![]() Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. So we have come to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”īut we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. ![]() One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.īut one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.įive score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. He delivered it in 1963 in Washington, D.C.: Here is the text of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I have a dream” speech, which changed the conversation of our nation and inspired generations.
0 Comments
![]() Parser = OptionParser(usage="%prog ",ĭescription="A script for recursively converting a folder of audio files into iPod compatible formats. #defaults to program_name_YYYY-MM-DD_HHMMSS.log bug('removing tmp file %s' % tmpName)Įlif tag = 'title' or tag = 'artist' or tag = 'genre' or tag = 'album': error code: %d.\n\noutput\n%s' % (status,output)) Logging.error('transcoding (WAV) unsuccessful. Logging.error('transcoding (aac) unsuccessful. #transcode Wave to AAC with 2 pass Nero Encoder InterWav = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False) bug('source: %s\ndest: %s' % (src,dest))ĭstName,dstExt = os.path.splitext(srcFile) Logging.warn('meta tagger exited with error %d: %s' % (status,output)) bug('ignoring custom-meta %s = %s' % (meta.lower(),meta)) ![]() bug('pulled custom-meta %s = %s' % (meta.lower(),meta)) ![]() bug('pulled standard-meta %s = %s' % (aacTag,meta)) possible corrupt %s' % (codec,status,codec))ĪacTag = vorbisMetaToAAC(meta.lower().strip()) Logging.warn('%s metadata extractor returned %d. bug('parsing %s metadata for %s' % (codec,src)) Oot = 'Output:\n%s\nError:\n%s\n' % (output,error) Proc = subprocess.Popen(args,stdout=subprocess.PIPE,stderr=subprocess.PIPE) bug('running command: ' + ' '.join(args) ) skipping %s' % (f) )ĭef _init_(self,src,dest,encRate,customMeta,tSem): TCode = Transcoder(orig,newtran,encRate,customMeta,tSem) New = os.path.join(dest,root,f)īasename,extension = os.path.splitext(new) bug('Maximum number of threads %d' % numProcs) įrom optparse import OptionParser,OptionGroupĭef scanSourceTree(src,dest,encRate,numProcs,testRun,customMeta): # neroAac >= 1.5 (Note: Free but Closed Source) Files that already exist in the destination tree All other, including non-audio, files are # All flac and ogg files are transcoded to aac. # A script for recursively converting a folder of audio files into iPod compatible formats. The script is written in python2 and uses flac and vorbis-tools for decoding. The following script will copy one music tree to a new folder, leaving formats such as mp3 and wma untouched, while converting all my ogg and flac files into aac files using Nero’s AAC codec for Linux (Note: although Nero’s AAC codec is free, it is not open source). ![]() I’d keep my originals in the formats I currently have, which is a mix of mp3s, wmas, oggs and flacs. I’d keep one copy in iTunes compatible formats, and use that copy to sync with my iPod. So I decided that the solution I’d take is to have two copies of my music collection. Banshee also is limited to only MP3 support and cannot convert audio to aac. Banshee is very buggy and will sometimes fail to update the iPod’s music database, leaving all the auto copied to the iPod but inaccessible from the user interface. Both programs are open source and work fairly well, but the conversion process can take a long time: up to three days to resync an iPod from scratch.įloola’s conversion process is single threaded, so it will only convert one song at a time even on a muilti-processor system. I’ve used software such as Banshee and Floola before to convert my audio collection during the syncing process. If I wanted to use an iPod with my car’s in-dash navigation unit and have full functionality to browse and shuffle songs, I’d need to use the stock iPod operating system. However, Rockbox’s support for 3rd party accessories using the Apple Accessory Protocol is very limited. Neither set of devices support audio formats such as ogg or flac.Ĭertain generations of iPods can run the Rockbox operating system which can play these and many other formats. If I want to carry my music collection around with me, the only two companies that offer devices with a large enough capacity are Apple with its iPod products and Microsoft with its Zune products. We’ll just read through it together and see how it goes.” “You don’t have to sing if you’re too tired or nervous. “Perfect, so that means you’re available,” Miranda excitedly told Garfield. But it was scheduled for the day after Garfield closed Broadway’s “Angels in America,” in which he played the tormented lead, and the role left him desperate to rest and recover. ![]() It had been weeks since Lin-Manuel Miranda pitched him on starring in a musical and invited him to a workshop of the still-being-written script - an unconventional step for any screen project but a highly informative tool for theatermakers like Miranda. Total downloads for March 1-23 in Italy were up 14% from 555,000 to 630,000.