How to go to India by bluebutton32

"Well, quite indescribable. Amazing."

How I did it: I planned for a very long time.  I had intended to go over and volunteer for an amount of time and then travel around, but I couldn't really find a volunteer program that I thought fit and that I didn't think was somewhat taking advantage of me, as they're all so expensive.  (If you're looking to volunteer look at wwoof.org - Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, they usually provide food and lodging for free in exchange for work on an organic farm in almost any country you could want) So I booked a two week tour through G.A.P. Adventures as I was traveling alone for the first time as a 20 year old girl in a country I had never been to so the tour made my mother happy.  And, then, with the fantastic planning and plotting I had done I left.  Got in my plane (well not the plane I had intended to go in) and flew there in a whirlwind of delicious indian food and sleep and movies.  I did the tour and then was set free, which I must say provides a better experience, but it was a hard trip, but worth every second.

Lessons & tips:

  • PLAN.  Although, it will never prepare you for what you're getting yourself into.
  • Relax and go with the flow once you're there.  It is a crazy trip that is SO much more enjoyable if you just let things happen - because there is no way you will be able to control everything.
  • Do it! If you're just thinking about it, as something you'd like to do - do it.  You won't be able to regret it because it really is unforgettable.

Resources:

  • Lonely Planet, or any other guide book.
  • IndiaMike.com - excellent website with answers to any and all questions you could ever have.  You can ask your own questions and people who have spent time there or live there will answer them for you on just about anything you could want.  There were even packing lists to make sure you bring essential items (which are basically the same everywhere..) I cannot recommend highly enough.
  •  G.A.P. Adventures.  It was an okay tour program.  They give you free time and you travel by train and bus and do things relatively cheaply, but you have to have a good group and it, obviously, lacks some independence.  My group consisted of too many people over the age of 35 for my liking, but it was pretty good out of the things I looked at.  Also look at Intrepid Adventures, I think.  It's basically the same, but I think they might cater to a younger crowd - I'm not sure.
  • If you're looking for a good cheap way to volunteer abroad check out wwoof.org - see the How I Did It section. 


3 people found this helpful
 

Mar 05, 2009, 12:04AM PST | 2 comments | 19 cheers


Comments:

jantareview

Also try JantaReview.com

For India local search – besides hotel and tourist information, the website also provides information about restaurants, pubs and clubs, travel agencies, deals, events and other local services for many cities in india.

URL – http://www.jantareview.com

Apr 04, 2009, 05:13PM PDT | Respond to this 1 cheer

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