[wanderingkat]

I might be biting off more than I can chew, but i'm thinking of flying my mother to India. Despite being not-extremely-well travelled, she did spend her very early years in Malaysia and has an added interest in the east through her daughter having spent the past four years to-ing and fro-ing between India and the West.

I'm a little worried about how she'll handle travel around India; I have plenty experience at travelling India, but I've zero experience at being 62yrs old. She's not awfully unfit or anything, but does have slightly arthritic knees (clearly no Indian style toilets, then), and a bit of a bad back sometimes.... She feels hot when i've still got my jersey on. Maybe altitude will hit her harder, or maybe her stomach will be more sensitive. Stuff like that. I tend to rough it most of the time, and altho i'd obviously upgrade my standard of travel if she came over, i'm worried i'll overlook something purely because i'm half her age and it wouldn't occur to me.

I wonder if anyone has any relevant experience and could alert me to potential "issues" I might otherwise not consider?

[Sudheer Poppa]

Good to see our adventurous Kat back here ;-)

How many days are you planning her visit? I would suggest an introductory cooling down week in Kerala, possibly in one of the Ayurvedic resorts where you can pamper her with some massage and rather laid back introduction to India. Then you can cover the circuit you intend to and cool it out in one of the hill stations or in Goa before you head back home. You would ideally get a fair hang of things in the first cooling week by which you can make a list of things to and not to yourself.

Otherwise stick to
- hired taxi's for inner city trips
- 2/3rd Air con for inter city trips.. Avoid busses as much as possible
- book ahead in hotels where you are planning - avoid the word budget as much as possible ;-)
- a fair deal of comfort clothes which she is used to (psychological advt)

Have a 62+ year old mom myself, so shall think more on the topic.. but she has lived all her life in India.. so not exactly a par to par compare!

[dzibead]

Hm-m-m, I'll have to think about this and see if I have some "words of wisdom" to add- - but for now I just want to say that I'm 60 myself but I never think of myself as a geezer who needs to be pampered (not that I don't have my standards - I refuse to haul myself into an upper berth on a train, for example, but that has less to do with my age than it does with being too damn fat!).

[wanderingkat]

Thanks guys!
Sudheer, yes I was thinking of flying her into Kochi (i'll be in karnataka by then so it's convenient too) - that will avoid the shock of Mumbai for her, and she'll be straight into relaxed south India. Flying her over (from South Africa) is going to hit my budget very hard, so won't be able to live it up TOO much once she's there, but i'll definitely upgrade from my normal 500rs-a-day standard!

Dzibead, she by no means needs pampering, but there are things I do without thinking, like lifting my backpack onto my shoulders, which, when I think of it, would prob be impossible for her, because of her back. (as well as climbing onto a top berth!)
I think i'm just going to have to do a lot more forward thinking, booking and planning than I usually do!

Edited by wanderingkat, 13 September 2007 - 02:08 AM.

[dzibead]

noflylist, on Sep 12 2007, 01:41 PM, said:

I haven't read this y'all

Yeah, wipe that from your mind.  

"y'all"?  Sheesh, you really are a Texas Desi!   Wonder if Georgia-resident Hyderabadi has picked this up, too.  Do y'all know?  I guess I'll find out at the meet-up in October.

[dzibead]

wanderingkat, on Sep 12 2007, 01:37 PM, said:

Dzibead, she by no means needs pampering, but there are things I do without thinking, like lifting my backpack onto my shoulders, which, when I think of it, would prob be impossible for her, because of her back. (as well as climbing onto a top berth!)

My suggestion for luggage for your mom:  a rolling bag.  I use a wheeled duffle myself, even though I don't have back problems and am capable of carrying pretty heavy loads (it's all that brief-case carrying my job requires that keeps me "fit" - well, sort of fit), but I'm done with schlepping back packs.  Even better:  a wheeled bag that's capable of standing on end by itself (which my cheesy bag isn't, unfortunately) so it can double as a seat on train platforms.

[Hyderabadi]

dzibead, on Sep 12 2007, 05:47 PM, said:

Yeah, wipe that from your mind.  

"y'all"?    I guess I'll find out at the meet-up in October.

That, and all I don't know, I say!    <---- Head wobble, really y'all!

[WonderWomanUSA]

I was 60 on my last visit to India. The body part that bothered me the most was my knees! No squat toilets and for Heaven's sake, why is EVERYTHING up at least one flight of stairs. In Delhi, make those SPIRAL STAIRS -- an invention of the Devil! And those stairs at the rail stations, when I have to carry everything I own .... <sigh>

After several visits, dating back to overland days in the 70s, my stomach no longer rebels when it gets Indian flora, but your mother might have some difficulties. Be sure to have her take a parasite test when she returns to wherever "hme" is.

But  really, at 60, she's not really DECREPIT. So give her a hand with her bag, be sure she gets the lower berth, and I hope she has a great visit!

[Judi]

The bag on wheels that you can also sit on is invaluable!

[jyoti]

I'd recommend UPS. Freight shipping (by ship) left everything smashed, including a marble elephant.  She's got no chance!  *grin*

[john.sw]

My mother is seventy something, and she's flying out from the UK to Delhi on Monday.

My advice is that the pace is a little slower as you get older, so allow more time for stops and relaxation.

Where a younger person may like to climb to the top of a hill, an older person may be just as happier sitting at the bottom with a cup of tea!

