India!

[gaijindabe]

Gentlemen, I want to hear all about it. I am going to India next week for two weeks. I have got the shots and a couple of prescriptions to be filled..

Flying into Mumbai and going up to Pune. Who has been there? What is it like? How about the food? (I love the stuff we get over here..)

Do tell.

[Nostril Cheese]

beware of this guy

[legion]

I'm surrounded by people from Pune...

[}{arlequin]

kalimaaaa!!!

[ChemMan]

I lived in Mumbai for a couple of months in 1985. Used to be called Bombay back then. If you haven't been to the third world before, you are in for a rude awakening. Lots of poverty and sickness. I can remember distinctly stepping over people when I exited the airport. Maybe things are different now. It has been more than 20 years. The restaurants back then were good though. The Silver Plate and Gaylord were excellent. Any taxi driver can get you there. What hotel will be in?


Never been to Pune!

Mike

[Mr Beau]

I was there in August and it was a bit of a shock. I've traveled a reasonable amount (South America-Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba; North America; Western and Central Europe; Turkey) and found India to be unlike any other place, which really shouldn't come as a surprise as it was the first Third World nation I have visited.

We started in Mumbai and toured most of Rajasthan, going across to Agra, up to New Delhi and then back to Mumbai. It was a backpack/train/bus sort of trip so my experience was probably different than that of most people's (the first 10 days I spent a total of 150 euros on food, lodging, and transportation). I'm glad to have went but I'm not exactly in a hurry to go back. The photos I took bring back a lot of memories but I found that the relentless hassling, heat, and filth wore me down by the end of the 3 weeks, plus I had a nasty cough and fever for the last week (not too much in the way of stomach problems though and I was most adventurous when it came to ordering food).

It was the first vacation I took where I was happy to come back home. On the other hand my travel companions fell in love with the place and are planning to visit southern India next year. To each his own I guess. :-)

I'll let you know once I manage to host some of my 800+ pics from the trip.

Cheers,

[gaijindabe]

Thanks guys. I kind of wish I had more time to travel around. How are the trains BTW? There is a whole sub-continent and 1 billion people I wont be seeing on this trip. The monsoon season is over in Pune and it is said to be cooler and greener this time of year. Matt - it would be great to see the pics. Thanks.

[widebody911]

I was supposed to go several years ago - went through the shot regimen and everything - but left that company for a $30k increase a few weeks before I was to go.

One tidbit of info I was given was to be prepared to bribe your way through anything, and try to avoid the beggars at all cost - those guys are pros.

[svandamme]

expect something weird to happen, the minute you officially cross the border...

[Mr Beau]

When taking a train I would recommend a minimum AC sleeper class. It's a bit tough to explain the different classes but you'll be OK if there's A/C. One of the main advantages is that the windows are sealed so you don't have to worry about dirt and sand making their way in your compartment (not to mention the A/C itself!).

Every bus I took leaked when it rained even if it had A/C. They tend to be quite old and not the most comfortable form of transport but sometimes you have no choice.

And the one time I gave money to a young child beggar, I gave him a closer look over after he wouldn't go away, and it became apparent that he was 'done up' to look poor and ratty. I was as pissed at myself for falling for it as I was pissed at the kid. And another time there were kids working a redlight at an intersection and they would circle back to a guy huffing a paper bag and give him their take. A sad situation by anyone's definition.

[widebody911]

Probably a good idea to leave you Kashmir sweater at home..,.

[gassy]

Whatch out for this guy and his gang.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/2006/10/indian-thriller.html

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by widebody911
Probably a good idea to leave you Kashmir sweater at home..,.

I will be knee deep in mud and mortar..

It is another Habitat for Humanity trip.. I will be taking a bus up there - training and building homes for 10 days and then taking a bus back to the airport.. We do have some free time in the area.

They have told us - no shorts and tank tops. That is a rule for the ladies and gents..

Been eating curry every other day for a three weeks. Trying to get the belly used to it..

[HardDrive]

Wife is from India.

Like most above, I find India both facinating and revolting at the same time. The pollution is horrible. I don't think I felt clean the entire time I was there. But I loved the complexity of Indian culture. At times, I enjoyed the mad rush of people and cars and scooters......and cows.

Don't be afraid to go and stay if a western hotel. We were staying with our wifes relatives, and we ended up going to the Grand Hyatt in New Delhi. Nothin' better than decent margarita to ease the mind.......

On the whole, I enjoyed India, and will go back. But I will stay in high end hotels when I go back.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by gaijindabe

Been eating curry every other day for a three weeks. Trying to get the belly used to it..

drink loads of scotch , or gin or whatever burns the germs. as long as it's not methanol...

[Joeaksa]

Do not drink the local water, drink beer, pasturized liquids or so on instead. Star Beer is good, as are most of the other local varieties.

Take imodium and baby wipes, as you WILL get the trots. Do NOT eat veggies, use ice cubes at anytime or eat anything that has not been cooked well done. When you get the trots, go to a chinese restaurant and get plain old white rice. Eat it dry and eat as much as you can, it will clense your system and help along with the imodium.

Do not go out at night if the area has malaria, which many areas do. Be careful of mosquitos and if you feel weak or shivering go to a doctor immediately.

It will be a shock, it always is for me and I have been going there for years. Secure everything and keep your money and paperwork on a hanging wallet under your shirt when arriving.

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by HardDrive
Like most above, I find India both facinating and revolting at the same time. The pollution is horrible. I don't think I felt clean the entire time I was there. But I loved the complexity of Indian culture. At times, I enjoyed the mad rush of people and cars and scooters......and cows.

On the whole, I enjoyed India, and will go back. But I will stay in high end hotels when I go back.

Well said...I have only been to India once, for tens days back in the '80's. The only thing I can add is the taxi rides can be, uh, interesting!

[Mr Beau]

Ah, Joe brings up a good point about water. However, I bought a bottle of water from a pharmacy and when I went to open it I noticed that the seal had already been broken. I went back to the store a bit perplexed and showed them the bottle. They started looking at all the other bottles in the place and next thing I know one of the workers goes off to buy me a bottle from elsewhere. During this they took down all their water bottles from sight without any explanation.

I walked by 20 minutes later and all the water bottles were back on display. I was too worn out to go to the police etc. Bastards, and at a pharmacy of all places!

[Rikao4]

You asked about the buses & trains, well in India..maximum capacity means nothing,
other than a challenge to prove the maker wrong.
Rika

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by Rikao4
You asked about the buses & trains, well in India..maximum capacity means nothing,
other than a challenge to prove the maker wrong.
Rika

Is it really any worse than the NYC subway??