Anything you ever wanted to know about...

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

Archangel said:
how much is it to fly back to England if i was over there already!?.... say if i went to thailand first...then went to india...then wanted to come back to blighty?

hey arch... a flight for you from new delhi to heathrow would cost between 180-220 pounds on a British Airways/Virgin carrier
then again a round trip isnt much more :thumbup:

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

ShutteredEye said:
Many of the images that I've seen are of dry/dusty/desert/poverty type images. Is this the true India, or is there a prevalance of modern things as well?

This is not the true india... unfortunately what comes to light is the suffering/poor bit of it. People like us are to blame for it, it is the fault of the media for projecting such an image of a coutry which has such deep and rich cultural heritage.

is there a prevalance of modern things as well?

like... yes! everything from shopping malls, to multiplexes, to 7star hotels ... you name it we got it

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

MyCameraEye said:
Do you postulate seven souls?

:er: err what?
Nopes

Arch · Mar 23, 2006

Mansi said:
hey arch... a flight for you from new delhi to heathrow would cost between 180-220 pounds on a British Airways/Virgin carrier
then again a round trip isnt much more :thumbup:

Thanks mans.... i was seriously gonna go travelling last year and i wanted pass through india either on the way out towards the east or on the way home... guess it's not too much.... but then there is one of those 8 destination flight tickets i was thinking of going for..... hopefully i'll be able to do it this year or the next.... but all my friends are tied up in other things and cant get the time off to come with me....:er: ...... unless i brave it alone!

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

Archangel said:
Thanks mans.... i was seriously gonna go travelling last year and i wanted pass through india either on the way out towards the east or on the way home... guess it's not too much.... but then there is one of those 8 destination flight tickets i was thinking of going for..... hopefully i'll be able to do it this year or the next.... but all my friends are tied up in other things and cant get the time off to come with me....:er: ...... unless i brave it alone!

you're welcome! let me know when you're planning for... we can fix up a tpf meet :mrgreen: and if you need help while you're planning your trip you know who to ask now

(statutory warning:dont trust this chick :biglaugh:

)

Arch · Mar 23, 2006

Mansi said:
you're welcome! let me know when you're planning for... we can fix up a tpf meet :mrgreen: and if you need help while you're planning your trip you know who to ask now (statutory warning:dont trust this chick )

yea excellent mans, that would be v.cool and handy seeing as tho i'm clueless as were to go.... i like the small interesting places, you know what i mean?... somewere that has real culture.... although a quick pass through a city is always welcome :mrgreen:

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

Archangel said:
yea excellent mans, that would be v.cool and handy seeing as tho i'm clueless as were to go.... i like the small interesting places, you know what i mean?... somewere that has real culture.... although a quick pass through a city is always welcome :mrgreen:

know exactly what you mean... let me know when u plan... i can send you a list

Arch · Mar 23, 2006

excellent :hug::

ShutteredEye · Mar 23, 2006

What are some things that a traveller to India, say from the US, should know to remain respectful of local customs?

danalec99 · Mar 23, 2006

Time to list the India FAQ's

Questions asked to Indians abroad:

Q. What does that red dot on women's forehead mean?
A. Well, in ancient times, Indian men used to practice archery skills by target practicing by aiming at their wife's red dot.
In fact, that is one of the reasons why they had many wives. You see,
once they mastered the art of archery and hit the target....

Q. You're from India? I have read so much about the country.
All the wonderful places, the forests, the snake charmers, the elephants. Do you still use elephants for transportation?
A. Absolutely. In fact we used to have our own elephant in our house.
But later, we started participating in elephant-ride sharing schemes with our neighbors, to save the air. You see elephants have an "emissions" problem.....

Q. Does India have cars?
A. No. We ride elephants to work. The government is trying to encourage ride-sharing schemes.

Q. Does India have TV?
A. No. We only have cable.

Q. Are all Indians vegetarian?
A. Yes. Even tigers are vegetarian in India.

Q. How come you speak English so well?
A. You see when the British were ruling India, they employed Indians as
servants. It took too long for the Indians to learn English. So the British isolated an "English-language" gene and infused their servants' babies with it and since then all babies born are born speaking English.

Q. Are you a Hindi?
A. Yes. I am spoken everyday in Northern India.

Q. Do you speak Hindu?
A. Yes, I also speak Jewish, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

Q. Is it true that everyone there is very corrupt?
A. Yes, in fact, I had to bribe my parents so that they would let me go to school.

Q. India is very hot, isn't it?
A. It is so hot there that all the water boils spontaneously. That is why tea is such a popular drink in India.

