Highlights of Northern India - who else is going?

Hi.

I'm booked on this trip as well and I'm really looking forward to it.  It will be my first trip with Exodus, as well as my first ever visit to Asia.  

I had my first vaccination shot yesterday and will be back for the next one in a months time.  Do you know if we should bring any mosquito bed-nets (or whatever they're called in English)?

I'm also booked on this holiday. This is my first trip as a solo traveller, so excited and nervous.

I think the hol is fully booked so looking forward to meeting everyone and having a fantastic time.

 Sarah

Hi guys

Great to hear from you. This is also my first solo trip and first trip with Exodus so I'm a bit nervous too but also very excited. Beginning to think about innoculations and visa now!

Jenni

Hi everyone.  I've done one of these trips before but with another company.  Can't wait.  Excitement and anticipation has kicked in.  Looks like the Visa process for this trip is a bit daunting though!

Hi I am like most of you this will be my first trip with exodous and done nothing like it before. I an nervous but looking forward to it. I am also thinking about the visa but not sure when the best time to get it is and then there is a visit to the practice nurse to check re vaccinations, antimalarials etc. I am staying at a travelodge near the airport the night before we fly out so if anyone is going to be in the area please say Hello.

Julie

Hi All

Ok I have just paid. I only booked 3 weeks ago I think somebody dropped out. Don't be nervous, just think of it as going away with 15 other people who’s friends think they are too annoying to go away with! Not sure about the mosquito nets question (I was going to ask if the hotels would have hair dryers, I feel like a bit of a girl now), the ‘what to bring’ doesn’t mention mosquito nets and they seem to cover everything. I have never been on a trip on my own before or to India, I think it will be great.

Jenny, yeah I’m Jenny too

 

So it looks like there will be two Jenni's on this trip - that could get confusing! I'm not sure about mosquito nets either but am guessing they aren't needed as we're in ok-ish hotels for most of the time. I'm definitly taking a hairdryer though! Who's on the group flight leaving on the Thursday?

Jenni

Hi iam on the Thursday Flight, any-one else?

 

I am on the group flight from Heathrow too but am travelling down to Heathrow the day before. I thought travelling down from the north of England then a nine hour flight and then a 5 hour journey when we get there may be a bit tiring in one go. So I gave myself the luxury of an extra day.

julie

dont blame you at all, just spent an age with the visa form.lol

Hey all, I thought the visa application process looked daunting however it really is simple. I had an added complication because of my occupation.

 I have been on holiday with Exodus before (Egypt Nile Cruise), a few years ago now, it was a well organised trip, accomodation was of a good standard and the guide was excellent.

 I'm travelling down from Edin on the Thurs and will be at Heathrow from 1500 hrs ish so if anyone else is arriving early doors we could perhaps arrange to meet up?

 Sarah

Hi would love to meet up early as I will have loads of time to kill. I am going to try and keep my travelodge room till 2 and then hop up to the airport on the Hoppa Bus. I can also catch up with my old stomping ground news, Edinburgh as I notice you are coming down from Edinburgh.

Julie

Hi Julie and Sarah. I won't be at Heathrow early as I live fairly locally but would still love to come and find you before our flight. We'll have to organise something nearer the time. This weekend is the big visa sorting weekend for me!

Jenni

Hi re the pre flight meet as discussed above. If anyone is on Facebook you can get my mobile number by sending a friends request. I am the only Anne Julie Smith on there that I know of. I have put the most distinctive profile pic on there to make sure. I am the weird looking woman in glasses with a white paper rose stuck in my mouth.

Honest folks I am sane and boring!!!

Julie

This is my first trip with Exodus and to India, but always up for an adventure! Getting nervous and excited about meeting everyone :-) :-) :-) Would love to meet up before the flight on Thursday, I will be arriving from the Midlands at about 4.30pm. 

Julie - Look out for my friend request on facebook. Think I'm the only Louise Kovarovic out there, but easy to recognise in my flapper dress!! 

At least you look classy in your pic!! looking forward to meeting and exploring with you.

Julie

Hi all,

Have sent friend requests to those of you who have offered it up on Facebook.  If anyone wants to check me out I'm simply Di Hollander.  Sent me an invite!   Sent off my Visa App today, let's hope I get it back in time. They're gonna be busy with the commonwealth games 'n all but let's hope they're on the ball.  Just hope I sent it to the right app centre as Isle 'o wight's not listed!! Aaargh.  Looking forward to meeting you all, but most of all, a. need a holiday... and b need some sun!!!