Īlthough more consumers in the country downloaded the app between March 1-23 compared to the same 23 days in the prior month, they actually spent less money, with gross revenue falling 34% from $13,700 to $9,100.Andrew Garfield was exhausted and upset. ![]() “TikTok was downloaded 237,000 times in Italy last week (March 16-22), which represented a 35% increase compared to the prior week (March 9-15).” ![]() In the European country, estimates Sensor Tower, TikTok was downloaded 237,000 times last week (March 16-22), which represented a 35% increase compared to the prior week (March 9-15). TikTok’s growth trend amidst the global coronavirus crisis over the last week becomes a lot clearer when you look at the number of downloads estimated by Sensor Tower for Italy, which has been under government-mandated, countrywide lockdown since March 9. One blip on an otherwise clear growth trend however, was that in spite of increased downloads and gross revenue across the whole month, week-on-week, global gross revenue was down 2%, from $14.9m for the week of March 9-15 to $14.6m the week of March 16-22. TikTok’s global downloads for last week (March 16-22) were up by 12%, from 25.4m during the week starting March 9, to 28.5m for the week starting March 16. “TikTok’s global downloads for last week (March 16-22) were up by 12%, from 25.4m during the week starting March 9, to 28.5m for the week starting March 16.” Global gross revenue was also up – by 10% – to $46.4m compared to $42m for the same 23-day period in February. This trend didn’t just emerge in the US, either.Īt 84.8m, TikTok’s global downloads from March 1-23 were up 5% compared to February 1-23. Gross revenue in the US for March 1-23 was $2.9m – up 21% compared to the prior 23 day period. Meanwhile, TikTok’s total number of US downloads from the beginning of the month through to the end of the day yesterday (March 23) was 6.2m, up 27% compared to 4.9m downloads in the first 23 days of February. Not only were consumers downloading the app more often, they were also spending more: TikTok’s gross US revenue (user spending) for the week commencing March 16 was $1.1 million – up 34% on the previous week’s gross revenue of $822,000. ![]() “TikTok’s gross US revenue for the week commencing March 16 was $1.1 million – up 34% on the previous week.” With large parts of the US being ordered to stay at home, and with consumers looking for ways to entertain themselves while doing so, it appears that another video-led platform is seeing growth amid the Coronavirus crisis.īyteDance-owned short form video sharing app TikTok saw a 18% week-on-week uplift in downloads in the United States last week (March 16-22), MBW has learned.įor that week, according to new estimates provided to MBW by respected analytics firm Sensor Tower, TikTok was downloaded 2m times in the US, compared to 1.7m the prior week (March 9-15). ![]() Not quite as powerful as Adobe Audition, Apple Logic Pro, or Avid Pro Tools, Audacity more than serves its purpose for the vast majority of users.Īdditional open-source alternatives (and non-open) can be found in our roundup of audio editors. If you’re a web professional who has a podcast on the side, needs to edit some audio for a client, or anything that doesn’t require a mixing board for, Audacity is very likely to be all you need. While there are other apps, platforms, and programs that many people use, the most highly recommended and downloaded is Audacity. AudacityĪudacity is the gold standard of open-source DAWs (digital audio workstations) these days. Many people have migrated to Google Drive as an office suite already, but if you want a powerful office suite that runs locally and has all the bells and whistles you’re used to in MS Office, LibreOffice is your best bet. A direct competitor with Microsoft Office, Libre includes correlatives to Word (Writer), PowerPoint (Impress), Excel (Calc), Access (Base), and Publisher (Draw), as well as a charts creator and formulas editor. Take the already-great OpenOffice and make it even better and more user-friendly, and you have LibreOffice. You’re the one who controls KeePass, and that means a lot in the world of digital security. Fully secured using encryption keys that you keep with you, using SHA-256 encryption, KeePass is worth using if you don’t want to have to install apps and extensions or keep your passwords in the cloud. You might use LastPass or 1Password already, but take a look at KeePass if you want a stable, open-source (OSI certified), password