Just in case you hadn't noticed...

Or you stumbled upon this blog randomly, I couldn't keep it updated along with my other one, so you can find all India updates at Two-Timing the Cosmos. Later!

Update

Boy I suck at updating this blog. I've done a lot of work for my trip over the past few weeks, but with moving and other stresses it still feels like I'm wholly unprepared to go. Some helpful tips have been left in the comments. I've been reading some interesting stuff on indiamike.com, where jason pointed me, which is kind of your typical emoticon-soaked forum board, but these people have a wide swath of knowledge when it comes to backpacking through India, so it's been pretty helpful on what to bring, wear, how to interact with people, etc.

(Oh, and jason inadvertently answered my blog question - he's blogging from India! Yay blogspot!)

Also, barry pointed me to asiahotels.com and asiarooms.com, both of which seem to be exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I was mostly searching for hotels through my guidebook and checking out ones with web sites, but that has been hit or miss. I have booked reservations near Aurangabad and ... well, that's it. I thought I'd had three more places booked, but then after we'd gone through it all, I got emails saying, "Okay, now just pay 50% of your bill, and we'll be all set." I've been warmed (somewhat obviously) that this is usually a scam, and if you show up and all the rooms are booked, you have no recourse.

Barry also tells me (and I've heard elsewhere) that it's not hard to find rooms if you just show up at a place. I hesitate to do this mostly because I'm a "planner," and also because at a few of these places I won't be there very long, so I don't want to spend half a day looking for a hotel. Not to mention, prices can vary from $20-$400 a night, so I'd like to get some good deals. I'm going to check out those asia websites mentioned above for some more choices, I think.

While I was home in Cali my mom and I stopped by every sports store in the county looking for some good shoes, and I finally found exactly what I was looking for, these awesome New Balances (that actually make my feet look small!). I'm still having trouble uploading photos from my new camera or I'd show you. (This is also a problem, I was sort of hoping I'd be able to upload photos to computers at email centers, but this is looking to be less of an option. 1 gig cards are only $20, and I have two, so maybe I'll just buy one or two more. And if you don't think I can fill all those up in a month, you haven't seen me with a camera.)

I swung by the camping section at this store where I got my shoes and ended up buying out the place. There's all this stuff I didn't even think about (and some I had, but there aren't a lot of camping stores in D.C.). I bought some lightweight plastic bottles for shampoo/facewash/etc, a couple of locks, some 100% deet mosquito repellent (did you know malaria pills are only a prophylactic and don't prevent you from from catching it? they only lessen the effects...that's new to me), some "ditty" bags that will be useful for separating things in my backpack (toiletries, etc) ... gosh, what else. I overloaded my suitcase, so my mom is shipping it to me, so I'll take a better inventory when the boxes arrive. I'm still working on a backpack, but I took a look at a ton and have a good idea of what I want. Plus Quinn says he might have one for me.

I'm starting to feel like I'm spending way more money than I'd intended to for this trip, but I'm trying to look at it the same way I look at the $500 I spent on vaccines — this stuff is going to last a long time, so I'm going to consider it an investment in my future travels, which now I have to go on, cause I've got a lot of shit to use.

I leave in less than a month!!

omg no blogs!

I was reading Chai's blog earlier today and she noted that because she uses blogspot, her blog is blocked in India! Tell me it's not true! Did I create Farther Than Oxnard for nothing, if I won't be able to access it abroad??

More info please! What about typepad and the other blog sites out there??

India, You Better Be Ready For Me

I spent all weekend with my nose in my Fodor's guide figuring out my itinerary. I have to say, it was really overwhelming before I started, which is why I put it off for so long - but that was highly stupid. Things are booking up and two months out now, I'm really at the limit where I need to make these reservations.

Here's what I've figured out. As for the last section, the Delhi-Agra-Varanasi trip, it's actually outlined that way in my guide book and seemed perfect, even though it's a lot of plane hopping in a few days (I actually chose one of the more low-key versions). I've made many inquiries into hotels this weekend and hope to hear back from some of those tomorrow. The end of the trip will be connect by a lot of flights, but I'm really torn about how to get around the South India locations.

Additionally, Erin left a helpful comment about a jungle trip, but I ended up going with Nagarhole because I'll be fairly close to it and it's sort of on my way to Goa. I think this itinerary hits up just about everything, in moderation: big, urban cities, beaches, caves/mountains, jungles. I'll see elephants and bazaars, plantations and temples. That being said, I did my best not to make the trip to go-go-go, and may have somewhat failed in that regard. However, I have factored in mild (say half-day, or a good day to sleep in) downtime during my time in Goa and Delhi. My only real worry is that if some huge snag happens, it will affect the very end of my trip, and I don't see the Taj Mahal until January 15, a mere four days from my departure.

If any of my few readers have comments, advice, or warnings about any of this, please leave a comment or shoot me an email.

