india
Oprah: “I Heard Some Indian People Eat With Their Hands”
To the rest of the world: On behalf of all American travelers, I’m sorry. I know that according to recent polls, you think Americans are the worst tourists, and that angers me. Perhaps it’s not making much difference, but one of my goals through this humble site, and something I’m sure is a goal of […]
The Other Face Of India
A group of smiling young faces stare back at you from the photograph. Their bodies are thin and semi-clothed, and they are sitting in filth; a stagnated water puddle serves as a befitting background. Kids of slum dwellers in Kolkata are extremely excited at having their picture taken. Their joviality belittles their circumstances. This shot […]
A Case For Travel Photography Before Digital Cameras
The BBC recently featured a number of noted photographer Pablo Bartholomew’s stunning black-and-white pictures of Mumbai (then Bombay) from the ’70s and ’80s, a time long before steel barons and call center magnates began erecting tall glass homes and whole neighborhoods were transformed, making room for the country’s burgeoning middle class. A time also long […]
India Opens New Floating Lake Palace To Visitors
You may recognize the famous Lake Palace of Jaipur, Rajasthan — the ornate, seemingly floating palace turned hotel located in the middle (you read that right) of Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India — from such shows as No Reservations or the movie Octopussy. But Rajasthan has another notable “floating” palace opening up to visitors in the […]
Frommer Watch: Travel In India Is Really Cheap Right Now
India has always been a cheap country to travel through, but it’s now cheaper than ever. As the galavanting guru Arthur Frommer points out in a recent blog post, the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee is at a historical low as compared to the U.S. dollar, with each greenback returning about 53 rupees. As […]
10 Random Facts About Train Travel In India
1) The total distance covered by the trains on the Indian Railways everyday, equals 3 1/2 times the distance to moon. [Link] 2) Longest Run (Time): Himsagar Express (3,751 km in 74 hrs and 55 min). [Link] 3) 18 million passengers ride 9,000 Indian trains every day. [Link] 4) Cost for ticket from New Delhi to […]
Tips For Train Travel In Mumbai (Personal Space Not Included)
The instant I start to get annoyed at fellow passengers while on the New York City subway, I remind myself, “Matt, things could be much worse. If you think this is crowded, picture what it’s like in Tokyo, Moscow or Mumbai right now.” Then my heart rate slows, I jab an elbow into the ribs […]
How Was India? My Trouble In Answering That Question
When I worked at a camp one summer, we played a game called, “How’s yours?” One person would leave the room and the other players would collectively decide on an object, part of the body or event to describe. We might choose “belly button,” “birth,” or “socks.” Then the person who had left would return […]
The Expeditioner’s August Travel Photo Contest Winner: Rural India
For the August photography contest over at our Flickr group, we sought out shots of what you defined as rural life. The submissions we receive every month never fail to amaze. More impressive than their locale is the spot on rural-ness of each shot. This month’s entrants were from all over the globe: Namibia, Vietnam, […]
Travel India For Over Two Months On Only $1,000? It Can Be Done
A little ways back we asked the question: How Many Days Can I Travel In [Insert Country Here] With $1,000? — a post based upon a Rough Guides analysis of the cost of travel in various countries. Seeing this as a challenge rather than a suggestion, travel writer Jed Purses decided to light out for India — the […]