Thanks again folks. We do have plenty of people in India so that may be the way to go. Cheers, Larry

Jacketwatch: If you're going to go to a few places and your budget allows it, try the Jet Airways Visit India Pass...you can get it for one week to upto 3 weeks for anywhere between $320 USD to $850 USD and it allows you to fly to any destination Jet Airways flies to...It's a great airline. Trains in India are not really dependable especially if you're tight on time...I was stuck on the Shatabdi express from Delhi to Chandigarh! A 3 hour trip took 17 hours!!

Check out this link for more info:

http://www.jetairways.com/Cultures/e...t+India+Fares/

BillT, I agree, I was being sarcastic.

Just wanted to point out that we've reached 100 posts on this thread - very unusual on this board (with the exception of Lynn's famous Thailand Trip Report). Some great (and not so great) dialogue here - let's go for 200!

Honestly, I was thinking the same thing!! But what else can you say!! All I know is that I follow this forum for travel related ideas and cannot get into bashing people..Although, sometimes i would love tooooo!!!!

If politics won't be tolderated here, then I don't think violence should be either. If anyone is going to bash anybody then I think we all should bash the basher and not the OP.

I can imagine my partner posting a similar post to susanwr. He's all set to dislike India and he hasn't even seen the video! He's afraid he'll get poo on his new TEVAS and have to clean it off with his fingernails.

Craig I just wanted to contribute some more c_ap to the already large pile which has amassed on this thread. Am I 103. Oh goody!

Haven't been to India but recently spent a few weeks in China. Imagine my surprise to discover that its cities are crowded, the average income is lower than in my country, there are huge income disparities and few social services, air pollution is pervasive and public toilets tend to be smelly. Spitting in the street is common, and there is deplorably little respect for the concept of a nice, orderly Anglo-Saxon style line. And you can't drink the tap water, either.

I also found a cheerful, gregarious, energetic and seemingly optimistic people, so far as I could judge well-fed, -clothed and -educated, much natural beauty, impressive historic sites and museums, and good food at restaurants and street stalls.

(We both got sick too, but almost certainly from picking up a bug in the aircraft.)

I travelled India with my backback and boyfriend years ago. It was my first trip overseas EVER and I was sh**-scared. Knew virtually nothing of the outside world at all and I remember thinking at Melbourne Airport on the way out - I might DIE on this trip. Very pessimistic I know. But what I am trying to say is that while I was very, very naive there was not one point where I did not expect poverty, dirt and a way of life that was very different to that which I knew in Australia. Sure I was shocked by the poverty and the dirt and the first Leper I saw made me go white, but all in all the whole experience of India was one which I will treasure for the rest of my life. I did not stay at posh hotels or eat at good restaurants - we stayed at the cheap end of the Lonely Planet recommendations (and sometimes places which we walked past on the way to the recommended hotels) and we ate where it looked ok and we could afford and never once did we get sick. We were lucky, sure - but we roamed where we wanted to, planned nothing and had the a real adventure. India has stood me in good stead for every single country I've travelled too since and I am still very fond of it. The beauty of India IS that it is so different to where I'm from.

Daneille
Your post was really nice to read and it's good to hear from someone who did not get sick in India. Hope we have your luck. All the very best.

Hi Lyndie, thankyou for your kind words. If there is one thing I can suggest to you for your upcoming trip (and I don't want to sound like I'm preaching here) but try and eat quite a bit of Indian food before you leave. It's very hard to get used to the spices that are used in Indian food suddenly and for almost every meal and to prepare your stomach before you leave will be a good idea. You might be used to eating Indian once a month or whatever but you won't be used to those spices EVERY meal (although in India you will be able to get Chinese, European and other style meals without any problem - even Vegimite at some places if you want/need it) but 90% of your meals will have Indian spices and it's a good idea to get your stomach pre-prepared.

Daneille
Tks a lot for the food tip. It makes lots of sense to me! Only trouble is, my partner HATES Indian food and will only eat chicken tikka or mild curry (when he is force-fed and when no steak is available). Forget dhal, or anything mildly exotic! I bought some Pataks' Tamarind & lime paste & made a beef sort of curry thing with veges. I LOVED it and he turned up his nose at it. He'll be eating Maccas or Chinese I think!

When we were in Myanmar, in April we ate at lots of food stalls & local eateries and never once felt ill, so I'm applying that philosophy in India. All the best & have a great Chrissie!

To Lyndie: If I may pls. be careful about food stalls or street vendors. Lots of flies around those places you know. Indian sanitation isn't the best and I speak from experience . Got typhoid there once. Believe me you don't want it. I do believe you can get contaminated food anywhere but your chances of that in the nicer restaurants are far less. My illness occured during our 2nd trip and I admit being a bit careless then as our 1st was uneventful health wise. However it can happen. Just a word to the wise.

Tks a lot jacketwatch. Point taken! We will TRY to be very careful, as others have advised and appreciate your input, very much. All the best!

I'd have to disagree with jacketwatch. At a food stall you get to see it cooked and can see if the locals are eating there. That's always a good sign. Admittedly not in India, but I've only ever had food related illnesses after eating in restaurants. Never from a food stall. Just be careful and use you common sense.

To Sid: Don't forget that the locals are used to the bugs (i.e. intestinal flora) so them being there may not be the best indicator. Also don't forget about the flies! They can spread disease. JM2C.

The best samosa's I ever had were from a road-side stall by a bus stop somewhere near Jhansi. Steaming hot, served in a moulded banana leaf (I think) and with some kind of green sauce as a dip - anyone know what's in that sauce?

Being my first trip, I was a bit naive and didn't really take that many precautions when it came to food. Apart from drinking bottled water and never haing ice, I was very rarely selective with what I ate - and I only got ill a couple of times, neither serious.

Jacketwatch - interesting last comment. It reminded me that I might me so lucky next time!

Also regarding eating from food stalls- you also need to be aware of the cooking utensils they are using- how they wash (or don't wash them) and how they serve you.

To Jimmy J; Just don't find out the hard way. :S-. Actually as inexpensive as it is for "Westerners" to eat in India why chance it at food stalls where QC is not checked or policed? Even my Indian in-laws shun those places.

I agree with other posters avoid the roadside stalls - I was born and brought up there and even I avoid it. As Danielle said it is having to eat the spices that you are not used to - I've got sick in Italy, Greece - nothing to do with hygiene or cleanliness since hubby did fine just system adjusting to something new.

To Daneille : I really enjoyed your original post. You've got a great attitude about travel. We've done India, got sick for a day or two but still came home with wonderful memories. I agree with other posters that it's probably best to work your way up to travel in India by starting with countries that are less daunting. India is an amazing travel experience but it helps to be prepared. I suppose it's just not for everyone.