Australia to Vrindaban

I cant say if I noticed ATMs in the Delhi or Mumbai airports but the money changers there are easy and okay you wont have any problems with them. There are hundreds of ATM's all over Delhi and Mumbai easy to use, master card, cirrus, and visa, most are more modern than Australian ones you even have an armed guard outside of most of them.

I wouldnt worry about the money changers at the airport though I would just change about one or two hundred Australian and the exchange rate is about 32.5 Indian Rupees per A dollar that will get you by for a day or two until you can use the reditellers.

As far as dress Mumbai is full of what my wife calls boob stirrers she wears a shawl or a scarf if she is wearing a low cut style shirt or top and that stops the glares Delhi isn't as bad she thinks as Mumbai but she prefers to wear a shawl most of the time and she just throws it over her shoulders and covers her front that is most of the time, if you want to get into the dress then wear a Punjabi style suit, my wife wears them at home in OZ they have great pants a long top and shawl only costs about $15.00 AD for a really nice one.

Some of the resident IM's will probably tell you the correst name for them.

Thank you so much,

And you answered a question that i didnt know how to ask ......as I was wondering how much to take out of the atm and how far it would get me..

A shawl sounds great.............

namaste
bamboooo

Why waste money straight away? There is no point using an ATM the moment you get to the airport. Far better to take cash with you, and change that at the reliable money changing counters at the airport, after customs and immigaration. Save your ATM card/travellers cheques for later on in your trip.

To the best of my knowledge, very little robbery takes place whilst on an aeroplane !!

How to dress in India ? There is a very simple rule that applies everywhere in the world: You should cover-up the same bits of your body that the locals do. I'm sure you've seen photos/documentaries about India, so you will know what is required.

Good luck, and have a great trip,

Tim in Ireland.

why vrindaban? if its the vrindaban near mathura (as I have been told there is another place vrindaban in West Bengal or Orissa ) that place is amazing. I have just come back from there and quite frankly I could easily live there for a while. There are 5,000 temples there, the first red brick temple I went to had loads of monkeys around the place but they are not vicious or dangerous in the slightest. This red brick temple was built in 1590 and many great sages have stayed there.

I hope you have a safe and successful trip - Good Luck

Re: Delhi and Mumbai airport I cannot recall seeing any ATM machines there.....

Vrindaban, the birth place of Krishna
I am heading to the ashram "Shree Bindu"

and omg yes I have only just learnt of the monkeys there
I cant wait, the excitment is killing me


i saw a post that you had just come back from India but i got side tracked in InidanMike and didnt get back to it, Ill make a point today to read it

namaste

bamboooo

Did you get to touch the monkeys

Mathura was the birth place of Lord Krishna he was born in a Jail I have visited that also its near Vrindban he then proceeded to Vrindban near Mathura at the age of 5 and he took along with him 9 thousand cows.....

I still remember clearly when my family and I left Vrindaban just like 2 - 3 weeks ago now we were all mesmerized , we just couldnt speak it was a feeling unlike any other. I cant wait to go back there, I hope to go to each of the 5,000 temples there...

one word of advice: DO NOT TOUCH THE MONKEYS and REMOVE SPECTACLES when you are near them especially in Vrindaban

Trouble is although they behave and leave you alone they are very protective of their terrority. I remember seeing in Udaipur when we left the City Palace a monkey was sat on the wall eating his indian savoury snacks someone probably gave to him/her and there was a cocky tourist who wanted to go and touch the monkey. The monkey showed the tourist its teeth a few times but the tourist kept on getting closer and closer then the monkey growled and the tourist ran down the road. I dont blame him I was standing about 10metres away and that freaked me out too.

Although I am very inexperienced when it comes to monkeys perhaps some senior members around the forum can offer some more useful advice.

For me I follow this simple rule: LOOK BUT DONT TOUCH

yes ahe is right dont touch the monkeys or wear your glasses around bazar or ghat areas,i was there 2 weeks ago and i was mugged by a monkey trying to get my glasses,also be careful when you carry any fruit.also when you go any tours there make sure you shop around.if you get a chance go to the neem karoli baba ashram for lunch its free all are welcome at noon he is the guru of ramdas and krishnadas.goodluck.
Namaste ammadas