Some Indian mattresses can feel very hard, so I recommend packing a single duvet (or similar) to lie on.

My mother likes shopping, but maybe that's not an age thing?  

Apart from that, it's plain sailing!

[billj]

My first post, tried yesterday but obviously pushed wrong button.
Quite agree with John and others, no major problems so long as reasonably active.
My first trip was a couple of months after I had retired at 65, after 37 years sitting at a desk.  Not what you would call extreme fit.
I am very lucky in that my son is an enthusiastic veteran of India over the last 20 years (being careful here a he might/will read this) who invited me to join him on his year visit whilst at home on his 'monsoon break'.   Youngest daughter had invited me to go with her and husband on Rhine for a week at £1000, not on my pension!
We are now plannning my fourth trip early next year, together with eldest daughter and her partner, who is keen after reading 'The Great Railway Bazaar', 'A Fine Balance' and 'Shantaram'.  Previously not interested.  Again son a godsend in the planning to cater for them.  I am happy just being there.
By that time I'll be not far off 71!  No problems, yes sometimes the mattresses are a bit thin, some long stairs where no lift and don't walk too fast especially if hot.  I  was having  a problem when we arrived in Shimla, at the bus stand at the bottom and our hotel was right at the top of the ridge at the end of the mall and we were 'walking' up those b----- steps to get to the top.  The rucksack was by this time a bit heavy but a local young man took pity and carried the 'sack to the top for me.   On the next trip I am replacing rucksack with a wheely case, as previously suggested, one you can sit on.
As I say really no problem,  Take it easy and enjoy.  I recommend India to everyone, usually can't stop talking about it.  All the locals are very friendly, altho I keep getting asked if I live near Leicester, Birmingham or Luton. The people are great, food marvellous everything brilliant and all reasonably inexspensive, even with 1st AC travel (I often have the upper birth).  Cannot understand those peple who visit with SAGA tho', they really don't see the real India.

I only wish I could extend my visits but still have committments here.
Enjoy it all while you can, I am grateful to my son for introducing to a great country and people.
(Don't forget the OAP discounts, especially on the railways)

[iwanttogoback]

hey bill, welcome, another one who can't stop talking about india! you'll be amongst friends here then.

[Sudheer Poppa]

Welcome bill... Nice to see you make your first post here

[priya]

Good for you Bill - and welcome to the Tree

I'm sure Kat will find your post an inspiration!  

Another Indophile joins the ranks

[ChrisJ]

billj, on Sep 14 2007, 10:47 AM, said:

My first post, tried yesterday but obviously pushed wrong button.
Quite agree with John and others, no major problems so long as reasonably active.
My first trip was a couple of months after I had retired at 65, after 37 years sitting at a desk.  Not what you would call extreme fit.
I am very lucky in that my son is an enthusiastic veteran of India over the last 20 years (being careful here a he might/will read this) who invited me to join him on his year visit whilst at home on his 'monsoon break'.   Youngest daughter had invited me to go with her and husband on Rhine for a week at £1000, not on my pension!
We are now plannning my fourth trip early next year, together with eldest daughter and her partner, who is keen after reading 'The Great Railway Bazaar', 'A Fine Balance' and 'Shantaram'.  Previously not interested.  Again son a godsend in the planning to cater for them.  I am happy just being there.
By that time I'll be not far off 71!  No problems, yes sometimes the mattresses are a bit thin, some long stairs where no lift and don't walk too fast especially if hot.  I  was having  a problem when we arrived in Shimla, at the bus stand at the bottom and our hotel was right at the top of the ridge at the end of the mall and we were 'walking' up those b----- steps to get to the top.  The rucksack was by this time a bit heavy but a local young man took pity and carried the 'sack to the top for me.   On the next trip I am replacing rucksack with a wheely case, as previously suggested, one you can sit on.
As I say really no problem,  Take it easy and enjoy.  I recommend India to everyone, usually can't stop talking about it.  All the locals are very friendly, altho I keep getting asked if I live near Leicester, Birmingham or Luton. The people are great, food marvellous everything brilliant and all reasonably inexspensive, even with 1st AC travel (I often have the upper birth).  Cannot understand those peple who visit with SAGA tho', they really don't see the real India.

I only wish I could extend my visits but still have committments here.
Enjoy it all while you can, I am grateful to my son for introducing to a great country and people.
(Don't forget the OAP discounts, especially on the railways)

Hi Dad!  

[billj]

Told you I had to be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's supposed to be at work.

[wanderingkat]

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely take into account the wheelie suitcase idea - sounds good.
I think thin mattresses are going to pose the biggest problem for this mother - I remember when she visited me in England and slept on a futon, she took strain. John.sw recommends taking a duvet to lie on; any other ideas re beds? I guess I could also get her one of those thin air mattresses, or even ask hotel for an extra mattress..... The last thing I ever take note of is the quality of the bed - I can sleep on anything!

Thanks again for all the comments!

[ChrisJ]

billj, on Sep 14 2007, 04:33 PM, said:

Told you I had to be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's supposed to be at work.

I was taking a late lunch  

[dzibead]

billj, on Sep 14 2007, 02:47 AM, said:

I recommend India to everyone, usually can't stop talking about it.

Heh.  You're going to fit right in here, Bill.
(Ooo.  ChrisJ's dad!  How many father-son teams does that make?  We're getting quite a few! )