manager that you can use without actually having to install anything. There can be a learning curve to Blender (as with any 3D modeling software), but the internet is rife with tutorials and documentation videos that can help ease you into creation, no matter your experience level with this kind of software. The same for your work created with Blender, too. Take the code, do what you want to with it, package it back up, and it’s yours. Licensed as GNU, Blender is free in the most liberal way possible. Blender is close to being the standard in the field, and can stand up in pretty much every way to the corporate software it competes with. Blenderįor the 3D artists, animators, and video creators, Blender is probably the most important piece of open-source software you can use. More open-source image editing: Paint.NET and Inkscape are more than worth your consideration as well. It can do generally everything Photoshop can do, but without a subscription cost. If you’re web pro who needs image manipulation that Preview or MS Paint can’t handle, GIMP can save you a lot of money. ![]() While some consider the UI hard to use (many open-source apps have this complaint leveraged against them), the fact of the matter is that it’s simply different from what many are used to - the Adobe or Affinity standards. Powerful enough for heavy design use by pros, GIMP packs a lot of power in its open-source framework. GIMP is an open-source alternative to Adobe Photoshop. You might run into hurdles occasionally with websites being Chrome-exclusive, but in that case, you also have the option of the open-source Chromium. The dev tools are solid (especially in the dev edition), and the extension marketplace is every bit as useful as Chrome’s. Firefox is fast, lightweight, and has a focus on privacy that Google Chrome simply can’t compete with. Nowadays, Google Chrome is the standard web browser, displaying the vast majority of internet content. Mozilla Firefox comes in two flavors: standard and developer editions. Thanks to communities like GitHub, the quality and quantity of open-source apps has increased dramatically over the years to the point where right now, you can (outside of specialized features your job may need) run almost entirely off open-source software. Mainly, because it’s free, but also because it lacks the often-included malware and spyware corporate software bundles in. Because of the multitude of apps we use over the course of a work-week, the smartest move we can make is using as much open-source software as possible. ![]() Being a web professional means your day is filled with software that does everything from cutting screencaps into pieces to streaming videos on a second monitor. ![]() If the redness does not disappear after 24 hours - the preparation should not be used.ġ-2 pumps rub twice a day on dry skin into the desired areas of the body.When it comes to fat burners there’s a lot of hype out there. Check skin reaction - slight redness and 'burning' is normal. Contained in the preparation Lipodrine with other biological active substances, increases their bioavailability and use.Ĭinnaldehyde cinnamaldehyde has antibacterial activity and is a natural preservativeĪpply a small amount of the preparation into the skin on the forearm and leave until the next day. Transcutol P- agent that increases the penetration of substances through the skinĬosmoPerine-tetrahydroperine obtained from black pepper using a proprietary method. It is helpful in spine, knee and soft tissue pain - tendons, joint capsules. Its mechanism of action consists in inhibiting the release of serotonin, histamine, proteolytic enzymes. Also used by slimming people with average physical activity.īenzyl Nicotinate-nicotinate of benzyl has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. In sports supplementation, capsaicin is used in combination with caffeine, green tea polyphenols in fat reduction programs and weight control. It is not recommended to use capsaicin with products containing casein, which causes a delay in the rate of change and may cause a feeling of epigastric discomfort. ![]() Recent studies show that raspberry ketones increase lipolysis in the human body, preventing weight gain in high-fat diets.