Questions - Kerala

Faye · Jul 26th, 2006, 15:07

Hi there - this is my first post on this forum, so apologies if it's in the wrong place.

We've booked a holiday to Kovolam for March/April 2007. My little girl will then be 16 months old. Can anyone tell me what the facilities are like in Kerala? My main questions:

Are the medical facilities good? (Obviously we will have insurance)
Are the chemists well supplied?
Will I be able to buy nappies etc?
Milk - is it pasturised?
Is there anything else I need to know about taking an infant to Kerala?

We've never been to India and wanted to do a basic trip before we tried anything more adventurous! However, I read a thread on the Health forum about taking children to India and am a little concerned now, so any advice would be great.

Thanks!

Faye x

Bigzero · Jul 26th, 2006, 15:39

Hi Faye,

Welcome to IM!

I will say Yes to the your first four questions - Medical facilities are generally good in Kerala ( good places will be expensive by local standards, but you will still find them cheap compared to medical costs in the west ) . And you will get pasteurised milk in packets. However, locals still boil the milk before they consume it - i guess perhaps by force of habit.

About taking infants to India, i am afraid i dont know enough on subjects like immunization etc to comment. You should perhaps wait for someone else who have travelled with infants to respond.

And welcome to India in advance!

anu_k · Jul 26th, 2006, 16:23

Dear Faye

My mother travels to Kerala every year... she advices me that medical facilities in Kerala are of a reasonably good standard. Since you have insurance you don't need to worry about medical costs.
Standard nappies will not be difficult to buy. Milk can be bought in packets but it is better to boil before using. Personally I would go with infant milk formula for baby.

Your GP/ Nurse will be able to advice you on all the vaccintaions needed and precautions to take esp for baby. Don't worry.

Nick-H · Jul 26th, 2006, 16:38

I don't think you should have any worries on any of those counts.

If you buy your milk from a man on a bicycle who ladles it into your jug from a big can then, no, I guess it won't be pasteurised

If you buy it in plastic packets then, as BigZero says,it will be. My now-wife was horrified to discover that I was just pouring it on my cornflakes. It never occurred to me to boil it: it never occurred to her that anyone would drink it without boiling!

For an infant, I think I would boil it...

And always buy fresh. It goes off much more quickly here, even in a fridge.

Faye · Jul 28th, 2006, 02:01

Thanks all, that's great.

My main concerns were about supplies, I don't mind taking things along but would be

if I lost them/couldn't get more.

I've also heard that where we're going is quite touristy, so I imagine everything will be within walking distance.

Thanks again!

Fx

haritha · Jul 28th, 2006, 23:41

Do not worry .

Relax

We have had guest with children and in last november a 10 month old baby with his parents were here for some weeks. They did not use 75% of the supplies they brought.
All the baby requirements (Almost) is catered by new generation baby stores situated in most cities including Trivandrum amd Cochin .
So travel with confidence .

Kovalam is not Kerala

Faye · Jul 29th, 2006, 17:27

Like Florida isn't America??

But thank you for the advice. I thought that there would be a lot avaliable in Trivandrum but wanted to check.

We want to try something relaxing but different while my girl is very little; it's a big ask for an infant and I don't really want to drag her from pillar to post on her first big holiday

Hopefully we will enjoy our relaxing beach holiday so much that we will want to explore the 'real' Kerala in the future

Thanks again.

Fx

karibu chum · Aug 21st, 2006, 18:58

Hi Faye
Having read about your concerns - I am so glad that you posted this here as you've got exactly the same concerns as I have. I am also going to travel with my little one (24 months) in December and don't want to subject him to too many attractions at once. Besides we don't really have much time in Kerala - which is shame. If you don't mind my asking - what is your itenary like? What places do you plan to visit?

Happy travelling.

Nick-H · Aug 21st, 2006, 19:45

Relaxing on the beach at Kovalam can be made a little difficult by the continual stream of people trying to sell you something.

Trivandrum is not really a Big City kind of big city. But you ahould get everything you need.

Karibu Chum... I remember going with a friend in an auto on an early visit to Chennai. He had, at that time, never been out of India. As I was stareing at the shops, the people etc, he said, "What is different to London?" ---I could only gasp, "Everything!" --- India is about being subjected to too many attractions at once!!!

usha · Aug 21st, 2006, 19:49

As all said nothing to worry at all

Still if you need any help let me know..

Welcome to Kerala and have a great time

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faye

Hi there - this is my first post on this forum, so apologies if it's in the wrong place.

We've booked a holiday to Kovolam for March/April 2007. My little girl will then be 16 months old. Can anyone tell me what the facilities are like in Kerala? My main questions:

Are the medical facilities good? (Obviously we will have insurance)
Are the chemists well supplied?
Will I be able to buy nappies etc?
Milk - is it pasturised?
Is there anything else I need to know about taking an infant to Kerala?

We've never been to India and wanted to do a basic trip before we tried anything more adventurous! However, I read a thread on the Health forum about taking children to India and am a little concerned now, so any advice would be great.

Thanks!

Faye x

Faye · Aug 26th, 2006, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by karibu chum

Hi Faye
Having read about your concerns - I am so glad that you posted this here as you've got exactly the same concerns as I have. I am also going to travel with my little one (24 months) in December and don't want to subject him to too many attractions at once. Besides we don't really have much time in Kerala - which is shame. If you don't mind my asking - what is your itenary like? What places do you plan to visit?

Happy travelling.

Hello! We don't have an itinery I'm afraid

We're literally booked into a hotel at Kovalam for two weeks. We were hoping to do some gentle day trips and spend a lot of time eating and lazing around in the swimming pool/on the beach. Proper tourist holiday

So really I should be asking about suitable day trips in the area. Would love to know what you end up doing with your lo in Kerela!

And thanks again to everyone for their advice.

P.S Nick H - re the hawkers on the beach - is it as bad as Thailand??

sudheer poppa · Aug 26th, 2006, 19:05

Other than the packaged milk mentioned by Nick and BigZ, you would also get milk in tetra packs which are of a similar quality as you would find in Europe. Albeit more expensive, I normally fall back on this option while travelling.

If you are heading to trivandrum for some sightseeing you can go for a refill of your baby good stock at the foodworld or styleplus, both stocking a fair deal of westen food items as well as usual array of nappies.

Nick-H · Aug 26th, 2006, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faye

P.S Nick H - re the hawkers on the beach - is it as bad as Thailand??

Sorry; never been to Thailand. The only comparison I can offer is Cornwall ...which is a pretty useless one

Jul 26th, 2006, 15:07	#1
Faye Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: England Posts: 4	Questions - Kerala Hi there - this is my first post on this forum, so apologies if it's in the wrong place. We've booked a holiday to Kovolam for March/April 2007. My little girl will then be 16 months old. Can anyone tell me what the facilities are like in Kerala? My main questions: Are the medical facilities good? (Obviously we will have insurance) Are the chemists well supplied? Will I be able to buy nappies etc? Milk - is it pasturised? Is there anything else I need to know about taking an infant to Kerala? We've never been to India and wanted to do a basic trip before we tried anything more adventurous! However, I read a thread on the Health forum about taking children to India and am a little concerned now, so any advice would be great. Thanks! Faye x

Jul 26th, 2006, 15:39	#2
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,464	Hi Faye, Welcome to IM! I will say Yes to the your first four questions - Medical facilities are generally good in Kerala ( good places will be expensive by local standards, but you will still find them cheap compared to medical costs in the west ) . And you will get pasteurised milk in packets. However, locals still boil the milk before they consume it - i guess perhaps by force of habit. About taking infants to India, i am afraid i dont know enough on subjects like immunization etc to comment. You should perhaps wait for someone else who have travelled with infants to respond. And welcome to India in advance! __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Jul 26th, 2006, 16:38	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	I don't think you should have any worries on any of those counts. If you buy your milk from a man on a bicycle who ladles it into your jug from a big can then, no, I guess it won't be pasteurised If you buy it in plastic packets then, as BigZero says,it will be. My now-wife was horrified to discover that I was just pouring it on my cornflakes. It never occurred to me to boil it: it never occurred to her that anyone would drink it without boiling! For an infant, I think I would boil it... And always buy fresh. It goes off much more quickly here, even in a fridge. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jul 28th, 2006, 23:41	#6
haritha Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Kadalikad-Kerala-India Posts: 527	travelling with children Do not worry . Relax We have had guest with children and in last november a 10 month old baby with his parents were here for some weeks. They did not use 75% of the supplies they brought. All the baby requirements (Almost) is catered by new generation baby stores situated in most cities including Trivandrum amd Cochin . So travel with confidence . Kovalam is not Kerala

Aug 21st, 2006, 18:58	#8
karibu chum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: UK Posts: 22	Questions - Kerala Hi Faye Having read about your concerns - I am so glad that you posted this here as you've got exactly the same concerns as I have. I am also going to travel with my little one (24 months) in December and don't want to subject him to too many attractions at once. Besides we don't really have much time in Kerala - which is shame. If you don't mind my asking - what is your itenary like? What places do you plan to visit? Happy travelling.

Jul 26th, 2006, 16:23	#3
anu_k Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 131	Dear Faye My mother travels to Kerala every year... she advices me that medical facilities in Kerala are of a reasonably good standard. Since you have insurance you don't need to worry about medical costs. Standard nappies will not be difficult to buy. Milk can be bought in packets but it is better to boil before using. Personally I would go with infant milk formula for baby. Your GP/ Nurse will be able to advice you on all the vaccintaions needed and precautions to take esp for baby. Don't worry.

Jul 28th, 2006, 02:01	#5
Faye Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: England Posts: 4	Thanks all, that's great. My main concerns were about supplies, I don't mind taking things along but would be if I lost them/couldn't get more. I've also heard that where we're going is quite touristy, so I imagine everything will be within walking distance. Thanks again! Fx

Jul 29th, 2006, 17:27	#7
Faye Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: England Posts: 4	Like Florida isn't America?? But thank you for the advice. I thought that there would be a lot avaliable in Trivandrum but wanted to check. We want to try something relaxing but different while my girl is very little; it's a big ask for an infant and I don't really want to drag her from pillar to post on her first big holiday Hopefully we will enjoy our relaxing beach holiday so much that we will want to explore the 'real' Kerala in the future Thanks again. Fx

Aug 21st, 2006, 19:45	#9
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,701	Relaxing on the beach at Kovalam can be made a little difficult by the continual stream of people trying to sell you something. Trivandrum is not really a Big City kind of big city. But you ahould get everything you need. Karibu Chum... I remember going with a friend in an auto on an early visit to Chennai. He had, at that time, never been out of India. As I was stareing at the shops, the people etc, he said, "What is different to London?" ---I could only gasp, "Everything!" --- India is about being subjected to too many attractions at once!!!

Aug 26th, 2006, 19:05	#12
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	Other than the packaged milk mentioned by Nick and BigZ, you would also get milk in tetra packs which are of a similar quality as you would find in Europe. Albeit more expensive, I normally fall back on this option while travelling. If you are heading to trivandrum for some sightseeing you can go for a refill of your baby good stock at the foodworld or styleplus, both stocking a fair deal of westen food items as well as usual array of nappies. __________________ We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK Pic Page 1 Pic Page 2 When my life changed over a week

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