India: where to begin???
- Thread starter Mrs Miggins
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Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Loads of monkeys in Rajasthan
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Get some bananas to trade if one nicks your phone then!
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Was cool at night in Udaipur in late December. Needed a jumper/cardigan. Daytime was nice 'n hot though.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Oh and saw no monkeys in Udaipur either.
Would have liked to.
Would have liked to.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
My dad has just got back from India, literally this morning, and he reports that there are monkeys in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Delhi.
Maharani
Just like Heaven
I would like to take some little things to give out to the children we'll meet. I hear biros are loved and I was going to take some hand me downs my daughter has grown out of. Sweets? Chocolates? Anything else? Bahnhof Strasse did you do this? Any ideas welcomed. 
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
I would like to take some little things to give out to the children we'll meet. I hear biros are loved and I was going to take some hand me downs my daughter has grown out of. Sweets? Chocolates? Anything else? Bahnhof Strasse did you do this? Any ideas welcomed.
No. We did think about it. But there are two schools of thought, both equally valid; 1: it's a nice thing to do. 2: It encourages begging.
As we didn't really want to give to beggars, for the simple reason of when you start how do you stop? We made a donation to Save The Children, which chickens out but takes the pressure of us.
Perhaps because we weren't looking, we didn't really see kids hanging around or begging. Nothing like you see in many African countries. But as said, perhaps because we weren't looking?
Once we got to Mumbai we were told of slumaid which helps kids in that city. There's a place that really needs help, so we ended up donating again!
Maharani
Just like Heaven
Valid points. I'd just break my heart to walk away without going bing them something little. They are begging, they will continue to I expect as long as suckers like me are around
. We're traveling quite extensive across Rajasthan and on trains a lot so I think our experience will be different. I'm surprised you didn't see many kids. I saw loads last time.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Valid points. I'd just break my heart to walk away without going bing them something little. They are begging, they will continue to I expect as long as suckers like me are around
Like I say, perhaps we just weren't seeing them cos we weren't looking.
When I previously went to India 20 years ago there seemed to be many more beggars than now. Again, perhaps that isn't the case, we didn't take trains, so maybe were cossetted a bit.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
It's only tolerated in religious places for sacramental reasons. Buy it on the street and you could go down for 10 years.
Maharani
Just like Heaven
No but it's easy to get. I thought you'd been to India!
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
Yeah, and I only had it in Hampi, in 'special' lassis.
Didn't try and get anything illegal cos I felt it wasn't worth the risk. Was never offered any anyhow.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Ask any tuk tuk driver, it'll take you about three minutes to score.
Maharani
Just like Heaven
Bahnhof Strasse whats the tipping protocol? How much were you giving?
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Once again the demonetisation affects this. As small notes are hard to come by you can't easily afford to be chucking them about. This is the biggest shame, as a ₹100 is just over a quid so fuck all to us, yet means a lot to a taxi driver who's driven for an hour for a ₹700 fare, yet you can't be lobbing your ₹100's around.
As a consequence we found no one really expected a tip, (it's never been like the US where tipping is pretty much mandatory), but when we could tip it was always appreciated. a ₹700 taxi fare, if you can bung him a ₹1000 then he'll be well chuffed.
But if you don't tip no one seems to get the hump.
So I guess tip as much as you feel able to to...
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moonsi til
worked it out now!
Did you go to Fatehpur Sikri? I loved Rajesthan too and have visited twice. First time in Jaipur I fell in love with the amber palace and second time it was all of Udiapur. Would love a Bhang lassi or cookie please!
Maggot
The Cake of Liberty
Pens and pencils are great, cos kids can use them at school.I would like to take some little things to give out to the children we'll meet. I hear biros are loved and I was going to take some hand me downs my daughter has grown out of. Sweets? Chocolates? Anything else? Bahnhof Strasse did you do this? Any ideas welcomed.
Myself and friends will be heading to India at the very end of 2017 for at least 10 days, maybe 3 weeks .... we (same gang) have not been since around Xmas 1997/1998! 
And we've no clear idea yet where we'll be going, either. First planning meeting early March.
We'll come up with loads ourselves, and my friends are genuine experts, who unlike me have been many many times since 1998.
But this thread also looks like this the place to follow for me.
Loads of useful looking stuff, thanks folks!
And we've no clear idea yet where we'll be going, either. First planning meeting early March.
We'll come up with loads ourselves, and my friends are genuine experts, who unlike me have been many many times since 1998.
But this thread also looks like this the place to follow for me.
Loads of useful looking stuff, thanks folks!
Fortunately my passport is good until 2023 
.... visa stuff I'll still need to get my head round though.
.... visa stuff I'll still need to get my head round though.
Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
Maharani me and j bought a lot of pens and took them to schools for the kids, we also took quite a few kids and their grannies for food or invited them to have their own table where we were eating and to order whatever they liked (they only ever ordered rice and chapatti and tea bless them). We gave money, sweets and clothes.
I did the same when I went with my parents before that. My mum and dad went often as a couple and would fill their suitcases with our old clothes to give away. My dad gave a taxi driver the shirt off his back once because he said liked it.
I did the same when I went with my parents before that. My mum and dad went often as a couple and would fill their suitcases with our old clothes to give away. My dad gave a taxi driver the shirt off his back once because he said liked it.
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