India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) - Keith Bain [63]
For general travel resources for women, go to www.frommers.com/planning.
MULTICULTURAL TRAVELERS
African Americans and other travelers of African descent will face as much curiosity as someone with blond hair and blue eyes, but also some degree of discrimination, though this is neither widespread nor specific to a particular region. Mostly this takes the form of travelers being told a hotel or nightclub is full when it really isn’t. Senior Travel
India is not for the fainthearted, and this is definitely the one place senior travelers should use the services of a reliable agency and organization that targets the 50-plus market.
Members of AARP, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049 ( 888/687-2277;www.aarp.org), get discounts on hotels, airfares, and car rentals. AARP offers members a wide range of benefits, including AARP The Magazine and a monthly newsletter. Anyone over 50 can join.
Many reliable agencies and organizations target the 50-plus market. Elderhostel ( 800/454-5768; www.elderhostel.org) arranges worldwide study programs for those aged 55 and over. ElderTreks ( 800/741-7956, or 416/558-5000 outside North America; www.eldertreks.com) offers small-group tours to off-the-beaten-path or adventure-travel locations, restricted to travelers 50 and older.
8 Sustainable & Responsible Tourism
CUSTOMS & ETIQUETTE
As a rule of thumb, pay attention to what local people are doing, and try to blend in as much as possible.
APPROPRIATE ATTIRE In India, your attire will often signal your status, and casual dress will make it more difficult for you to elicit respect. Women should wear loose, cool clothing that covers up as much as possible. Exposed flesh suggests that you’re too poor to dress properly, or that you’re shameless about flaunting your body. Transparent and tight clothes are also considered shameless; the more you can disguise your shape, the better. Men should avoid short shorts, which are considered bizarre outside large cities or beaches. Women visiting public beaches should be as discreet as possible and avoid sunbathing on empty beaches. In mosques and Sikh gurudwaras you need to make sure your head is covered—a worthwhile purchase is a scarf you can keep in your bag at all times. In certain Hindu temples—particularly in South India—a man may be required to wear a lungi (a long piece of cloth worn like a kilt) and remove his shirt. Always check what others are wearing before venturing in, and approach slowly so that someone can intervene before you offend the sanctity of the holy sanctuary.
SHOES Shoes are never worn in places of worship—you are even required to remove your shoes when entering certain churches. It makes good sense to wear a pair of comfortable, cool, and cheap sandals, like flip-flops—they’re easy to remove and unlikely to be stolen; leaving a pair of expensive shoes outside a temple or mosque is not a good idea. However, you can leave your footwear with an attendant outside for a tiny tip (Rs 2–Rs 10)—and you will almost certainly get them back. Some museums and historical monuments may also require you to remove your shoes, and you should extend a similar courtesy when entering someone’s home. In Sikh gurudwaras you are expected to wash your feet after removing your shoes.
TOUCHING Public physical contact between men and women is far less acceptable in India than in other parts of the world. Some Indians—particularly those who live in the larger cities and have traveled—understand that Western men and women may shake hands (or even kiss) as expressions of social friendship, but you should be cautious of casually touching an Indian woman in small towns and villages. Even the slightest touch can have a sexual connotation. Remember that it is not unusual to encounter someone who has never seen a foreign face; attempting to shake hands with such a person may prove overwhelming to him or her. When in doubt, fold your hands in front of you, bow your head slightly, and simply say “Namaste” (pronounced nah-mah-stay).Traditionally, Indian people use the left