cheapo students!!

ar1905 · Jul 22nd, 2008, 02:45

Hi guys new to this thing but seems like an ace place for advice!

Me and my friend from uni are heading to India 1st august for a month. Arrive in Delhi where were spending a few days, the plan after was to head down to Goa and explore the south (Kerala, Bangalore (have a friend there) chennai)......idiots that we are didnt realise it was monsoon season!!! boooo! we were hoping for some sun, beach frolics (were from scotland so hoped to escape the rain). Is there any chance of the sun coming out at all?

Any advice on where to go/ what to do in the south if its pissin it down?
Cheers!

edwardseco · Jul 22nd, 2008, 03:44

Depends on the weather gods. Sometimes its great in Goa and other times its Scotland (but warm). Follow the weather news online and move accordingly. Ladakh would be ideal if you can handle altitude..

Brisso · Jul 22nd, 2008, 04:19

It rarely rains all day and its warm enough to swim - I love the monsoon - India in its green glory - and very few tourists.

federica · Jul 22nd, 2008, 04:25

There is no monsoon on the East Coast at that time (Chennai)

edwardseco · Jul 22nd, 2008, 09:47

Just remember that Goa suffers riptides in the monsoon! I helped bring someone in late at night after we had kept a watch all day. Funny how people resemble beach balls when dead..

Brisso · Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

Funny how people resemble beach balls when dead..

Always cracks me up ...

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:35

Ouch, Ed. I remember you reminiscing about it before yes. Can't have been fun

AR, for some general Indian weather overviews & further links, check this whole thread, and remember these are always merely averages of course, the actual weather like anywhere may veer quite a bit off both up and down of the scales: India climate chart

edwardseco · Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:01

The bad part was the brother of the fellow wailing and grieving. Gets in the way of getting a job done..

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:54

Aye. I remember that (part of your story) too...

When I nearly drowned there, my thoughts were mostly with my family and how the hell are they to cope with the news of this my completely senseless death (no folks, no life story flashing by or anything).

It's awful, isn't it. Just imagine. And then you've seen it. Ouch.

Anyway to keep this on-topic: I don't mean to contradict Brisso here (maybe he wants to fill it in) nor have I ever tried it myself, but from what I hear swimming during the monsoon should basically be forgotten about yes, the sea just goes wild or so they say. I'd add to exercise a good deal of caution most anywhere along India's mainland coasts outside of the monsoon even. There are tricky and dangerous undercurrents even to a strong swimmer and India sees far more drownings than it should, anyway it's been discussed on this site plenty a time.

Diu (and possibly the Indian islands, never been there) is the one favorable exception I know of. Found it perfectly balmy (it's essentially in a bay even if a large one, so might make sense). I've read here during the monsoon one might still want to take care here though, or the water may be just inaccessible.

Keep in mind on most beaches no one will look after you, so you will have to do so yourself.

edwardseco · Jul 22nd, 2008, 12:44

Quote:

When I nearly drowned there, my thoughts were mostly with my family and how the hell are they to cope with the news of this my completely senseless death (no folks, no life story flashing by or anything).

That must have been very emotionally tough in itself and I think people don't fully appreciate what a person goes through in that regard. Lahiri's The Namesake does a nice job of evoking that impact. Its a lot easier when its somebody else and I don't mean that facetiously. Makes my hair rise...

But, back to topic an acerbic correspondent tells me its raining heavily just now in Goa. Not trusting the Fenny I decided to check and got this..
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/43192.html

Still, if luck comes your way the off season can be very good and has been for me a couple of times..

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2008, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

and I think people don't fully appreciate what a person goes through in that regard.

Certainly. Or more importantly then: Those you leave behind.

I'm sometimes disturbed by the happy-go-lucky kind (and I certainly reckon myself among them, and I don't care so much about my own perpetuated existence) who seem to forget there may be others who love them, and deeply so.

ps You did the right thing on that beach, Ed. Others might have just turned away, or think "I cannot do this." That's not nothing you did, you know it and I mean it. Sends shivers up my spine. And I'm sure that brother took comfort in there being such around.

