Processing Time for New Passports

With over 20 years of experience in information technology, Vikas Mishra has worked as an Amazon Web Services cloud engineer for companies including Robert Half in San Ramon, California. Outside of his professional life, Vikas Mishra of San Ramon has traveled to multiple countries on five continents. 

The process of obtaining your first passport can take up to six weeks, so plan ahead to ensure it arrives before you leave for your trip. If you need your passport faster, you have two alternative options: 

1. For an additional fee, you can opt for expedited service, knocking your wait time down to two to three weeks. You can make the process even faster by paying for one- to two-day delivery service. 

2. You can also make an appointment to apply in person at a passport agency. When applying in person, you will need to provide proof of international travel, like your upcoming flight reservation. How long it takes to get your passport in person depends on your need, though it often takes up to eight days.

Three Tips when Visiting Australia for the First Time

Vikas Mishra formerly served as an AWS DevOps architect and cloud engineer for Robert Half International in San Ramon, California. An avid traveler, Vikas Mishra of San Ramon has visited multiple continents, including Australia. 

Australia’s massive size leads to a diversity of experiences, from the vibrant cities to the lush rainforests and sandy beaches. The following three considerations will help first-time visitors make the most of their trip: 

1. Seasons. Because it is in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s seasons happen at the opposite time of year from what many travelers from the western hemisphere are used to. That said, the northern portion of the country typically experiences massive storms and lots of rain between November and April. 

2. Size. While Australia is indeed a country, it is also its own continent. With that in mind, planning to explore one specific area will give you more time to enjoy your vacation. If you try to cram the entire country into two weeks, a large portion of that time will be spent traveling, giving you less time to see the sights.

3. Tipping. Tipping is not customary in Australia. Most restaurants, hotels, taxis, and bars do not expect patrons to tip. However, you can leave a small tip to acknowledge great service at upscale dining establishments.

The Difference Between IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS

An AWS cloud engineer and architect, Vikas Mishra works at Robert Half, a San Ramon, California-based staffing company. Prior to this, the San Ramon resident held various roles in the IT industry that granted him experience in areas such as the design and development of software applications. Vikas Mishra has developed a strong understanding of PaaS and IaaS as well as Saas, three models of cloud service..

The average consumer is likely most familiar with SaaS (software as a service), which covers such services as Netflix and Gmail. With this model, customers don’t have to worry about maintaining, updating, or developing software. Instead, they use software that was developed and deployed by the SaaS provider.

The other two models are platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS).Typically, customers buying IaaS services are responsible for maintaining and installing operating systems, databases, and applications. Meanwhile, the provider manages networking, storage, and other services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are examples of IaaS.

Finally, there are PaaS services. While SaaS provides customers with a developed software, PaaS services only provide customers with the resources needed to develop and deploy software on their own. This is perfect for customers who want to focus only on developing applications without having to worry about the business side of the software, such as scalability.

Historic Sites of Jaipur in Northern India

A San Ramon, California-based entrepreneur, Vikas Mishra has extensive experience in IT infrastructure development. An international traveler, Vikas Mishra has visited five continents and had the experience to explore areas ranging from Machu Picchu in Peru to Jaipur in India.

The capital of northern India’s Rajasthan state, Jaipur is a historical city with many well-preserved glimpses of the past. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jantar Mantar was created by astronomer, scholar, and maharaja Jai Singh II in the early 18th century. Featuring 19 large stone instruments, the outdoor assemblage includes the world’s largest sundial, which can tell the date and time based on the sun and planetary patterns. Additionally, stone instruments on the grounds are used to calculate celestial latitude, longitude, and altitude.

A hilltop highlight is the 16th-century Amer Fort, which was constructed by Raja Man Singh and features high walls and embankments. Noteworthy for its Indo-Islamic architectural style, the walled interior is populated by exquisite temples, palaces, and courtyards. The Mira Mandir is particularly well known and has been featured prominently as a setting in the Bollywood hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa.