Facts and Myths About India

20.02

A few myths about India that do not entirely match reality.

Perhaps our observations result from the fact that we first visited the Andaman Islands – and those are, after all, somewhat different from mainland India. Moreover, on the mainland we mostly stayed in better hotels and in more well-maintained districts, which certainly influenced our first impressions.Perhaps our observations stem from the fact that we first visited the Andamans—which are, after all, a somewhat different India. Besides, on the mainland we also spent time in better hotels and more well-maintained neighborhoods, which certainly influenced our first impressions.

1. Myth: It is dirty.
   Fact: Our rooms, the restaurant, and the hotel pathways were very clean. Even by European standards, cleanliness in the smaller hotels was at a really high level.Myth: it’s dirty. Fact: our rooms, the restaurant, and the hotel walkways were very clean. Even by European standards, cleanliness in smaller hotels was at a really high level.

2. Myth: There are lots of insects.
   Fact: We did not find a single uninvited guest in our room, except for one spider in a hotel in Port Blair. Generally, that hotel, probably government-run, showed some shortcomings. When going out in the evening, we always used mosquito repellent – somewhat as a precaution. An effective product was Muga. Mosquitoes may appear in the forest and in the evening. I recorded one bite when I did not use repellent because we left the hotel while it was still light and stopped by the Barefoots diving base, which happened to be in an area where mosquitoes were present.Myth: there are lots of insects. Fact: we didn’t find a single uninvited guest in our room, except for one spider in the hotel in Port Blair. Generally, that hotel, probably under government management, showed some shortcomings. When going out in the evening, we always applied mosquito repellent—somewhat as a precaution. Muga proved to be an effective product. Mosquitoes can appear in the forest and in the evening. I noted one bite when I didn’t use repellent, because we left the hotel while it was still light and stopped by the Barefoots dive base, which happened to be in a place where mosquitoes were flying around.

3. Myth: Dogs are dangerous.
   Fact: There is absolutely no problem with dogs. Most of the time they can be seen lounging somewhere. Sometimes they accompany travelers, but they never impose themselves.Myth: dogs are dangerous. Fact: there’s no problem with dogs. Most of the time you see them lounging somewhere. Sometimes they accompany you on a journey, but they never impose themselves.
   

4. Myth: You have to bargain heavily.
   Fact: Most prices on Havelock were official or fair product prices, and the final price was stated immediately. In a few cases, when we asked about prices in tourist-heavy areas, we were quoted double. However, this usually concerned inexpensive products, such as coconut water, so even overpaying meant losing less than 1 PLN. You can always say that something is expensive and observe the seller’s reaction. It is also worth checking prices in advance at the hotel reception (and confirming elsewhere just in case). At the Wild Orchid hotel all prices were fixed, and no one expected tips in the restaurant, as everything was settled upon departure.

5. Sample prices (2010): rickshaw transport approx. 15–30 rupees (negotiation needed here; 30 rupees is about 2.50 PLN); a bunch of bananas (about 1 kg) – 20 rupees; lunch for two at a private market stall (tasty and healthy, contrary to first impressions) – 135 rupees (including 2 Australian orange juices at 20 rupees each); a meal in a good hotel from 200 rupees per dish (better to eat “out in town”).Sample prices: rickshaw transport, about 15-30 rupees (here you need to negotiate, but 30 rupees is about 2.50 PLN); a bunch of bananas, about 1 kg—20 rupees; lunch for two at a private stall in the market (tasty, healthy, contrary to first impressions)—135 rupees (including 2 Australian orange juices at 20 rupees per glass); a meal at a good hotel, from 200 rupees per dish (it’s better to eat “in town”).

6. Myth: Food may be unsafe.
   Fact: Only on the third day did we decide to eat at a traditional stall, and that decision came too late. Most stalls do not look impressive, but they are owner-run and, due to strong competition, they make great efforts to ensure guests are satisfied. One should go where other people are – it will certainly be tasty and safe, and you can exchange many interesting observations with the owner. In many places there is an English menu with fixed prices.Myth: food can be dangerous. Fact: only on the third day did we decide to eat at a traditional stall, and it was a belated decision. Most stalls don’t make a good impression, but they’re run by their owners, and due to high competition, they try very hard to keep guests satisfied. Go where other people are—it will definitely be tasty and healthy, and you can exchange many interesting observations with the owner. In many places there’s a menu in English with fixed prices.

