India Q&A with Steve Wroe

In a recent Facebook Q&A session, our fans jumped on board to ask India and Himalaya expert, Steve Wroe, their questions. Here are some of the highlights of our India chat, and stay tuned to see what they had in store for him regarding the Himalayas.

Grace McCallum: What are the best places to see in India and what are the best ways to keep safe and healthy?
@Grace: Start with Agra, and then visit Rajasthan. Varanasi is also fantastic. If you want to go somewhere REALLY special, visit Ladakh. I've been to many parts of the world and nothing compares with Ladakh.
For staying healthy - eat vegetarian food, don't 'be adventurous' and try street food, and make sure you drink bottled water. Your leader will guide you through all this. They're paranoid about their travellers getting sick!! Also travelling in cooler months (Nov-Feb) lowers the risk of getting sick as there's less bacteria etc.

Julia Herperger: Just wondering if you have any tips for women on staying safe in India? I know the basics, but thought you might have some insight, or special tips, for how women can stay safe in India. Thank you!
@Julia: First up, India is very safe. Even the big cities. However aside from the obvious, like dressing conservatively and not wandering the streets late at night, I'd be a little cautious of getting in a cab unless it's from the airport or a hotel (where people will know you got in it).
The main issue is hassle from beggars and maybe pickpockets so just make sure your stuff is stashed safely. On that point: no bling. Shows of wealth in a country that has a significant number of poor people would be unwise. Make sure that if you go out, you take a hotel card and tell them where you're going. Hope that helps.

Richard Pye: Can you travel from Delhi to the Taj Mahal and back in one day?
@Richard:  Yep, you can. It's four hours each way and the road and trains are good. Except travelling in peak hour by road can take longer (5+ hrs). But the nicest time to be there is early morning or late arvo as the light is the best. But I'm a photographer and care a lot about light. 

Alison Burdon: I know that India is a country with lots of poverty, but the best approach is not always simply to give people money. Can you suggest a more socially appropriate response on a Geckos trip?
@Alison: Yeah handing out money, pens, lollies etc is often counter-productive as it can lead to more begging and an expectation that travellers are like ATMs or Father Christmas.
The best thing to do is bring school books, pens, and the like and give them to the school in places like Tordi (most of our trips visit Tordi) or any other school along the way. Or your leader can help by directing you the right way in terms of giving a donation, a school, local hospital, orphanage etc. Giving to the under privileged helps a lot but it needs to be done in the right way. 

Alison Burdon: Are Ganges River Dolphins tricky to spot or would you often see them on river cruises?
@Alison: You'd have to do a pretty specialist trip to see them. There are some excellent riverboat trips on the Ganges. It's not something we do as they tend to be pretty high-end. We just see the Ganges at Varanasi. Great place but no self-respecting dolphin would be keen of swimming there.

Fiona Black: Hi Steve, I am hesitant to head to this region because I often hear of travellers getting severe food poisoning. Is there any ways that I can reduce the risk of getting sick?
‎@Fiona: Hi, people do get tummy problems from time to time. At least half of these people get sick in Kathmandu rather than on the trail. I tend to stick to vegetarian food while over there as this minimises the risks. Also, use that hand sanitiser gel after the loo and before eating. Odds are you'll be fine but these basic preventative measures decrease the risks a lot.

Erin Aldersea: Hey Steve, what are the conditions on the long-haul train journeys in India like? I have heard some interesting stories but would love to hear your thoughts!
@Erin: The trains are 'interesting'. They're actually good fun as you are immersing yourself in the culture and often meet locals on the train who are up for a chat. Don't count on getting eight solid hours sleep but they're comfy enough. Long story short - they are good fun and I love watching the scenery roll by.

Lucy Hawthorne: What cities are best if you want to see contemporary Indian art?
@Lucy: There is a great gallery in Delhi and also Mumbai has a couple.

Got a question for Steve? Leave it in the comments section below, or head to Twitter and Facebook to ask the growing Gecko's community. 

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