Karen,

I concur with all that Andrew related to you --his description was so
good. I think you could sit on the same street corner for 3 weeks and
never get bored with the passing scene.  India is a truly fascinating
place, if you can get over holding your breath as the cab you are in
squeezes through the tiniest holes in traffic, missing other vehicles by
what seems like fractions of inches, and even passing by going on what
passes for a sidewalk. It's white knuckles all the way!  By the way, you
can hire a car and driver to stay with you for the entire day for about
$20 U.S. which is probably lots cheaper than individual cab fares.

Beggars at every stoplight will accost your cab. My sister, who has
lived there for over 30 years, carries little wrapped candies or food
treats to give the beggar children -- money doesn't help them a bit
(goes to the 'beggar master' or their parents), but a speck of nutrition
or just calories might help. Their situation truly is dire. But, of
course, be emphatic in turning away the adults....

Another rather different thing: if you need to phone home to the U.S.,
look for tiny shops with a phone symbol. The call actually won't cost
much in dollars converted to rupees, and you might even get through now
(little hope of that 15 yrs. ago).

In Delhi, there is a place called "Cottage Industries" --it's a
Government Emporium --a government run shop which has the very best buys
on a huge array of Indian crafts and products that you might like to
bring home. There's also an evening bazaar/market that is nice and the
dollar goes so unbelievably far there.  In open markets (not the gov't
emporium) Be sure to bargain, or they not only will not respect you, but
all other vendors will immediately descend on you and drive you crazy.

You can get water purification devices at mountain gear and wilderness
outfitting shops before you go, so you can purify any water (also get
the little tablets that cancel the iodine taste of the purification
filter).

A new tip, from my sister as well as others, is to carry Pepto Bismal
and take a tablespoon after eating anywhere, even (as Andrew pointed
out) at the 'better' hotels. I haven't tried it, but it is supposed to
help avoid stomach upsets.

Food on the train (first class) is way better than it used to
be....actually quite edible.  (Not so 15 yrs ago)

As Andrew said, the Delhi area will be quite chilly, especially at night
in January. I don't know about the other area where you are going.

Have a great time....you will love it.

Lucy Sperlin


Karen Bradford wrote:
>
> Okay, you interesting, diverse, worldly, caring, well-traveled, intelligent
> people ... who knows something about not-to-be-missed historic sites or
> museums in Tamil Nadu, India?
>
> I am going there in January to participate in the PolioPlus National
> Immunization Day that Rotary co-sponsors. I will have a limited amount of
> time in Madurai, Kodaikanal, Dindigul, Karur, Thekkadi and Trichy, if
> anyone knows something about these places. (We will have only two days in
> Delhi to see the Taj Mahal, Red Fort and anything else.) Yes, I have my
> "Lonely Planet" guide, but it would be nice to hear from your point of view.
>
> Thanks so much.
>
> Karen
>
> Karen Bradford
> Senior Public Information Representative
>
> Center for Archaeology and Paleontology
> University of California, Riverside
> Riverside, CA  92521-0224
> http://westerncenter.ucr.edu
> Office (909) 787-3517
> Fax (909) 787-5934
>
> 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays
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