Take a look at the picture below and see if you can guess what those blocks are. If you have guessed it, well and good but if you haven’t then let me tell you! They are blocks of ice. These blocks of ice seem to have been frozen in some large container and thrown outside and destined to end up on a drink stall like a lassi bar or probably waiting to be delivered to a restaurant or a bar.
Travel Tips to India
Travelling to India can be quite daunting but it need not be, here are the best travel tips to India from the lady who has lived in India most of her lives.
How to travel to India?
If you are considering travelling to India but didn’t know how then keep on reading. First, let me congratulate you for considering visiting India. I think it’s an excellent choice and I am sure you will not be disappointed. You might find the country a little crowded and perhaps a little hot if you are coming to India during the summers but all in all, it’s a great choice and there is always something to do and fascinating to see. If you are considering India, then this is right time to come. India has the best weather between the months of November and March. Although it can get cold in some parts of India but generally the climate is suited for those coming from the West.
What to wear in India?
What to wear in India? What kind of clothes would be safe to wear? What should I pack? Can I carry my shorts along? Should I carry cotton or linen or woollens or all? Should I carry flats or high heels? Are these questions in your mind too? Well then read along, as I pen down some basic tips that would help you pack that bag for your trip to India.
5 things you need for summer travel in India
Summer is now upon us in India and its getting hotter by the day. The temperatures in most places here are going to get even hotter – sometimes the temperatures are more than 40 degree Celsius in places like Delhi. It’s not something that we like but we have to bear it.
If you are planning a trip to India in the summer then there are a few things that you must use to beat the heat in India.
More travel Hindi with audio
This is a follow up of the previous audio post on Hindi I did for travellers going to India. Hindi is the one of the official languages and most widely spoken language in India. Hence learning a few words and phrases can go a long way. Although English will do, there is no harm in learning a little bit of Hindi. Except the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, you should be able to communicate in Hindi in most parts of India.
Tipping in India
I recently got asked about tipping in India. Here’s the actually question.
I found your website on line…thank you so much for all your honest and easy information. I am going to India at the end of this month and will stay for 2 weeks at an ashram and am then traveling around for 11 days with a tour company called India by Car. My question for you is what is traditional and acceptable tipping in India…for example, at hotels, for the company driver, the cab driver etc. I want to be respectful but not flashy. Do you have any suggestions as to day tips for the driver or at the hotel? Is it a day trip or a percentage? How is it best to figure out a fair tip?
Essential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India now in paperback
My Hindi book “Essential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India” is now available in paperback. As mentioned before, it contains important Hindi words, phrases and sentences a traveler might want to use whilst their stay in India. In addition, the book also contains conversational Hindi, a traveler will need to get most of their work done and understood without much hassle.
Read moreEssential Hindi Words And Phrases For Travelers To India now in paperback
Essential Hindi words and phrases for travelers to India ebook
Those traveling around the world know the drawbacks of not knowing the local language hence I had recorded the most common Hindi words and phrases here for those visiting India. I have now gone a little further and decided to list some of the most important Hindi words, phrases and conversation in an ebook format.
Read moreEssential Hindi words and phrases for travelers to India ebook
5 top tips to enjoy traveling during the magical monsoons in India
Most westerners prefer to come to India from September to March when the weather is cool in most parts of India. But a few brave ones arrive during Monsoons also, when the whole country is experiencing the magic of Monsoons.
There are a lot of things you can do during the monsoons to enjoy and have a pleasant stay in India like chasing the monsoon, enjoying the delicious hot Pakoras or bhajiyas with tea while it rains outside. But Monsoons also bring with them their own set of problems also like water logging, floods, a lot of mosquitoes and flies. All these factors combined can make anybody run away from India except for the very brave.
Read more5 top tips to enjoy traveling during the magical monsoons in India
Making phone calls in and from India
Being away from home in a foreign country, its natural for one to connect to the loved ones every now and then. Making that phone call home would actually reinvigorate you for the rest of the journey in India. Since making a call comes under the very basic needs of a person, one should definitely be well- informed of the options.
So what are the options available while travelling in India for making phone calls? Let’s find out!
Six Basic Photography Tips for India
India has to be one of the best countries on earth for photography. With its dramatic scenes and vibrant colors, even mediocre photographers like me can leave India with hundreds of great-looking photos on their memory cards and hard drives. In a country where even bad photos often end up looking pretty good, a few simple tips can result in some pretty incredible shots.
Can a woman pee like a man – female urination devices for your travels to India?
India is great fun but the fun can fizz out if you see some of the toilets India has to offer. The toilets in your hotel room will most likely be western style but if you are out and about and if you want to pee and most likely you want to, then you are in bad luck. You will have to deal with Indian style squat toilets and it’s not easy using it. If you happen to be travelling in trains then it’s even worse. You not only have to deal with a moving train but also the toilets are dam right dangerous. Guess where the ‘poo’ and the ‘pee’ drain on to. Yes – straight on the tracks! That is why most trains have signs requesting passengers not to use them on platforms. Even Indian ladies try not to use them unless they really have to, let alone foreign tourists travelling to India. It’s not going to be easy for a western lady to pull their pants down and bend their bum all the way down to the ground not to mention that they can get mosquito bites when the’re down there. If you’re not sure how to use the Indian toilet then read here.
Read moreCan a woman pee like a man – female urination devices for your travels to India?
Arriving at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi will perhaps be the entry point for most foreign travellers to India. I have always wondered why this airport was not named after Mahatma Gandhi since he is considered as the father of the nation. Anyway, from a personal point of view, this is the worst International airport I have seen and rightly so, it was once considered as the worst airport in the world by an international consortium (can’t remember which one). The reason why I say this is because I have found the toilets semi unusable, absence of decent restaurants (good coffee by the way), unsupportive staff, long and slow queues, no decent baby changing facilities, overcrowding and so no; you get the drift. But anyway, you can’t judge a country by its airports!
Read moreArriving at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport
Traffic in India – what to expect
When you arrive in India for the first time, you are in for a big culture shock depending on which part of the world you’re coming from as far as traffic in India is concerned. At its best, its chaotic, which is perhaps a light word to describe the traffic in India; the word better used would be “manic”. As soon as you step out of the airport, you’re going to feel extremely hot. Imagine this, you have something cooking in the oven and you want to check if it’s done or not so you open the door with your face close to the oven and then it hits you, the heat of course. This is exactly what it’s like walking out of the airport in India in the summer.