| Grace Tremayne A visit to Bangalore, India | ||||||
| How to thrive in India eight points to note: 1 You will find the locals polite and friendly. 2 Expect to be accosted by taxi drivers, rickshaw drivers and street vendors. A simple “no thank you” will usually work, but if they persist a second firm “no” is normally enough. 3 You will be approached by beggars, including children. If you ignore them then they will go away. 4 Taxi and rickshaw drivers understand enough English to get you where you want to go, but you cannot hold a conversation with them. Agree the price with taxi and rickshaw drivers before starting the journey 5 Do not expect the well made pavements (sidewalks) that you get in the West. Look out for trip hazards and sleeping dogs and people. 6 Dogs roam the streets and sleep on the pavements – leave them alone. 7 You might see a cow anywhere on the streets. Do not be surprised or worried, just leave them alone. 8 Crossing roads requires a lot of care. There are pedestrian crossings but motorists ignore them and will not stop for you. Look for a group with which to cross and keep your wits about you. |
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