I just returned from India - :-) my experience

amaresvivir · May 4th, 2005, 21:23

hi i deleted my message sorry

kaushiks · May 4th, 2005, 22:31

Very nicely written. Just one point. How come you liked that Marina beach?. It was always too crowded and littered.

Auntyji · May 4th, 2005, 22:36

Very nice post, Amaresvivir. Which temples near Pondicherry are you talking about?
Kaushiks, Marina beach at night might be pretty nice (guess Amaresvivir couldn't see the litter in the dark!).

ddevadatta · May 4th, 2005, 22:37

Great posting amaresvivr. Great and helpful advice from a recent traveller. And wonderful to hera that you had such a great time in India.

Next time please plan to visit my home town area of Bangalore/Mysore.

kaushiks · May 4th, 2005, 22:37

She is talking about Mahabalipuram I think. Yeah, I guess any beach would be good at night, provided you don't step into some of those s..t piles.

Auntyji · May 4th, 2005, 22:38

OK, that makes sense.

Merchant · May 4th, 2005, 22:43

If you could only read one post before heading off to India, this would be a good one.

Nick-H · May 4th, 2005, 22:45

What a lovely post

Sounds like you'll be back soon!

Your summary of experience is down-to-earth, realistic and helpful.

So true about the money... My view is that visitors should find out the cost of things and then be prepared to pay what I call Foreigner Premium. Just a modest amount, not twice the going rate or anything like that. Those who come here and haggle over every rupee will be the ones that go home telling how everyone in India tried to steal from them.

I have to admit that I don't think much of Marina Beach ...and that, somehow, I've managed to avoid using an Indian toilet!!!

Auntyji · May 4th, 2005, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushiks

She is talking about Mahabalipuram I think. Yeah, I guess any beach would be good at night, provided you don't step into some of those s..t piles.

Ok, now Marina beach doesn't sound so pleasant...guess I should give up on all the beaches then. Pity, since I enjoyed them as a child.

dzibead · May 5th, 2005, 00:58

Wonderful post! You sound like a great person - and you have the true IM spirit! Are you already planning your next trip back?

"Ditto" on your comment about not being a "sanitation freak" but just being reasonable. On my first trip to India I traveled with two friends, one of whom was obsessive about using hand sanitizer all the time ("ooh! I touched money! I have to clean my hands ... blah, blah") It wouldn't have been so bad if she had just obsessed quietly, but, no, she had to yap about it all the time. After a very, very short while I just wanted to slap her. I thought, "why did you come here if you were going to be in a constant state of anxiety over the possibility that you might succumb to some horrible disease every second of the day?"

And the other friend was one of those cheap foreign travelers you mentioned, always obsessing about being cheated and about whether she'd paid 10 rupees too much for something. (To be fair, she's a little like this at home, too.) In shops she'd make the shopkeeper haul out endless samples and spent endless amounts of time obsessing about whether she should buy something and whether 50 rupees was too much. It was embarrassing. Half the time I wanted to slap her, too, and shout, "Just buy it or don't buy it, but shut up about it!"

Some people have stories about the "hassles" of travel in India - dealing with touts and beggars, the crazy traffic, etc. ... I have stories about my incredibly annoying traveling companions.

ladyrunner · May 5th, 2005, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushiks

She is talking about Mahabalipuram I think. Yeah, I guess any beach would be good at night, provided you don't step into some of those s..t piles.

Oh yeah don't remind me about those 'piles'...gosh i was so overwhelmed as I always am with sunrises and sunsets on a beach...my favorite pet peeve is to walk barefoot on a beach...have done so tons of places in the US...but this one beach was a sure sore sight. Not that it took my pleasure away from standing next to the ocean.

amaresvivir - welcome to IM and looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

citybell · May 5th, 2005, 01:36

Hi Amaresvivir,

You really have a kind heart and seen to understand the people. Very well written.Your last 5-6 sentences are really the best of best.

crvlvr · May 5th, 2005, 01:47

Great tips! I think all of them are very appropriate, especially:

Quote:

The foreign travelers I ran into were so cheap.. It will not hurt you AT ALL to spend 70 rp instead of 30, 40 rp, but people make such a fuss and haggling etc. Don't cheat these poor hardworking kind people.

I've stopped haggling in India. I ask for their best price. If they ask for something ridiculous, I just walk away.

Ameresvivir,

Welcome to Indiamike. Do give us more details.. What took you to India?

traceyam · May 5th, 2005, 02:12

What did you bring from the U.S. as gifts?

Sama · May 5th, 2005, 02:42

[quote=dzibead]
And the other friend was one of those cheap foreign travelers you mentioned, always obsessing about being cheated and about whether she'd paid 10 rupees too much for something. (To be fair, she's a little like this at home, too.)[quote=dzibead]

If people are cheapskates at home, they won't be any different abroad, in fact, they'll probably be a lot worse. Nothing wrong with being frugal, but cheapness is a disease and an attitude. Hey, you should try teaching yoga if you want to see cheap. I've had people sneak out of class just so they wouldn't have to pay me -- and I'm talking about people who live in "upper middle class" areas.

