[larki]

I want to take one suit case for 3 months during the monsoons.
Are there any items that are a must besides clothes? and any I should for sure leave out??
Thanks
33 days and counting

[BlueRose]

a flashlight is a must have, and if you are going to be moving around a lot a compass is nice. I also brought a lock and chain for the train, and a light weight towel, a towel that dries quickly and is somewhat small. I also like my own face towel. Depending on where you are going a set of bed sheets. Most of these items can be purchased there. I would not bring many clothes, have them made. It is really fun. Oh, and if you are moving around alot I think a back pack is much better choice. You can purchase one that unzips all around the top instead of front loading in which you must "stuff' your stuff.

P.S. tampons are not very available in India I found, so if you are a user, then bring plenty. And enough hair conditoner, I have very long hair and I needed it.

[BlueRose]

oh and if you are a chocoholic like myself, then bring the good stash in plastic ziplock bags. You will be glad you did. The ziplock bags are quite handy too so stash a few of those somewhere.

Good, broken in shoes which are washable and waterproof are essential. I had one pair for my 3-4 months and I was just fine.

Have a great trip, I cant think of anything else at the moment.

[dzibead]

A small pillow that is comfortable to you. And beware of some of those "travel pillows" because they are NOT all as comfortable as you would first think - some are too "springy" for my taste. Try to test it first. But almost anything is better than the pillows in the kinds of places I tend to stay in India, which usually feel like sandbags to me!

[WonderWomanUSA]

larki, on May 4 2006, 04:11 PM, said:

I want to take one suit case for 3 months during the monsoons.
Are there any items that are a must besides clothes? and any I should for sure leave out??

I had only a carry-on bag, so left the Swiss Army knife at home; I bought a wonderful "Rat" brand knife in Delhi that worked very well for peeling fruit and cutting loose threads and all those little jobs.

You don't have to take much in the way of clothing, as you can get cool, comfortable clothing made there for very small cost... and the Indian fabrics are wonderful!

Handy things to have -- what I call "tools and toys": a glue stick, a fine-point (Sharpie) marker (great for addressing parcels to send home), playing cards. A stick or two of Cutter's mossie repellant (camping & fishing stores have it -- the stick takes up very little space and lasts a long time).

If you're there for the monsoon, you might want more than one pair of sandals. And don't forget to start taking your anti-malaria pills before you leave.

[Judi]

I wouldn't take bed sheets - but a silk sleeping bag liner instead - the finest you can afford. This is because the higher the quality, the lighter and smaller the sack will be. It will take up a very small amount of soace in your bag.

Will you be doing a lot of walking around? i.e wandering the streets looking for an hotel - or will you be travelling by plane/train and taking taxis to your hotel? This makes a great deal of difference to the kind of bag you might want. For instance, not being a 'backpacker', I go straight from the airport/train station etc , by cab ususally, to an hotel and stay there for several days. I found that a flat, fabric suitcase, on wheels was ideal for that kind of travelling - but would certainly be of no use to you if you were travelling long distance by bus, then trawling the streets looking for somewhere to stay the night!

Keep asking the questions - undoubtedly someone here will have the answers!

[Casey]

I agree about examing the travel you will be doing. I found the backpack did not go on the back very much and I was often looking longingly at the wheelie suitcases. There were a couple of places thepack came in handy, but the wheels would have been better overall. Again, I didn't do trecking, but did spend time on buses and looking for somewhere to stay. I also found far more hygiene products available (Himilayan Herbals everywhere) this trip than when I was in India previously. Next time I would bring only a small container of shampoo etc. and purchase small containers so I am not lugging about my big bottles of stuff. Well, by BF is not lugging big bottles of stuff.

[larki]

Thanks everyone,
At this point I have a fabric wheelie suitcase and I will stuff a backpack in it. So don't bring big bottles of shampoo, (unless I have a BF to carry it) get them there.

JUDI: I did look at silk bed sack but I though they would be too hot compared to cotton. What is your thought??? Have you tried both?
I need to order this week if I am going to get them.

WWUSA: I like the idea of the "rat " knife. Can I get it anywere?

I will get a flashlight also.

So is shopping easy to do in Delhi? like finding a place to get clothes made. I will have two days in Delhi before I leave for Agra. Anyone know of a good place to by clothes????

[Judi]

larki, on May 5 2006, 02:10 PM, said:

Thanks everyone,
At this point I have a fabric wheelie suitcase and I will stuff a backpack in it.

Great idea


JUDI: I did look at silk bed sack but I though they would be too hot compared to cotton. What is your thought??? Have you tried both?

Yes, and I would go for silk every time



So is shopping easy to do in Delhi? like finding a place to get clothes made. I will have two days in Delhi before I leave for Agra. Anyone know of a good place to by clothes????


Go to one of the 'western type ' malls. They are sure to have stores like West Side or Pantaloons. They sell good, off the peg clothes, which should serve you well until you stay somewhere long enough to have things made.

