India

[AA717driver]

Got a trip to India planned for July. Any thoughts? No cities yet, just looking for your impressions if you've been there.TC

 

[fokkerjet]

Makes Mexico look like a tropical paradise.........

 

[G4G5]

I just came back from Mumbai/Bombay, Hyderbad and New Delhi. Last year it was Madaras/Chennai, Amristar and Bangalor.

Depending upon where you are going I would recommend flying over Russia/Afganastan. It takes an hour of the flt VS going down and around the Middle East.

Consider dry ice and a large cooler. Don't forget to keep ice in the cooler. It's not a matter of getting descent catering (I would only use the Hotel) but India in July is insanly HOT. You can't trust the ice from the handler.

 

[XTW]

Lots of Imodium. Unless you're into that kind of thing.

X

 

[typhoonpilot]

Under no circumstances eat any dairy products or drink any of their bottled water. Make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date.

TP

 

[Guam360]

typhoon,
what water do you drink then?

 

[typhoonpilot]

I'm sure you can buy Evian or Volvic there. What I meant was no domestic brands. It may be a good idea to take a case with you until you can source a place to buy an imported brand. Masafi from the UAE is okay as well, or at least it has been for me.

Funny thing is on my last trip the F.O. told me a story of his trip to India and the resulting year it took to recover from an intestinal parasite that he got from drinking their water. He had to take four pills per day for 12 months to recover fully from conjunctivitis, stiff neck, and swelling of the knee which were side effects of the parasite.

On my one personal trip there it only took me one day in the hospital with an IV attached to my arm to recover from bad ice cream at a Hilton so I guess i got off easy.

TP

 

[semperfido]

lotsa good poop on nbaa intl database and current too. sounds like a great summer vacation.

 

[G4G5]

I had no problem getting water. The handler was able to consistantly get cases of Evian or Volvic. I would recommend having the handler secure 5-10 1 liter cases of water for your arrival. It's a lot eaiser then filling the bagage compartment and briniging it with you. Not to mention the added piece of mind knowing that your water system if full and you have plenty of H20 VS hoping that they show up with it on the day of departure.

 

[Duderino]

Ding Ding! Welcome To India!

 

[AA717driver]

Geeez. Thanks... I guess. TC

 

[fokkerjet]

Also enjoy the snake charmers and get a ride on a camel. Take lots of pictures of the cows that roam the streets, along with the monkies in the trees. Beggars are everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Once the parents ID you as American, watch out, they'll have their kids all over you trying to get money. Had one crew just throw money in one direction and they took off in the other direction just so they could get away. Hope you enjoy the smell of urine.......


We stayed at a first class hotel, and the bellboys went through our luggage before they delivered it to our rooms; at no charge I might add

 

[Storm Chaser]

AA,
I lived and flew over there for 5 months last year. Not too bad of place that you would first thing. If you are in a bigger city you can eat pretty much anything you want from american fast food to find a good steak. As for water...not a problem. Plenty of bottled water can be purchased there. Both coke and pepsi companies over there bottle it.

Flying over there is probably alot like flying in the 50's here. Have to file the flight plan through a person. Get signed off by a weather breifer...just alot of red tape (who has the fronts and systems drawn out on a map). Depending where you land and how long you stay you may have to grease some palms every now and then.

If you have any other questions private me.

Storm

 

[AA717driver]

sounds like a great summer vacation.

Yeah, I can see you being first in line to volunteer...


Stormchaser--Thanks for the input. At least I'm no longer considering a self-inflicted wound to get out of the trip. TC

 

[Duderino]

Intead of water just bring a case of Purrell or two.

 

[empenage]

Got a trip to India planned for July. Any thoughts? No cities yet, just looking for your impressions if you've been there.TC

I bring my own water.

Bring the Imonium and those Pepto tablets.

Handle your own luggage.

Keep the overflight permits on the yolk.

Bring lots of scoot....5's work well.

Make sure the handler takes care of all your ground transportation.

Verify everything before you go. Hotels, overflights, ground transportation, etc.

Give yourself lots fo time to get to the airport. If one of those white cows decides to take a nap in the middle of the road it will take longer to get to the airport. Dont touch the cows..or the monkeys..they bite hard.

The weather comes out of Delhi. The atis may say its 100 and 1/2 even though its CAVOK. They may not release you. Ask the handler to call the tower. If the handler says you are restricted for no real reason, he may be looking for a handout. This pisses me off so I just call the agency back in the states and let them call the handler to get it straightened out.

Once you get over the poverty its not such a bad place......yea...right.

 

[empenage]

Oh yea.

Flying over Iran is easy. They have very good equipment..we sold it to them. Flying over Afganistan is even better..nobody to talk to most of the time. Just transmit in the blind. If you keep calling all you will do is piss off the Lufthansa guys. Pakistan communications suck. They have one radio and its inside a coffee can. If you dont get them right away dont worry.

If you fly over Pakistan into India and the weather is good...look down. The border is lit up bright from north to south as far as the eye can see...they dont like each other very much.

Get the number of your FSR in India. (Field Service Rep). If you go AOG call Jet Aviation in Singapore and ask for Grahm. Hes hard core.

 

[AA717driver]

Thanks, empenage. I'll add your suggestions to my growing list of survival tips... TC

 

[h25b]

Dont touch the cows..or the monkeys..they bite hard.

Care to share how you learned this lesson ???

 

[empenage]

Care to share how you learned this lesson ???

Back in my GIV days my CP got bit. He was told not to feed the monkeys but he is one of those guys that just has to do what he's told not to do. On the same trip the F/A got mugged. She wanted to go for a walk and was careful making sure she had no jewlery on ect. She didnt get 100 feet from the Leela Kempinski Hotel when a group of kids knocked her down and stole her shoes.

All three of us got mugged in Nairobi. We were told not to rent a car and drive around because it was dangerous.....Three guesses what we did.