Di H

Hi

 

Ok, can we now play guess Sarah’s occupation that might prevent her from getting a visa, I’m thinking you would not put down Drug Runner, so maybe Burglar OR People Trafficker, mmm Taxidermist? Fire Starter? I’m just getting carried away now.

 

I have not even started my visa, I am going to Taiwan for work next week and need a China visa for a shopping trip on the way back, so I am off the Chinese embassy tomorrow. I will deal with the India stuff when I get back,

 

Now, as much as I am looking forward to meeting everyone, it’s Heathrow and there are good shops and I will be spending the next 9 days with everyone. I am coming straight from work in London so am bound to late, I will be the one who turns up 20 mins before the flight look flushed.

 

Jennifer Hornby on Facebook, not sure how many there are of me but I think I’m the best one, honest.

 

Jen

This weekend it is a must do my visa application weekend. I have decided to use the Visa company advised by Exodus. Never had to apply for a Visa before so a bit daunting. sure it will seem simple if and when I have a valid visa already in my hand. julie

Hello,

I have sent friend requests to those of you that i can find, looking forward to a nosy :)

HELP!!! This was the weekend I was supposed to get the visa application sorted on the info sheet it gives us a Mohan Tickoo to put as a referee and then for hotel details we supposedly need to put in says see "trip notes". Cannot see any hotel names there. Anyone who has done the application already I would appreciate knowing what you did with that section as I would like to get it all sorted this weekend and not delay it any longer.

Thanks hope you can help.

Julie

I did ring Exodus this morning and was advised the people who could help didnt work on saturday.

Hi all.

I have yet to book my flight to Heathrow (or Gatwick) from Reykjavik.  I haven't decided if I'm flying in the same day or the day before.  I probably won't spend much time shopping in Heathrow, except for some books for the flight.  Will try to look you up on Facebook, but you can also add me, I think I'm the only Benedikt G. Waage there. 

Hi sent off the visa application to Travcour( the visa agency advised by Exodus) on Monday. Passport with visa enclosed arrived back this morning (Sat). Really brilliant I expected it to take much longer. I can stop stressing now!!! Julie

I am also going on this trip. I'll be on the flight from Heathrow. My friend is also coming along, though we booked seperately. I booked my place on the solo trip without asking any of my friends if they wanted to come - assumed they would not be interested or couldn't afford it - to find my friend was very jealous and asked if she could come too! We very solo traveller minded people though. I applied for a visa online and have an appointment booked for 5th Oct. I hope a month is enough time to get the visa! If it helps anyone, the joining hotel details are (I emailed Exodus for them): Hotel Singhsons, 7A/10 WEA, Channa Market, Karol Bagh, Delhi Tel no. 0091–11-25749500 Looking forward to the trip and meeting you all! Isabel

Looking forward to meeting and travelling with you and your friend. julie

It's great to see so many of us using this forum. I've sent my visa off and been to see the nurse about what vaccinations I need. Turns out I only needed Typhoid as everything else was up to date! Jenni

Applied for Visa online and have an appointment on Tuesday. I've been told the crowds at the application centre are just like Delhi - thought I'd get some practice in!! Izzy - I think it only takes 3-5 days to process your visa so you should be fine :-) Just spent a small fortune today on putting together a mini medi kit, also need a Hep A jab :-( Other than that, just thinking about what clothes cover up the appropriate parts whilst keeping me cool, and a bit worried about spiders! Julie - how come you're the only one with a gold star?

OHHH never noticed!!! No idea what the gold star is all about. May be saying I am an old wind bag because I have posted quite a bit on this forum bit. Julie

I am also flying from Heathrow and looking forward to meeting everyone, havent been to India before, only second trip on my own so excited and nervous at same time!!! Sue

Am I the only man going. Lol

Hello Sunubis. Andy no you are not the only fella There is Benedikt from Iceland. He is either a man looking at the pics on facebook or the worst looking laydeee I have seen!!! Ben if that confuses you look at the videos of "Little Britain" Comedy with the two Laydees. afterall you do get Julian Clary!!! Julie

I've done a little bit of snooping about the mix of our group and am told that there are 12 ladies and 4 men! So Alex you are not the only man! Age range is also from late 20s to late 60s. My passport is apparently at the main post office so I'm hoping that when I have the time to trek over and pick it up I'll have an Indian visa in it.! Jenni

I meant Andy not Alex. Sorry Andy, I'm going to have to call you Alex for the whole trip now!

