Comments on: Yep. There is a sucka’ born every minute.

By: gatamala

gatamala — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 03:44:09 +0000

THANKS Dhaavak(xoxoxo),Ennis,Seeker!!!! So long as SM exists, I’ll post a link…

By: dhaavak

dhaavak — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 23:23:15 +0000

touchy, touchy dhaavak – I’m quite aware that it’s a subcontinent. It was a simple question, no need for the condescending litany. Lonely Planet? It’s just that simple then I’m going to have to plan a trip & come at you with something more.

haha… condescending litany… no gats.. no condescension there… it’s all true and part of the trip…
but yea, will look forward to your adventures and a blog with the pix.
btw i found footprint india to be richer and carry much more detail than lonely planet.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 23:11:28 +0000

Gatamala, Hard to say what to see, what not to. To me India=see everything. Check out indiamike.com – for, of, & by India lovers from the world over. You’re sure to read very interesting perspectives on your question.

By: Ennis

Ennis — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:31:46 +0000

Yes, anybody can get into the Golden Temple / Harmandir Sahib. It’s open to all. You just have to check your shoes at the front, and cover your head.

By: gatamala

gatamala — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:15:43 +0000

touchy, touchy dhaavak – I’m quite aware that it’s a subcontinent. It was a simple question, no need for the condescending litany.

Lonely Planet? It’s just that simple then I’m going to have to plan a trip & come at you with something more.

I am not a hippie trustafarian backpacker, just trying to get a sense of “your” India. It’s just that everyone seems to have so many concerns/complaints as to what people do/don’t do that I merely want to get some insider input as to what I should do.

This trip is definitely in the FUTURE, as I will need to take some time. That said, I MUST see Punjab! Specifically (I hope) Amritsar & countryside. I’m Southern & want to see some land! Can I get into Harmandir Sahib (sp?)

By: Jai Singh

Jai Singh — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:18:42 +0000

'Swades' effect! I doubt if UP is like how they showed in that film.

Well, it's obviously a fairly sanitised version of North Indian village life, although they did touch upon a number of the social problems that occur in such environments, which I thought was good. In "real life", however, I doubt the average Panchayat would necessarily change their obsolete/unfair ideas and practices so easily -- they'd be more likely to accuse the Shahrukh character of being "another arrogant NRI" and tell him "not to get involved in matters he doesn't understand". Shahrukh's premarital, unchaperoned sneaking around with the heroine would also not have been discreetly ignored by the villagers like it was in the film.

But hey, I enjoyed the movie anyway, it basically had a good motto and I can understand where they were coming from, and what they were trying to say. Some nice music too.

There was another mainstream village-based Hindi film called Virasat a few years ago which also addressed some of the same issues; I thought that movie was pretty good too.

By: Kamal

Kamal — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:13:58 +0000

yo, MIA on MTV Europe as I type. Can’t help but feel that I wore those clothes when I thought I was the Fresh Prince.

sorry to bring her into this post – realise that there are MANY others to pick from

By: Kamal

Kamal — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 12:10:56 +0000

I see the reason for tourists to go to the rural parts of India is because they are the part of India that have been less diluted by Western - I mean American influences. How refreshing it is to stay in a village in the Punjab and really feel the wind, feel the rain, feel the space and smell the earth. Sure, it occasionally smells of cows, but its all good peeps. When my family visits India, you know we gotta go to the villages and its always the best part because of the vast difference between city life and rural life. True, nobody can say that rural India is somehow more authentic than urban life, but it is definitely less adulterated by Westernisms. If a tourist wanted to see an Indian city, I'd just take them to Southall and save them the air fare and malaria tablets. The world is getting smaller, and capital cities are beginning to morph into each other. For a unique, truly once-in-a-lifetime trip, an Indian village could be just the ticket, because I have never been able to experience that kind of lifestyle anywhere else. And I wouldnt wanna begrudge anyone who wants to share the love, baby.

By: SP

SP — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 02:47:24 +0000

"'Swades' effect! I doubt if UP is like how they showed in that film."

Yup , it is shot almost entirely in the small town called Wai, in Satara District, Maharashtra.....except the scenes from NASA Mohan finds his nanny, Kaveriamma (Kishori Ballal), the symbol to him of motherhood and family. He finds her in a village called Charanpur, a small village in Central India, besides three other villages near Wai in the interiors of Maharashtra, where Charanpur was re-created with the expertise of art-director Nitin Desai.

Definitely NOT UP

By: dhaavak

dhaavak — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 01:55:32 +0000

gatamala

If I were to go to India: what would you want me to see/do? what would you NOT want me to see/do? Now I know this 2nd question seems odd, as in “why would I tell her that?”

you asked some very good questions. I was less than coherent.
apologies
Guidebooks like Footprint India and the lonely planet have sections covering precisely this topic. in case of doubt – post here again. cheers and bon voyage.