[Indojinguy]

larki, on May 5 2006, 01:11 AM, said:

I want to take one suit case for 3 months during the monsoons.
Are there any items that are a must besides clothes? and any I should for sure leave out??
Thanks
33 days and counting

India is a place to travle the lightest as possible. For you will have to lug it on you at most times and when you'll bring the stuf back to where ever you are, it will smell like India. LOL

Just take the most necessary things like. money, credit cards, medicines, some clothing, female hygiene stuff. Buy the rest from there at cheap and dump it all somewhere before your return flight.

My 2 euro cents.

[wanderer22]

larki, on May 5 2006, 06:10 AM, said:

I will get a flashlight also.

Look for one of the new LED (light emitting diode) flashlights. They're very efficient and easy on batteries, and the light is white, not yellowish like filament bulbs.


Wanderer22

[Casey]

For some nice pre-made clothes we went to FabIndia. They have a website where you can take a look at the clothes. I got some really nice things. It was nice to ease into the whole bargaining thing and buy my clothes from a fixed price place. This gave me an idea of what things should costs.

[Seventies'Neil]

Casey, on May 6 2006, 12:02 AM, said:

For some nice pre-made clothes we went to FabIndia. They have a website where you can take a look at the clothes. I got some really nice things. It was nice to ease into the whole bargaining thing and buy my clothes from a fixed price place. This gave me an idea of what things should costs.

Here it is: FabIndia

[Casey]

Thanks for the link. The prices in US $ seem to be much higher. The skirt I bought for 700r is listed at $39.00. There are plenty of shirts etc. for under 200r available. The shopping area where this store is located also has a great bookshop and stalls where you can pick up all those items you forgot at home before heading out of Delhi.

[larki]

Yogagal,
I am on my way to Target now, with a long list. I will be traveling by train and bus a lot. I will get a lock and chain today.
Living in the north, sometimes you forget about your feet, since they are covered up all the time. I like you idea about the foot scrub (pepermint is my fav).
thanks

[BlueRose]

I know what I forgot, a bungee cord. This can be used for many things but especially as a clothes line in a bathroom. I looked in my drawer of things and I also had ear plugs for those seriously noisy bus rides etc. India's sounds can get overwhelming. A small first aid kit with eyedrops, and tweeezers. I dont know about a silk sleeping bag and am going to look at one. I have new sheets, or peices of fabric similar to what yogagal is talking about and they were 100 rupees. They can be used on a train and can double as a towel, shawl etc...
I got them at a fabric store, a cheap fabric store. A money belt is also a useful item. I did not like the neck pouches though.
Yes, and those handwipes are really nice, you can be conservative and make them last so you dont have to bring a ton by tearing them in half. I found those to be very useful.

[WonderWomanUSA]

larki, on May 5 2006, 06:10 AM, said:

WWUSA: I like the idea of the "rat " knife. Can I get it anywere?

I will get a flashlight also.

So is shopping easy to do in Delhi? like finding a place to get clothes made. I will have two days in Delhi before I leave for Agra. Anyone know of a good place to by clothes????

"Rat" is the brand; I found it at a knife shop at Connaught Place. Just one blade... it probably cost around Rs.50

Yes, shopping can be easy in Delhi. I like the Central Cottage Industries (Janpath) and the state emporia (Baba Karak Singh Marg) -- especially when I've just arrived -- because they are fixed price and have lots of ready-made clothing for those who are smallish sizes.

If you're very tall or "plus size" you won't find much ready made and will have to find a tailor. There's a Sikh tailor on Connaught Place, but I don't know the block number -- a gal at the Lufthansa office recommended him to me.

Fab India is also supposed to be quite good and very stylish; I've looked at their website and their clothing does look very nice.

[larki]

Well I finished my first round of shopping today. Thanks for all the great ideas.
WWUSA: I am tall, so I will look for the Sikh tailor on Connaught Place. I can't wait to go shopping. I guessing I will be too excited to sleep so I will shop. Thanks for your help.

Mossie net and bed sack I think I will still get.

BlueRose: Bungee cord !!! I like it. Will throw one in the case.

Yogagal: Went to target and got the items, the bike lock and chain are very heavy.. Is yours???

Thanks everyone:)

[jyotirmoy]

FabIndia is a good place. Do visit Dilli Hat. For branded stuff & a cool time visit the malls in some Metro stations like Inder Lok. The Khadi shop next to Regal cinema in CP is worth a visit. In case you are getting some clothes tailored u can buy the raw materials from Khadi. And then once you fill like the proverbial "drop" get in to DV8 again next to Regal cinema, relax on a leather sofa, browse thru some books while sipping your poison with Amritsari Fish & oldies playing on the music system.

[larki]

Yogagal:
Yes the lock and chain is heavy with that mossie net and sheets, I won't have to worry about taking clothes. I will have exceeded my weight and space!! I will wait till I get there to get the adapters and anything else.
Thanks
A month from Monday !!!!!!! yeah!!!!!!!