What to pack for a short visit to India

Here are some items I carry with me everyday in India and some other miscellaneous items to consider.

A LARGE Handbag NO BACKPACKS
If you go to a store, you are typically allowed to keep your handbag with you but you will have to check a backpack with the baggage check.  On rare occasions you will have to check a handbag but in my 9 months here, I have never had to check my handbag.

Individually Packaged Sanitizing Wipes

You can purchase hand sanitizer here so if you are short on space wait to purchase when you arrive, however, I would recommend individually packaged hand sanitizing wipes.  Some times you need to get the dirt off at the same time and you can use them to wipe down the remote and phone when you get to the hotel room.  (studies show these are the two dirtiest items in a hotel room or house).  They are also useful in cleaning the tops of canned drinks.  Always clean the tab before you open the can then use a straw to drink it.  It is even better if you can get a bottled drink but sometimes you can only get cans.  

Travel Toilet Paper

You can get a roll of Charmin toilet paper in a small container that is perfect for travel.  You can typically find them in the grocery store in the same location as travel sized containers of toiletry items.  You can also find them in camping supply stores.  Many places do not provide toilet paper in India so I always take it with me. You need one roll per person.  

Individually Packaged Wet Wipes

If you are coming for a visit there is a good chance you will have digestive tract problems.  These will help you feel better. 

Individually packaged straws

There are frequently times that you will want a straw for your drink such as when you go to a fast food restaurant.  They will provide you with a straw but the straws are just sitting out and everyone is touching them.  I have also seen a cup full of straws fall on the floor and the worker will pick them up and return them to the cup.  I do not trust straws unless I unwrap it.  I actually don't trust anything to be clean in this country.  The general rule of thumb is assume all items were drop on the ground somewhere between where it was made and when you purchased it.  Then remember that people pee on the side of the street.  Clean everything.  

A good mask

There are two times you will want this mask.  The first is just before you land in India.  Indian law currently requires a disinfectant to be sprayed before landing in the country.  The airline attendants start at the front of the plane and spray the disinfectant inches away from your face and the smell is horrible.  It dissipates in a few minutes but a mask makes it much more bearable.  The second time a mask is useful is if you take a rickshaw.  The fumes are horrible.  You may think everyone will stare at you if you wear a mask but they will stare at you if you look foreign regardless, so protect your lungs. 

Medicines

Do not assume you will be able to find the same over the counter drugs here in India as you find in other countries.  For example, I was told by my doctor that benedryl is not sold in India.  I also had a very hard time finding Mucinex and they only had the regular Mucinex and none of the other varieties.  Also, the names for various medicines are different so even if they have it, you would not know what it is called.  I recently learned that acetaminophen (Tylenol) is called paracetamol here. Bring medicine from home you think you may need.

Snacks from home
Even if you are the type of person who will try any type of food it is still a good idea to bring a favorite or two from home.  I would especially bring something that helps you feel better if you get an upset stomach.  

Gift for Expats

If you are traveling just to see the sights this is not necessary.  If you are coming to work, ask if there are any expats from your country working there. Offer to bring them an item or two in your suitcase.  It will mean the world to them.   For example, my youngest was craving grape jelly and we could not find it here anywhere.  A visitor brought 3 jars of jelly and made him one very happy boy.  Another person brought Slim Jims.  It is something small that will mean a lot to the expat.

Comfortable slip on shoes
You will likely be asked to take off your shoes many times a day, especially if you are visiting temples.  Make it easy on yourself and bring comfortable slip on shoes.

For Women only
If you use tampons, bring them with you.  It is highly unlikely you will  find them here.  If you are lucky and find some they do not come with an applicator.


I think that covers the items I carry in my handbag on a day to day basis.and a few miscellaneous ideas. The list could continue on forever, but these are the essentials in my opinion.  

Maintaining your life in India (mainly me venting)

This is really a follow up on the Setting up your life in India.

Today I realized that the "setting up your life" phase never seems to end.  This is because things break constantly here.  Just last week, my 12 year old went to shut his door but the door would not close.  The bottom of the door jam basically popped off the wall.  In the USA this would be a minor inconvenience that we could get fixed in a day or two but here, we don't know if anyone will ever show up to fix the problem.  This is also the case for the holes in the mesh of the screen door.  We believe the holes were caused by a rat chewing through the screen.  We also found these holes in the mesh of 2 of the bathroom windows.  It was an annoyance for the screen door because we could just shut the sliding glass door and keep the mosquitoes, bees and rats out.  However, the bathrooms do not have proper windows so those rooms keep getting bugs in them.  We have contacted multiple people to fix the problem and no one ever comes.  We literally called multiple people for a month straight before we finally got someone to come out to repair the windows and door.  People say they will come and do not even have the courtesy to call and tell you that the plans have changed.  You just sit and wait and no one comes.

Today is the 4th day someone has said they will come to repair my 12 year olds computer and still no one has shown up.  Today is the 12th day someone from the phone company has said they will come and we have yet to see anyone.   I have been trying to get foreign currency,  yet days later I still do not have the currency.  I am so frustrated that I threatened someone with bodily harm if they don't show up tomorrow.  I have no idea if that made it more or less likely to happen but it made me feel better.

In addition, most of you know I require a monthly medication to be administered through an IV.  I have a contact person at the hospital that I call the day before to arrange for my visit.  I called and talked to her like normal but when I showed up at the hospital I was told she was on vacation and did not inform anyone I was coming.  I did not leave her a message, I actually spoke to her and she did not tell me she was not working and did not call anyone to ask them to do the job she normally does.  When I arrived they informed me there was no bed available for at least 5 hours.  That was the last straw for me and I completely let loose on the manager when she showed up.  I was in a bed and hooked to my IV in record time.  Somehow a bed opened up within 20 mins of the scene I made in the waiting room.  I think they just wanted to get the crazy foreigner out of sight.

So I am planning my trip back to the US and what I am most looking forward to at this moment is people who show up on time.  This has to be my biggest problem in India.  People  never show up when they say they will.  Never is a bit of an exaggeration but in all honesty I will say people do not show up when they say 70% of the time.  At this point,  I don't even count it as late if people show up on the right day.

I am now looking forward to visiting Europe and the USA for 6 weeks.  Just the fact that people tend to show up when they say will be such a nice change.  So please forgive me in advance if I get very upset with you if you are late for a meet up with me this summer.  At this moment, being late or a no show is something I can not handle.