Julie, ooppps sorry I meant jen, lol I will forgive u. Ps don't like the name alex, lol

Andy.........Will you help us with our bags?

Of course, depends on how many you've got.lol Where is everybody meeting in airport?

No idea Andy havent been before I will be coming up from a local Travelodge near Heathrow. After a grim night of social isolation I will be desparate to meet everyone. Julie

Iam a lucky one, only live about 40 mins from airport I wonder if everyone hast to wear a red Rose. Lol. Where you coming from?

........Unless you live under the flight path. Andy if you turn up with a red rose, I'm phoning the police. Jenni - good snooping, I think it's handy to have a few men along for removing spiders and helping with any stiff bottle tops. I will bring 'travel Who's in the bag?' and a pack of cards Jen

Hi discussed antimalarials with my practice nurse and it appears where we are going it a bit of a fudged area, might be might not so as a precaution and following discussion with my friends of Indian descent and what they do I have tried to order some antimalarials (type advised by practice nurse) from the Lloyds Pharmacy website so will wait and see if they let me have them. Have got the most expensive ones as advised again by my trusty practice nurse. Really really feels like the trip is happening now...

Hello ... my nurse said I wouldn't need them, so I've decided not to go for Malaria tablets. Hope I don't regret it! I feel pretty organised now. Got my visa, received the final joining instructions, sorted out a mini first aid kit and have even got a luggage tag for life - very excited about that. I'm looking forward to it so much! Jenni

I was also told that we were not in a high malaria risk area so no need for tablets, however I was strongly advised to use high protection mosquito repellent (containing at lease 50% deet) day and night as another mosquito risk is Dengue Fever. Quote from the interweb’ Unlike the mosquitoes that cause malaria, dengue mosquitoes bite during the day.’ I have just bought the spray from Blacks for £5.99. I have bought antibacterial hand stuff and wipes for me and will buy chewing gum and sweets that apparently goes down very well with the local children.

Hi thanks for the tip on the mossie repellant. I wasnt given that one was just going to take Jungle formula...will get down to the local adventure shop

Oooh, I hadn't thought about gifts for the local children. What a good idea. I've seen a thread from a group who have just returned from their trip. Sounds like they had a great time. A few tips I've picked up from reading their posts are: take lots of anti-bacterial hand gel and mozzie repellant, a jumper etc will be needed for the early morning game drive (which is also very dusty) and it's cheaper to change money in baggage reclaim. Sounds like Delhi Belly was a bit of a problem for some so may be best to try to eat vegi!

My nurse showed me a pretty map of India - the shading suggests we are going to a low risk area for malaria. However, my thoughts on creepy crawlies - who decides where the boundary is drawn?? A line on a map seems a bit ambiguous to me, and it only takes one mozzie bite! Tigers have been found 4000 metres above sea level in Bhutan, who would have thought that? Anyway, ordered some Paludrine/Avloclor standard travel pack from Lloyds for £15. Visa in place, all jabbed up, gonna definitely stick to veg and eat lots of garlic to keep those biters away. Might also keep everyone else away too....Getting all excited, few butterflies already but this could be my body getting ready for potential delly belly attack. Think some people give the kids pens! Felt tips or biros, I'm not sure.....easy to pack chuddy I s'pose

I was also told by my doctor that I didn't need malaria tablets. But as we are so lucky here to have no mosquitos I'm having trouble finding a suitable repellant. I've only seen one with 20% DEET, but was told to go for 40 - 50 %. I really hope I can buy some at Heathrow.

Benedikt, I work very near a shop that sells the 50% deet stuff so it would be very easy for me to pick some up for you, it's £5.99 which is ISK 1056, but you can give me the INR. I have already bought myself 2 bottles. It's one less thing to think about at Heathrow. Jenny

Hi Jenny and thanks for that. I have, however, asked a friend of mine who is in London now to pick up a bottle or two for me of the "good stuff". But I will contact you if he forgets it!

Hi all Not long now! Really looking forward to it. Julie, I think you said you are going to be at the airport early so I hope I've manaaged to find you on Facebook and sent a friend request. We'll then hopefully be able to swap numbers and meet up before the flight! Jenni