General Advice

Duckspool in India

this page will grow and be duplicated in other pages!...

To find out more about INDIA, try one of the guide books suggested…or web sites; the Indian versions of www.yahoo.com and www.altavista.com are good starting points!
Wars, earthquakes…the worst experience you are likely to have is diarrhoea! This can be avoided by eating carefully (if it hasn’t been cooked or peeled then watch out!) and can be cured with antibiotics or eating yogurt (hmm says Peter a qualified Pharmacist, yes says Mark who's been to India lots of times!) which helps to counter balance the bacteria that causes diarrhoea.
“Money is a drag - get your hands off my stack!” sing Pink Floyd. Credit cards are acceptable at many places but Traveller's Cheques (American Express in US dollar denominations) can come in handy
Tipping is something almost everyone expects; the ten rupee note comes in handy here or even the five rupee silver coin!
Charity is best given to worthy concerns. A Rupee will usually get rid of a beggar but may attract many more! As a “rich foreigner” you are a prime target!
Film can be bought locally but is probably best ordered in bulk while still in the UK; try Mailshots or Silverprint. Calculate your likely requirements and double the amount!
Taxis are a potential source of frustration to natives not only visitors. Insist on the meter (there may be a card showing the excess since the meters are often old; insist on seeing the card!) and a few rupees extra can go a long way but beware of excessive demands!
Please arrange your own insurance. Sneak thieves are common and extremely skilled while a visit to the police station may provide a good photo opportunity and a free cuppa, the necessary forms can be hard to come by and you may even find yourself accused of trying to defraud your insurance company!
India is no longer ruled by the British and things work differently in the world’s largest democracy to elsewhere. It is worth trying to understand this since it may not only make the going smoother but your stay more worthwhile and possibly your photographs more original.
What you do need to look out for is the food as a bout of diarrhea can upset your whole holiday leaving you stuck in bed. Eat cooked food and be careful of anything that might have been touched by hand. The better restaurants are usually OK

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“Money is a drag - get your hands off my stack!” sing Pink Floyd. Credit cards are acceptable at many places but Traveller's Cheques (American Express in US dollar denominations) can come in handy

Tipping is something almost everyone expects; the ten rupee note comes in handy here or even the five rupee silver coin!

Charity is best given to worthy concerns. A Rupee will usually get rid of a beggar but may attract many more! As a “rich foreigner” you are a prime target!

Film can be bought locally but is probably best ordered in bulk while still in the UK; try Mailshots or Silverprint. Calculate your likely requirements and double the amount!

Taxis are a potential source of frustration to natives not only visitors. Insist on the meter (there may be a card showing the excess since the meters are often old; insist on seeing the card!) and a few rupees extra can go a long way but beware of excessive demands!