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.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
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
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.
****************************************************************************
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
Monday, August 22, 2016
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
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!).
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!).
Sunday, August 21, 2016
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.
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| 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.
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Dhoti - Prabha and his mama (uncle) - short and long.
Sarees - Thilaga (Prabha's sister) and mami (aunt)
Salwar Kameez - Jen
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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.
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| 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.
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.
India travel and visa information
Location:
The wedding will be in Coimbatore, India. This is Prabha's hometown.
Coimbatore is a city/metro area of about 2 million people.
Coimbatore is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
For most of you, your airport of arrival to India will be Chennai, Bengaluru or Mumbai. These are are the big cities in India offering a wider choice of international air connections. And, then you will connect to Coimbatore.
There are a couple of direct international connections to Coimbatore Airport - from Sharjah and Singapore.
Our recommendation is to look for flights arriving to Chennai or Bengaluru. These airports are convenient and provide easy connections to Coimbatore (~1 hour flight). The added advantage of flying via Chennai/bengaluru is that you can avail of the e-visa option of applying for Indian visa (see section below).
India visa:
American citizens will need a visa to enter India. There are two types.
A traditional visa requires you to plan farther in advance and send your passport to the Indian consulate, but it allows for you to enter to any airport in India (including Coimbatore, where the wedding will be).
An e-visa is the electronic version of a visa. You do not need to send your passport, but you cannot apply for this visa until closer to your US departure date and there are 16 certain airports that accept an e-visa (NOT Coimbatore). Last time, we entered through Chennai and Jen used an e-visa.
Click on this link for all details on Indian visa application.
So, in terms of which visa to get, it depends a bit on your flight plans.
The wedding will be in Coimbatore, India. This is Prabha's hometown.
Coimbatore is a city/metro area of about 2 million people.
Coimbatore is located in the state of Tamil Nadu.
For most of you, your airport of arrival to India will be Chennai, Bengaluru or Mumbai. These are are the big cities in India offering a wider choice of international air connections. And, then you will connect to Coimbatore.
There are a couple of direct international connections to Coimbatore Airport - from Sharjah and Singapore.
Our recommendation is to look for flights arriving to Chennai or Bengaluru. These airports are convenient and provide easy connections to Coimbatore (~1 hour flight). The added advantage of flying via Chennai/bengaluru is that you can avail of the e-visa option of applying for Indian visa (see section below).
India visa:
American citizens will need a visa to enter India. There are two types.
A traditional visa requires you to plan farther in advance and send your passport to the Indian consulate, but it allows for you to enter to any airport in India (including Coimbatore, where the wedding will be).
An e-visa is the electronic version of a visa. You do not need to send your passport, but you cannot apply for this visa until closer to your US departure date and there are 16 certain airports that accept an e-visa (NOT Coimbatore). Last time, we entered through Chennai and Jen used an e-visa.
Click on this link for all details on Indian visa application.
So, in terms of which visa to get, it depends a bit on your flight plans.
Tentative Schedule/Important dates
Dec 20 (arrive in India Dec 22) - last date to leave US to join us on our pre-wedding/Christmas trip touring South India.
Dec 28 (arrive Dec 30) - last date to leave US and arrive in time to have a tailor-made sari blouse (tailor made blouse costs about $10 - instead of $30 - and allows you to pick the neck lines and accessories). If you’ve never had anything specifically made for you, it’s kind of fun.
Dec 29/30 - Prabha &Jen plan to return to Coimbatore city from our pre-wedding/Christmas trip, along with anyone who can join us
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JANUARY 3 - NALANGU (bridal/groom showers/engagement party)
From late morning to late afternoon
JANUARY 4 - WEDDING (AM) AND RECEPTION (PM)
Wedding 9am (arrive as early as 7am for breakfast) until 10:30 or 11:30. This includes
pictures at the temple after the ceremony (lunch also served)
Reception in the evening - 6:30pm - 9:30pm
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Jan 5 - earliest date to schedule your return flight to the US (arrive in US Jan 6)
Jan 7 - date Prabha plans to leave for US (arrive in US Jan 8). Jen's plans are TBD (what does everyone else want to do?!)
Welcome!
Glad you are here - Welcome!
This will be our website/blog as we plan for our wedding in Jan 2017 in Coimbatore, India.
Keep checking here for updated details and interesting information on schedules, travel plans and India advice... More to come, stay tuned!
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| Clean and washed up! |
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| Not so clean! |
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