A farewell Thread

[Rosbjerg]

Well I just wanted to tell you guys that from the 1st of November 2007 and until the 28th of April 2008 - I'm gonna be in India - so 20 days from now I'm off.

 

I won't be in areas with internet very often, but I'm gonna be opening a webpage were I'll upload pictures and stories, when I am. If any of you are interested just throw me a PM with your email and I'll send you the link when it's up.

 

One of the reason for opening this thread was also to see if any of you'd been in India - and if there are some places that you think I should see/shouldn't miss?

[Walsingham]

1. Take your anti-malarials.

 

2. Get good health insurance. MEMORISE the details.

 

3. Keep a photocpy of your passport and travellers cheques separate from the originals.

 

4. Carry several pairs of pliers, a big needle, black silk, gaffer tape. Virtually any situation can be resolved with same.

 

5. Mosquito nets are good for keeping out snakes, 'roaches, and rats, not just mozzies.

 

6. Don't settle for insect repellent less than 90% deet.

[Rosbjerg]

Yeah I went to Marocco once for 3 months - and I learned that trick with the Mosquito nets

 

but thanks for the advice Walsh!

[Walsingham]

No worries. Arm for bear and you get sharks, in my exp tho'.

 

WRT travel I'm no expert on India, and in any case local conditions are always changing. The best advice is to stay alert and watch everything. This is good not just because it protects you but because it means you're noticing more and getting a better experience. Beyond that you should certainly steer clear of the fringe regions like kashmir and provinces abutting Bangladesh. These regions are suffering insurgencies/banditry.

 

 

EDIT:

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY

 

_ACT_ on your bad vibes. You'd be amazed how many people say they saw troube coming but were embarassed to do anything about it. I'm sure there are foriegners worldiwde going about tehir normal harmless business who were amazed to see an Englishman suddenly dive into a hedge and run off into the distance. But there are also several disappointed hoodlums who have seen the same.

 

By the same token don't automatically assume locals know best. If you think the kind invitation to go up into the hills on a trek is crazy, then turn it down. Be polite, but firm. Offer to take your hosts out for a day in town instead.

[SteveThaiBinh]

Be wary of ex-pats and their take on any issue, but don't discount it either.

 

Always ask around if you need anything - everyone knows someone who knows someone who can do it better than anyone you could have found yourself.

 

Register with your embassy as soon as you arrive. They may invite you to fun things, but more importantly they'll know where you are if there's a problem.

 

I've never been to India, but have a number of colleagues from Kerala, so perhaps that's a place to consider going? They say it's very friendly there.

[Rosbjerg]

I've never been to India, but have a number of colleagues from Kerala, so perhaps that's a place to consider going? They say it's very friendly there.

 

we're going through the area (which is quite big) on our way to the southern tip of India - We are stopping at Mangalore and moving south from there.

 

(wow this quickly turned into a moderator thread )

[Pidesco]

(wow this quickly turned into a moderator thread )

 

 

Not anymore.

 

 

Good luck, and have fun.

 

 

I had no idea Walsingham was this paranoid.

[Atreides]

Wow, 6 months! Take care dude and I hope you'll like it.

[Musopticon?]

See ya, Ros. Eat nothing but local, listen to nothing but local and embrace the six months like they were your last. I'm beyond envious, heh.

 

This is voluntary aid work or the like, right?

 

 

 

PM sent.

Edited October 12, 2007 by Musopticon?

[Fenghuang]

(wow this quickly turned into a moderator thread )

 

 

Not anymore.

 

 

Good luck, and have fun.

 

 

I had no idea Walsingham was this paranoid.

 

You haven't been paying attention then.

 

 

Good luck Rosbjerg, PM with my email should be in your inbox after I post this.

Edited October 12, 2007 by Fenghuang

[Sand]

Been to India once. The ship's head cook got ran over while we were there. Word of advice, learn to dodge quickly.

 

Um... Avoid cow tipping. Some of the locals might get annoyed.

 

Yeah.

 

CHEERS!

[Rosbjerg]

See ya, Ros. Eat nothing but local, listen to nothing but local and embrace the six months like they were your last. I'm beyond envious, heh.

 

This is voluntary aid work or the like, right?

 

PM sent.

Good luck Rosbjerg, PM with my email should be in your inbox after I post this.

 

I'll be sure to follow your advice Mus?

