Preparing for your trip to India

Whether this is your first trip to India or not, you need to prepare. India is very different from the United States, and the more you can prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally, the more wonderful the experience will be for for you. Mentally If you are from a Western country, this will be a big cultural shock. For your first time trip, I would highly recommend hiring a car and driver. You can adjust more easily if you don't have to negotiate driving on the left side of the road, hassling for train tickets, or hassling with rickshaw drivers who will take you where they want you to do, not where you want to go. You don't know what prices are acceptable, so you will overpay every time for every thing. Having a good travel agent is like having a good friend in a city you don't know. It's the difference between enjoying your time in India, or being uncomfortable every minute because of your ignorance of the culture. Remember, Indians are well suited for their culture, you are not, at least not yet. The best advice I ever got was from another American. We were sharing a taxi into Delhi. "The best advice I can give you is to relax. This is India and everything will be alright." He was right. To surrender to what is India is to save yourself much misery, and to give yourself much pleasure, amusement and true appreciation for their way of life. It is a very big place, and you will be welcomed and wanted. Do lots of reading about India, fiction and non fiction by Indian authors, online newspapers. This will give you some insight into the culture, their attitudes, way of living, relationships. Check out some of my suggestions in my India Travel, Life, Shop Store, in Amazon.com. Physically Be sure you can walk lots and lots. Climbing stairs is also important. Another good thing to practice is sitting cross legged, and rising from this position. Squatting and getting back up is important. Not all public places have Western toilets. Squat toilets are the norm here, so just in case you have to use one, know how to get yourself up. Another tip--when you squat to urinate, face the hole. It took me a while to learn this. For more serious toilet activities, line the bottom of the basin with toilet paper, as it is easier to get it all down the hole. Not pleasant to think of, but you have to know. Most flights leave the USA in the evening. You will arrive in India approximately 14 hours later, just in time to go to bed. India is about 10 1/2 hours ahead of us. Carefully consider your packing. You may want to buy and wear salwar kameez', as they are comfortable, affordable, and really pretty. Bringing less Western clothes makes room in your suitcase for more dollar store items that everyone loves here. I brought $24 in bottles of $1 cologne, and they were gone in a week. Also think about bringing pencils, pens, toys, all the fun things you can buy that the children love. This will ease your guilt, and make a lot of people happy, not to mention giving you more room to bring great stuff back. Emotionally Plan to visit the internet cafes on a regular basis to keep up with your friends. They cost from 10-50 rupees an hour. It can feel like a parallel universe, and a bit disconcerting.Have enough time to rest, or change your schedule, so you don't miss out on a wonderful opportunity, like an invitation to someone's home for dinner. If you have a driver, it is easy to rest and take a nap while you're on the road. Learn how to shop  in India. Expect to pay more for everything than the Indians pay. Light skin = more money and this is all over India. Do try haggling for prices over things. You will never get the best end of a deal with any India. Accept it. Talk to people.They will ask you where you are from, are you married, how many children do you have, how old are you, what is your job, how much do you make, and on and on. They are truly interested in you, and it's a wonderful way to get to know them. Beside, you can ask them the same questions.

Do's and Don'ts of Travel in India

Do's and Don'ts for Traveling in India Do's Read some current fiction by Indian authors. It will give you some insights into their culture, their speech patterns, their attitudes, and their likes and dislikes. Talk to someone in your community who is Indian. Ask him about his home and culture. Read some newspaper articles from the "Times of India" and other newspapers on the internet. Get familiar with the exchange rate of rupees to dollars. Unlock your cell phone, and buy a SIM card when you arrive. This is the easiest and cheapest way to call the US. You buy a SIM card for the area you are in, Kashmir, Delhi, Goa, etc. You buy minutes, and never pay for incoming calls. Bring earplugs, eyeshades, medications, aspirin, etc., whatever it takes to keep yourself comfortable.  Don't let your well-being depend on what someone else may or may not do. Read lots of travel books about India and its parts. The more prepared you are for what you will see, the better the trip will be for you. Bring lots of small things from the dollar store to give to the children, wrapped candies, pencils, colored pencils, pens, toothbrushes, etc. This will assuage your guilt, and they prefer these things to a rupee. Carry toilet paper with you at all times. It is almost never provided. Alternately, learn how to wash yourself with your left hand afterwards, as is the custom, and forget the toilet paper. Bring a neck pillow. Use it on the plane, the train, in the car, and use it as a pillow when you are sitting. Rent and watch Hindi movies. Bollywood is huge, and the movies can be very entertaining. A good one to watch is Lagaan. When you are ready to buy, make your purchases by yourself. Anyone who comes with you will receive a commission, and you will pay more. Look over the commercial district ahead of time, and go by yourself to buy. Consider wearing a salwar kameez. They are very comfortable, affordable, and gorgeous, plus, you will not attract as much attention as you will when wearing Western clothes. Don'ts Don't argue or raise your voice for anything, especially when haggling over prices. If it is too much, walk away. The vendor will follow you and offer a better price if you are serious. Don't be rude or hostile. Everything goes better with a smile on your face. Don't be shy to ask for what you need. Never accept anything that is unacceptable to you. Don't expect India to be little America.  It is more like a parallel universe, with its own customs, behaviours, and written and unwritten laws. Don't keep asking "why?" You will waste your time and energy trying to figure it out. This is India, there is no figuring it out. Don't offer suggestions as to how to do things better. You don't know the whole situation.  There are things which you will never know that affect how and why they are doing things now. Just flow with it. Don't assume that because you know one Indian, that you know them all. Cultural diversification is infinite. Each religion or sect has many different variations.