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Western Women Tourists: Safety Reminders in India

If you’re a Western woman traveling to the country of India then it’s important that you prepare yourself to make sure that you vacation goes off without any problems. India is a conservative country that holds traditional respect and courtesy for women, guests and the elderly. Unfortunately, like many countries that find themselves in the throes of modernization, some of these traditions are wearing off.

Harassment of local women has been common and unfortunately, Western female tourists are not safe either. In fact, a large part of the population are under the mistaken belief that Western women generally have loose morals, thanks to portrayals of Western women in the media, the difference in clothing styles as well as contact with rude and ignorant Western male tourists. Even though India is generally a hospitable country, you need to keep this in mind so you can avoid trouble.

The best thing you can do is to prevent a situation from occurring in the first place. Women in India, as a rule, do not get too close to men. When introducing yourself, get your hands into a prayer position while greeting “Namaste” instead of shaking hands. Avoid sitting close to males and refrain from talking to male strangers, even if it’s just to ask for directions.

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July 15, 2010   No Comments

Foods in India: Some Safety Tips

Tasting the local food is no doubt a significant part of traveling and getting to know a culture. If you have an upcoming vacation in India then you are about to enjoy a culturally rich cuisine that cannot be found in other parts of the world. However, no matter how adventurous you are with food, make sure you follow these tips to ensure your safety.

* Make sure the food is freshly cooked. There is no other way to go about this rule. Make sure that the food you eat is recently cooked and not sitting for hours or even days.
* Try not to eat raw vegetables. Even though raw vegetables are particularly healthy, eating raw salads and other vegetable dishes in a restaurant can be risky, especially since there’s no way to be sure that the vegetables have been washed prior to serving.
* A lot of tourists in India prefer to avoid meat since it is more likely to cause stomach upset or other ailments. Since India has a delectable variety of vegetarian cuisine, avoiding meat shouldn’t be hard to do. If you wish to eat meat, be sure you are ordering from a reputable restaurant instead of sidewalk stalls or near-empty eateries.
* Lastly, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating. For more convenience, bring a handy hand sanitizer at all times with you.

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July 9, 2010   No Comments

Foods in India: Some Safety Tips

Tasting the local food is no doubt a significant part of traveling and getting to know a culture. If you have an upcoming vacation in India then you are about to enjoy a culturally rich cuisine that cannot be found in other parts of the world. However, no matter how adventurous you are with food, make sure you follow these tips to ensure your safety.

* Make sure the food is freshly cooked. There is no other way to go about this rule. Make sure that the food you eat is recently cooked and not sitting for hours or even days.
* Try not to eat raw vegetables. Even though raw vegetables are particularly healthy, eating raw salads and other vegetable dishes in a restaurant can be risky, especially since there’s no way to be sure that the vegetables have been washed prior to serving.
* A lot of tourists in India prefer to avoid meat since it is more likely to cause stomach upset or other ailments. Since India has a delectable variety of vegetarian cuisine, avoiding meat shouldn’t be hard to do. If you wish to eat meat, be sure you are ordering from a reputable restaurant instead of sidewalk stalls or near-empty eateries.
* Lastly, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before eating. For more convenience, bring a handy hand sanitizer at all times with you.

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July 9, 2010   No Comments

Bed Accommodation for Budget Travelers in India

India has always been a popular destination among holiday makers, and if you are like most travelers then
you are probably looking for affordable accommodation. Fortunately, there are many places in India that
are ideal for budget travelers. These budget places are usually called “lodge”, “guest houses” or “boarding
house”. So if you are looking for an affordable place to stay then it’s best to keep these terms in mind.
It’s also good if you know what to expect from these places. For instance, if you are used to room
service and air-condition then you might have to adapt to a different environment. Lodge and boarding
houses usually offer very simple accommodation that includes little more than a room, a bed, a fan and
light, a chair, a desk and perhaps a closet for your belongings. In some cases, the room will also have
its own bathroom. However, it is also common to see lodges that have a common bathroom for guests.
To make sure that you have a hassle-free stay, it might be a good idea to bring your own toiletries, bed
sheets, pillows and blankets. It’s also advisable that you bring your own water because these places usually
use tap water only for drinking supply of their guests.

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June 28, 2010   No Comments

Petty Crimes in India

If you are planning to go to India then you can look forward to visiting a country that boasts friendly and hospitable locals. However, even though most of the people you will meet during your stay will want to make your vacation as nice as possible, this doesn’t mean that there will also be one or two who may want to take advantage of you.

If you are worried about encountering crimes in India then the type of crime you should look out for would be stealth crimes. What are stealth crimes? These are usually the crimes that are committed against you without you even knowing it. For instance, you go back to your hotel room and find out that your backpack has been slashed and some of your belongings are missing. Or a friendly local offers to buy your ticket and then disappears with your money. If you exercise caution against these instances back in your country then you should double your effort when in a foreign place.

You might also want to remember that tourists are at most risk when they find themselves in deserted areas. Even though the crowds of Indian streets may seem overwhelming at first, they can actually offer some protection against petty theft and other crimes.

