How to deal with beggars in India

Let’s be clear on this. India is no longer a poor country.

There was a time when people used to die of starvation. But things have changed, no such thing is happening any more.

However, You will still find poor people on the streets sleeping rough but not all of them will be beggars.

The Indian government has done lots to uplift the people of India out of poverty.

But…

You do find beggars on the streets:)

Many of them are concentrated at religious places. You go to a temple, a mosque, a church or a gurudwara (a Sikh place of worship) and you will be swamped by beggars.

(More on Hinduism here)

You will find some at traffic lights. As soon as the car or taxi stops, you will find beggars knocking on your car window.

To be honest, most of them look perfectly fine and able to work. These beggars are not beggars in the real sense but opportunists.

They just want to feed on your emotions….

So how do you deal with beggars in India?

You can shoo them away,

Give them money,

Just ignore them and do nothing,

Give them something to eat like a biscuit or something,

Take them to a restaurant and feed them,

Don’t stop, keep walking as if you don’t care,

Give them a fresh bottle of water and say this is all you have,

Tell them you don’t have money,

Tell them they look perfectly fine and they don’t need any money,

Keep your windows up,

Tell them to get lost,

Beat them up (not really).

Begging in India has become a business. You’ll be surprised to know that in some cases, beggars have been found to be millionaires.

Just take a look at this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSF_5MzA8cU

If your heart does cry out for these beggars, perhaps you could spare a few change. It’s up to you entirely.

Enjoy India. India is almost beggar free.

Going to New Delhi? Then these are the best places to shop!

Despite the fact that the plots are often predictable, the acting is usually overdone and you can generally spot the fake sets and props from a mile away, I have always loved Bollywood movies. My friends think they’re ridiculous but I just love how everything is over dramatised and everything is a matter of life and death! Plus the fact that everyone bursts into song and dance at the drop of a hat just makes me smile!

So when I stumbled across some massively discounted international flights I decided that I was going to spoil myself with a vacation to New Delhi. I had to save a little more for the trip but it wasn’t difficult thanks to Discountrue coupons that you can use in almost every store, such as Kohl’s or Target and many more, and I was ready to go! The one warning I have for when visiting India is beware the sensory overload! The noise of the traffic, speakers blaring from every direction, and people talking a mile a minute at the top of their voices.

Then all the colors that turn into a kaleidoscopic blur if you try to look at too much all at once. And then there were the smells – women leaving trails of perfume, men wearing liberal amounts of cologne and hanging over it all the pungent aromas of every spice known to man! And if you love to shop but can’t control the urge to spend every cent you have then New Delhi is probably the worst place you could visit!

There are markets everywhere, and that means plenty of opportunities to spend your money – but if you can control yourself then here’s the best New Delhi markets to visit:

Khari Baoli

A Chai-wala in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi

One of the best places to go shopping is in the Chandni Chowk district which is divided into separate bazaars that each specialize in a specific type of product from wedding goods and fabrics, to silver jewelry and electronics. But the best bazaar, called Khari Baoli, is situated beside Fatehpuri Masjid (an ancient mosque) at the western end of Chandni Chowk and is the largest spice market in Asia.

This spice market began in the 17th century and a few of the stalls still sport their original names, while many of the stalls are run by the 7th and 8th generations descended from the first spice merchants to set up shop here. But despite the rich history of this part of town, the real attraction here is the narrow lanes and tiny alleyways filled to overflowing with both local and exotic spices that fill the air with a heavenly blend of aromas.

The kitchen is the heartbeat of every home and in India that heartbeat is driven by the delightful spices that turn even the most boring of vegetables into a delicious meal you can’t get enough of. And it is the scurrying porters lugging huge sacks of spices about, shopkeepers touting the quality of their products and customers haggling for the best prices they can get that makes Khari Baoli the heartbeat of New Delhi and a place worth visiting!

Kitab Bazaar at Daryaganj

Book market at Daryaganj, Photo by Koshy Koshy

Being the voracious reader that I am, I can never have enough books to suit me so I often spend money I shouldn’t on books I don’t really have place for. Even though I recently got rid of dozens of books, I still have hundreds more and that is not including the thousands of ebooks I own! While ebooks don’t take up space (and they’re cheaper!), I prefer a proper book – the smell, the texture, the weight in my hands and pages that I can turn.

