Jet Lag Tips

India has a 13.5 hour difference from the West Coast of the US (so, at noon Wednesday in CA, it's 1:30am Thursday in India).  That's like suddenly switching to the night shift at work. In other words, you can't avoid jet lag, but here are some tips to make it better so you don't end up like this ...






1. Adjust in advance by going to bed earlier and getting up later - even a little change helps.

2. Wear a watch and set your watch to India's time zone immediately upon getting on the plane (12 hours ahead.  My flight leaves LA at 3pm, so I will change my watch to 4:30AM).

3. Minimize alcohol on the plane.  It will dehydrate you (making adjusting harder) and, while it might make you feel tired, it actually interferes with normal sleep cycles.

4. Drink the equivalent of 8oz of a non-alcohol, non-caffeinated beverage every hour when you're not asleep.

5. Try to get uninterrupted sleep in virtual darkness during India night time.  Bring an eye cover and earplugs on the plane.

6. Try to be awake and take frequent walks during India day time.  This also helps prevent blood clots.  If you nap during this time, make it short (under 45 min).

7. If you arrive during the day, STAY AWAKE and try to get time in natural light (outdoors).  Even though you feel terrible, you will feel better faster if you don't go to bed.  If you must nap, keep it short (under 45 min).

8. Consider melatonin supplements (0.5 to 5mg taken 2 to 5 hours before bedtime).  There is also some evidence that eating 1-2 kiwi fruit or having a handful of goji berries about 1 hour before bed may promote sleep.

JEN'S TIP:
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR EARY RISING!  If you wake up at 4am, consider yourself LUCKY! Get up and go for a walk.  It's the only time to find peace and quiet outdoors in the city.  Jen plans to intentionally try not to adjust too quickly for this reason

Wedding Invitation God

Prabha's Mom gave him this when he moved to the US

The God of Beginnings

Ganesha is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu religion.  He is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the God of intellect and wisdom. He also places obstacles in the path of those who need to be checked.  As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies. The Tamil (Prabha’s language) name for Ganesha is Pillai (பிள்ளை) or Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார்) meaning "child" or "noble child" as he is the son of Gods.  Some have noted the roots of Ganesha worship to date back to 3,000 BCE.

The story of Ganesha was told to Jen as follows (there are many different stories):  Ganesha was born of the female Goddess Parvati unbeknownst to his father, God Shiva.  One day, as a child, Ganesha stood guard while his mother bathed in the river.  His father Shiva arrived and, not knowing Ganesha, beheaded him, only to learn and mourn that he had killed his own son.  He vowed to remedy the situation by replacing Ganesha’s severed head with the head of the next creature he came upon. For this reason, temples often feature a statue of Ganesha at the entrance standing guard.

Ganesha, therefore, has the head of an elephant. He typically has four arms, but is sometimes portrayed with as many as sixteen. In older versions, he holds his own broken tusk in his lower-right hand and holds a delicacy in his lower-left hand (he loves sweets). In modern versions, he holds his hand turned towards the viewer in a gesture of peace or protection. He typically holds an axe in one upper arm (to remove obstacles) and a noose in the other (to create obstacles).  Ganesha is often shown riding on or attended by a mouse, shrew, or rat.  Subduing the destructive rodent demonstrates his function as Lord of Obstacles.  He is mostly considered to be a bachelor, but sometimes said to be married to the personifications of “intellect”, “spiritual power”, and “prosperity.” He is sometimes said to have children - “prosperity” and “profit.”

Packing List

PACKING LIST

I suggest a larger suitcase than you really need (or two small ones) in case you want to bring extra stuff home!  when road-trip traveling you will need a smaller bag (so we all can fit!). Things to consider bringing...

ON THE AIRPLANE

• Reading material
• Tablet (and charger)
• Travel pillow
• Sweater/jacket
• Eye cover
• Ear plugs
• Advil/Ibuprofen
• Water Bottle (empty until past security)
• Valid Passport
• Indian Visa - Link for applying to eVisa

IN INDIA

SMALL HAND BAG things to consider carrying with you

• Toilet paper or wipes (rarely in the bathrooms!)
• Small bottle of hand sanitizer
• Imodium/pain killer
• Does your passport fit in this bag?!
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Camera/phone
• Mosquito repellant

CLOTHING *Temp will be most likely be low 80s during the days in Coimbatore.  Locals generally dress conservatively

