Hi all - my first post

John Beeblebox · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:04

Leaving for my first trip to India in a couple of days!

Planning on a long, leisurely 3 month voyage around Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Currently going through a mixture of excitement and (would you believe it) a bit of trepidation. Rather an odd experience for this well travelled 44 year old Scotsman.

Not quite sure what I'm letting myself in for (although I've a fair idea!) but I guess a smile and an open mind should help a lot.

Plan on visiting a fair bit of the "usual" temples and sights but I hope that the best aspect of the trip is going to include meeting/interacting with local people and getting stuck into the food and drink!.

Don't want to sound elitist but not really planning on doing the LP backpackers/gap year/how low can you go thing. Let's face it, most of us are (quite literally) rich sahibs/memsahibs compared to our Indian cousins.

I do like most of the advice on the IM site. Thanks to all who have posted very good advice and tips!
Here's hoping I can post the odd bit of useful news or comment.

seventies'hippy · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:25

Welcome to Indiamike,

Sounds like you're going with the right frame of mind,
Have a great trip.

You can make all the plans in the world for India but India will make her own plans for you,,,,,,,,,,,,

butterball · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventies'hippy

Sounds like you're going with the right frame of mind,
Have a great trip.

Agree with that

... and 3 months will give you plenty of time to explore that ( my favourite ) part of the country.. Should be better weather by then and the relaxed pace should suit you..

Make good use of the search engine here, as it has SO much good ( and bad ) advice... Most of it good.

butterball · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:41

PS... Who's the dummy ?

SinghandSons.Com · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:46

Let me know how you got on please - PM me on your return as me and family are hoping on going on a tour of Inda.

Thanks

John Beeblebox · Oct 30th, 2005, 17:54

Thanks for your encouragement.

I'm not a total stranger to Indian ways which should help. Many moons ago I used to work out in the Middle East. Worked alongside Indians for many years and picked up all sorts of habits and quirks (e.g. I can still swear fluently in Hindi and Urdu!

).

As I mentioned I'm really looking forward to the food. My friends think I'm a bit of an oddball when we go out for curries in the UK. Due to all my time spent with Indian colleagues all I really want (all these years on) is a dhal, chappati and raita (and maybe a Cobra - but purely for quality control purposes!

). Friends seem to think this is strange and always go for the usual chicken tikka masala routines. Sigh..............

I'm left wondering how much weight I'll put on. Hope to offset this with much walking and trekking in the Western Ghats.

I see you're in Lincolnshire!. Weather the same as Sheffield? (i.e chucking it down). I've just been for a long, wet, walk in what will be my last bit of Brit weather for some time. Marvellous stuff (but then I like weather - whatever the variety).

Phir Milenge/M'asalaam

shanthi · Oct 30th, 2005, 19:40

Hai johnbeeblebox - have a great time in India, she'll take you where she wants you to go

AvidTrekker · Oct 30th, 2005, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Beeblebox

I'm left wondering how much weight I'll put on. Hope to offset this with much walking and trekking in the Western Ghats.

Phir Milenge/M'asalaam

You are a rare species of firang on IndiaMike

Most trekkers write about trekking in the Himaalaya.

Now here's someone talking about the Western Ghats

Where do you intend trekking? I have trekked most of the Maharashtra part.

Welcome to IndiaMike! Welcome to the Western Ghats!!!

John Beeblebox · Oct 30th, 2005, 22:17

I've not made any plans fixed in stone. Might like to try the likes of wandering around Kodagu/Coorg (I read way too much Dervla Murphy when I was younger), various National Parks (Nagarhole/Mudumalai/Mukurthi/Eravikulam and the seemingly obligatory Periyar), couple of hill stations (including a snooker pilgramage to Ooty!) blah blah blah.......

Is this what everyone else does?

Occassionally I might just "follow my nose" and/or climb a particular hill that takes my fancy!

global_yatri · Aug 31st, 2007, 06:20

hey john, you may not be thrilled with the "dhal, chappati and raita" combo in kerala - instead, try the malabar parotha with egg/chicken curry... and be sure to try one of many places in all the southern states where they sit you down and serve you course by course for a fixed "thali" price especially during lunch time what always seems to me to be an un-ending series of dishes with a crazy amount of rice!!!
hope you have a great trip - three months sounds really good; be sure to visit munnar.

bijapuri · Aug 31st, 2007, 07:07

if landing in Mumbai, the first place i'd I'd want to go is to Ajanta/Ellora. From there, the rest of the south awaits you.

shashank.aggarwal · Aug 31st, 2007, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by global_yatri

hey john, you may not be thrilled with the "dhal, chappati and raita" combo in kerala - instead, try the malabar parotha with egg/chicken curry... and be sure to try one of many places in all the southern states where they sit you down and serve you course by course for a fixed "thali" price especially during lunch time what always seems to me to be an un-ending series of dishes with a crazy amount of rice!!!
hope you have a great trip - three months sounds really good; be sure to visit munnar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bijapuri

if landing in Mumbai, the first place i'd I'd want to go is to Ajanta/Ellora. From there, the rest of the south awaits you.