So the weekly book market that takes place along the narrow footpaths and cramped streets of Daryaganj on Sundays is my idea of heaven! Here you will find over a kilometre (nearly 2km!) of dust covered books laid out on the pavement, sometimes in neat piles and other times in a messy jumble that you have to dig through to find anything. And there is literally no limit to what titles you might come across.

You’ll see popular fiction in every genre you can imagine, coffee table books, first editions, some old titles, textbooks, graphic novels, comic books, and popular (or unknown) nonfiction. Each book can cost you anything from INR 400 to just INR 10, so bring cash (beware pickpockets) and a bag to carry all the treasures you find! And if you end up with a ridiculous amount of books then ship them home to avoid additional luggage fees!

Dilli Haat

Dilli Haat, which means Delhi Village Market, is a permanent open air market modelled after a traditional weekly market where you’ll find little thatched roof cottages spread over a 6 acre plot of land. There is more than one Dilli Haat, but I visited the one opposite the INA Market in south Delhi. And if you’re looking for traditional India then this is absolutely the best place to find it.

The market is essentially an arts and crafts bazaar where you will find rural artisans and craftspeople selling everything from panel beaten silver jewelry to handwoven linen, and ornate brassware to hand carved wooden decor items. Then there is the wonderful food plaza where you will find edible delights from every corner of India – whether it is seafood from Odiham, a Tibetan soup from Momomia or pista matka kulfi from Rajasthan.

There is also an area where you can enjoy cultural music or traditional performances from different regions, especially if you happen to visit while there is a festival on the go! Just be aware that there is an entrance fee and that there are new stalls every 15 days (some are permanent though), so if you see something you like then I would suggest trying out your bargaining skills (the stall owners love a good haggle!).

There are dozens if not hundreds of other markets to visit, including some that offer mostly factory reject designer clothing, nothing but bangles, and even a few that are for people who have much bigger budgets than others. But if there is one thing I discovered is that India is the land of the bargain and you can negotiate better prices just about anywhere. Unless you visit a State Emporium where the prices are set by the government.

Unfortunately India is nothing like what I saw in all those Bollywood movies, but once I accepted that I was probably not going to find myself in the middle of a flash dance that I instinctively knew all the steps to, I absolutely fell in love with everything it has to offer. The people, the food, the culture, the landmarks, the history and of course – the shopping!! And if you ever visit then I’m sure you will too!

This article was sent by a friend who recently visited Delhi.

Himachal Pradesh - Soothing Calmness on Lofty Mountains

The natural beauty of the landscape, the serenity in the environment and the majestic Sivalik hills have made people exclaim Himachal Pradesh to be the ‘Paradise on Earth’ and ‘Devabhumi’, meaning land of the Gods.

Nestled in the bosom of Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is credited as a wonderful destination for tourists, vacationers and moreover honeymooners, who flock the state to relax, enjoy, rejuvenate and escape from the humdrum of their monotonous life. The most popular tourist spots which are flocked by tourists, especially during the month of April-June are:

Shimla
Chamba
Rohtang Pass
Kangra
Manali
Kullu
Dalhousie

Astonishingly, the state which is famous for being tranquil and calm, at the same time has a lot to offer for those who seek adventures. They can go trekking at Zanskar Range, Dhauladhar Range or Pirpanjal Range; engage in bird watching or jeep safaris, go out for mountain climbing near Manali and above all enjoy camping at Lahaul, Kullu-Manali, Spiti, Simla and Dalhousie. For those who love to enjoy the snowfall the best time to visit the state would be during December-January.

Himachal Pradesh Tourism

Flora and Fauna of Himachal Pradesh

The natural bounty of the North Indian state includes, snow capped mountains touching the skies, stunning glaciers, serene and beautiful lakes, lush valleys, green forests, flowery colorful meadows and cascading rivers.

The incredible fact that baffles everyone is that the rivers crisscrossing the mountains of Himachal Pradesh are known to be older than the mountains themselves. The drainage of Himachal Pradesh includes Indus, Ganges, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and Yamuna.