• Sweater/light jacket for evenings
• Lightweight long pants/capris/knee-or-longer skirts will be most comfy (jeans ok).  LONG shorts ok (except long pants only for going into temples).  I brought regular short running shorts and went in the early mornings and it was fine.
• T-shirts are fine; avoid tank tops
• 1-2 pair CLOSED comfy shoes (for walking uneven/dirty streets - the locals wear open shoes, but I don’t recommend this.  Two pair just in case; or risk it and maybe buy shoes there - easy to do and cheap).  FYI, everyone will be barefoot at the wedding ceremony.  Wear anything to the reception; the car will drop you so you don’t need to walk much.
• Flip flops.  I used them in the house bathroom; the showers are european style (the whole bathroom floor gets wet)
• Underwear, Bras, Socks (men: if you want to wear dhoti to the wedding, bring white (or at least light) colored undies).  Regular bras are generally ok for saree tops.
• PJs
• Ladies: something dressy to wear for the wedding in case you end up not wanting to wear a saree. Wear whatever you want; don’t worry about being super conservative; I would avoid high heels.  Indian women will wear one outfit for the wedding and another to the reception; you can do whatever you want!
• Men: long pants (khaki pants are fine!) in case you end up not wanting to wear a dhoti. dress shirt (short sleeves will be more comfy! Any color is ok; white is traditional) . I recommend a belt (fabric belt may be easier) to wear with the dhoti :)

TOILETRIES -The normal stuff plus the following!  You can also buy these things there easily if you forget

• Travel bath towel & washcloth
• Shower shoes - especially if you travel, it’s a good idea to have flip flops you can wear if needed.

OTHER

• Always have cash on you.  Many places do not accept cards and, even if they do, they frequently have problems with the card readers.
• Credit Cards - Call your Credit Card to check for any international usage fee (this is usually about 3%) and to place a travel notice so the care doesn’t get shut off
• Credit cards with 0% international use are available
• VIsa/Master cards are more widely accepted. Discover Card (0% fee) is accepted but lesser than Visa/Mastercard.
• Chargers for electronics (phone, tablet, computer, camera)
• Power adaptor
• Food. You can find pasta, fruits and veggies, milk, some cereal (especially oatmeal or granola) in India easily and cheaply at a grocery store, but if you’re worried about food, consider bringing other non-perishables with you; particularly baby/kid foods if you are bringing a kiddo.  It will be difficult to avoid spicy foods, so consider being prepared to cook at home if your stomach starts to bother you.  It is more likely due to the spice (and liquidy) foods rather than the water (don’t drink the tap water; don’t brush your teeth with tap water).

Lodging in Coimbatore

Here is some guidance on lodging options in Coimbatore.

Coimbatore is not a big city in terms of size, distance.

Hotels

Taj Vivanta - Great Central location

Residency Towers - Good location, maybe slightly more expensive

Aloft Coimbatore - OK location (close to airport)

Airbnb - this could be another option to look for housing

The map below shows where hotels are, the location of the temple (wedding location), reception hall, Prabha's house etc...

There have been service (short-term) apartments already rented for the group traveling from the US (Australia) for Jan 2-6 (and two people have booked for the Taj for Jan 2&3).  Any questions about when/what to book, feel free to ask us!  We'd love to help. 

Bathroom Duties

Regardless of what you call it....the John, the Pot, the Commode, the Throne, etc...you're going to need to use it.

Most, if not all, of the time you'll have access to a "normal" Western toilet.   But you'll notice some differences in public restrooms.

1. No Toilet Paper - carry some in your purse or day pack.
2. No Soap (often) - carry some alcohol cleanser in your purse or day pack.
3. No Towel - carry a small washcloth or handkerchief
4. No Sink (sometimes) - but there will be a water faucet in the toilet stall (the Indian version of toilet paper).  You can rinse your hands there (and your nether regions if you so desire).  Every restaurant will have hand washing stations, however.

*Might as well toss some Imodium in your purse, too, in case Indian Spices and lots of vegetarian water-based foods get you going more than you'd like*

There will usually be the option of a Western or an Eastern toilet stall.  If you get an Eastern one, don't panic (and don't fall in! just kidding - that would be really hard to do).  If you feel nervous, remember that Easterners using a Western toilet feel the same way, as evident by this picture we took while in Japan last month:

It's normal to have a fear of the unknown, but if you've ever been camping, you already know how to squat and pee.  Have you heard of the squatty potty?  Apparently it's healthier to squat anyway ("it makes going #2...#1).

