Preparing for Your Trip
Before You Go:
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1. Passport
You will need a current passport good through May September 2015. If you do not have a passport, you must begin the filing process at least 3-4 months before departure to ensure time for your visa processing.
2. Indian Visa
Before departing from India you must obtain an tourist visa. There is a new and relatively simple e-visa (electronic visa) available online. You must apply for this visa no later than a week before your departure.
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html
3. Vaccinations
The CDC recommends updated vaccinations of MMR and tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Polio Booster, Encephalitis and Rabies. The above recommendations are for adults only.
4. Malaria?
To medicate or not to medicate. There are many different opinions on malaria pills. I would recommend talking to your doctor and doing some personal research before you decide to take them. In my four previous visits to India I have never taken or even carried malaria pills as they generally make me very ill. As we will be traveling in the cooler months of the year the risk of malaria will be greatly reduced. I do recommended getting a 10 day dosage of ciprofloxacin in case of any serious infections during the trip.
5. Travel Insurance
You may want to invest in a travel insurance for medical emergency, lost luggage and flight cancellations.
What to Pack
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Clothing: The most important part of packing clothes for a journey like this is that our clothes be light and easy. Cotton is a great rule of thumb as it dries easily and packs lightly. You will also want your clothes to be comfortable, versatile and conservative. No one in India will mind if you wear short shorts and very tight fitting clothes, but you will attract a lot of attention and not much respect! You should pack clothes and underwear for 4-6 days, and you will find yourself wearing things again and again. It will also be up to you to do most of your clothes washing when you can. This is why its also good to bring clothes that dry easily.
Here is a sample packing list for women:
-2 pants (one long, one short)
-2 tops (one short sleeve and one long)
-2-3 long tops or tunics (similar to what young Indian women wear in a "salwar kameez")
-1 skirt (knee length or longer)
-1 pair of leggings or yoga type pants
-1 pair of pants for sleeping/lounging
-1 sarong that will double as a travel blanket/towel/shawl
-1 light jacket
-4-6 pair of underwear and 2 pairs of socks
-2-3 sports bras and 1 regular bra
-1 baseball cap and sunglasses
For men: Cotton or light weight cargo pants are good to have as well as some longer shorts (should go to your knee). Men in India generally do not wear shorts but they do expect western men to dress a little differently, but again modesty is best. As for shirts, t-shirts are a good every day shirt and maybe one polo type shirt or button up shirt will be handy. Also bring a light jacket, cap of some sort and bandanas are always helpful.
Shoes: One pair of sneakers or shoes that are supportive and good for walking. One pair of sandals/flip flops that can get wet and be taken on and off easily. Expect that whatever shoes you bring to acquire a healthy coating of dirt and other mystery substances. I usually wear my heavier pair of shoes on the plane, so I have less weight to carry around in the airports... every little bit helps.
Toiletries: Almost everything one could need will be available in India, but not always in the brands you know. Many of you may be bringing your luggage as a carry on, so it is good to have your liquid items in 3 oz. travel bottles. Any special medications should be brought in their labeled bottles and other supplements/ items that are a part of your daily routine. If you have allergies or other medicines you may need on occasion please bring them along also.
Here is another check list:
-shampoo and conditioner
-facial washes and lotions
-sun screen with a strong SPF
-toothpaste and toothbrush
-soap or body wash (or you can purchase some soaps in India as well)
-nail clippers
-antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) and band-aids
-anti diarrhea medicine ( I will also bring some great natural medicines for stomach upsets that I can share will you all if needed).
-week long antibiotic prescription of cipro (or something similar- these items can also be purchased in India).
-travel size hand sanitizer
-lip balm
* For women: sanitary napkins are available in India, but tampons are not readily found, please bring those items as needed.
Others:
-passport and plane intinerary (plus one photo copy of these items)
- credit card in case of emergencies (be sure to notify your cc company before leaving of the dates you will be traveling)
-4-6 travel tissue packets, to be used as toilet paper while away from the hotel (trains and public restrooms generally have none).
-snack bars (its good to have a few snack bars handy for longer journeys or days when you just don't want to eat Indian food.
-travel alarm clock or watch with alarm
-travel journal: You may want to document your feelings and thoughts each day while traveling. These are things that you will look back on years from now and find bring you right back to the moments of your trip.
- plastic zip lock baggies (3-4) you will find a use for these without a doubt.
- money belt or pouch that hangs under your clothes. You may not want to carry these at all times, but its important for train journeys.
-vitamins! I take some emergen-C packets with me to keep my immune system at its best.
- day pack- smaller back pack or bag to use on our daily outings.
-wash rag- not a common item in India, but handy for drying off on train travel ( could also use a handkerchief for this job).