Ĭapsaicin - an organic compound found in chilli peppers, soothing the feeling of pain and having thermogenic properties that appear under the influence of temperature rise as adrenaline and norepinephrine release from the adrenal medulla, while increasing metabolic rate and increasing fat burning. Raspberry Ketone- ketones derived from raspberry fruits is an organic chemical compound of the formula C10H12O2, used in the food industry mainly in food flavors and in the perfumery industry in some perfumery compositions, occurs in raspberry fruit. The most important effects of applying Yohimbine HCL is the precise degreasing of the body in places where it is particularly difficult to get rid of it due to poor blood supply. "persistent fat" like the belly (thigh), thighs or buttocks. Yohimbine is great for burning so-called. As the only substance that burns superfluous fat, it has the ability to shape the body in specific places. Yohimbine HCL- is the pharmacological form of yohimbine alkaloid. The overall activity of caffeine on the body, allows you to maintain the effectiveness of training and maintain a positive mood, despite the calorie deficit.Īcetyl Carnitine HCL - its main properties include nootropic, neuroprotective, antioxidant and promotes fat metabolism in the mitochondria It has been proven that it causes the formation of such neurotransmitters as dopamine, acetylcholine or even serotonin in the central nervous system, which exerts a stimulating effect and increases cognitive functions. The unique formula containing Transcutol P and CosmoPerine increases the absorption of active substances contained in the product, thanks to which the ingredients are absorbed instantly through the skin, effectively improving the figure.Ĭaffeine Anhydrous - has a thermogenic effect due to the increase in the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine. Transdermal yohimbine is highly absorbed by the skin, precisely burning fat from the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. A synergistic combination of ingredients guarantees the best effects in the form of reduction of subcutaneous fat tissue, combating cellulite and increasing skin firmness. Lipodrine Extreme Fat Reduction Formula is a specialized gel that removes persistent fat. ![]() There aren't a lot I could find, but these four body-affirming HIIT videos can help you dip your toes into the wonderful world of high-intensity training while feeling good about your body's abilities. That's why I spent an absurd amount of time trying to find HIIT workout videos that are free of that "burn burn burn!" attitude and suggestions that you "torch" parts of your body. Your body, needs, and experiences should always be welcomed into fitness instruction, including HIIT sessions. Because HIIT is, well, high intensity, the assumption is often that it's OK to create even more barriers to folks with different body types, physical capacities, and levels of workout experience with as difficult a workout as possible.īut really? It's not OK. But while a lot of HIIT videos on the world wide web offer instructors who smile while jumping around, smiles aren't enough to make HIIT workouts universally fun experiences.įitness culture can often promote toxic no pain, no gain attitudes and HIIT instructors often bring this never quit even when it's dangerous to continue philosophy to their IRL and online classes. So many of my personal training clients who come into sessions skeptical about fitness in general wind up loving the way HIIT can combat boredom, inspire you to do better than you did last week, and keep your workout short and sweet. The Good GP interviews exercise physiologist Ryan O’Connor on high intensity interval training, or HiiT. ![]() In theory, HIIT workouts are supposed to be a fun, engaging way to reap benefits like improving your strength and ability to breathe while heading up a flight of stairs. High Intensity Interval Training Episode 108. class, it's extremely difficult to find body-positive HIIT workout videos. Even if you want to practice your HIIT skills in your apartment before taking them to that 7 a.m. High Intensity Interval Training has become a popular way to burn more fat, improve endurance, and build strength. With hard & easy variations of each exercise, this HIIT workout is for everyone. (I'm not saying this describes me, but.) On the flip side, if the idea of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) fills you with dread rather than dudebro-level excitement, you're not alone. This is a 15-minute high-intensity interval workout that requires no equipment. The programme includes a printable wall planner, HIIT workout videos, and meal plan with recipes.įor more of the best online HIIT workouts, check out all of the InstructorLive fitness programmes.It's great if you're a big gym nerd whose idea of a perfect Sunday morning includes a three-plus hour lifting extravaganza. ![]() With hard & easy variations of each exercise, this HIIT workout is for everyo. Use this HIIT workout video in combination with our strength training, low impact or endurance cardio workouts, Pilates and stretching routines in order to build a program for yourself that is smart and well rounded, making it easier for you to safely work towards a strong, healthy, fit body.
