monsoon Footwear/Clothing

Hi,

I am off to Goa mid August to attend a 2 week training course.

I am not going to have a great deal of spare time but I would like to know;

What footwear should I take, leather sandals sound like a bad idea, would a pair of plastic sandals be better? What about evening wear, would trainers suffice?

Clothing, I have countless pairs of shorts, long cotton trousers and T Shirts, Cotton Short Sleeved shirts sound good, I guess an umbrella and light jacket may be useful too?

I have the medical cupboard sorted out, lots of imodium tablets, Ibuprofen, plasters, antiseptic cream etc.....

Sorry to go on, I guess if I searched all this info I could locate on separate threads, time is of the essence.....

Thanks

Steve

Scroll to the bottom of this pages and you'll find links to threads about footwear, and you can search for threads on clothing and what else to pack.

Remember, anything you forget will be available in India, except maybe sunblock.

Footwear, anything really, 'flip-flop' or easy clean sandals are fine, they are likely to get wet! I have to say the weather has been really good over the last week, although as I type it's just started to rain, I think a short burst, although this can change, can't really predict the weather during August, although likely to be lighter than July...
Trainers are fine, even sandals/flip flops, no one really cares here, the only thing to be aware of is mozzies around 5pm to 7pm (their evening meal time).

All your clothing sounds good, a very lightweight very waterproof jacket is good, when it rains it can be heavy, but often just short bursts

Medical things... I wouldn't worry too much, things here are easy to get hold of and cheap, possibly carry paracetamol/Ibroprofen and something for the stomach, other things buy here and save carrying...

Hope that helps

Thanks

Rob

Im off to Kolkata in June (2010) very helpful info! There seems to be varying reports on just how wet it gets in June..I'll see soon enough!

Of course the amount of rain - and when it arrives - will vary from year to year. Best to assume that it WILL rain, the only question being whether to take your snorkel or not

I agree too with what has been said above regarding clothing; though if you don't have quite what you need, clothing can be made for you there. Footwear was my biggest challenge. I spent monsoon in Varanasi some years ago and went through a few pairs of shoes before gloming onto something I really liked. A sandal, but a wrap-around sandal. Good stiff toe protection, well vented sides. Many sandals left my feet slipping around in them; the pair I had - Newport, by Keen - were my favorites. No matter how high the water in the streets, the sandal drained very well, and the wrap-around nature of them made me feel confident that I would slip out of them or in them. Happy Trails.

Also, on the subject of footwear, please bear in mind what is likely to be in that water you are sloshing about in.......your worst nightmare plus a bit would be a good place to start.
At the earliest upportunity, washing your legs, feet and footwear with disinfectant is a good idea. Avoid cuts and abrasions to feet and lower legs, but if you get any, watch out for infection.
You know it makes sense.........

I agree with Johnny five, it is the smart thing to do if you have to wade thru water on the streets in India. It is always better safe than sorry. I am not sure you have watched the show Monsters Inside Me. If you have you will not want to take any chances. Always wash your hands too, any time you go out and have to touch things. Take care.

It's not just the bugs, its the electricity too.

Every year, people die because they step in water that a live cable has fallen into. If you see any fallen cables... stay well away.

Then there is the sudden bottomless pits that claim lives too. Manhole covers get pushed off by the pressure of the storm water in the drains. Whilst they may not be bottomless, they are plenty deep enough to drown in. If the water is murky, and you cannot see the road through it, step with great care.

Yeah, good points above, especially considering the quality of the water - another reason why I liked my feet somewhat protected by my Keens, to avoid opening wounds on my feet.

And what IS it about those open sewers? . . . While in Varanasi sewer work up the street began about a week before it started to rain. All during monsoon the work remained "in progress", i.e. the hole was there to be fallen into . . . a water buffalo could have fallen in without touching the sides . . . and now, electrical wires! . . . it's a jungle out there

I find it fascinating the "truths" that are coming out on this particular thread relating to aspects of life during monsoon?

Normally if the subject of what things are like during monsoon comes up, its all cuddly, sun-shine and light. Sound bites like green, uncrowded, no tourists, cheap accommodation, the real Goa, all pour forth.

Quite frankly, dilute sewage,potholes that might drown you and fallen electric wires (if its one of the rare occasions there is power) sounds a lot more like what I experienced.........

Check out the Keens enlosed toe sandals. Very comfortable, washable and durable. Posibly you can pickup the "no frills" brand which are cheaper but just as good.Also a good idea to have a plastic bag when you visit temple/shrine to carry shoes with you.

I suggest that you do not carry footwear into a temple or shrine. It is a strict no ... no ... if someone sees you carrying footwear into the temple you could be in trouble. Moreover it is reliegiously not acceptable to do so. Atleast that is the way it is down South.

johnny-five . . . but isn't The Truth a mixture of all those things . . . cheaper lodging and fallen electrical wires . . . it is greener, but do watch out for those buffalo-swallowing-sewer-holes . . . and as for "the real Goa/India" . . . I've been to India five times now, almost three years . . . still haven't found it . . . maybe I just missed the sign

Goa isn't that bad during the monsoon as the water drains away quickly due to the bedrock, it also helps that the Mango House is on the highest Hill - so everyone else gets all our drainage

Sometimes in heavy downpours it floods for a while, but like I said it usually drains really well in Goa...