Heading to India and hesitant...

Damonik

Hi there,
I wasn't sure if this is the appropriate forum for posting this, so apologies first off if I've already stuffed up with my first post on this forum

I guess I'll start with a brief rundown on my situation. My partner is heading to Vellore over December/January 2008/09 to do a 6 week medical placement at the Christian Medical College - so in a roundabout way, we've had the opportunity to go to India thrust upon us.

We'd be the first to admit that India has never featured on our list of places that we must see before we die, and I'm ashamed to admit that I've been half tempted to just meet her elsewhere after her stint in India is over. But it would be very stupid of us to skip out on what is most likely a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to India.

We're the kind of travellers who hate crowds, big cities, being harassed; and without being too negative, it does seem that India is many of these things. For every tale that you read about India there seems to be equal part people who love India, and people who would never return.

But we both are of the attitude that since she's going to be in India, we really should give it a good go and have a look around and make up our own minds.

As an idea of the kind of people we are - we both like peace and quiet and remote destinations away from crowds, perhaps a complete oxymoron when talking about India?

So with all of that in mind, I guess what I am asking, is India really that bad? I know, I know, in the end only we can answer that question for ourselves, but I'd love to hear from other travellers who were in a similiar, hesitant position about going to India, but in the end absolutely loved their travels.

If anyone has suggestions on quieter, laid back destinations in India that would be great - Places like the Kerala backwaters really appeal, what other experiences like this is there?

I'll continue reading this forum and writing down ideas on places and doing my best to avoid reading about touts, and scammers... *gulp*

Thanks for reading my rambling monologue!

Damo

Nick-H

First thought --- why should it be a once in a lifetime opportunity? Planes land here from all over the world, every day: you could be on one, any day!

But it might be the only time you get, as you say, the opportunity thrust upon you.

India is a vast country, and presents every possible situation. I live most days in secluded peace and quiet of my house and garden. Just fifty yards away is a shopping street that is moderately busy, I could to take you to another street that, at those times of year when festival customs require the purchase of new clothes and household items, is so densely crowded it sometimes seems hard to breathe!

I don't know what Vellore is like; hopefully someone can post about that. I don't think it is very much on the tourist circuit, but it does seem to be well placed to visit a number of other Tamil Nadu places, including Chennai. Kerala is a little further away, but yes, very beautiful although more touristy.

i don't know how much time you will have for travel. I'd guess your partner is going to be working every day. If that is the case, then the opportunity is not so much to come here as a tourist, but to come and live in India for six weeks. Even though it is for such a short time, that is a different sort of experience.

Go for it! At the very worst, five weeks is not such a long period to spend looking forward to going home!

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Damonik

Hi Nick,
Thank you for your response - I probably shouldn't have used the phrase once in a lifetime, but I guess you figured out what I meant.

We're allowing for approximately 4 weeks of travel after she finishes her elective, so plenty of time to get a feel for India.

I have to admit, I'm looking forward to it in a way, just because it's so far out our comfort zone. After all, my ideal holiday involves a remote beach and as few people as possible in the nearest 50km's

Cheers

puchoo

4 weeks...!!! not too many people here are gonna agree with you on it being plenty of time to see India..

Hey we have a few of those here as well...!! Kerala, Maharashtra, Andamans.....!

__________________
Cheers!
Sidharth

Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block!

puchoo.wordpress.com

Radjesh

Should be four weeks of unforgettable fun & adventure...

Nick-H

Ideally, I would say stick to one half of India for four weeks, although it's still longer than the two weeks many people get off work; I used to stick to Kerala or Kerala/TN for that. Guess I still do stick to them!

pantelis

India is almost everywhere crowded but this will make you practice patience which is a GREAT virtue,so be prepared & not negative{hostile},we're all humans

__________________

Damonik

Agreed, here is hoping that 4 weeks will be enough for a taste of India, one that will leave me wanting to come back (Especially after checking out how cheap flights are on Tiger Airways ex Perth!)

I will go and look up those other places now and see where exactly you are talking about I really like remote places away from people, most definitely not into the party scene.

At the moment we're discussing going to Kerala for a week after she finishes her elective for some time to relax and unwind on the water before we head off to other pastures, yet to be decided but all suggestions welcome!

Brisso

Kerala is fairly peaceful if you avoid places like Ernakulam and Trivandrum - in fact the interior towns and villages are very quiet. Get out of the cities as soon as you can - I think you will enjoy yourself. You must of course have good health and good humour to really enjoy India IMHO.
Tiger flies into Kochi at very good rates.

Nick-H

Even Trivandrum is quite laid back!

vandy

Good Day Damonik,

India is no Different to Most Countries in the
world rgds Cities, once you can get out into the Countryside there's Definetly a Difference.

Kerala backwaters are really worth Exploring as is
the Surrounds of Hill Stations Munnar & Kumily.

Brisso, as far as I am aware Tiger Airways NO LONGER fly the Cochin Route for some Unknown Reason
However Silk Air(Singapore Airlines) still operates from Cochin & Trivandrum.Tiger now flys into Bangalore and allready flys into Chennai.
Just had a look at Tiger Airways site and it looks like Trivandrum has also been taken off their Routes to Kerala.

rgds

vandy

puchoo

Always a good choice..!

michellew

Hi Damonik,

We travelled in India for seven weeks at the beginning of last year. I had had a growing fascination with India and decided we (husband, daughter - 8yrs and myself) should go. My husband (and my daughter for that matter) took a lot of persuading but in the end they agreed and basically left me to it to oragnise.

My husband loved it completely, sure it was challenging and he found the agressive touts (at times) the most difficult to deal with, he is just too polite!) but the richness of the culture, the people and the sheer vibrancy of the place was amazing.

The best advice we were given was go with the flow, don't overplan and don't try and cover too much. We spent 5 weeks in Rajasthan and there are still places we missed.

Anyway, we loved it so much we are now going to live there after both of us being offered jobs. If you'd talked to my husband a couple of years ago it would have been the furtherest thing from his mind!

If you go with an open mind and a sense of adventure you will have a great experience.