Now, what you've all been waiting for, the obligatory HOW TO USE AN EASTERN LATRINE VIDEO.  He keeps switching between English and Tamil, so don't be alarmed if you don't catch everything he says.

Who's Joining The Fun (from the US/Australia)?

WHO'S TRAVELING FROM AFAR?!

YOU are a big part of our wedding party.   After all, it's a wedding, it's a party, and you're going to be there.   Here's a list of the friends and family coming from the US/Australia and their Coimbatore arrival dates. 

Manamakkal ("The wedding couple")

Prabha & Jen                                    - Dec 20th from San Diego CA

The Wedding Party (from US/Australia)

Deb Hyde (Jen's mom)                     - Dec 20th from Georgetown TX

Pat Hyde (Jen's dad)                         - Dec 22nd from Austin TX

Debbie Hyde (Jen's stepmom)

Mike Hyde (Jen's uncle)                   - Dec 22nd from Salt Lake City UT

Cindy Hyde (Jen's aunt)

Linsey Friske (friend)                       - Dec 29th from San Diego CA

Thomas Cramer (friend)

Amanda Hyde (Jen's cousin)           - Dec 31 from Rockhampton, Australia

Melinda Ebelhar (Jen's aunt)           - Dec 31 from La Canada (Las Angeles) CA
Michael Ebelhar (Jen's cousin)

Chris Hyde (Jen's brother)               - Jan 1 from Austin TX

Stephanie Essman (friend)               - Jan 2 from San Diego CA

Coleen Bridges (Steph's sister;

           soon to be friend)

Gaby Brody (friend)
Amber (friend)

The Maybes who haven't booked or said "no" yet

Caitlin

Amanda

Subbu

Arun, Ruks, Sanjay (2 1/2yr old)

Candy

Erin

Registry

You're presence at the wedding IS our gift!  But, if you're so inclined, we made a registry.  It also has a money gift option, but pay pal is greedy....feel free to send a check directly to us if that's you're inclination.  Here's the registry link, and our address.

Registry Link

Jennifer Hyde & Prabhakar Thanikasalam
4184 Illinois Street
San Diego, CA 92104

Travel Insurance

In case you missed the fiasco, Jen was injured in a foreign country (Argentina), and now highly recommends some form of medical travel insurance!  The chance of serious injury is low, and medical care in India is more affordable, but.....

MEDICAL + TRIP INSURANCE
If you would like "travel" insurance in addition to "medical" insurance, meaning the insurance will help cover costs associated with a canceled trip, missed airline connection, lost or delayed baggage, etc, then expect to pay around $100-200.  Cost of this insurance is mostly related to the "cost of the trip" that you enter for your quote, although age also plays a factor.  Because the costs associated for this trip other than airfare are actually quite low, I submitted for a quote for a $2500 quote (airfare + other likely expenses - and I estimated high) for a trip from Dec 18-Jan 8 and was quoted at $110-$170 depending on the package chosen.

In the past I have used AIG travel guard and been very happy with their customer service (although I have never needed to submit a claim to them).  If you choose this company, they will ask you for the date of your trip down payment (they assume you are going on a group tour-type trip). Try to buy your insurance within 2 weeks of buying your plan ticket (I'm assuming this is your "down payment) because the insurance then includes several extra features, such as pre-existing condition waiver.

MEDICAL ONLY INSURANCE
It is also possible to get medical-only insurance (not to include things like airfare, canceled trips, etc).  Many big name insurance companies offer this.  Again, the fee is actually reasonable and, in Jen's opinion, "you will be thankful you have it if you need it."  It seems that several of these companies include children under 12 for free when a parent buys insurance. This website may be useful: http://www.reviews.com/travel-insurance/medical/  (it seems that these companies listed also offer trip/ticket insurance in their quotes if desired).

In some cases, your regular US insurance company may cover emergency medical expenses incurred abroad (this was true for Jen's insurance).  They will probably expect you to pay upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement.  While medical fees in India will be much cheaper than in the US, this is something to consider. 


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You may also be interested to know that Prabha's mom (and many of her friends) are doctors.

Vaccines & Malaria Info

VACCINES

Visit your doctor 4-6 weeks before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. 

