11:11 Weekend | Pre-departure emergency guidelines, smarter journey hacks and India’s altering meals habits

Hey there! Good morning ☕️

Travel will be thrilling, however the previous few days have additionally been a reminder that even the best-planned journey can take an surprising flip. The devastating floods in Nepal have put that actuality into sharp focus, with travellers caught in a disaster and households left scrambling for details about their family members. So, this Sunday, we’re either side of journey — the sensible issues that may make a journey safer and simpler, alongside the developments shaping how we journey.

We begin with a sensible information to making ready for the surprising: what info to go away with household earlier than you journey, the right way to arrange check-ins, and what to maintain useful if you happen to instantly grow to be unreachable. From there, we head to North Bengal to discover an uncommon snake-like bridge, take a look at India’s first bullet prepare because it takes form, and unpack Google’s new AI journey instruments and methods to avoid wasting on airfare. We additionally take a look at simpler immigration for worldwide flyers from India and particular Darjeeling Toy Train rides deliberate for Durga Puja.

Beyond journey, we’re how GLP-1 medicine are altering what Indians eat, from smaller parts of rice, chapatis and idlis to new preferences round style, texture and hydration. Proposed crimson warnings on packaged meals may additionally change how we take a look at on a regular basis favourites akin to chips and biscuits.

And there’s extra to discover, from the speedy transformation of India’s podcast trade to a well timed reminder about being extra cautious with what we consider on-line. 

Settle in, and let’s get into it!

Before you journey: How to verify your loved ones can discover you in an emergency

A catastrophe can flip a vacation right into a search-and-rescue effort inside hours, particularly when roads are minimize off and communication networks go down. The current floods in Nepal are a reminder that households and authorities want greater than a vacation spot title to hint a traveller in an emergency. From sharing your detailed itinerary and setting check-in protocols to retaining insurance coverage, emergency contacts, offline maps and backup cost choices prepared, right here’s the right way to create an emergency path earlier than your subsequent journey.

Flying overseas from India? Your cellphone can quickly change the paper boarding move at immigration

International flyers will quickly have one much less paper formality to fret about. From September 1, passengers departing from Indian airports can present their e-boarding move on their cellphone at immigration counters, as a substitute of carrying a printed copy for stamping. Here’s what the brand new rule means for worldwide travellers.

Planning your subsequent vacation? Google desires to make the entire course of a little bit simpler

From monitoring flight costs and checking what number of factors or miles you’ll must reserving resorts, Google is including a bunch of latest journey instruments to AI mode in Search. The concept is to let travellers plan extra of their journey in a single place, evaluate choices and keep watch over fares earlier than committing. Here’s a take a look at Google’s new journey options, together with which of them can be found in India and the place lodge reserving is at the moment restricted.

Flying out for the lengthy weekend? Here are methods to get cheaper flight tickets

Long weekends usually imply increased airfares as demand surges, however travellers do not essentially should pay a premium to get away. From selecting cheaper journey dates and evaluating fares to utilizing value alerts, checking various airports, and looking forward to airline offers, these 8 ideas may also help you decrease the price of your subsequent flight.

India’s bullet prepare is lastly taking form 

India’s first high-speed rail mission is inching nearer to actuality, with work progressing on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad hall. From elevated tracks and big river bridges to reclining seats and onboard infotainment, right here’s what the bullet prepare will seem like, and why the mission’s value has almost doubled to ₹2.1 lakh crore.

Darjeeling Toy Train provides particular Durga Puja rides from October 1

Planning a Darjeeling journey throughout Durga Puja? The UNESCO-listed Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is including particular joyrides from October 1, giving vacationers extra probabilities to expertise the enduring Toy Train via the hills. From diesel rides between Darjeeling and Ghum to the steam-powered ‘Red Panda’ service between Kurseong and Mahanadi, listed below are the routes and fares.

Bagrakote Loop Bridge: This ‘snake bridge’ is a must-see in your subsequent highway journey

Tucked between the Dooars and the Himalayan foothills, the Bagrakote Loop Bridge is one among North Bengal’s most uncommon highway constructions, with its distinctive winding design rising 41 metres above the panorama. If you’re planning a highway journey to Sikkim or Kalimpong, right here’s why this scenic bridge deserves a cease, and what you may discover close by.

GLP-1 medicine are altering Indian diets

The influence of weight-loss medicine is extending past the weighing scale, with Indian customers reporting main modifications of their on a regular basis consuming habits. Chapatis, rice and idli parts are getting smaller, whereas softer textures, balanced flavours and hydration are gaining desire, at the same time as family purchases of biscuits, sweets and fried snacks stay largely unchanged.

Your chips and biscuits would possibly quickly include a crimson warning!

India could quickly introduce outstanding crimson hexagonal warnings on packaged meals excessive in sugar, salt or fats. The proposed labels may change how buyers choose all the things from biscuits and chips to noodles and packaged drinks. Here’s what the brand new guidelines may imply.

Is podcasting in India changing into extra than simply one thing you take heed to?

From three-camera setups and social-media clips to superstar hosts, model offers and the rise of Hindi and regional content material, India’s podcast trade is altering quick. YouTube is reshaping how audiences uncover exhibits, whereas creators and networks are rethinking all the things from manufacturing prices to monetisation. Here’s a take a look at what’s driving India’s podcast transformation, and why the subsequent massive viewers could lie past the English-speaking metros.

A joke about Emily in Paris being created as a prank was taken severely by hundreds of individuals — and even made its approach into mainstream publications. It’s only one instance of how simply satire, AI-generated photos and deceptive posts can slip previous our scepticism when one thing seems polished, feels believable or has already gone viral. Research into how we devour info on-line provides some clues about why we’re so fast to consider, and share, issues that aren’t true.