Definitely buy food from street vendors. It's far superior than anything in restaurants IMO
Anyone worked in India?
- Thread starter Souleh
- Start date
Definitely buy food from street vendors. It's far superior than anything in restaurants IMO
From India here and lived in Bangalore for a few months. As above - stick to bottled water. Even Indians tend to stick to bottled water mostly unless you're in a big restaurant/5 star hotel where it's likely to be safe. Given the cost of it though, I would still stay with bottled. Go with recognised brands - Bisleri and Aquafina are good ones (the latter owned by pepsi).
Not sure about the warnings about meat to be honest. I don't see any issue with that. I do second the tip about fried stuff and eating where there are crowds though.
'Harry's post above is pretty spot on. Apart from the street food bit. If you're sensible like other's have said, you'll be fine.
Though regarding the taxi fare - this depends from city to city. In Delhi, agreeing it is a must. In Bombay, they tend to go by the meter.
Don't remember about Bangalore now, but either agree the fare or confirm that they will be using the meter. There's always the chance that the meter is tampered, but this is very rare. They'll likely say 'it's not working' or something similar.
Speaking for Delhi, the norm, a few years ago at least, in a taxi (so not an auto rickshaw, but an actual taxi) was that if you wanted the air conditioner, the cost was the fare + 25% or something like that.
English will be fine to get around with in bangalore (more or less). I speak Hindi fluently but English was my only means of communication there since they will mostly all speak only the local southern languages.
Numbers are universal. English numbers translate fine so write them if you need to.
Happy to answer any specific questions you have. Lived in India for 17 years
Not sure about the warnings about meat to be honest. I don't see any issue with that. I do second the tip about fried stuff and eating where there are crowds though.
'Harry's post above is pretty spot on. Apart from the street food bit. If you're sensible like other's have said, you'll be fine.
Though regarding the taxi fare - this depends from city to city. In Delhi, agreeing it is a must. In Bombay, they tend to go by the meter.
Don't remember about Bangalore now, but either agree the fare or confirm that they will be using the meter. There's always the chance that the meter is tampered, but this is very rare. They'll likely say 'it's not working' or something similar.
Speaking for Delhi, the norm, a few years ago at least, in a taxi (so not an auto rickshaw, but an actual taxi) was that if you wanted the air conditioner, the cost was the fare + 25% or something like that.
English will be fine to get around with in bangalore (more or less). I speak Hindi fluently but English was my only means of communication there since they will mostly all speak only the local southern languages.
Numbers are universal. English numbers translate fine so write them if you need to.
Happy to answer any specific questions you have. Lived in India for 17 years
not been to India but have been to Nepal - quite similar AFAIK so I thought I'd share one tip
when eating out at a restaurant only eat stuff that has been cooked/is served hot.... i.e. do not eat salads etc... as per the 'only drinking bottled water' tip - if you eat something that's been rinsed in contaminated water and not cooked you'll likely be weeing out of your behind for a day or so afterwards.
when eating out at a restaurant only eat stuff that has been cooked/is served hot.... i.e. do not eat salads etc... as per the 'only drinking bottled water' tip - if you eat something that's been rinsed in contaminated water and not cooked you'll likely be weeing out of your behind for a day or so afterwards.
The bottled water is the main thing.
Keep those hand sanitizer alcohol things handy or even wipes. I used them absolutely everywhere. I was born in India, and I travel back often and I do tend to ensure that I eat in places which were busy. Avoid eating food whilst you are in a hotel - always try and eat out. I always get ill when I eat at hotels. Don't drink tea from the street vendors - though it is very sweet and lovely the water PH is different to the bottled water you normally drink, I found this gave me a stomach upset.
Just try and do most of your stuff during the day time too. Most cities in India by night are pretty messed up places for affluent people. Apply the same common sense logic you'd apply going out in the UK. Don't buy electrical / semi expensive things from street - high street shops as they will break / fail. Try and seek out the local mall where they have authorised dealers for whatever item you need.
Please please ensure you take adequate travel insurance. There is no NHS in India or anything of that nature so if you get seriously ill you will need serious cash or comprehensive health cover.
Also make sure you keep the receipt of your forex from GBP to INR as you will need this to repatriate the money when you will leave from India at a decent rate.
