Goa

Goa is a state located on the west coast along the Arabian Sea in a region called Konkan. Goa is the smallest state in India but is very well known by the international traveller population. December through March are by far the best months to travel Goa. It gets incredibly hot during the day and cools to quite a nice temperature at night.

Personally, I had such a great experience in Goa. I was with a small group and together we rented a guest house. We spent about 10 days along the beach of Palolem. It was AMAZING! Let me describe a day in Goa. . .

I would go for a morning run along the Arabian Sea, return to my massive guest house and take a shower, and then make my way to the beach to eat breakfast. Along the beach of Palolem are several beyond several bamboo hut restaurants. Each restaurant consists of different foods: some Indian, some American, and some a mixture of both. Following breakfast I would shop, experience awesome sea fishing, or take my motorbike for a stunning cruise along the sea-side.

Motorbike rentals are incredibly cheap. I believe I paid about about $10CAN/day plus maybe another $2/day for gas. Other than walking, riding a motorbike is the most sufficient way to travel Goa. Traffic differs from the rest of Goa in the sense they are slightly more civilized.

Feel free to email us at tours@goindiatravel.ca to learn more about the Goan life.

Feeding Monkeys

Monkeys all over the world are well known to be mischievous creatures. They are rambunctious, screechy, but intelligent. In India, monkeys have a status that, in essence, is higher then a large percentage of the human population. The Hindu worship of the monkey god, Hanuman, has developed a high social status for monkeys in India. For this reason, people feel the need, privilege, and right to feed the monkeys, even when the government demands that they not.

Monkeys are not safe to feed. No matter what, if a bite occurs from a monkey, make sure to receive medical attention... AND FAST! Many monkeys carry Rabies. Rabies is a virus that causes inflammation to the brain and if left untreated, is usually fatal. ALWAYS seek medical treatment if you receive a bite or even a scratch from a monkey. Monkeys may look cute and cuddly, but the truth is that they are actually quite aggressive.

Two Types of Monkeys:

Langur - The Langur monkey is known to be more aggressive. The bread is generally larger and more territorial.

Bandar - Bandar monkeys are not as aggressive but still can be dangerous when provoked. Either way, they should NOT be fed.

Not only are monkeys dangerous and carry diseases, they are ANNOYING! When I was going to school in North India, I lived in a small home that had a metal roof. Constantly I would wake up to the sound of roaring monkeys storming across the roof of my house, making loud, screeching noises.

Though the negatives seem to overpower the positives when it comes to Indian monkeys, please make sure that when you travel in India to respect the creatures. Remember that you are travelling on their land and that the people see monkeys as holy - So be sure to keep that in mind.

The Indian Railway

The Indian Railway is one of the most efficient and effective railway systems in the world. Though it is completely notorious for being late, it is still considered to be fantastic. Not only is it cheap, but what better way to see the country? A first class round trip ticket from Delhi to Agra (Taj Mehal) will cost about $60US. This experience is great! When you board your train there will be a news paper and a mineral water waiting for you. After a short while into your trip, a server will come around and serve both chai (tea) and coffee along with biscuits. Shortly after this, breakfast is served. You will always have the option of Veg or Non-Veg. On top of the service, you also see the most magnificent scenery. Just imagine, it's 6:00am and the morning is still crisp. You are staring out your window viewing the golden plains of India where village women are working in the fields, the smell is foreign and weird, you are having a fascinating conversation with an educated business man who wants to discuss Indian economy and you are sipping away at your hot chai. What not a better experience.

The Indian Railway System strives to create an enjoyable, relaxing journey, especially for those who have money. Like anywhere else in the world, India is driven around a class (cast) system. The trains range from sleeper class to first class, each being VERY different extremes. With the sleeper class, you will find an overwhelming number of Indians’ confined to an overly small space. First class you will find a shockingly small number of people spaciously spread through beautiful rooms stocked with bedding, a table, and electrical plug-in. Let me tell you, this is definitely the way to go.

When planning your trip, you can book all your travel destinations online. This is a great enhancement to India tourism because it attracts people beyond just India. Look at me for example, I have used this service several times now and I even refer it to others.

To book online tickets for the Indian Railway, follow this link: India Railway Reservations

Sikhism

A Sikh warrior on guard at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

While Hinduism accounts for about 80% of India's population, and Islam another 13%, other native religions include Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

About 75% of the world's Sikhs live in the state of Punjab, where they make up about 60% of the population. Over the last century, Sikh migration has led to the development of a number of significant Sikh communities throughout the rest of the world, and especially areas of Ontario and British Columbia in Canada.

For more information about Sikhism, check out A Brief Sikh History or sikhnet.com.

Bottled Water

Like any developing country, India's drinking water is NOT safe to drink straight from the tap. Finding clean water is no problem though. Bottled water is virtually everywhere in India. People in India may also refer to this as mineral water. Whether you are in rural India or within the city, you will find bottled water in places such as resturants, street vendors, and shopping centers.

How Much Does It Cost?
A 1 litre bottle of water cost about 50 cents US. Typically an average person will go through minimum 2 litres of water each day. Expect to pay $30-$50US/month for each person. Depending on how long you plan on staying in India, it may be worth it to buy a water purifier. These range from around $100US to $200US. This can save a lot of money in the long run. If you have a group of six people traveling for one month, bottled water will cost roughly $180-$300US.


Safety Precussions
There are a few things you can do to limit your chances of getting sick:

1. Check Your Bottles! Always make sure the seal of your bottle has not been opened. After you are finished with your water bottle, always crumple it up before trashing it. If the bottle looks reusable, IT IS. Some places will find used bottles and refill them with unclean water which are then used for resale. So please, ALWAYS make sure your bottle is sealed.
2. Brush! Brushing your teeth can make you sick if you are not careful. It is recommended that you wash your toothbrush with either boiled or mineral water.
3. Shower! This can be hard to do. In most budget hostels, hotels, and guest houses, the shower water has not been purified. You must be careful showering! One drop of water may be just enough to keep you up all night.

Urban Transportation

Hiring a Rickshaw
Hiring a rickshaw for a decent value can take practice and composure. Most rickshaws contain a small meter box that will measure your route in both kilometres and rupees. This is utterly useless. Ninety-nine percent of the time rickshaw drivers will lie, claiming the meter box is broken. This is obviously because they want to charge more than the actual price. Just remember: never offer more than half of the asking price and always negotiate a price before you leave. If you have not negotiated an appropriate price, the rickshaw driver has every right to charge more then he should at the destination.

Here’s a story. . .
“I was hiring a rickshaw driver outside of Vasant Kunj, Delhi and was heading towards New Friends Colony, Delhi. The rickshaw driver had requested a price of 150/-RS (about $4 US). I had taken this route several times and knew that a fair and reasonable price was 70/-RS. The driver was honest and had told me that because I am a foreigner and have more money than he could ever dream of, it was my responsibility and obligation to pay a higher fare. In the end, I ended up paying my 70/-RS.” Just remember – Be Firm!

Hiring a Taxi
When hiring a taxi, usually the best deals are found through the places you are staying such as your hotel, hostel, or guest house. By booking a taxi through your residence, you save the hassle of bartering as well the language barrier. You will be given the option of either hiring a taxi for one way which will cost anywhere from 200/-RS. to 300/-RS. ($5 - $8US) or hire a car and driver for the day. For this particular option, you could expect to pay about $50/day with the car and driver. This option is great because it saves so much hassle.