1. Trans-Siberian Highway, Russia

At over 6,800 miles, spanning from one end of Russia to the other, the Trans-Siberian Highway is one of the longest in the world. It was built by gulag inmates so there a lot of bad juju on this strip of real estate even in good weather. In winter, it’s besieged with ice patches, avalanches, blizzards, and landslides. In summer, the potholes and gravel melt into a soupy quagmire that is just about impossible to cross. The Trans-Siberian Highway has a well-deserved reputation for being dangerous.

2. Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China

Want a punishing journey through one of the world’s most remote regions? Try the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. You can pair breathtaking views with rock slides, avalanches, and truly heart-stopping weather. With over 7,500 deaths for every 100,000 drivers, it has a well-deserved reputation for danger.

3. Luxor-al-Hurghada Road, Egypt

Smart drivers will turn off their lights after dark when driving on this relatively straight and paved road. The reason is bandits and terrorists that shoot at drivers, kidnappers, and other bandits that aim to disrupt tourism in the area. But turning off the lights has an obvious danger besides terrorist: head-on collisions, which happen frequently.

4. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand

Travelers are required to get a permit to travel this narrow and winding road and car rental companies nullify driver’s insurance if one wheel so much as touches the gravel treads. The road is slippery and features sheer drops of several hundred feet, so if you plan to go, make sure you write a will first.

5. Taroko Gorge Road, Taiwan

Known as one of the most dangerous roads in Taiwan, the Taroko Gorge Road is full of blind curves, sharp turns, and narrow paths leading through cliffs and mountains. The Taroko Gorge Road is your basic driving nightmare: blind corners, parts that are so narrow they barely accommodate cars, and massive stomach-flipping drops off the side of the cliff and mountain. Throw in tour busses, scooters, and pedestrians all fighting for the tight space and you can see why this is called Taiwan’s most dangerous road.

6. North Yungas Road, Bolivia

In Bolivia this is called the “Road of Death” because cars routinely go flying off the narrow pass into the valley below. Even so, cyclists love to take their chances on this road. The view, including the steep drop, must feel exhilarating but without guardrails, it produces way too many deaths.

7. Highway 101, Mexico

Care to share the road with gangs, organized crime members, drug dealers, bandits? If so, this perilous stretch of highway through the northern border state of Tamaulipas, this is the place to be.

8. Karnali Highway, Nepal

This road is responsible for killing about 50 people per year – almost one a week. It’s a choked, rubble-strewn road crowded with too-large cars and motorbikes, all fighting for space on a too-narrow surface, and constantly under the threat of landslides.

9. Atlantic Road, Norway

This five-mile highway is looks a bit like a roller coaster though it is generally very modern and in good repair. However, it does have a design flaw: there is a section of it that gets battered by waves when the weather is rough – and it frequently is in Norway. Fierce wind and massive waves crash over the barricade. It’s definitely not a place for nervous drivers.

10. Nanga Parbat Pass, Pakistan

What do you get when you cross extremely high altitude, worn-out gravel roads, narrow passages, and no guardrails? A mess named Nanga Parbat Pass.

Diet is an important determinant of our physical and psychological growth and progress during teenage. Following are some diet tips for the teenagers of today.

The teen years are the years when a whole lot of hormonal and psychological changes begin to take place in our bodies. That’s because adolescence is the bridge between childhood and adulthood, as in, one is no longer a child but not even an adult yet. Diet is an important determinant of our physical and psychological growth and progress during teenage. Though unfortunately, teenagers are generally inclined towards the consumption of unhealthy, junk food, simply because it’s much more tempting and ‘convenient’. But it’s instrumental to follow a healthy and balanced diet during teenage. Here are some helpful diet tips for the teenagers of today:

1. Balance Is The Key

Teenagers might at times end-up committing the mistake of eating too much of some nutrients and components and lesser of others. But, it is important to note that balance is one of the most significant factors of a healthy diet. A balanced diet will ensure that you are getting all your proteins, vitamins, calcium, carbs, fats etc. and not missing on anything. This helps in maintaining overall good-health and well-being.

