Lonely Planet a book full of Bull Crap

Merchant

Actually . . .

Indiamike book of India

Kanehanahou

Yes. And in a few messages it got to the point where "damn, this is hard work"...

Go figger that.

SHIMLA

Best wishes to you too, tstan! A pity we couldn't meet in India last Dec./Jan!

Of course, there's always a next time.

__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

Kanehanahou

Lovely, passingby. Perfect. I've been here for, oh, such a short time, and see an incredible amount of animosity to whatever guide that was they're bashing. And in the same breath agree that it's too damn much work to write their own.

The elite vs the proletariat.. Not much has changed.

phobal

this is why you do your own research and use lonely planet to supplement your research, like going to the CIA world factbook and realizing that the AIDS prevailance rate in India is something like 0.8 percent. you're a fool to go off a single guidebook alone.

agni5454

Nick, being that you are in UK, BBC continues its best to portray india in that manner you mentioned. EVEN THOUGH, many many things HAVE changed since the 1940s, almost none of those changes are recognized and we are given the image that there are still dead people on the streets and people do snake-charming for a living but by mere divine causes happens to be excellent programmers.

But one shouldn't falsely understand my point in a manner that the country has reached perfection in its development. I am not saying that everything is perfect; but A LOT of things are different since the country (some prefer civilization) was let alone. However, BBC doesn't see it that way. Every time i log into their website, there is always some kind of india bashing going on without showing the positive sides as well. It is as if, the BBC staff get intrinsic pleasure out of such an endeavor by using negative criticism as an instrumental good.

Hence, we have all this misconceptions in the west about how India, and places as such, are the way they are; filled with snake charmers who can program computers but live in utter filth and poverty.

While at it, I should also note that I have visited Indiamike.com on several occasions to only read topics such as "is it safe for a blonde to be in India" or is it "ok to lock my bag while travelling". It is plain Common sense that one should be on the look out while travelling to any unfamiliar territory (regardless of your hair color or other physical charachter) and that they should protect their belongings whether the ultimate destination be India or Sweden. Hence, what is the point of specifically asking those questions? The answer is: misconception created by the media whether it is BBC or lonely planet that the country is filled with theives etc who are only good at looting and threatening innocent lives who visit the country. Simple as that! BBC and medias of such caliber is used to create a xenophobic mentality for foreign cultures.

I should also note that It would be helpful if BBC takes into account that the country is trying to catch up for the past 200 or so years. Then such a critical approach can be viewed from a constructive standpoint.

-John

Just my analytical thoughts.

Nick-H

Well, Agni, I am not in the UK, though of course I have spent 99.999% (aprox ) of my life there. But you are not in UK either, and I don't recognise the India-bashing that you speak of from BBC broadcasting.

__________________
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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

agni5454

John

BBC's take on foreign cultures in general is that of a negative one as far as my analytical approach is concerned. Maybe you should look over the recent comments on Eton College and its history. Where are you currently located? (if you don't mind me asking?)

Do note, however, i have no other problems with Guardian or other publications. Just the BBC only.

__________________
"Human Life without happiness or hope of happiness is not a life, but rather a death in life" - David Swenson The Dignity of Human Life

"History is always a perspective; but numbers never lie"

Nick-H

Reading the Indian newspapers every day frighten a prospective traveller much more than the guide books ever could!

I know, because I do. But then, of course, the chances of suffering dowry crime, being raped by a policeman, abduction of children, theft of gold jewellery, results of political corruption, death in a road accident, corrupt officials etc etc are, for the visitor, even slimmer than catching cholera.

And newspapers the world over are not renowned for focusing on good news.

agni5454

And there isn't a fair chance that such misfortunes happen to an individual else where on this planet, perhaps in my own backyard?

Raped by policeman - Rodney King Beating
Abduction of Children - Florida kidnapping of a 6 year old this weekend (Meghan's Law effect, etc)
Theft of Gold - Enron case
Cholera? - Perhaps Mad Cow in US?
Death in Road accidents? - and there is no road accidents here in US?

Life is a chance; chance favors those who are prepared in mind. Preparedness is the key hence if you are on the look out in an unfamiliar zone, you will be safe.

Nick-H

54555

It is quite possible that you know BBC coverage over the past couple of years better than I, as my TV-watching time has been diminishing to single number of hours per month over that period. I certainly used to be irritated at every producer thinking that tabla+sitar was the appropriate background music for every Indian street scene: they seem to have realised now that a Bollywood song is more likely!

Got a link to the Eton story? I'll take a look. However the relevance of Eton College to the ordinary Brit is miniscule (well, [I immediately argue with myself] I supose a lot of UK leaders hailed from Eton or Harrow)

I'm in Chennai by the way and, although still, technically, a tourist, I intend that I shall, in the future, be visiting London from here, rather than the other way around.

agni5454

Nick,

Eton
Here is a link to Eton Story.

Please do read the commentary section of the readers as well in order to expose yourself to an well-round perspective; i found that part the most interesting.

Its a shame that power rests with a few; who alone has sole authority to influence foreign policies which either unite or destroy their alliances. For example, the present circumstances that exist between Bush and Italian prime minister over the killing of an Italian agent in Iraq.

I am a Chemist in PA, US trying to find the meaning of life

Nick-H

Anyone suggest that this is not the case? Of course not. But see the title for a reminder of what this thread is about.

For the record, I consider the streets of Chennai to be much safer* and friendlier than London. Which is one of the reasons I'm here.

*apart, of course, from the traffic

Kanehanahou

I bash, therefore I am..

Darn, that belonged in the "quotes" post.

If'n ya ain't part the solution....

Nick-H

...and the pot holes

...and the sharp bits of steel at head hight

...and ...

But I'd still rather be here