The result isn't quite Westworld-style provocative questions on the nature of existence, but rather telegraphs a game developer who is apologetic about aspects or entire chunks of a game it fully expects people to groan through.Įarly on, another character will praise the game's combat but vent, "The puzzles on the other hand… sometimes they're just a thorn in the side, don't you think? Especially in those dungeons." It's hard to disagree. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with tropes in themselves, but CrossCode repeatedly features characters you can overhear complaining about aspects of CrossWorld that legitimately are worth complaining about. However true these in-game jokes and critiques ring, they unfortunately continue a legacy of games mistaking a self-awareness of tropes as license to get away with deploying them. A man named Sergey Asimov tells Lea she must play CrossWorlds to learn more about herself-and once you start playing, CrossCode's dominant note is more often meta commentary and jokes about MMOs and their players rather than making sense of the schemes and conspiracies pointing to what the hell is really going on. There's a layer to the story above and zoomed out from this, which is that your character, Lea, is not what she seems. And just like in a real MMO, the other players you make your way on with will chat and open up about their lives-and give you due notice when they feel they've been playing way too long and need to log out and take a break. It's a world filled with guilds, griefers, and other player characters running through, too busy questing and level-grinding to hold still and talk with you. That is, CrossCode is a single-player game taking place in an in-game MMO where other characters speak and behave either as other players or NPCs. The above is in sharp contrast to the game taking place in a fictional, modern MMORPG called CrossWorlds. The pixel art style doubles down on all this. CrossCode's fondness for this era of action role-playing games is clear out of the gate: Both the opening menu screen and introductory sequences set the tone with plaintive piano, chiming bells, and an oozing chiptune soundtrack that wouldn't be out of place on one of those "lofi beats to relax/study to" YouTube playlists that lean more heavily into nostalgia. Instead, it's something more like a full-throated continuation of their tradition of exploring massive worlds full of side quests, puzzles, colorful characters, and gear to collect-while also building on their thornier, more tactical contemporaries. ![]() Playing CrossCode can be a bit like going on a road trip without GPS: Every few miles, you have to pull over and unfold an unwieldy road atlas.ĬrossCode, at its heart, is not a retro-styled hollow homage to Super Nintendo titles like 1993's Secret of Mana and 1995's Chrono Trigger. CrossCode is a lot of game to wrap your head around, and one whose expansive menu screens and tutorials double as a mechanically overbearing strategy guide that cannot be skimmed to even start to get your bearings. As I was sailing into my 20th hour and still trying to not second-guess my shaky strategy for the vast amount of stats that can be customized and stacked, the game was still unspooling tutorials and rolling out new wrinkles. Two years later, it's hard not to feel that all this runway has caused CrossCode to be overly ambitious and complicated-even for veteran genre players. ![]() The 16-bit throwback RPG started life as a widely praised 2012 tech demo, enjoyed a super-funded 2015 Indiegogo campaign, and then arrived on Steam in 2018. It's been a long, long road for CrossCode to finally hit consoles. However, the screen still does not scroll vertically or horizontally, and remains static. I still adore Glitchangels though and I’m not sure how this will effect other players.Ultratron is heavily inspired by Robotron 2084, but rather than 8-directional movement, the game gives the player free pixel movement to anywhere on the screen. I think it is the combination of the flashy screens and bright color use with the retro-filter and the overall small enemies.
![]() The Group Chat Award: Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin ![]() But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him. ![]() Other finalists: Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare, Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson Warning! Some book synopses below contain spoilers.