"Don't go to India because ..." Prejudices and Misconceptions Collected

If so, one of those pretty out-in-the-open secrets you'd think.

I've read a lot of these posts, before and after my trip -- some at least partially true, others totally prejudiced, or fiction (as we travelers know) -- but if you end up still loving India somehow anyway, or want to, for whatever mysterious reasons (as so many of us do), I would just add these pointers:

First of all, don't go to India if you can't stand excitement! I will share with you my initial impression of arriving in Delhi and being hurled into the traffic stream in an auto-rickshaw (which my Indian hosts enjoyed): it's like being suddenly dropped into the middle of an action-adventure movie, where the director has already yelled "Action!" but no one is yelling "Cut!!" -- and you want to put it all on 'pause,' you want to say, "Wait a minute, WAIT a minute!! I want to take a closer look at one of the hundreds of things going on around me!!" -- but of course you can't, so you just go with the flow, and try to take it all in (and become fearless in traffic in the process...)

So, if that doesn't scare you off, don't go to India IF:

(1)....you really can't take hot weather; I've heard that it's 'cooler' in December and January, but that might mean the mid- to high 80's, which is still too uncomfortably hot for someone from a much cooler climate, like me -- the Pacific Northwest coastal region (I'm just right at about 55-65deg.F.); you'll want to see many places that are outdoors, and require a lot of walking to get to, etc., so the sun and heat can be unforgiving; and even in October/November, it's often still in the high 90's many places in India, plus the mugginess of rain and monsoons on the southeast coast; the foothills of the Himalayas was the coolest place I visited, but it even gets warm there in the northern cities, too (Rishikesh and Haridwar)!

I was hoping to acclimate eventually (and maybe that's not as easy for 'mature' individuals as for younger travelers), but I was constantly mopping my brow (and neck, etc.) with my big flowered cotton hankies (DO take a few, they are lifesavers -- you can wear them as headbands, too -- and they wash out easily at night, drying by morning; tissue is a rarity in India, and it actually seems very wasteful to use it there); and wear the lightest-weight cotton clothing you can -- it helps. Without the relief of fans and a/c in many places, I would have been very uncomfortable most of the time, I'm afraid.

(2)....if you don't know anyone in India, or haven't made any acquaintances there yet online! My best experiences happened when visiting friends there in different cities (most of them 'met' on this site); Indians are very gracious and welcoming hosts, and I can never thank the people I met enough for making my trip as enjoyable as it was (despite the heat!); they know where all the air conditioned places are, too! I also stayed in hotels and B&Bs, but enjoyed my 'homestays' so much more ~ and they all know they have a place to stay if they ever come to the US ~

(3)....if you can't understand the love that Indian people have for cows (and even stray dogs, which they feed and care for); the cow is 'mother' or even goddess to them, and a gentle creature to be revered -- think of all the things a cow gives to a family: milk, cream, butter, 'ghee,' cheese, curd, yogurt...I really became very fond of them (and even giving them a little pat once in awhile, in passing), and missed seeing hardly any in Kolkata/Calcutta! (Finally saw a few out by the grassy stretches near the airport, but that was all).

(4)....if you don't think you could manage a 'bucket bath!' Many places only have this option, where you fill the 5-gal. bucket with (hopefully) warm water (tepid was good enough for me), and pour it over yourself with a big cup while sitting on a large plastic cube, or standing; it's do-able, but a little awkward at first, especially when trying to shampoo long hair -- but it gets the job done! (If you are staying in 5-star hotels, you probably won't run into this, or have the shower option too, but I'm betting that most indiamike fans aren't doing that...)

(5)...if you can't take the constant assault to your senses of smells, odors, fragrances, noise, traffic of every imaginable form, brilliant colors, loud music, long stares from people (curious, not rude -- just smile back!)! -

I may think of more to add later ~ 'namaste' for now ~

The last warnings (even after being to India more than once now) were

- you will suffocate in the pollution
- you know what it's waiting for you, do you?

I so hate it when it's very general and scary!