Himachal Pradesh is said to be the fruit bowl of India, and now the state government is gearing up to make it the flower basket of the world as well. The state has orchards, meadows and pastures spread over not only on the plains, but also on the steep slopes. The state is famous for the Shimla apples, which was introduced by Samuel Evan Stokes, who brought the sapling from USA in 1920. Today we find variety of apples like Red Delicious, Golden and Yellow Newton which has brought prosperity to state, giving it the name Apple State of India. Along with apples the state boasts of cultivating citrus, grapes, mangoes, litchis, strawberries, apricots, peaches, cherries, pears, kiwi and olive. The gardens and orchards are worth a visit for enthusiastic tourists. At many places they can have the taste of the fresh fruits directly from the trees.

The valleys and meadows are strewn with exotic wild flowers, where as gladiolas, carnations, marigolds, tulips, lilies, roses and chrysanthemums are cultivated for trading. The flowers spread around the state in various hues and shades, especially during the months of April-August, take the breath away of the viewer with their beauty.

For those who love wild life, the state has around 1200 bird and 360 animal species to look for. Snow Leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh. The other animals that are known habitat the state are, leopard, antelopes, deer, bears, thar, ibex and musk deer. Bharal, which is a wild sheep with a bluish-grey coat, and horns that curve backward, is also found in this state. There are about 32 wildlife sanctuaries, 2 national parks and 3 game reserves in Himachal Pradesh. Birds like pheasants, partridges and patient kites are sighted everywhere, where as the rare bird species like Himalayan Monal and Asian paradise flycatcher can be seen in sanctuaries or Birds Park.

Flora and Fauna of Himachal Pradesh

What to Shop

Himachal Pradesh is a wonderful place to shop for handicrafts. Seeing that the state is famous for carpets, Pashmina shawls, coarse Desar, Himachali Caps, woodwork, exotic metal wares, leather goods and Kangra miniature paintings, one can sure give in to a shopping spree.

Getting There

For those travelling by air, there are three main airports serving Himachal. They are at Jabbarhatti near Shimla, Gaggal near Kangra and Bhunter near Kullu.

Rail travel is not recommended for this hilly state as it has just two narrow gauge rail lines between Kalka and Shimla and Pathankot and Joginder Nagar.

The best way to travel would be through road transport as the state is crisscrossed by 3 national highways. The roads are fairly well maintained, making the travel a pleasant experience for the tourist.

If you are planning to visit Himachal Pradesh then you will a good few days to see all the top spots. There are plenty of hotels for every budget. I suggest you go though the top hotel sites. You will be able to find good hotels if you shop around for the best deals. If you want good Hotel Deals at Best Prices then I suggest you check out the voucher deals they have on offer. I am sure you will be able to good deals. Before you rush out to buy your tickets to India and to fly locally you might wish to check out the Travelguru Domestic Flight Ticket Offers. There are plenty of offers, vouchers and coupons for you to choose from. If you need any help or you want to ask any questions then feel to contact me.

I hope you will enjoy this beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh.

Most haunted places in the world to visit

Believe in them or not, there are very few amongst us who do not love a good ghost story from time to time. Now, you could always flick on a horror channel and take a peek at a couple of good movies. There is no fun in that though. Oh no… If you want to truly experience frights then you need to look into what people have encountered in some of the most haunted places around the world. Now obviously there are hundreds, if not thousands, of haunted places around the globe.

Here are some of my favourite most haunted places from around the world that you might like to visit someday.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania

As you are going to discover throughout this list; there are a number of places which are almost guaranteed to be rife with paranormal activity. Prisons are one of them. The Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the most haunted in the world. This prison is notable for being one of the first (if not the first) in the world to introduce solitary confinement. This is a perfectly legitimate tactic to ‘punish’ inmates and guarantee the safety of staff. The problem is, confinement on a long-term basis can make you go a little bit crazy. Perhaps this is what contributes to the many sights in the former prison i.e. it is just somebody’s imagination. Maybe it is the ‘crazy’ people back for revenge, who knows?

Evil cackling, shadowy figures, and ghostly faces have been seen all over the prison. As you can probably guess, disembodied footsteps and other sounds of unknown origin are also rife. Scary stuff!

