Advise needed on travel to India (Page 2): I spent 3 months in 2009 and 2 months in 2011 in Kolkota, Varanasi, Agra, Bodhgaya and Nepal, took thousands of pictures, published two books...

gravelc Loc: Nepean, Ontario, Canada

I spent 3 months in 2009 and 2 months in 2011 in Kolkota, Varanasi, Agra, Bodhgaya and Nepal, took thousands of pictures, published two books on Blurb with those pictures and paid 10 rupees (about 7 cents) to a Saddhu once. I am taking pictures on the street constantly, ask permission if it is for a close-up, and never had any problem... may be because I am a woman ? may be because I don't look like a rich tourist ? I don't know...

gravelc Loc: Nepean, Ontario, Canada

Good advices...
Also, if you take a train, take the most expensive ticket. You should have a locked room. Even Indian people chain their luggages to their seat because there are many thefts in trains and train stations. Once, I had put my netbook under my pillow to make sure it would not be robbed, but my head was close to the train window. Thank God there were bars on that window because someone tried to pull it out while I was sleeping and I did not wake up. I saw that it was partly outside in the morning... Just take care of your stuff... and have a great trip ! The colours are beautiful, the women so graceful, there is a lot of noise, smells, barking dogs in the night, but you will never forget this journey. You probably will want to go back...

Sreejib Loc: Calcutta, INDIA

Portlandia wrote:

Help needed. I am leaving for India and Thailand ... (show quote)

Portlandia Welcome to India. As an Indian I can assure you that, it is one of the best place for photography. You didn't find such kind of variety rest of the world so, don't left any any equipment that you have. And about myself I have already traveled most of the popular place in India and never been faced that kind of problem that you are talking about.
But one thing I want to tell you for precaution, don't travel alone without knowing any place. If you come to Calcutta (kolkata) don't worry I am here for any kind of assistance.

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

Portlandia wrote:

Help needed. I am leaving for India and Thailand ... (show quote)

I am not sure of how many other members have actually travel to India or Thailand but you will always receive many suggestions and warnings about theft or carrying your equipment openly on the streets; my work has taken me to 44 countries including India and Thailand and I never lost anything or experienced any problems with the locals. Ironically, I have lost equipment in New York and Chicago, as well as going through the TSA screenings.

Take what you feel most comfortable with and whatever other equipment you may anticipate needing. It is a long way out there... you'll be OK.

Portlandia Loc: Portland, Oregon

wow! lots of advise. thank you all so much. i have had all of the immunizations and have all of my drugs for any ill's that may occur. will not drink the water - only beer! : ) I guess i'll take the 18-70 and the 70-200. still wavering on the 50, even though i never use it at home. i will find a ratty bag and try not to look like a tourist - not sure how to accomplish this. again, thanks for the advise. i'll hopefully get a few good photos for you to critique.

B391747 Loc: Austin, TX

soli wrote:

Do you expect things to be there in your country if you leave it & come back to it ? Get a life. India is no worse than anywhere else. It has a lower murder record then yours for a start.

Whew! I knew my comments would provoke a reply.... Anyway, I won't comment anymore than to say this: my main point is that the most dangerous things you will run into in India are the things you can't see - the diseases. Please don't just listen to me on this subject, and don't listen to anyone else on this forum, either. Talk to your doctor, or call your local travel clinic. They're professionals and will give you the cold, hard, unbiased truth.

Best of luck. Have a great, and safe, trip.

Portlandia Loc: Portland, Oregon

gravelc wrote:

Good advices... br Also, if you take a train, take... (show quote)

by the look of your avatar it appears that you had a fabulous time. i'm taking the train from new delhi to agra, so only a day trip, so won't be sleeping....sounds like quite an experience you had. i'm very excited and will let you know how it turns out. thanks for your enthusiastic comments. i'm leaving this thursday - yay!

Portlandia Loc: Portland, Oregon

B391747 wrote:

quote=soli Do you expect things to be there in yo... (show quote)

i thought you're advise was right on, and will take it - same as the advise from the Center for Disease Control. All advise very welcome. I'm a newbie to this forum and enjoying it already.

gravelc Loc: Nepean, Ontario, Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWUIM_Z_5cg
This is where I spend most of my time when I go to India. A short film by Ludwig Bispink (2011). If you look at my books published on Blurb (Internet) in 2009 and 2011 : "India through the Lens of a Global Shutterbug - L'Inde vue par une photographe globetrotteuse" et "Varanasi - Agra - Népal - you will recognize many scenes in this movie... I am ready to go back !

Portlandia Loc: Portland, Oregon

Sreejib wrote:

quote=Portlandia Help needed. I am leaving for I... (show quote)

Thanks so much for your offer of assistance. i will be in kolkata for only one day while in transit. but looking forward to seeing at least a small part of your city.

gravelc Loc: Nepean, Ontario, Canada

Enjoy ! So happy for you, and a little envious... :)

pills Loc: Memphis Tennessee

Portlandia wrote:

wow! lots of advise. thank you all so much. i have had all of the immunizations and have all of my drugs for any ill's that may occur. will not drink the water - only beer! : ) I guess i'll take the 18-70 and the 70-200. still wavering on the 50, even though i never use it at home. i will find a ratty bag and try not to look like a tourist - not sure how to accomplish this. again, thanks for the advise. i'll hopefully get a few good photos for you to critique.

I am from India and never had problems carrying a regular camera bag around. In big cities just take sensible precautions as you would in any large urban area across the world.you are going at the best time weather wise specially in the north. Hope you are going to the south too sp Kerala which has great scenery backwaters, mountains wildlife sanctuaries.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Portlandia wrote:

wow! lots of advise. thank you all so much. i have had all of the immunizations and have all of my drugs for any ill's that may occur. will not drink the water - only beer! : ) I guess i'll take the 18-70 and the 70-200. still wavering on the 50, even though i never use it at home. i will find a ratty bag and try not to look like a tourist - not sure how to accomplish this. again, thanks for the advise. i'll hopefully get a few good photos for you to critique.

Not sure how much time you have, but I can recommend something for keeping your lenses protected. I ordered a set of 3 lens bags from China. They arrived in nine days. There are three sizes made of a nylon like material on both the inside and outside with a foam between. They seem very good quality and the three bags were less than 10.00 total -- no tax or shipping. Slip a lens into one of those and keep it an ordinary backpack and you should have no problem with your equipment. The three bags were a small one that would work for a 50, 24, 28, 35 prime lens, the next size up would work on a short telephoto or wide angle and the larger size would work on something like a 24-70, 18-135 etc. There is one size larger which I also bought (about 5.00) that would be used for a 70-300, 18-300 etc.

lhdiver Loc: Midwest

If you don't have time to buy bags bubble wrap & tape works great for making your own & is light weight. Quilted fabric also works well if you sew.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

soli wrote:

Do you expect things to be there in your country if you leave it & come back to it ? Get a life. India is no worse than anywhere else. It has a lower murder record then yours for a start.

How do you equate murder to theft? There is little strong-arm theft in India; most thefts are surreptitious by a people impoverished by so many years of impersonal, inhumane colonial rule. And guess who those rulers were!