What is the chief hazard of India travel ???

Bengal Tiger

I just joined the forum today. So a big hi to every one and have a happy new year.

Of late I have done quite a bit of traveling in India, and before going to the trip(s) and after coming back home, I did a fair bit of research about what people have to say about their trip to India. What I noticed is that while most foreigners like and enjoy what they “see” (the forts, monuments, sculptures, paintings, architecture, the colour and variance of Indian life and the scenery etc. ), very few ever have a nice thing to say about what they “experience” in India, and justifiably so (the cheatings, the muggings, the “being taken for a rides”, the general uncertainty and inefficiency of any “service” provided in this part of our lonely planet etc.). so I’d like to know and find out is what is that one thing that bothers/scares the (foreign) tourist most. We in India are more or less used to keeping these factors at bay – not that we don’t fall victims sometimes. Places in India are so diverse that a person belonging to one part of India, is nearly as clueless as a foreigner, in another part of the country. Believe me we Indians (at least the prudent ones anyway) are also in the “ultra-careful” mode, whilst venturing to see our excruciatingly diverse country.

Personally I think it’s the heckling and the lack of trustworthiness that pisses off visitors, both foreign and Indian alike, most. One can always avoid the filth by sticking to the more “posh”(and thus more clean parts of the city – in India it’s quite a remarkable coincidence – how “main” areas of cities are cleaner (though not less on air pollution) than the slums and “lower middle class” localities. One can always cut down on the risks posed by the “uncertainties” too, by planning everything down to the last conceivable detail. But how is one to avoid the beeline that vendors make towards any foreigner (and Indians too, though foreigners seem to carry a much bigger “I am rich” sign, sometimes with an invisible “its easy to dupe me” placard to boot!!) in any tourist spot one goes too? How is one to avoid the mutually competing taxi drivers and touts that surround the unsuspecting and India-virgin tourist? But for these people, I feel the “misery-factor” of traveling in India would be cut down to half. But that’s just what I think. I’d like to know, what that one thing is, which tourists who have traveled here in these parts, feel, makes it such a pain for visitors to travel and get around in India. For those who choose the “others” option, it’s almost obligatory to add a line or three explaining that that “other” painful aspect of India-travel is. Those who do find their “favourite misery” in my list of choices, are also more than welcome to wax eloquent and indignant about it. Indians also welcome.

I hope all of you will take a minute off to type in a few lines. Whether or not you choose to do so, thanks very much and once again have a very happy new year

Bengal Tiger

I realised its usually more that one of these things that makes it painful to travel in India. So those who were pissed off with more than one thing, will they please list their 2nd and 3rd most important "hazard" after selecting the top one from the options? Thank you.

Merchant

In looking through the candidates here in the poll, I think one should try to isolate which hazard is most Indian--vs. those that hinder travel in other parts of the world.

India is often the average tourist's first encounter with what used to be called the Third World, so the level of frustration is magnified out of proportion. People traveling to, say, Cairo seem to expect hagglers and slums. For some reason, first timers to India are startled that people are poor.

But the thing that is uniquely India is the hours of pointless queuing, collecting stamps and documents, and all that. You never get a straight answer and everything takes forever. It's not like that everywhere in the developing world.

Bengal Tiger

Thanks very much for the comment and the vote. and yes very imp point made - the voter should make a mental assessment os too which of these "hazards" is all too indian. he he/she picks up a major pain, which is also found n some other part of the world, regardless of developed, developing or underdeveloped, i guess the ball wont be all that much in india's court.

Hope everybody who votes also adds a line or two.. i loved reading your heartfelt and first hand feedback.

beynice

I'm reading that India has stopped recieving aid( for they seem to have a surplus of funds?) for now,and that they are handling the relief on thier own. Does this mean they are confident that the spread of epidemics is not a high probability.
Please remember this is something I've read. Thats why I'm posting this, to get a more clear picture, if at all possible.
Thanks and hope.
-bey

Bengal Tiger

not like we have a surplus of funds... but we would not like to stake claim to the relief money raked up. being as we are the 4th biggest economy in the world , we are better positioned to absorb the extra "aid money" needed to assist our victms, than say the smaller and also more severely hit countries of indonesia and sri lanka. red cross and u.n. officials are allowed to do their relief work though... only we have declined to accept financial help.

Merchant

India has become a net donor of foreign aid. With the tsunami relief, the Indian government said it (the government) did not need financial assistance. Other groups like NGOs, religious groups, etc. in India will receive aid from abroad.

Bengal Tiger

er it was my mistake in answering beynice... your point is well noted merchant.. only the indian government wont accept aid.. other organzations will.... but can we please get back to the topic... ??

please vote and comment on "whats the biggest hazard of travelling in india?".. this aid thing is better discussed in another thread... thank you everyone

Shaktipalooza

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Matty Gee

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Yetijuice

India is accepting donations for tsunami disaster relief. This is the address to use with a link to a December 27, 2004 article:

Prime Minister's National Relief Fund
Prime Minister's Office
South Block
New Delhi 110001
India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a...how/972078.cms


[quote]

< I'm reading that India has stopped recieving aid( for they seem to have a surplus of funds?) for now,and that they are handling the relief on thier own. Does this mean they are confident that the spread of epidemics is not a high probability.
Please remember this is something I've read. Thats why I'm posting this, to get a more clear picture, if at all possible.
Thanks and hope.
-bey >

Bey, do you have a link to an article stating India has STOPPED receiving aid?

The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) will remain functioning until India no longer has a Prime Minister. It is a vehicle that will be utilized for current and future disasters in India. It is a pipeline that works!

In news photographs I see Indian Air Force helicopters delivering emergency supplies in Sri Lanka. A portion of donations given to India WILL get to Sri Lanka.

Yetijuice

Bengal Tiger

er please stick to the topic..... if someone has to write about how to donate to the relief operations whould he/she please do so in another thread.... the topic here is "what is the chief hazard of travelling in india" ?. thank you.

natasha chanda acharya

Welcome to IM, Bengal Tiger. I see you are still getting used to IM ways.
A good disscussion does not heed bounds. Let it take it's course. Think about it, it's better than not getting any responses at all. Don't worry too much about it. And once again, welcome aboard.

Bengal Tiger

ya ok thanks, and point noted - i'll let t run its course.