First Timer

Diddles · May 23rd, 2005, 16:24

Hi Everyone,

Well I've been reading this website for the last 6 months or so and have finally joined as a member. I'm planning on going to India for 5 months in September and can't wait. I first wanted to go to India when friends went about 12 years ago and at last I'm going to get there. So I'm packing in my job as an accountant, so is my husband, and we're going to travel for a year and have a ball, I hope.

Which leads me to my first question, how much of a culture shock is India going to be ? I travelled through SE Asia a couple of years ago for 5 or 6 months and it was fine but I've heard that India can be very in your face, how bad is it and is Delhi the worst place for hassle.

As I said I'm heading over in September, flying into Delhi and 5 months later out of Mumbai, so I was thinking of going to Agra, then Varanisi then up to Nepal for a month or so and come out of Nepal around the Dharamasla side. Then head down South, have no idea really which route to go so any suggestions would be great. Also if anyone knows about land crossings to Nepal could they let me know are there many of them or can we only cross at a couple of areas ?

I've done a bit of ashtanga yoga, I did it for about 6 months so not that good it but know a bit, what's Mysore like for beginners ?

Finally I'm a bit of a hippy and love all the clothes from India, should I come over with a half empty rucksack and basically shop when I get there or is only certain areas you get those types of clothes ?

Thanks for all your help in advance, will probably have lots more questions once I get on the road,

Diddles.

AvidTrekker · May 23rd, 2005, 16:37

There are many threads on Yoga on Indiamike, but we will have to get them organized under one head.

Till then, read this thread where someone is unhappy with the state of affairs at the Yoga school in Mysore.

Read this thread where a newcomer is introducing herself.

Nick-H · May 23rd, 2005, 17:02

Welcome Diddles

.

Reading your post made me wonder, or rather, made me realise that I wonder ebery time I read something similar...

You've never been too India before. Why not a couple of weeks; or a month? Why five months? Obviously your answer will be different to others (perhaps not; I didn't get around to asking others yet) and also will be in the context of a world trip but...

Oh, and go with an empty rucksack: you'll love the shopping

Having been around IM for some time I'm sure you'll be familiar with Indian 'dress code' already. I don't know what you mean by 'those kinds' of clothes but, subject to variations in regional flavour, I imagine that the sari and the Salwar Kameez are to be found everywhere. If you want to look like a Rajasthani gypsy, OTOH then you had better buy in Rajasthan

...or a touristy giftshop ...or a designer ethnicy shop!

Diddles · May 23rd, 2005, 17:32

Nick, thanks for the advice on the shopping. I suppose it is quite a long trip for my first one to India. The way my holidays work here I can only take 2 weeks at a time and that just seems too short a time to spend in such a huge country. I just thought I'd take the plunge and go for as long as I can, I hope I like it now, I'm sure I will.

wandering_kat · May 23rd, 2005, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

You've never been too India before. Why not a couple of weeks; or a month? Why five months?

Nick, i can see the logic in that question, but India being the paradox that it is, logic doesn't always hold!
My first trip was 3 months, and wasn't NEARLY long enough, hence the one-way ticket this time round!

somnath · May 23rd, 2005, 17:45

Hi Diddles,
Welcome to Indiamike and India.

Nick-H · May 23rd, 2005, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by wandering_kat

Nick, i can see the logic in that question, but India being the paradox that it is, logic doesn't always hold!
My first trip was 3 months, and wasn't NEARLY long enough, hence the one-way ticket this time round!

Doh! I had forgotten the India-is-just-...different factor

The more I spend my time living a fairly ordinary domestic life here also the more I forget how different it is. I wonder how I'll respond to London when I get there in July: I guess it will seem a bit weird.

Nick-H · May 23rd, 2005, 18:17

There's also this: "in such a huge country".

It's not that big! Compare with USA, Russia, China, Canada and Brazil, for a start. (my geography is not that good: correct me if I'm wrong).

But it gives the impression of being huge. I suppose the fact that it has one sixth (I think) of the world's population crammed into it helps.

Perhaps it's just huge in every other way than size

cyberhippie · May 23rd, 2005, 18:22

Nick
I think many first time vistors see their first Indian trip as "this is it" a once in a life time experience. So, many take a few months out to try and do the country justice (it's a pretty big place,no?)
Little realising the allure of Mother India will have many of them lining up for MORE.

However India isn't everyones cup of chai, so sometimes this approach can go badly wrong!!
The trick is to be mature enough to realise early on in the trip, say 6 weeks that this isn't for me and call it a day.
Many feel committed after they have said goodbye to friends and families for that 6 month sojourn. They refuse to back out and it leaves a lot of people wandering around India bitter and disappointed!
India doesn't have a history of adapting to the visitor so if you aren't coping don't expect India to change to accomodate your personal vision of travel in India, it won't ,cut your losses and find a country that suits you!

