If you are reading this then chances are you are embarking on your first overseas journey. Congratulations, you are about to have a life-changing adventure. To give you a bit of a head start on hijinks that might ensue, we have compiled a list of things that all first time travelers inevitably go through.

Start with some homesickness, and make your way to lovesickness… and everything in between! Bon voyage!

Start with the fighting!

No we are not talking about your video game fight pep talk; you will inevitably start having fights with your travel buddy be it your best friend, your partner or just family. That is because you will be spending all the waking hours together and that will eventually make you get sick of each other. Learning about each other quirks and habits can be a double edged sword. Do not be surprised if you feel such amount of abhorrence for each other that you will end up wondering why even you decided to travel with each other in the first place. Get as much of college student online discounts as possible to save a few fights over money.

What’s the solution?

Starve off from making any kind of rash decisions. Do not act on ideas like ditching them to travel alone for the rest of the road. These are people you absolutely adored before you got on a plane together, and now a different side of theirs is just apparent to you. So, do not act out of impulse, take a breather or if so a few hours apart from each other and you will get over this. Chances are they are feeling the same way about you as well.

Moments when you “want your mommy”!

If this is the first time you chose to travel alone without your family then be prepared to miss them. Like a lot! Now, we know what you are thinking, “No way that will happen, I booked this trip to get away from them, I want to find my independence”. And you will do so. But in between loud hostels and exhausting day trips you will learn to grow a deeper appreciation for your own bed and the warm embrace of your family.

What’s the solution?

Feeling homesick is normal, but no need to bump up on the return tickets. Just remember to stay in touch as much as you can and remember this is just one trip for a few days, you will not be gone forever.

Getting lost!

Okay you have gone through every map of the area and have all the apps for getting around that came recommended from Lonely Planet, but you will end up getting lost! It is something unavoidable. But treat this as your stepping stone to the vagabond life!

What’s the solution?

The key is to maintain calm and not panic. In fact try and enjoy it. This is one of the best ways to get a feel for the place. Be prepared for this moment, learn basic directional vocab of the place and find yourself around! Also once you are there find out places that offer discounts with student ID.

Sprint discounts for students makes backpacking easier for kids in college, which is the best time to travel, explore and learn from experience!

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offers on Hookah Parlour for College Students

With all the debate about hookah being the bad kind of good or the good kind of bad for students in Kolkata, everybody still agrees that it is undoubtedly a lot of fun. The sensuous ambience of dim lit, smoky interiors, chilled air-conditioned lounges with comfy couches as big as beds, an assortment of finger foods and array of beverages to accompany your smooth hookah and the loud but pleasant music with the silenced highlights of last night’s match on a giant LCD screen! What more could a happy-go-lucky college student in Kolkata ask for?

Hope the opening paragraph above has already made you hungry for some fluffy smoke of sweet nothingness packed inside the elite bowl of a hookah. If not then these few magic words will definitely make you crave for some smooth hookahs and a good hang with your weird friends, and they are – Student offers on Hookah Parlour in Kolkata.

Are you curious to know more? Then read on to make a great day with hookah and friends.

If you are a college student in Kolkata, then chances are that you have already prowled all the hookah parlours around the city, be it big or small. And then have selected your chosen haunt which checks all the criteria for you and your hookah-friends. To bag wallet-fattening student offers on hookah parlours, check out the list of hookah lounges below where a YUP card holder can get unlimited discounts with each visit. (Note offers cannot be clubbed)

List of hookah parlours where you can get special student offers:

• The Biker’s cafe offers: 7% off on entire bill
• The Dugout offers: 10% off on total bill
• One Sport’s Lounge discounts: 15% off on total bill other than alcoholic beverages
• Urban desi deals: 15% off on total billing amount
• Caafe 360 Degree deals: 10% off on total bill
• Nosh cafe deals: 10% off on total billing amount, Ballygunge and Alipore outlets
• The Firefly discount: 12% off on total bill
• Mocha deals: Hookah at 199+ taxes
  
  

Now that you know where to go to have some smooth hookahs with pocket-friendly student offers, here are some fun hookah games you can play when there:

Game #1: Hangman Hookah:

This is classic hangman with a twist, the game will begin with one player who does some trick with a hookah such as blowing out an ‘o’ or making a ring of smoke. Then the next player and hookah-smoker has to imitate the trick and also perform a new trick for the next player to copy. If in case the next person cannot copy the trick then he/she will get a letter, which would start off with H for HOOKAH like in Hangman. The loser of the game is given a task that the group chooses for them. This could be anything from a general funny dare or buying the next round of shisha for friends.

Game #2: Smoke Comp:

Comp here is short for competition and is a variation of two types of games that are both parallel entertaining. The first part of the game will focus at assessing which person in the group has the maximum lung capacity, which would be done by – deep puffs of the hookah to see who can blow out the maximum amount of smoke. The one who exhales the least amount of smoke will be the loser. And to make the game more fun, you can also choose to include a slap bet. The slap bet dictates that the loser gets slapped at the end of the round for exhaling the least amount of smoke.

