Anyone live in India?

[3girls3xsthefun]

I'll be spending ~50 days in Kolkata, India, for work from mid-June to August, I'm just wondering what I'm in for. 

I'll be put up in a nice hotel, but I really want to experience what India has to offer.

I was thinking of finding a place to volunteer with kids on the weekends, but I'm not sure if that will be possible. 

I've been using Google to get an idea of what the weather will be like -- any suggestions for what I should bring to wear? I'll have to wear business clothes.

[alleinesein]

HOT weather and possibly rain. Its monsoon season but the past few years have been a bit weird.

I lived in Mumbai for 5 months and wore lots of skirts, yoga pants, kurtas and capri pants to work. On my one day off a week I was in a polo shirt and capri pants. You dont see many people wearing shorts and depending on where you are in the country you may need the extra protection from the mosquitos.

Unfortuntely you will not get to really experience any holidays or festivals. Friendship day is August 3rd but most people do not get the day off. Indian Independence day is August 15th and its pretty low key. Ganesh Chathurthi starts August 29th but its a much bigger festival in the state of Maharashtra.

Alcohol is expensive and it can be heavily taxed; expect to pay USD $8-10 for a crappy american beer.

If you will be staying at a Taj property sign up for Taj Inner Circle. You will rack up a ton of points and you can use them to stay at other properties.

I know that one of the IL girls lives in India but I cant remember her name right now.

Talk to your coworkers in India about volunteering; they might be able to set something up for you. When I was over there we had a coworker that fed patients at a local hospital once a month so he invited us along. We all pooled our cash to buy food and supplies, fed the patients and then hung out with the kids.

If you have the time to do so TRAVEL. I've been to India twice and never had enough time to visit anything outside of Mumbai. You should take the opportunity to check out the Taj Mahal.

[Brit]

I lived in south India in Chennai. I haven't been to Calcutta though. I really enjoyed visiting the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaupur). We hired a driver for that trip and did it in three or four days. I also liked Mahabalipuram, but it would be kind of a trek from Calcutta. I also recommend a side trip to Nepal if you can swing it. And Singapore if you need a few days escape from India, like if you are craving tap water and salad.

India is an awesome country. It is so different from anywhere else. At the very least you will leave feeling thankful for everything you have and every opportunity that you have ever been given in life. It will bring life changing perspective.

My mom loved Varanasi, but I haven't been. She spent time at some schools and hospitals in addition to the typical tourist activities. She is a much heartier traveler than I am - she traveled India for a month, alone, by bus and train - she says that this was one of her greatest life experiences.

Try to take part in a festival of some kind, bonus points if you can go with some locals. See if you can get yourself invited to an Indian wedding. And beware of temple monkeys, they want to steal your food and your shoes.

Take every opportunity. Know that most people will be kind, welcoming, and curious about you.

Lastly, bring hand sanitizer and always keep a stash of toilet paper in your purse.

[Brit]

The Ganesh festival was awesome! It was huge in Tamil Tadu as well.

For clothes, keep your shoulders and knees covered. Anything goes within those parameters. Tie your hair back for work - hair down and untied is very sexy in India.

ETA: I also recommend reading 'Sideways on a Scooter' and 'Dreaming in Hindi' before you leave to get yourself psyched up.

[alleinesein]

Mar 30, 2014 12:01:32 GMT -5 Brit said:

 And Singapore if you need a few days escape from India, like if you are craving tap water and salad.

India is an awesome country. It is so different from anywhere else. At the very least you will leave feeling thankful for everything you have and every opportunity that you have ever been given in life. It will bring life changing perspective.

Try to take part in a festival of some kind, bonus points if you can go with some locals. See if you can get yourself invited to an Indian wedding. And beware of temple monkeys, they want to steal your food and your shoes.

Take every opportunity. Know that most people will be kind, welcoming, and curious about you.

Lastly, bring hand sanitizer and always keep a stash of toilet paper in your purse.

I made it 2 weeks before i cracked and had to have a salad.  I can say that the salads from California Pizza Kitchen are safe as well as the salad at any Taj hotel.  I managed to eat them all the time and never got sick.  But then again salads give me horrible food poisoning the US so maybe i was having good salad karma in India to make up for what they do to me at home!

Ditto to all the above.  I cannot tell you how many times I walked into a bathroom and there was no toilet paper.  I carried kleenex with me all the time.

The monkeys at any temple/ruins/national park are cheeky bastards.  They will steal anything that they think is food. 

Also be prepared for the smell- you will either get used to it or it will be the only thing that focus on. 

And if you get the chance to go on a motorcycle ride--DO IT!  Better than any rollercoaster/thrill ride out there.

[3girls3xsthefun]

Thank you so much for the replies!!! I have to admit the food is the one thing that scares me the most. All of my coworkers have crazy stomach-issue stories whenever they talk about going to India. I told my H that this trip might be the best diet ever, since it will be hard to find stuff I like to eat -- either that or I'll gain 50 lbs living off soda & chips, haha.

[alleinesein]

Mar 31, 2014 8:04:56 GMT -5 3girls3xsthefun said:

Thank you so much for the replies!!! I have to admit the food is the one thing that scares me the most. All of my coworkers have crazy stomach-issue stories whenever they talk about going to India. I told my H that this trip might be the best diet ever, since it will be hard to find stuff I like to eat -- either that or I'll gain 50 lbs living off soda & chips, haha.

I had NO issues with food at all.  All of my coworkers tangled with stomach issues at least once.  The only time I got sick over there it was alcohol induced and had nothing to do with eating bad food.  Apparently doing 15+ shots and forgetting to eat dinner will make you very drunk and very barfy.  Experiencing a hangover in another country where you cant get a greasy hunk of beef to help you recover is brutal.

Unless you have food restrictions due to allergies you dont really have to worry about the food.  Use the same common sense that is used at home; if something tastes off/rancid/bad....dont eat it! 

The food is amazing. If you like fish you will be in the right part of the country because Bengali cuisine has lots of fish dishes.

I am a super picky eater and I still managed to pig out while i was over there.  Most 4 and 5 star hotels have food that caters to a British/Australian/American palate and if they have a breakfast buffet you will get a ton of fresh fruit, baked goods, eggs, and indian specialties.  Our hotel had fresh made chocolate croissants every morning and they were hot out of the oven.  So freaking delicious!

A few ways to avoid stomach issues- take your malaria pills at night (if you get a script for doxycycline); it causes stomach issues and nausea.  If you take them before you go to bed you will sleep through any side effects.  Take a pepto-bismal each morning.  Take some probiotics.  Drink a yakult.  Drink lots of water.  Most hotels will provide you with 2-3 bottles of water each day.

The only food item that I will caution you about is called Pan/Paan.  Its typically eaten after a meal and its usually something sweet wrapped in a betel leaf.  I've eaten baby eels and duck tongues but I cannot get Pan to stay down  

Try a Thums Up if you like soda; its a Coke product and its a really popular soft drink.  Lays has a few tasty potato chip flavors. 

Bengali sweets are good; if you can find an all chocolate one its like eating a brownie.