Most useless item to carry around in India ? MUI

machadinha · Nov 9th, 2007, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by trixie

i brought a hair iron to the bush of sub-saharan africa. (oh vanity!

<cough, chuckle> Welcome to IndiaMike

Nick-H · Nov 9th, 2007, 13:33

Welcome to IM!

We look forward to your experiences!

Elana1945 · Aug 31st, 2008, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04274108

Most useless item to carry around in India ? A "Do Not Disturb" sign.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ouzodave · Aug 31st, 2008, 03:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elana1945

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

NYTim · Sep 25th, 2008, 21:11

MY bachelor brother had not travelled much and i asked him if he wanted to go to India with me -- big mistake. He comes from the same small town in Scotland where we born and raised. He never left but I travelled the world, ending up in NYC. He was 60 and I was 58 last year. India freaked him out. The noise and dust of Delhi and the constant haggling over taxis, rickshaws and buying goods really infuriated him. He is so provincial that he could not understand that the Indian culture is radically different than Cowdenbeath in Scotland. He refused to tip and at one place I had left a tip and he took it back when my back was turned and gave me it back later saying, "I do not leave tips in Scotland so I won't leave them here." We had many fights over his stinginess and fear of India. While I had a great trip his fears and his reluctance to explore dampened my visit somewhat. I will arrive again in India on Tuesday leaving my useless brother in Scotland.

camelgirl · Sep 25th, 2008, 23:07

NYTim that is such an unhappy tale but glad you are going back without the inflexible brother! I guess your brother would have to qualify as "Most Useless item to carry around India"

That tipping issue isn't just hard for your brother, we just had Dutch visitors, world-travelers for 30 years, visit us here in the USA (tip-crazy country that we are), and you could see him physically tense up every time the bill came & he had to add a tip.

He way undertipped. He has been in the US many, many times but he still says "we don't tip in Holland." Some habits are hard to culturally adjust.

machadinha · Sep 25th, 2008, 23:16

? That's weird. We do. Not like Americans do maybe (different salary structures in the service industry, for one thing -- it's more like a genuine appreciation of service provided, not a necessary addition to that person's income, although it's often quite expected), but we do.

Oh well, different strokes & all that. btw The undertipping I get yes, 15% or what is it over there would seem ridiculous over here, since the introduction of the Euro (and the consequently rising cost of living) we've even pretty much dropped the 10% rule that had gradually become customary before it. It's currently fine to just round up to the next figure, or leave some change behind. Or nothing, if one is so inclined or didn't spend a lot, indeed.

camelgirl · Sep 25th, 2008, 23:22

Mach, I guess we're both right. He does tip about 1/2 (5to 10%) of what is normal here (15% to 20%). He is also not a baby boomer--he was born during World War II in Amsterdam & despite being very successful now, was raised during very hard & dangerous times & has the old-time famous Dutch frugality & he did explain the same as you did about salary & it's not expected to be part of the bill!

I totally agree & adjust to European style when I'm there, but he can't adjust to USA style when he's here--pisses him off & I do understand why!

machadinha · Sep 25th, 2008, 23:30

LOL, indeed. I don't know, we're said to have a hard time parting with our money, aren't we (and that post-war generation, yes, of course, every penny counted at the time). I'm usually quite jovial with these things (while the money lasts...) but I might find it hard in places like the US too. Esp. the knowledge that those waiters and cooks can't make a living without those tips

Oh well, thoroughly off-topic again, sorry

I like the Spanish way btw: One leaves some coins behind indeed, and (in a regular place at least) this is always appreciated. No harm done if you don't either, it's really an extra, and a sign of respect or appreciation if you will (and I guess people are less automatically expected to be well-off there anyway. Or in the simple kind of joints I tend to hang out in in any case.) I think in India I went about it in a similar fashion really, people might kindly come after you thinking you'd forgotten your money even

It's not really expected in a simple eatery there I guess.

altmtl · Sep 27th, 2008, 10:06

I assume a snorkeling mask would be completely useless unless I go to the islands? - it just takes up space anyway....

Dilliwala · Sep 27th, 2008, 19:33

Useful if you're going to Goa!

altmtl · Sep 27th, 2008, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilliwala

Useful if you're going to Goa!

Are you kidding...? Where can you snorkel in Goa, I've seen nothing on this?

Dilliwala · Sep 29th, 2008, 04:01

Er, in the water?
.
.
.
.

Ok, I can't tell you where exactly, but I remember seeing it done.

