Yes, I have expressed this opinion before. See in particular http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...e-in-india.cfm. And I haven't looked at the videos you mention (I have to get my taxes done before I leave on my next trip).

I believe in the variant of the Golden Rule that says "do unto others as they would have you do" (as distinct from "do as you would be done by") and I don't think that my desire for a good photo trumps someone else's desire not to have their photo taken. Obviously this varies by culture, but if you have reason to think that someone doesn't want their photo taken, yes, I think you should ask, and honor the response. If you feel that you have to take the photo "on the sly" that suggests that you would expect the answer "no".

"On the sly" was a term that was used in a question posed to me -- I only apologize for allowing that characterization to frame this debate. I am not hiding when I take my photos. You are spinning this to make me out to be some kind of voyeur. However, I make no apologies for my photos and I will not be changing the way I take my photographs. I suggest you stop judging people and trying to enforce your holier-than-thou sensibilities on others.
I am now sorry I posted my photos. I won't make that mistake again. Congratulations! In spite of all the wonderful people on this forum, you alone have now officially soured my experience here, of which I have been a member for many years.
Have fun doing your taxes and I hope you enjoy your trip.

Sorry you feel that way - that was not my intention. But since this is your thread, I'll give you the last word.

I am so sorry that I have started this debate for you. I should not have used the term 'on the sly'. I too, used my telephoto lens in Africa and other countries to get those wonderful natural pictures of people. Please dont let one poster sour your experience here as you have certainly given much joy to everyone else with your amazing stories and your pictures. I plan to take many pictures as well and feel the same way that you do. I know that when I was in China I had many many people come and take thier pictures with me because I have light hair and green eyes. I kept trying to get out of the picture as I thought that I was in the way of thier shot and then my friend said, 'no they want to take YOUR picture'. In Africa or other places if people did not want thier pictures taken I would respect that, and not be obvious at any time with a camera lens in their faces, but hang back and be (what I think) was respectfully discreet. I feel that you are probably respectful in what you do as well by the way that you write. Keep doing what you are doing and remember that , to quote a cliche, 'one bad apple....'

one more thing.....
thursdaysd said that he/she had not even looked at your pictures yet so how can they make those comments??

It is a great shame that this thread and wonderful report has been soured by some bigot pushing their own beliefs and expecting others to agree with them

In many cases it is impossible to ask your subject for permission to take a photograph and if you do, the chances are that the photo you saw has gone for good as your subject reacts to being photographed.

Thanks Travelaw. Wonderful report and wonderful photos.

Thanks again trav. Also great photos. J

Great report! My husband and I are going to northwest India in November-December and I will use many of your suggestions. We've narrowed our scope to Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Gwalior, Jaipur, and Udaipur and will have boots-on-the ground for about three weeks.

Thanks again for a fantastic report and photos. I just got back from a weeklong trip (Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan) and India was every bit as fabulous as I had hoped it would be. Your trip report is a tantalizing way for newbies to get a taste of this amazing country and, for those of us lucky enough to have gone, a wonderful way to relive our own experiences. Brava!

You have no idea what it means to me to receive such kind words and support.

Clark55 and jules 39: Sometimes you wonder if anyone cares at all and if it's worth your time, and then, voila -- a response from folks like you. Thank you!

Tangata: You are a wonderful person to defend me. Just going to a place and looking at people could also be considered piercing their privacy, but then, why travel at all? For me at least, my photos help me keep memories of my trips alive. And when things get bad or annoying where I am, I can pull them out and renew my love for humanity and all its many faces.

Indianapearl: How exciting! Do enjoy planning your trip -- that feeling of anticipation is wonderful. I hope you have a great time and will report back afterward. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

msmango: Welcome back!!!! I am so glad you had a fabulous trip. You were a great motivator for me to get this report written. Thank you! I hope you will write a trip report. I'd love to read about your experiences and your reactions to India. It really is a great country, isn't it? I have not been able to get it out of my head since I've returned. My DH said the other day that we'd better go somewhere awesome this year, otherwise he's going keep hearing about India and being made to watch Bollywood movies. Ha! Hate to tell him, but I don't think I will ever get over India!

Beautiful pictures, travelaw. Gives me an idea of what all to see in Rajasthan on our next trip to India.

Great report. You obviously loved India and had a great trip.

Wow! I just came across this beautifully written trip report today and so enjoyed the few hours spent traveling with you in India!

So many memories and so many new places intimately described!

Your descriptions of Dharavi brought back memories of reading "City of Hope" while travelling in India and then ending up exploring the slums of Calcutta.

