The Top 10 Tourist Questions About India You Were Afraid to Ask…

Top 10 Tourist Q&A (India edition):

1. Q: Do they speak English in India? A: Yes, English is one of the 2 official languages of the India government and one of the 22 officially recognized languages. Most people working in the tourist industry can speak it.
2. Q: Can you rent a car and drive on your own? A: You could, but you probably shouldn’t attempt to drive on your own. The traffic is crazy, the streets and be small and in ill states of repair, and you’ll have to contend with road hazards like stray dogs, monkeys, and cattle. 
3. Q: Can I brush my teeth with the water in the hotel? A: No! You should NOT brush your teeth with hotel water even in the nicest of hotels. All hotels will provide you with bottled water to brush your teeth and drink. 
4. Q: It’s hot in India, can I get ice cubes in my drinks? A: No! Unless you are exposed to the bacteria India for a prolonged period of time, you should not use ice cubes as you risk getting the notorious ‘Delhi belly’.  Stick to chilled bottled drinks and beers. 
5. Q: Can you do anything to prevent “Delhi belly”? A: Maybe. Although the data is still scientifically inconclusive, Culturelle brand probiotics seemed to work well for me and my group.  Many western travelers swear by it. All I can say, is it seems to have worked for me. 
6. Q: Do you have to tip in India? A: No, tipping in Asia is not required. Should you tip? I would say “yes” – when warranted. Be a good tourist ambassador and do your part to help the local economy when people working in the service sector do a good job. A little tip in India goes along way. 
7. Q: The taxi seems to be charging me more than the locals, are there two different prices? A: Yes, there are two different prices for things such as taxis (one for locals, one for foreigners). Suck it up. You can still negotiate.
8. Q: I handed a guy some money and he gave me a dirty look – why? A: In India (and most of the middle east), the left hand is considered the ‘dirty hand’ as it supposed to be the hand used in the bathroom. Eating, or handing things to people (including money) is considered a gross and rude faux pas. 
9. Q: I was at the Taj Mahal and some guy wanted me to take a selfie with his family – what’s that all about? A: In India, it is semi-common for local people to ask to take selfies with foreigners (especially good looking foreigners). Don’t worry, its innocent fun. You should be flattered somebody thought you look attractive (or at least ‘interesting’) enough to take a picture with you!
10. Q: On my first day in India, I loved getting bindis! But now, I don’t like them because they make my skin breakout in a rash. Can I say “no” to getting a bindi? A: Yes, you can say “no” to a bindi! (Just do it politely). 

Bonus Question [of great importance]:

Q: Wow, these souvenir merchants are really aggressive! How can I say “no” because I don’t want to buy anything? A: On ‘day one’ of my tour, the tour guide gave me some priceless advice about India: There is no word for “NO” when dealing with souvenir merchants.  If you say a word – any word – or make eye contact with them they will stick to you like glue until you buy something. If you want to buy something, say something. If you don’t want to buy anything, don’t say anything!

Cheers!