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freethought
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
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Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 3:38 am Post subject: going to india, seeking input |
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I'm heading to India in January with a buddy and we're starting to plan ahead. WE'll be going for about two weeks, trying to make a quick stop in Pakistan, and then somewhere in SE Asia.
I was wondering roughly how much tickets to India were and how much a week there would cost? The plan is to fly to mumbai, then up to Delhi and the Taj Mahal, a quick stop in Pakistan, and then leave. A typical ESL teacher's week in India runs how many won?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks. |
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jaganath69

Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:57 am Post subject: |
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Fly everywhere, surface transport in India is excrutiatingly slow. I'd suggest scrapping Mumbai and doing the Delhi/Jaisalmer/Agra circuit, back to Delhi where you could fly to Lahore/Karachi and then back to SE Asia perhaps. |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:20 am Post subject: |
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Spend the whole two weeks in India. It's the most incredible and fascinating place in Asia.
Jaganath69 has an excellent suggestion, and if I would follow it if I'd never been to India.
Wow, now I wanna go back! |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:34 am Post subject: |
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India is one of the very few MUST-go to countries for me.
Yet I rarely meet expats in Korea who've been there, even among those who brag about how many countries they've been to.
But if you haven't been to India you haven't been truly around the world, IMO. It's like skipping Europe and saying you've seen the world. Some places just aren't optional.
A Korea friend of mine went there last year: 3-day trip to Dehli and the Taj Mahal. In and out, bing bang boom. That almost doesn't count. I was invited but didn't go. Who goes to India for three days? or a week for that matter. A month minimum, and touists can automatically get 6-month tourist visas, a temptation to use in its entirety. |
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jaganath69

Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 2:39 am Post subject: |
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I've done 3 tours of duty on the subcontinent now, if anyone wants more specific info, pls PM me. |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:53 am Post subject: |
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VanIslander wrote: |
India is one of the very few MUST-go to countries...
Yet I rarely meet expats in Korea who've been there, even among those who brag about how many countries they've been to...
if you haven't been to India you haven't been truly around the world...
A Korea friend of mine went there last year: 3-day trip to Dehli and the Taj Mahal. In and out, bing bang boom. That almost doesn't count... |
Couldn't of put it better!!! |
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Richard Krainium
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: |
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VanIslander wrote: |
...if you haven't been to India you haven't been truly around the world... |
Sorry to answer my own post, but this is absolutely true; for all you future world travelers. |
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freethought
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:23 am Post subject: |
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i'm glad my desire to go isn't misplaced, but can someone answer a quick question. How much was your ticket to India? I want a ball park figure for when I go to travel agents to know if i'm getting screwed.
Seoul to Delhi/Mumbai..... how much??? for that matter, how many hours? |
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periwinkle
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:07 am Post subject: |
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Have any of you guys read Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts? I love, love, love that book. It's set in Mumbai, although the author mentions travels to Goa, a Maharashtrian village, etc. OP, I really recommend reading the book before going. I've never been, but after reading the book, I really want to go. Anyway, true story about a guy that escapes Australian prison, goes to Bombay, lives in a slum where he sets up a free health clinic, is thrown into an Indian prison, released, works for the mafia, works for Bollywood a bit, and goes to fight with the Mujjaheddin (sp?) in Afghanistan. It's amazing. |
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munji

Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Location: Daejeon
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:24 am Post subject: |
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freethought wrote: |
How much was your ticket to India? I want a ball park figure for when I go to travel agents to know if i'm getting screwed.
Seoul to Delhi/Mumbai..... how much??? for that matter, how many hours? |
Asiana flies direct to New Delhi and is the most expensive. I've paid 1400K. Then there's Singapore, Thai etc. which are much cheaper. I believe there's Air India as well. You should look in the range of 800K-1400K.
Direct flight takes about 6-7 hrs. A stop-over should get you in for 9+ hrs.
Check out websites of airlines companies for ballpark prices. Agents should get you a ticket for lesser. |
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Hope
Joined: 22 Nov 2003
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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Periwinkle....the book Shantaram is being made into a movie starring Johnny Depp. Release date is not until 2008 though.
I'm also going to India soon. I'm just booking a flight to Bangkok and will buy a ticket to India from there. There are a lot of cheap flights from Bangkok going to India (if my memory is correct). |
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shevek
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:09 am Post subject: Re: going to india, seeking input |
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freethought wrote: |
I'm heading to India in January with a buddy and we're starting to plan ahead. WE'll be going for about two weeks, trying to make a quick stop in Pakistan, and then somewhere in SE Asia.
I was wondering roughly how much tickets to India were and how much a week there would cost? The plan is to fly to mumbai, then up to Delhi and the Taj Mahal, a quick stop in Pakistan, and then leave. A typical ESL teacher's week in India runs how many won?
Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks. |
Two weeks? India, Pakistan and somewhere in SE Asia?
It's too much.
I'd say firstly save Pak for later.
Jag's suggestion is good but I think impossible to do flying.
Jaisalmer is quite a journey from Delhi / Agra unless he made a typo and meant Jaipur.
Rajahstan is a definite highlight of India, especially at that time of year when the rest of the north is quite cool.
Alternate itinerary - Fly to Calcutta, hang out there for a few days. Citywise it's still the heart and soul of India. If you can head south to the Sunderbans National Park. The best section of park is actually across the border in Bangladesh but it's probably your best chance of seeing a tiger anywhere on Earth. Actually something like one person a day is killed in here by tigers. Mostly Bengali fishermen or beekeepers.
From Calcutta fly or take a train to Varanasi, possibly one of the most unique places on Earth. Most holy city in the world for Hindus, banks of the ganges, cremations, pilgrims the works. For me I'd say this place actually changed my life.
Train or fly to Delhi. Check out the forts etc there and then do a side trip (one or two days) down to Agra to see the Taj.
Fly back to SE Asia from Delhi. A one way ticket to Bangkok should be less than 200 bucks.
While I agree with Jag that the travel is slow, make sure you take at least one train trip. It's an amazing experience and probably for fear of sounding like a stinking hippy one of the best ways to experience the "real" India. |
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Hungrypirate
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: Australia
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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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We did a northern India trip a few years ago and took a month to do Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra, Varanassi, Kolkata, Darjeeling and Sikkim.
We found the best way to get between the Rajasthani cities, Dehli and Agra was to hire a driver. I can't remember exactly how much this was, but we still managed to keep to a pretty lean budget. For the other between-city trips the trains were pretty good (not too slow and cheap), especially if you can catch a sleeper, as then your accommodation is taken care of as well.
Have a great trip. |
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winnie

Joined: 08 May 2005 Location: the forest
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Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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i flew to delhi last winter from incheon....it was 800,000 on air india...with a free 4 day stop in Hong Kong.....
and domestic flights in India are very very expensive..... |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:24 pm Post subject: |
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winnie wrote: |
and domestic flights in India are very very expensive..... |
how long ago were you in india? Lot of competition these days, can't imagine tickets being THAT high. |
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