2. Don’t Miss The Breakfast

Breakfast is arguably the most significant meal of the day, owing to the fact that this is your first meal. It kick-starts your day. A healthy breakfast implies a good start and vice-versa. But, it is a common practice among teens these days to skip breakfast out of ‘hurry’. But, truth be spoken, skipping the morning-meal may cause a lot of health problems in the long run as such weakness, headaches, tingling and a faster-than-normal heart rate.

3. More Fruits and Veggies

Munch more on green veggies and fruits than on pizzas and hamburgers. You’ll live longer.

4. Don’t Forget Water

Our bodies are more than 60 percent water. That makes it important already. Staying hydrated is important for better digestion, removal of toxins and wastes, improved bowel movement, better blood circulation, maintaining body temperature and so on. One simply can’t afford to not drink enough water. A daily intake of 8 to 10 glasses of water is recommended.

5. Healthy Snacks

Despite going for heavyweight and calorie-rich snacks, opt for healthy and light options to satisfy those snacks-cravings of yours. Also, avoid late night munching and keep your supper light and easy-to-digest.

Here is a list of a few easy tips to follow for a healthy lifestyle

Ever since we were hit by the pandemic, two years ago, our lifestyle has changed drastically. We began working from the comfort of our homes but what we missed to foresee were the impacts of it on our health. The lifestyle which was already sedentary for most of us, now became even more confined. Lack of exercise, untimely sleeping patterns, over-eating, rising screen time are just a few of the flaws of the work from home culture. The unhealthy lifestyle gets us closer to the risk of many chronic problems like hypertension, heart ailments, diabetes etc.

For maintaining a healthy lifestyle, let’s introduce some healthy habits for your complete well-being.

1. Eat Healthy Meals

This may sound mundane and repetitive but eating healthy balanced meals can lead to a better lifestyle. Even though you are working from home with no definite schedule, make sure to time your meals and not to skip any meal. Eating a protein rich and fibrous diet will help you keep active throughout the day. Reduce the intake of sugar, fats and salt. Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

2. Exercise Regularly

Aerobics, zumba or other cardio exercises is the best way to keep your physical and mental health in track. Working on the belly fat which is a product of the sedentary lifestyle will ensure a better metabolic lifestyle.

3. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is often overlooked. But it is important to know that staying hydrated ensures the optimal functioning of the body along with giving you a supple smooth skin. Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated which also keeps the blood volume in check.

4. Avoid Unhealthy Habits

Alcoholism, smoking or drug abuse often have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of the person. So, if you are habituated to any of these, try cutting them off gradually. This will not only lead to a better lifestyle but also avoid risk of chronic diseases.

5. Meditate

Stress is a major cause leading to chronic ailments. Stress affects the body’s blood sugar levels, food choices, body weight, susceptibility to illness etc. For mental wellbeing, it is advisable to meditate regularly. Dedicating even a few minutes a day for meditation will work wonders for your mental health.

6. Reduce Screen Time

With the work from habit lifestyle, the screen time has reached its peak. We are always hooked to either our phones or laptops. But besides the usage for work, we can curtail the screen time. Opt for some hobbies like reading, painting or gardening instead of binging on some sitcoms. It will not just reduce the screen time but give you enough time to explore your likings.

7. Get Enough Sleep

We cannot emphasize on the importance of a quality sleep. All of us have been sleeping at odd hours and have taken the sleep cycle for granted. Poor sleeping patterns can disrupt appetite, reduce physical performance and can give mental fatigue. To avoid this, have an 8-hour sleep daily.

This is an exhaustive list of some habits which you can introduce in your daily life for a healthy lifestyle. Besides this you can also consult your doctor and incorporate vitamin and protein supplements in your diet.

As Indians, we often find ourselves mesmerised by clean beaches, breathtaking views, and the splendid architecture of different countries. But look closer home, and you’ll find beautiful islands with delectable cuisines, age-old traditions, and remnants of an unexplored era.

