Exotic And Cheap--What's Not To Love?
Aug. 9, 2010, Bangalore, India:Travelers have a love-hate relationship with India. They hate the crowds, traffic, noise, beggars, tourist prices, garbage, and touts. They love the food, scenery, friendly smiles, exotic and varied culture, ancient ruins, and bargain prices.
PLUS:
Watch this space for details of our next competition later this week...
----------
Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"Travelers sometimes tell us they have a love-hate relationship with India," writes Intrepid Correspondent Vicki Terhorst from the subcontinent. "They hate the crowds, traffic, noise, beggars, tourist prices, garbage, and touts. They love the food, scenery, friendly smiles, exotic and varied culture, ancient ruins, and bargain prices.
"Paul and I seem to spend more and more time in India We try to look for ways to maximize what we love while minimizing what we don't. For each visit, we focus on just one little area of India, and we stay for only a short time. That prevents the burnout that comes with a do-and-see- everything trip in this country.
"Before coming to Asia this year, while in the United States, we obtained 10-year, multiple-entry Indian visas. We intend to spend much of our time over the coming several years in this part of the world. With these multiple-entry visas, therefore, we'll be able to hop over to India on a moment's notice, whenever we come across a cheap airfare from another parts of Asia where we're traveling. Air Asia, for example, now has discounted flights to Cochi, Trivandrum, and other parts of India from Kuala Lumpur.
"For this trip, we flew from Chiang Mai, Thailand, to Bangalore, India for a six-week visit. Our flight arrived in the middle of the night.
"Rather than search for a hotel on arrival, as we usually do, we researched budget hotels in advance and chose one that took reservations without requiring payment. We kept our fingers crossed that they would honor our virtual advance agreement. They did, and gave us a discount to boot.
"We recommend it. The well-located Sri Lakshmi Comforts turned out to be a gem of a place (at about US$25 a night) with much more than you would expect from a budget hotel. We had Wi-Fi, cable TV, and drinking water (hot or cold) included. Plus the hotel had a fabulous 'Tiffen' restaurant that served an abundant and scrumptious vegetarian set lunch every day for less than US$1.
"Behind the hotel we found a small restaurant where we enjoyed a traditional Indian breakfast of milky coffee and dosa (large crepe) or idlys (spongy rice cakes) with spicy dal and sweet coconut chutney every morning.
"Bangalore represents the new India. This is a multi-cultural, multi-religious, prospering Asian city. Growth has created problems, though. Crossing major streets and riding in auto-rickshaws were white-knuckle events. We often wore earplugs on our walks. And we stayed in the neighborhood. Part of our love-India program means we choose a neighborhood and hotel that has most of what we want to do within a reasonable distance.
"In this case, we were in the new, bustling, modern India. We had specifically selected the neighborhood where the chic, newly rich, high-tech employees come to shop, dine, and party. We found high-end stores, pricey coffee shops, discos, and Western restaurants, all nearby old-style produce markets, deteriorating mansions, colonial buildings, traditional teahouses, mosques, and churches.
"Only when we ventured farther afield did we come across my mental image of India with its Indian temples and rambling cows..."
Kathleen Peddicord Continue Reading:
Aug. 9, 2010, Bangalore, India:Travelers have a love-hate relationship with India. They hate the crowds, traffic, noise, beggars, tourist prices, garbage, and touts. They love the food, scenery, friendly smiles, exotic and varied culture, ancient ruins, and bargain prices.
PLUS:
- Where's Jack?...
- The #1 Boating Destination In The Western Caribbean..
Watch this space for details of our next competition later this week...
----------
Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"Travelers sometimes tell us they have a love-hate relationship with India," writes Intrepid Correspondent Vicki Terhorst from the subcontinent. "They hate the crowds, traffic, noise, beggars, tourist prices, garbage, and touts. They love the food, scenery, friendly smiles, exotic and varied culture, ancient ruins, and bargain prices.
