Specific items I will need to bring

Rockyp44

I need tips on things to bring if living in India (Chennai).

One suggestion was good kitchen knives/coffee filters, another was shoes if large size needed. Can I buy foam pillows there? High number sunscreen? Drip coffee maker? Electric water kettle?

I've traveled there extensively, but it has been a long time...All tips welcome.

capt_mahajan

Can I buy foam pillows there? Yes
High number sunscreen? Don't know
Drip coffee maker? Yes
Electric water kettle? Yes

SAHM

Sunscreen of any number is hard to find and expensive. Good quality mosquito nets, preferrably treated with permethrin, will aid in your health preservation should you choose to use them. Some people like the local mosquito repellant (Odomos) and other's don't; we brought our own from the US. Deet here we come. Are you bringing children?
SAHM

Peregrine

My husband said that when the kids and I join him in India he wants me to bring deodorant and a digital lighted clock. He can not seem to find either.

Peregrine

Madhu10

Def take the Sunscreen as I know in Hyd my mom can only get 15spf. I send her some with the highest 45-50 spf. If you have sensitive skin take the hypoallergic stuff ...you don't get many choices in India in that deparment.

In terms of kitchen stuff...takes a good knife, good potato peeler...and thing that is sharp (cheese grater) other stuff you can get in India..but it looses it sharpness. Long time back my mom shopped for sauces..like tabasco and some mexican hot sauces one does not find in India. The other thing was chocolate sauce for topping on vanilla ice cream.

Good Socks...formal and white ones. The ones in India loose their hold fast. Take some extras.

The spray laundry starch..saves me when I cannot wait for laundry to come back and have to do my own.

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Nick-H

I guess one tends, as a resident, to spend less time out in the sun than one would as a tourist. I haven't used sunblock in years, at home, but I pack it for a few days away in Kerala. For the children though, out in the garden, probably, in the day, I think it would be important.

I'd agree that factor 15 or so is probably available easily, but that is nowhere near high enough for the pale European skin.

I also think it is important to buy and try: do not invest in a dozen bottles only to find that you don't like the feel on your skin, or worse, you are allergic to it. One of my very few allergic reactions was to a bottle of sunblock. Thankfully I discovered it while still in London.

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Diana

And I'm a fair skinned American (Welsh) living in Kerala half the year and never use sunscreen (though I got a bit burned in Kanyuakumari on the beach...a churiddhar tan! Like Nick says, one doesn't wear it as much when just mucking about...besides, as a female, I'm pretty much protected by cotton except for my forearms and neckline.

If you like drip coffee, you can get a machine here but invest in a good one. My first barely survived 6 months but was cheap. Same with my coffee makers in the U.S. What I cannot find here (anywhere) are coffee filters! I used paper towels for a "roll" and now can't find those either. So had the family in the U.S. send one of those bit lot bags from home as package padding.

Other than filtes I can find most everything I need here. (Even peanut butter!) More and more each day as I get to know the smaller shops and the bigger "department" type stores a bit better.

Much needed though (imho and don't laugh) - car safety seats! Bike helmets for kids! For myself, I'm find on the back of a motorcycle (sans helmet! Don't tell my family!) but still cring when I see tots and babies loose in cars or on bikes. I know it's a class/money issue but us adults get to make a choice and the kiddos have no say....and I work with brain damaged kids so am a bit paranoid on the issue.

Also, last trip I brought good (and pretty!) mosquetoe netting for a canopy but mostly used it to keep out the big spiders in Kerala during monsoon. Even though the mosquetoes find me tasty, I've learned I only have a problem with them at dawn and dusk. So I just sprits a bit of repellent (naturopathic) around my ankles, wrists, and neckline at those times if I'm out and all is well. The netting now is mostly for show and peace of mind.

If you plan to live here long term and have laundry washed via rock - extra underwear in your size, your favorite, soft cotton type, are a must (especially for the tender of skin.) The rock-machine tends to destroy "fine washables" so I leave those at home and bras and panties get stiff and scratchy. My husband send a few spares this visit and AH! the joy of slipping in to some new soft Fruit-of-the-Looms! Goodbye Victoria's Secret!

Ditto cotton nighties for sleeping (but if female, do cover up before opening the door to prevent scandal...or not, your call.

I'm a regular shoe size so buy my sandals (for the U.S. even) here. Nice leather and so much variety and even glitze (it's where I've channeled my frustration-from-plain-undies energy!)

I can't find maple syrup which I will bring next visit. Yes, a necessity for those once in a while Southern breakfasts I like to make.

Ditto hollandaise sause mix packets for an occaisional non-Indian taste sensation (it's amazing on fresh fish!)

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ScarletLSG

Going off topic and going to call you out on this. Wear a helmet/seatbelt!! WHO is going to be able to work with those kiddos, if you yourself are brain damaged?

Rockyp44

No, not bringing children. Thank you to all. Will stock up on sunscreen and repellent, graters and peelers.

I have not yet seen my co's list of recommended vaccinations, but is everyone taking an anti-malarial? I will be there at least a year.

Is there a place/website/newsletter where people who are leaving post appliances, etc., for sale?

nayan

Peregrine.... You can get deaodorant (lots of brands like rexona, fa, AXE, addidas, nike.... etc)in almost any grocery store/supermarket in any metro city in India like Chennai. in department stores like Shoppers Stop/Lifestyle/Pantaloons etc you will get a lot of Luxury brands too.

High Factor suncreen (SPF 40, SPF 50)are definitely available in chennai. Go to any "Health and Glow" (speciality cosmetics retail chain)outlet..... you will get Vichy anf LOreal high factor sunscreens along with various local brands.

Nick-H

You can get all sorts of nighties here, not just the ankle-length ones that Indian women wear as day-dresses around the house.

We got some short, lightweight ones for sleeping even in a very old-fashioned shop here! But the modern stuff seems to be made for the youngsters, so if you haven't got a 20-inch waist !

puchoo

He cant find Deo's???? You cant walk 100 feet without stumbling on 2-3 shops selling them...

The clock wont be that tough either...

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Peregrine

My hubby has been looking for mennon speed stick. What he has been finding are products that say they are deodorant but are actually perfumed body spray.

Peregrine

fsg

In Chennai Popat Jamal opp Spenser in Mount road is a very well supplied cook shop. Knives ,crockery , vessels.

I bring a stick blender, Braun, magic for making Mayo, soups, sauces, Hollandaise.

An Indian'mixie', my brand Surmeet ,is powerful enough to grind spices, make p'nut butter, and blitz. It is a bit crude compared with western smart brands, but can be easily repaired by anyone, and spares are readily available.

My other luxury is a bread maker to make bread to my taste. It can also make cake.

My kitchen has only a 2 gas burner with bottled gas, so is a bit limited, but works well with a bit of culinary imagination

Nick-H

I have my Braun blender, with gadgets, too. It has pretty much made my Magimix redundant, but that is here too, complete with new blade I got on last visit to UK.

Hand blenders of the same pattern are available here now, though.

I have encountered, by the way, a problem with my UK-bought fridge (of which I am very fond ). It is just not up to the climate. According to the manual, they are rated for different ambient temperature ranges, and mine is for temperate zones. What happens is that it never gets much below 7C (although that is pretty cold compared to room temperature here) and, instead of being self-defrosting, the humidity ensures that a layer of ice forms at the back.