Topic: I'm going to Delhi

[Geezah]

.....on buisness.
What are the do's & don't while out there?
What should I be bringing back with me on my return?

[fried]

Have you been to India before? or another 'poor' country?

[Peripatetic Phil]

What are the do's & don't while out there?

Do's : read anything and everything by Jim Corbett [1] to gain a true insight into the Indian psyche
Don'ts : eat with the wrong hand.
** Phil.
--------
[1] e.g., The Oxford India Illustrated Corbett (Oxford India Collection)

[Stephen Lindsay]

don't eat yellow snow?

[Geezah]

It will be my first time out of europe.
Got myself booked in for jabs (tetanus, polio, Hep A, Typhoid & Diptheria)

I'll be stopping at The Claridges hotel and will most likely be having dinner at The Imperial one night.

I just want to reduce the risk of Delhi Belly and still see a bit of culture while i'm out there.

[Peripatetic Phil]

I'll be stopping at The Claridges hotel and will most likely be having dinner at The Imperial one night.

/They're/ not India !

I just want to reduce the risk of Delhi Belly and still see a bit of culture while i'm out there.

I think you really need to eat some street food if your visit is to have any meaning.  I understand from those who live in such places that the risk comes not from the food (so long as it is properly cooked and you avoid anything raw) but from poorly washed utensils (plates, knives, spoons, etc).  So, much as it goes against the grain, you should probably stick to street vendors that serve everything on/in/with disposable utensils : cardboard plates, plastic knives/forks/spoons, etc.  Of course, India being still in many ways a poor country, you can't be sure that what goes in the rubbish bin today won't miraculously re-appear as brand new tomorrow, so make sure you pack plenty of Lomotil as well, and maybe do some research into which antibiotics, and at what dosage, may need to be deployed in the event of a severe bout of DB -- you should be able to obtain these over the counter, unlike in the West.  And if you /do/ get DB, remember that fluid+electrolytes will need to be taken regularly until it is completely under control and you can safely ingest a normal diet once again.

** Phil.

[artistpaul]

It will be my first time out of europe.
Got myself booked in for jabs (tetanus, polio, Hep A, Typhoid & Diptheria)

I'll be stopping at The Claridges hotel and will most likely be having dinner at The Imperial one night.

I just want to reduce the risk of Delhi Belly and still see a bit of culture while i'm out there.

Delhi belly and same in Egypt, a wise old local over there told me that it is not generally not caught by eating dodgy food, although salads are a no no because of the bugs in the water they are washed in, but rather the primary culprit is handling money and failing to not wash your hands everytime before eating food or just even rubbing your eye with hands that are infected from the filth that is carried by money particularly notes.

otherwise have a good one

Paul

[Yousef]

Do a cooking course whilst out there.
Your hotel will be able to advise....then share on here.

Have a good one

Stew

[DalPuri]

Wear something warm 
Delhi is quite cold this time of year.
Lots of great street food around the old town! Has a nice feel about it too.
Plenty of tailors around if you want a favourite suit copied.

[Geezah]

I have already been advised to stick to the 5* hotels and restaurants, but it would be such a shame to have a (possibly) 1 time visit to this part of the world and not try something authentic to the area.
I'm well aware of the water bugs and lack of personal hygine being the main reason for westeners comming down with sickness and diarohea (sp?), and I will be carrying with me an anti bacterial hand jell and other bits in my day sack.
The company has provided me with industrial strength 'immodium' tabs and my own IV & saline kit.

Has anyone been out there and can advise a few places to visit or cuisenes to try?