"Paul and I seem to spend more and more time in India We try to look for ways to maximize what we love while minimizing what we don't. For each visit, we focus on just one little area of India, and we stay for only a short time. That prevents the burnout that comes with a do-and-see- everything trip in this country.
"Before coming to Asia this year, while in the United States, we obtained 10-year, multiple-entry Indian visas. We intend to spend much of our time over the coming several years in this part of the world. With these multiple-entry visas, therefore, we'll be able to hop over to India on a moment's notice, whenever we come across a cheap airfare from another parts of Asia where we're traveling. Air Asia, for example, now has discounted flights to Cochi, Trivandrum, and other parts of India from Kuala Lumpur.
"For this trip, we flew from Chiang Mai, Thailand, to Bangalore, India for a six-week visit. Our flight arrived in the middle of the night.
"Rather than search for a hotel on arrival, as we usually do, we researched budget hotels in advance and chose one that took reservations without requiring payment. We kept our fingers crossed that they would honor our virtual advance agreement. They did, and gave us a discount to boot.
"We recommend it. The well-located Sri Lakshmi Comforts turned out to be a gem of a place (at about US$25 a night) with much more than you would expect from a budget hotel. We had Wi-Fi, cable TV, and drinking water (hot or cold) included. Plus the hotel had a fabulous 'Tiffen' restaurant that served an abundant and scrumptious vegetarian set lunch every day for less than US$1.
"Behind the hotel we found a small restaurant where we enjoyed a traditional Indian breakfast of milky coffee and dosa (large crepe) or idlys (spongy rice cakes) with spicy dal and sweet coconut chutney every morning.
"Bangalore represents the new India. This is a multi-cultural, multi-religious, prospering Asian city. Growth has created problems, though. Crossing major streets and riding in auto-rickshaws were white-knuckle events. We often wore earplugs on our walks. And we stayed in the neighborhood. Part of our love-India program means we choose a neighborhood and hotel that has most of what we want to do within a reasonable distance.
"In this case, we were in the new, bustling, modern India. We had specifically selected the neighborhood where the chic, newly rich, high-tech employees come to shop, dine, and party. We found high-end stores, pricey coffee shops, discos, and Western restaurants, all nearby old-style produce markets, deteriorating mansions, colonial buildings, traditional teahouses, mosques, and churches.
"Only when we ventured farther afield did we come across my mental image of India with its Indian temples and rambling cows..."
Kathleen Peddicord Continue Reading:
Expert Picks
Top Resources
Kathleen Peddicord's
New Book
The Wall Street Journal says: "If you're thinking about living abroad in retirement, this book is essential reading..."
"Whether you're in the 'what if?' stage, or have graduated to an investigatory visit, or are now seriously intending to live overseas...the book How to Retire Overseas will be one of your essential resources." ---Rapid River Arts & Culture (Asheville, NC)
Order Now
Communities
- Monticello
- Gran Pacifica Beachfront
- Mango Springs - Belize
- Unicorn Exclusive Boutique Hotel
- Carmelita Gardens- Belize
- Sanctuary Belize
- Grand Baymen - Belize
- Los Islotes - Panama
- Playa Santa Rosa -Nicaragua
- Gran Pacifica - Nicaragua
- Orchid Bay- Belize
- Sugar Loaf - Uruguay
- Condos de Xalteva - Nicaragua
Overseas Radio Show
Search
Readers Say
"I wish to congratulate you for the quality of your reports. The plain, matter of fact, but essential and wise information we all need to take vital decisions, especially in these extremely difficult times."
— Peter L., United States
— Peter L., United States
"Just great. Very welcoming and supplied answers to all questions very well. I'll see you again soon."
— Charles M., United States
— Charles M., United States
Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group. With more than 25 years experience covering this beat, Kathleen reports daily on current opportunities for living, retiring, and investing overseas in her free e-letter.
Her book, How To Retire Overseas—Everything You Need To Know To Live Well Abroad For Less, was recently released by Penguin Books.
