[dzibead]

My vote: the lighter weight two-wheeler.

Clothes:  loose cotton trousers and comfy tunics or longish T-shirt tops.  SK are just dandy, but if you're spending most of your time in McLeod Ganj (based on other posts), don't worry about wearing SK to "fit in" because that's not the "dominant dress" in McL. G. anyway.

Forget waterproofs.  You'll die of the heat.  A small folding umbrella just to protect yourself from the heaviest downpours until you can reach shelter will do.  Otherwise, just let yourself get soaked by the rain.  You'll dry out soon enough, and if you wear waterproofs you'll just end up getting soaked with sweat, which is worse.

Footwear?  comfortable walking sandals are what I usually wear.  

Rucksack?  I myself don't use one, just because it's inconvenient to have to take it off every time I want to get into it.  I use a shoulder bag made by Eagle Creek.  Not sure if that brand is available in the U.K.  But use a rucksack if you want.  Who cares!  You don't have to satisfy the "fashion police" (I'm looking at you, phantom!)  And don't worry about looking like a tourist, either.  So what?  You ARE a tourist, and so are about 7/8 of the other people you'll see in McLeod Ganj, and neither the Tibetans nor the Indians in that town will give a damn.  In some places, it can be advantageous to try to dampen down the "tourist" image, but in McLeod Ganj that's not a consideration you should give even 5 second's thought to.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

) a bit battered solid plastic type colours of Benneton case with 4 wheels not very good to pull along, but tough and heavy or

fabric more modern lightweight 2 wheeled bag- smaller lighter but a bit dellicate (what do you expect for £17)

which oone to take??????????

that would depend on how you are travelling. I took a backpack cos we were on and off trains, but as we didn't do any trekking I think that if I did that kind of trip again I would take a big, sturdy suitcase and pay a coolie to get it on and off the train.

my point? if you are going to be doing lots of walking and carrying your own luggage go for the lighter one. but if you are on trains take the sturdy one and pay for to be carried on and off for you. things can get battered and knocked around so i'd go for solid.

some kind soul here will tell you how much a coolie should cost.

[ladyjane]

Hi,

This is my first post on this site, but just wanted to assure you that you can get any kind of cosmetics, including body lotion, that you could possibly want at scores of small shops all over the place at a fraction of the cost you would pay at home, wherever that may be.

They also sell in the markets little packets which are good for single use, and this is great since you then don't have to carry any bottles at all with you.  You can buy, in these single use packets, shampoo, conditioner, soap, even laundry detergent.  Very clever idea for travellers.

Also, any over-the-counter and even prescription drugs (if you have the generic name as noted above) are available in India, and I usually buy enough to take home with me for a long period of time as the price is simply so cheap.  Just check the expiration date if you think to do this.

You can also get all kinds of natural solutions to medication and cosmetics as well.  Himalaya is just one of many brands available.

If you wear Shalwar/Kameez/Dupatta, you will always be suitably dressed for any occasion.  And they are sooooooooo comfortable.  I now wear them all summer long at home as well and receive compliments are my lovely, unique clothing all the time.

Enjoy your trip!

Jane

[sego]

Cyber I honestly forgot the name of the antibiotic but I think Jyoti answer was not it.  This helped a couple of my friends of course, I had none to use myself but we were o.k in the end. I Canada all my medications are free so it's no big deal to get them before going to India.

[hfot2]

sego, on May 25 2006, 03:20 PM, said:

My doctor gave me the 7 antibiotic talblets, he told me to use them for 3 days only as a last resort until I can get to a hospital etc. I forgot the name of it but he said it's the last line of antibiotic  in tablet form.

Is it Levaquin?  [levofloxacin] An alternative to cipro - taken less frequently [once a day rather than the every 12  hours for cipro]  more expensive per tablet, but you need far fewer.

Our travel clinic doctor prescribes this as the all-purpose/broad spectrum antibiotic for travelers.  Taken for 7 days for upper respiratory and 3 days for severe intestinal troubles.   I hate to self-medicate, especially with antibiotics, but the travel doctor said that when we needed this level of meds we'd know.  The doctor was right - in Lhasa my husband had a terrible case of explosive diarrhea [dysentery?] and this cured it.  I followed with similar symptoms and took the meds before the trouble became severe. We both recovered quickly.

[Janis]

john.sw, on May 7 2006, 03:13 PM, said:

Electrical Adapters:

You can buy an adapter for about Rs.15/- from any electrical store in any town.

Too late - I have just purchased two of these 'on line' at £4.99 each.  I should have joined The India Tree earlier!!

[hotellolanyc02]

The inexpensive adaptors have no current control world.. in Indian the range current may differ very extremely so a simple transformer rectifier adaptor which is developed for +/- 5% difference in range current comon to european nations around the world may wreak damage.