books and sleeping bags

ace

Two questions:

1. We are travelling Delhi-Rajasthan-Mumbai, and staying in hotels (no camping out), so we won't need sleeping bags for that . . . but for overnight trains (eg. jaipur-jodpur-jaisalmer etc), do we need this? if so, can we get it there?

2. Anyone got a list of their favorite books for those long train rides? ie. nothing huge -- I'm thinking of taking one paperback that I can finish reading while I am there on train rides . . . no point in spending valuable time reading during the day when there's an entire country (ok part of a country) to discover! suggestions for good reading material?

Less than 6 wks! Can't wait!

iyou

1.
Depending on what time of year you're there the nights could be cool enough that you'll need something to keep warm under. In AC 1st they give out sheets and pillows, but not in 2nd, which where I always sit. If you buy a lungi it'll perform the job nicely, as well as serve as multi-purpose towel-of-all-trades for you during the day. It folds up to be the size of t-shirt, so it hardly takes up any room. The idea of bringing a sleeping bag to India has a certain amount of currency here at IndiaMike but I personally would never ever do that. JM2¢.

2.
The House of Blue Mangos
A River Sutra
A Fine Balance
Family Matters
Life of Pi

__________________
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--May a moody baby doom a yam.

indiaguide

On 1AC, 2AC & 3AC they will proviode you blanket, Pillow & sheets.

vistet

I´ll agree that bringing a sleeping bag so long as as you are staying below 2000 meters is a bit like bringing icecream to Greenland.

A silk liner is always handy though : even smaller than a Tshirt and doubles as a lungi etc.

Michael Ondaatje is a favourite writer for me. His latest book from present Sri Lanka (Anils shadow) is a dark contrast to his earlier works.

Bryan

I wouldn't recommend local newspapers
The style of journalism in India is very dull ...Not the best of reading
As an avid reader of newspapers I found them to be pretty pathetic and though I bought them they really didn't fill up a train journey

There are a number of threads dealing with fav books
If you do a search you should find numerous amazing recommendations ...
Looking for a quickie ...Buy the new David Mitchell book...

__________________
Then let us pray that come it may
(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
- Burns

Krishnika

Highly and wildly recommend Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh (or really anything by Salman Rushdie. He's the most gifted writer in the English language today, IMHO.) Both of these books are set in India, so you won't feel culture shock when you look out the train window. They are actually somewhat linked, so read MC first. They're not the thinnest, lightest things to carry around, but definitely worth it.

mr pastry

Indian newspapers are quite useful....... for blocking up the vents in a/c sleeper coaches, it's like Siberia in the top end berths!!

As to sleeping bags, we got a couple of cotton sleeping bags run up for us when we arrived in Delhi. They cost about 250 rupees each, including material, and were ready the next day.

xealot

I was just wondering if anyone had an estimate on how much it would cost to get this done in silk, and how easy it would be to get done etc ... thanks in advance

vistet

If u do get one made, try to get two contrasting colors for top/bottom layer ; less confusion in the train/tent.

machadinha

For books, just walk into any (major) bookstore in India. You'll find
tons of classics as well as modern novels in Indian reprints, or Indian
originals of course, at a bargain, say 150-300 Rs. Take your pick (and
take some time, they're seldomly alphabetically or even thematically
ordered in my experience), you can give them away or bring them to a
book exchange if carrying them around gets too much (or you can come
with just a toothbrush and stock up on books In fact there is/used to
be a special deal for sending books home, I think it's gotten more
expensive though.) I agree with the comment about reading on trains and buses though, there's just too many distractions and the vehicle will usually be too wobbly anyway.

I'm quite impressed with the state of Indian journalism + it's a good
and quick way to get a feel for the place, although getting hold of the
better English-language papers can be hard outside of the major cities,
plus many of them are regional. Check out
http://onlinenewspapers.com/india.htm for a taste. The Hindu, The
Hindustan Times and Indian Express are quite good for starters (although
I don't know about their particular affiliations); The Hindu's Frontline
magazine http://www.frontlineonnet.com/ is excellent and usually
available from railway stands if I remember correctly.

__________________
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

chathuri

when i was travelling in Indian trains i spend lot of time talking to fellow travellers. If you are travelling in 3 A/C You'll come a cross lot of English seeking senior citizens as well as young professionals and students. When i'm too bored with looking at the same landscape for hours, I read Indian news papers. My advice is to read local stuff while in any country, because it will help you to understand people and culture.

monkgonemad

for the train (and elsewhere) i get a shawl. can be folded nicely, used for many things incl blanket. i was in india riding rails back in 97 and it was a cold winter. i had on tshirt, shirt, flannel and then the shawl. it was ok in 2nd cl sleeper open windows.

id bring a few booksbut you will be beholden to what you find on the road, dont overthink it and bring a shortwave!


no stuff :-) !!

vaajit

One of the leading Indian newspaper has its print editions online.

http://epaperdaily.timesofindia.com/

himadventures

Sleeping bag will be too much...opt for other option of silk layer.
I preffer SYDNEY SHELDON - it keeps a heart going steady !
Indian newspapers: Coming to distant world-current happenings and developments are a travellers interest.
It is good to read some of papers available on platforms,even for a 'time-pass'

rangss

Have you been reading The Hindu? it is for people like my grandpa.
Otherwise, the papers are good. English papers tend to be dull...(pathetic? c'mon...they are better than that), but the Indian vernaculars can beat the lights out of any newspaper in the world. My fav is Eenadu.

__________________
...and I took the road less travelled.