īest of Shelf: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas Now…presenting the 2020 *Book Shimmy* Awards winners, as nominated and voted by you! Onto the grand finale! A big round of applause to all the books nominated-that’s a lot of pages read and so much love shared! A feat in and of itself! The *Book Shimmy* awards give a voice to you, the community, and cannot have happened without everyone continuing to nominate, vote, and gush about books. We know from this past year alone how greatly life can be altered, but one thing that remains true is the passion of the YA community and the commitment to uplifting books and authors in this genre, stories that help us escape, learn, and feel empowered. Thank you book nerds for continuing to read and rave about your favorite books despite it all. In a year where physical awards shows have been postponed (or treated as one giant Zoom call), we have the *Book Shimmy* awards to fill that void in our lives. In a year where we couldn’t adventure outside and experience life as normal, we had books to live vicariously through and provide some comfort. ![]() It is religion, industry, farming and politics. In India, the Ganges is far more than just a river. Sagar and many other small islands which are part of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, have seen a dramatic rise in sea levels due to climate change. Hindu pilgrims take a holy dip on Makar Sankranti festival on Sagar Island, where the Ganges empties into the Bay of Bengal, in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, Wednesday, Jan. It has seen too many wars, countless kings, British colonials, independence and the rise of Hindu nationalism as a political movement. Today, little of the ancient construction remains, except for mounds of rubble that tannery workers pick through for bricks to build shanties atop what was once the fortress of the great King Yayati.Īnd Kanpur, where Yayati built his fort, is a city known for its leather tanneries and the relentless pollution they pump into the Ganges River.įor more than 1,700 miles, from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, the Ganges flows across the plains like a timeline of India’s past, nourishing an extraordinary wealth of life. It was the trip of a lifetime.ALONG THE GANGES, India (AP) - More than 2,000 years ago, a powerful king built a fort on the banks of India’s holiest river, on the fringes of what is now a vast industrial city. He truly is a rock star tour guide and great human being. He was exceptionally kind and courteous to all, making everyone feel welcome and part of a fun and caring group. ![]() Jasvir gave India the color and contextual meaning to make it come alive for our entire tour group. Our tour guide, Jasvir Saurana, a Delhi native, was excellent, from attending to every aspect of our travel comfort to acting as a great narrator and teacher of the history, religion, and customs and practices of India and its various regions. It truly is the most beautiful building in the world. Seeing the Taj Mahal was the fruition of a life long dream. One of our tour mates was even cast in a Bollywood film to play a British officer! The evening trip to the Ganges River was an other-worldly experience not to be missed. We saw many wonderful sites and had some very unique and extraordinary experiences. I recently finished up the India-Nepal tour with SmarTours on November 5, 2017. The entire journey, guided by someone I would be happy to have as a friend, through northern india including a passing glance of Indian culture, India lifestyle, intra Indian flights, train, boat, rickshaw, bicycle etc, is a life (changing) experience not to miss. He seamlessly integrated personal flight schedules and worked with his agencies and Indian travel bureaucracy/security to make what could have been a travel headache if not nightmare when I unfortunately had to cancel the last segment of the trip due to my mother's illness and subsequent death. He was unstinting of his personal time for demanding and sometimes dependent tourists. ![]() He personally bought treats, additional night boat ride on the Ganges, drinks and flower/candle offering on the Ganges amongst others for the group. (This is not true of other Smart tour guides!). He took care of all the annoying fees including all the hotel tips, some of small fees for toilet attendants that is annoying for some of the western traveller (shouldn't be as those attendants would not be working there if they are able to find other work easily), and some camera fees for those that happen not to carry small change, etc. The entire trip was made enjoyable, comfortable, fun and ran smoothly due the tireless efforts, skill, compassion, care and friendship of our guide Jasvir Saurana. Breakfast buffet was excellent most places. The hotels on the tour were generally OK with superb accommodations at the Meridien New Dehli and good accommodations Jaypee Palace in Agra. We recently combined a short segment of independent travel to Calcutta (birthplace of my father and where my grandparents were buried) with an organized trip to India and Nepal. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |