Living in a quiet town near Manali

Hi Scotsman, I know you only have access to a computer at weekends & i'm off to south of France next week so this may be the last time we speak before you go (but feel free to PM me if you have any probs). Just thought, bearing in mind what we have talked about, that you should read this post of ins & outs (or does & don'ts) posted by Cyberhippie Smoking pot in India?
Also, i'm thinking of paying a quick visit to Mcleod Gange at xmas then on to Ardh Mela & Varanasi, so let me know your plans maybe we could meet-up in Mcleod for a day or 3? Nothings definite yet though!
Anyway have a great time up there & don't do anything i wouldn't do, nudge nudge Bom KK

Maybe this question has been answered in the thread but just googling "Manali ATMs" seems to show at least a couple of results (Bank of India and Union Bank, looks like there is an ATM in the Post Office). I would not carry too much cash, losing a big wad would be a trip ruiner or ender. Since you are on vacation, if you needed to you could just take a part of a day to ride the bus back to a bigger town like Kullu if you needed a bank or larger stores.

About clothing: I'd bring plenty of warm stuff. The cold even in the foothills is penetrating and in the absence of central heating, etc. zero degrees feels more like -10.

Other unsolicited advice: I'd avoid drugs, for your own personal health and personal safety. The prople involved in the drug trade are often times bad people, who are involved in a lot of other criminal activity or even terrorism. If you are paranoid, what if the Indian police read these boards? They now know a Scotsman, age 20, wearing a Columbia jacket will arrive around Nov. 1 with a wad of cash and looking for drugs!

I doubt when you are in your 40s you'll say to yourself "I wish I had done more drugs and drunk more alcohol when I was 20". I sure haven't.

Portie

hi guys,hope you are well here i am in india and i loved Mcloed ganj although yoga was commersialised but i stilled enjoyed the solitude of naddi village where i stayed for last 10 days. As i came here to practice yoga i decided to head t rishikesh but to be honest it was dissappointing. The ashrams were dirty and the yogi teachers were not so much into spirituality then they were into business. I am planning to head to manali after diwali but i can not find a decent place for yoga. Can anyone recommend any yoga ashrams or yoga teachers institute in manali, kullu, vashisht?

thanks

Hi!

Portie thanks for the advice. I had a good laugh and accused my mum of secretly registering under you're name to try and put me off the hash... which she stringently denies

Kullu, sound as. I might well be up there at that time.. if we are in roughly the same area why not? I'l pm you but if I'm writing a blog on here you can get a rough idea of where I am at what time anyway!
By the way I got my visa easily enough! They just took the £30, gave me a receipt and I came back to collect it at 4pm...... all it was is a sticker on my passport. - why they needed the 2 passport sized photos I will never know.

Also got my malaria tablets. 3 packs out of boots for £35 - it was buy 2 get 3rd packet free which is handy because I only had £40 on me at the time!

Oh yeah.. about shops and guesthouses closing.... There is still some open though yeah? is it problematic getting places at some or is there usually places? Are there less tourists at this time because its alot colder or what? Is there just hash tourists up there at this time going for the smoke? (nov/dec) Again if anyone can give me a rough idea on what I should be paying I would be very thankful!!!!! I dont want to get ripped off you know!

In the lower valley like manikaran/kasol is it still very cold.... november / december? Snow even? How cold are we talking further down the mountains?

The whole area seems really mystical in the photos I have seen and even in the lonely planet guide, I cant wait to get up there!!

I was thinking about taking the flight from delhi - kullu and getting a bus or taxi to kasol... but the bus might just add to the experience.. what do you guys reckon? The flight costs about £35 inc taxes and then the taxi or bus would be more, but I'm led to believe the bus is only about £8, and I know the exact directions from the bus to the guesthouse I want to go to aswell.... mmm, probably just take the tried and tested bus!