Keep a photo log of what you see and do. It is a magical country with a wealth of experiences to be had. You just to keep your wits about you at times
Keep those hand sanitizer alcohol things handy or even wipes. I used them absolutely everywhere. I was born in India, and I travel back often and I do tend to ensure that I eat in places which were busy. Avoid eating food whilst you are in a hotel - always try and eat out. I always get ill when I eat at hotels. Don't drink tea from the street vendors - though it is very sweet and lovely the water PH is different to the bottled water you normally drink, I found this gave me a stomach upset.
Just try and do most of your stuff during the day time too. Most cities in India by night are pretty messed up places for affluent people. Apply the same common sense logic you'd apply going out in the UK. Don't buy electrical / semi expensive things from street - high street shops as they will break / fail. Try and seek out the local mall where they have authorised dealers for whatever item you need.
Please please ensure you take adequate travel insurance. There is no NHS in India or anything of that nature so if you get seriously ill you will need serious cash or comprehensive health cover.
Also make sure you keep the receipt of your forex from GBP to INR as you will need this to repatriate the money when you will leave from India at a decent rate.
Keep a photo log of what you see and do. It is a magical country with a wealth of experiences to be had. You just to keep your wits about you at times
Have to disagree with this. There is no NHS, but you don't need 'serious cash' if you fall ill. Take travel insurance by all means if you feel the need, but not solely because of this.
A general checkup in a top hospital will run you Rs. 300-500. That's about 5-8 quid. Tests will be extra but unless you are going in for major surgery, you will not be spending 'serious cash'. Blood tests for example are in the region of 2-3 pounds.
Just got back from India a couple of days ago. Went to Mumbai, which is classed as the cosmopolitan city of India... I was still a bit shocked with the place though.
I wasn't allowed to drink tap water, eat street food, eat raw veg, chutney or anything that was washed with water from the unknown.
Ignore beggars, don't look them in the eye.
Allow plenty of time to travel on the road. Traffic is
Be prepared for 'close contact' with people. Get used to having no personal space
Carry pocket tissues with you.
Use insect repellent.
Let's just say, I'm glad to be back in the UK....
I wasn't allowed to drink tap water, eat street food, eat raw veg, chutney or anything that was washed with water from the unknown.
Ignore beggars, don't look them in the eye.
Allow plenty of time to travel on the road. Traffic is
Be prepared for 'close contact' with people. Get used to having no personal space
Carry pocket tissues with you.
Use insect repellent.
Let's just say, I'm glad to be back in the UK....
I did actually mean serious illness - so getting typhoid - dengue fever (which is pretty bad in India at the moment) will actually land you in hospital and if you are there for extended periods you can end up spending a fair bit of money.
This but stay away from ice as it is usually made from tap water! Make your own ice from bottled water.
Soldato
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Stay away from salad, washed in tap water, and ice for that matter
and try not getting raped, seems popular over there.
and try not getting raped, seems popular over there.
Yup. Ask for drinks sans ice and avoid salad.
You will get ill at some point.
Are work giving you a driver?
Lincoln Road for markets, Gateway of India, Haji Ali Dargah, Dhobi Ghat etc..Any other tips or things to do in Mumbai? I'm heading there next week. In India for 5 weeksI'm very excited, never crossed my mind to ask for ideas on here though.
I didn't
Then again I was only there for a week. I have 16 mosquito bites and currently waiting to see if I have caught malaria or dengue fever... Pretty sure hardly anybody in the UK will know what a lakh is
Pretty sure hardly anybody in the UK will know what a lakh is
no one in UK knows what "revert with the needful" but every Indian ends every email with it
Soldato
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I think the likelihood of food poisoning is being overstated. I have visited India 5 or 6 times. And I only got the ***** once!
I wouldnt go there for all the money in the country Souleh, sounds pathetic but considering I wouldnt eat food from daytime street "burger" vendors in Belfast, I cant see how India could be any better, the water quality, sticking out like a sore thumb and constant awareness would drive me nuts, again this is coming from someone who lived through the majority of the troubles.
Cant you get a cosy number in Singapore instead, I could give you a lot more actual advice on there regardging best eateries etc! haha.
Cant you get a cosy number in Singapore instead, I could give you a lot more actual advice on there regardging best eateries etc! haha.