1. Chai Time – Enjoying some chai tea
with friends will soon be one of your favorite parts of the day.
“Just chai it.” – Vinny
2. Come Hungry – If you’re ever a
guest, come hungry because the portion size they give scares even
Americans, and yes they serve you so there’s no way around it. Also
it’s incredibly rude not to take seconds, so drink as little liquids
as possible.
3. Bring Insulin – Indian sweets are
not sugary, they are sugar boiled into sugar, which has been mashed
into more sugar and then baked in a nice layer of sugar. Just take
one.
4. Public Decency is an Option –
Spend any length of time in India and you will quickly realize that
anywhere is a bathroom for men. Going number one on a wall in broad
daylight next to a road is socially acceptable, and on the rare
occasion going number two in a field or mote of a fort is also just
good fun, which leads to…
5. Bring Your Own TP – As with most
of the world, the plumbing in India cannot handle much of a load
(pardon the pun), and toilet paper cannot go down the pipe, but
instead must be thrown in the trash. Therefore, you won’t find TP in
most places, but there’s always the water bucket technique…ask for
details.
6. Who’s Next in the Queue – For some
reason the idea of a line in India never caught on, so just push and
jab your way to the front, because if you don’t, trust me, someone
else will. This feels strange at first, and either you jump in the
fray or you better start praying for more patience.
7. Bring Earplugs – If the person
you’re traveling with doesn’t keep you up at night with their snores,
the insane dogs outside will. I have no idea what they are doing but
the sounds they make are not of this earth. If you thought your
neighbor’s barking dog was bad, you have no idea.
8. Bucket Showers – There’s not much
to explain. There’s a bucket full of water and you shower with it.
There are so many more things you need
to know about India, but you’ll just have to visit and experience it for
yourself. Good luck!