Waverly Hills Sanitorium, Kentucky

The Sanitorium is the second type of building on this list which is almost guaranteed to have carious moans and howls heard throughout the night. It is believed that well over 60,000 people died within this building. It seems only fit that a few of them would stick around, right? Many of these deaths were not actually down to sickness. Oh no. That would not be gruesome enough. Instead they were down to failed experiments and all sorts of mistreatment. This is pretty much asking for the building to be haunted. A number of ghost investigation teams have investigated the building. Some have discovered a presence. All provide compelling evidence. If you can imagine a type of ghost, it can probably be found in this building.

Monte Cristo Homestead, Australia

We are heading to the other side of the world for this haunted location. Let me introduce you to what is regarded as one of the most haunted locations in Australia. The building may be beautiful in appearance but it seems to house a rather deadly secret. It has played host to a number of deaths. Perhaps the most intriguing a stable boy who ended up burning to death, oh, and a young boy who fell down the stairs, in fact, there were around 10 deaths in just 50 years. Crazy, right? It is believed that most of these people still reside in the building…in some form or another.

The Tower of London, England

This is my favorite haunted location on this list. The main reason being that I have had a personal experience here. No, I did not see anything. However as you walk up those tight staircases and through the ancient rooms you can’t help but feel a presence. Whilst this place was never built as a prison it has housed a number of criminals over the years. This includes a number of Nazi war prisoners. This has also been the site of countless numbers of executions. This includes the death of a couple of Henry VIII’s wives! Perhaps the scariest story of this building relates to two young boys, princes in fact, who were murdered and buried under the stairs. It is said that they can still be seen. They walk around the building, hand in hand, looking absolutely terrified.

Borgvattnet, Sweden

Sticking in Europe for this one! Here we are heading to a small place in Sweden known as Jamtland County. This building, known in English as ‘The Haunted Vicarage’ has been in place since 1876. It was not until the late 1920’s that sightings began to happen though. Most of the sightings around this time were poltergeist in nature. You know the stuff, laundry being thrown about and all. It was not until later on that old women started to sit around watching people sleep (dead old women, well, their ghosts), apparitions could be seen in the corridors, and well just about everything else under the sun. The building is now a café. It still has some bedrooms though. If you are daring you can spend the night there. If you manage then you will get a certificate to tell you that you survived….if you do.

Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Munecas), Mexico

Legend has it that a young girl died on this island by drowning. It is said that she has never left. This is regarded as one of the most haunted locales in Mexico. Many of those who inhabited this area have refused to go near the water through fear of what may happen. This happened until a man by the name of Julian arrived on the island in the 1950s. Intending to be a recluse, he knew nothing of the history of the place. Pretty soon though the girl started to approach Julian to tell him how she could never leave. In order to please her, he purchased dolls and hung them up around the island. It is said that Julian could not purchase these dolls quickly enough. The dead girl was not happy and this led to the death of Julian in exactly the same location that she perished. These dolls can still be found hanging up around the island. Their eyes follow you. Both Julian and the dead girl remain on the island….NEVER TO ESCAPE!

Poveglia, the world’s most haunted island

Sadly the Poveglia Island is now closed to visitors but there are some tour companies that still carry out private tours to the Island in the Venice Lagoon. Poveglia Island has a reputation of being the world’s most haunted island. There used to be a mental asylum run by a murderous doctor on the island and in the medieval period people with plague were burned. The mad doctor apparently comminuted suicide by jumping off the tower. It is said that thousands of people have died on the Poveglia Island. Local fishermen fishing around the island say that sometimes bones would get stuck in their nets. You will have to find a travel tour company in Venice if you want to visit the island. So if you’re heading of to Venice, why not take a boat trip to Poveglia Island.

Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan in India

bhangarh fort at night

India too has its share of haunted places. One place in particular is supposed one of the most haunted places in the world. The Bhangarh fort near Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan has a reputation of being haunted and tops the list being one of the most haunted. The Bhangarh Fort is built on a deserted town called Bhangarh near the popular tourist place of Jaipur in Rajastan.

There are several stories and myths associated legends of Bhangarh Fort. One such story goes that the son of the owner died violently their spirit lingers on in the physical world. I have written a book called, “Real Ghost And Paranormal Stories From India” where detailed my person ghost and paranormal stories.

