Caution/Congratulations

"I always get excited when some one new comes to India for the first time.
Some of my own personal advice:

...Just about everyone has a why-did-I-come-here moment (or many moments) of culture shock. Knowing it comes (and goes) helps a little."

...India will attack your senses. Sights sounds smells and tastes-- sometimes it can be a bit much."

...india is the land of no. you will be told no about everything. keep on asking until they say yes. i've seen miracles occur this way: literally it's gone from 'there are no trains today to delhi' to 'oh yes, there's one coming in two hours' and then this magical, full train appears in two hours at your station and you're the only one that gets on."

...I feel like in India there is almost no such thing
as organization...like at all."

...Nothing works. If you make a plan your bus will be late and ruin it, if you are calling home the power will get cut, if you wash your clothes they will get ruined. Just relax and take a big deep breath the more you are able to be flexible the more you will love it."

...Indians are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Indians are some of the worst people you will ever meet."

...We would get horribly ripped off and then we would meet someone who would bring us into their home and offer us anything they had just because they were curious. The people are incredible..."

... If you go to some ones house you have to eat your own weight in what ever they give you."

...It is the land of contradictions. Five star hotel built next to a slum. budda on a beer bottle.
love it hate it.
I hope you spend more time loving it. i sure do."

...I loved India, but I also hated it and I don't think I've every truly
known what that expression meant till I my trip there."

...The pace of life in India is different - things usually take longer."

...Their fundamental belief is in the continuity of life, and the Western notion of 'seizing the day' is less current in India than 'going with the flow' "

...In India, it is very easy to feel like you are losing control, and... there is only one way to regain that control--to dive in and swim"

...and when all else fails: sometimes you just have to submit to india. smile because i promise you, no matter how bad it seems at the time, you'll miss it when you're gone."



"Just keep an open mind and try to keep your expectations to a minimum."

...best of luck, and as we say here, 'happy journey' "

(quotes amalgamated from personal correspondence and travel guides. Thanks to Ike, Jeff, Laurel, Bhavana, etc.)