Q. Are there any business companies in India?
A. No. All Indians live on the Gandhian principles of self-sufficiency.
We all make our own clothes and grow our own food. That is why you see
all these thin skinny Indians -- it is a lot of hard work.

Q. Indians cannot eat beef, huh?
A. Cows provide milk which is a very essential part of Indian diet.
So eating cows is forbidden. However in order to decrease the population of the country, the government is trying to encourage everyone to eat human meat.

Q. India is such a religious place. Do you meditate regularly?
A. Yes, sometimes I meditate for weeks without food and drink. But it is difficult to keep my job, because I have to miss work when I meditate like that. But the bosses there do the same thing. That is why things are so inefficient there.

Q. I saw on TV that people there walk on burning coals. Why do they do that?
A. We don't have shoes. So we burn the bottom of our feet to make it hard so that we can walk.

Q. Why do you sometimes wear Indian clothes to work?
A. I prefer it to coming naked.

JohnMF · Mar 23, 2006

danalec99 said:
Time to list the India FAQ's

Questions asked to Indians abroad:

Q. What does that red dot on women's forehead mean?
A. Well, in ancient times, Indian men used to practice archery skills by target practicing by aiming at their wife's red dot.
In fact, that is one of the reasons why they had many wives. You see,
once they mastered the art of archery and hit the target....

Q. You're from India? I have read so much about the country.
All the wonderful places, the forests, the snake charmers, the elephants. Do you still use elephants for transportation?
A. Absolutely. In fact we used to have our own elephant in our house.
But later, we started participating in elephant-ride sharing schemes with our neighbors, to save the air. You see elephants have an "emissions" problem.....

Q. Does India have cars?
A. No. We ride elephants to work. The government is trying to encourage ride-sharing schemes.

Q. Does India have TV?
A. No. We only have cable.

Q. Are all Indians vegetarian?
A. Yes. Even tigers are vegetarian in India.

Q. How come you speak English so well?
A. You see when the British were ruling India, they employed Indians as
servants. It took too long for the Indians to learn English. So the British isolated an "English-language" gene and infused their servants' babies with it and since then all babies born are born speaking English.

Q. Are you a Hindi?
A. Yes. I am spoken everyday in Northern India.

Q. Do you speak Hindu?
A. Yes, I also speak Jewish, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

Q. Is it true that everyone there is very corrupt?
A. Yes, in fact, I had to bribe my parents so that they would let me go to school.

Q. India is very hot, isn't it?
A. It is so hot there that all the water boils spontaneously. That is why tea is such a popular drink in India.

Q. Are there any business companies in India?
A. No. All Indians live on the Gandhian principles of self-sufficiency.
We all make our own clothes and grow our own food. That is why you see
all these thin skinny Indians -- it is a lot of hard work.

Q. Indians cannot eat beef, huh?
A. Cows provide milk which is a very essential part of Indian diet.
So eating cows is forbidden. However in order to decrease the population of the country, the government is trying to encourage everyone to eat human meat.

Q. India is such a religious place. Do you meditate regularly?
A. Yes, sometimes I meditate for weeks without food and drink. But it is difficult to keep my job, because I have to miss work when I meditate like that. But the bosses there do the same thing. That is why things are so inefficient there.

Q. I saw on TV that people there walk on burning coals. Why do they do that?
A. We don't have shoes. So we burn the bottom of our feet to make it hard so that we can walk.

Q. Why do you sometimes wear Indian clothes to work?
A. I prefer it to coming naked.

well there's all my questions used up!

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

JohnMF said:
well there's all my questions used up!

OMG daniel.. stop confusing people... no .. none of the above is true.. it's the exact opposite infact
and no.. thats not funny dan :lol:

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

ShutteredEye said:
What are some things that a traveller to India, say from the US, should know to remain respectful of local customs?

hmm good question... things have changed indeed

:thumbup: it is respectable to greet someone by saying 'namaste', more so an elderly person (esp in the smaller towns) else a hand shake or regular hello is fine.
:thumbup: If you visit an india home you may want to chek if footwear is allowed inside.
:thumbup:

Many Hindus are vegetarian and many, especially women, do not drink alcohol. Sikhs and Parsees do not smoke. Small gifts are acceptable as tokens of gratitude for hospitality. Women are expected to dress modestly.

source : iexplore.com

Thats all i can think of or find as of now

Mansi · Mar 23, 2006

India at a glance...

India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.

Nothing in the country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers - some are only too happy to leave, while others stay for a lifetime.

source : lonely planet

So basically visit India and see for yourself! :mrgreen: