I've been asked to send 15,000 pounds (sterling) of diamonds to London!

Sensi · Sep 25th, 2006, 01:04

Quote:

They don't say to register at the local police station. Not for tourists.

I'm afraid I wouldn't like to rely on the Indian police for any help. Who is likely to have the number about their person, anyway?

Yes they do mr nick. Last year goa passed a law requiring tourists to register if staying more than 2 weeks. It's also law that the guesthouse must register you when you stay with anywhere.
This used to be the case all over India, no one really did it, as now, most people don't.
Also if you stay over 6 months with 1 year visa or something like that, your required to register with local cops. Something about a hiv test too.

dial 100 for police emergency

Nick-H · Sep 25th, 2006, 01:15

All hotels and guest houses in india have to fill in such a form.

I've never heard of a tourist having to visit a police station to register: Is this a local Goa thing?

There are various requirements to register if a person is here on oher visas: For instance, if on an Entry Visa, one should register within 14 days --- but the visa is usually stamped with a waver that one need not register if the stay is not to exceed 6 months.

The HIV test requirement was done away with some years ago.

The Indian police are best avoided.

Satyagraha · Sep 25th, 2006, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenchutney

i dont understand why people/lone travellers go to unknown private residences at night like this and especially with a ratio of 3 to 1. why dont you just use your common sense and say..he maybe we will do this in daylight at least?..you are in a foreign country..doesnt matter if they speak english or dressed decently...good lord man!...

there should be no first or second thoughts with such scenarios. but since you already made the first mistake of visiting with such shady characters/places during the night...its better you dont show up and i hope to god you are already on the way to the hills or 'disappeared' among the millions in some other metro. good luck and please use more caution in future rendezvous or 'dealings'.....

The people i met intially were not shady, they were young indian men, and we enjoyed a drink and had some really good conversation. It was only once i arrived at their place that the shady characters started to appear.
It is a sad state of affairs as my idealism is being shattered about the Indian Hospitality which is so famous. I have encountered one genuine case of hospitality which was in Rajasthan and i can only hope that there will be more, and that situations like this don't stop me from visiting people's homes. I promise you it is not so easy to determine whether someone is genuine or not; not for me atleast. This is my first time travelling AND Alone AND to India (of all places). I am learning everything the hard way, but i am learning.

Satya.

machadinha · Sep 25th, 2006, 12:17

This should be helpful:

Agra gem scam

Manali Jewellry/Gem Scam

Mind you the deal you had coming sounds a lot more like dope to me, and apparently I'm not the only one. And yes, I understand how you got there. People can be friendly or persuasive & you don't want to be on your guard all the time right.

Anyway, you were kind of asking for the obvious route and you got your answers. So everything worked out fine right? Happy travels.

crvlvr · Sep 25th, 2006, 12:45

And, why can't they use FedEx to send their "diamonds"

If you are interested, you can read what happenned to Daisy Angus

Edit note: link not working; try this instead http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...870328,00.html rab

Edit: Thanks Rab, but the link seems to work for me. But your link has a better story

Nick-H · Sep 25th, 2006, 14:05

...I vaguely remember something about that story, but the link is not working for me

greenchutney · Sep 25th, 2006, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Satyagraha

This is my first time travelling AND Alone AND to India (of all places). I am learning everything the hard way, but i am learning.Satya.

Satya..I am glad you are well. You have to remember that you are in the heavily travelled tourist circuit and the hospitality in the tourist areas, in my humble opinion, you have to be on your guard. Touristed areas attract all kinds of characters, many with ulterior motives. Times have changed

The three characters after having a good conversation with you placed you in a certain naive category and hence the offer came from their friends.

We learn from experiences, we get better on our judgement of characters and situations..but there are definetly certain things that we follow to reduce the risks...not doing such things at night say for one thing. maybe i am leaning on the conservative side here.

I do have to admit:- its all an adventure, and the true jist of a solo backpacking trip...such experiences, such interactions and the flexibility to do whatever but, but we do have to balance this with our individual comfort levels and be aware of the risks.

Try to get of the beaten path and then take in the hospitality. Good luck.

bellcrank · Sep 25th, 2006, 17:14

It is very unusual for credit card companies (or certainly those where the user is based in US or Europe) to sanction any payment over $200 to a non-established merchant account in India without verification from the cardholder (which means verbally going through security over the telephone). Try buying duty-free goods with a credit card on arrival in India or making a purchase in a jewellers. India is generally not a credit-card friendly place, and it is probably safer to lose a card here than in Europe. Any large payments other than to established merchants with a solid track record are almost certainly likely to be refused without prior arrangement with the cardholder.

Nick-H · Sep 25th, 2006, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sensi

Yes they do mr nick. Last year goa passed a law requiring tourists to register if staying more than 2 weeks.

Can you provide a reference or a link to a government site for this?

