Originally Posted by
4halex
Thank you for your reply. I have always wanted to go to India but I did have second thoughts with all these horrid stories about getting deathly sick, and the ordeal of traffic, the smell which seems to be the number one thing everyone tells me. I am going since I don't know how you can see the world without seeing India!! I can't imagine Oberoi and Amanbagh properties to be that tough to handle. Would you ever eat out of the hotels?
Also did you have any type of shots? I was just in Africa and was told yellow fever was necessary and then when I got there not one person had the vaccine.
- Yes it smells. Smoggy also.
- Yes traffic is horrific. Just about anything goes and they don't queue up. Gridlock is permanent. My hosts make me leave 2.5 hours ahead of time to go 10 miles in Bangalore.
- You will occasionally see someone peeing on the side of the road.
- At a place like the Oberoi, you will be treated like royalty. It is irritating actually. We don't have a caste system in the USA and going to a place where one exists makes me cringe. I'm no different than the guy carrying my luggage and don't like being treated like fine temperamental china.
- In India, you don't get mobbed by creeps trying to sell you Rolex watches every time you walk outside of the hotel. Try avoiding that in China ....
- Can't imagine going to India and not having some street food. Ask the hotel employees where they eat just outside of the hotel.
- The ricksaws are great fun and cheap. But dangerous.
- Expect massive security when entering the hotels.
- Add Leela Palace to the list of OK hotels in Bangalore. At least until the FS opens.
- Your fears, in spite of the other comments in this thread, are unfounded. Stay at home if you can't tolerate 1-2 days of the runs. And don't go to Mexico. Mexico is worse. I once needed 2 weeks of Durcef ... (off topic)