INFORMATION WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH....
If you plan to visit India I would like
you to read the following advices with which I would like to help you to feel
very comfortable in this beautiful country, respecting and learning of this
culture. Here everything is different. The way of living, the way of eating, the
way of working, the way of sleeping, the way of thinking, the way of feeling,
the way of talking, the way of dancing, the way of having fun, the way of family
life, the way of living religion ... I could join a never ending list! All this
makes India to be what it is.
- Require a tourist visa at the nearest Indian embassy:
addresses
- No vaccination is required. It is useful to take along spray for your body too
keep mosquitoes away.
- Ask your airline about the weight allowed on your flight. Your hand luggage
shouldn't exceed 10 kg. In your hand luggage are not
admitted: knives, scissors, and nail cutters, lighters.
- You want to take along something for the local children? Bring along school
pens, kids ask always for them.
- You are aware that in India there is a lot of poverty. There are lots of
beggars. Don’t ever give money to anybody!!! .... Alcoholism is a huge
problem!!!. Buy fruits to distribute to the poor!!!!
- Indian women are always covered! It is an offence to the Indian culture
wearing shorts, short skirts, sleeveless tops. Indian dresses are very
comfortable and cheap. Don’t carry too much luggage…
- Almost all hotels offer laundry service (avoid including underwear!).
- In public areas (including on the road!) smoking is prohibited!! Indian
women don’t smoke!
- In bathrooms you rarely find any toilet paper. Indians don’t use it as they
wash themselves with water using their left hand (hygienic and ecologic). If you
can’t do without, you can buy toilet paper in the tourist centres.
- Indians do not use forks but eat with their right hand. They wash their hands
before and after meals. Avoid touching food items with your left hands. And use
your right hand to pay your bill, if you hand money with your left, some people
might ask you to change hand! (Left is used for dirty purpose!!)
- There are touristy beaches where occidentals come to relax. It is not part of
local custom to do so. Few locals only have a bath in the sea, women dressed
only! Attention the sun burns!
- The official language of Kerala is MALAYALAM. English is widely spoken.
contact: info@visita-kerala.com