Need info on visiting India

jane_says · 09-03-2004, 07:20 PM

My dad will be going to Pune, India sometime after the first of the year on business. He wants to bring back some muskets and swords, for which his company will be arranging transport. What kind of stuff should I have him bring back? Where should he visit, and what kind of stuff will there be to do? A friend of his who works for the same company made the trip last year, but he's a dumbass. He took the bus (or whatever it's called there - mass public transportation, anyway). The company will be picking up whatever tab he runs up, so that's not a concern. Any foods he should try, or avoid? Any local customs he should be aware of?

Thanks!

garnet · 09-03-2004, 07:24 PM

The biggest thing I've heard about travel to India is be VERY careful about what you eat and drink. You can get violently ill if you're not careful, and even sometimes if you ARE careful. Pretty nasty from what I hear.

DanaC · 09-03-2004, 07:31 PM

Yah. A good friend of mine had a nasty bout of dyssentry in India a few years ago. From his descriptions this does not sound like a barrel of laughs.

That said , any opportunity to eat freshly made Gulab Jamens or Jelabi shold not be passed up!

garnet · 09-03-2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

That said , any opportunity to eat freshly made Gulab Jamens or Jelabi shold not be passed up!

Sounds good!

I've actually always wanted to go to India. I think your dad's experience will depend mostly on what kind of a traveler he is. At my old job people had to go to New Delhi all the time. Some hated it, some loved it. This one lady was absolutely repulsed by the food and lack of sanitation, and basically never left the cushy American-owned hotel. This other guy, though, actually wanted to stay longer because he loved the country and the people so much. What I heard from everybody is to brace yourself, because you'll see some awful, crushing poverty. Tough to take, but I think in a way it's good for us to see that sometimes--it makes you appreciate what you've got a lot more. Hopefully your dad will have a good time.

jane_says · 09-04-2004, 10:16 AM

He'll have bottled water provided by the company, and told me last night anything else he drinks will be at least 25% ethanol, so I think he's got the potables covered.
What would be a cool souvenir to have him bring me? What should I have him bring my daughters, ages 6 and 7? Any prepackaged candies or dry goods that are really interesting? What about spices? Or clothes (I'd reaaaally like a sari - do they come in sizes, or are they OSFA)?

jaguar · 09-04-2004, 10:31 AM

Avoid ice. Avoid any ice, expressly demand a drink without ice everywhere. Don't eat undercooked seafood. Avoid seafood salads. Avoid salads in general is good advice if you're seriously risk-adverse. I know in most of asia there is a very small shellfish that attaches itself to some plants that end up in salads, they can live in your stomach for years and cause intense pain, very hard to cure.

Nothing spice-wise you can't get anywhere else these days, cloth and saris should be doable, depending on customs (they vary on cloth). Wood souvineers once again, might grab the attention of customs that might demand they get gassed or incinerated if they look like they have certain bugs.

I'm still working out how to get totally de-activated AK-47s (welded up barrel, no firing mechanism, all welded up, clip welded on and welded up) in australia as souvineers from cambodia.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-04-2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

I'm still working out how to get totally de-activated AK-47s (welded up barrel, no firing mechanism, all welded up, clip welded on and welded up) in australia as souvineers from cambodia.

47's, 74's or Chinese SKSs?

jane_says · 09-04-2004, 11:13 AM

Interesting that you should mention Australia. A guy who worked for the Australian part of my dad's company lived here for about three years and became quite an avid gun person hanging out shooting and hunting with my dad. He got himself into a huge legal problem trying to take back a couple of disassembled "long guns", as my dad says, back into Australia when he went home. After about a year and a half in the courts and $15,000 in solicitor money, he managed to avoid any jail time but is scrutinized very closely whenever he leaves the country on business.
What's the deal with ice? Is it because it's made from the water, or am I missing something? That shellfish-in-the-gut thing sounds particularly nasty. I don't think salads are going to be a major problem. I can't remember the last time I saw my dad consume one.

jaguar · 09-04-2004, 11:43 AM

Almost certain genuine 47's, I think they date to the vietnam war and ruskie assistance.

All the ice gets made from tapwater and one has to think carefully about showering in that stuff sometimes, let alone drinking it. Freezeing doesn't kill lots of nasties.

Dagney · 09-06-2004, 05:50 PM

Well, if he's looking to bring anything back, I know a lot of Americans who would really like their jobs to come home.

Should we send along a huge suitcase?

jane_says · 09-06-2004, 06:19 PM

Might as well, I guess. He's in mining products, and the plan is to send any manufacturing jobs with less than a 20% profit margin there. He's going to scope things out.
I was thinking more along the lines of something for ME, though. I'm selfish that way. And I can't afford to go on vacation right now. Even if I could, I'm not sure I'd pick India. I want to go someplace where pharmaceuticals are cheap and easy to obtain, and the beer is good.

TheSnake · 09-06-2004, 09:05 PM

My dad was in India and he said it smelled odd there. I've never been there, but I can corroborate his claims somewhat by saying that the Indian restaurant downtown can be smelled from a few blocks away.

These are not meant to be insensitive statements. I think it's just a matter of the culture of your upbringing. For instance, our bodies are largely made of water which to us has no smell. But, it turns out, that many molecules closely related to water smell terribly to us. I'm sure the people in India can't smell anything there.

jane_says · 09-06-2004, 09:38 PM

I doubt that smell is the Indians. Poor sanitation, maybe. Maybe the odd smell at the Indian restaurant is curry? I think curry is stinky, but it tastes good.

