India Grand Tour

Hi

Yes I'm going. Will be on my own leaving my wife at home! I resigned from my job recently to take some time out and this trip is part of the winding down process. It will be my 5th trip with Exodus, the last 3 years we have been trekking in Nepal. This trip will have more wear on my backside than on my knees!

Looking forward to it.

See you at Heathrow

Andy

Hi! This is my first Exodus trip & first visit to India! On my wish list of 'places to visit' this is pretty much at the top (very excitted indeed!) & booked to celebrate my 40th!

Would appreciate any helpful tips if you have been to this area before!

Cheers Rachel

Hi Rachel

It is my first trip to India as well. Exodus are fantastic and look after you really well but still give you that feel of being an independant traveller.

As with Nepal it is the poverty which hits you the most. It certainly gives you a different perspective on life!

Best advice i can give for this kind of trip is take anti bacterial liquid and baby wipes ! Oh and also a mask, not for any reason than it helps when visiting some of the loos!

Looking forward to the trip-only 2 1/2 months to go!

Andy

Hi Andy, Adrian and Rachel,

Great to see your comments and to say hello before the trip. This is our first trip with Exodus. Any tips on how to travel light would be appreciated:-) Some places we have been to are Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. See you in November.

Pam and Mick

 

 

Hi all-

 

Not long to go now- Visas in the bag and just the jabs to deal with. There is some useful advice at http://www.roamwithom.com/. Am finding out if there is any more advice with regards carrying currency from friends who are Indian and travel there quiet a lot. I will post if there is anything new from what is in the travel notes.

 

I am told the swine flu advice of using disinfectant hand wipes regularly is a good idea to reduce the risk of Delhi Belly. Probably inevitable at some stage or another though so lots of medication in the bag is also a good idea.

 

See you all soon

 

Adrian & Sheila

 

 

Wow - 2 weeks and we'll be there!

Has anyone got any cash/rupees yet? If so where from? I live on an Island and won't be getting to the mainland untill 3 days before we leave so will have to shop around then!

Does anyone know how many of us there are? Can't wait to meet you all and start the adventure!

Rachel

Hi all,

2 weeks to go...  shame they can't give yiou a list of your fellow travellers as they used to, ah well, that's the nanny state....

 Anyone else travelling on regional flights?? I'm flying from Manchester on Emirates.... I've passed on the Imodium and bought a pair of bike clips instead...    :-)  Look forward to meeting you all, I think I get there a couple of hours after the Heathrow flight.

 

G

Hello All,

Dont believe you can take Rupees into India. Trip Notes suggest Travellers Cheques and Cash, but when we contacted Exodus they advised to just take Sterling in Cash plus a Visa and Debit card. Even more confused now!

Really looking forward to meeting you all,

Pam and Mick 

 

 

I always take dollars and dollar travellers cheques wherever I go (except Cuba, where they take them but charge a premium), it's the universal currency.

Best bet is to change USD or GBP for INR at the Airport as you arrive, you can't get them from UK banks.

G

Thanks for the currency info!

BIKE CLIPS!!!!! Remind me not to sit next to Graham on any part of the journey!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone,

Managed to log-in today after a few problems with connection; thanks for the currency advice. and looked at the Roaming with Om site yesterday, thanks for that too, lots of photos and videos!  Hoping to get the last bits and pieces organized tomorrow, have lots of alcohol gel ready and mosquito repellent. I agree with Rachel Graham -  you may even have to travel on the roof!! See you all next week!! Pam

Hi all, as its not long to go now, I have started packing. I have heard it is best to cover up so have included a 'mother earth' skirt (relax Adrian, it's not for you) which I intend to leave there unless there are any takers?! ( Hmm, mother earth skirt, bicycle clips - maybe not for you either Graham!!) Any tips on what to wear? So looking forward to meeting you all on the 2nd, all fresh and raring to go!

Sheila

Hello all. This is Maureen & Alan - our first Exodus trip. Really looking forward to meeting you all. This would have been my retirement holiday, but I left the bank 10 years ago (thank goodness) & my present employer has given me a sabbatical! See you all next Sunday (unless you areat the Travelodge where we are staying overnight.

 Alan

Hmmm.... the skirt sounds like a great idea.....  maybe I'll just pass on the bike clips....

 

Graham

I've just got the last of the paperwork & bits from the travel agent, and Exodus are not issing luggage labels! To me, this was a good way of identifying possible fellow trvellers at the airport, and this obviously now stops us making ourselves known to each other at departure. Anyone any bright ideas how we might do that now? Perhaps we should all wear a bowler hat and have a red carnation in our buttonholes ;-)

Alan

Didn't realise the skirt would be such a popular item. I may auction it at the end of the trip! Are you Scottish Graham or do you just like draughts?

Regarding identification, although the bowler hat and carnation ensemble sounds mighty attractive, we have two large blue bags with EXODUS emblazoned in white on the side which might be a bit of a give away. Of course, there may be others.... Personally, given the ungodly hour in the morning, I would prefer a balaclava to a bowler hat! Or a yashmak at the very least.

See you soon

Sheils

Scottish...?? Nargh Cumbrian, I just thought if I went commando then the skirt would be less messy than the bike clips  were Montezuma to make an appearance :P

That did dawn on me after I replied. Still be messy though.....

Graham, I just had a thought. Why not accessorize? Keep the bike clips and when not used for plumbing duties wear them as bangles or earrings. Should go great with the dress. Everyone have a safe flight, see you Sunday/Monday. Mick

Perhaps we should all be wearing Bike Clips at the airport...... Mick

Lol, sounds like a fantastic idea Mick, as my old dad used to say, adapt, adopt and accessorise. This time next week (11:15pm) I'll be in the air....

I'm flying from Manchester to Dubai then on to India, same price as the Heathrow flight just a little later (and a lot more regional).... anyone else going from Manchester?

Wouldn't gold lamé and contra-rotating tassels be a little more discreet?

Alan

Hello Alan, We are looking to stay overnight SaturdaY at Heathrow before the flight. Are you at the Travelodge Heathrow Central or somewhere else?

Mick

Hi Mick - yes it's this one. We are travelling up with a neighbour who is on his way to York. We should be there mid p.m. Give our door a knock when you get settles.

 

Alan & Maureen (Frost)

I shall be carrying an exodus kit bag too but if we meet at the departure gate I shall mostly be wearing grey and carrying a small black back pack with an orange pannel on it - oh and i have a connoisseur moustache - only joking!

See you all soon!

Rachel

Hello Alan, Booked room this morning. See you Saturday. Leave Bike Clips hanging on door handle so we know where you are:-) .... Mick  p.s. I never realised Bike Clips were so versatile!

Yo Mick

Bicycle clips packed!

bike clips packed....