Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Posted (5 years 12 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3954 times:
So I'm flying out to Bangalore for business, arriving in the wee hours of June 11, just staying for 3 days, what should I NOT do when I'm there. Thanks in advance!
Springbok747 From Australia, joined Nov 2004, 4387 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (5 years 12 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3933 times:
Don't eat or drink ANYTHING on the street.
Drink only bottled water, and make sure the seal is not broken.
Don't drink Coke in India...it tastes horrible and I'm not really sure about the hygene standards they have when it comes to bottling carbonated beverages (I got really sick after having a can of coke in 2002..I mean really sick).
When the taxi/cab drivers swarm all over you as you arrive, just say that you already have transport to get to the city...don't let them hassle you, same goes for the beggars on the streets, just ignore them.
Get used to people shoving and pushing and not having any personal space, even when you are collecting your baggage from the carousel.
Thats all I can think of now..I'll post more later.
One man's yum is another man's yechh! I brought back a can of coke from India because it tastes so great there.
Things not to do in Bangalore:
1. Don't show up without a hotel reservation - rooms are to kill for!
2. The traffic is unbelievably chaotic - don't attempt to drive.
3. Don't nod when you mean Yes - oscillate your head about a pivot point approx 6" over your head.
4. Don't expect much to get done in 3 days - you'll be very tired.
5. Don't take a cab outside the airport -if your host isn't picking you up, sign up for an air conditioned cab just after leaving the baggage area. (Akbar/Ashok (?) Travels .
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 3, posted (5 years 12 months 2 days ago) and read 3911 times:
I have to agree on the don't drink the water or eat off the street advice and I would also suggest you bring a couple of rolls of TP to throw in your laptop bag if possible. You never know when you'll need them.
Where are you staying? There are only a few places that I would consider up to par with US business hotels. Definitely make sure that your hotel is picking you up at the airport.
Other things not to do...visit the technology museum, go swimming in Ulsoor Lake, drive a car, and expect things to run on time.
Things to do...take a ride in an autorickshaw, wander up and down MG Road, enjoy the crowds.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3880 times:
Possibly Royal Orchard Central or TajResidency.... need to be near N.A.L. I may have my agent there arrange all the driving. Thanks for the tips, I'll make sure I don't move my head in any of my meetings...
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18881 posts, RR: 64 Reply 6, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3868 times:
Nimish From India, joined Feb 2005, 3078 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 3815 times:
* Don't wait for traffic to give way for pedestrians - ain't gonna happen
* Carry an umbrella if you plan to walk around - it's been reasonably wet in the evenings.
* Do try some of the local cuisine - maybe at restaurants like "Karavali" in the Taj Gateway - this is the "south Indian cuisine" I'm talking about. Would also encourage you to try
* Don't give any money to beggars - encourages more of them
* Don't confuse the floors in buildings/hotels - the American 1st floor is the Indian "ground floor" and so on.
* Don't assume that 5 kms means 5 minutes travel time - it could take you up to an hour to cover 5 kms.
* Don't plan on carrying more than 1 carry on item on your return - the Indian security regulations allow only 1 hand baggage on board - and there's currently no exceptions to laptops. So if you have a laptop bag and a carry on - you'll have to check one in.
* Don't get to the airport at the last minute - there are often hour long queues outside the airport just to get your bags X-Rayed. This is especially true during the 8-11 pm time range.
Quoting Comorin (Reply 2): 5. Don't take a cab outside the airport -if your host isn't picking you up, sign up for an air conditioned cab just after leaving the baggage area. (Akbar/Ashok (?) Travels .
Akbar travels - yes - they're pretty good - and they're located just after the baggage claim/customs.
Quoting Aerobalance (Reply 5): Possibly Royal Orchard Central or TajResidency.... need to be near N.A.L
AFAIK, the NAL Head office is on airport road (opposite the Golden Enclave complex) - and hence the Leela or the Royal Orchid hotel would be the closest. Or one of the numerous service apartments on airport road.
Enjoy your trip and I hope we get a detailed trip report!
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 8, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 3796 times:
Quoting Aerobalance (Reply 5): Possibly Royal Orchard Central or TajResidency
I stayed at the Taj Residency when I was there for a month and they were great. They were in the process of updating the rooms when I was there in late 2004 but even my older room was comparable to a decent Marriott Courtyard here in the States. I don't know about the Royal Orchard but Nimish mentioned the Leelah Palace and I was impressed by it when we visited it.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
Quoting Comorin (Reply 2): Don't nod when you mean Yes - oscillate your head about a pivot point approx 6" over your head.
Thats true.This was pointed out by a few Boeing Instructors during our B752SF Trainings & after observing in detail its very common for Indians NOT to nod yes but move a circular head mvmt.
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 3): hings to do...take a ride in an autorickshaw, wander up and down MG Road, enjoy the crowds.
Try MG Road,Brigade street.Visit the Pubs.
Meet up with a few Indian Anetters from BLR.There are quite a few.
DrDeke From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 830 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3765 times:
I really want to know more about this head wiggle/waggle thing. I didn't quite understand the gesture from the description on that web page, so I second the call for a video.