Anyway, in addition, to this, it is said that a man who used to do black magic in the area cursed the residents of the fort that they will die unnatural deaths and their spirit will haunt the place. Interestingly, his curse seemed to have stuck and many of the residents and owners of the place have died in unusual circumstances. That is why when you visit the place, you will not find houses around this fort. Most people would just not buy land to build houses in the vicinity of the Bhangarh fort. Funny thing is that there is a government notice board for tourists not to enter the fort after sunset. Would you go to such a place (after sunset)? I know I wouldn’t.

Let me know what you thought about these haunted places of the world and which ones you have visited? Have you got a story to share about a haunted place then feel free to share them in the comments section? In the meantime, don’t forget to read some of the most haunted places in India and types of ghosts Indians believe in. If you love ghost stories, movies or places, I am sure India has plenty of haunted places to cater for your needs.

Real Ghost And Paranormal Stories From India

Try sugarcane juice in India

You might not have thought about drinking sugarcane juice but in India it’s a very popular drink for us Indians. It’s one of the best thirst quenchers around. It’s widely available and cheap as well.

You will be able to find a sugarcane cart everywhere in India. The juice is made by crushing peeled sugarcane sticks and collecting the juice in containers. Some people would simply chew on these sugarcane sticks. As far as I know there are very little risks from drinking sugarcane juice in India. However you must consider if it’s hygienic for you or not. You can read more about it in my book here. The cost of a glass would range from Rupees 10 to 25 per glass.

Here are some tips when trying out sugarcane juice in India

Ask the vendor to empty out the container in which the juice in being extracted. This way you know that you will get freshly squeezed juice.
You can ask the vendor to clean the glasses once again if you aren’t convinced it’s clean.
You could take the juice in your own glass or container.
Some vendors add salt to the juice, you might wish to avoid it.

Watch sugarcane being extracted

Why should you secure your journey with Travel Insurance?

Away from the mundane daily life, a foreign vacation comes as a welcome break. It is also the time to strengthen the bond between family members and discover new things. For instance, a husband discovers the inclination of his wife towards adventurous activities, like bungee jumping, scuba diving, etc. Little wonders, every family member looks forward to going out on a holiday for creating memorable moments.

Increase in number of Indians travelling abroad

Indians love to travel overseas. Over the last five years, the number of people travelling abroad has witnessed a rise of about 10.7%. As per the estimates of World Bank, Indians spent around Rs 91,593 crore overseas in 2013 as compared to Rs 70,746 crore in 2007. Besides Singapore and Thailand, some of the new destinations which have caught the fancy of Indians are Seychelles, Maldives, Oman and Vietnam. Besides this, there has been a rise in the number of solo women travelling overseas.

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Dismal state of Travel insurance

While the number of people taking foreign vacations has increased, the statistics is not that good when it comes to buying travel insurance. According to one of the surveys conducted, only 2%-5% of people travelling abroad purchase travel insurance.

But what if an unforeseen event or accident disturbs the tranquility of travel? Imagine after reaching Singapore, you take a cab to a hotel and forget your travel bags inside it! Similarly, there are hundreds of things, like illness, accident, which can go wrong and ruin your entire holiday mood. There are several reasons due to which your flight can get cancelled. Wouldn’t it be great if there is someone who can lend a helping hand, take all the responsibility and bring you out of the difficult situation? Well, there is indeed a solution in the form of travel insurance policy. It ensures that fun in a vacation remains uninterrupted whatever is the situation.

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Top reasons to buy travel insurance policy

Loss of baggage or passport: What happens in case you lose your baggage or passport? Instead of pressing the panic button and contacting the embassy, you can simply call the travel insurer to sort out things. The insurer would not only help in getting a duplicate passport, but all the related expenses incurred in the process will also be taken care by the insurer. There can be nothing daunting than losing one’s passport in a foreign land. Moreover, if you can’t speak the local language, it becomes difficult to communicate. In such a situation, the insurer would pay you a pre-determined sum in case you lose your passport/baggage, along with related expenses.

Health coverage: Medical emergencies can strike anytime and anywhere. Imagine the situation when your daughter or wife falls sick or meets with an accident in a country like the USA where medical costs are high. It is important to note, your health insurance policies will not offer coverage once you cross the country. Here, travel insurance comes into the picture. In the case of medical emergency, the insurer would cover diagnostic tests, evacuation charges, hospitalization costs along with transportation costs. Most importantly, travel insurance plans can give you cashless facility in a foreign country.

