2 Girls India General Advice
 

Myself and my cousin are planning on travelling to India this summer for 10weeks. We were looking at other travel blogs and got conflicting views on going during the rainy season - some said it was a great experience and well worth going and others said it was a total disaster and that they would never do it again.

We also heard that it wouldn't be safe for us to go on our own - we are two females 20 and 21.


Has anyone been and could they help us make up our minds?

I imagine away from touristy hot spots like Goa you would be fairly safe in India - they are a very respectful friendly bunch but anything can happen, anywhere in the world......

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are they..? :confused1: (puzzled)

Typical conversation between Indian and foreign tourist (all said at high speed)

Indian - What your name?
Tourist - (answers)
Indian - What your country?
Tourist - (answers)
Indian - What your job?
Tourist - (answers)
Indian - OK, bye.

My ex GF's, Sister 45 went to India, visited the Taj & had a youth volunteer to, show her around, then he try's to chat her up and after not getting anywhere started to say things like, give me a kiss prity lady etc.

She told him to go away and left.

Now she was on her own & there for 2 months that was the only indecent that happened to her, this was in broad daylight, so I suppose using common sense should just be the order of the trip & no matter what escort each other.

Typical questions in any second class non A/C Indian train:

Indian - How much do you earn?
Tourist - :confused1:

Indian - Is she married? (pointing at your gf/wife)
Tourist - (thinking: and your mother, is she?)

Indian - Do you know that India is a superpower and that Times magazine has said by 2020 we'll be the richest country in the world?
Tourist - Really?
Indian - Yes, we have space program.

Indian - Do you know why people commit suicide so much in your country?
Tourist - Please, enlighten me.
Indian - You lack spirituality. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world.
Tourist - What would I have to do to convert to hinduism?
Indian - Sorry, not possible. You have to wait to your next life: if you are lucky, you may be born hindu.

Agree: use your common sense and no major problem in principle, especially being two. Just beware of keeping some distance. Indians usually consider themselves irresistible for Western women (been told that several times by them), so normal signs may be considered an "invitation" to go farther.

Don't know southern India, but everyone says they are MUCH nicer, politer, friendlier.

- :rofl:

Yep - I'd probably go along with that. Southern India compared to somewhere like Jaipur or Goa or UP is a low-fat, decaffeinated sort of India.

But problems can happen anywhere, and even if you look Indian - BBC News - Eve teasing in India: Assault or harassment by another name

India
 

Hello
It's great to hear you're interested in going to India, it's a fabulous country and full of great people, and also like every country it has its share of people you don't want to meet.

I travelled around India for three months on a motorbike with my friend Becky travelling from the north right down to the southernmost tip, we stayed in cities and rural areas as well as wild camping at times, and we had an extremely positive time. I'd echo what others say about using your common sense as you would anywhere.

Give it a go and you'll be glad you did.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Hello there,
I am from Chennai a city in South india. Iv been biking around the country but have yet to face any major problem caused be other people.
most of the ppl in the South are very friendly, helpful and the best part is the most of them in the country do speak bits and pieces of english enough to guide you around.
The southern part is quite traditional and laid back when compared to the middle northern cities like Mumbai and Delhi which is a lot more commercial.
But being in India is an amazing experience, and im sure you will love it a lot!

A Must ,,
 

I have been to India about six times ,, traveled in India, by ferry, train, on a scooter ,, by car,, elephants and horses.
From Rajastan to Trichivandrum,, Coachin to Calcutta ,, Hydrabad to Madras.
India is an..University of Humanity.

You must go ,, especially in your youth. Great food ,, many wonderful sites to behold. People are same as any where ,, take one at a time on a face value.

Enjoy it with an open mind.

I did the Kerala, round the south coast to Chennai, and the people I came across were amongst the friendliest I have ever met, but then again, I am at least twice the size of the average Indian, my arms are bigger than their legs and covered in tattoos, and apart from the what country you from? I got, 'are you a wrestler'? I met a few female backpackers who had not had too much unwanted attention, you would probably be safer there than one of our big cities.

You will , at one stage, get your arse and tits grabbed. It is rare, but if you are the sort of girls that can shrug it off, India will be wonderful experience.

Can you do that in India and the women just shrug it off :clap: I'll go :cool4:

No NO NO NEVER SHRUG IT OFF! make a scene,specially if in the public

that way they will leave the next tourist alone.

nomad.r:thumbdown:

My Wife went on her own last year and had several times that she was worried about her saftey.
Men would ask her were her Husband was, so she told them he had just gone somewhere to put them off.
Also was pinched quiet hard by a man while waiting to go into the golden temple, luckly she had hired a driver who dealt with this man by hitting him around the head.
Later she realised that the local paper had an artical stating that western women that are there, with out men, are prostitutes.
So from then on she was very careful where she went and who she went with.
Even with the above she enjoyed herself and meet many nice and friendly people.
Lots of fellow travelers to help you out if things get sticky.
Don't get Paranoid, but be safe. and carry a chain and lock as some of the hotels that she stayed at did not have locks on the doors.

Considering the poverty that exists there, India is a very safe and non-violent country for the tourist (very different if you're an Indian). Unfortunately, I've found that the general perception of westerners/western women is that they are highly promiscuous and will of course, jump into bed at any opportunity.

I've tried to figure this out exactly why this is so. I'd say it's a complex mix of their own cultural bias and expectations, along with how westerners (esp women!) are portrayed in the western media and worse still, in pornography.

Estebangc, sorry you had such negative experiences and I'd argue you were just unfortunate. The train journeys are one of the highlights of travelling there. In a year and a half of travelling there, I can still remember every journey.

For solo women, if you use your common sense and follow the usual precautions, then any negative attention will be more of an annoyance than a threat. There are ways to avoid negative attention. You should ask the guys at indiamike.com, there is a wealth of information there.

Cheers :)

what a stupid comment.

You state its certain that molestation will occur, and then say its a rare occurrence?

:rolleyes2::rolleyes2:

I thought it to be a cultural thing when I was asked if the woman sitting next to me was my wife (my gf). But when an old man intervened to tell the young guy to shut up and be polite and "non-your-business" I thought, well, it's not only cultural. It's not just a 1 time experience.

India is a very extreme country, where things may be just astonishingly beautiful... and terrible. That I understand. The point is that being a foreigner who is not object of violence doesn't make you inmune to what you see. I have seen hit VERY hard to a man in a bus and NOBODY cared at all except us, that was very impressive, even if we did not suffer it. With economic growth, I hope those things will change.

I'm sure I'll come back, it is too much India just to say no to it (to the South!).:)

Is it? I just understand that Twobob means that after some time it will happen (amid a big crowd, for instance, it may easily happen), but it won't be a daily thing, therefore rare, that you can overcome. It may happen in a disco in Santorini and you won't cancel your holidays. "Stupid" seems then harsh, though.

Yeah the fascinating thing about India is the minute you figured you've got it sussed, it throws something in your face that totally shatters your conclusions!

Honestly, compared to other places, not my cup of tea... but I totally agree with you. And I reckon that nowhere else you will get so much diversity in 4 square meters, just unbeatable, a whole world there:eek3:! An eden for photographers!