<p>DS going to India. I personally hopes he gets himself lost there. But momma wants him to be safe. He will be based in Bangalore.</p>
<p>How long is DS going for? What parts of India?</p>
<p>From a medical POV, vaccinations are in order, as is a basic medical kit.</p>
<p>A basic med kit would include, depending on the person, a few doses of ambien or equivalent to help with jet lag, anti-diarrheal and a course or two of cipro (along with the CORRECT instructions for use!) for self treatment of GI problems, anthhistamines and such if needed. Antimalarials are controversial and probably not needed unless someone were doing a field project (the locals, including professionals, think us westerners are paranoid about malaria), </p>
<p>Medical standards there vary widely, of course, but there is a lot of excellent care, so medical evacuation insurance is probably not needed. Do check on whether his medical coverage is valid there, though.</p>
<p>Outside of medical issues:</p>
<ul>
<li> most ATMs work with US cards. At least they did for me.</li>
<li> english is far from universal but spoken enough that language should not be an issue.</li>
<li> I never felt unsafe walking about, but did not do much walking about (mostly business meetings…) so it is best to ask locally about safety of any one area. My sense is that it is not a crime ridden country.</li>
<li> Depending on the type of accommodations, a mosquito net could be handy. Believe it or not, air-conditioning is not the norm below the most expensive. He may want to ask in advance.</li>
<li> Indian plugs are unusual, but most work with Euro style and US style plugs, so no need to buy a specific Indian plug adapter.</li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t forget Skype for chats, especially if he’s taking a computer.</p>
<p>shots done this week. Mostly boosters and flu. </p>
<p>Given malaria pills to be taken just before going. Jan-April is supposed to be dry season. There maybe an option to stay another 3 months after a April trip to Europe. </p>
<p>Can netting be purchased fairly easily? Can most anything be purchased easily there, Bangalore? Do they haggle?</p>
<p>I’ve LOVED both my trips to India, one in 1964, one more recently. I’ve never felt unsafe from people there–which is amazing in such an impoverished country–but the driving is hair-raising. Literally. Still I never got hurt from that either. I have visited Bangalore–it is a place where hi-tech meets the stone age. You can buy anything there–cheaply–and you can get by in English, thogh people appreciate any attempts to learn Hindi. Sometimes the street sellers and beggars can feel overwhelming. I remember haggling more on my earlier trip. I would take any chance to return to India in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>“Can most anything be purchased easily there, Bangalore?”</p>
<p>Bangalore is only the Indian center for Microsoft and half of U.S. tech firms in Asia. He will find a style of living - and I mean a WEALTHY style of living - for which he is likely unaccustomed in the U.S.</p>
<p>Hindi will be useless in Bangalore, and throughout the entire south. English is the lingua franca.</p>
<p>But if wants to see some “real India”, PM me, and I can provide pointers. (you can check out my place at [url=<a href=“http://www.lafti.net%5DHome%5B/url”>http://www.lafti.net]Home[/url</a>] ) or my blog (shantinik.blogspot.com)</p>
<p>mini, my india experience is more limited than yours by far. How common did you find english to be outside major cities? I found that only the well educated spoke it. Indeed, I know some states like Andhra Pradesh have banned english from the schools altogether.</p>
<p>For the PM, one other thing to consider is that India’s land area is huge, although internal air flights are pretty good and cheap, even if the airports are awful.</p>
<p>Get the pills. I have gone to India many times as part of my side-business, though never to Bangalore. My advice is, make sure you drink bottled water, be careful where you buy your food from, avoid raw vegetables that have been washed or need to be washed directly in water, and watch your pockets. Language should be no big deal but learn phrases like “help” in case of emergencies. Last point is, don’t dress to conspicuously as a foreigner or as someone who is wealthy. Beggars are a regular occurence, in Mumbai at least, but unfortunately you won’t be able to pay everyone. It is heartbreaking but accept it. Other than that, have a great time and realize everything may not be 100% comfortable but it certainly is interesting!</p>
<p>He will be accompanying his prof, A Singaporean Born Indian (SBI), who has likewise has never been to India. DS, hopefully, meet up with two CMU clssmates/roommates, ethnic Indians (ABI) who are there for family and job related business. </p>
<p>I have copied the messages to him for his followup. </p>
<p>Thx.</p>
<p>definitely make sure you drink bottled water (IF YOU ORDER SODA, MAKE SURE IT’S WITHOUT ICE!) and be careful about the food. English is veryyyy common. Driving is crazy, so be careful walking the streets.