CHECK & KEEP YOUR REGULAR VACCINES CURRENT:

measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)

diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis

varicella (chickenpox)

polio vaccine

yearly flu shot

OTHER VACCINES TO GET:

Hepatitis A: Recommended by the CDC as this is transmitted via contaminated food/water.  This vaccine lasts up to 25yrs.

Typhoid: Also transmitted via contaminated food/water.  Especially recommended for those staying with friends/family, visiting smaller cities/rural areas, or if you are an "adventurous eater."  This vaccine is good for about 1.5yrs.

*India requires yellow fever vaccine (and paperwork to prove it) IF you are coming from an infected area (NOT the US or Australia).  If you are traveling beforehand, especially to South or Central America or Africa, you may need this.

OTHERS VACCINES TO CONSIDER:
Hepatits B: "There is an intermediate risk for hep B in India."  Most/all US healthcare workers will already have received this vaccine.  Hep B is spread via bodily fluids (ie. sexual activity, drug use, being in an accident, during medical care).  Immunity provided is considered life-long.

Japanese Enchephalitis: "India is a high-risk area for this viral disease. It is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. The disease is potentially fatal. People who will be staying in rural farming areas are at the highest risk."  It is unclear how long the vaccine is effective; at least 1yr.

Rabies: some sites recommend rabies vaccines if you will spend significant time outdoors.  This vaccine is VERY expensive.

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MALARIA
Malaria is spread via mosquito bites (like Japanese Encephalitis above). There is no vaccine for Malaria, but there are medications one can take to decreased the risk of transmission.  One of the side effects of these medications is SUN SENSITIVITY (use sunscreen!).  There are different strains of malaria, resulting in different meds for prophylaxis (your doctor may need the info below to prescribe the correct medication if you choose to take this medication). Prevention is particularly important for pregnant women.  If you choose not to take anti-malaria meds, try to prevent mosquito bites.

(from the CDC website):
Estimated relative risk of malaria for US travelers: Moderate.
Drug resistance⁴: Chloroquine.
Malaria species: P. vivax 50%, P. falciparum >40%, P. malariae and P. ovale rare.
Recommended chemoprophylaxis: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine

Food & Drink

Food & drink will be an exciting part of your trip! Your food choices will be much more than a typical Indian restaurant in the US. South Indian food can be spicy.

Alcohol is not commonly served in all restaurants. Drunkenness is not looked upon favorably in India, Don't create a 'LochMess' :)

Vegetarians, Vegans: You are in heaven!

Food safety:
- Always drink bottled water
- Most food is usually served hot i.e.  boiled are usually safe
- Most food issues are caused by water

In most restaurants, dishes will be served in plates and bowls. And, you can request cutlery (forks, spoons) if not already provided.

Prabha encourages everyone to eat with their hands, it is a wonderful experience. You will be adding the 'tactile' sense to enjoying food along with the taste, smell and  visual senses. Here is a funny, informational  video on How to eat with hands.


Breakfast: Common south Indian breakfast dishes are Idli, Dosa, Pongal, Vada, etc. These dishes are commonly referred to as 'tiffin' items. Think of them as small pate 'tapa' like dishes.

Idli - Steamed cakes from rice, lentil batter served with sambhar (lentil stew) and coconut chutney

Add caption

Dosa - Crispy pancakes lentil batter served with sambhar (lentil stew) and coconut chutney. They can come with various fillings. Masala Dosa (dosa with savory mashed potato filling) was Prabha's favorite dish growing up. The coconut chutney is Jen's favorite dip.

Lunch: Lunch in Tamil Nadu and in most of South India is the big meal of the day. You will hear the term 'meal' used - all this means is that  it is a multi course dish, think combo meal on steroids! In many restaurants, this will be served on a banana leaf!

Here is a good video of the American Consulate officers and family enjoying a South Indian lunch meal in Chennai/Madras.


Dinner: Tiffin items (see breakfast) are commonly eaten for dinner as well. Another common dinner is North Indian breads such as Naan, Roti and meat, vegetarian dishes that go along with the bread.
'Indian Chinese' food is quite popular and tasty - it's a confluence of 2 different cuisines and quite different from Chinese food in the US. Jen's favorite Indian Chinese dish is Cauliflower(Gobi) Manchurian.

Snacks/Fruit: You will find a plethora of snacks and lots of fruit for sale in 'smaller' grocery stores. Whole fruit are usually safe to consume, washing before consumption is recommended.

