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SuperFly
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: In the doghouse
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 Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| philogirl81 wrote: |
I'm actually in India at this moment. I left Seoul yesterday morning. It has been a bit of a culture shock. I forgot that no one outside of Korea can speak any Korean. This morning when I ordered coffee, I asked for it in Korean. "Coffee Juseyo" is just not a universal request. It was perhaps the dumbest thing I have done in a while!
I was in Delhi today doing the tourist thing. It reminds me of Mexico City for the level of dirt and poverty. Not the best city, but not the worst either.
Onwards to other places.  |
Could you tell us how much your flight ticket cost? Also, how much did you budget for your trip, how long, etc. Thanks and have a safe trip. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| How does one carry money in India? Travellers checks or use a debit card? How much are debit card charges usually? |
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philogirl81
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:23 am Post subject: |
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My flight (one way) was 500,000 Won from Seoul to Delhi. I will be here for two and a half months and I have a budget of 3,000 USD. I got screwed when I first arrived by a travel agent who ate up some of my money by overcharging me. I know better now. There are a lot of retarded tourist scams and I was dumb enough to fall for one. Oh, well.
I am currently stuck with an iternary that I hate, where I can only go to two tourist places a day and then I have to go "shopping" ie, look at overpriced crap.
I have a driver and he gets a commision off of everything that I buy from the shops and the resturants that he takes me to. On the plus side, the people in Jaipur (where I am right now) are incredibly hospitable. Or they are trying to take my money. Either way, I've meet some cool people and had some good food.
The main part of my trip is in Dharmasala, where I will stay for two months.
I need ten rupees to feed my children... |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| philogirl81 wrote: |
I'm actually in India at this moment. I left Seoul yesterday morning. It has been a bit of a culture shock. I forgot that no one outside of Korea can speak any Korean. This morning when I ordered coffee, I asked for it in Korean. "Coffee Juseyo" is just not a universal request. It was perhaps the dumbest thing I have done in a while!
I was in Delhi today doing the tourist thing. It reminds me of Mexico City for the level of dirt and poverty. Not the best city, but not the worst either.
Onwards to other places. |
I love India, and had a good time in Delhi, but Mexico City, in spite of the same level of dirt and begging, is one of my favorite cities in the world. Mexico City is much more diverse and beautiful than Delhi.
But this is about India. I can't wait to return, in spite of the tourist scams- we all get caught by one.
One piece of advice I got before heading off with a driver is to state very clearly from the start that you are in charge of the itinerary, and it doesn't include every cousin-brother's shoe manufactory. I had some success with this, but not complete. My weak spot was that there was so much beautiful stuff to see and buy! When your driver wants to take you to the rug weavers in Ranakphur, in the countryside, it is really hard to say no! 
The upside is that everything is really affordable, and the driver's commission is not such a big deal. Do you know what he earns being not only your driver but your body guard and baby sitter 24/7? Ask him. If he lies by half, it is still a pittance. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| So it'd be safe to assume that one could have a pretty good time in India for around 1.5 million won all-in? |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| Dev wrote: |
| How does one carry money in India? Travellers checks or use a debit card? How much are debit card charges usually? |
I have been using a debit card. ATMs are not hard to find in cities. I have a couple hundred USD on me in case i end up somewhere w/out an ATM.
Charges depend on the bank. My bank adds a 1% transaction fee. Some banks charge more, some just charge a flat fee.
People say you love or hate india. I guess I'm a freak then because I don't hate it or love it. It is so massive though, and I think I'd have to spend a couple months here before I got any sense of the place. I feel like I'm just passing through (i'll be here for a month, been 10 days so far).
My trip: took bus from Dhaka to Kolkata. Now in Varanasi (hyped up if you ask me). This evening off to Agra, then Amritsar the next day. Planning to go to Manali, and if I have time, Leh, then bye-bye India.
Kolkata wasn't bad. It was shangri-la compared to Dhaka. It's got everything. Good intro to India I think. |
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philogirl81
Joined: 06 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| Dev wrote: |
| How does one carry money in India? Travellers checks or use a debit card? How much are debit card charges usually? |
I actually lack a credit card and a debit card (long story), so I have been carrying all of my TC on the inside of my bra. It works, unless someone drugs me and finds it. I buy a super padded bra, cut a hole, take out the padding and put in the money. I have been doing this on vacation for years now, although I would not actually suggest doing it in India as it gets really hot and sweaty.
I just realized that my answer only helps women and trannies.
I was just in Jaipur and Agra. I actually really, really liked the Taj. I went at sunset on a Sunday night. It was peaceful and not horribly ungodly disguisting hot. There were swarms of families and just a few tourists, mainly Japanease and Korean.
For some reason, everyone decided to take my picture, I guess I was the only white girl around.