For shopping!—Commercial Street, if forget the other street but if you search online it’ll be everywhere, Central Mall (huge department store)–the one in Bangalore has another shopping plaza like across the street from it, and The Forum<<shopping plaza.</p>
<p>Bangalore? It’ll feel like home to him ;)</p>
<p>The food advice is good, but I think it inevitable that people slip up during a longer trip. Keep in mind that, while sanitary standards in India may not be up to US standards (although given some of our e. coli problems, this could be debatable), much of the risk/problem is due to the difference in enterobacterial strains between India and here. In other words, our bugs can cause upset, too.</p>
<p>So he should plan on catching a GI bug, and be prepared for self medication. Antidiahhreals are the first line of defense, and one needs LOTS. In my attack when I was in India, I must have taken 20 imodiums in 1-1/2 days. But these drugs are very safe. Cipro is recommended for more severe symptoms, and can be curative in 24 hours, but can also mask other problems, so your kid should be well instructed regarding when to take it - not at the first sign of a loose stool!</p>
<p>Can he purchase Lactaid and/or Beano, Imodium there? He is planning to go to Europe in early April to give his paper at a conference, and therefore has to bring warmer clothing and suit. ? </p>
<p>If I was to go, I’d bring a couple of changes underwear, pants, shirts to fit in a backpack, but knowing DW, there’s going to be a row about whether its going to be 5 or 10 sets of clothing for India, and another 5 sets for cooler weather.</p>
<p>“mini, my india experience is more limited than yours by far. How common did you find english to be outside major cities? I found that only the well educated spoke it. Indeed, I know some states like Andhra Pradesh have banned english from the schools altogether.”</p>
<p>In the South, English is very, very common, though it is “Indian English”". It is not common in the Dalit community. English has now been made compulsory in schools in Andhra Pradesh:</p>
<p>[The</a> Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : State’s primary schools set to go English-savvy](<a href=“http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/29/stories/2006062902360200.htm]The”>http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/29/stories/2006062902360200.htm)</p>
<p>When I go to India, I bring virtually no clothes with me other than those I am wearing, and buy the rest there. (There is no “cooler” weather in Bangalore, though there is in the outside hill stations - bring tiger repellant. ;))</p>
<p>There are plenty of pharmaceutical drugs in India - in fact, they are the second largest drug exporter in the world. Whatever he may need, he can find there, at a fraction of the cost it will cost him here (though higher in Bangalore, as they feed off American tech executives.)</p>
<p>The new airports in India are EXCELLENT - Chennai airport is great - as good as any airport in the U.S., and I’ll bet Bangalore has received a major facelift as well. (Delhi and Mumbai are still “interesting”.)</p>
<p>mini, Delhi, Hyderabad and especially the Poona airports are VERY interesting. Don’t plan on AC in the waiting areas, for one…</p>
<p>Interesting about English in the schools. When I was in Hyderabad earlier in the year, a lead article in the local english language paper was about BANNING English instruction in the local private schools. Maybe they have primary instruction in the local dialect and english taught as a second language? At any rate, I found enough english spoken to get by, and the business community is predominantly english, but was still surprised at how many folks had very limited to nonexistent english skills.</p>
<p>Bangalore is a beautiful city. Much more clean than Bombay. Most everyone speaks English albeit with a different accent. </p>
<p>If you come across someone who doesn’t speak English, they definitely understand spoken English…they may just be a bit hesitant or shy to speak it outside Bangalore. </p>
<p>If your S plans to stay in Bangalore, he will have no problems with being understood. </p>
<p>If he has any free time, I would suggest he take a cab for some site-seeing on weekends - Hallebiddu and Belur are two places that have ancient temples that are worth seeing. Every inch of these two temples is carved out of stone. These are awesome places to visit. Mysore palace is on the way as well… not as great as Versailles but still nice.</p>
<p>[Karnataka</a> India Tour,Karnataka Tour in India,Karnataka Tourism in India,Karnataka Tour Package,Tour Package for Karnataka India](<a href=“http://www.tourism-southindia.com/karnataka/]Karnataka”>http://www.tourism-southindia.com/karnataka/)</p>
<p>I agree with MassDad. Strictly adhere to bottled water and do not eat or drink anything that is not cooked well/not heated. </p>
<p>If you have any specific questions, PM me. I will try to answer them.</p>
<p>My favorite tourist spot in Karnataka is the big naked guy in Sravanabegola, My 8-year-old loved it, and I had sore knees from all the stairs. </p>
<p>When I am in Karnataka, I usually base out of Mysore. I remember a time when Bangalore looked like Mysore - not any more!</p>
<p>Mini, Yes. Bangalore is changing so rapidly. I recall visiting my grandparents every Summer, walking through streets of Malleswaram…you would smell fragrant Champa all the way. In the afternoons, we would play on sundrenched terraces that had profusion of bougainvillias and shady banyans, mango and jackfruit trees… After long hours of play, we would sit under the shades and sip tall glasss of lemonade. </p>
<p>These days, when I visit my parents, I have to go “hunting” for a champa tree. No more fragrant walks. Not many bougainvillias left either due to overbuilding. My cousins and aunts and many others like them who used to have their own bungalows have sold their land to contractors who have built up skyscrapers. It’s pity…but westernization has indeed changed Bangalore.</p>
<p>By the way, on your visits if you are based out of Mysore, you can take a ride down to ‘Ooty’, a hillstation. It’s a beautiful place still. Not much has changed. I went their with my folks a couple of Summers ago. </p>
<p>It’ worth a visit. Also Mysore is not far from Buddhist haunts. Has become Richard Geres 2nd home of sorts.</p>
<p>Some things have improved. From Bangalore, you can now actually go to see (or be eaten by) the tigers in the tiger sanctuary.</p>
<p>[The</a> Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tiger numbers grow in Mudumalai sanctuary](<a href=“http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/21/stories/2007062155240500.htm]The”>http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/21/stories/2007062155240500.htm)</p>
<p>When I was gradeschooler, we had a neighbor who stayed in India. In their den was a tiger rug. I used to spray myself out on this tiger. Tiger fur/hair is coarse and fairly short. They also had a set of tusks. </p>
<p>Not many left anymore and I imagine we will see the last of many animals in our lifetimes.</p>