Gulp! I go to India today.

Post by **Woz** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:39 am

Mumbai with work. Hopefully back on Friday if all goes to plan.

Bricking it - partly because I'm worried I'll get ill, and partly because I'm going to set up a new office and I don't even have access to the firewall at either end where I need to set up the VPN.

Post by **jamie** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:33 pm

Will you bring me back some chilled monkey brains? They have to be chilled. Chilled I tell you. Or bring me back a monkey instead. One called persimond.

Rawk · Post by **Rawk** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:51 pm

Have fun!

I went a few years back to visit the in-laws.

It was hilarious - driving is insane over there - get ready for an experience of a life time if you go out of Mumbai (mind you it's bad enough there!).

As for the stomach bugs - I was sick within 48 hours of landing, for the whole 3 weeks

It even lasted a week after I got back - nasty!

My wifes Uncle came over while we were there from America - he was brought up in India till he was around 14, then came over to the UK, now lives in the USA with his family - he had great advice....

Only drink beer or coke. From bottles.

You can eat stuff okay, but no salads etc fairly standard stuff. Never touch the water. Even bottled. Especially if you're out in the middle of nowhere.

Still it was a great experience. I just wish I hadn't been with the in laws the whole time, I'd have been able to sort myself out no probs given some independance. They all kept trying to feed me!

Have fun!

Post by **Woz** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 3:05 pm

Cheers!

I'll look out for a monkey, but I've seen that one in Indiana Jones and I don't trust them to be honest.

Spook[UK] · Post by **Spook[UK]** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:53 pm

I was in Delhi in July. You *will* get sick so take lots of rehydration salts with you. Otherwise you can buy them there for about 12-15 rupees each.

Bottled water is ok to drink, although check the cap is sealed and that there are no holes in the bottom of the bottle where it may have been refiled. Crush your water bottle after use so that it can't be reused.

The beer will give you a headache. It contains glycerol as a preservative which causes headaches. Besides, it's bloody expensive there too. Beers will usually cost more than your main course in a restaurant. The waiters will always open the beers, drinks in front of you - but I got majorly ill after I drank a sip of beer that was flat - probably from a chipped lip on the bottle.

Stick to veggie diet if possible as the quality of meat is questionable in some places. I managed to stick to veggie for a week before I will ill from the beer incident - by then I was so sick of paneer (indian cheese) and daal (lentils) that I went back to eating meat - without any ill effects.

Yes the traffic and driving is insane, but no more so than the rest of Asia. You'll soon get used to the overtaking on blind corners with ravines on either side...

Have fun,
Spook

Post by **Me Too** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:16 pm

If you don't make it back alive can I have your home cinema system?

Post by **Bob_The_Engineer** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:19 am

Why anyone would want to go on holiday in a country that makes you shit liquid for 4 weeks and vomit like a 12 year old at a New Years party is beyond me. Add the fact that going anywhere increased your chance of dying in a car crash and the overcrowded trains I think I will stay in England.

Post by **jamie** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 2:34 pm

Bah Humbug!

Post by **Woz** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:27 pm

Bob_The_Engineer wrote:Why anyone would want to go on holiday in a country that makes you shit liquid for 4 weeks and vomit like a 12 year old at a New Years party is beyond me. Add the fact that going anywhere increased your chance of dying in a car crash and the overcrowded trains I think I will stay in England.

Believe me, I wouldn't choose to come here (certainly not Mumbai).
The rest of the country might be lovely, but this is a depressing city.

http://warrenalexander.blogspot.com/

Post by sm » Mon Oct 02, 2006 5:44 pm

Good Luck Woz!!!!

Rawk · Post by **Rawk** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:31 am

Its a good eye opener though isn't it? Makes you realise how good we've got it in western countries.

I remember landing, with Emirates the tv screens in the seats showed views from under the plane during the landing so the first thing I saw was the slums that butt right up to the airport fence. Left me rather speechless!

What I particularly liked back in Mumbai was the tourist leaflets in the hotel warning us not to go swimming at the local beaches due to the floating turds in the sea

Its a bit different out in the country (we had an 8 hour drive from Mumbai to our destination - now that was hair raising!!), lots of space of course and some amazing temples everywhere.

John Dee · Post by **John Dee** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 9:57 am

I have to say I don’t envy you at this moment. India is not a country I whish to go a visit (to hot and I'm not a fan of spicy food).

I hope you don’t come down with anything to bad and hope to see you online after you get back.

P.S take more pics

Post by **Woz** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:43 pm

John Dee wrote:P.S take more pics

Some more on the blog, but there's not actually much worth photographing to be honest!
I'm sure it's different outside the cities, but I'm unlikely to see that.

Post by **Woz** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:23 am

Spook[UK] wrote: You *will* get sick so take lots of rehydration salts with you.

*points as Spook, touches nose, runs mournfully to the toilet*

I didn't even eat anything last night!

John Dee · Post by **John Dee** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:31 am

At least its not comming out both ends

Post by **Woz** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:42 am

I'm baaaaack!

Wow - I can drink from a TAP! I can walk on the pavement without falling in pits of rubbish!

Hi everyone:D

Post by sm » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:30 am

Woz wrote:I'm baaaaack!

Wow - I can drink from a TAP! I can walk on the pavement without falling in pits of rubbish!

Hi everyone:D

Hiya!!!

Post by **jamie** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:56 am

Did you manage to sneak the chilled monkey brains back for us?

Post by **Woz** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 4:50 pm

Had to eat them on the plane because I realised I wasn't allowed to import meat products. Sorry.

Post by **jamie** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:11 pm

No problemo. Hope you had a good time fella! I always find that Imodium and pepto bismol work wonders during/after a holiday. I get ill without fail everytime I go away, without fail. Without imodium I think I would probably be dead now. maybe...