Diddles · May 23rd, 2005, 18:24

It's huge compared to Ireland

I think it's just there seems to be so much to see and do there that makes you think you need alot of time. I spent a bit of time in Australia which is also huge and traveled all around the coast which took a bit of time but there isn't that much to see in the middle which kind of makes the country seem smaller, not sure if I'm making sense here

cyberhippie · May 23rd, 2005, 18:45

Ha I missed your last post nick!!
Someone wiser than me answered that question quite well! Though America Australia Europe may be bigger the the roads, rail and infrastucture of India, make it, for traveling purposes twice as big!

May 23rd, 2005, 16:24	#1
Diddles Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 33	First Timer Hi Everyone, Well I've been reading this website for the last 6 months or so and have finally joined as a member. I'm planning on going to India for 5 months in September and can't wait. I first wanted to go to India when friends went about 12 years ago and at last I'm going to get there. So I'm packing in my job as an accountant, so is my husband, and we're going to travel for a year and have a ball, I hope. Which leads me to my first question, how much of a culture shock is India going to be ? I travelled through SE Asia a couple of years ago for 5 or 6 months and it was fine but I've heard that India can be very in your face, how bad is it and is Delhi the worst place for hassle. As I said I'm heading over in September, flying into Delhi and 5 months later out of Mumbai, so I was thinking of going to Agra, then Varanisi then up to Nepal for a month or so and come out of Nepal around the Dharamasla side. Then head down South, have no idea really which route to go so any suggestions would be great. Also if anyone knows about land crossings to Nepal could they let me know are there many of them or can we only cross at a couple of areas ? I've done a bit of ashtanga yoga, I did it for about 6 months so not that good it but know a bit, what's Mysore like for beginners ? Finally I'm a bit of a hippy and love all the clothes from India, should I come over with a half empty rucksack and basically shop when I get there or is only certain areas you get those types of clothes ? Thanks for all your help in advance, will probably have lots more questions once I get on the road, Diddles.

May 23rd, 2005, 16:37	#2
AvidTrekker Veda Chanting & Mantra Yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,819	Read some threads, spend some time on IM There are many threads on Yoga on Indiamike, but we will have to get them organized under one head. Till then, read this thread where someone is unhappy with the state of affairs at the Yoga school in Mysore. Read this thread where a newcomer is introducing herself. __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

May 23rd, 2005, 17:45	#6
somnath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 2,545	Welcome Hi Diddles, Welcome to Indiamike and India.

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May 23rd, 2005, 17:02	#3
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,173	Welcome Diddles . Reading your post made me wonder, or rather, made me realise that I wonder ebery time I read something similar... You've never been too India before. Why not a couple of weeks; or a month? Why five months? Obviously your answer will be different to others (perhaps not; I didn't get around to asking others yet) and also will be in the context of a world trip but... Oh, and go with an empty rucksack: you'll love the shopping Having been around IM for some time I'm sure you'll be familiar with Indian 'dress code' already. I don't know what you mean by 'those kinds' of clothes but, subject to variations in regional flavour, I imagine that the sari and the Salwar Kameez are to be found everywhere. If you want to look like a Rajasthani gypsy, OTOH then you had better buy in Rajasthan ...or a touristy giftshop ...or a designer ethnicy shop!

May 23rd, 2005, 17:32	#4
Diddles Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 33	Nick, thanks for the advice on the shopping. I suppose it is quite a long trip for my first one to India. The way my holidays work here I can only take 2 weeks at a time and that just seems too short a time to spend in such a huge country. I just thought I'd take the plunge and go for as long as I can, I hope I like it now, I'm sure I will.

May 23rd, 2005, 18:17	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,173	There's also this: "in such a huge country". It's not that big! Compare with USA, Russia, China, Canada and Brazil, for a start. (my geography is not that good: correct me if I'm wrong). But it gives the impression of being huge. I suppose the fact that it has one sixth (I think) of the world's population crammed into it helps. Perhaps it's just huge in every other way than size

May 23rd, 2005, 18:22	#9
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Nick I think many first time vistors see their first Indian trip as "this is it" a once in a life time experience. So, many take a few months out to try and do the country justice (it's a pretty big place,no?) Little realising the allure of Mother India will have many of them lining up for MORE. However India isn't everyones cup of chai, so sometimes this approach can go badly wrong!! The trick is to be mature enough to realise early on in the trip, say 6 weeks that this isn't for me and call it a day. Many feel committed after they have said goodbye to friends and families for that 6 month sojourn. They refuse to back out and it leaves a lot of people wandering around India bitter and disappointed! India doesn't have a history of adapting to the visitor so if you aren't coping don't expect India to change to accomodate your personal vision of travel in India, it won't ,cut your losses and find a country that suits you!

May 23rd, 2005, 18:24	#10
Diddles Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 33	It's huge compared to Ireland I think it's just there seems to be so much to see and do there that makes you think you need alot of time. I spent a bit of time in Australia which is also huge and traveled all around the coast which took a bit of time but there isn't that much to see in the middle which kind of makes the country seem smaller, not sure if I'm making sense here

May 23rd, 2005, 18:45	#11
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Ha I missed your last post nick!! Someone wiser than me answered that question quite well! Though America Australia Europe may be bigger the the roads, rail and infrastucture of India, make it, for traveling purposes twice as big!