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June 21, 2010   No Comments

Mosquito Repellent and Other Ways to Avoid Mosquitoes in India

Mosquitoes are something that every tourist in India might have to deal with when visiting this country. Aside from being pesky bugs, mosquitoes are also known for transmitting diseases. Naturally, you don’t want to fall ill during your vacation in India. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting sick from mosquitoes and other bugs.

Unsurprisingly, the best and easiest thing you can do to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes is to wear plenty of insect repellant whenever you are going outdoors or to any insect-infested area. There are many quality repellants that you can buy once you get to India but if you’re more comfortable using your trusty brand then just bring a bottle or two from home. Mosquitoes usually appear around dusk so be prepared even before dark falls. If it’s not too hot, you might also want to chance into pants or shirts with long sleeves to protect your arms and legs.

If you’re sleeping somewhere where you are at risk of getting bitten by mosquitoes while you sleep, you might want to invest in a mosquito net as well. Another alternative would be to buy one of those coils that you burn like incense. The smoke would drive mosquitoes away from the area.

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June 17, 2010   No Comments

Foods in India: Some Safety Tips

Food is an aspect of travel that many tourists worry about when they are visiting a foreign country. However, if you take enough precautions with the food you eat during your vacation, you can have the peace of mind that you won’t contract any illnesses during your holiday. If you are going to India for your next vacation then here are some food safety tips to heed.

The general rule is to stick to restaurants that serves freshly cooked dishes, not dishes that have been stored for a couple of days and reheated. Naturally, it will be hard for you to see what’s going in the kitchen. So a good piece of advice would be to eat in reputable restaurants. If a restaurant or eatery barely has customers then this could be a sign of bad quality of food.

Eating raw vegetables is usually a very healthy idea but only when you get to be in charge of buying and preparing your own vegetables. When it comes to fresh salads in restaurants, there is no way of ensuring that the vegetables you eat will be clean.

Lastly, be wary of fresh fruits juices that are sold in stalls along the street. These juices are often made by diluting pulp with water and vendors probably use tap water for the job.

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June 8, 2010   No Comments

Visit in India and Travel Like Pro

Traveling within a familiar city is hard enough but when you need to explore an unfamiliar city then the challenge becomes twice as hard. If you are heading to India for your holiday then you might want to learn a thing or two about the local transportation. Whether you are going from one Indian city to another or simply to the nearby establishments, here are some tips to keep in mind.

When it comes to buying tickets for trains, planes and other modes of transportation, always make your purchase from the transportation company. Don’t be tempted by touts or scalpers who offer you the tickets for half the price. Not only is this unsafe but your ticket will be most likely invalid.

When it comes to making your way around crowded airports, bus stations or railway terminals, always be alert and keep your money and other valuable protected. Instead of keeping your money in your bag or wallet, buy a pouch or money belt that you can conceal beneath your clothes.

If you’re not in a hurry to get to your destination, taking the train is always a good idea. Not only is it a great way to get to know the local culture but it will also save you money on your hotel accommodation for the first night.

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June 4, 2010   No Comments

Packing for India: Sun Protection and Sports Equipment

If you have an upcoming trip to India then one of the things that you would need to prepare would be your clothing for the trip. If this is your first time to travel to India then you’re probably still wondering as to what kind of clothes you should bring. Here are some tips that will help you pack light while still being able to bring the right kind of clothes.

If you will be going to India during the summer then always remember to pack some lightweight clothing. In fact, India is known for its sweltering heat so you might want to pack light clothes no matter what time of year you are visiting. Light fabrics that breathe will allow you to stay fresh even while under the sun.

Speaking of the hot sun, it’s also a good idea to bring some protection against the harmful sun rays. A pair of dark sunglasses, some sun block with high SPF and a wide-brimmed hat should provide you ample protection against the sun. Since India tends to experience unexpected monsoons, it will also be a good idea to bring a foldable umbrella to keep you dry.

Other items to bring should also depend on the activities that you are planning to try in India. For instance, if you are planning to try a bit of sports, you might want to bring your own golf balls, tennis rackets and other sports equipment since these items tend to cost a lot in India.

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June 4, 2010   No Comments

India Travel: Last-Minute Reminders

If you are going on a trip to India then you’ve probably done all the necessary research to help you prepare for your vacation. However, there’s always the chance that you might get so excited about your trip that you might forget some basic guidelines when it comes to visiting India. Here are these important travel reminders again that you should keep in mind.

Beware of strangers that are too friendly. India is a very warm and hospitable country and most of its people are also friendly. However, beware of people who seem to get too friendly with you. Be polite but decline any offers they might give you.

When you go out to explore the streets of India, carry only the amount of money that you will need for the day. Carrying large amounts of money and displaying it will make you an easy target of pickpockets and other petty thieves.

Pay attention to the way you dress. You may have been free to wear anything you please back in your country but in India, the clothing custom still tends to be somewhat conservative. So be sure to make sure that you don’t offend anyone by wearing anything too revealing or provocative.

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May 26, 2010   No Comments