Car Insurance, Travel Insurance

The Road Trip Bucket List

The movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2012) has become the godfather of Hindi-based travel movies; it really doesn’t matter if you are young or old, everyone deserves an occasional blast of fresh air. The movie Finding Fanny (2014) proves that there are plenty of fond memories to make, even for the ones past retirement. So, pack your bags with sunscreen and scarves, put on your aviators, load the trunks with six pack beers, get your car insurance renewed and start your engines…

5 Greatest Road Trips around the World

“Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.” says Erol Ozan, American writer and scientist. So, you do not have to know these routes to enjoy them. Make sure you have a valid international driving license and other citizenship documentation for car rentals, also carrying a travel insurance plan is advisable.

1. The Garden Route – South Africa
Beyond the busy cities, the lush stretch of coastal road between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth is breathtaking. Mountains and vineyards make the picture on one side, while fine sandy beaches and rocky shores make up the other. You can rent a car out from Mossel Bay or from George Airport; the drive will take you approximately 4 hours.

2. Gobi Desert - Mongolia
Gobi Desert offers kilometers of nothingness, rugged beauty and of course the sand dunes of Khongoryn Els. Self driving here might be tricky, so you can hire a car. Make sure that the driver has license permits and valid a car insurance. You can also take a break to enjoy the camel rides.

3. Ice Ring Road – Ice Land
A 1339 kilometer stretch of perfectly laid road runs around the island, letting you take-in the scenery, right from the snow-capped mountains and fertile valleys to the volcanic craters and the vibrant blue fjords. Transitioning from beautiful to brutal, the nature here touches our very soul.

4. Karakoram Highway – Pakistan
This is the highest paved road in the world and one of the most stunning ones at that. Connecting Pakistan and China; it will take you through rocky and snow-capped mountain ranges, scenic gorges and crystal blue rivers. You will also speed past numerous works of rock art dating back to 1000BC.

5. National Highway 212  -  India
It is a road set amongst the wilderness, connecting Kozhikode in Kerala to Kollegal in Karnataka. Going through Mysore, it stretches to Karnataka’s Bandipur tiger reserve. Keep a look out for giant elephants along the way. Also ensure that you have valid car insurance, registrations, licenses, permits and other documents, since forest officers and toll guards are always on the lookout for poachers.

Financial Advisor

Can Hollywood be your Financial Tutor?

In 2011, the European banking system and stock market fell steeply, dragging the global system along with it. Yes, it happened again, but did people really understand what was happening? It seemed like people hadn’t quite mastered the nuances of the financial market and the worldwide crisis, even after the 2008 experience. In July 2014, when Forbes magazine predicted that Wall Street was on the brink of another crisis, Indians inevitably began to fear for their investments.

Do we know enough about the money markets? Hollywood screenwriters and producers have taken it upon themselves to play the role of financial advisors, with a string of blockbuster finance based movies. However, their goal is not to give you easy formulae; they do, however, give you an insight into the mechanics of the market.

Three Cinematic Takes on the Financial Markets

Although these movies showed that the rich financial advisors and bankers loved to ride on helicopters, there is more to take away from these stories.

1. Too Big to Fail (2011): Based on the book by Andrew Ross Sorkin, the movie maps the downfall of Lehman Brothers and the government’s rescue mission. The movie elucidates financial concepts and defines terms for the not-so-sound financial brains. And for eager learners, there were a few dramatic pauses that give you just enough time to take key notes.

2. Margin Call (2011): It does not follow the instructive approach that the movie Too Big to Fail takes on. However, what it does teach you is that the top people who run things might be just as naive as we are. The movie closely follows an investment banking company on the verge of collapse. Through a series of intense boardroom sessions; the firm’s directors comes to grips with reality, tackling the impending fall out.

Although it does not spell out the math, it tells you what not to do. While our financial advisors have the right handle on our finances, it would not hurt to know the basics ourselves.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Martin Scorsese's film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, did give a few investment pointers, apart from its entertaining take on debauchery. The movie’s role as financial advisor was crystal clear – if you do not understand how a company is making money and where that money goes, your investment in the firm will be nothing more than a gamble, and when crisis hits, such investment will be the first to fall.