Whom are we talking to guys...

This thread is two years old...

the OP might have completed that trip years back and might have come for the next one or planning for it..

global_yatri · Sep 8th, 2007, 01:03

Oct 30th, 2005, 17:04	#1
John Beeblebox Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3	Hi all - my first post Leaving for my first trip to India in a couple of days! Planning on a long, leisurely 3 month voyage around Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Currently going through a mixture of excitement and (would you believe it) a bit of trepidation. Rather an odd experience for this well travelled 44 year old Scotsman. Not quite sure what I'm letting myself in for (although I've a fair idea!) but I guess a smile and an open mind should help a lot. Plan on visiting a fair bit of the "usual" temples and sights but I hope that the best aspect of the trip is going to include meeting/interacting with local people and getting stuck into the food and drink!. Don't want to sound elitist but not really planning on doing the LP backpackers/gap year/how low can you go thing. Let's face it, most of us are (quite literally) rich sahibs/memsahibs compared to our Indian cousins. I do like most of the advice on the IM site. Thanks to all who have posted very good advice and tips! Here's hoping I can post the odd bit of useful news or comment.

Oct 30th, 2005, 17:25	#2
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,127	Welcome to Indiamike, Sounds like you're going with the right frame of mind, Have a great trip. You can make all the plans in the world for India but India will make her own plans for you,,,,,,,,,,,, __________________ . . . My Photo Gallery

Oct 30th, 2005, 22:17	#9
John Beeblebox Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3	I've not made any plans fixed in stone. Might like to try the likes of wandering around Kodagu/Coorg (I read way too much Dervla Murphy when I was younger), various National Parks (Nagarhole/Mudumalai/Mukurthi/Eravikulam and the seemingly obligatory Periyar), couple of hill stations (including a snooker pilgramage to Ooty!) blah blah blah....... Is this what everyone else does? Occassionally I might just "follow my nose" and/or climb a particular hill that takes my fancy! Last edited by Nick-H : Aug 28th, 2007 at 19:53. Reason: No need to quote a previous message

Aug 31st, 2007, 07:07	#11
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	if landing in Mumbai, the first place i'd I'd want to go is to Ajanta/Ellora. From there, the rest of the south awaits you. __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Sep 8th, 2007, 01:03	#13
global_yatri fellow traveler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 110	hee hee hee - ready to dole out advise whenever -

Oct 30th, 2005, 17:41	#4
butterball Mine's a Haywoods... Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London.. sometimes.. Posts: 685	PS... Who's the dummy ?

Oct 30th, 2005, 17:46	#5
SinghandSons.Com Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Posts: 29	Let me know how you got on please - PM me on your return as me and family are hoping on going on a tour of Inda. Thanks

Oct 30th, 2005, 17:54	#6
John Beeblebox Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3	Thanks for your encouragement. I'm not a total stranger to Indian ways which should help. Many moons ago I used to work out in the Middle East. Worked alongside Indians for many years and picked up all sorts of habits and quirks (e.g. I can still swear fluently in Hindi and Urdu! ). As I mentioned I'm really looking forward to the food. My friends think I'm a bit of an oddball when we go out for curries in the UK. Due to all my time spent with Indian colleagues all I really want (all these years on) is a dhal, chappati and raita (and maybe a Cobra - but purely for quality control purposes! ). Friends seem to think this is strange and always go for the usual chicken tikka masala routines. Sigh.............. I'm left wondering how much weight I'll put on. Hope to offset this with much walking and trekking in the Western Ghats. I see you're in Lincolnshire!. Weather the same as Sheffield? (i.e chucking it down). I've just been for a long, wet, walk in what will be my last bit of Brit weather for some time. Marvellous stuff (but then I like weather - whatever the variety). Phir Milenge/M'asalaam

Oct 30th, 2005, 19:40	#7
shanthi Account closed on user's request Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South India Posts: 785	Hai johnbeeblebox - have a great time in India, she'll take you where she wants you to go

Aug 31st, 2007, 06:20	#10
global_yatri fellow traveler Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: west coast Posts: 110	hey john, you may not be thrilled with the "dhal, chappati and raita" combo in kerala - instead, try the malabar parotha with egg/chicken curry... and be sure to try one of many places in all the southern states where they sit you down and serve you course by course for a fixed "thali" price especially during lunch time what always seems to me to be an un-ending series of dishes with a crazy amount of rice!!! hope you have a great trip - three months sounds really good; be sure to visit munnar.

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