   

7. Myth: Indians are pushy.
   Fact: Not once were we approached aggressively. A few times someone invited us to eat at their restaurant (for example, right next to the fish market the owner of a small stall mentioned that fish there are prepared directly from the market). A few times we were discreetly asked whether we would like to rent a scooter or bicycle, or go fishing in the evening, but this had nothing to do with the kind of harassment known, for example, from some Arab countries.Myth: Indians are pushy. Fact: no one approached us even once. A few times someone offered a meal at their restaurant (for example, right by the fish market, the owner of a small stall said that at his place they prepare fish directly from the market). A few times we were discreetly asked if we’d like to rent a scooter, a bike, or go fishing in the evening, but this has nothing to do with the harassment we know from Arab countries, for example.

8. Myth: Everyone expects tips.
   Fact: We generally tried to tip, but there would have been no problem if we had simply said “thank you.” However, realizing that 10 rupees is about 0.67 PLN and a tangible amount for them, it felt good to leave a tip.Myth: everyone expects tips. Fact: generally we tried to give tips, but there wouldn’t have been a problem if we’d just said “thank you.” However, if we realize that 10 rupees is about 67 groszy, and for them it’s a tangible sum, it’s nice to leave a tip.

9. Myth: Indians cheat.
   Fact: We did not experience any fraud. Once, after agreeing on 20 rupees for transport, the rickshaw driver tried to give change from 50 as if it were 20, but it was enough to point it out and the missing 10 rupees were returned. Perhaps it resulted from the fact that the first quoted price had been 30 rupees – but in that case 20 was appropriate for transporting a tourist, so we asked for the correct change.Myth: Indians cheat. Fact: we didn’t experience any fraud. Once, with an agreed price of 20 rupees for transport, the rickshaw driver wanted to give 20 change from 50, but it was enough to point it out and the missing 10 was given. Perhaps this resulted from the fact that the first quoted price was 30 rupees—but in this case, 20 was the appropriate price for transporting a tourist, so we asked for the rest.

10. Myth: You must pay for every photo.
    Fact: We did not pay for any. One must not be too “aggressive” and should sense whether a photo is appropriate. It is also worth asking. We encountered refusal only once, when we asked to photograph schoolgirls returning from school in beautiful white-and-green uniforms. They politely smiled and said no, and it was easy to guess that many people had asked them before.Myth: you have to pay for every photo. Fact: we didn’t pay for any. You shouldn’t be too “aggressive” and should try to sense whether you can take a photo. It’s also worth asking. We only met with refusal once, when we asked about taking a photo of girls returning from school in pretty white and green outfits. They politely answered with a smile that no, and you could tell that many people had already asked them about it.

11. FACTS worth noting: After three days we already knew that the fare should be negotiated before setting off – there is no problem with that. If you have ferry tickets, it does not necessarily mean the ferry will take you. Here a taxi driver or guide can be helpful. It turned out our tickets were issued under completely different names. The name of the boat that arrived differed from the one that was supposed to take us, and the captain stated he would only take passengers with pink tickets. Our guide was holding blue tickets for us.FACTS worth considering: after three days we already know that the price for a ride should be negotiated before we set off—there’s no problem with that. If we have ferry tickets, it doesn’t mean the ferry will take us. This is where a taxi driver or guide comes in handy. It turned out that our tickets were in completely different names. The name of the boat that arrived was different from the one that was supposed to take us, and the captain stated that he was only taking people who had pink tickets. Our guide was holding blue tickets for us.

    

    A crowd of Indian tourists was almost fighting with the staff, and shortly afterward with a policeman holding a stick. Our guide told us to wait and place our luggage on the ground. After a moment, the ship we had been waiting by began to depart. Then another of our caretakers called us to a different ferry, where the captain took all passengers with blue tickets. It was only announced that passengers without tickets could not occupy seats, which most people ignored, looking for suitable places in cabins and in the main hall with armchairs. We took seats somewhere in the passageway, probably near the exit threshold of the ship. After a while someone told us there were still seats available on the lower deck, but in the end we did not feel the need to move.A crowd of Indian tourists almost fought with the staff, and after a moment with a policeman who was holding a stick. Our guide told us to wait and put our luggage on the ground. After a moment, the ship we were waiting by started to depart. Then the second of our caretakers called us to another ferry, where the captain took all the people with blue tickets. It was only announced that passengers without tickets could not occupy seats, which most ignored, looking for suitable places in the cabins and in the main hall with armchairs. We took seats somewhere in the passageway, probably on the threshold of the ship’s exit. After a moment, someone told us there were still seats on the lower deck, but we didn’t really feel the need to change places.