I've done my share of wailing. I was always happy to have someone to wail to.

ar1905 · Jul 22nd, 2008, 16:46

ok guys thanks for the warnings of drowning...think i may avoid swimming at this time of year!!

ace weather links also. will come in handy! one question though...will majority of restaurants/ bars/ clubs/ shops etc be closed as its 'off season'??

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:06

Hm, I'm no Goa visitor AR so don't know, others will, and it will have been discussed many many times on this site, so better to just search around for it.

(Don't you mean to visit some other regions as well? That whole beach shack scene and whether it's open or not is really just limited to a few popular touristed places, you'll find the rest of the world carries on regardless. I mean people live there, what else is there to do. They've been going through this for thousands of years.)

ps But for practical purposes and I've never been there, apparently the typical tourist joints in Goa will close down for the season yes, of course, it's when they take their own holidays if they can afford it, or it's just not worth it to keep them open. Some visitors seem to take that as a plus, many others don't.

It works roughly the same along the Spanish costas so to speak.

ar1905 · Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:39

the reason I mention goa is because its the place im unsure about visiting during monsoon. Perhaps it doesnt have the same attraction as it would if it were sunnier weather...

Plans were originally to spend some time in Delhi, Rishikesh then down to Goa, Kerala, Bangalore (I have a friend who lives there), Chennai...that general area. However if the weathers more likely to be better on the east then perhaps we will spend more time there exploring...

We have a month then are flying from Chennai to Bangkok. One month and no set plans! Any suggestions very welcome!!

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:58

Oh, I don't know. I traveled around the south mostly in the wake of their winter monsoon that I was blissfully unaware even existed until I ran into it.

Was mostly OK. I think some parks unseasonally closed and you might run into a few more transporation hassles (and wet feet, and having to don a shirt against the blistering 24C cold perhaps) and a few more and drastic power outages that you might otherwise run into anyway.

No, it didn't register as a problem. Mind you, farmers were having their fields and houses washed away at the same time. It is, of course, fairly drastic, but this is unlikely to greatly affect you as a visitor. And I've yet to experience the summer monsoon, which is said to be quite a bit more dire.

I've spent days in a bigger town with no electric power though. Hey, there exist candles. At least you don't have to live there forever, you should speak to some of our resident members. (It may obviously help if you're not unfamiliar with such circumstances. I.e., as in simply having to light a candle when there is no power. Etc.)

(Those cows and their big horns going "swoosh!" in pitch-black darkness are arguably a different thing though. Oh well. That, too, one can learn to live with, certainly when one needs to walk on to the station in the middle of the night no matter what.)

Jul 22nd, 2008, 02:45	#1
ar1905 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Posts: 10	cheapo students!! Hi guys new to this thing but seems like an ace place for advice! Me and my friend from uni are heading to India 1st august for a month. Arrive in Delhi where were spending a few days, the plan after was to head down to Goa and explore the south (Kerala, Bangalore (have a friend there) chennai)......idiots that we are didnt realise it was monsoon season!!! boooo! we were hoping for some sun, beach frolics (were from scotland so hoped to escape the rain). Is there any chance of the sun coming out at all? Any advice on where to go/ what to do in the south if its pissin it down? Cheers!

Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:35	#7
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,813	Ouch, Ed. I remember you reminiscing about it before yes. Can't have been fun AR, for some general Indian weather overviews & further links, check this whole thread, and remember these are always merely averages of course, the actual weather like anywhere may veer quite a bit off both up and down of the scales: India climate chart __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Jul 22nd, 2008, 03:44	#2
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,705	Depends on the weather gods. Sometimes its great in Goa and other times its Scotland (but warm). Follow the weather news online and move accordingly. Ladakh would be ideal if you can handle altitude..

Jul 22nd, 2008, 04:19	#3
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 455	It rarely rains all day and its warm enough to swim - I love the monsoon - India in its green glory - and very few tourists.

