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Packing

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Packing as lightly as possible is highly recommended; your bags will quickly become very heavy if you have to haul them any distance or need to run with them to catch a train. A few smaller suitcases or packs are easier to navigate than one big one. On my first trip to India, I carried one mega-sized duffel that must have weighted 60 pounds; it became the symbol of all the crap I haul around in my life. I recommend you pack minimally and get what else you need while you are there. The following are some suggestions on what to pack.

IN GENERAL
Weather for the 2007 tour will range from the low 50's to the mid 80's. Be prepared for some rain. Avoid taking an excess of clothes. Take only a few pairs of pants and a few shirts and have them washed when you are there. The local laundry people can wash your things in about 24 hours; they do a good job but they break stones washing your clothes at the local river, which can be hard on fibers over time. An alternative is to wash clothes yourself at your hotel; bring a sink plug, some nylon rope for hanging clothes and a handful of clothespins

A hat to keep out the sun.

A handkerchief or mask to cover your nose and mouth if the air is too polluted.

A good pair of walking shoes and/or sneakers and/or sandals. Some good protection for your feet is advisable as sidewalks and streets are uneven and can be full of debris.

Bathing suit for hotel pools.

Avoid wearing or carrying leather; it is considered polluting in sacred places. Leather sandals, however, are OK because you take them off before you enter temples or ashrams.

You can also buy inexpensive clothes once you’re in India. You can pick out the cloth and have clothes custom made in a few days.

MEN

International Male has some some nice gauze pants (“coastal gauze pull-on pant”) and shirts (“gauze campshirts”) in a variety of colors. Call them at: 800-293-9333.

The only people that wear shorts in India are Indian boys and tourists. Indians are generally very modest and so out of respect, shorts are generally best avoided but it is a personal choice. In any case, shorts are not allowed in temples but short sleeve shirts and T-shirts are ok. If you are wearing shorts and are planning on visiting a temple, pants with zip on legs are great. Conversely, you can wrap a lunghi (sarong) around you when visiting temples.

WOMEN
Women have the advantage of being able to wear beautiful saris and sari-blouses. You will find a wide variety of styles and prices once we get to India.

In general, women should dress modestly, with minimal exposure of skin.

Avoid tank tops, shorts, tight clothes, or short skirts.

For much more detailed information, see the section on Women Traveling in India at the end of this handbook.

Most toiletries are readily available. For women, tampons are available in most major cities; sanitary pads are more widely available.

Antibacterial wipes such as Nice-N-Clean or Purell liquid are handy for washing your hands before meals or snacks (which is essential to do). Both are available at you local pharmacy.

Travel size Kleenex packs (good as a substitute for toilet paper and for wiping dishes and bottles dry).

Sun screen.

If you require a particular medication take an adequate supply, as it may not be available locally. It's a good idea to have a legible prescription or letter from your doctor to show that you legally use the medication to avoid any problems.

A spare set of glasses and your lens prescription. If you wear contacts, bring enough solution for the entire trip. Eyedrops can really sooth burning eyes from pollution and dust.

Some people like to take along the following as a first aid kit:

• Imodium for diarrhea
• Pepto Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate) and Pills Curing (from Chinese herb stores) for upset stomachs.  These are also good for nausea as is raw ginger, ginger tea, Bonine (an antihistamine) or Dramamine.
• A good antibiotic such as Cipro or Azithromycin. These usually can be obtained in India for much cheaper and without a prescription. Be sure to check with your doctor to detemine what is recommended.
• Bandages for cuts.
• Preventative medicine (see below)
  

Some people swear that certain herbs and medicines can create a very unfriendly environment for those nasty parasites and other equally obnoxious critters that just love to find their way into our body and take up lodging rent free. I have found NutriBiotic Capsules Plus (90 caps for about $14.35) to be a very effective preventative. Ingrediants include grapefruit seed extract, wormwood and echinacea. Take 1-3 capsules a day. Other items that help some people are those containing Black Walnut.

SUITCASE LOCKS
Security regulations for flights originating in the U.S. recommend not locking your suitcase otherwise insepctors may cut off your lock. However, you can purchase locks approved by the T.S.A. that can be opened then relocked by inspectors. They will contain either logos for Travel Sentry or Safe Skies. T.S.A. locks can be ordered or purchased at REI.

VOLTAGE CONVERTERS
Plugs in India are the two-pronged round types. If you have batteries for your camera, iPod, computer, etc. that need to be recharged, you will need a voltage converter. You can get a small travel-sized voltage converter for about $25 from some electronic stores. Roma Electronics (929 University, Berkeley, 510-644-0661) sells them. The place is run by Indians and they are familiar with the electrical requirements. Get one with a built in fuse in case of voltage spikes or fluxuations.

PURIFICATION SYSTEMS
Bottled water is available at all locations in India. For those who want to cut down on the pollution caused by plastic bottles, there is a water filtration/purification system in the form of an easy to carry sports bottle. Called the Katadyn Exstream XR Purifier, it filters out organisms down to 1 micron and is effective against viruses, bateria, cysts, and protozoa (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium). I fill this bottle with tap water and use it to brush my teeth as well as for spare water when needed. It is available at R.E.I.

MISC

One or two bottles of mineral water (useful when you first arrive and as an extra container for water).

Small flashlight (great for finding your way around your room at night when the electricity goes out...which is common)

Some nylon string and clothespins for hanging washed clothes.

A flat sink plug (for filling basins with water to shave or wash clothes).

Fabric stain stick such as "Shout Wipes: (comes in handy especially if you are like me if you tend to spill something on your clothes within minutes of putting them on).

A journal if you are so inclined.

Earplugs

A good combination lock. Some hotels don't have locks on their doors, so you need your own. Combination locks are more difficult to jimmy than key locks.

A small bottle of DEET to repel mosquitos.

A money belt to keep extra cash and documents secure.

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