NehaInSydney · Oct 3rd, 2008, 11:41

Bath robe. To be fair I was staying with my aunt, not being a hard core traveler, but it really was quite frivolous

Brisso · Oct 3rd, 2008, 12:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by altmtl

Are you kidding...? Where can you snorkel in Goa, I've seen nothing on this?

I'm not aware of anywhere (inshore at least) where the water is clear enough for snorkelling. Others ...?

Nov 9th, 2007, 13:33	#122
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,897	Welcome to IM! We look forward to your experiences! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 25th, 2008, 21:11	#125
NYTim C'mon the Hoops Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 117	My Brother MY bachelor brother had not travelled much and i asked him if he wanted to go to India with me -- big mistake. He comes from the same small town in Scotland where we born and raised. He never left but I travelled the world, ending up in NYC. He was 60 and I was 58 last year. India freaked him out. The noise and dust of Delhi and the constant haggling over taxis, rickshaws and buying goods really infuriated him. He is so provincial that he could not understand that the Indian culture is radically different than Cowdenbeath in Scotland. He refused to tip and at one place I had left a tip and he took it back when my back was turned and gave me it back later saying, "I do not leave tips in Scotland so I won't leave them here." We had many fights over his stinginess and fear of India. While I had a great trip his fears and his reluctance to explore dampened my visit somewhat. I will arrive again in India on Tuesday leaving my useless brother in Scotland.

Sep 25th, 2008, 23:07	#126
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,022	NYTim that is such an unhappy tale but glad you are going back without the inflexible brother! I guess your brother would have to qualify as "Most Useless item to carry around India" That tipping issue isn't just hard for your brother, we just had Dutch visitors, world-travelers for 30 years, visit us here in the USA (tip-crazy country that we are), and you could see him physically tense up every time the bill came & he had to add a tip. He way undertipped. He has been in the US many, many times but he still says "we don't tip in Holland." Some habits are hard to culturally adjust. __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

Sep 27th, 2008, 10:06	#130
altmtl Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 93	Snorkel Mask? I assume a snorkeling mask would be completely useless unless I go to the islands? - it just takes up space anyway.... __________________ http://profile.to/jimlevesque/

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Sep 25th, 2008, 23:16	#127
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	? That's weird. We do. Not like Americans do maybe (different salary structures in the service industry, for one thing -- it's more like a genuine appreciation of service provided, not a necessary addition to that person's income, although it's often quite expected), but we do. Oh well, different strokes & all that. btw The undertipping I get yes, 15% or what is it over there would seem ridiculous over here, since the introduction of the Euro (and the consequently rising cost of living) we've even pretty much dropped the 10% rule that had gradually become customary before it. It's currently fine to just round up to the next figure, or leave some change behind. Or nothing, if one is so inclined or didn't spend a lot, indeed.

Sep 25th, 2008, 23:22	#128
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,022	Mach, I guess we're both right. He does tip about 1/2 (5to 10%) of what is normal here (15% to 20%). He is also not a baby boomer--he was born during World War II in Amsterdam & despite being very successful now, was raised during very hard & dangerous times & has the old-time famous Dutch frugality & he did explain the same as you did about salary & it's not expected to be part of the bill! I totally agree & adjust to European style when I'm there, but he can't adjust to USA style when he's here--pisses him off & I do understand why!

Sep 25th, 2008, 23:30	#129
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	LOL, indeed. I don't know, we're said to have a hard time parting with our money, aren't we (and that post-war generation, yes, of course, every penny counted at the time). I'm usually quite jovial with these things (while the money lasts...) but I might find it hard in places like the US too. Esp. the knowledge that those waiters and cooks can't make a living without those tips Oh well, thoroughly off-topic again, sorry I like the Spanish way btw: One leaves some coins behind indeed, and (in a regular place at least) this is always appreciated. No harm done if you don't either, it's really an extra, and a sign of respect or appreciation if you will (and I guess people are less automatically expected to be well-off there anyway. Or in the simple kind of joints I tend to hang out in in any case.) I think in India I went about it in a similar fashion really, people might kindly come after you thinking you'd forgotten your money even It's not really expected in a simple eatery there I guess.

Sep 27th, 2008, 19:33	#131
Dilliwala Funky flunky Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 3,599	Useful if you're going to Goa!

Sep 29th, 2008, 04:01	#133
Dilliwala Funky flunky Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 3,599	Er, in the water? . . . . Ok, I can't tell you where exactly, but I remember seeing it done.

Oct 3rd, 2008, 11:41	#134
NehaInSydney Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 4	Bath robe. To be fair I was staying with my aunt, not being a hard core traveler, but it really was quite frivolous

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