A Simpleton Abroad

RTodor · May 8th, 2002, 02:38

Hello everybody, I am 52/f and want to travel around India alone - no tour packages or organised flocks :-) Just want to feel the spirit of the country for about 3/4 months : no western type accommodation, food or entertainment. Any advice on routes, travel means, etc will be highly appreciated.

tracyprier · May 8th, 2002, 03:42

Well with 3 or 4 months you could easily start say in Bombay and just work your way around clockwise/anticlockwise until you hit Bombay again!

There is DEFINITELY no shortage of things to see in India or of things to do (ie: camel trek in Rajasthan, rafting in Rishikesh, Tiger spotting in Ranthambore, hiking in Darjeeling/Shimla, learn Yoga...)

I think a lot of people go to Inida and just shlep around looking at stuff (I know I did the first 2 times) but there are so many things you can become involved in that will drastically increase your enjoyment of India!!

As for getting around, I would go for an Indrail pass and use the incredible and extensive Indian railways. Avoid buses whenever possible.

Something I have been doing prior to my next trip to India is visiting the local library and reading books on India, there is a huge number of books both nonfiction and fiction that have given me a deeper understanding of India, both her past and present and also of the peoples who make up that amazing place.

AAARRRGGGHHH..... can't wait!!!

RTodor · May 8th, 2002, 05:06

Hello,
thank you for the clues - most useful. Only thing I couldn't get was about the things one could get involved in - what is it about?

indiamike · May 8th, 2002, 05:39

Quote:

Originally posted by RTodor
Hello,
thank you for the clues - most useful. Only thing I couldn't get was about the things one could get involved in - what is it about?

I think traceyprier is trying to say that there are many things that you can do for self improvement or just for the fun of it.

A few things that would sidetrack someone--

Spending a few months learning to play a musical instrument.
Taking language lessons for awhile.
Working with charity organizations--i.e. teaching Engish, computers, or health aid.
Hiking through the mountains in the North.
Snorkeling on the islands off of India.
Yoga
Learning to cook Indian food.
Cycling through the countryside.

Whew!!!...the list is endless

Think of it as "doing all the stuff that you wanted to do back home, but never had the time for". That's what vacations are all about.

Mike

indiamike · May 8th, 2002, 05:45

Quote:

Originally posted by RTodor
no western type accommodation, food or entertainment.

I should add that this part mentioned above may be the toughest thing to find, but all you have to do is get a guide book and just don't visit the cities listed in them. As most places in the guide books, or at least smaller cities, are overrun with western food and hotels.

Mike

May 8th, 2002, 09:58

tracy ...which books did you read ..try out http://www.geocities.com/sasmdr/indianbooks.html and http://www.geocities.com/saslekh.

am curious about what you read and could you recommend new titles.

cheers !

tracyprier · May 8th, 2002, 10:39

Hi Archits...OK here goes..

Arrow Of The Blue Skinned God - Jonah Blank

Jonah travels India following the Ramayana, Brilliant

In Clives Footsteps - Clive Of Inida's 5 times grandson follows Clives footsteps.

Chasing The Mountain Of Light, on the trail of the Koh I Noor - Kevin Rushbie

India: A Million Mutinies Now - VS Naipaul

No Fullstops In India - Mark Tully

Also read a couple on Ayurveda

Currently reading, "On the brink in Bengal" which is actually about Bangladesh, very interesting though.

tracyprier · May 8th, 2002, 10:43

Almost forgot...

Rediscovering Ghandi

May 8th, 2002, 16:22

tracy - you are talkingtothe converted....did you see those links? me and a friendhave compiled them.

btw thereis no such thing as ghandi - he is gandhi or mohandas karmachand gandhi in full.

would you recommend reading all these books prior to a first journey to india ? you are now two journeys old....

finally bus travel is excellent and to be recommended in the south , in lieu of trains. Arrive in Chennai , takea bus to mamallapuram and the rest is doable by bus....

cheers!

Midnite Toker · May 9th, 2002, 03:09

archits - you're wrong about Ghandi.
Jasper T. Ghandi lived in Dheli in the 80s and liked to listen to Banghra music.
You haven't heard of him?

tracyprier · May 9th, 2002, 04:08

Yes, I do recommend people read at least a couple of books about India before going there.

I say this because India is such a vast, ancient and complex country that to gain even a small understanding of her and her people means that the traveller will get so much more from their visit there than by just turning up and racing around taking photo's of all the nice buildings, although that too is a great part of India.

I believe that what makes every country unique is the people who live in it and that is particularly true of India.

And yes Archits, I did mean Gandhiji, not the famous typing error Mr. P Ghandi.(haha)

Also, great list of books, have already checked out the library for several of them. Also planning to read The Ramayana by Valmiki soon as well and if that isn't too hard-going then The Bhagavad Gita after that.

RTodor · May 9th, 2002, 05:15

Why nobody mentions Helena Blavatska :-)

May 9th, 2002, 09:35

hey midnite..who is this jasper...ahem , who was this person ? nope i do not know him.

tracy, personally , i have met some people who would like to read at least half a dozen books as preparation to come to india..and hence that website was compiled...how many of those books would you personally recommend and how many have you read ?

cheers !

tracyprier · May 10th, 2002, 03:59

Hi Archits
From your list I have only read "no full stops"

I have read all of the ones I mentioned, all were good for different reasons although "arrow of the blue-skinned god" gave interesting insights from Hinduism to the caste system(and no, it doesn't say the caste system is evil or anything like that).