I know Indian govt websites can be out of date, but I can find nothing.

crvlvr · Sep 26th, 2006, 00:37

1. How would a tourist find out about this "law"?
2. How would anyone enforce it?

machadinha · Sep 26th, 2006, 00:44

I can't really recall but I seem to remember it was always like that (in a lot of other countries too). Except, as has been noted, it was never enforced and/or the hotel would take care of it.

It must be enforced to the extent that there are hotels that don't have permission to accommodate foreigners -- I've been kicked out of one at least just after having unpacked (upset manager burst in).

It also reflects on the funny rule of having to register everywhere you go. Technically it should be possible to retrace your steps that way if you go missing, but practically one wonders how this feat would ever be accomplished. (Never mind us usually signing in as mr. Abra Cadabra -- concert pianist, if we get half a chance.) Ah the wonders of Britto-Indian bureaucracy...

cyberhippie · Sep 26th, 2006, 00:57

Sensi IF the law exists that you HAVE to register with the police in Goa as a foriegn tourist everyone is blissfully unaware that this is the case..............May be a bit like the Helmet law huh!!

Nick-H · Sep 26th, 2006, 01:04

The hotels copy your name and details from your passport.

I've never been in place that didn't do this diligently.

So, unless your name happens to be Mr A Cadabra....

cyberhippie · Sep 26th, 2006, 01:06

Actually Nick Goa is the most lax state in all India when it comes to filling in a C form, I rarely have to do it in Goa!!

Nick-H · Sep 26th, 2006, 01:19

It sounds like Goa is pretty lax in many areas ...until someone decides to tighten up!

Sep 25th, 2006, 01:15	#32
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,790	All hotels and guest houses in india have to fill in such a form. I've never heard of a tourist having to visit a police station to register: Is this a local Goa thing? There are various requirements to register if a person is here on oher visas: For instance, if on an Entry Visa, one should register within 14 days --- but the visa is usually stamped with a waver that one need not register if the stay is not to exceed 6 months. The HIV test requirement was done away with some years ago. The Indian police are best avoided. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 25th, 2006, 12:17	#34
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,153	This should be helpful: Agra gem scam Manali Jewellry/Gem Scam Mind you the deal you had coming sounds a lot more like dope to me, and apparently I'm not the only one. And yes, I understand how you got there. People can be friendly or persuasive & you don't want to be on your guard all the time right. Anyway, you were kind of asking for the obvious route and you got your answers. So everything worked out fine right? Happy travels. __________________ 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

Sep 25th, 2006, 12:45	#35
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,518	And, why can't they use FedEx to send their "diamonds" If you are interested, you can read what happenned to Daisy Angus Edit note: link not working; try this instead http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...870328,00.html rab Edit: Thanks Rab, but the link seems to work for me. But your link has a better story Last edited by crvlvr : Sep 26th, 2006 at 00:36.

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Sep 25th, 2006, 14:05	#36
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,790	...I vaguely remember something about that story, but the link is not working for me

Sep 25th, 2006, 17:14	#38
bellcrank Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: uk Posts: 62	It is very unusual for credit card companies (or certainly those where the user is based in US or Europe) to sanction any payment over $200 to a non-established merchant account in India without verification from the cardholder (which means verbally going through security over the telephone). Try buying duty-free goods with a credit card on arrival in India or making a purchase in a jewellers. India is generally not a credit-card friendly place, and it is probably safer to lose a card here than in Europe. Any large payments other than to established merchants with a solid track record are almost certainly likely to be refused without prior arrangement with the cardholder.

Sep 26th, 2006, 00:37	#40
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,518	1. How would a tourist find out about this "law"? 2. How would anyone enforce it?

Sep 26th, 2006, 00:44	#41
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,153	I can't really recall but I seem to remember it was always like that (in a lot of other countries too). Except, as has been noted, it was never enforced and/or the hotel would take care of it. It must be enforced to the extent that there are hotels that don't have permission to accommodate foreigners -- I've been kicked out of one at least just after having unpacked (upset manager burst in). It also reflects on the funny rule of having to register everywhere you go. Technically it should be possible to retrace your steps that way if you go missing, but practically one wonders how this feat would ever be accomplished. (Never mind us usually signing in as mr. Abra Cadabra -- concert pianist, if we get half a chance.) Ah the wonders of Britto-Indian bureaucracy...

Sep 26th, 2006, 00:57	#42
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Sensi IF the law exists that you HAVE to register with the police in Goa as a foriegn tourist everyone is blissfully unaware that this is the case..............May be a bit like the Helmet law huh!!

Sep 26th, 2006, 01:04	#43
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,790	The hotels copy your name and details from your passport. I've never been in place that didn't do this diligently. So, unless your name happens to be Mr A Cadabra....

Sep 26th, 2006, 01:06	#44
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Actually Nick Goa is the most lax state in all India when it comes to filling in a C form, I rarely have to do it in Goa!!

Sep 26th, 2006, 01:19	#45
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,790	It sounds like Goa is pretty lax in many areas ...until someone decides to tighten up!

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