India Travel Guide language

India: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
22 official languages, more than 32,000 Hindu gods and goddesses and over one billion people - no wonder India attracts! In this book we give you 15 languages that will pave your way from Punjab to Pondicherry and make your Indian experience unforgettable.Immerse yourself in the culture section packed with fascinating and useful information on this unique region, including a look at Indian English.Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages. Chat with the locals and discover their culture - a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience.

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Can anyone provide guidelines on planning travel to Nigeria, Benin & Togo?
Hi, I am based in New Delhi, India. I have to travel to Lagos (NIgeria), Cotonou (Benin) & Lome (Togo) in August first week. I have to spend 2-3 days in each of these cities. This will be my first visit to any african country. From My place, round trip tickets are available to Lagos. From Lagos, I have to travel to other 2 places, for which I dont know how I should plan. I'd appreciate if you can guide me in modes of transport available from lagos to cotonou, then cotonou to lome, and from lome back to Lagos, as my return ticket is from lagos. If possible also guide me on language, i.e. whether english is understood to reasonalble extent or not?

English is the main and official language in Nigeria. The boarder crossing at Badagry may end up driving you crazy and costing you a lot of money, so I would suggest flying from Lagos to Lome, and then try to get a vehicle to take you back to Lagos via Cotonou so you only have to cross that boarder once. Another alternative is to fly back to Lagos from Lome as well. The drive looks longer, but believe me it will save you time and trouble. If you do travel by road, insure that you have a reliable driver & vehicle with all of the correct papers - and make sure your visa for Benin is a multi-entry one as you will be crossing the boarder twice (same for Nigeria). Other than the boarder crossings it is a very nice ride. Enjoy Benin & Togo, be alert in Nigeria.
Sanmigsean  |  Read more

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Anyone ever been to India or Thailand?
I'm going to India and Thailand Sept- Nov 2010. Has anyone been to either place? What were your experiences? How were the people? What was the language barrier like? I've been reading my guide books for Thailand and India to get prepared for my travels. Is India as sketchy as my book is making it sound? Anyone have any troubles there? That's a lot of questions sorry lol. But if you can help me out I would greatly appreciated it! Thanks alot!

Havent’ been to India, but I currently live in Phuket, Thailand. I am an American… This part of Thailand is VERY touristy. You will have a great time exploring the beaches. If you are interested in raunchy debauchery I suggest checking out Patong- not somewhere I’d like to spend more than a night in, but the tourists seem to love it. It’s full of huge night clubs, the Simon Drag show, lady boys, and anything end everything else strange. Nice places to see are Kata and Karon beach…less touristy than Patong, full of Scandinavian people as they get package deals. You won’t have a problem finding Italian or Scandinavian food…strange in Thailand yes, but some of it is decent. Rawai is really nice…not too much beach for lounging- but lots to do. The eating there is great fun as most of the restaurants have cushions and tables right over the water where you can get served. Phuket Town is interesting. no beach though. Tons of ethnic restaurants, interesting temples..can be hot and smelly as it is the highest populated area of Phuket. I originally intended to live there, but quickly decided against it after staying for a week. Watch out for taxi/tuk tuk drivers who want to take you the the Butterfly Garden or any destination you didn’t intend to see- they are all scams. Taxi drivers will give you a sob story about how if you let them stop at a tourist souvenir shop they get free gas (I’ve even had a lady taxi driver who brought her two small children who moaned and cried when we refused to stop at the tourist shop). Don’t fall for it- some won’t let you back in the cab until you’ve bought something at the shop. Others will take you all over the place our of you way because they get a commission for brining you to various destinations/shops. Just say no! Remember- EVERYTHIGN is negotiable price wise. They will try to rip you off. It really is a beautiful place though, and as you will be arriving during peak season trying to find beaches that are not jam packed might prove difficult.
NC  |  Read more

