefs?

Baguettes
No visit to Paris is complete without buying a baguette. A good baguette should have large, irregular holes in it when cut. I also recommend you look for the yellow and blue sticker that says ‘Artisan Boulanger’, which means the baguette is made on the premises.
Quiche
A classic French dish, the quiche is a savoury pastry crust usually filled with savoury custard, cheese, meat, and vegetables. It’s a rustic and simple recipe that can be enjoyed year round and it’s a favorite in Parisian bistros. It is usually served accompanied by a salad and a glass of wine. Yum!
Escargots
Snails might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you feel particularly adventurous while in Paris, I encourage you to try them. Cooked with garlic butter and parsley, this dish is considered a delicatessen.
Onion soup
For caramelized onion lovers, the French onion soup is a must especially on a cold winter day. What’s there not to love about the generous crusty cheese topping and the rich meaty broth with thick slices of baguette, right?
Foie gras
While you might not agree with force-feeding, there’s no denying that foie gras is one of the most delicious French dishes. From foie gras skewers and foie gras sushi to foie gras royale, go on a pilgrimage you’ll always remember.
Macarons
Head to Pierre Herme for the best macarons hands down. The creative, balanced flavors, with a delicate texture and a crisp exterior, will conquer your stomach immediately and will put a big smile on your face. The best dessert in Paris!



Crossworld Holidays gives the best Paris Package Tour from Mumbai

To Know more about Crossworld Holidays, visit - www.crossworldholidays.com
Contact Details.

Address : Grounf Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747
 
Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427

E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 13 April 2016

5 things you should buy before leaving Ooty

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Gourmands and food connoisseurs will find much to appreciate in Ooty. Its mild and pleasant climate is ideal for growing tea, spices and oil and even cheese-making. Don't forget to stock up on these fresh, organic products during your visit.

Acres Wild


Acres Wild, a family-run farm-stay in Coonoor, produces vegetarian and organic cheese with milk from Jersey and Holstein cows. Their entire range is hand-made and includes an array of soft and hard cheeses: herb-infused varieties, feta, ricotta, halloumi, parmesan and even blue cheese. These are available at several shops including Bakers Junction and Tulsi Mall in Coonoor.
     
The Green Shop

Epicures can also get fresh spices like cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cardamom from The Green Shop in Ooty. Part of a chain of stores, this is an initiative of the Keystone Foundation, a fair trade organisation that works with indigenous communities in the Nilgiris. The shop also stocks organic products like honey, and shawls and bags made by tribals.
                               
Handmade Chocolates

Ooty has a sizeable handmade chocolate industry. Indulge your sweet tooth with the truffles, fudges and marshmallows available at King Star Confectioners on Commercial Road or The Modern Store on Botanical Gardens Road.
                               
Aromatic Oils

Ooty's plantations also produce aromatic essential oils such as camphor, eucalyptus and citronella, which can be used for medicinal purposes.
                               
Tea
Ooty is most famous for its tea plantations. Connoisseurs will find plenty to choose from: dust and leaf; black, green, black and white varieties; and flavours such as masala, jasmine, cardamom and even chocolate. The Modern Store on Botanical Gardens Road has a large variety of teas from the surrounding plantations.
       


To Know more about Crossworld Holidays, visit - www.crossworldholidays.com
Contact Details.



Address : Grounf Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747

Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427

E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Wednesday 6 April 2016

8 Places You Must Visit in Japan

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The "Land of the Rising Sun" is a country where the past meets the future. Japanese culture stretches back millennia, yet has also been quick to adopt and created the latest modern fashions and trends. Planning for Japan tour visit following Places to Explore and Discover Japan.

Tokyo, Japan


Tokyo grew on me in unexpected ways, to the point that I know refer to it as my favorite city in the whole world. Of course, this is highly subjective, but as I think anyone who visited this mad city would agree, Tokyo is a different world altogether. You'll probably either love it or hate it, but there's little space in between for this place to leave you cold. What makes Tokyo so special in my eyes is simple: the people. Don't expect either futuristic nor beautiful architecture. But with over 13 million people walking it's streets every day, the capital of Japan definitely has a soul and multiple personalities. Best places to see my point proven right are a stop at Shibuya and a stroll through Yoyogi Park on a Sunday.
                                  
Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is the most Zen city I know. And while most buildings and even the people here keep a low profile, from time to time it's impossible not to be surprised by a pretty lady in kimono crossing your path or the worship places that dot the city.

Kyoto has more temples and shrines than any other place in Japan. Seeing them all would be a tremendous task, as one would need to spend months on end here doing nothing but sightseeing. What's even more surprising, is that not only the large or popular temples and shrines are an eye candy, but the quiet and hidden ones too.

However, my favorite attractions in Kyoto remain the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine and the Golden Pavilion, but if you are in search of a bit of peace and quiet in the middle of nature, don't miss the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest, on the outskirts of Kyoto, either.

Nikko, Japan

Nikko is home to some of the most lavishly decorated temples and shrines in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Far from the tempered traditional Japanese architectural style, the buildings here are gilded and adorned in excess. It is a beautiful and unique sight.

The paths connecting the temples are framed by a forest of giant cedar trees, no less impressive than the man-made structures. The whole complex can be seen in approximately 3 hours, but it takes a 2-hour train ride to get here from Tokyo, so it is better to plan your day in advance and start early.

Nara, Japan

Nara was once the capital of Japan and, therefore, remains a very interesting place to visit. It can be easily reached by JR from either Osaka or Kyoto in just under 1 hour.

The shrines and temples of Nara are included on the UNESCO Heritage Sites list, and though there's plenty to see and do here, all the attractions are pretty much grouped together and walking from one to another is extremely pleasant and entertaining.

Everything is encompassed inside the Nara Park and intriguing Japanese elements can be found every step of the way, plus over 1,200 sika deer roam freely all over the place and visitors can even buy them crackers and feed them. This is a must visit place especially if you travel with kids or are an animal lover yourself.            
Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura is just 1-hour train ride from Tokyo, a quiet little residential town that can make a very pleasant and relaxing day trip.

Its most famous sight is the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) at Kotoku-in, the second largest bronze Buddha in Japan. But there are many Zen temples and Shinto shrine to be discovered here and one day might not be enough to explore them all.

Compared to big cities like Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo or Nagoya, Kamakura is an oasis of peace and quiet that you will come to appreciate once you've spent a few days in any of the above-mentioned metropolises.
                     
Magome, Japan

Magome-juku was the forty-third of the sixty-nine stations of the ancient road that connected Kyoto and Edo (today's Tokyo) during the Edo period.

Nowadays it consists of a beautifully restored row of wooden houses along the former post road. Most houses were built in the mid-18th century by common people and therefore are nothing grant, just extremely interesting. They host shops, restaurants and little exhibition rooms, which makes a day trip to Magome both a relaxing and educative one.

In my opinion, Magome is a cute open air museum stripped of the joys of daily life, lined along a pedestrian only cobblestone street, which makes it quite unusual and unique. Also, only a 3 hour hike away, there is the post town of Tsumago, and if you have time, the hike and the town in itself are worth the trouble.
                     
Takayama, Japan

Nowadays Takayama is famous for its well preserved old town dating back to the Edo period. One doesn't visit Takayama seeking religious enlightenment, but rather a certain enlightenment related with design and architecture.

The old wooden houses hosting souvenir shops, restaurants and sake breweries are painfully charming, and walking along the little pedestrian streets is like stepping back in time. There is a wealth of detail related to the daily life and Japanese traditions to be discovered here. It's like the time stood still.

Some of the houses are even open to the public, exhibiting local crafts and arts, providing a window into understanding the lives of the local merchants. Also not to miss, not far from the town center, is the Hida Folk Museum.
                     
Matsumoto Castle, Japan

For us, Matsumoto Castle, also known as the 'Crow Castle', was the most beautiful castle we visited in Japan. Situated a 2-hours and a half train ride from Tokyo, it's black and white facade are of an unspeakable elegance.

The town of Matsumoto doesn't stand out in any other way, but even so, the castle in itself it's well worth the trip.

Visiting Matsumoto Castle is an interesting experience to say the least. Expect to have to take off your shoes at the entrance, steep and slippery stairs, low ceilings and dark interiors. Matsumoto Castle is one of the four castles designated as 'National Treasures of Japan' and the oldest castle donjon remaining in Japan.