Jul 22nd, 2008, 04:25	#4
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 854	There is no monsoon on the East Coast at that time (Chennai)

Jul 22nd, 2008, 09:47	#5
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,705	Just remember that Goa suffers riptides in the monsoon! I helped bring someone in late at night after we had kept a watch all day. Funny how people resemble beach balls when dead..

Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:01	#8
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,705	The bad part was the brother of the fellow wailing and grieving. Gets in the way of getting a job done..

Jul 22nd, 2008, 11:54	#9
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,813	Aye. I remember that (part of your story) too... When I nearly drowned there, my thoughts were mostly with my family and how the hell are they to cope with the news of this my completely senseless death (no folks, no life story flashing by or anything). It's awful, isn't it. Just imagine. And then you've seen it. Ouch. Anyway to keep this on-topic: I don't mean to contradict Brisso here (maybe he wants to fill it in) nor have I ever tried it myself, but from what I hear swimming during the monsoon should basically be forgotten about yes, the sea just goes wild or so they say. I'd add to exercise a good deal of caution most anywhere along India's mainland coasts outside of the monsoon even. There are tricky and dangerous undercurrents even to a strong swimmer and India sees far more drownings than it should, anyway it's been discussed on this site plenty a time. Diu (and possibly the Indian islands, never been there) is the one favorable exception I know of. Found it perfectly balmy (it's essentially in a bay even if a large one, so might make sense). I've read here during the monsoon one might still want to take care here though, or the water may be just inaccessible. Keep in mind on most beaches no one will look after you, so you will have to do so yourself.

Jul 22nd, 2008, 16:46	#12
ar1905 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Posts: 10	ok guys thanks for the warnings of drowning...think i may avoid swimming at this time of year!! ace weather links also. will come in handy! one question though...will majority of restaurants/ bars/ clubs/ shops etc be closed as its 'off season'??

Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:06	#13
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,813	Hm, I'm no Goa visitor AR so don't know, others will, and it will have been discussed many many times on this site, so better to just search around for it. (Don't you mean to visit some other regions as well? That whole beach shack scene and whether it's open or not is really just limited to a few popular touristed places, you'll find the rest of the world carries on regardless. I mean people live there, what else is there to do. They've been going through this for thousands of years.) ps But for practical purposes and I've never been there, apparently the typical tourist joints in Goa will close down for the season yes, of course, it's when they take their own holidays if they can afford it, or it's just not worth it to keep them open. Some visitors seem to take that as a plus, many others don't. It works roughly the same along the Spanish costas so to speak.

Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:39	#14
ar1905 Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Posts: 10	the reason I mention goa is because its the place im unsure about visiting during monsoon. Perhaps it doesnt have the same attraction as it would if it were sunnier weather... Plans were originally to spend some time in Delhi, Rishikesh then down to Goa, Kerala, Bangalore (I have a friend who lives there), Chennai...that general area. However if the weathers more likely to be better on the east then perhaps we will spend more time there exploring... We have a month then are flying from Chennai to Bangkok. One month and no set plans! Any suggestions very welcome!!

Jul 22nd, 2008, 17:58	#15
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,813	Oh, I don't know. I traveled around the south mostly in the wake of their winter monsoon that I was blissfully unaware even existed until I ran into it. Was mostly OK. I think some parks unseasonally closed and you might run into a few more transporation hassles (and wet feet, and having to don a shirt against the blistering 24C cold perhaps) and a few more and drastic power outages that you might otherwise run into anyway. No, it didn't register as a problem. Mind you, farmers were having their fields and houses washed away at the same time. It is, of course, fairly drastic, but this is unlikely to greatly affect you as a visitor. And I've yet to experience the summer monsoon, which is said to be quite a bit more dire. I've spent days in a bigger town with no electric power though. Hey, there exist candles. At least you don't have to live there forever, you should speak to some of our resident members. (It may obviously help if you're not unfamiliar with such circumstances. I.e., as in simply having to light a candle when there is no power. Etc.) (Those cows and their big horns going "swoosh!" in pitch-black darkness are arguably a different thing though. Oh well. That, too, one can learn to live with, certainly when one needs to walk on to the station in the middle of the night no matter what.)

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