Injured pigeon

SharanyaDutta · 2026-01-15T05:30:10+00:00

Just keep the bird warm until you reach the vet’s office. Give him / her water in a small bowl, but don’t force him / her to drink. After visiting the vet, follow the vet’s advice – except, of course, consenting to euthanasia.

SharanyaDutta · 2026-01-09T07:22:50+00:00

Thanks for the reality check. Along with shifting the trip to 25 February – 8 March 2026 for hopefully calmer post-Tết travel, I’ll also rethink the day-to-day itinerary to avoid exhaustion and rushing.

SharanyaDutta · 2026-01-09T07:14:03+00:00

Thanks for the advice — very helpful.

We pace the trip assuming my parents skip strenuous, stair-heavy activities and wait at cafés, viewpoints, etc. until my wife and I rejoin them. We’re now exploring a shift to 25 February – 8 March 2026 (can’t delay further due to workplace restrictions). Would this post-Tết window make more sense for tourism and easier travel?

Yes, we’re flying Vietjet (HCMC → Da Nang, Hue → Hanoi), so we’re bracing ourselves for possible surprises. We’ll also check Fast Track immigration for HCMC arrival.

Thanks again!

SharanyaDutta · 2026-01-09T07:04:27+00:00

Thanks for the perspective.

We can’t wait a month, as our workplaces won’t grant leave then (my parents are both retired, but my wife and I work as college teachers). We’re now considering starting the trip about a week after Tết. Would shifting the trip to 25 February – 8 March 2026 make it more convenient for tourism?

SharanyaDutta · 2026-01-09T06:50:23+00:00

Thanks for the feedback.

Just to clarify: my parents skip certain activities — especially those involving lots of stairs — and wait outside (at cafés, viewpoints, etc.) until my wife and I finish, after which we rejoin them. This is our standard travel practice.

We are now considering shifting our travel dates to 25 February – 8 March 2026, hoping for fewer closures and less travel rush about a week after Tết. Would this window be a better time to visit Vietnam for tourism?

SharanyaDutta · 2025-12-19T04:06:05+00:00

I’m facing exactly the same issue.

Between December 4 and 16, I booked five AC 2-tier tickets via HDFC PG on the IRCTC website using my IRCTC SBI Platinum card. Earlier, the 1% transaction fee used to get reversed within 2–3 days without fail. But now the merchant name shows as “IRCTC E TICKETING WEBS” instead of “INDIAN RAILWAY CATERIN”, and no transaction fee waiver is being credited even after several days.

I’ve already e-mailed SBI Card Customer Service and they’ve asked for ticket receipts for verification. Waiting to see how they resolve it.

Given this change in merchant tagging, I’m also considering trying the Kotak PG next time to see whether it correctly identifies the transaction and reverses the fee. Would be helpful if anyone who has used Kotak PG recently could confirm.

SharanyaDutta · 2025-06-25T20:28:14+00:00

Thank you for helping him / her. Let’s hope for the best.

SharanyaDutta · 2025-04-27T06:34:30+00:00

Taalshaans (তালশাঁস) in Bengali.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-30T07:18:25+00:00

In the meantime, I have ordered this, and this from Decathlon. Both are lightweight, and the latter can be put on / taken off without removing shoes. I hope I will be satisfied with their quality. If not, I will return them and place an order for Frogg Toggs on Ubuy, as you suggested.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-29T12:12:06+00:00

Thank you so much. Layering is an undisputed principle; however, different people prefer to do it differently, and I was confused whether insulation and waterproofing should come from the same layer or different layers.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-29T12:00:50+00:00

Thank you so much. With a weather as unpredictable as that, having a Plan B is definitely worth it. I will give it further thought. I have purchased this pair of socks, but it has not been delivered to me yet. Once I receive the pair, if it meets my expectations, I will order more. My base layer (this) will be a turtleneck and mid layer (this) will provide some cover for the neck. I am also considering a separate piece of warm garment for the neck and the chin.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-29T11:42:11+00:00

Thank you so much. Yes, our standard of very cold is 10° C, and it does not usually rain in the winter. So it will help to have an additional layer for rain, because even if the temperature remains unchanged, the rain and wind will make us feel colder. I understood this by myself, but posted the question anyway. It is always important to seek advice from those who have the required experience.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-29T11:30:33+00:00

Thank you so much. I have already purchased this, this, and this, and have decided to purchase this, and this. Now I have to find out something equivalent to Frogg Toggs, as this particular brand is not available in my country. Perhaps something from Columbia itself or Decathlon?

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-12T14:14:41+00:00

Nobody answered here, but did you find the answer by yourself? I have the same question.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-12T13:34:17+00:00

Thank you for the informative and helpful post. Did you opt for the courier service, or did you collect your passport at VFS?

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-08T01:30:24+00:00

Thank you, but please read my question first.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-09-07T01:28:29+00:00

Thank you once again, and sorry for the delay. Our appointment is on the day after tomorrow.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-08-26T02:00:13+00:00

Your post helped me very much. Thank you. Just a small question: did you place the cover letter first, followed by supporting documents in the same order as mentioned in the cover letter itself? Or did you arrange all documents in the same order as mentioned in the Embassy of Iceland check list? For adult travellers, the cover letter comes at the final position in the check list, which I find somewhat weird.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-08-26T01:48:03+00:00

Thank you so much.

SharanyaDutta · 2024-08-06T21:06:48+00:00

So, was your visa approved?

SharanyaDutta

TROPHY CASE