-ear plugs/eye mask: if you are a light sleeper you may want to bring these items (India is many things, but quiet is not usually one of them)
- camera
-plug adaptor for electronic items that need charging
-a book to read for travel (keep in mind the weight- so a "light" read is in order :)
-items needed for your activities with the children at Little Hearts Orphanage (enough for 30 children)
MOST IMPORTANT ITEM! : The most important thing you can bring with you on this trip to make it a success is an open heart and mind. We travel for many reasons, but travel brings us the most joy when we open our hearts to the people and places that we are in. We will undoubtedly encounter things that challenge our ideas and comfort zones but, we must remember at the heart of everything that we see, that we are all people together in our world, often seeking the same things. My best advice when I went to India for the first time to work in the orphanage, was to to allow the love to come to you. If you open your heart, the amount of love you can receive will fill you for the rest of your life. Chances are we will all have days when something overwhelms us or throws us for a loop on our journey. On those days its important to remember that we are all their for one another. ~ Jessica
Here is a sample packing list for women:
-2 pants (one long, one short)
-2 tops (one short sleeve and one long)
-2-3 long tops or tunics (similar to what young Indian women wear in a "salwar kameez")
-1 skirt (knee length or longer)
-1 pair of leggings or yoga type pants
-1 pair of pants for sleeping/lounging
-1 sarong that will double as a travel blanket/towel/shawl
-1 light jacket
-4-6 pair of underwear and 2 pairs of socks
-2-3 sports bras and 1 regular bra
-1 baseball cap and sunglasses
For men: Cotton or light weight cargo pants are good to have as well as some longer shorts (should go to your knee). Men in India generally do not wear shorts but they do expect western men to dress a little differently, but again modesty is best. As for shirts, t-shirts are a good every day shirt and maybe one polo type shirt or button up shirt will be handy. Also bring a light jacket, cap of some sort and bandanas are always helpful.
Shoes: One pair of sneakers or shoes that are supportive and good for walking. One pair of sandals/flip flops that can get wet and be taken on and off easily. Expect that whatever shoes you bring to acquire a healthy coating of dirt and other mystery substances. I usually wear my heavier pair of shoes on the plane, so I have less weight to carry around in the airports... every little bit helps.
Toiletries: Almost everything one could need will be available in India, but not always in the brands you know. Many of you may be bringing your luggage as a carry on, so it is good to have your liquid items in 3 oz. travel bottles. Any special medications should be brought in their labeled bottles and other supplements/ items that are a part of your daily routine. If you have allergies or other medicines you may need on occasion please bring them along also.
Here is another check list:
-shampoo and conditioner
-facial washes and lotions
-sun screen with a strong SPF
-toothpaste and toothbrush
-soap or body wash (or you can purchase some soaps in India as well)
-nail clippers
-antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) and band-aids
-anti diarrhea medicine ( I will also bring some great natural medicines for stomach upsets that I can share will you all if needed).
-week long antibiotic prescription of cipro (or something similar- these items can also be purchased in India).
-travel size hand sanitizer
-lip balm
* For women: sanitary napkins are available in India, but tampons are not readily found, please bring those items as needed.
Others:
-passport and plane intinerary (plus one photo copy of these items)
- credit card in case of emergencies (be sure to notify your cc company before leaving of the dates you will be traveling)
-4-6 travel tissue packets, to be used as toilet paper while away from the hotel (trains and public restrooms generally have none).
-snack bars (its good to have a few snack bars handy for longer journeys or days when you just don't want to eat Indian food.
-travel alarm clock or watch with alarm
-travel journal: You may want to document your feelings and thoughts each day while traveling. These are things that you will look back on years from now and find bring you right back to the moments of your trip.
- plastic zip lock baggies (3-4) you will find a use for these without a doubt.
- money belt or pouch that hangs under your clothes. You may not want to carry these at all times, but its important for train journeys.
-vitamins! I take some emergen-C packets with me to keep my immune system at its best.
- day pack- smaller back pack or bag to use on our daily outings.
-wash rag- not a common item in India, but handy for drying off on train travel ( could also use a handkerchief for this job).
-ear plugs/eye mask: if you are a light sleeper you may want to bring these items (India is many things, but quiet is not usually one of them)
- camera
-plug adaptor for electronic items that need charging
-a book to read for travel (keep in mind the weight- so a "light" read is in order :)
-items needed for your activities with the children at Little Hearts Orphanage (enough for 30 children)
MOST IMPORTANT ITEM! : The most important thing you can bring with you on this trip to make it a success is an open heart and mind. We travel for many reasons, but travel brings us the most joy when we open our hearts to the people and places that we are in. We will undoubtedly encounter things that challenge our ideas and comfort zones but, we must remember at the heart of everything that we see, that we are all people together in our world, often seeking the same things. My best advice when I went to India for the first time to work in the orphanage, was to to allow the love to come to you. If you open your heart, the amount of love you can receive will fill you for the rest of your life. Chances are we will all have days when something overwhelms us or throws us for a loop on our journey. On those days its important to remember that we are all their for one another. ~ Jessica