Which molecules which are closely related to water are stinky?

jaguar · 09-07-2004, 01:56 AM

Sort of depends where but I know in lots of other places it's more likley to be rubbish and sewage smelling than anything else. The smell of raw sewage reminds me instantly of saigon every time i get a wiff.

TheSnake · 09-07-2004, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jane_says

Which molecules which are closely related to water are stinky?

H2S, H2Se etc.

All the elements in Group VI of the periodic table have similar properties.

09-03-2004, 07:20 PM	#1
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	Need info on visiting India My dad will be going to Pune, India sometime after the first of the year on business. He wants to bring back some muskets and swords, for which his company will be arranging transport. What kind of stuff should I have him bring back? Where should he visit, and what kind of stuff will there be to do? A friend of his who works for the same company made the trip last year, but he's a dumbass. He took the bus (or whatever it's called there - mass public transportation, anyway). The company will be picking up whatever tab he runs up, so that's not a concern. Any foods he should try, or avoid? Any local customs he should be aware of? Thanks!

09-03-2004, 07:31 PM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Yah. A good friend of mine had a nasty bout of dyssentry in India a few years ago. From his descriptions this does not sound like a barrel of laughs. That said , any opportunity to eat freshly made Gulab Jamens or Jelabi shold not be passed up! Last edited by DanaC; 09-03-2004 at 07:40 PM.

09-04-2004, 10:31 AM	#6
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Avoid ice. Avoid any ice, expressly demand a drink without ice everywhere. Don't eat undercooked seafood. Avoid seafood salads. Avoid salads in general is good advice if you're seriously risk-adverse. I know in most of asia there is a very small shellfish that attaches itself to some plants that end up in salads, they can live in your stomach for years and cause intense pain, very hard to cure. Nothing spice-wise you can't get anywhere else these days, cloth and saris should be doable, depending on customs (they vary on cloth). Wood souvineers once again, might grab the attention of customs that might demand they get gassed or incinerated if they look like they have certain bugs. I'm still working out how to get totally de-activated AK-47s (welded up barrel, no firing mechanism, all welded up, clip welded on and welded up) in australia as souvineers from cambodia. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain Last edited by jaguar; 09-04-2004 at 10:35 AM.

09-04-2004, 11:43 AM	#9
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Almost certain genuine 47's, I think they date to the vietnam war and ruskie assistance. All the ice gets made from tapwater and one has to think carefully about showering in that stuff sometimes, let alone drinking it. Freezeing doesn't kill lots of nasties. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

09-06-2004, 05:50 PM	#10
Dagney The Prodigal Brat Returneth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Cackalacky Posts: 1,107	Well, if he's looking to bring anything back, I know a lot of Americans who would really like their jobs to come home. Should we send along a huge suitcase? __________________ The Constitution gives every American the right to make a total fool out of himself. But that doesn't mean you need to.

09-03-2004, 07:24 PM	#2
garnet ... Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 657	The biggest thing I've heard about travel to India is be VERY careful about what you eat and drink. You can get violently ill if you're not careful, and even sometimes if you ARE careful. Pretty nasty from what I hear.

09-04-2004, 10:16 AM	#5
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	He'll have bottled water provided by the company, and told me last night anything else he drinks will be at least 25% ethanol, so I think he's got the potables covered. What would be a cool souvenir to have him bring me? What should I have him bring my daughters, ages 6 and 7? Any prepackaged candies or dry goods that are really interesting? What about spices? Or clothes (I'd reaaaally like a sari - do they come in sizes, or are they OSFA)?

09-04-2004, 11:13 AM	#8
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	Interesting that you should mention Australia. A guy who worked for the Australian part of my dad's company lived here for about three years and became quite an avid gun person hanging out shooting and hunting with my dad. He got himself into a huge legal problem trying to take back a couple of disassembled "long guns", as my dad says, back into Australia when he went home. After about a year and a half in the courts and $15,000 in solicitor money, he managed to avoid any jail time but is scrutinized very closely whenever he leaves the country on business. What's the deal with ice? Is it because it's made from the water, or am I missing something? That shellfish-in-the-gut thing sounds particularly nasty. I don't think salads are going to be a major problem. I can't remember the last time I saw my dad consume one.

09-06-2004, 06:19 PM	#11
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	Might as well, I guess. He's in mining products, and the plan is to send any manufacturing jobs with less than a 20% profit margin there. He's going to scope things out. I was thinking more along the lines of something for ME, though. I'm selfish that way. And I can't afford to go on vacation right now. Even if I could, I'm not sure I'd pick India. I want to go someplace where pharmaceuticals are cheap and easy to obtain, and the beer is good.

09-06-2004, 09:05 PM	#12
TheSnake Resident President Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 83	My dad was in India and he said it smelled odd there. I've never been there, but I can corroborate his claims somewhat by saying that the Indian restaurant downtown can be smelled from a few blocks away. These are not meant to be insensitive statements. I think it's just a matter of the culture of your upbringing. For instance, our bodies are largely made of water which to us has no smell. But, it turns out, that many molecules closely related to water smell terribly to us. I'm sure the people in India can't smell anything there.

09-06-2004, 09:38 PM	#13
jane_says Colonist Extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: SW VA Posts: 200	I doubt that smell is the Indians. Poor sanitation, maybe. Maybe the odd smell at the Indian restaurant is curry? I think curry is stinky, but it tastes good. Which molecules which are closely related to water are stinky?

09-07-2004, 01:56 AM	#14
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Sort of depends where but I know in lots of other places it's more likley to be rubbish and sewage smelling than anything else. The smell of raw sewage reminds me instantly of saigon every time i get a wiff. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

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