December 22-28: Bangalore, staying with Chai's family (and Maisnon!) for the wedding.
December 28-30: Mysore (by express train)
December 30-January 1: Kampur (by ?), stay at jungle lodge at the Nagarhole National Park
January 1-2: (This is the tricky one I'm not sure about) Coorg (by car?), stay at Dubare Elephant Camp.
January 2-5: Goa (by ?).
January 5-9: Mumbai (by plane), depart immediately (by train/car?) for Aurangabad (there are awesome caves out here).
January 9-14: Delhi (by plane)
January 14-16: Agra (by plane), see Taj Mahal
January 16-18: Varanasi (by plane) for boat rides on Ganges, Buddhist temples, art collection at Bharat
January 18: Somehow make my way back to Bangalore (I fear this may mean up to three connections)
January 19: Leave for D.C.

Help!

I need recommendations. With the moving and other thousand activities I've been sucked into lately, my quest to confirm an itinerary has fallen way down on the list. I have a vague idea of where I'll be over the month, but nothing firm beyond Jan 2.

I arrive in Bangalore on December 22 and spend that time shopping for a sari and attending wedding activities, although I'll probably have some of the daytime to explore the crowded city. I'm fairly sure I'm going to Goa on the 28th through New Year's Eve. After that, I plan to travel north on the west side of the country, probably through some rural country on my way to Mumbai, then, unless something in the middle pulls me off-course, I will probably head to Delhi to explore the Golden Triangle, including the Taj Mahal, of course. Whether or not I head east to Calcutta is still up for debate. I have to return to Bangalore on Jan 19 to catch my plane back to the motherland.

But that's all I know! I want to see things! Go on a safari! And so on, so if anyone has anything specific they'd love to pass on, say, a great town they visited or activity they did, or something I just can't leave the country without seeing, please leave it in the comments or shoot me an email. I'm worried that, because this is tourist season, a lot of things are going to be booked, so the sooner I figure this all out, the better.

Never Forget

Oh, tasteless jokes.

These are all over my mirrors to remind me to take my Typhoid vaccine every other day before I eat in the morning. I felt a little funny today after the shots, but nothing serious, no fevers or anything, and my arms didn't swell. They're both a little sore, but the doc said that exercising them would help. Of course, that's kind of tough when you're sitting behind a desk all day giving yourself carpel tunnel instead.

Finally, Get What You Pay For

I haven't ignored all the great advice you guys gave me on my camera post, but I'm still weighing my options. With the sudden move, it looks like an SLR will continue to be a pipe dream, so I'm debating between a couple of the point and shoots you guys recommended. I'll let you know when I make the big purchase.

I just got back from the Traveler's Clinic at the GWU hospital, and I can't recommend that place enough. With all the ignorant, rude, sassy, and otherwise unhelpful people we've all dealt with in the service industry (which, I'd argue, medical services are a part of), it's totally refreshing and downright pleasant when you're greeted by knowledgeable people who not only treat you kindly and give you the info you're seeking, but actually make recommendations around your individual lifestyle and are happy to do it.

I got there around 9 this morning, and though I had a little trouble finding it in the cavernous GWU building, a passing doctor noticed my confusion and happily guided me all the way to the other side of the building. You know, I don't have any particular fear of hospitals, though I can't say I've spent much time in them in my life, but I still think there's something ubercreepy about entering a room labeled "INFECTIOUS DISEASES". Just me? Okay.

I waited less than five minutes and was led in by my doctor. She was thrilled that I had already done the research about what shots I needed (wait...do people really make appointments and say, "hey, I'm going to Canada and like I think I like need a shot or something!") and also that I'd come in so early. It turns out, contrary to my initial guess, that you can take all five of these shots at the same time. But she discussed my options with me at length, and since doing them all at once is, of course, expensive and kind of painful, and since I have so much time, we just did three today. She also said if I decide to split them up, she wouldn't charge me for the visit next time.

Turns out that the typhoid vaccine also comes in pill form. And not only does it last longer than the shot (5 years, to the shot's 2), but it's cheaper! No brainer. Since it's a "live" vaccine, as opposed to an inactive one like the shot, people who have immune deficiencies can't take it, so I guess that's the drawback. I also have to keep it cold (I take them every other day over the next week), so I have a giant box of Live Typhoid Vaccine sitting in the community refrigerator at work. Heh.

Splitting them up also means I got to split the two really expensive ones, which is good. So I got tetanus and Hep A today, and will get meningitis and polio next time. Did you know that once you get your adult polio booster it's good for life? The doc also gave me all this info about the three kinds of malaria pills so we can choose the best option during my next visit. It looks like those, unsurprisingly, are going to set me back some hard cash. Clearly I didn't really factor the "disease" portion in when budgeting this trip. On the bright side, it's probably good I'm doing this anyway, not even just for the one trip. I mean, I hadn't had a tetanus shot in nearly 10 years (which is how long they're good for, I think) and never got the meningitis one I was supposed to before college.

The shots didn't hurt at all, and the doc was just so friendly and helpful I'm actually feeling great about the whole thing right now. I made my next appointment for December 4, and she said next time we'd sit down and have a talk about good traveling habits for India specifically, like what not to eat and what to do if I get sick. I totally did not expect her to be an actual travel advisor! If you are traveling and need shots or just advice, I completely recommend this clinic. It's on 22nd and I, but if you want more information, feel free to ask me.