Cancellation of the trip: Imagine a situation when you have booked a flight ticket to attend a friend’s wedding in London and at the last minute, you met with an accident and your trip gets cancelled. Considering the financial loss, your friend won’t be the only person who gets heartache. Any last minute personal emergency, death in a family or illness could result in cancellation of the planned trip. It results in monetary losses as booking amount in most of the cases is non-refundable. A travel insurance policy with cancellation coverage will reimburse your trip cancellation charges. Further, cancellation compensation is also applicable when a trip is cancelled due to terrorism, riots and weather related events.

Emergency evacuation: Earthquakes, terrorist attacks, volcanic ash clouds and Tsunamis are such situations where emergency evacuation requires. Unfortunately, one can never predict when and where a natural calamity may strike. What happens if you are caught in a similar situation on your vacation? Fortunately, a travel insurer evacuates the insured out from a distress situation and gives the required medical care.

Burglary/theft at home: An empty house becomes an easy target for thieves. While you are on a vacation having the time of your life, a theft might happen in your house. A travel insurance policy can take care of this as well.

Humanitarian ground: If due to medical reasons, you get hospitalized, you might want your family members besides you. If your family member travels to visit you, travel insurance policies cover their stay and travel expenses.

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Most of the travel insurance companies have 24×7 customer support in foreign locations also where you can call in case of medical and non-medical emergency while travelling. Further, in case you lose your policy document, you can give your policy document number and the insurer will settle your claim on the basis of it. In case you don’t remember your policy document number, your name or mobile number will help in claim settlement.

Remember, it’s very easy to create a travel itinerary, but to travel safe and comfortable, its worth to buy a travel insurance policy!

Is public display of affection allowed in India?

If you are coming to India from the States or Europe, you are in for a shock. Unlike the West, we Indians are not allowed to show affection at least in public. In fact, there’s a law that prevents obscenity in the open. The “Indian Penal Code Section” 294 (a) states: Whoever, to the annoyance of others does any obscene act in any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.

Basically what’s happening is that touch is somehow perceived as interlinked with sex in India? For example, we Indians think that mouth-to-mouth kissing is a western concept and therefore not really something that we should be doing in public. But many of us do not know the origins of kissing were first mentioned in the Mahabharata. Historians have found the earliest references to the practice of lip kissing in the Mahabharata dated 1500 B.C. and the reference continued with the Kama Sutra with many descriptive verities of kissing and having sex. Another interesting point is that the conquering armies of Alexander and his army learnt the art of kissing from the Indians. This doesn’t mean Indians were the first to invent kissing; it simply means that it was first mentioned in texts where people appeared to be kissing.

India Travel Survival Guide For Women

Funny thing is that if you have been to India before, you probably have seen two men holding hands. This doesn’t mean they are gay, they just happen to be friends. But on the other hand if a boy and a girl hold hands in public – this is frowned upon. Boys do not shy away from showing this intimacy. However, show of affection and intimacy between men and women is frowned upon throughout India.

So what is allowed and not allowed

Kissing in public

Kissing may be the universal language of love but kissing on the lips is a definitely a no go area in India. This is dangerous territory. However, an innocent goodbye kiss at the International airport would probably be fine but not at the railway station while smooching at a restaurant is definitely not a good idea.

Holding hands

Holding hands in most areas of India would be acceptable. It may seem strange but even men do it (this might seem bizarre to the western eye but there is nothing sexual about it). If you wanted to hold hands or wanted to put your arms around your partner’s shoulders, feel free to do so as that would be fine and is not a public offence.

Hugging

Hugging is quite a new concept in India different to the traditional Namaste where the hands are folded together and the head is bowed. I see more and more people hugging to show affection. There’s even a saint called, “Mata Amritanandamayi Devi” from Kerala popularly known as Amma, the hugging saint. Hugging is acceptable.

This is certainly one of the many paradoxes of India. In a country where rape is common, groping is considered almost acceptable, there are erotic and sensuous sculptures on temples expressing love in its unique forms, men peeing on the side of the road, street animals openly copulating – human intimacy is a curious contradiction. Here’s more on how to stay safe in India.