Is being very tall a problem?

traceyam

(Heehee, iyou!)

When I asked my boss about personal safety before we went to India for the first time, he just laughed and said, "What are they going to do? [looks up at the ceiling] 'Give me all your money?'"

Having said that, I'll add that I think a self-defense class is a good idea for any traveller, especially a solo one, no matter where you're going. If nothing else, it makes you aware, and gives you confidence and peace of mind.

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gautam_n_

Well I am 6.1 and my cousin is 6.3 and well lot of my freinds are taller than me and we have never had problems. Ofcourse my parents were careful enough to buy/rent houses which apparently had high ceilings but other than that have had no problems with the people except for the fact that I am left handed and pecks the curiosity of the people of how he can use his left hand for writing and eating.

But otherwise I had/have no problems. But well I am an Indian and lived in the country for 25 years..... so I have no problems anyway.

Digital Drifter

I bet you would be. For someone who shoot pics of cemetries, it gets a bit depressing,no?

Not one of the tombs open up and talk to you; you are all alone wandering in the slabs marked with dates wondering.... & when you reply 'I've just been to this cemetry...' you either get people edging away from you or immediately commiserating without knowing why you went there.

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monsoonish

That's reassuring thing to hear, sirensongs. I'm 5'9'' and will be in Delhi on my own for two months. I know Delhi is sadly famous for being worse than the south in the sexual harrassment department, but it's gotta count for something.

proxyindian, do enjoy your trip. As a Westerner you're always going to get lots of attention, both positive and negative, regardless of your height. Don't let it put you off.

proxyindian and iyou, have you heard of Stuff On My Cat? Your avatars made me think you'd like it

proxyindian

True.... I'm lucky that John is graveyard person too. We're not goth, we're not morbid... We like solititude and beauty. The parks in Chicago are very crowded but the cemeteries are wide open (true, you can't play volleyball, but you can enjoy a sandwich). There are some huge monuments to famous industrialists in one of them. The founders of department stores have beautiful tombs in another. People otherwise forgotten are remembered for erecting statues of dogs and deer and fountains. And these graveyards are practically free of people and the sounds of cars. It's wonderful, and, on a hot day, shady. However, Nicholson cemetery in Delhi doesn't seem to have any trees...

hehehehehe I wonder... can I make my cats go through all that?

himadventures

Being TALL in INDIA is certainly a problem. I am 6.3" and when I was in college-NO GIRL USED TO STAND NEAR ME as they used to make fun of my long legs.
Eventualy-all my GF's were short !!

I can not go to CINEMA HALLS and I can not sit in VIDEO COACHES.
I can not sit in STATE BUSES as they are not made for hights like me.
I can not hide myself in crowd in INDIA-my head is visible from good distance.
Readymade cloths is also a problem.

onajourney

I'm 6'4" and have had no trouble in movie theaters in Delhi. I fit in a Volvo bus fine but haven't taken any other than that.

himadventures

You are lucky !
2x2 buses are usualy havin good leg space and good length to support comfortable posture of spine.

I am happy that you have not travelled in night service to SHIMLA or MANALI from CHANDIGARH. Once upon a time- I used to...and still remembers...those nights...very difficult to even sit.

Couple of years back-took evening bus for RECONG PEO as we were having too much trekking + climbing gear and wanted to do in moderate budget-so choose BUS for traveling instead of driving TATA SAFARI.

It was a mess !
But as you say-having 6.4" and still easy with it....you are lucky !
May be we come from different economic sections of INDIAN SOCIETY )

kayozz

I'm 6'3" (male) and I keep banging my head on things, e.g - luggage racks on buses, low doorways etc... and I seem to attract a fair bit of attention from immature Indian males who seem to think its funny...

PortieOwner

I am 6'4" and I don't think I have ever attracted attention for being tall, it is more for being white. And the police have never harassed me either, in fact they have always been quite friendly to me.

One funny story: a maid my inlaws had hired was quite afraid of me, partly because I was so tall but also because I am white. So remember, they might be more afraid of you than you are of them!

Portie

proxyindian

I've stopped sweating over being so tall in India. I think the greatest problem will be with hitting my head in buildings, which is a problem I had in historial places in England. We've actually hired a driver from our hotel to take us to different places so we won't be travelling on the train, which is another place I've been told will be uncomfortable.

Oh, but a maid was scared of you?! That is kind of funny, but it also makes sense. My mother is very firghtened of black men because she never knew any growing up in South Dakota. She says she never once saw a person of a different race until she was in her teens. And I don't think of her as racist, which implies ill-will rather than just unfamiliarity. I think being scared of unfamiliar people... escpecially if you've heard stories about different races, regardless of the reality... well, at least you're bound to be uncomfortable if you don't have experience. And I've become much more comfortable knowing what to expect in India regarding my presence thanks mostly to Indiamike.