Visited Cities

(traveller report by clicking on respective city)

Tales from India

Accommodation (in Delhi report)
Ear Cleaner (in Delhi report)
Hospital (in Jaipur report)
Floor Panel (in Pondicherry report)
Policemen
Learning Hindi
Chicken
Timbertruck
Train Journey
Tea Vendor
Bus Journey
MTR Bakery
Roadside Restaurant

Hints for Travelling and Everyday's Life

• After landing on International Airport in Bombay: do not take a taxi (for $20 = Rs 900) to get to the Domestic Airport. There's a cheap (Rs 10 tip) shuttle-bus service offered by different airlines like Lufthansa, Jet Airways, Sahara, etc. The buses are leaving round the clock every twenty minutes, 50m off the main entrance.

• Never ask for the price in Hindi ("Kidna paise?"). You'll get the answer in Hindi as well. Hard to understand, because in Hindi there are a hundred different words for the first 100 numbers!

• In shops, do not pay the price you're asked for the first time. Always half the price and start bargaining. Except in expensive shops with the sign "fixed prices" at the entrance - and at the railway counter, of course.

• "Queuing" up at any counter: When in reach of the small hole in the window - try to hold your arm over the shoulder of the person in front of you and push your documents through the window.

• Getting off public buses: do not wait until the bus has fully stopped. Just watch out for quickly overtaking two- and threewheelers, then simply jump off the footboard.

• When detecting suspiciously red pieces in your curry: in case of doubt, do not chew, just swallow!

• Tell the man at the laundry that a pair of Jeans does not need to be ironed with a crease. Especially if it is a cut-off pair of short Jeans. Mention it many times during your ten month's stay.

• Avoid haircutters who recently have bought an electrical razor. They'll enjoy cutting and experimenting with the new toy - until you have no hair left at the back of your head.

Links to India

Solo India (Travel Agency)
Lonely Planet - India (Traveller's Guide)
more tales (in Lonely Planet)