New here - Pack list for south india, please critique.

bwb

Hi,

I'm new hear, so I'll briefly introduce myself. I'm 21 and an engineering student from california who will be in India for seven weeks during July-August of this year. I'll spend most of my time (~6 weeks) in Bangalore, at IISc helping with researching.

During the weekends I hope to take small weekend journeys around Bangalore (Mysore, Nandi Hill, wildlife places, etc...). I'll save those suggestions for another thread. For the last week I hope to take a small journey around southern India. So far I'm thinking Ooty and then to Kerala... Fort Cochin and the backwaters. Any suggestions as to where would be best to visit would be appreciated. I'll probably start another thread for this too. My budget is ~$50 / day up to $100/day (though I'm not looking for highly luxurious westernized places). I also don't have too much travel experience outside the US.

For the traveling during the last week, the pack list I have so far is:

Take:

• ~Two pants
• ~Two shirts
• Belt
• Socks
• Underwear
• DEET-based mosquito repellent
• Small sewing kit
• Travel Blanket
• Mosquito Net w/ cord
• Swiss Army Knife (Knife, pliers, scissors, screwdriver)
• Money-belt (w/ passport, lots of rupees, copies of documents)
• Clothesline
• Soap/gel handwash
• Toothbrush/paste/deodorant
• Anti-maleria tabs
• Immodium
• Hand towel
• Digital camera
• Duffel Bag (Carry clothes, blanket, mosquito net, hygiene-products)
• Daypack (Tools, camera, souvenirs, papers)
• Spork
• Flashlight
• Waterproof, lightweight dry bags

Buy there:
• Umbrella
• Towel
• More locks/chain

If you think this is too much/not enough let me know. I hope for some space for souvenirs (Though I'll probably do most of my shopping while in Bangalore, and store them in a larger suitcase that I'll leave there).

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to this trip.

moo

Hi bwb, I went for the first time with a 'sensible' packing list (like yours), didn't use a fair bit of it, bought other things much cheaper in India and came to realize that you need take very little indeed. Malaria tabs, money belt, multitool - fine, socks? - nah and no need for sewing kits when there are so many people in India willing to mend/make clothes for what to you will be pennies. You will also probably be surprised by the familiar brand names you will find in India especially Bangalore. Weight is the enemy. Have an amazing time (actually you will no matter what). Johnny.

dhans

To quote Joss Stone...

Sensible list.

Forget about the blanket, have a sheetbag made from a cotton saree. Doubles also on the beach. Think about a backpack with stowaway webbing. It's easier to carry.

Don't wait buying untill your last stop. It may (will) not be available there. If you like something buy it right away or you'll be sorry (years of 'sensible'experience).

Hans

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ananda2193

Like the above poster said you can get most of the stuff cheap there. I would recommend a rain jacket or poncho as it will be the monsoon. And also a good combination lock.I always bring a Master combination lock when I travel. Most countries like India only know key locks which can be picked. I think combo locks baffle them. Though one time in Goa I went on a bike trip for a few days and came back to find out that someone had hit my comdo lock with a hammer and broke it open. But the owner of where I was staying heard the noise and scared the culprit away. So they got nothing.

Nick-H

Reminder: you are headed for a hot tropical country!

Whilst Ooty will be an exception, the rest of the time you will be cooking! You won't want to be carrying a blanket around with you.

You just might be able to stand ultra-light-weight breathable waterproofs --- and, if they aren't too hot, then they would be great for monsoon, especially up in the hills.

Remember also, it sounds like you'll be spending your time in cities/large towns. You can probably live without a comprehensive tool kit!

having said that, I do like to find room for my Leatherman kit --- but I don't backpack, and I make no pretence of travelling light, not exceeding the airline weight limit is my problem. the item I have most often missed, when I don't chuck it in, is an electrical testing screwdriver!!! A torch (flashlight) is absolutely vital.

What is a Spork?

I just get the feeling that your list reads a bit like a camping list. I guess you will be staying in hotels/Guesthouses? Towels, sheets, blankets will be provided.

You should not need to wash your own clothes, mostly if you give them to reception early morning you'll get them back by bedtime.

