Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
- 111
- 1
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
First?
Anyway I just found out from @self_made_human you can get a big ass meal in India for literally $3. Jesus Christ that makes me want to go so bad. If I can stay for a few weeks might even make up for the insane cost of the plane ticket. Now I see why all these white software dudes move to Bali. Cheap food, cheap hookers, what's not to love?
Congrats on finding out the third world exists?
If you are making like 100k USD you can almost live like a king with an army of servants in the third world. Even with 50k you can live a very good life. (If I were in that position I would pay above market rate to a very few lucky people lol)
I do like the idea of working a remote job and moving to Thailand or Bali, the only thing that deters me other than having said remote job is that the people are not English speakers, social life is going to be rough.
More options
Context Copy link
Ok, If you are going to India ........ hit me up. India is an amazing country, but doing it wrong can leave you with a slum-dog millionaire impression of the place.
I'd recommend:
Skip:
Most of the standard worries of white people visiting India are borne out of stupid things that no Indian does.
Don't shop on the street. Proper stores will have reasonable prices, with fixed rates & higher quality. I spent ~25 years in India and never ate shit from the streets. There are a million better options more a marginally higher cost.
The best chaat in India (my favorite cuisine) costs about 2 dollars of a meal. They have indoor AC seating, use mineral water and wash hands after every serving. You don't have to go eat at the street side spot to save 1 more dollar. Your loose-motions are on you.
You can get a properly hygienic bis-ass meal in India anywhere for under $7. If you must eat on the streets then remember that all food in India is prepared fresh. The best way to make sure no pathogens touch you, is to see the shit get cooked in front of your eyes. If it was exposed to fire for a few minutes before you eat it.......you're good. Do not eat cold chutneys and sauces from random places please. Lots of times, your sickness is not due to food, it's heat stroke. India is a hot country. Stay hydrated. Don't spend the entire day in scorching heat. My only 2 cases of terrible food reactions came from drinking unpackaged-cold-water and heat stroke respectively.
Same thing with hotels. Good hotels costs between 50-100$ a night. It's cheap, pay up. Don't try to go stay at the $20/night spot and then complain when the toilets didn't have soap in them. You brought this upon yourself.
Same with visiting completely random desolate spots. India is a big country. We have a lot of guides for everything. The curated stuff is good. If you're hiking through the forests of Jharkhand and get caught by violent Naxalite–Maoists then that's on you. If no Indian visits there. It's for a good reason. Thankfully, the spots I recommend (Western Ghats, Delhi, Himachal & Leh-Ladakh) are quite safe. Just don't hike through a Tiger or a Leopard sanctuary.
Don't be an idiot. You'll be alright.
Great comment! Will be revisiting if I ever do go to India. Wish I had the funds to travel more now, alas.
More options
Context Copy link
My friend got bloody diarrhea without ever touching street food. YMMV.
It's the water that gets you.
He only drank bottled water.
It is also the ice in drinks or the water that the vegetables in your dish was washed with or the water you brush your teeth with or... Water can get you in a lot of ways
More options
Context Copy link
I had a similar experience as your friend.
Went to Bengaluru in 2018. Was incredibly careful the entire time. Avoided most sketchy street foot and only ate in decent restaurants.
Ended up with food poisoning. The suffering was so bad I won't soon forget it. It was the worst I have ever felt in my life, by far. I loved everything about India but that experience is enough to make me not want to go back.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
The climate ? That it's populated by brown people who see you as a bipedal wallet ? That it's full of obnoxious tourists ?
More options
Context Copy link
I would be afraid of getting sick because of lacking immune system to Indian pathogens. If you can’t drink the water and they are cooking with water…. But maybe if it’s really hot and has curry in it
Nobody told you not to ingest unboiled water in any place outside of the developed world ? I thought that's like traveller 101.
In much of tropical Asia, you can get literal brain-eating parasites from eating salad? Apparently it's now also in Florida and the Mizz delta.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
That reminds me of when I was in a 99-cents store and saw a pregnancy test on offer. Some things you don't want to skimp on.
PS: Bali? You said India; did you mean to type "Indonesia"?
Eh I've just heard a lot about Bali. Idk.
Yeah, but where did you hear about the $3 meal? I would hate to fly all the way to India and end up paying $4.50 for dinner.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
IIRC, the regulations on manufacturing mean that 99-cent pregnancy tests are exactly identical to full-price ones. (That may not be true in your jurisdiction, of course.)
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link