Preparations for India Travel

Basic necessities Clothing Mosquito net Standard types are available in Mayapur and bigger Indian cities for relatively low prices. In uropean countries and the !nited States they can be purchased fro" ca"ping stores. The price is around #$%. They need lines and support. In so"e countries &notably 'er"any and the !nited States( they sell very good standalone nets based on the do"e)tent principle* with two light weight alu"inu" or glass fiber stic+s. ,n additional advantage is that they have a floor part connected to the net. I- ./! P0,1 T/ T2,3 0 ,2/!14 I14I, IT5S , '//4 I4 , /T6 23IS ./! C,1 B!. , 1 T 0/C,00. ,14 -I7 IT /1 ./!2 B 4*ITS M!C6 C6 ,P 2 ,14 4/ S T6 8/29. The inside part of a nor"al do"e)tent also does a good :ob. The additional advantage is that in cases of bad weather you can always add the top layer. Sleeping bag 1ights in India can be cool outside of the su""er season. Besides that* it;s a good way to +eep "osquitoes at a distance. 0I'6T B,'&I- ./! 4/15T P0,1 T/ '/ T/ 6IM,0,.,S( M,4 -2/M I1SI4 1,T!2,0 M,T 2I,0S 0I9 C/TT/1 IS '//4. Sleeping "at '//4 T6I1' T/ 6,3 &0I9 3 2. 0I'6T ./', M,T( Suitcase* bac+pac+* travel bag <tended necessities ,lar" cloc+ Coo+ing device If you plan to coo+ for yourself. -or devices on +erosene or dual fuel the best brands are Pri"us and Cole"an* but you can also buy the local Indian type* though they are not really s"all. ,nother option is the electric coo+ing plate.

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4 4*/PTI/1,0. 6ang loc+s -or your bags and the entrance of your residence. The ones with nu"ber codes are "ore practical* especially when the loc+ed resource is shared.

T,9 - 8 1/2M,0 ,14 - 8 SM,00 /1 S -/2 ./!2 B,'S. Money belt Ta+e the flat type that one wears under the clothes. 1ylon line &about =% "* > "" thic+( Multi)purpose* but "ainly used for hanging laundry. ,3,I0,B0 0/C,00. Poc+et +nife Multi)purpose. 4on;t carry it in your hand luggage when flying. Custo"s will confiscate it or de"and it to be transported separately* and that is a trip you wouldn;t want to get into. 'et so"e decent stuff* li+e 3ictorino<* 8enger* ,dler* etc. Multi)tool sets li+e those fro" 'erber* S/' or ,l Mar are good choices as well. , cheap +nife "ay do the fruit)peeling :ob* but don;t count on it for anything "ore de"anding. Poc+et torch Preferably use a good brand. .ou "ay pay a little "ore* but it is definitely worth it. Ta+e a s"all and handy type with easily available or rechargeable batteries. Mag0ite &Mini( and Pelican &Mity0ite( supply good torches. 4on;t carry it in your hand luggage* or at least not the batteries. Sun glasses 8ater bottle Try to avoid alu"inu"* it causes a "yriad of diseases. Stainless steel vacuu" ther"os bottles are e<cellent for +eeping drin+s hot or cold for over ?% hours* and they won;t brea+. 8ater boiler 1ot only for "a+ing soup or tea. 1owadays even the bottled water cannot be trusted any"ore. Better boil it before use. If you travel a lot* consider a hand boiler. This is a s"all "etal spiral that you dip into a container of water. /therwise it "ight be "ore practical to use an integrated boiler for either =.$ or %.$ liters* often si"ply called @water boiler.@ This is not the sa"e as a percolator* which is specifically "eant for "a+ing coffee. , @water boiler@ is a teflon pitcher with a built in spiral* ther"ostat and overheating protection. It boils up to =.A liters of water in less than ? "inutes and shuts of auto"atically.

I 1 3 2 !S 4 T6IS.86 2 ./! 8I00 ST,. T6 . 8I00 6,3 , 9ITC6 1*B!T M,.B 6,14 B/I0 2 I- ./! ,2 C/1SI4 2I1' T2,3 00I1'. 6andy e<tras Battery charger Solar battery chargers are relatively cheap and nicely adopted to the Indian cli"ate. Calculator The solar powered credit card siBe type costs peanuts nowadays* ta+es hardly any space and is easy to carry around. Ca"era Mon+eys in India love ca"eras. 9eep that in "ind when planning the equip"ent you;d li+e to ta+e with you. Co"pass So"e people li+e to +now the direction in which they sleep. Portable alar" The "ar+et offers types with a nu"ber code and infrared sensor for guarding roo"s for reasonable prices &under #>$(. /ther types* li+e those with a pull)cord* "ay do you a great favor guarding luggage when traveling a lot through airports and train stations. S"all tool+it 0i+e a hand piece with bit collection* a tool clip &S/'* 'erber* ,l Mar(* or an officer;s +nife &3ictorino<* 8enger* ,dler( you will always "iss when you need it "ost... Travel "ate , s"all infor"ation boo+ with travel and country infor"ation* and a "ini atlas. 8all soc+et adaptor 1ot every country has the sa"e electricity syste" with the sa"e wall plugs and soc+ets. 1or do they all have >>% or ==$ 3olts ,C. 8 00 IT IS >>% 3 0 CT2ICIT. 6 2 I1 I14I,. 8oolen hat and big* thic+ woolen soc+s <cellent for cooler nights* or when sleeping under the big open. 1o chance for "osquitoes* who go "ainly for the thin s+in on the head* feet and an+les. Standard "edical necessities Insect repellent Ta+e so"ething di"ethylphtalaat or n*n)diethyl"etatolua"ide based* li+e the Swedish @Cungle /l:a.@ /ther preparations will :ust disappoint you.

