India!

[Rikao4]

Never been on that subway, your picture is correct for India and few other places.
Rika

[Evans, Marv]

I don't travel internationally like I have in the past. But I bought a water treatment devise from REI last year. It's called a Steripen. Operates on 4 AA batteries & is a light devise that emits UV light & not very large at all. You submerge it in a bottle of water & it turns on & you swirl the water around it for 90 seconds for a liter. Kills bacteria, viruses & just about everything else. I bought it to treat the water for Giardia when I hike in the mountains during the summer. I got that bad one time & don't want it again. I would take it with me as a precaution if I were traveling there. Wish I had it years ago.

[ChemMan]

In addition to living in Bombay, I also lived in Madras (Chennai) for 2 years. In all that time I never saw a child get "done up" to beg for money. It is truly heartbreaking to see that level of poverty. Hopefully in your brief time, you will not see leprosy or experience the wonders of malaria.
I would not drink the water. If you must keep some chlorine tablets handy. I had to use them on occasion and I was okay. I would not take the train.
Just treat the people like people. If you do not want to give a beggar money, don't just keep walking. They will flock around you. I have see many westerners use disrespectful language towards locals. In the North, it usually just passes. But do it in the South, and watch your head. Especially if done towards women or children.....and I mean watch your head. It might get separated from your shoulders.

[targa911S]

I love Pennsylvania.

[red-beard]

I lived in India and Pakistan for a Couple of years, but it was back in the 1980's. Dirty, depressing, polluted. But the food was wonderful. DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. Only drink bottled water, no ice, and do not accept any bottle which was opened before it reaches your table.

Expect dinner to take a long time, no matter how fast you want it, unless you spell it out ahead of time.

When being in a Taxi, expect to fear for your life at all time. Sometimes the drivers look like they are about to run into another car head on. Don't worry, they usually make it! After a few weeks, you'll forget how scary the taxis are and concentrate on the poverty, etc.

Do not give money to beggers. Many of the beggers, especially ones with missing limbs, are the way they are because their parents multilated them as children, so they could be better beggers.

I think all people on welfare in the US need to experience India. Might shake a few of them up and off the system.

[Hoots]

I went to Indiana several times with my Grandparents when I was young. We never had a problem with the water, or the food. Although, I ate my first and last frog legs in Indiana. I also saw my first boobie there. Ah that was many moons(and boobies) ago!

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by gaijindabe

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

Why? Cultural or bug reasons?

[gaijindabe]

Apparently cultural.

Frankly, with all the fat aszed tourists I see walking around Manhattan - I think it is a good idea. Autumn is a blessed season..

Thanks guys. Tons of good advice. Will be drinking lots of beer!

[red-beard]

Yep, you are past Monsoon season, so it should be fairly nice.

[gaijindabe]

Just back last night. It was amazing. Thanks guys - excellent advise all around.

It was curries three times a day and lots of bottled water. Mumbai is unbelievable sprawl, poverty, filth and pollution. The habitat build went well. 100 homes in five days. They dont lay blocks with mortar - but rather with concrete. That took practice...

[svandamme]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Just back last night. It was amazing. Thanks guys - excellent advise all around.

It was curries three times a day and lots of bottled water. Mumbai is unbelievable sprawl, poverty, filth and pollution. The habitat build went well. 100 homes in five days. They dont lay blocks with mortar - but rather with concrete. That took practice...

did you get anything usefull out of the ordeal?
if anything , was it worth you're while?

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by svandamme
did you get anything usefull out of the ordeal?
if anything , was it worth you're while?

Well, you see how most of the world lives on very little resources and recycles just about everything. Bikes, rickshaws, tiny diesel cars... The class and caste system is just amazing. We worked with smart well fed MBA students with PDAs that would be at home in NYC and poor laborers mixing concrete with short hoes and bare feet.. Being introduced to 4000 years of culture and a billion people is well worth the 24 hours of travel time..

[svandamme]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
Well, you see how most of the world lives on very little resources and recycles just about everything. Bikes, rickshaws, tiny diesel cars... The class and caste system is just amazing. We worked with smart well fed MBA students with PDAs that would be at home in NYC and poor laborers mixing concrete with short hoes and bare feet.. Being introduced to 4000 years of culture and a billion people is well worth the 24 hours of travel time..

i'll take that as a yes

[creaturecat]

Well done Gaijindabe!

[gaijindabe]

Thank you CC. It was a great experience.

Gaijindabe actually means "hey, it's a foreigner" in Japanese. The kind of thing kids yell out when they are surprised to see you. It was the same feeling all over again. Some of the folks we worked with had hardly ever seen foreigners, much less worked with them. East Asians, Africans, Europeans. It was quite a group.

[red-beard]

OSHA, party of one. OSHA.

I was amazed to see construction workers in bare feet or sandels, no hard hat and no safeglasses. Some of the welders welded using only their hand for eye protection...

[Christien]

Sounds like a great time, and you were doing something meaningful at the same time - good on ya! Post some pics if you get a chance.

We're looking at doing something like this in Africa in a few years, when kids are old enough to come, so I love hearing about these kinds of trips.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by red-beard
Yep, you are past Monsoon season, so it should be fairly nice.

Just got back two hours ago from this general area. Spent several days flying to various places in this area and its not changed any from the past posts.

Weather was nice in most of the country but humid. Lots of mosquitos in some areas, so take some bug spray with DEET.

[Joeaksa]

Gaijin,

Just found out that I will be in New Delhi on the 26 for a few days. Did you make it to Delhi? If so any hints on hotels?

Joe

[Flatbutt1]

welcome back Gaijin, any chance of a trip report with some pics?

BTW how do you butter brick with concrete? I'm assuming you mean regular concrete with stone in it?