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How many of these things have you done?!?!?!?
1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be a tough one, but once you’ve reached all seven you can truly call yourself a world traveler. 2. Cross a country on a bicycle. A bicycle tour takes some planning, but it beats being separated from a country though a passenger-side window. 3. Ride something bigger than a horse. Trekking through the jungle on the back of a two story tall elephant will surely be something you remember forever. 4. Live like a local for a month. The experience of visiting native peoples will give you way more insight into another way of life than two years hopping from one backpacker ghetto to the next. 5. Visit a “real” blues bar in Chicago. What better way to leave music’s commercialism behind and find the soul of the blues? 6. Learn another language. This is definitely a weighty and time-consuming proposition, but there are plenty of resources out there to ease the process. 7. Go heli-skiing. The access to snow and terrain via heli is different (read: better) that anything else you’ll ever experience. 8. Travel India by train. With its extensive rail network, this mode of transport is the best way to see one of the world’s most colorful and diverse countries. 9. Climb one of the world’s Seven Summits. Climbing mountains is not for the faint-hearted, but everyone has had a dream of standing atop one. 10. Dive with a whale shark. Swimming with these gentle giants is among the most powerful wilderness experiences in the world. 11. Participate in a Carnival parade in Brazil. You haven’t had a good night out until you’ve been to the biggest party in a nation of big parties. 12. Dance Tango in Argentina. 13. Surf. It’s not about being a ripper but just catching waves. 14. SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. The largest coral reef in the world is a must for dive enthusiasts. It is the world’s most unique aquatic environment. 15. Publish an article about your travels. Part of traveling is sharing your experiences with others. Plus, getting published might be easier than you think. Photo by Creative Corners 16. Volunteer abroad for a month. 17. Follow in the footsteps of your favorite travel book. What better guide than a book that inspired you to travel in the first place? 18. Take a bush plane ride into Africa’s interior. These lightly visited regions are filled with unique cultures and diverse wildlife. 19. Cross a glacier on foot. Traversing these fast-disappearing natural wonders is an adventure that future generations might not be able to experience. 20. Visit the source of one of the world’s great rivers. Great rivers, like the Nile, have humble beginnings. 21. Climb an active volcano. 22. Buy a boat and learn to sail. Before the Brothers Wright, everyone traveled by wind power. It’s still the most sustainable way to travel there is. 23. Follow your food from field to table. Most people in the world still eat what they have picked with their own hands. Why not get back to these basics? 24. Bathe in the Ganges. What better way to experience the spiritual heart of India? 25. Travel around the world. Sure, you could do this without ever setting foot outside of planes and airports, but few people ever truly traverse the entire globe. Round the world tickets are great for budget-minded wanderers. Photo by James Dorsey 26. Photograph an endangered species. Aside from an image you can keep for a lifetime, it will remind you, and others, how fragile life can be. 27. Participate in Burning Man . As they say: “Trying to explain Burning Man to someone who has never been is like trying to explain color to a blind person.” 28. Spend 24 hours alone in the jungle. 29. Learn how to make a national dish. What is the one and only thing that everyone has in common? Eating. 30. Teach English in a foreign country. Sure, it’s a way to fund your travels, but also the experience of a lifetime. 31. Attend a music festival in another country. 32. Cross a country using only public transportation. See a country the way most of its people do: from the window of a bus, train, or ferry. 33. Spend the night in a storied/historic hotel. You might not even have to leave town to experience a night of classic atmosphere. 34. Attend the Olympics. Whatever you say about the commercialism of the Olympic Games, they are one of the biggest events on the planet. 35. Meet your favorite (living) travel writer. They’ve inspired you; now thank them for it. 36. Travel to Germany to experience Love Parade. It’s one of the biggest festivals, attendance-wise, on the planet. Photo by astropixie 37. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This timeless tradition is at the heart of Japanese culture. 38. Join a caravan in the Sahara. See how people can thrive in one of the world’s harshest environments. 39. Go to Oktoberfest. The meeting of over 6 million beer afficionados and dr Right noe Nikole is in the lead! How about these? 40. Stand at the North or South Pole. 41. Be in the stands when two rival South American club teams play each other in soccer. Soccer (sorry, football) is a passion for most of the world’s population. 42. Visit the birthplace or gravesite of a cultural icon. Could be Che Guevara or Picasso or Levi Strauss or the guy who invented widgets; anyone you think is important. 43. Find your version of “The Beach.” One of the best travel books ever inspired a generation of backpackers. Why not find your own version of untouched paradise? 44. Enjoy a freshly rolled cigar in Cuba. Taste a hand rolled specialty close to its source. 45. Visit every capital city in Europe. The crowded continent is full of beautiful architecture and diverse cultures. 46. Watch an orchestral performance in Vienna. Photo by Nickmunstr 47. Skydive. It is the ultimate thrill, unless you add a wingsuit, and actually fly. 48. Bike the Pacific Coast Highway. and these 49. Shake hands with someone who has truly changed a country. 50. Participate in the world’s biggest water fight during Thailand’s New Year’s festivities (Songkran). Nikole is in the lead with 9 NIKOLE IS STILL IN THE LEAD WITH 9! COME ON GUYS!!! oghma2006 and Nikole are in the lead with 9!!! If future President really did do all that he will be in the lead-but I'll ask him this first- How did you accomplish it all-there isn't enough time! I will be back in 10 minutes! Come on Guys! i am back & thx for the info Phil P oghma2006 and Nikole are in the lead with 9! Come on guys! Somebody has now taken the lead!