. S I -/!14 -/2 I'1 2 P 00 1TS 8/29 B TT 2../! 6,3 '//4 C6/IC I1 6 ,0T6 -//4 ST/2 S 1,T!2,0 ,14 6,2M0 SS T/ T6 S9I1. Malaria prophyla<is Ta+e a vaccination before you leave* and preferably so"e chloroquine tablets during your stay. Personal "edicines specially if you have diabetes* asth"a* allergies* or other disorders that require a regular inta+e of "edicines. 3accinations Cholera* typhoid and hepatitis , vaccinations are reco""ended for India. Please don;t ta+e these diseases lightly* they can ruin the rest of your life* if you survive. T6IS IS '//4 T6I1' T/ 4/ I- IT IS 1/T 7P 1SI3 . -irst aid +it ,ctive charcoal -or sto"ach and intestinal disorders* poisoning and diarrhea. Sun screen Ta+e a lotion or bal" with a high !3)filter value. ,nti)diarrhea Preferably I"odiu" based. 1oteD don;t ta+e this type of "edicine when you have dysentery* since it slows down your bowel "ove"ent. If you can get your hands on an ,yur)vedic sirup called @Poosha+@* buy a couple of bottles. This is an often locally available "edicine for severe dysentery and "ost other types of diarrhea. Instant relief* and preventive when ta+en regularly in s"all doses. ,nother worthwhile preventive is grapefruit seed e<tract. ,00 T.P S /- ,.!23 4IC M 4ICI1 S -/2 4I,26 , ,2 ,3,I0,B0 I1 3 2. M 4IC,0 ST/2 I1 I14I,.B!T '2,P -2!IT S 4 7T2,CT IS 6,14.. Bandage E bandaid for larger wounds 4isinfectant Iodine or alcohol based disinfectants are often not strong enough. 6e<a"edine transcutane &"ainly used for infections under finger nails( or spray antibiotics &used in surgery( are very good alternatives. ./! MI'6T T,9 , SM,00 SP2,.*C,1 B !S -!0.i 1 3 2 1 4 4 T/ !S IT. 'auBes 9erosine Cust a s"all a"ount in a little bottle with a dropper to easily get rid of leeches and tics. 1/ 1 4.

Pain+illers ,spirine* paraceta"ol* alvedon* distalgesic* Ibuprofin* ,dvil* Tylanol* etc. - 8 /- T6/S ./T6 23IS 3 2.T6I1' ,3,I0,B0 0/C,00.. TweeBers Bandaid for "inor cuts ,n assort"ent with various siBes for different purposes is reco""ended. Scissors /fficial papers Identity card Insurance papers /ther identification papers Passport Personal "edical infor"ation Personal "edicine prescriptions 3accination infor"ation 6ints and tips True* nobody can force you to ta+e vaccinations* but please thin+ a little further. 8hen ne<t ti"e you pop so"e vita"in C to prevent an upco"ing cold or so"e pills to get rid of a headache* or when so"e doctor visits your te"ple and you;re on the waiting lists too* later faithfully ta+ing whatever "edicine was prescribed. Thin+ a little further. If you ta+e precautions and "edicines for all the little things* then why all of a sudden beco"e transcendental when going to India where you can get horrible diseases that "ay +ill you or affect you for the rest of your lifeF In India you don;t go loo+ing for poisonous sna+es and spiders. .ou try to avoid the treacherous currents in the 'anges and the cri"inals in the cities at night. So why loo+ for diseaseF ,nd if you don;t care for yourself* then at least consider the following. If you carry so"e disease around or bring one bac+ with you* you are a potential danger for others as well. 8hat to spea+ of the trouble you will cause to those who have to ta+e care of you while in India and when you co"e bac+ ho"e. 9ar"aF Sure* but we first ta+e all precautions. Then we can say it was our +ar"a. /therwise it was "erely foolishness. Ma+e photocopies of all your travel docu"ents* especially your passport. It saves you lots of trouble in case the originals get

stolen. ,lso ./! MI'6T C,22. P6/T/C/P. 8IT6 ./! 6 2 I1 I14I, ,14 ST/2 /2I'I1,0 I1 ./!2 S!ITC,S I1 T6 2//M. Carry your valuables in two places. Put the "oney you e<pect to use during the day in a visible wallet hanging around your nec+ or in an obvious "oney belt around your waist* and +eep the rest of your "oney and your docu"ents hidden in a "oney belt under your clothes. Confir" your return tic+ets as soon as possible after your arrival. Buy at least a quarter of your "oney legally. If you need "edications regularly* ta+e an adequate supply with you. Better too "uch than too little. If you have diabetes* allergies* asth"a or any condition that "ay require e"ergency care* always carry so"e identification &tag* bracelet or card( indicating so and prescriptions of the "edicines. Preferably also carry a letter fro" your physician. If you are planning to go so"ewhere alone or together with so"eone else* infor" authorities or friends or the group you ca"e with of your plans* destination&s( and e<pected return ti"eEdate.