travelaw

You should call your doctor or travel health clinic about immunizations. If you're leaving in 4 weeks, you ought to do this immediately. We got Hep A & B, Typhoid and a Tetanus before we left, as recommended, but it's up to you what you think is necessary. We also got malarone for malaria prevention. I do not know whether you can fly direct from Jaipur to Kathmandu -- you could check travelocity.co.in or call a local travel agent, but I would think you need to go back through Delhi.

v_sapi

thanks for all the great info.
We are doing all of the above but not the Malarone because my husband doesn't like to take pills for that long and also we were told that we can't have any alcohol with it, which would ruin our wine with dinner plans.

indianapearl

1) Speaking of wine with dinner, how difficult is it to find restaurants that serve wine with dinner outside of hotels?

2) Jagat Niwas in Udaipur looks like a great location, but a guide we just read said it's a bit noisy. Does anyone have any comment on that?

Thanks!

Marija

Based on a lot of personal experience in Africa and India, I can assure you that the only problem with mixing Malarone and wine is if you get bad wine. The safari lodges in Africa would be littered with ailing clients if the two didn't mix!

v_sapi

Good point...we'll reconsider the Malarone if you think it's a must.
Also, we will be in Kathmandu for 2 nights. Can anyone recommend a good place to stay, authentic yet with certain luxuries. conveniently located.

jules39

Marija you just gave me "funny" mental image of all the safari goers having a reaction to mixing their wine & Malerone!

V Sapi do a search on Kathmandu hotels there were a few reports over the past year talking about hotels. Two I remember were by Kathie & Dogster but I know there were more.

dogster

as V_Sapi hasn't done even the most basic of research at all on anything and insists on tagging other people's beautifully written literary masterpieces with questions they could answer with ten seconds on Google search they are not allowed access to my suggestions.

I have swum ashore to say this.

v_sapi

No need to be rude..it's just as easy to answer politely.
It is obvious that we are new to Asia travel and are asking for a lot of help. Many people on this forum are kind enough to help us even with the most seemingly mundane questions, which actually helped us tremendously!

Marija

Dog paddle, I presume. We miss you. Tell us more, please! We know you're not on that boat. We need to find out if you ever got on it or where you got off so we can award an appropriate prize to the winner.

travelaw

Don't get offended by dogster v -- he has your best interests at heart. We will help you as much as we can, but also realize dogster is giving you some good advice -- digging for some of the answers to your questions by doing a search yourself is very rewarding and will enhance your enjoyment of your trip.

pearl -- we had no problems with noise at the Jagat Niwas -- but that may depend on the location of whatever room you get -- ask for a quiet one. Also, don't expect soft beds -- their beds are pretty standard Indian hard.

dogster luv, that you swam ashore just to comment -- and to write such lovely comments about my report (undeservingly so!) -- I am deeply touched. Shukriya.

indianapearl

The report I read indicated that the Jagat Niwas was popular with tour groups --- yuck! --- but tour groups aren't necessarily noisy. I noted on the Udaipur map that the JN was close to the lake and the City Palace --- see, Dogster, I did my research!! (Aging scientists never die --- they just take long holidays.)

Thanks again, travelawg, for your sage advice. I've printed out your entire trip report and refer to it several times a day . . .

travelaw

Tourism was pretty dead when we were there, as it was not too long after 26/11. We heard that many tour groups had cancelled -- maybe that is why it was quiet?

So glad you're finding my trip report helpful pearl!

impacked

Hi, while doing some research for a friend I found you post and read it all in one sitting (and printed it and passed it on to my friend. What a pleasure my Sunday was because your beautiful writing!

I wanta prepare you - your lust for India never dies. I was 36 years old the first time I left the country and now am a true travel junkie. The first time we went to India I only left after my husband promised he'd bring me back. The second time we left India it was a little easier because I had another big trip coming up. The 3rd time I left India I actually cried at the airport because I did Not want to leave. Our plans are to visit the South early next year!
Thanks, again!

travelaw

Hi impacked! Thanks so much for your kind words. I am so glad you enjoyed my report, and I do hope it is helpful for your friend. I am afraid you are right -- I was already a true travel junkie, but now I am just in love with India. I'm not really sure why, but it certainly gets a hold of you and hangs onto your ankle like a puppy that won't let go! I can't wait to go back. In the meantime, I am watching all the Bollywood movies I can get my hands on -- just a few nights ago I watched Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and found a tear rolling down my cheek for no other reason than because I was missing the place! Next time will be south and east for me -- I daydream about it all the time -- the route I will take and places I want to see -- I have to admit, it's been terrible for my work ethic!

impacked

Heat and Dust
Bombay (1995)
The World of Apu (1959)
Swades (2004)


Here's a couple more movies to keep you from working.

indianapearl

Also add three films by Deepa Mehta that address the issues of women in India: Earth, Fire, Water. Don't know the dates.

If you have a lot of time, "The Jewel in the Crown," an A & E production of Paul Scott's "Raj Quartet," is breathtakingly beautiful. Filmed in India with lots of outdoor shots of wonderful forts and palaces.

There's a new HBO series with Michael Wood called "The Story of India." Haven't watched it yet, but it's in my Netflix queue.

bonnieheather

Need some really quick help here. The driver you mention, Ramesh Meena, is employed by whom? We've been emailing someone with the same name who claims to own/drive for Four Wheels Drive India ( added an "s" to the other company's name). Think his name is not uncommon, so am now wondering if he also borrowing another's name as well as coat-tailing on a reputable company's name. Any idea how to check this out? He seems to offer the same kind of rate and "guarantee" that Four Wheel Drive India (without the "s") does. We're leaving in a couple of days, so any help would be much appreciated.

travelaw

Ramesh Meena was our driver for most of our trip and he has since started his own company, using a very similar name to his former employer. I don't know that he is coat-tailing as much as using his former job as a model for starting his own business. He is an excellent driver. We had no problems with him at all. If you go with him you will be in very good hands.

live42day

Bonnieheather I hope that you will do a trip report and give info on the driver when you get back. I have just booked our trip to India for Jan 22nd, and will start the major research soon and look forward to hearing about any tips that you may have. Although it will be hard to beat the amazing report that Travelaw did.....But the more info the better.

travelaw

Bonnieheather: I have just been in touch with Ramesh Meena by email. He assured me that he is not trying to coat-tail on his old boss's company. He points out that the company he used to work for is registered as Rajasthan Four Wheel Drive, and his new company is registered as Four Wheels Drive India -- similar, but not exactly the same -- he also says that he is looking for a better name for his company so people can find him -- and would LOVE to have some suggestions for a new/better name. If anyone has any ideas, post them here and I will pass them along.

And yes, please do post a report when you get back. I really want to read how your trip went. I hope that you have a FABULOUS time!!!! If you use Ram, please send him our best wishes.

live42day: You are too kind and I hope that you enjoy planning for your trip. It gets more and more exciting the more you work on it -- have fun! I love planning for trips -- sure do wish I was planning one right now . . .