10 and I'm only 19 so I've got time. #6 #15 #21 #23 #26 #29 #31 #32 (not techincally the whole country I guess though, but alot of it) #33 #42 I've only been in three countries (including my own) though. I need to do more of that stuff.
Somebody  |  Read more

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Why we never speak about racism outside western countries ?
I m french, and since I m young I hear everytime about racism. There are big prevention against that everywhere in my country and I think in most of european countries. Nowadays there are many laws to prohibit it. I am now in India since few months, and it's my 4th time in India. And here, most of the people have no respect for foreigners (not all foreigners, principally white foreigners). Per exemple, I wanted to change my money in many famous bank in India. I tryed about 10 banks in 3 city...and impossible! Even so my indian friend can change the same currency in this same bank... Another exemple, when we go to a shop, and we ask to the seller something, all indian people who arrive after come in front of you, and ask something to the seller, as if we are not here! One more exemple, we met sometimes, child baby, like 1 year old. They don't really know how to speak their language, but when they see a white people in the street, all this child are shouting "allo allo! english! allo!". And more and more exemple... So, I want to ask (especially in there are some Indians from England etc) what will happen if I will shouting in the street in France or England, "Namaste Namaste, hey indian, namaste", to the people who looks like Indian ? And if I will teach that to my baby ? What is this education ? Also, since I m in India, more than 100 persons took a picture of me without asking me before. And to joke with their friends about our face, our differences. And we see in the travel guide book to don't take photo of local people without authorization. But, who is taking picture ??? Most of the time, people in the street look us and joke/laugh at us. If this behaviour will happen in France, there will be fight in the street everytime. Because foreigner (or people who have different skin color) don't want we show us everytime in the street and to joke about their differences,..etc etc So, I think we speak a lot about racism in Europe, but maybe more racist people are outside europe. In Marocco, my friend was insulting of racist because he didn't want to buy a tourist souvenir. Same experience for my sister in Senegal. But racism is not if you want buy something or not! Or when the teacher say to a pupil (from african origin): don't do this mistake, or this stupid behaviour! Because it's happen like that in France, everything who come from white people to foreigners is racism. But, this people who are immigrate in Europe, do they look what's happen in their own country? How do you welcome the foreigner ? I really would like an answer from Indian in western country. Racism is everywhere on the earth. But although we try to change that and to progress about that in western country, the other country forget, and hide the truth!

You just expect to be treated special because you see yourself as the great white male. Tarzan syndrome.
I know what I want  |  Read more

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