India Favorite Tips by Canadienne Top 5 Page for this destination

Unexpected Benefits of a Digital Camera

Favorite thing: I brought both a digital camera and my regular 35mm, with the intention of controlling the amount of film I was using with the former. One of the additional benefits that I hadn’t thought of though, was the joyful reaction it engendered from time to time.

Fondest memory: When we visited the Bishnois family in the countryside near Jodhpur, the mother and two younger children were entranced with seeing themselves (and their baby) on the display screen. I’ll still follow up by sending some prints to them, but it was a lovely moment of sharing and enrapture (that I was lucky enough to capture on film).

Dressing in India

Favorite thing: The question of how to dress (for women) often comes up when talking about travels. Despite what Bollywood movies might lead one to believe, this is still a country where women dress modestly.

On my first visit, I wore loose pants, long skirts and t-shirts, occasionally wearing a salwar kameez. This time around, I was determined to immerse myself further in the experience by making the latter my primary outfit. . .

Cheap, comfortable, and extremely versatile, the salwar kameez is an excellent choice. You can buy them in the markets in any city (or buy fabric and have them tailor-made if you’re larger or smaller than the "average").

Fondest memory: The reaction we got to our dress was always extremely positive. It wasn't simply that we received less male attention (in the absence of a control group, that's a tough one to argue), moreso it was that we were approached by women and families who used the outfits to initiate contact with us.

I am confident that a number of these cherished exchanges would not have happened otherwise. . .

Take Photos from Home

Favorite thing: I don’t recommend bringing pens, candies, stickers or anything else to “give away” randomly. I think it establishes a "begging" relationship unneccessarily. I was dismayed at the number of times I was greeted with “Hello, pen? Hello, rupee? Hello, chocolate?”

However, I do think taking photos of your home, your family, your friends or other things of personal significance is a wonderful way to share with the people you meet.

Fondest memory: Part of the beauty of travel is not just that we can learn from the places we go and people we meet, but that they can also learn from us. It takes some effort and forethought, but can deepen the relationships you make along the way.

Being able to share our lives with the Bishnois family we visited (among others) was a treat.

Local Guides

Favorite thing: Some sites beg leisurely exploration on your own, others can definitely be enhanced by adding a local guide to the mix. The history, legend and anecdotes that a good guide can bring can bring temples, palaces or forts to life.

Another added benefit, if the communication is good, is that you can ask other questions about the town, the guide’s family/customs, or something else that you’ve seen and been wondering about.

Fondest memory: The local guides we had at Udaipur's City Palace, Agra Fort and at the Panna National Park were incredibly personable and animated. They were an integral part of our enjoyment of the sights.

The Bollywood Experience

Favorite thing: I saw my first Bollywood movie in Bhuj ~ we only made it half-way through a Sunny Deol action flick. Lesson learned? Don't start with Sunny Deol ~ go straight for Shah Rukh Khan. :-)

Cinema is so popular in India that it seems a shame to go there and not give it a chance. The masala formula means there's bound to be something that appeals to you ~ a song, a dance, a fight, a romantic scene. . .

I've been won over permanently - luckily I live in Toronto and get can easily my dose of Indian movies (I've branched out to Tamil now as well). There will not be subtitles ~ so you'll be in the theatre for the sheer spectacle of it. . .stick with Bollywood (it plays everywhere from Mumbai to Delhi) as it's the slickest and most attractive of the bunch. It's also a bit higher on melodrama, so you'll be fine without knowing the exact translation.

Fondest memory: My favourites from my trip to India? Mohabbatein (Dead Poets Society meets Beverly Hills 90210) and Zubeidaa (Above Average Historical Drama).

If you are heading to India soon, check out this website for reviews of movies currently playing. The reviews are pretty reliable and it'll ensure you pick a winner:

http://www.planetbollywood.com/Film/

Make Friends

Favorite thing: One of the most wonderful things about India is the people ~ you may likely be invited in to homes for chai or even asked to attend a wedding. . .you will most definitely be asked where you are from, whether you are married or have children, what your job is. . .and what you think of India.

Share your enthusiasm for the country, the movies, the food. . .the response will be nothing short of excitement and interest. If you have a chance to snap a photo, go ahead. . .if given an address for a copy of it, try to follow up on that part of the exchange.

Eating in India

Favorite thing: Some of the street stall food in India looks absolutely fantastic. . .but, it is always wise to consider the ingredients, the traffic (ie. turnover of goods) and your constitution that day.

I was only sick once while traveling in India ~ the product of some juice that had been mixed with water (yes, I should have known better).

Spend Time in the Markets

Favorite thing: Markets are something of a microcosm of India ~ vibrant colours, intense smells, lots of people and noise. . .but it's controlled chaos and they can be lots of fun to wander.
You run into some of the most interesting people in the places and at the times you least expect.