3 random Questions
Hi,1)We are 2 relatively attractive western females late 20`s travelling in Kerala, Mysore to Hampi and then north to Mumbai - must we pack only loose clothing and very modest clothes: we have very few of these and would prefer to wear jeans and summer tops. We would appreciate any comments. Thanks. (obviously for temples etc we shall don a cardigan and headscarf).
2) When we leave Varanasi on 1 January, will the train station be open for us to get tickets, and if we are lucky enough to be able to go by train up to Kozhikode, how long will the train take or shall we book to sleep there that night (we wish to then travel on to Kalpetta etc in Wayanad and on to Mysore). If not, will there be buses that day or should we get a car and driver - how much will a car and driver cost? Do they drive safely.
3) Reading generally on the forum and in the guidebooks, it seems one is advised to rather take the Govt buses - is this correct?
Thanks in advance for all advice.
1
ok first off i live in kerala and im an american expatanswer to your first question is YES DRESS VERY MODEST or else you will have 100 creepers on you your whole trip all the time!!!
And yes bring entertainment for the train they are long
And take gov busses in kerala the private ones can be dodgey.
3
thats what most of the Indian girls wear in India.Hardly ... in the big cities some do, otherwise no. Western females wearing jeans is fine.
Do they drive safely
Well ... pretty much impossible for anyone to be able to know if the driver you get drives safe. The roads in India are crazy ... as are a lot of the drivers. But for the most part, they all want to live too, so you should be fine.
5
You should be able to board the Jan Shatabdi 12076 as it starts at Trivandrum and terminates at Kozhikode passing through Varkala at 0631, though the stoppage time is just one minute.Getting a large shawl would be useful to avoid getting unwanted attention.
Kalpetta Wayanad Mysore would be by bus.
6
Skip the jean - too hot and heavy. Linen trousers or the cotton ones you can buy in any tourist area in India. The shawl will be useful. Also skip the skimpy tops - why do you want to risk offending people?? On beaches or around the pool they will be fine but otherwise go for something cool and loose with short sleeves and give yourselves an east life!!7
You don't say where 'here' is, but you can buy train tickets from outside India, as long as you have a credit card.Register yourself with Cleartrip now (warning - read the 'how to' bits on seat61 and India Mike before starting, it can be a bit of a faff and involves emailling copies of your passport to IRCTC - but persistence should pay off!) and buy your train tickets asap.
I've just looked at the availability for the Jan Shatabdi train mentioned and there are only 67 AC chair class seats left as at today.
8
Only 67 AC ticket seats left! Oh dear - we have found it impossible to register on Cleartrip. Do you think they will last until Friday night (it's wednesday night here in London right now)? - we would need to put our heads together to try and register again. Phew!9
Don't want to offend people, I can't believe that we wore jeans, no tight tops (we have modest demeanours and definitely do not want to offend any people, hence the question) the whole time we travelled in China, Vietnam and Cambodia - it really is international dress in the world isn't it - but in India .....Anyway, we have some cotton 3/4 pants and long sleeved tops and shall buy more en route, of course when it's warm one would rather wear 3/4 pants etc which is what we do.
Thanks everyone for your input, I am obliged.
10
Buy stuff out there, you can get some great salwar kameez - loose trousers with a long top - very cheaply, perfect for the climate. Look at how the Indian girls dress and try to look as elegant as they do!Are you flying out on Friday night? I would think you'd be fine to buy tickets when you get to India then, there are 7 trains going your way on 1st Jan. Sorry, can't check seat availability just now, as the booking service is down until 0030hrs IST, but surely you'll find something.
If you aren't going soon, have another go at Cleartrip. It's given me a huge sense of achievement, managing to (eventually) get registered with them!!