Then the next round may follow with a different challenge where the players compete to hold the smoke for the longest time. You inhale and keep it in as long as all the players in that round are done inhaling, then you get to pass it once your turn to smoke comes. Those who cannot keep the smoke in would be deemed as the loser and the group can decide appropriate penalty for them.

Game #3: Hookah-lympics:

Aptly named, as this involves a series of games that each player would have to participate in. The winner will be determined by combining the results of all games. There may be teams of players and points may be awarded to the teams.

The first round is the thick cloud competition wherein the players are required to blow out the thickest clouds of smoke possible. The second game is the bubbly relay race, wherein the participants must blow a balloon with hookah smoke filled inside, and then fan this balloon to a certain destination without directly touching the same. And the third and final round would be to hang upside down (with the help of others) and smoke the hookah, the first person to give up would be the loser of the round.

Have fun with your friends at the hookah parlour with these fun games along with convenient student discounts on hookah parlours. But make sure you maintain proper safety precautions and in case of any discomfort when smoking we recommend you to stop immediately and move out for some fresh air.

​​SML

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College life is full of excitement and thrill, as most of the students are enjoying freedom for the first time in their lives. They are adults already and that provides them the authority to decide what to wear, where to go, and at what time they would return to their respective homes. In most cases, students transform into party animals once they step into their college life, given that at this age most of the boys and girls are rebel in terms of mentality. Consequently, they do not care if the excessive booze is harming their health and wallet. 

However, the modern generation is much matured as compared to the previous batches. It has been seen that more and more young college students are shifting towards non-alcoholic beverages. The reason is that they are focusing increasingly on their health and wellness. Additionally, the hot and humid climate of our city may curse us if we choose to drink alcohol more often. Such climates can be tamed only through cool and refreshing beverages made of fruits or coffee and even tea.

Here we have listed the best destinations in Kolkata where you can get hold of some of the delicious non-alcoholic beverages. More importantly, these restaurants and cafes offer best deals for college students.

The Biker’s Cafe

No, you do not have to possess a bike in order to enter this vintage cafe. The Biker’s Cafe can be a delight for the bike lovers, as the restaurant theme revolves around the roadside cafes found at the American countryside, as shown in Hollywood action movies. The Biker’s Cafe offers mainstream American cuisines along with some European dishes, as well as different recipes of tea and coffee. In certain occasions, they allow musicians to play live music, which is indeed an enjoyable event. The additional features provided at The Biker’s Cafe include free Wi-Fi, free parking, board games and many more. Additionally, you are subjected to receive a flat 7% discount on your entire bill, only if you are a YUP Card holder.

Caafe 360 Degree

Caafe 360 Degree not only specialises in mouth-watering beverages but it also prepares delicious Continental and Chinese dishes. The cafe is also renowned for the quality fast food it offers. The food items available at the Caafe 360 Degree are vegetarian and the restaurant provides home delivery to its customers. YUP Card holders are subjected to receive a flat 10% discount on their total billing amount, which makes the cafe even more attractive for the college students.

Paramount Sherbets

If fruit juice is what you want to sip this afternoon, then Paramount Sherbets is ready to amaze you. This veteran juice specialist is renowned for preparing mouth-watering beverages and is a must-visit destination for college students. The fruit juices and syrups available here are economic in terms of price and refreshing at the same time. Avail 10% discount on your total bill at Paramount with YUP Card.

The Chocolate Room

As per the name suggests, you should not expect a room made of chocolate waiting to welcome you this weekend, but you may be surprised by the numerous chocolate dishes (beverages and desserts)  available at ‘The Chocolate Room’. From Black Forest Shake to Ferrero Rocher Shake, from cafe latte to hazelnut delight, the Chocolate Room offers all the mouth-watering options one can possibly get. The cafe provides home delivery for food items to interested customers and all the available products are vegetarian. Currently, they are providing 15% off on the total billing amount to every YUP Card subscriber. 

Now that you are aware of all the attractive deals available, we hope you can enjoy the weekend with your college mates in a matured manner. Grab a cup of hot cappuccino and enjoy the essence of winter.

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The effect of video games on young minds is a hot topic of discussion among parents. It is generally believed that video games are responsible for increasing anxiety and stress levels in children and also for inducing violent behavior. But recent studies have given us some insight about the positive effects of video games. So it is time we change this pre-conceived notion about the adverse effects of video games on youngsters. A paper published in the American Psychologist has revealed that video games have a positive impact in the development of social, cognitive, emotional and motivational well-being. So, here’s a list of the positive effects of playing video games:

Cognitive Benefits of FPS Games: Several tests conducted in controlled groups has shown that people who play first person shooters (FPS) have swift and more precise attention allocation and enhanced mental rotation abilities. The effect of video games among adolescents is more profound. According to multiple researches video game playing is positively associated with creativity. You can try your hand at the latest FPS games by going to Gamers Den. YupCard offers aflat discount of 10% on the total bill at Gamers Den.

