Hard to Find, so bring it along...

quell

After coming back from India (4-week trip to various cities in North/South), here's what I wished I'd brought along.

1. Hairspray. (I had one tiny travel bottle, and figured I'd could just get more at my destination. Sadly, the bottle spilled (in Ziploc) and I needed a replacement. Aacck, every store I went -- I just blank stares when I asked for it. The closest that Spencer's in Bangalore had was "spray gel". Nope. Happily, the place I found it was an "My Dollar Store!!" in Bangalore's Commercial Street. (Though it was "99 rupees" store, so more like $2.50 US, but at least I found some).

2. Ziploc bags. [Really hard to find, but they do exist in India] I use them a lot for various packing needs to stay organized.

3. Twist ties [Non existent in India] Would have been handy to organize the multitude of bangles I bought for my kids.

4. Vitamin-C [Like "Halls Vitamin-C drops". I just happened to have a few in my medicine-bag, so it came in handy for the 3-day cold I got. But, could not find just plain old Vitamin-C anywhere.]

capt_mahajan

Not an expert on hairspray and ziploc bags, but

ties: available reasonably easily at good hardware or electrical stores.

vitamin C: Very easily available at most chemists. Ask for Cecon drops, Celin or Suckcee.

NeeliAankhen

Good timing for me, I'm packing non-clothes tonight and had decided to take just two tiny travel-size hairsprays and buy more in India . . . . So thanks!!

nayan

ziploc bags are available in any of the supermarkets - foodbazaar, foodworld, trinetra,spencers.

Khandoma

My newest must-pack is plaster spray. Spray it on a light scratch or blister, it disinfects the wound and leaves a transparent protective film over it that helps the scarring process. When normal plasters (band-aids) decide to walk away on you, after a long day's trek or in the shower or on the beach, or to protect normal plasters from water and dirt, this is the solution. Obviously, large chemist stores in large cities carry it, but when you go to smaller places (in any country) it's rather hard to find. Some will find it a ridiculous western gadget, but I blessed it for a hand wound between thumb and index finger (I got bitten by my room locker), a place where no regular plaster will hold.

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Nick-H

Excellent idea. I must add that one to my next-UK-trip shopping list; I have not seen it here.

Most things that have a cheaper alternative are hard to find here

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capt_mahajan

Spray on dressing is available at big chemists in India

Nick-H

I'm more than ever convinced that Chennai is in a time warp!

My brief visit to Hyderabad revealed modern shops with stock just like London!

Not sure where I can find a 'big' chemist, even, in Chennai --- though I must admit that I was pleased to find my favourite Palmolive shower gel in a place in Also Mall, Egmore. What's more, it was a few pennies cheaper than the bottles I brought back from UK! I'll check there for the spray-on next time.

Khandoma

Captain, I agree, but big chemists are not always available when you're on the road. I couldn't find the stuff in either Hassan or Mysore, which I'm assuming are smaller cities than Chennai. And obviously it wasn't available either in Hampi village, where I was attacked by a door locker with a bad hair day. With the high humidity and bad location of the wound, I would have worried that the scratch got infected, and patted myself on the shoulder for packing it.

Besides, I'm taking a totally wild guess here, but I would think that the spray wouldn't be cheaper in India than at home, because it's a fancy product that, as Twenty-Thousand-Post-Nick mentioned, has a cheaper alternative. Normal plasters / band-aids / wound dressings (how come English has so many names for the stuff???) are much, much cheaper than in the West. So, if I'm right, I would buy my normal plasters at the chai stalls by the unit, but I'd pack my spray from home.

Indizen

It would definitely be cheaper to buy a wound spray such as Healex in India, and it is widely available at most chemists.

Khandoma

Please tell me where in Mysore, and how much does it cost ? I have a friend of mine leaving soon, that info would be of use to her. Thank you.

Indizen

Mysore is a big city; ask at any major drug-store, the Healex brand is quite well known.

Khandoma

But, Indizen, I did, as I said in an earlier post. I asked at many chemists, general stores and everywhere I would see medical stuff. I actually showed my own spray and mimicked the use. Everybody knew the product, but they did not carry it.

Also I'm curious about the price, how much is "cheap" would you say ? Thanks for the info.

capt_mahajan

I agree many small town chemists may not stock this kind of stuff. Also, if you need it you don't want to hit the town looking for it. Keeping it at home is a different matter.

Dont remember cost, but less than a hundred rupees, guessing.

PeakXV

If you got a cold or sore throat go to the chemist and get a fist full of Imli(tamarind) lozenges - they have plenty of Vit. C and can work some real magic for you!

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?