Best Regards
Kieran

ha ha first of all 99.9% of indian policeman dont know what are blogs
80% of them would be incapable of using a computer so leave aside the fear of sm1 reading this blog
nd what would they get after catching a guy wid sm hash wudnt they better go nd catch d guys wid heroin nd cocain

Hi Scotty Man...

I am setting off to mumbai on the 31st Oct and will be arriving on the 1st Nov. Where are you now ? did you make it to manali or are you else where ? let us know....

Stig

I'm not in India yet. Am setting off on the 30th - to delhi

I wasnt particularly going to Manali - malana yes! and I am going there in early November due to the numerous weather warnings from the people on this site!

I've basically got my money now and as I cant stand my job will only be working 2 or 3 days this week so the rest of the time I have to plan and thats what I'm doing now. Booking a hostel in london for 1 night near victoria bus station. Then booking one in Delhi which can hopefully get a taxi to pick me up streight from the airport. As its 5 in the morning I get there

The Lonely Planet guide to parvati valley sounds good - " The scene, especially in the parvati valley (as apposed to neighbouring kullu valley) has appealed to a certain style of long stay traveller who is attracted by charas (ie me )" But I dont like the next bit much - "It is also an area that has gained a bad reputation through the murder and dissapearance of foreign tourists" But thankfully - "Police action including drug arrests has made the area safer, but visitors need to take some care"


Only a few more days labour and a few long haul journeys and I'll be there - I can not wait!!!!!!!

kieran

Yep the Parvati Valley certainly does sound appealing (with the exception the dissapearances). I have been thinking of heading that way my self. I will land in Mumbai on the 1st Nov. It does concern me slightly the fact that it is winter, you say that you are heading up there for the begining of Nov. When does the heavy weather come in ?

Stig

If I sound like your mother then I have done my job well!

Awlright people?
Not long.... monday i fly to India


Well I've (or my mum if I tell the truth!) has got lots of last minute things the past week, they include
Numbers-locked padlocks 3 small ones for my rucksack and one large one for guesthouse room doors. Also one with a wire to attach my rucksack while on the train etc to make it more difficult to steal

50% deet insect reppelent (i got off my sis which she said was useless)
Dhiarroea tabs
Body salts
Paraectamol
Imodium

Also a 1gb card for my camera... Ive got a s fuji finepix 3.2mp which can take 1600 photos on its standard 3.2 setting and 800 on super fine! it only took 30 odd photos with the old card..

The 70 litre sack is almost overflowing and quite heavy but wont be too heavy, and the wee daysack can take the other wee things I need, and also has enough room to carry my jacket

I'm about to go on a wee meal with the family and theyre shouting me right now its 5 and we're booked for half 5 so il write the rest after that cause I did have a few questions...
And ive to pm you still kullu, got to shoot now
laters

take the flight---the roads are dangerous----too many buses fall off of the cliffs on the way to manali.
there will be many tourists there at this time of the year.

but it's the adrenalin rush as the bus teeters on the edge that makes it worthwhile ,and if you have made a good puga to the gods , well , all will be fine anyway .

...I can't tell where it happened, but there have been two major accidents with buses falling off mountain roads in the papers here this week. One resulted in over 50 deaths, the other I don't recall the number

Stay Safe!

Happy Trip. Keep in touch and keep us informed if you can.

How many do you need to have then? I have not had any yet, am planning on a trip there on 26th December-day after christmas. What should I take, such a delicate flower as myself shall I get the jabs done this week/next week? The nusrse told me two weeks before I travel. Can I trust her dya think, maybe she wants me to pick up some dreaded lurgey while I am there. I have been following the current outbreak of Dengue fever in Bombay (my first port of call)is there a jab I can get for that perhaps, should I?

Dear madam i am very much afraid to say that to date there is no vaccination for the dreaded Dengue fever but i am confident in saying that if you take the advice of your medical consultant all should be fine . Such a delicate flower as yourself should not worry to much as it appears that all you are suffering from is the butterflies in the tum bit ,which most people suffer from on there first visit to the subcontinent .Do not fear all will be well and you will have a glorious trip .Enjoy