I just returned from India - :-) my experience

Sama

forgot to mention...... GREAT POST!

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MY INDIA, 2005-2008
"Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

AvidTrekker

amaresvivir, if you are this considerate and mature at the age of eighteen, your Country will be extremely proud of you as the days and years roll by. Keep it up and may the Force be with you!!!

What I liked most were two things:- one: not to fuss about sanitizing hands etc. every second; and two: not to bargain for every rs 10 [quarter dollar] at every place that you buy.

It is these very small things which make or break your India trip.

May I add a little something:? [my occasional non-trekking post ]

Many foreigners go to classical music concerts [and similar occasions] dressed like hippies or beggars, half-naked, unwashed and sometimes with torn clothes [not deliberately torn as in fashionably torn] Does this do your Country proud? Would any of them visit a classical music concert in their own Country/town in similar attire [or lack of it?]


amaresvivir, WELCOME AGAIN to India and very glad to have you on IndiaMike.

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The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

ddevadatta

Hello auntiji:

Just like you I grew in Madras and enjoyed the beaches, including Marina for so many years. I miss the peanut vendors. (I can still hear their clanking). I miss jogging on the beach in the morning. Sad to hear it has gone down.

I did take my wife and kids to Marina beach (man was the sand hot that day) on our last visit.

I lived from 1963-1980 and am a graduate of Padhma Seshadri. Went to Don Bosco before that.

Madras looked a lot smaller than what I remebered growing up.

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Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

ddevadatta

amaresvivir:

I forgot to mention this about your original posting. You should consider writing and submitting an article to your local newspaper. You write well and are thoughtful and imaginative.

I recently wrote one myself about the transport work I do amongst the Amish here in PA and they will publish it end of July. Newspapers are always looking for articles to fill up space and you could do that.

Auntyji

Hi ddevadutta, I'll update you on the condition of Madras beaches once I return from my trip this summer. I am sooooo looking forward to the trip(have not gone home for two years) and nothing, not the heat/dust/water/state of beaches is going to stop me!!

Amaresvivir's post is what one should read and keep in mind!

amaresvivir

Hello! :-) Thanks for the replies. It's great to hear from all of you.

What brought me to India: I work part-time at an Indian restaurant, and I have become close friends with my bosses' wife. (They are Punjabi). Her sister was getting married and she wanted me to come with her, and it had always been my dream to go to India, so I said, 'chelo', let's go :-) and we went. I went to Chennai alone and stayed with a friend's family(friend in US).

Mahabalipuram -- that was the place with the temples that I was referring to near Pondicherry :-). It was really beautiful. The beaches there were really clean, and when I went it was not crowded. We were actually alone on the beach.

Regarding Marina Beach... even in the dark I could see it was full of litter. But it was a great experience and so full of life. I had seen pictures and so I was so amazed to be standing there myself, finally, that the trash didn't really bother me. And yes, even at night it was full of people.

ddevadatta, I am going to Bangalore next time!! & Udupi - have you been there too? I have a friend from there.

dzibead - I am planning my trip back ^_^ I was planning December =-o actually but now I think I will have to delay it, because i'll be in college and I think our Christmas vacation time won't be enough. It won't be too long though.

traceyam - some gifts I brought back were bangles etc. I bought in the bazaars, stone sculptures, T-shirts, music CDs, keychains, and I brought my mom gold earrings.

Avidtrekker - "Many foreigners go to classical music concerts [and similar occasions] dressed like hippies or beggars, half-naked, unwashed and sometimes with torn clothes [not deliberately torn as in fashionably torn] Does this do your Country proud? Would any of them visit a classical music concert in their own Country/town in similar attire [or lack of it?] " This does not do my Country proud. Wearing this to a classical music concert in their own country/town would not be permitted. I think when people go abroad, they tend to take more liberties :-/ in their craziness. Sorry for any offense it caused you :-)

I'm pleased to get all the great responses... I didn't have time to write it really well because i'm at school now and I have some classwork :-p.

Take care! Apna kayal rakh na

ladyrunner

Wow...that's incredible! Great to hear your interest in India started off here. Lot of people talk about wanting to go do something 'exotic' in their words, but you've show what one can achieve with the simplest of expectations in this country.

Yeah I went to both Mahabalipuram and Pondichari. While the 'french style of architecture and culture' was interesting in Pondi, I actually enjoyed the serenity of Mahabalipuram. We arrived at our hotel late, past 9:30PM and yet the owner stayed up to prepare fresh fish for our dinner. That to me was heaven the very first time Am a bengali, so anything to do with fish is a winner for me.

Been to B'lore too on this last visit. Now looking forward to moving there long term on a job assignment. We should meet once we both get there ofcourse. Keep on posting and spread the joy of being in India around.

Sama

amaresvivir, how wonderful for you to go to India under the circumstances that you did!

The yoga school that I will be at in Chennai in September will take us on a day long trip to Mahabalipuram, the "tiger cave", Ideal Resort, and Dhakshin Chitra.

Can't wait, only 120 more days.....

Jaya

I heard that beaches are quite better and nice after tsunami. Less crowded and clean.
Would love to tell U all the details when i am back this summer 5+ weeks...can't wait..

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belkin_wonder_boy

Not, "What gifts did you bring back from India?" but "What did you bring from the U.S. as gifts?" What did you take from home as gifts for people in India?

JayTee

Amaresvivir, You are spot on especially around the point about money, this haggling over every rupee must realy give a terrible impression of us Westerners.
During my recent visit, I liked to haggle over say, a rikshaw ride, always with a smile ofcourse, get the price down a little then give the guy what he originaly asked for when I got to my destination.
This ALWAYS resulted in a laugh and a firm handshake, and a general positive experience, all for a couple of rupees.
WELL WORTH IT.

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seeker

JayTee...that is awesome! I am going to use that next time. When I was in India last, I always tipped the taxi or autorickshaw driver and they didn't expect it so it was always a nice surprise for them.

Generosity is always a good thing and all of us can cultivate a bit more of it :-)

Regards,

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Nick-H

I'm firmly against haggling every rupee, as I've said, but, at the same time I object to being ripped off. If a Chennai auto driver picks you up, especially outside your hotel, he may well try to get double the fare from you ---or more! A visitor I spent some time with a couple of months ago paid more to an auto driver for driving her for a couple of hours than a taxi would have charged for half a day. She was happy: I didn't say anything.

amaresvivir

what I brought from US to India... okay, I brought candy, tupperware type dishes, perfume and cologne, make-up kits, granola bars, key-chains, and a couple USA t-shirts.

I always gave tip to the rickshaw driver too :-). That's such hard, hot work and they make so little! It's awful really.

There were these children in Amritsar picking through trash etc. for plastics it seemed. I had just bought some samosas so I gave that to them. Then I saw them, their father was nearby (although I didn't know it at the time) and they gave the samosas to him, which he put in his pocket. I then realized that they were collecting food to take home and share at night. The father had difficulty walking, some problem with his leg. And he smiled and me and nodded in thanks. Even in writing this my eyes are watering. It was a moment I can never forget.

By the way, I am studying International Relations in the university (starting in August) :-) and I will help these children and families. That's what I want to do with my life.

belkin_wonder_boy

I was told by my (Indian) friends in Delhi specifically to NOT tip the rickshaw drivers, because then they'll start expecting it of Indians, too.

I did give one driver some mittens, once. It was late at night and cold and he didn't have any.