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[bbb0777]

Aside from many good things, India and Egypt seem the most famous of any nations for having a combination of filth, beggars, scamming, and hassles.

I've been to India, but not yet to Egypt.

For those who have seen both - How does Egypt compare in terms of well...filth, beggars, scamming, and hassles?

Thanks...

[AsiaESLbound]

OK, I'll bite during my break. I haven't been to India, but been to Egypt so I can't compare. Egypt is full of cynacism and the begging is where Egyptian people in robes expect you to pay them just for sitting around being a nuisance which is called, "baksheesh." These individuals act like the world owes them a living since they pity themselves seeking sympathy. I refuse to enable this behavior as I have more positive things to spend money on. Don't pay unless it's for an actual service like the use of a toilet or a shoe shine you want. Some sorry butts who are employed anyhow, such as some tourist police, may also try it, but you can look away, walk away, and avoid isolated dark back areas of temples and markets. To be direct about it, Egypt is blatantly rude and the locals mostly project themselves as, "unhappy," for the most part due to their difficult economic situation since their cost of living suddenly doubled in 2008 with most seeing a drop in earnings.

I rode in a boat to Phillae Temple with Indian tourists and they seemed quite friendly and told me out of the blue, "come to India, we will be much friendly to you." It's a fabulous outdoor museum, but the locals mostly only want to con you out of your money instead of being helpful as to earn it. There are too many drivers vying for your patronage, but it's very difficult to find a good honest driver any way you look at it. The flat breads are dirty with grains of sand and you often see bakeries stacking the flat breads on the ground. Difficult to find good clean and friendly food services. Non-touristy areas I seen from taxi car were appallingly disgusting with slaughtered camels common in open air butcher shops. They even have tuk tuks in non-touristy areas like that I seen in pictures from India. And stuffed pidgeon is served up to tourists in Cairo's Con Al Khalili market next to a big mosque where extremists have bombed to kill infadel tourists. Don't pay $10 for that meal like I did being adventurous as it's a disgusting rip off that will leave you hungry with 10 fake Rolex touts visiting you in 15 minutes.

Egypt is not intended to be comfortable, but a challenging adventure in the field and it lives up to those expectations, but can be frustrating in my experience. No where else did I get into so many conflicts and left so frustrated as I did in Egypt. Always, conmen every step I took. Always a fight where you negotiated say 20 LE for a ride, but they want 20 GBP at the end. It's a challenge if you go alone doing an indepedent trip rather than taking a Nile river cruise based guided tour like most tourists. Some love the extra stimulation and some hate the extra special treatment.

[runthegauntlet]

Been to both.

Thought the touts in India were worse, and that's saying something! India was by far the most horrifically disgusting place I've ever been to in terms of filth and utter wretched poverty. I was always quite nervous walking around Connaught place and the area in front of the train station in New Delhi. And the day after I left was when those bombings took place in Sept. of 2008. Definitely wound me up a bit as well. At the same time, however, their historical sites are far and away some of the most breathtaking. The forts and temples and whatnot I went to were really stunning. And once I got into Rajashthan and out of the 'golden triangle' things were much more relaxed and I really enjoyed myself

Egypt has its share of touts and conniving guys following you around, and it seemed everyone who so much as acknowledged my presence wanted some baksheesh, but in all I never felt as uptight and constantly on guard as much as I was in India.

Anyway, those aren't the two most favorable accounts (though I have many positive), but I would never attempt to deter some one from visiting either. Quite the opposite. Go see and experience for yourself. Sure to be an experience to remember.

[bucheon bum]

Well, I liked India more. They're equally as dirty. Well, ok, I should note I went through a couple slums in Egypt, while I didn't in India. City centers though were about the same in cleanliness. India probably has more beggars.

The touts in Egypt though were super annoying. The ones I came across in India (other than Varanasi) were pretty tame in comparison. Maybe my experiences in Morocco and Egypt built up my tolerance, Idk. And AsiaESLbound is right: the touts and scammers in Egypt just seem down and whiny. It's like ok dude, enough with the self-pity crap. The ones in India might be annoying, but they also don't depress the hell out of you.

Runthegauntlet, why were you nervous around Connaught place? I felt quite comfortable there personally. The area around the train station though wasn't so great.

India is more fun. Better food, more places to drink, more variety. I wouldn't mind going back to Egypt but I'd stick to just Cairo and the Red Sea. Rest of it? Hell no. Oh, I should note that a lot of people hate Cairo. I just was there long enough to become comfortable in my area, and confident enough to say f-off to any touts or annoying taxi drivers. Had I been there just a few days or less, I don't think I'd have any interest in ever going back.

[satishku]

I am an indian and some of the comments are not very nice (calling India most disgusting). Its good that u are researching on what to expect from India. If you cannot handle some of the bad stuff, better not to go.

My advice is this- If u go, dont go the cheap way. Places like India can be great if you spend money n travel/live comfortably. Stay in good hotels, rent taxis, etc. If you are willing to spend on Comfort, it can be a great experience. I dont see any reason why you would go to Bad Areas and then feel disgusted.

However, a little bit of hassle for foreign tourists in touristy places is normal. Cant help it. Choose the places nicely and travel/stay in good places. If u do this, India can be great. If u go to train stations and look for comfort rooms, it will be disgusting.

[bbb0777]

[runthegauntlet]

[runthegauntlet]

[bucheon bum]

[bucheon bum]

[bbb0777]

[satishku]

Now I get it why Slumdog Millionaire won the OSCARS. I think westerners love to see the depravity n poverty shown in the movie. Its nice to know that u guys want to see the real India. Well, maybe u can travel with a friend so u dont feel insecure. I can agree that India may present bigger hassles than other tourist locations like Philippines, Thailand, etc. As an Indian, I know what to expect and I play safe too.

But India has many places to see, food to try. U may even like some Indians clothes, movies, music and people. All in all, I look forward to going India once a year for vacation and I njoy the Delhi area very much, inspite of the Crowd n dust n weather.

I hope u guys will go to India and have a safe n pleasant trip. Good Luck

[bbb0777]

[satishku]

I did not like Slumdog M either. And the music for which Rahman won the OSCAR, well, it was not his best. Shows that awards are not always about being the best, rather being the best at the right time at the right place.

[schwa]

I travelled around India 35 years ago & it sounds like it hasnt much changed. Its an exhausting country but unlike any other. Awesome sights, indelible memories. I'd say its a must-visit if you want to consider yourself a world traveller.

For a similar but much more relaxed taste of South Asia, Sri Lanka is worth considering. I spent a very pleasant vacation there a couple years ago & its easy enough to reach from Korea. Kind of "India light." Deep history, friendly people (far fewer beggars & touts), great cuisine. Tropical beaches, cooler mountain retreats, national wildlife parks, all within a few hours of each other -- a compact & varied adventure.

Havent been to Egypt. Aside from the monuments, doesnt sound too uplifting.