Positive Motivational Attitude: By playing video games kids can develop their incremental theory of intelligence. The positive immediate feedback they get while playing an engaging video game helps them to remain in a motivational sweet spot. They also get a virtual taste of what success and failure feels like.

Emotional Stability: The simulation of complex systems in video games allows adolescents to develop their problem solving skills and pragmatic thinking. Video games with realistic setting enable youngsters to regulate their emotions. So video games can be directly linked to the evolution of emotional stability in adolescents.

Social Development: Recent surveys among hardcore gamers have shown that contrary to stereotypes the average gamer is not a socially isolated being. The reason behind this is the growing popularity of multiplayer games. It allows gamers to interact with a large group of individuals spread all over the continents. Thus gamers can no longer be categorized as loners.

So grab your gaming console and start firing away at your digital enemies. YupCard offers lucrative discount on various gaming parlors like Gamers Den, Break Out etc. So, all the more reason to round up your college buddies and visit these gaming hubs.

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This story might sound all too familiar to you, a fine day with sparse isolated drizzles around the city, the usual humdrum of Kolkata traffic, the regular voices of loud debating neighbours, and the smell of tea from a neighbouring stall whiffed into the room. 

A picturesque sight similar to that of an artsy movie credit scene... when all of a sudden you feel the lusty craving for hot, steaming, soft, and chunky momos! You immediately call your friend and put on proper pants to rush out to the nearby momo-wala and although it’s 42 degrees outside, you gorge on to steaming hot momos with its staple clear soup companion, while standing in the busy road surrounded by other fellow momo-fanatics. 

Big droplets of sweat trickle down from your rushed forehead and form an embarrassing sweat moustache above your lips. But you hardly have the time to care; you took this journey by choice and you mustn’t stop unless you have your shirt tightened by the turgidity of your momo-filled stomach. 

While this may be the tale of your occasional journey to the momo stall, but have you ever imagined how far this soft, plump smoky dumpling has travelled for you?! 

You may feel that the momo looks quite at home in this dusty, Kolkata street-side stall in the torturous humid weather being pushed further into its own inferno while patiently seated in those stacked hotpots. But the truth is that momos are probably one of those foods that have travelled the farthest distance. They have also evolved a great deal over the years, from its usual pork stuffing to customized chicken recipes to the vegetarians’ choice of assorted greens or cottage cheese. But India is not even the place of its origin yet has gone on to adopt it as its own, obviously with its own set of tasty twists. 

Long ago, Indians from regions apart from Sikkim and the Northeast would consider momos an exotic delight. It was not a part of their traditional cuisine and a recent addition to their adventurous. But now the story is different. Food entrepreneurs prepare momos in bulk and serve to local kiosks and food stalls to be steamed and served hot with a strange chilli sauce that burns the tongue yet people cannot get enough of it.

In reality the momo has its residence in multiple states of the Northeast in India, each with their own twists added to it. Shilong is a state where momo can be obtained very easily and it does feel right at home. The state offers delicious dumplings which you can expect to be full of meaty fillings, with light shells and goes with spicy chutney. But do not confuse yourself imagining it is a part of the local khasi cuisine. Instead credit must be given to the Chinese community who reside in Shilong and have made it their home, thereby introducing Chinese delicacies like momo which is traditionally Tibetan. 

But traditionally it is among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh like Monpa and Sherduka who share a border with Tibet and momos are a staple in their diet. Instead of our vegetarian versions, their versions usually house consist of stuffed minced pork coupled with green veggies and a bite of mustard leaves. Like our momo servings they also accompany these dumplings with chilli sauce. 

The closest cousin of a Tibetan momo can however be obtained in Sikkim. The native communities of Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese have it on the daily menu as a comfort food. It is very much a part of their diet and the aluminium momo steamer present in every native Sikkimese home is constantly in use. So, much so that this immigrant momo has pushed the traditional state dish of hyontoen off the plate. In fancy restaurants of Sikkim the momo is served with some radish or cucumber salad. The usual stuffing in them is either pork or beef, but slowly vegetables, cottage cheese and chicken momos are gaining grounds. 

The Tibet of the 1960s seems to have scattered their cuisine across India where most of their authentic counterparts took home in Sikkim, Meghalaya, and the hill towns of Darjeeling and Kalimpong with other planar cities like Kolkata and Delhi joining in the food parade. 

So, here was the tale of momos of their travel from the hilly terrain of Tibet to on your very plain plate in Kolkata. But the bottom line remains that wherever momos may come from, they will forever be the food for satiating souls. 

If you are a momo-lover as well, then the words Momo I Am discount offers will be music to your ears. And that is exactly what you can expect to hear from your YUP Card subscription. For more details on other discount offers subscribe to YUP Card and enjoy the best foods around Kolkata at pocket-friendly prices.

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