New to India and need advice on my guide

bongoloid

Hello, all... Just a quick note to introduce myself and congratulate all the contributers to this seemingly omniscient website... I have learned so much here... Espcially the m and m debacle and the arse gravy dillemas...

I'm from london... Have never really been abroadfurther than malta (and i was a young child stricken with brocal phnemonia at the time... So wanted to do it for real this time after pretty much 15 years of dj'ing/raving/intoxication trying to get away from my responsibility to myself and the world its been pretty hazey dazey, but i'm bored of escaping from reality... I thought it would be interesting to deal with it in a different way and stimulate my ?!?!?!?!?!... I grew up amidst a pretty mad pair of hippie parents from the albans terrace crew from fulham in teh 70's... This turned into the average white band and loving awareness ... Then the blockheads with ian dury... Hated the moulding of school and the confinments of western thought and external means... So pretty burned out...

But, still .. 31... Down but not out... Needing the culture shock to humble me and strip me of a few western imperviences and get fit and focused and full of humility...

flying into delhi on 23/03... Then upto pushkar to link with good friend who went last week... Then udapour... Then goa... A mate lives there... Then on my own to andaman islands and back before monsoon... Hopefully!!!

Query 1:

Want to travel all over, do some dj'ing in goa... On the way keeping an eye out a place to go back to for a year to really extract residual tension in my body and relax my mind... Yoga/meditation/pranayama/ashram... Maybe ayurveda. I would have a budget of £25 a week... And i'm no big spender with diabolical needs like loo roll and 5 stars

Anyone have any ideas or been to such a place/retreat/camp/wildernessssssss???


Q 2: i have befriended a guy on myspace who seems pretty genuine to meet me to meet me from airport and hang out for the time i'm in delhi... I would pay him something for his troubles he has offered to put me up for 2 days while i'm in delhi, he lives wth his family doesnt seem fake or anything... I think he is a student...

Any thoughts???????

Q3: is it a good idea to go right up into the dessert at this time of year as a first timer??? I'm usually ok when it gets really hot over here, like 70'c...

Am i headed for the fryalator??

Q:4 explain uses and function of padlock there... Chain, too??? Locking the door?

Q:5 if this guy is ok and knows his way around, i wanted to go out in delhi at night... I am used to wandering around at all hours during the night and early morn in london after clubbing in places like brixton. I can handle myself pretty good and like a challenge...

Am i being stupid and wreckless????

Q:6 i got a great deal on a backpack with army camoflauge colours... A friend started going on and on that they wouldn't like that and i may get hassle...

Is this valid??? I could always spend the night colouring it in with a marker...



Any thread links to these queries or even answers if y'all gots the time would be very helpful...

And great site!!!

smith

Hey well Iam not trying to be the devils advocate but Iam not sure if its the best thing to do, alot of stupid things do happen. On the other hand you just need to be safe pick up a phone at the airport maybe, leave someone the details of where your gonna be and also video chat is a good way to know someone. You tc. Cheers.

OceanTragic

You must think you are to be using those words.

Having previously read your intro post I'm guessing you're the sort of guy who can handle himself if you get into a bit of trouble. I'm probably not and am quite cautious so please disregard my advice if you want.

Why don't you do all as planned but stay somewhere else. You can still go round with him, eat, drink with him, pay him for his troubles etc. You'll be able to go back and get a bit of piece and quiet in your hotel whenever (if ever) you want. Also, it's a place for your luggage.
You can arrive in Delhi, transfer to your hotel and then meet him somewhere (with a red carnation!) public.

Like I say I'm probably too cautious about ending up somewhere I don't want to be - it's happened before: ever seen "Training Day"?.

(He's probably grooming you as "he" probably actually is 12 year old girl )

abhay

I don't like hanging around with strangers...

I don't think Delhi is so intimidating that
you need somebody to hold your hand when you
land there..

I would suggest you land there..check into
hotel and meet the guy at some public
place... and then decide what to do next
only after you have met him...

You are probably not aware of some of the
stuff that can happen meeting strangers
from the Internet...

All the best

__________________
"The hands that work are better than the hands that pray ” - Zarathustra

Kingstonian

Blimey mate - I'm female, and I know it's different for blokes, but even so ...


Honestly honestly, Brixton, Hackney, Soho - no no no. Not the same. And I do know that.

karuna

I merged your threads as they are asking the same question. No biggie- multiple posts of the same thing aren't permitted here.

As to your question. Maybe he's just a genuinely nice guy who wants to practice his English and help out tourists. Maybe he's a confidence trickster who'll rob you blind and knife you. More likely (it seems to me) he's a frustrated young thing desperate for an exotic male.

Whatever- you KNOW it's risky behaviour. First time in an unfamiliar country, alone, meeting and staying with a bloke off the internet...what part of that sounds like a good idea, really? If it IS for the sex and you're both clear on that, maybe that's a little different, but take care, eh?

__________________
Mosquitos suck.

Haylo

I've done exactly that, and it worked out just fine, but then again I know what I'm doing and truth be told in real terms he was in far more danger than me!

I certainly wouldn't dismiss karuna's warnings. In your position, as he has asked you to stay with him and as he lives with his parents, I'd phone him and ask to speak to his mother. If he hesitates at that idea, you can have a good idea that something is not quite right.

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

karuna

(I've done it too- but I had at least been to India before and had spent some time talking with the guy before pitching up. Utterly bonkers, but harmless)

bongoloid

Thanks for all the replies... I thought they would pan out that way...

I'm well aware that Brixton Is nothing like Delhi... but in terms of weirdos... I have encountered my fair share... and they ARE pretty much the same all over... I like the unexpected and am always almost hyperaware in strange new surroundings... fight or flight on imminent standby...

Since posting this I have spoken to Ajay on Skype and on Cam, met his very warm and friendly parents and 2 sibs... and will be staying there for 2 nights...

Trusted gut judgements once again prevail...

bongoloid

I am stupid and wreckless... traits that have gotten me into some of the greatest experiences of my life... its the response to those situations that always remind me I'm not...

OceanTragic

I'll be arriving in Delhi a few days after you. do you want me to alert the Police if we don't hear from you by then? (I'm joking)

bongoloid

Joker...