I've seen the same cheap attitude with the locals in Mexico or Navajos in New Mexico, somebody trying to nickel and dime them on a piece of beautiful artisan silver.

May 4th, 2005, 21:23	#1
amaresvivir Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 9	:p hi i deleted my message sorry Last edited by amaresvivir : Oct 10th, 2005 at 14:29.

May 4th, 2005, 22:37	#4
ddevadatta Finger Licking Good Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 907	Great Post Great posting amaresvivr. Great and helpful advice from a recent traveller. And wonderful to hera that you had such a great time in India. Next time please plan to visit my home town area of Bangalore/Mysore. __________________ Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

May 4th, 2005, 22:45	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,749	What a lovely post Sounds like you'll be back soon! Your summary of experience is down-to-earth, realistic and helpful. So true about the money... My view is that visitors should find out the cost of things and then be prepared to pay what I call Foreigner Premium. Just a modest amount, not twice the going rate or anything like that. Those who come here and haggle over every rupee will be the ones that go home telling how everyone in India tried to steal from them. I have to admit that I don't think much of Marina Beach ...and that, somehow, I've managed to avoid using an Indian toilet!!! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

May 5th, 2005, 00:58	#10
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,077	Excellent! Wonderful post! You sound like a great person - and you have the true IM spirit! Are you already planning your next trip back? "Ditto" on your comment about not being a "sanitation freak" but just being reasonable. On my first trip to India I traveled with two friends, one of whom was obsessive about using hand sanitizer all the time ("ooh! I touched money! I have to clean my hands ... blah, blah") It wouldn't have been so bad if she had just obsessed quietly, but, no, she had to yap about it all the time. After a very, very short while I just wanted to slap her. I thought, "why did you come here if you were going to be in a constant state of anxiety over the possibility that you might succumb to some horrible disease every second of the day?" And the other friend was one of those cheap foreign travelers you mentioned, always obsessing about being cheated and about whether she'd paid 10 rupees too much for something. (To be fair, she's a little like this at home, too.) In shops she'd make the shopkeeper haul out endless samples and spent endless amounts of time obsessing about whether she should buy something and whether 50 rupees was too much. It was embarrassing. Half the time I wanted to slap her, too, and shout, "Just buy it or don't buy it, but shut up about it!" Some people have stories about the "hassles" of travel in India - dealing with touts and beggars, the crazy traffic, etc. ... I have stories about my incredibly annoying traveling companions.

May 5th, 2005, 01:36	#12
citybell Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: INDIA Posts: 164	comments on your trip. Hi Amaresvivir, You really have a kind heart and seen to understand the people. Very well written.Your last 5-6 sentences are really the best of best.

May 4th, 2005, 22:31	#2
kaushiks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: don't live anymore Posts: 446	Very nicely written. Just one point. How come you liked that Marina beach?. It was always too crowded and littered.

May 4th, 2005, 22:36	#3
Auntyji One tight slap! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 323	Very nice post, Amaresvivir. Which temples near Pondicherry are you talking about? Kaushiks, Marina beach at night might be pretty nice (guess Amaresvivir couldn't see the litter in the dark!).

May 4th, 2005, 22:38	#6
Auntyji One tight slap! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 323	OK, that makes sense.

May 4th, 2005, 22:43	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	If you could only read one post before heading off to India, this would be a good one.

May 5th, 2005, 02:12	#14
traceyam Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 426	What did you bring from the U.S. as gifts? __________________ "Don't you sometimes wish the arctic was strawberry flavoured?" -- Thermoman

May 5th, 2005, 02:42	#15
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,347	[quote=dzibead] And the other friend was one of those cheap foreign travelers you mentioned, always obsessing about being cheated and about whether she'd paid 10 rupees too much for something. (To be fair, she's a little like this at home, too.)[quote=dzibead] If people are cheapskates at home, they won't be any different abroad, in fact, they'll probably be a lot worse. Nothing wrong with being frugal, but cheapness is a disease and an attitude. Hey, you should try teaching yoga if you want to see cheap. I've had people sneak out of class just so they wouldn't have to pay me -- and I'm talking about people who live in "upper middle class" areas. I've seen the same cheap attitude with the locals in Mexico or Navajos in New Mexico, somebody trying to nickel and dime them on a piece of beautiful artisan silver. __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Womens Experience in India from a male point of view	Sunray	India For Beginners	64	Jan 7th, 2006 01:49
Just Returned From The Promised Land	JayTee	Rajasthan	8	Apr 29th, 2005 22:35
Returned Alive And Well	davey	Humour - It Only Happens in India	1	Mar 6th, 2005 02:24
Just returned from a month in India	Ettoufe	Chai and Chat	2	Jul 23rd, 2003 21:39
Relive your India experience at home (part 1).	indiamike	India Travel News and Commentary	4	Aug 5th, 2002 21:24

User Name		Remember Me?
Password