Actually I even get such warings by Indians themselves, the last one was 'don't go anywhere without a/c, it will be too hot for your standards, even if it's Winter'.

Well, being someone who does not stand the heat much, last year in delhi it was too cold for me in the Winter. In the end, in my country Summer is much much hotter than te Indian Winter.

Yeah, I've also had Indians who have lived here in the U.S. try to scare the crap out of me! I've also had them act surprised that I want to go to such a dirty place!

(The majority are thrilled that we love their country)

heheh... yes, that is typical as well.

Ok, so yesterday I've got the last warning from my mom who had just seen some kind of tv documentary and told me:

"But, in India, there is leprosis!!"
on hearing this, my sister decided that I was already infected and told me "Stay away from me!" LOL

I just answered "Yes, some people in India have leprosis as far as I know, I guess it never went away from the country"

Leprosey is now called Hansens Disease and it still exists, not just in India, but right here in the U.S. http://www.hrsa.gov/hansens/

So maybe your mom better not visit here either!

Indeed it does, but it is not common these days, and, of course, it is curable.

My inlaw is the boss of a leprosy speciality hospital; as leprosy has declined, they have opened other other medical services

Yeah, as CG said, have 'em stay away from the U.S. too -- just this week, one of the teachers at my school (in the U.S.) told me her dog was diagnosed with leprosy.

actually my mom even said that she remembered of some place in South Italy where people were disgnosed with leprosis when she was there many years back. There are so many diseases that are not mentioned on tv every day...

The problem of course being that of letting people know this and breaking down taboos. In Laadakh earlier this year, there was a big advertising campaign.

It's difficult to change peoples attitudes. A few years ago we went to Hawaii to the smaller less touristed island of Molokai. It is most famous for the leprosy colony that is still there. They created this place Kalaupapa where they stuck them.

Father Damien and the Lepers of Kalaupapa

Kalaupapa's reputation as a leprosy colony is well-known. Hansen's disease, the proper term for leprosy, is believed to have spread to Hawaii from China. The first documented case of leprosy occurred in 1848. Its rapid spread and unknown cure precipitated the urgent need for complete and total isolation.

Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific ocean and cut off from the rest of Molokai by 1600-foot (488m) sea cliffs, Kalaupapa provided the environment.

In early 1866, the first leprosy victims were shipped to Kalaupapa and existed for 7 years before Father Damien arrived.

If you are interested you can read more: http://visitmolokai.com/kala.html

They offer a trip down the 1600 foot cliffs to it by muleback. We did it. My husband who is afraid of heights had a panic attack as we started down this narrow, narrow path with switchbacks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLLrb...eature=related (I don't know these people but the first minute and 1/2 pretty much shows you how scary (& fun) it is!)

Found this little video made by someone who also went there and shows what it looks like and a person who has lived there for 35 years. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/158673...colony_hawaii/

A very nice book- "The Island", by Victoria Hislop written about a leper colony in a island of the coast of Crete
http://www.completely-crete.com/spinalonga.html

I must ask my friend about this again. He's not a doctor, but an adminstrator, but still does stuff like giving talks on the subject, so is very well informed (well, I guess it would be hard not to be after working in the field for thirty-plus years!).

From what I gathered last time he talked about it, the leprosy bug is airborne, and common everywhere, but most of us will never develop the disease. If I understood right, then does that mean that the isolation of sufferers was all a big mistake? A bit like if someone today thought that AIDS could be caught by touch, and all AIDS sufferers had to be locked up?

Damn... I've just remembered this is a funny thread!

years ago when I was a kid, I underwent some exams and they found I had developed the antibodies for tubercolosis, my mom got really scared for this but they just explained me that everyone can breathe these bugs and develop the antibodies, but this does not mean you've caught the disease.

And yes, if we should get schared of each and every possible disease we should lock ourselves in our home and stop living our lives.

I remember when the alert about swine flu started I had to travel to UK and someone suggested me to stay home. I replied that I probably would rather catch the disease than stop living my life.

..... isn't mal-aria italian for 'bad air'. Lot's of stupid human misconceptions that once were .... or still are floating around out there.