Yes, the Indian trains!

Yes, those brilliant colored saris!

Yes, the masses of beggar children!

Yes, the paratha - used to have a Pakistani student living in the same college rooming house and she would make paratha every night! Fresh paratha or chapatti! Yum!

Thanks so much for sharing! Your trip has been most enjoyable! And the pictures were just great too!

You live in a wonderful city filled with restaurants from around the world! Hope you found some good Indian restaurants to revive your memories!

bookmarking

DYING to read this with my full attention!

OK so I completely procrastinated working today to read the entire report. WOW. Incredible, absolutely incredible. I have been wanting to visit India for years. I'd love to visit many of the places you detail here, but my main reason is for yoga. I'm a yoga instructor and would love to spend some time in Mysore or at an ashram. Definitely keeping this trip report handy for when I eventually start working on my trip planning down the road.
Thank you thank you thank you for all the details.
As an amateur photographer, now I will go and procrastinate more by checking out your photo albums.

Thank you so much BostonGal! I really enjoyed your report on SEA as well -- am hoping to do HK and Vietnam in the near future, so your info will be of great help. Our reports were both featured in last week's Fodor's newsletters -- so cool! I hope you enjoy the photos -- I am a complete amateur, but would love to take a photography tour like you did in Cambodia -- also one of my fav countries, BTW. I hope you do get to India soon -- once it gets in your system, you can't get it out! When you're ready to go, let us know -- I got so much help from the folks here I could never repay them!

magical and easytraveler: Thanks so much for your kind postings. It warms my heart that you enjoyed my report so much. Thanks for reading!

I have a question for Indiaphiles on this site: Do I need to take a mosquito net? I have a small one-person net that I've found quite useful in my travels. Most European countries we've visited don't use screens in the windows because they think they don't have insects. My husband was attacked by mosquitoes for three days in a villa where we stayed on the Costa Brava (I slept in a separate room with the door and windows closed). Since then I always take it with us when we go to Europe or Latin America.

Thanks!

It probably depends on where and when you are traveling. We were there during December/January mostly in Rajasthan and we didn't see any mosquitos, even though we religiously took our malarone -- but Dogster recently reported masses of mosquitos in Udaipur. If the net is small, it shouldn't be too much to pack it if you're worried.

Heya trav: just read the last wonderful episode. As you'll understand, it's kinda hard for me to focus 100% right now on finding words to tell you what a joy and an inspiration it has been to read. It's been a real delight to watch you relax and grow in confidence as the report has progressed - and to read your pleasure at the well-deserved appreciation you have received.

Don't think for a moment that things have been sullied by thursday's comments - she's a brave warrior with strong ideas about the politics of travel. That's cool... don't stress.

There's an old show-biz adage: there's no such thing as bad publicity. Actually, thursday has done us all a favour: she's brought your post back to the front of the board, added to your readership, given it a touch of controversy and a little bit of spice - and made people think. Don't be hurt.

Thanks trav. This has been magical writing, acute observation, insight and detail - and made me laugh, gasp and cry. We are all in your debt.

Thank you dog. I am truly blessed by your support. Beneath that mangy (and self-described "elderly"? NAH!!! That's all in your mind!) exterior, you are a sweetheart.

I admit I was a bit hurt by Thursday -- I probably overreacted to what I felt was a distortion of my motives and an assertion that I was somehow violating the "Golden Rule." I recoiled, hid for a few days, threw myself a bit of a pity party, examined my motives, which I concluded are indeed pure, and decided I wasn't going to let her judgmental and outlier standards prevent me from enjoying the way I take photos, or my particpation and enjoyment of this forum. I've been here a long time, benefited greatly from the information traded in here, and finally, after many years decided to file a full report, which I hadn't done even after many, many trips, out of fear of rejection. I think perhaps that worry contributed to my reaction. I also concluded that politics does not belong in travel, but I know that doesn't stop some people from imposing their idiosyncratic ideals on others. I'll also admit that I am a bit of a rebel -- always have been, always will be. I like to do things my own way, with my own sensibilities and I react badly when others criticize me. It goes back to my childhood . . . Ha! Doesn't it always?

In any case, one of these days I will start planning my next trip to India (coincidentally, I received a Pandaw brochure in the mail today!!) and I will be knocking on your door for suggestions and advice. Sounds like you have had one heck of another adventure this time. Curious what happened at the Imperial -- but with you, anything can (and does) happen!!!

You've got one thing wrong: I am in ya'lls debt!