Two Months in India

MiniMetro

I'm travelling to India for July and August and I was just wondering if anyone, who has been, has any tips or advice on things to do or things not to do. Thanks

Keyzer

Only drink bottled water...
If you order meat, of any kind, strongly emphasise that you want it cooked well done, this applies for poultry as well...
Brings lot of antiseptic hand gel...
Bring pest repellant..
Bring Immodium, this will be your best friend...
If you can get your hands on a gas mask then bring one...
Don't give the beggars any money, seriously, or you'll have a tribe of them following you...
Be prepared to see people begging with no legs/arms/hands and making no effort to cover this up...
Indians don't really say no, so you need to keep asking for things over and over, Don't be afraid to let rip as they will respond to this...
I think its monsoon season when your there so bring a rain coat, a light one, because although it'll p1ss rain like the end of the world, it will still be very very hot...

MiniMetro

Thanks for all that, duly noted.

PunyHuman

Certainly the poverty and the filth and the lepers and the cows and all that will be a shock at first but you soon get used to it.

* My advice about food is to not bother eating meat at all. Sure why would you when India´s got the best vegetarian food in the world? I didn´t eat any meat whatsoever and I believe that was the main reason I never got sick.

* I wished I´d brought a few dozen euro 10c coins to give to the endless stream of curious boys. Or some pens with Ireland written on them. They all ask for pens for some reason.

* Also earplugs and an inflatable neck thing for those endless bus and train trips. The trains are great, take them rather than the buses.

* As Keyzer said it´ll probably be incredibly hot. Especially in the south. I´d stick to the north (where it will still be roasting but not so bad). Food´s better in the north too.

* The first price quoted in markets and stalls etc is always at least four or five times what a local would pay, whereas for rickshaws it seemed to be twice or three times. But don´t get uptight about paying a few extras rupees for this or that. Everything is so ridiculously cheap anyway.

* I´d say my favourite place was Varanasi. I´d recommend a visit there over anywhere else.

I found www.indiamike.com to be useful when I was planning my trip.

Have fun! I envy you.

Keyzer

One more thing, bring a crash helmet wiht you.
I completely forgot about the driving, I think my brain forgot it on purpose.
Although Indian driving habits are hilarious and entertaining, when your in the middle of it in a 3 wheel richshaw, with a nutter driving it, its quite scary...
Be prepared for crazy driving and lots of beeping....

And like the other guy said, once your white your instantly seen as being loaded so taxi's and everyone else will look for a piece of the action.
Don't let people take the p1ss out of you. Before I left Bangalore, I spoke to one of the guys I was working with over there and told him how much I was paying for my 5 minute rickshaw journey and he was disgusted. Turned out I was paying 4 times the going rate, It was only about 70 cent.