First-time traveller, hopefully not last...

byron

Hi,

Travelling to India for a 6-month trip next week, can't bloody wait! This website has been a great help to me so far, so I'd like to thank all you knowledgeable lot.

2 quick questions:

1) My return flight is booked, actually, for 4 1/2 months time. It is extendable, and so I plan to stay til May. The only problem is that my Visa runs out on the 13th April, by which time I will according to my (very rough) itinerary be in the Southern states, perhaps Tamil Nadu. How easy is it to obtain a new visa from Colombo in Sri Lanka? Does anyone have any advice about the best way to do this?

2) I am a peanut allergy sufferer. I'd like, if possible, to take the precaution of learning the word for 'peanut' in several of the major languages - can't be too careful. UnfortunatelyI can't find any online dictionaries able to translate the word - the closest I can get is 'nut' - which would be inaccurate, as I am a huge fan of,for instance, cashew nuts, and plan to eat a lot while I'm over there to keep up protein levels! If anybody knows the Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi or Bengali words for 'peanut', then I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help with either of these.

Byron

Nick-H

Welcome to IndiaMike, glad you have been enjoying

People do get new visas in Sri Lanka, I've no experience: someone will be along in a minute. But getting an Indian visa in any other country than that in which you reside is not an over-the-counter job, you will have to be prepared to spend a week or so there.

On the peanut question, down South at least, I've asked Mrs N about the situation here in Tamil Nadu, where none of those N. Indian languages will get you very far...

It is called verkadalai or just kadalai. She tells me that you won't have much problem here as it is not used in cooking. It is easily available in mixtures to nibble, or as a chutney, jars of peanut butter, or even boiled, but you would have to ask for it to be given it.

She says the same is true of kerala, but doesn't know the malayalam (kerala language). The Tamil or Hindi is likely to be understood there.

We'll find out the Hindi for you ---- but a Hindi-speaking IMer is bound to be along in a minute!

byron

Many thanks for this Nick, that is probably the promptest response I've ever had on a forum! So if i was wanting to protect myself, I presume that saying 'no verkadalai' or 'no kadalai' and shaking my head frantically from side-to-side would probably be enough to get my meaning across?

one more question I've just realised I meant to ask - do you have any knowledge of how effective the DEET bracelets are? I have bad skin (I'm a bit of a medical liability) and was looking for an alternative to spreading on insect repellent twice a day.

Thanks again for the help.

Byron

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PortieOwner

My understanding is that a lot of food in the north is fried in peanut oil, so please be careful.

Nick-H

Hindi: Moomfali.

I would be very careful about the headshaking! head movements have a completely different set of meanings in India!!

'No' will probably be understood. In tamil it is ilai.

machadinha

On a sidenote, check out this excellent post What we learned about allergies in India. Maybe PM them (and have them post their answers here!)

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byron

ok will do. thanks for the advice

Digital Drifter

For no in Tamil, you're better off trying to say "ill-lie" stressing the 'll's and 'e'. Or even easier to say
"kadalai vendam" when ordering in food stalls.

I'm pretty sure, if you say "kadalai allergy" people will catch on.
The best thing is to inform the restuarant cashier, that you have an "allergy" to food stuff with groundnuts, & he'd suggest something *and* tell the waiter accordingly.

That means, you should *not* have

Tamarind rice( puli yogara rice)
Cocunut rice

which are common in hotels. As for the chutneys, asking
"Kadalai irukka?" by pointing at it, might get you the Indian nod routine which can mean what you want it to be.

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capt_mahajan

to expand nicks hindi a bit

moomfali (or moomphalli) = peanut

moomphalli ka tael (rhyme with hail)= peanut oil

another couple of words you may find useful along with this

nahin chhaiye( cha hee yay) = do not want.

hence, "moomphalli ka tael nahin chahiye"

this will suffice in all hindi,punjabi and urdu speaking areas... in fact, the whole of north and central india.

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tasuray

In Bengali peanut is 'Cheenabadam'.Most of the North India call it 'Moomfali'.I don't know what is called in South India.Many restaurants use peanut oil as cooking medium so enquire about the medium, asking 'khana kis tel se banta hai? 'badamtel'or 'groundnut oil'se banta to nahi hai?
Happy journey

sald

In the western parts of India, peanuts are termed as 'Shing' or 'sing'.

In western parts, peanut oil (local term: 'Shing tel') is used widely for cooking. In north india generally it will be mustard oil. You could check with the place where you eat.

byron

thanks to all - wish I'd spent more time learning the languages!

Nick-H

... How odd! That wouldn't be far off 'small almond' in Tamil!