Mini Rough Guide to the Indian Subcontinent - Background

• How to get there
• Safety
• Dress code/behaviour
• What to eat
• Etiquette
• Wildlife

How to get there

• Flights to major cities on the Indian Subcontinent are fairly accessible from most major international airports and regular flights are available with leading carriers such as British Airways, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. Discounted charter flights are also available to many popular destinations.
• Before booking any flight it is important to check all visa information and entry requirements and check for any travel advisories regarding the country you plan on visiting. It is also advisable to check that the visa specification hasn't changed a few weeks before you leave by contacting the Foreign Office. Log onto www.fco.gov.uk/travel or dial 0845 850 2829.
• Flight durations will vary depending on the route but generally a flight from London to Mumbai or Delhi will take around eight and a half hours while a flight to the Maldives or Singapore will take about twelve. more info

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Safety

• In many Indian Subcontinent nations, the threat of terrorism and political instability has led the Foreign Office to advise against travelling.
• Your best bet is to bookmark the Foreign Office website and check it regularly for updates on the country you are interested in visiting: www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
• If you choose to visit a country against the Foreign Office's recommendations, it is essential that you check your insurance policy, as this could affect whether or not you are covered.

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Dress code/behaviour

• When it comes to dress code and behaviour, you should probably do a bit of research on the exact location before you travel and once you get there, take your cues from the locals.
• In particularly conservative cultures, it's important that you don't flaunt your skin and that you are neat and clean - it's only respectful.
• In non-western countries, a good rule of thumb is to ensure that your legs, shoulders and upper arms are covered at all times. You should also avoid tight fitting clothes.
• Another key piece of advice is to go with the flow. Different cultures often have very different concepts of time, personal space and socially acceptable behaviour. You'll find it a lot less stressful - and a lot more enlightening - if you just chill out. Who knows? You may actually reassess your own ideas of what's 'normal' and realise that we're not that different after all.

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What to eat

• Indian cuisine is considered superb by many and takes its place among the great cuisines in the world. There is a good chance that you've tasted 'Indian Food' in your home country, especially if you're a traveller from the West, but what India has exported abroad is just the tip of the iceberg.
• For many British people, 'going for a curry' is a favourite weekly highlight and 'Chicken Tikka Masala' has become the most frequently ordered dish in the UK. This dish is so popular that its origins have attained legendary proportions. It is commonly believed that chicken tikka masala originated from the kitchens of Bangladeshi chefs in the UK.
• Indian food also has a well-deserved reputation for being hot and you will probably find 'the real thing' particularly fiery, as chefs outside of India notoriously adjust the flavour to appeal to the palates of people who are used to milder foods.
• To enjoy the local food, start slowly. Don't try everything at once. After a few weeks you will get more accustomed to spicy food. If you would like to order your dish less spicy, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for what you want.
• In the Maldives, all the resorts are self-contained and have at least one restaurant, which usually features Asian or European food. The only other place to find food is in Male where you can find some good Thai restaurants or small cafes and carts selling Maldivian food. The fish balls are very popular but very spicy, so be careful if you have a weak stomach. more info
• Since the Maldives are fairly strongly Muslim, alcohol is banned for the locals and there are no bars in Male. The only bars are in the resorts and most resorts have a licence to sell alcohol. more info
• Although it is encouraged to sample new and exciting dishes it is also important to keep yourself safe from harmful bacteria and diseases when eating out. Lots of travellers get diarrhoea from eating or drinking something contaminated. You can also get diseases like cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A from contaminated food and water. You can reduce the risk by taking these simple precautions from the Department of Health :
  • Always wash your hands after going to the toilet and before handling food or eating.
  • If you're not sure whether the water is safe, sterilise it by boiling it or using purification tablets, or use bottled water (preferably fizzy) instead. Always use clean water for washing food and cleaning your teeth as well as drinking.
  • Avoid ice unless you're sure it's made from treated, chlorinated water. This includes ice used to keep food cool as well as ice in drinks.
  • Make sure food has been freshly and thoroughly cooked and is still piping hot - avoid food that has been kept warm.
  • Avoid uncooked food, unless you can peel or shell it yourself.
  • Avoid food that is likely to have been exposed to flies.
  • Avoid ice cream from unreliable sources, such as kiosks or street traders.
  • Avoid - or boil - unpasteurised milk.
  • In addition, fish and shellfish can be suspect in some countries. Uncooked shellfish, such as oysters, are especially risky.
  • While you're on holiday, try to eat a healthy balanced diet. A healthy diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables; is based on starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice; and is low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar.

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Etiquette

• In India, eating with your hands (instead of utensils) is very common and there is one basic rule of etiquette to observe: Use only your right hand.
• When serving yourself from communal serving dishes, use your left hand to serve yourself with utensils and then dig in.
• Rice is particularly challenging but the basic idea is to use four fingers to pack a little ball, which can then be dipped into curry before you pop it into your mouth by pushing it with your thumb.
• Most restaurants do provide cutlery and it is pretty safe to use them instead of your hands if you feel more comfortable. Also, eating with your hands is frowned upon in some of the more upscale establishments. If you are provided with cutlery and nobody around you is eating with their hands, then take the hint.
• Don't forget to wash your hands well before and after eating.

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Wildlife

• Over half the world's tigers live in India, yet poaching and human encroachment has meant that their numbers are declining fast. One estimate says the number of tigers has halved in only four years!
• Many of the tigers seek refuge in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which are being bombarded by tourists scrambling to get a glimpse of these threatened animals - which only adds to the stress on them.
• Yet the money generated by tiger tourism might be the only thing that can save them. To channel some of the money you spend on your holiday towards tiger conservation, choose a tour operator which has signed up to a code of conduct with Tour Operators for Tigers. Members include Greaves India and Tiger Trails who contribute a small sum (typically £15 per client) towards conservation and local community projects administered by Global Tiger Patrol. more info