Job Discussion Forums

Travel Zen · Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:46 am Post subject: Travel: India

To start off on a trip across Asia, Mumbai may be cosidered extreme. Very real poverty in your face, smog and pollution down your lungs, and scam/con artists at your shoulder....maybe not too extreme.

Take a look at the pic on my website:

http://www.walktheearth.ca/album_cat.php?cat_id=1

garbotara · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 529 Location: China

I think India is a very fascinating place.It's vibrant and colorful.It is full- on sensory overload.I love it.I value the time I spent there and hope to go back in the near future.It is so diverse and beautiful.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I already have.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

Me too. I travelled from Mumbai to the southern tip stopping off at some amazing places. I then flew over to Sri Lanka for a few weeks rest. I found it one of the hardest travels I have experienced but very worthwhile. I'd like to do the north.

James_T_Kirk · Joined: 20 Sep 2003 Posts: 357 Location: Ten Forward

I'd do it, but I have heard it is hell if you're doing it on a backpacker's budget.

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

I did India on a shoestring, from Kerala to Himachal Pradesh, and Rajastan to Bengal.

God I hated that place. Hated isn't even the word. I despised it. To be honest, even now when I think about my experiences there, I still do. Whatever it is that India has to offer, evidently, went straight over my head. I can't think of a single thing that India has (be it physical or, er.., "experiential") that isn't better somewhere else.

I'm reluctant to say to others "Don't go - it's rubbish", simply because so many other people seem to have (have had/be having) such a great time, though.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

I'm building a house in Sri Lanka, just South of India.

I've only been to India itself once, though when the house is finished I'll have enough time and money to visit it more regularly. I'd say visiting it is a complete must, though you need either time or money.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

Amazing place. Some of the worst poverty anywhere, mind you.

But fascinating places like Hampi, cool places like Jaisalmer, and the most beautiful scenery in the world (e.g. valleys like Kulu in Himachal Pradesh).

nomadder · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:27 am Post subject:

Going next month. Seems to be love or hate. Wonder what side of the fence I'll be on.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

Travel Zen · Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2004 4:31 am Post subject:

So far, Johdpur, in Rajastan is the best city by sight and sound.

Everything in India is only a few US dollars, cheap as hell. So I don't see a reason to spend alot of money when you can live very well on about US$40 a day or less.
People are out for money if you are a foreigner, but otherwise are friendly and non threatening. The only gripe I have, being here for two weeks is the pollution. It's everywhere and constant. People spit up their lungs and I wondered why....until i started to hack phlegm on a daily basis. Its the gases and other pollution that jams up the throat. No other way than to cough and spit it out.

India is an easy place to travel from city to city. See the sights, enjoy the good food and have easy fun here!

Jaisalmer has a few 'ignorant rednecks' that don't seem to like foreigners, I've sen them harass women and spit at the feet of 'outsiders'.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

My first trip to India [1992] was when I was living in Kathmandu. I went to Agra [home of the Taj Mahal], Varanasi [on the Ganges] and Bodhgaya [site of the Buddha's enlightenment]. Later that year I went back, this time to Sikkim and Darjeeling.

My second trip [1996] was much longer, about 6 months. I flew into Calcutta, then went by train to Varanasi, then up to Rishikesh, then down to Delhi, Mount Abu, then Rajasthan [the camel trek], Diu [island off Gujarat], skipped Mumbai [Bombay], then the Ajanta caves, South Goa, and finally Kerala. Then I went to Sri Lanka and spent a couple weeks in Kandy and the surrounding area.

All in all a good trip. I would certainly recommend a trip to India for most everyone. Contemporary Dog's advice below is spot on.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

Yes, when I was travelling there, we were in Bangalore and I wanted to go to Hampi. My friends wanted to go straight on to Goa, where we had around a month's long stay planned.

I got the bus to Hampi and said I'd meet them in Goa a couple of days later. I just couldn't drag myself away from hampi - ended up staying there around 10 days!!!

garbotara · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 529 Location: China

garbotara · Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 529 Location: China