                       
To Know more about Crossworld Holidays, visit - www.crossworldholidays.com
Contact Details.


Address : Grounf Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747

Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427

E-mail: crossh@gmail.com

Friday 1 April 2016

All About Safe Water Rafting India

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There are various types of people in this world. Not all of them have the same taste and hobbies. Some are interested in technology, whereas some other group of people prefers music. But of all the types of people, the most interesting kind is those who dare to do anything to satisfy their need of adrenaline rush. There are many kinds of adventure sports that can satisfy your adrenaline rushes. The bungee jumping and skydiving are some exciting adventure sports that thrill these adrenaline junkies. When it comes to India, the most exciting adventure sport is the white water river rafting.

What is White Water River Rafting?

River rafting is an adventure sport in which a group of people, usually 10, get on an inflated boat and take on the fast flowing river. The best feature about the river rafting that makes people addicted to it is that it is a purely raw sport. There will be very low control and you will have to embrace what is next to come. With little control and unpredictability, this raw sport has won the hearts of millions of adrenaline junkies worldwide. All you can do is get along with the flow of the river. You will feel yourself as the part of the river and the motion is nothing but controlled chaos.

Why River Rafting is Ideal in India


India is famous for her great rivers. There are many great rivers that are running through the heart of the India. The River Ganga is the most famous of them all. Ganga is mainly known for the religious matters. But apart from that, the river Ganga offers quite a different story. Ganga is an ideal river for rafting at many locations in India. An interesting fact about the river Ganga is that, originating from the Himalaya Mountains, the river flows through multiple states in India. There will be plenty of water always because, during the summer season, the melting of snow from the frosty Himalaya Mountains will supply a huge amount of water to the river. So, the river rafting is always feasible at the river Ganga.

Rafting in India has been gaining quite a lot of attention during the past few years. Even though there are many different locations that offers river rafting, but not, all of these sports can offer the true thrill and excitement that you expect. The fact is that some river rafting locations in India are very dull and boring. But the rafting in Rishikesh is entirely different from the other rafting locations in India. Rishikesh is one of the top rated rafting locations in India because of the swift flow of the river through the rocks and stones. The sight of the swift paced river only can take your breath away. Getting on the inflated boat for the ride is another story. But before that, there are a lot of things that you should know about the white water river rafting.

Precautions that should be taken before river rafting

Make sure the Guides are licensed and experienced

River rafting is undoubtedly a sport that involves a very huge amount of risk. Rafting may even cost your life if proper attention is not given to it. So, always take enough care while choosing the outfitters and guides. Don’t forget to make sure they are licensed and have years of experience in the same field. There are many rafting services in India that aren’t properly authorized and don’t have the required safety gears.

Always wear the necessary safety gears

Since there is huge risk involved in the white water river rafting, you should always wear the safety gears at any cost. The swift river can rock the inflated boat and make you fall in the river. So it is very important to wear the safety jacket so that you stay afloat when you fall into the river and doesn’t drown. The helmets should be worn because, the river is not made of soft pebbles and sand, there will be huge rocks that can cause very damage if hit.

Take paddling lessons from the experts

There is no meaning in going to the river rafting if you don’t know to paddle properly. The paddle is the only tool you have to take on the raw and aggressive river. If you don’t paddle properly, devastating results may follow. To take control of the inflated boat and to avoid trouble, it is very important to take the paddling lessons so that you can paddle yourself away from all the troubles.

Choose the right outfit

You are definitely going to get wet during the river rafting, when you are thrown into the river by accident, you should be able to swim yourself away from the danger. Even if you know how to swim, if the outfit isn’t right, you will get dragged down. Materials like jeans can absorb the water and it will make you heavier. It will make the swimming a difficult task. So, when going for the river rafting, try to avoid jeans and similar materials and wear clothes that doesn’t absorb water much.

Try not to fall off


In river rafting, the most important thing you should concern about is staying in the boat without falling off. The chances of getting injuries are much high if you are thrown off from the boat. The boat may rock hard while going down the stream and when hitting the rocks. You must always make sure you have enough grip so that you don’t fall off. The guide will shout out if anything is about to happen, this is your call for holding on to the boat.

Always listen to the guide well


The guide is like the captain of the boat. You must always listen to the guide and do whatever you are told to do by the guide. The guide will be giving frequent instructions mainly about paddling the boat. The boat will flow in the right direction and be in control only if the commands of the guide are obeyed properly.

Learn how to swim properly


Even though, the safety jacket will keep you afloat in the river, it becomes meaningless if you don’t know how to swim. No matter how tight you wear those jackets, there still exists a small chance that the jacket will get separated from your body due to the flow of the water or by hitting the rocks.so in such situations, you must be able to swim so that you can avoid any mishaps and stay in one piece.

Choose what is suitable for you


One thing you should know about the river rafting is that they are classified into 6 different classed, each class having separate risk levels. Class 1 is considered as the easiest level and the difficulty goes up gradually up to the level 6. The level 6 involves huge risk factor and should be done by the experts only. If you are a beginner, go for the class 1 or 2. While choosing a class level, you must also consider your physical fitness for that particular class.

Always raft in group

If you are about to go rafting alone, you must know that, there won’t be anyone who can help you if anything terrible happens. If you are rafting in a group, there will always be hope because other rafters will try to save you from harm if anything bad occurs.

Stay sober


People go to river rafting, seeking adventure and thrill. Some people prefer to use alcohol before the trip for maximizing the enjoyment. This is very dangerous and should be avoided at any cost. Alcohol reduces the reflex speed and increases the danger in the river rafting.

Don’t wear hand or leg wraps


When raft is tumbled over, the hand wraps may get tangled around your hands or body, preventing you from swimming correctly. This may lead to drowning. So it is better to leave the hand wraps behind, even if you are suffering from any kind of hand injury.

Double check the quality of the safety equipment

Even if you are supplied with all the safety gadgets, they don’t mean anything if they are of very bad quality. So always ensure the quality of the safety jackets and the helmets. Some safety jackets will have only less floating materials. If you don’t feel confident with the safety gear you are provided with, ask for better ones or leave the river rafting course.

Make sure first aids are available

Before going on white water river rafting, you must make sure that, there is enough supply for the first aid tools such as bandages and painkillers.

Always ask for safety briefing

You must always ask for safety briefing to the guide. You may have experience in rafting in other rapids. But you must always keep that in mind that each stream and rapid is different from one on another. So ask for the guide to brief about the course and the safety requirements before starting off the ride.

Finish rafting before sunlight goes down

While going for river rafting, it must be performed only during the presence of enough sunlight. When it is dark, the path and the rocks may not be visible even for the most expert paddler. This increases danger and should be avoided at any cost. Even if there is sunlight when starting off the journey, make sure that it won’t be dark before finishing the river rafting course.

Inform your medical conditions to the guide before starting off

If you are suffering from any kind of diseases or have any physical damage done to your body in the past, don’t hesitate to inform your guide about your medical conditions. The guide will give safety instructions according to your medical conditions and will prevent you from getting yourself injured.

Do not try to stand up, always sit inside the raft

For maximizing the fun, people tend to stand up in the raft for a better view and for showing off. When you are standing up, the center of gravity also gets increased, so there is a high chance that you will tip over and will be thrown off to river.

Teamwork is important


Always remember that you will be rafting in a team. For the correct movement of the raft, you may need to paddle in a rhythmic manner with the fellow members of the raft. Do help others when they are in need of help. Only with this attitude, you will be able to survive higher grade river rafting.

That is all you need to know about before going river rafting in India. Make sure you follow all of the above instructions to stay safe during the white water river rafting. While doing river rafting, always watch out for eddies. Eddies are swirls in the rapid. It may be of various sizes. Larger eddies can even rotate the raft by some angle. So it would be best to stay away from eddies while river rafting or swimming in the river. In the lower grade river rafting, you may be allowed to swim in the river with the safety jacket as per the instructions of the guide. Never go far away from the raft and stay under the sight of the guide. If you tend to swim without considering the instructions of the guide, there is a risk of getting trapped in eddies or falling into fast streamlines.


To Know more about Crossworld Holidays, visit - www.crossworldholidays.com
Contact Details.



Address : Grounf Floor, Ram Smruti,
Opp. to New English School,
Ram Maruti Road, Cross Road,

Thane (W) - 400602, India
Tel:+91 - 22 - 4038 4747

Fax:+91 - 22 - 2542 3427

E-mail: crossh@gmail.com