DrDeke
If you don't want it known, don't say it on a phone.
Mdsh00 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 4097 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3755 times:
Quoting Comorin (Reply 2): 3. Don't nod when you mean Yes - oscillate your head about a pivot point approx 6" over your head.
Quoting DrDeke (Reply 10): I really want to know more about this head wiggle/waggle thing. I didn't quite understand the gesture from the description on that web page, so I second the call for a video.
Haha I think the head wiggle thing is bigger in Southern India. I'm always thrown off when I hear a South Indian reply "Yes" but shake his head like he's saying no. A lot of people (especially the ones you will be interacting with) will know English and have probably had some experience with Westerners. If you can't figure it out, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Make sure you don't leave before having a traditional South Indian meal: Dosa, Uttapam, Idli-Sambhar, Rasam.
I'd still try it. Coke is a little sweeter in India, and Pepsi is a little stronger. But like someone said above, skip both and try Thumbs Up because it beats both.
And the sealed bottled water is really important, especially if you buy it from a street vendor. Some have been known to take used bottles and fill them up with tap water. So also crush your bottle before you throw it away.
Along with water, I would probably avoid any dairy products where the milk hasn't been heated (like Lassi or shakes). Pasteurization isn't standard in India so you don't know.
"Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change."
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3751 times:
Awesome help guys, many thanks. I arrive into BLR on June 11 at 0430 on BA0119 and depart on June 14 at 0545 on BA0118. I plan on having meetings with my customer on the 12th and 13th. The rest of the time is free, if anybody is up for dinner those dates or have the day of the 11th free then please PM me.
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 13, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3730 times:
Quoting Aerobalance (Reply 12): if anybody is up for dinner those dates or have the day of the 11th free then please PM me.
I can't remember all the places I was taken by the locals when I was there but I do remember one place. It was called Tandoor or something along those lines and of course they had Tandoori food. They have a location in the Maldives IIRC and I recall leaving the place stuffed with a taste to go back for more later on when it all settled. The locals on here can point you to some other good spots as well.
Oh, one other thing that seems a bit odd at first, for Americans at least, is the way guys in India will hold hands or walk with their arms around each others shoulders. It's not a gay thing (not that there is anything wrong with that) but rather a friendship thing. Of course us Americans with our love of personal space, which you won't have in India, see it as a bit weird. I had read about it before I got there and didn't think twice about it.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
DL021 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 11433 posts, RR: 81 Reply 14, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 3729 times:
Tony....remember your malaria and other shots (the list is available at the CDC, but some infectious disease docs add to that list) and don't drink the water.
Comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4676 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 3707 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 14): Tony....remember your malaria and other shots (the list is available at the CDC, but some infectious disease docs add to that list) and don't drink the water.
I've heard mixed things about Malaria shots/pills - they can make you feel quite spacey and give you nightmares. I'd stick with my favorite anti-malarial - a Gin and Tonic everyday!
If you are just heading to Bangalore, remember it has a sub-tropical, pleasant climate so the infectious disease profile is lower there. My own preference is for Hep A and B shots, only because they do affect the liver in the long term.
Oh, yes make sure you try Indian Mangoes as they will be in season - which reminds me - Don't be afraid to flirt with the locals - decapitation was banned a while ago...
DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16 Reply 16, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3691 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 14): remember your malaria and other shots (the list is available at the CDC, but some infectious disease docs add to that list)
Not sure if you really need them if only going for a couple of days in an area where mosquitos carrying the little malaria critters are few and far between. I took all sorts of shots (polio, rabies, Hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, and a few others I forget) plus my daily malaria pills.
Quoting Comorin (Reply 15): I've heard mixed things about Malaria shots/pills - they can make you feel quite spacey and give you nightmares.
I believe the one you are talking about is Larium. Some of its side effects include nausea and halucinations up to an incluing suicidal thoughts and actions. I took Malarone which you have to take every day and had no problems. Some of my co-workers took Larium and complained for a couple of days after taking it once a week of being spaced out and feeling a bit weird and woozy. For such a short trip I wouldn't worry about it but if going longer take the Malarone if you can remember to take a pill every day.
"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."
Aerobalance From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 4634 posts, RR: 51 Reply 18, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3675 times:
Quoting DL021 (Reply 14): Tony....remember your malaria and other shots (the list is available at the CDC, but some infectious disease docs add to that list) and don't drink the water.
Mosquitos find me first, picking up the prescription tomorrow, I do not want Larium.
Springbok747 From Australia, joined Nov 2004, 4387 posts, RR: 13 Reply 20, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3659 times:
Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 13): I can't remember all the places I was taken by the locals when I was there but I do remember one place. It was called Tandoor or something along those lines and of course they had Tandoori food.
If you want to have great Tandoori food, then ask one of the locals to take you to a restaurant called "Gramin", its in a suburb called Koramangala, not too far from the airport and close to one of the city's busiest malls..called the Forum Mall.
The food there is ridiculously cheap and awesome...one thing though, ask for the food to be made mild, and not spicy...because trust me, we can't handle real spicy Tandoori food.
Vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8226 posts, RR: 28 Reply 21, posted (5 years 12 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3658 times:
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