I also once read a book called, "understanding Hinduism" but was more confused than ever after reading the book.

May 10th, 2002, 11:14

tracy,

well try the others and pl do drop a line on the list..how you rate it.

cheers !

May 8th, 2002, 02:38	#1
RTodor Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 119	A Simpleton Abroad Hello everybody, I am 52/f and want to travel around India alone - no tour packages or organised flocks :-) Just want to feel the spirit of the country for about 3/4 months : no western type accommodation, food or entertainment. Any advice on routes, travel means, etc will be highly appreciated. __________________ rossy

May 8th, 2002, 03:42	#2
tracyprier "Hello-Kitty" must die! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 60	Well with 3 or 4 months you could easily start say in Bombay and just work your way around clockwise/anticlockwise until you hit Bombay again! There is DEFINITELY no shortage of things to see in India or of things to do (ie: camel trek in Rajasthan, rafting in Rishikesh, Tiger spotting in Ranthambore, hiking in Darjeeling/Shimla, learn Yoga...) I think a lot of people go to Inida and just shlep around looking at stuff (I know I did the first 2 times) but there are so many things you can become involved in that will drastically increase your enjoyment of India!! As for getting around, I would go for an Indrail pass and use the incredible and extensive Indian railways. Avoid buses whenever possible. Something I have been doing prior to my next trip to India is visiting the local library and reading books on India, there is a huge number of books both nonfiction and fiction that have given me a deeper understanding of India, both her past and present and also of the peoples who make up that amazing place. AAARRRGGGHHH..... can't wait!!! __________________ India...Wild At Heart

May 9th, 2002, 03:09	#10
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 477	Wrong about Ghandi archits - you're wrong about Ghandi. Jasper T. Ghandi lived in Dheli in the 80s and liked to listen to Banghra music. You haven't heard of him?

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May 8th, 2002, 05:06	#3
RTodor Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 119	Hello, thank you for the clues - most useful. Only thing I couldn't get was about the things one could get involved in - what is it about?

May 8th, 2002, 09:58	#6
archits Posts: n/a	tracy ...which books did you read ..try out http://www.geocities.com/sasmdr/indianbooks.html and http://www.geocities.com/saslekh. am curious about what you read and could you recommend new titles. cheers !

May 8th, 2002, 10:39	#7
tracyprier "Hello-Kitty" must die! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 60	Hi Archits...OK here goes.. Arrow Of The Blue Skinned God - Jonah Blank Jonah travels India following the Ramayana, Brilliant In Clives Footsteps - Clive Of Inida's 5 times grandson follows Clives footsteps. Chasing The Mountain Of Light, on the trail of the Koh I Noor - Kevin Rushbie India: A Million Mutinies Now - VS Naipaul No Fullstops In India - Mark Tully Also read a couple on Ayurveda Currently reading, "On the brink in Bengal" which is actually about Bangladesh, very interesting though.

May 8th, 2002, 10:43	#8
tracyprier "Hello-Kitty" must die! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 60	Almost forgot... Rediscovering Ghandi

May 8th, 2002, 16:22	#9
archits Posts: n/a	tracy - you are talkingtothe converted....did you see those links? me and a friendhave compiled them. btw thereis no such thing as ghandi - he is gandhi or mohandas karmachand gandhi in full. would you recommend reading all these books prior to a first journey to india ? you are now two journeys old.... finally bus travel is excellent and to be recommended in the south , in lieu of trains. Arrive in Chennai , takea bus to mamallapuram and the rest is doable by bus.... cheers!

May 9th, 2002, 04:08	#11
tracyprier "Hello-Kitty" must die! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 60	Yes, I do recommend people read at least a couple of books about India before going there. I say this because India is such a vast, ancient and complex country that to gain even a small understanding of her and her people means that the traveller will get so much more from their visit there than by just turning up and racing around taking photo's of all the nice buildings, although that too is a great part of India. I believe that what makes every country unique is the people who live in it and that is particularly true of India. And yes Archits, I did mean Gandhiji, not the famous typing error Mr. P Ghandi.(haha) Also, great list of books, have already checked out the library for several of them. Also planning to read The Ramayana by Valmiki soon as well and if that isn't too hard-going then The Bhagavad Gita after that.

May 9th, 2002, 05:15	#12
RTodor Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 119	Why nobody mentions Helena Blavatska :-)

May 9th, 2002, 09:35	#13
archits Posts: n/a	hey midnite..who is this jasper...ahem , who was this person ? nope i do not know him. tracy, personally , i have met some people who would like to read at least half a dozen books as preparation to come to india..and hence that website was compiled...how many of those books would you personally recommend and how many have you read ? cheers !

May 10th, 2002, 03:59	#14
tracyprier "Hello-Kitty" must die! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 60	Hi Archits From your list I have only read "no full stops" I have read all of the ones I mentioned, all were good for different reasons although "arrow of the blue-skinned god" gave interesting insights from Hinduism to the caste system(and no, it doesn't say the caste system is evil or anything like that). I also once read a book called, "understanding Hinduism" but was more confused than ever after reading the book.

May 10th, 2002, 11:14	#15
archits Posts: n/a	tracy, well try the others and pl do drop a line on the list..how you rate it. cheers !

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