 

and I sent you an update on what I'm doing there - but for the readers at home; It's not aid work - I'm going to India to write a book (technically to help a friend write a book) and help another friend build a hotel in the middle of a desert (she's incidentally from Norway - which should explain how she got the idea)..

 

and to both of you - PMs recieved and I'll send you the link once the page is up - it'll be done in English - so no need to brush up on your Danish skills!

[Gfted1]

Have fun and be safe.

[Gorth]

Try the local chicken vindaloo when you get there.

 

Stay away from the traffic in New Delhi.

 

Don't take the train.

 

An elephant has right of way.

 

Stay safe

[kirottu]

Can I use your mod account during your trip to India? Thanks!

[Tale]

Try the local chicken vindaloo when you get there.

 

Stay away from the traffic in New Delhi.

 

Don't take the train.

 

An elephant has right of way.

 

Stay safe

Also, inquire about opening up a McDonald's. I hear there's a major vacuum in the burger joint business down there.

[Rosbjerg]

Can I use your mod account during your trip to India? Thanks!

 

.. oh wait your serious let me laugh even harder! *(thanks to Bender for supplying the appropriate quote)

[Meshugger]

1. Eat lots of curry. It keeps the bacteria away.

2. Visit Taj Mahal.

3. Smile.

 

 

Have fun!

[Walsingham]

I had no idea Walsingham was this paranoid.

 

Huh? You what? I breathe in air I breathe out paranoia, mate. In any case I really haven't time to write down the dozens of incidents I've been embroigled in by either my own stupidity or that of others. The fact is the World is actually very dangerous, and still more dangerous for Westerners raised in happy homes who bimble about expecting it to be safe and friendly. It's chock full of opportunist thieves, murderous monks, violent chimps, innocuous gangsters, drugs, thunderstorms, flash floods, horrible worms that eat your eyes, termites that eat your travellers cheques, dust, poorly maintained safety features, HIV infected doctor's equipment, malarial mosquitos, bilharzia that makes you fart, lazy policemen that will expect bribes, angry policemen who will arrest you for making bribes, lying guides, truthful terrorists, and a total absence of life-jackets or decent gin.

[Rosbjerg]

... and a total absence of life-jackets or decent gin.

 

amen..

[Pidesco]

Clearly, I haven't been paying attention.

 

 

This trip is sounding better and better! Take me with you Ros!

 

I promise I'll be nice.

Edited October 12, 2007 by Pidesco

[Rosbjerg]

sure, just have about 8.000 Euro ready and you're good to go - also we leave, as mentioned, on the 1st of november so you need a health insurance, vaccine shots, equipment, tickets, tourist Visa (notoriusly hard to get) and alot of other stuff as well.

 

You have 20 days..

[metadigital]

Try the local chicken vindaloo when you get there.

 

Stay away from the traffic in New Delhi.

 

Don't take the train.

 

An elephant has right of way.

 

Stay safe

The train in India is better maintained than the British rail system. Even if it were to derail (which isn't likely), all the passengers riding on the roof of the carriages will cushion the crash. "

 

Traffic is dangerous in any country (Italy has twice the automotive fatalities of any other European country, for example); it's just that in a developing country the back-up system is less robust. I.e., if you get injured or ill, the hospital system is very hit-and-miss. (Private health cover that pays for immediate transfer to your home country is worth the expense.)

 

As for what to see, see everything. Zahiruddin Muhammad (Babur) famously pronounced that the tide of Islam would not sweep away the hundreds of millions of Hindus, calling the event "the meeting of two oceans". The Moguls (Akbar) established toleration between Hindu and Muslim with a set of common, transcendent beliefs, whereby members of either faith would benefit from the others adhering to their faith. (Shah Jahan commissioned the famous Taj Mahal, a work of art (well, it was primarily a mausoleum) to celebrate this cultural merger, in which the distinct attributes of both Hindu and Muslim architecture can be seen.)

 

Buon voyage.

[Pidesco]

sure, just have about 8.000 Euro ready and you're good to go - also we leave, as mentioned, on the 1st of november so you need a health insurance, vaccine shots, equipment, tickets, tourist Visa (notoriusly hard to get) and alot of other stuff as well.

 

You have 20 days..

 

 

Don't you have an extra duffel bag or something? I'll pay the excess weight fees.

[metadigital]

Also, inquire about opening up a McDonald's. I hear there's a major vacuum in the burger joint business down there.

They have many McDonalds in India. (They predominantly serve a vegetarian menu.)