Now I am heading off to Dharmasala, where I have to work on my project... |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:44 am Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
| How does one carry money in India? Travellers checks or use a debit card? How much are debit card charges usually? |
I have been using a debit card. ATMs are not hard to find in cities. I have a couple hundred USD on me in case i end up somewhere w/out an ATM.
Charges depend on the bank. My bank adds a 1% transaction fee. Some banks charge more, some just charge a flat fee.
People say you love or hate india. I guess I'm a freak then because I don't hate it or love it. It is so massive though, and I think I'd have to spend a couple months here before I got any sense of the place. I feel like I'm just passing through (i'll be here for a month, been 10 days so far).
My trip: took bus from Dhaka to Kolkata. Now in Varanasi (hyped up if you ask me). This evening off to Agra, then Amritsar the next day. Planning to go to Manali, and if I have time, Leh, then bye-bye India.
Kolkata wasn't bad. It was shangri-la compared to Dhaka. It's got everything. Good intro to India I think. |
Amritsar is great! If you have time, go to the flag lowering ceremony at the Pakistan border. Be sure to go plenty early to get a good seat. It is a trip! It is so worth doing! Of course, also go to the Golden Temple. |
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aditya
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Inha University, Incheon
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| Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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a return trip from seoul to delhi and back wil cost u 850 USD to 1200 USD
take malaysian airlines its the cheapest
take asiana or korean air its the fastest!
take cathay pacific its the most expensive |
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aditya
Joined: 22 May 2007
Location: Inha University, Incheon
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
How is Calcutta? Anyone been there?
Mumbai seems like a must to me. I love large cities.. and kept hearing references (I'm sure they are wrong) to be like a New York or London. I imagine something like that with a whole lot of poverty! Yet I'm very intrigued.
Goa? Is it worth it? Seems a bit far from the other more interesting areas.. and the country is huge.
Rajastan sounds worth it.
Varanasi would be interesting.. yet outside of the Ganges River.. what would be the other large attractions to draw someone there?
Any other recommended places? |
Goa is very touristy and it has a real Kho San road feel to it.
On the possitive note its a great place to chill and its an overnight
bus ride to Hampi.
Hampi is an ancient Hindoo village with tons of ruins. The oversized boulders give it a surreal Dali feel |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| desultude wrote: |
| bucheon bum wrote: |
| Dev wrote: |
| How does one carry money in India? Travellers checks or use a debit card? How much are debit card charges usually? |
I have been using a debit card. ATMs are not hard to find in cities. I have a couple hundred USD on me in case i end up somewhere w/out an ATM.
Charges depend on the bank. My bank adds a 1% transaction fee. Some banks charge more, some just charge a flat fee.
People say you love or hate india. I guess I'm a freak then because I don't hate it or love it. It is so massive though, and I think I'd have to spend a couple months here before I got any sense of the place. I feel like I'm just passing through (i'll be here for a month, been 10 days so far).
My trip: took bus from Dhaka to Kolkata. Now in Varanasi (hyped up if you ask me). This evening off to Agra, then Amritsar the next day. Planning to go to Manali, and if I have time, Leh, then bye-bye India.
Kolkata wasn't bad. It was shangri-la compared to Dhaka. It's got everything. Good intro to India I think. |
Amritsar is great! If you have time, go to the flag lowering ceremony at the Pakistan border. Be sure to go plenty early to get a good seat. It is a trip! It is so worth doing! Of course, also go to the Golden Temple. |
Yes, Amritsar turned out to be somewhat of an adventure. Us tourists are quite popular at the golden temple. I got two house invites, and accepted one of them. Ended up chiling out in a Punjabi village for a couple days.
Manali was quite lovely. Highly recommend it. Nice place to chill out and breath in fresh, clean air.
Leaving Delhi for singapore tomorrow. If possible, I would like to come back here and check out the southern part of the country.
I really think one should check out India. It is quite a place and has a bit of everything. |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:42 am Post subject: |
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wow...
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:58 am Post subject: |
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How much is a visa to India for Americans?
Also, generally how much are flights from Bangkok to, say, Calcutta?
Are there any flights that would have a stopover in Rangon along the way? Wouldn't mind going to both of them. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
How much is a visa to India for Americans?
Also, generally how much are flights from Bangkok to, say, Calcutta?
Are there any flights that would have a stopover in Rangon along the way? Wouldn't mind going to both of them. |
60 bucks for an American if you get it in the USA. It costs a bit more in Bangkok due to the weaker dollar. That probably is the case anywhere in East Asia these days.
A one-way ticket BKK to Kolkata will be under 200 bucks. I think I was quoted between 150 and 175 bucks. And I don't believe any have a stopover in Rangon. |
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