[Putty]

Hey Nadreg,

Just saw your post regarding staying tuned for the "India Mike Store" coming soon .... How about INDIAMIKE - THE BOOK?

For India fanatics, it would probably outsell the LP guide! Wow, think about it - a book based on first hand experiences by people who have travelled India. How many people log onto IndiaMike asking for advice for a ‘first timer’ heading off to India - imagine being able to pick up a book with all this ‘knowledge’ from people who have been and done what they are dreaming of? Imagine how many people thinking of planning a trip to India (who have never heard of IndiaMike), that would come across “INDIAMIKE - THE BOOK” in the Travel section of a bookstore?

You could have various chapters written by experts (e.g. Train Travel - Steven Ber) and other chapters listed as per the forum sub-titles
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles
- Health & Well Being
- Passport & Visa
- Packing Tips
- Hotels & Lodging
- Geek Speak
- Scams & Annoyances
- It Only Happens in India
- Yoga, Spirituality and Religion
- Volunteering and Charitable Causes
- Major Destinations (listing major cities as per forum)
- Crossing the Border
- Off The Beaten Trail
- Itinerary Advice
- Wildlife & National Parks
- Trekking and Mountaineering
- Books, Music, and Movies
- Cuisine and Restaurants
- Photography

The whole book would be made up of ‘first hand experiences’ by Indiamike members.
Yes, information can become outdated - but, like all good guide books, they get updated every few years.

… how about it?

Cheers,
Putty

[nadreg]

Putty....

You read my mind, dude. That is something I have planned on doing. I had actually floated the idea on the forum a long time ago, with mixed results. I was thinking of a wiki based tool that users could add, edit, and update. However, the feedback I got was that people would be worried about the controlling the authenticity of the information.

BUT... that does not mean the idea is dead. I'm actually fine tuning it, and once I have something concrete, I will share with the you guys.

[Putty]

Hey Nagreg,

Great minds think alike hey?

From my own personal experience, when I set off for my first trip to India in 2001, I got the info I needed from Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. Obviously, these two books are filled with lots of valuable info but what I would have enjoyed more was a book entirely on ‘personal experiences’ of what one is confronted with when arriving in India … there’s nothing like that out there - probably “Traveller’s Tale India” would be the closest thing but even that is more a long the lines of personal travel journals.

They don’t touch on the problems one will confront and how to get around them, or how to cope with them, how to make the trip easier, what not to do, things to avoid. People want to know how much things cost (obviously with time this will be outdated but it gives people a guide for planning their budgets etc). Another popular question on Indiamike is “Is it safe for female traveller’s to travel India alone?” This is the stuff I would’ve loved to have seen in a book - it certainly would’ve put my mind at ease prior to boarding the plane over there.

How many people have dreamt about going to India but have put it off because they think India is just too difficult and hard - how many people would change their minds after reading 'first hand accounts' of just how wonderful India is?

I could go on and on and on … but I must get back to work

[machadinha]

The idea of a Wiki has been floated several times before. I'm never sure how a Wiki format would substantially add to what you have on this site already. The open publishing format brings with it its own obvious limitations; many of the meatier articles on matters Indian on Wikipedia are a good example of this, with info that quickly veers off into the wildly esoteric or subjective, and apparently nobody in a position to check on it. The typos alone often make you cringe.

A book has been suggested before too, see also for instance this thread: The Indiamike Guide to India. One problem you might quickly run into is with randomly using member's contributions.

In the meantime, there's already the Wikitravel site. It's about as reliable as Wikipedia (as in not).

btw I'm sure there are many books out there about people's first, or later, encounters with India and other places. I'm not putting the idea down mind, just wondering about the feasibility of it all.

[PeakXV]

For personal experiences, gut feeling advice, and instant-&-on-demand itinerary help - IndiaMike.com is the goto guy - bar none!

The problem (IMO) is the whole hotel/restaurant ratings thingy which is a weakness with the annual biggy travel guides ..... and a weakness here(certainly as far as structual content is concerned) as well.

You may need a group of qualified roving inspectors/consultants to approve/verify and/or monitor hospitality standards (I think Steve Ber mentioned he may be available for the occassional assignment ) on a regular basis.

.... as they say 1% inspiration - 99% perspiration.

[cyberhippie]

As much as I think IM does a good job I'm under NO illusions that a book would be anything more than just another set of opinions.

As well as the good stuff there are reams and reams of misinformation here on IM. Who would sort out the wheat from the chaff??

[cyberhippie]

It's also worth thinking about WHO will receive the profits from such a book/ I post here BECAUSE it's a free forum. I'm not at all sure I want my intellectual property to go towards a book!!

[PeakXV]

Disclaimer: Your ideas, thoughts, and contributions may be used to aid tens of thousands of travellers to India each year. You will receive credit for your contributions and may attract additional requests for your travel journalism skills. You may also receive a copy of said guide and a cool IM Tshirt.

Now ... should you not wish to contribute and blow your own horn - Please decline and log off NOW!

[ananda2193]

Sorry, but I don't think a book would fly. There's already lot's out there. And a book is dated info. Not always accurate.
This site is up to date and you can ask anything and normally get a response in minutes. You can't ask a book. Why would I buy a book when I could just ask it here for free?
Like CH said he's here because it's free. Me to. If I had to pay, I wouldn't be here.

Maybe an Indiamike Magazine?

[cyberhippie]

Yeah it kinda gets up my nose how a multi million dollar company like LP gets its books written practically for free. Then flogs them on at a pretty hefty price. Let's not do the same here!!

[PeakXV]

IM Kiosks for instant online travel support throughout India would work and it is our forte .... why try to beat somebody at their own game .... work with your strength.

[cyberhippie]

IM Kiosks for instant online travel support throughout India

You mean cyber cafes

[PeakXV]

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

You mean cyber cafes

Similar idea but more travel-specific, less real-estate to keep costs at a minimum, + quicker more user friendly operation.

[capt_mahajan]

Agree with CH on posting and ananda on the feasibility of a book.

To modify ananda's question somewhat... how many will pay for the information available here?

But hey, if a book now, later... Indiamike, the movie

[cyberhippie]

Some of the scenes that have been enacted here on IM would MAKE a great movie Cap'n