If you are visiting India this summer (which has already started....)

My dear dear friend Jane from Cleveland is visiting Bangluru (Bangalore), India this month. I am writing this blog keeping her in mind :) 


India is a beautifully diverse and a must visit country in a lifetime. You will witness the beauty and the color yourself but there are some things you must be very careful about. They are listed as below. 

• It has gotten tremendously 'hot' climate-wise right now so no need for warm clothes. Save space in your luggage for taking back lots of goodies. 
• Bring with you or buy sunscreen lotion that has SPF count of 25 or higher. The sun here is not very kind on the lighter skin. Getting out in the sun without (high SPF count sunscreen) is not recommended at all. 
• Indians are very friendly people. If you invite a local Indian on a visit to the nearby market place or mall, I dont think they would refuse. You will have good company and be safe from the unknowns. Your Indian friend will also help you bargain and the shopkeepers wont rip you off. 
• If by any chance you are moving around alone, 
• If you take a cab, ask the cab driver to charge you by meter reading even before you decide to sit in it. Then once he has agreed, take a picture of the cab's license plate and email it to the person who knows your whereabouts. After reaching your destination, when it's time to pay the cab driver, ask for the rate card. Match the reading on the meter to the reading in the rate card and pay the price that's listed next to the reading on the rate card. 
• If you are in a metro city, the cab drivers are required to be paid by meter. If they refuse to take you to your destination without meter reading, dont take the cab. 
• Best is hire a car and a driver from your hotel for the duration of your stay. The most safest option. 
• When you are shopping at a shop, you like something and you ask the price for it, the shop keeper tells you the price for that item (and if the item doesnt have an MRP {maximum retail price} on it), then divide the selling price by two and that's the actual cost of the item. It could be even less.  
• Please do not eat anything uncooked (like salads). Relish on everything that is hot and cooked. No worries there. Fruits can be peeled so they are safe. Ice cream is good. Soft drinks- no no. Hot almond flavored milk- go for it. Pickles, vinegar onions, chutneys, peanuts - not recommended. 
• Bottled water: Big Red Alert here. Bottled water is not always sealed and bottled. Please avoid the ones that are paper wrapped around the cap. When you are handed bottled water MAKE SURE that the deal of the cap is intact. Sometimes people refill tap water into the bottles and resell it. 
• Be very alert with your gold earring and neck chains when out in public or a crowded place. I would say avoid unknown crowd altogether. I would also recommend leaving valuable jewelry at home.
• I wouldn't trust the hotel safe at all. Keep minimum cash with you. Credit cards are accepted at almost every restaurant, multiplexes and shopping mall these days. Keep your passport and papers in your purse at all time. 

I am going to eat dinner now. More in m next blog. If you think of anything specific that you need to know, please comment and I would be happy to answer. Good night in India.