Here are The Better India’s top picks of Indian islands to visit during any time of the year to take a quick break from the rush of city life.

1. St Mary’s, Karnataka

Popularly known as Coconut Island, this place is a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe. Another speciality of this place is the presence of unique hexagonal basalt rocks that were formed millions of years ago when Madagascar broke away from the Indian subcontinent.

2. Chorao Island, Goa

This island is the largest of the 17 islands in Goa and is located on the Mandovi River. Here, you can explore the local culture and cuisines, and it is ideal if you wish to stay away from all the parties and tourist-populated locations. The island’s culture is a blend of Portuguese and Brahmin culture, where you can enjoy boat rides, witness how authentic feni is made, and visit old temples and churches, as well as a beautiful bird sanctuary.

3. Munroe Island, Kerala

Popular for canal cruises, Munroe is located in the backwaters of Kerala and is composed of a cluster of eight islands. Named in honour of Resident Colonel John Munroe, the town’s most celebrated event is the Kallada boat race, held during the 10-day festival of Onam. Munroe Island is located about 27 km away from Kollam.

4. Minicoy, Lakshadweep

The southernmost island of Lakshadweep, Minicoy’s highlight is the depth of seawater. It is just 3 – 4 feet in height, and one can easily walk for about two kilometres without being submerged in water. The area is home to innumerable coconut trees and clean water, and is known for a panoramic view from the lighthouse, as well as beach sports.

“It’s an amazing place to visit…The island is known for its sandy white beaches with crystal blue waters and secluded lagoons. Water sports like snorkelling and scuba diving and swimming can be enjoyed at the beaches. The Minicoy Island Lighthouse, which was established in 1885 at the southern end, is worth visiting for its history and island view from top is very scenic,”

5. Havelock Island, Andaman

Located 70 km from Port Blair, this island has been the highlight of Andaman tourism for decades. Teeming with with tropical jungles and white sand beaches, this island has a very small population, which enables the travellers to explore nature more. Notable places to visit include Radhanagar, Elephant, Kalapathar and Vijaynagar beaches.

6. Pamban Island, Tamil Nadu

Located between the Indian peninsula and Sri Lanka, this island is connected to mainland India via the Pamban Channel (bridge). There is a lot of ancient historical and religious significance here; the island was invaded by British and Dutch traders because of it was easy to access geographically. After independence, the region came under Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. There are also plenty of delightful architectural structures, beaches, a sea rail bridge and water sports. The place is also popular for typical South Indian cuisine.

7. Neil Island, Andaman

Filled with dense tropical forests and greenery, complemented by white sand beaches as well as rich coral reefs, Neil island is one of the most popular islands in Andaman. It is also known as Shaheed Dweep and spans over an area of 13.7 sq km only, most of which is covered with forest. There are thin roads and very little population. Moreover, internet connectivity is almost zero here, which makes this the perfect place for digital detox.

8. Pallam Island, Andhra Pradesh

Surrounded by mangrove cover in the Godavari Estuary of Andhra Pradesh, the island is known for its greenery and serenity. This paradise is a perfect location to try authentic Andhra seafood. The island is a village populated with tiny houses, and the major occupation here is fishing.

9. Diu Island, Daman & Diu

Diu is a serene island on the south coast of Gujarat’s Kathiawar. The architecture and other infrastructure showcases the remains of Portuguese colonial rule here. The island is famous for adventure sports like swimming, surfing and paragliding. The average temperature here remains between 25 – 28 degrees Celsius. Summer is the ideal time to enjoy the island.

10. Ross Island, Andaman

Also known as Netaji Shubash Chandra Bose Dweep, this island is located in the southern part of Andaman. It is the easiest inter-island to visit as it falls near the capital city. There are several historical destinations, including ruins of old buildings made by Indian prisoners. There also lies a sanctuary which has a vast variety of birds and animals.