Coffee/Tea: Coffee, tea will mostly come pre-mixed with milk and sugar. You can ask for the sugar to be on the side. Prabha highly recommends 'filter coffee'. There are many street side stalls serving tea or coffee. Here is a video of one and the people in this video are speaking Tamil i.e. this is from somewhere in Tamil Nadu. They are served scalding hot and are mostly safe (boiled!).

Clothing - fun part!

The Wedding Attire….Are you in?!  

Men:

It’s a dhoti and button-down shirt for you.  Called “veshti” in Tamil, it’s a rectangular piece of cloth (usually silk) made famous outside India by Mahatma Gandhi.  Here’s a short humorous video: What’s a dhoti?!  Yes, they really fold them up short like that...   Exactly how they are folded varies a bit geographically, but it doesn’t really matter.   You’ll get extra credit points just for wearing it, regardless of how you tie it.  You’ll want light colored shorts to wear under and possibly a belt.  We will help you put it on properly, don’t worry!  And if you try it and hate it, no big deal.  Bring some pants as a backup option.

Well known Indian actor happily models a dhoti

Other traditional men’s wear:

The less dressy version is a lungi.   You’ll see people wear this on the streets in Coimbatore. It’s the cotton version, made into a tube, and worn basically the same way. NPR teamed up with a guy from Prabha’s State Tamil Nadu and made a bunch of Indian culture videos.  Watch him teach a Japanese tourist how to wear a lungi here.

Dhoti - Prabha and his mama (uncle) - short and long. 

Sarees - Thilaga (Prabha's sister) and mami (aunt)

Salwar Kameez - Jen

Women:

You get to wear a sari (saree).   This is one long piece of cloth wrapped to create a skirt and then wrapped over the shoulder.  It’s worn over a separate blouse top.  Many saris come with extra fabric intended to be taylor-made into the matching blouse.  Taylors are plentiful, very reasonably priced, and turn things around quickly.  Just like for a dhoti, there are many different styles of folding and draping - thus there are also different length saris; don’t worry about it. You will wear a skirt undergarment (like a slip) with a tie string closure (not elastic) under it and into which you fold the sari fabric.  If you feel too uncomfortable in it, no worries!  Try it anyway and bring a dress backup with you to India just in case.  Here’s a friendly Wilbur video on how to wear a sari.

Shantha (Prabha's mom) is seen here pulling off a glamorous sari look along with Anjali

Other traditional woman’s wear:

Half Saris: I don’t know what this is, but it’s easier to wear.  Often teenage girls will wear this instead of saris or younger children’s attire.

Lehenga (or lehenga choli) is more North Indian.  Generally for fancier occasions, it’s a blouse (often a crop top blouse) and skirt with a dupatta (scarf).

Salwar kameez - easier/faster to put on and move around in.  It’s basically a shirt and pants suit. They come in varying lengths, but all are longer than traditional western shirts….think dress with slits up the side. Pants can be very loose or tight-like (although they wear their pants longer than we would and aim to have wrinkles at the ankles; great for those of us with short legs!!!).  Almost always, women will also wear a dupatta (scarf) that matches the color of the pants, either around the neck and hanging down the back or over one shoulder.. These can be casual every-day wear or dressier.  You’ll see most women on the streets either in saris or in salwar kameez.

India Cost Estimates

US$1 = ₹67 (Click HERE for updated Currency Exchange Rate)

The Indian currency is called a rupee (₹). 
100 paisa = 1 Rupee. Paisa is like a cent but rarely used.

Prabha says "Costs in India are generally cheap for US folks. But, please keep in mind that price ranges in India vary widely :)"

Plane Ticket $1500-2000

Air BnB (typically sleeps 4) $30-40/night per apt

Rental Apartment (variable size) $10-15 per person per night

Hotel (3 star) $60-80

Food $2-10 per restaurant meal (we'll feed you all day

wedding day)

CLOTHING:

Woman’s sari skirt $5

Woman’s sari blouse $10 (tailor made) to $30 (pre-made)

Woman’s sari $30

Woman’s salwar/camise set $10-50  

Men’s Dhoti $10-15

TRANSPORTATION:

Bus (very very crowded) $0.50 per ride

Taxi $10 across town

Uber (need smart phone to use) $2 across town

Rickshaw (you know you want to) $5-10

Car & Driver (for road trip) $10/day per person

Attractions $1-5 per person. Much more for national park safari.