Most of the medicines you can get there if you need them ---though it may not be much fun going out to get immodium if you need it . Same with soaps and stuff, but take anything that you particularly like to use --- the same brands may not be available. (...told you I was no good at travelling light!)

One addition: a small pack of asparin/ibuprofen/paracetamol or whatever is your chosen headache cure --- for the plane. Keep it with you. Nothing worse than that headache the kids in the departure lounge gave you bening made worse and worse by the baby screaming in the next row!

(if they let you... god knows what you can/can't take these days ).

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Familyonthemove

I agree - a good list. I'd add rehydration salts just in case, but save packing space for locally made clothes. You can get great clothes made in an hour.

Just back from Kerala where I had some cool (temperature not fashion cool) kurtas and baggy shorts made for 400 RS a set and some nice silk shirts as well. Locally made sandals also available for 150 RS.

Also take a good supply of pass-port photos and copies of your passport and visa .... you need a photo to get anyhting official sorted - and if you want to get a local SIM Card for your mobile (a cheap way to make international calls) you'll need a phot and a copy of your pass-port, visa and home address.

I also keep a scanned copy of my passport on hotmail in case I lose everything.

Have fun!

bwb

Thanks for all the great replies!

The list includes what I'll wear and what is packed... so maybe one ore two pairs packed. I'll buy more pairs there as needed.

By the way -- how easy is it to find a good place to make clothes? Every street corner? How long does it take to make?

Same as above.. how easy is it to find someone to make one, and how quick could they make it? (Don't want to spend too much time on my trek waiting around...)

Yep, forgot to add that I'm bringing a couple combo locks. The one I have is: here



Good idea regarding the pain killers. I'll bring some along.

Will even budget guesthouses/hotels/etc.. provide clean towels/sheets and quick laundry service? Some posts I read said that it was sometimes hard to fine clean beds... but perhaps I wouldn't want to stay there if that is the case anyway. I'm not looking for lots of amenities... but relatively clean settings. (I.e. old paint... sparse room... etc I don't care about... but I don't really want to stay in a place with oil stains on the pillows and blood, even if it is insect blood). Can I get away with this easily even at budget places and in rural areas (well, however rural the backwaters are...)?

Sorry if the list sounds more camping oriented.. I was a boy scout and did a lot of camping, so I'm a little biased. A spork is fork/spoon (and in my case, knife) rolled into one. The one I have is plastic and weighs about 30 grams, so it is pretty light. I thought that if I stopped at some place on the street for lunch, and really didn't want to use my hands to eat for whatever reason, I could use it. I figured since I already own for camping... and it is light.. I'd bring it.

I also forgot a flashlight in the list. I have a small but bright LED headlamp. I also forgot to say I'd bring a watch and travel alarm clock... because I do tend to sleep through things easily, and I wouldn't want to miss a flight or train.

To summarize:

• I'll wait to get bed sheets there, if I need some
• How easy and quick is it to get clothes/bedsheets made?
• Add in watch, clock, flashlight, phone, to pack list
• Also: should I buy mosquito net back before I leave? And recommendations on a brand/model?

I'm not worried about finding stuff in India, but just how quick and convenient.

Thanks!

Nick-H

You won't find the same wondrous (yeah, I'm a shopoholic ) and vast department-store selection of goods here --- but you will find everything that you need.

Remember that there are more than one-an-a-half billion people here buying clothes, sheets, spoons, and every imaginable household item (including quite a few that you haven't imagined )!

Your Spork reminds me that I always used to bring a pair of chopsticks for the same reason --- but I never, ever used them!

Clothes are easily available/quickly made. Tailors are everywhere. Those used to dealing with tourists can probably manage to run something up in an hour or two! Others would probably rather be given a week --- but may well do an express service for their special foreign customer!

I'd expect that you can laundry service almost anywhere; it is a chance for them to make a percentage ---or a chance for the room boy to get a tip.

Alarm clock is good --- radio alarm? Walkman?

I'm sure that there are backwaters that go through miles of paddy fields or coconut plantations --- but mostly Kerala is quite thickly populated. You'll never be far from, at least, village shop, pharmacy, etc...

kiranlal

thank you for the packinglist .i hope some one willcome out with a standerd indiamike's packing list

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bwb

Yep, of course. I guess I'm more concerned about finding more travel-oriented stuff (lighter)... and a little worried about finding time to look for stuff.

Just a cheap Casio brand beeping travel alarm that looks like it was designed 15 years ago. I don't bring a walkman or mp3 player on trips... I never got into the habit of listening to music outside of my room, for some reason. (And actually, I don't own either.. just listen to music on my computer)


On another note: What should I look for clothing-wise while I'm there? Remember, I'm 21 and I'll be there during monsoon season. In the USA I usually dress in khakis/bluejeans/shorts and some type of short sleave button shirt (usually loose-fitting, plain color or striped of some sort). I'm sure it's pretty subjective -- but what do most college students wear in India? I wouldn't mind traditional dress... but I also don't want to look like some weird westerner trying to find his "spirituality" either (no offense to anyone that is...). I'm just working there on computer chip stuff and then a week of travel.

Nick-H

I was thinking more of music in the room, and maybe for train journeys. I've never been a street listener, and the last thing you want is to be isolated from the country you're visiting by a pair of earphones!

I would suggest that you dress to be comfortable in the climate. The clothes you wear in in USA won't look out of place here, you'll see people wearing the same --- but you might need something lighter. I see people wearing trousers (err... pants in American) that I would have worn back in London on a cold day!

Also, the lighter your clothes the quicker they'll dry off after a rain shower.

Wear local dress, eg kurta, by all means: if you feel comfortable in it you won't look stupid at all.

if you are working in an office, you may be expected to look smart....

bosquef

I've been in Kerala during the wet season. Don't know about Bangalore or the hill stations, but during the rainy season in Kerala, it was way too hot for any sort of waterproofs - and I have a really lightweight raincoat. Everyone hear carries an Umbrella, wears really thin cotton that dries quickly under the fan if it gets wet, and plastic sandals. You can buy all that when you get here. Bring a couple pairs of nice shirts and pants you can wear to the office, and get a tailor to copy them for you in a really lightweight cotton for the rest of the time. or learn to wear a dhoti...

bwb

Since you've been to Kerala... recommendations for mosquito net and if travel bedsheets are worth getting?

bosquef

I usually stay in the cheapest hotels I can find (i.e. 100 rs per night in most small towns, more in cities and touristy spots). I've never had a problem with sheets not being clean (though occasionally they are a little old and ratty looking, they are clean). I usually travel with one sheet to use as a topsheet, because these cheap hotels usually give you only a bottom sheet. But in Kerala, it is usually so hot that you won't want a top sheet - even boxer shorts seem excessive in this climate. If you are paying more than about 500 rs./night you'll get all the sheets you want. If you buy one of those sewn together deals, or make one, you might find that it is too hot to sleep in. I mean it. It doesn't cool off much at night here.

The mosquito net varies on how nice your hotel is. Fancy hotels with A/C will probably be decently sealed up so you won't be needing a net. If you're staying in places like that, expect to be paying rs. 1000/night or more. For the cheap places, having your own net is really convenient. I have one I bought from a catalog in the US several years ago: I think this is the exact product: http://www.travmed.com/scripts/catal...id=18&moveit=2
I'm really happy with it, as it is super small, lightweight, easy to set up (you can hang it in all kinds of different ways), and effective.

Oh - and in response to Nick-H, you will stand out if you wear a long Kurta in Kerala - I don't think I've seen a long Kurta in Kerala in the whole time I've been here.

Nick-H

...wear a short one then!

How long is long? Mine must be long enough to have pockets as I don't wear trousers, otherwise, too long is, again, too hot.

I was going to say that, particularly as a youngster, wearing a dhoti (Mundu in Kerala; vesti in Tamil Nadu) to work will really make you stand out. It is more commonly worn in Kerala than in TN, but the young office crowd won't think you're trying to look spiritual --- they'll wonder why you are trying to look 1950s! Leave it to the old fogies like me ! And it takes a little practice to know that it won't fall off, or to be able to grab it and re-tie it while crossing a busy road with a bus heading for you .


One great advantage to having a couple of dhotis is that they double as sheets, towels etc. Very practical. Good point from bosquef that you will probably seldom want to be covered at all, let alone enclosed.

There's lots of discussion on mossie nets on the site... suggest that you do a search/browse. you should find a number of recommendations.