New Delhi

[No to women's lib]

My husband will let me walk to the market in our colony, not at night though, but will not let me cross the main road to go to the next colony by myself.  As a white woman you are a bit more obvious.

So you have to have your husband's permission to go to the market and cross the main road?

[White Delhi Doll]

"Permission" was probably a poor choice of word.  My husband was born and raised in Delhi, where his family still lives.  His knowledge of the city and its safety are vastly superior to mine.

If he tells me he thinks it isn't wise for me to cross the main road by myself to go to another colony - I believe him.  He has my safety, and that of our children, as his number 1 priority every second we are in India.  He never takes his eyes off us - and that is not in a creepy, controlling woman hating fashion.  It's in a "that's my family who I love and I'm keeping them safe" kind of way.

It would be very easy to snatch someone off the main road - there is a lot of traffic, and people everywhere.  In our colony the roads are narrower, a "bad guy" couldn't guarantee a quick get away, and people would come to your assistance because they would have time to realise you are in trouble. 

I do not feel constrained by following the sensible advice of local people.  In fact, following the advice and safetly precautions of my family have enabled me to have many happy years  in India without a single unpleasant experience.

So I need my hair washed in the other colony?  I get the driver to take me.  Simple.

[Lutyens]

Other "colony"!!?? What boondock do you live in?? Don't be silly! Have you not seen the small country sized number of backpackers? Do you think they can afford a "driver" and a "watchman"?

[White Delhi Doll]

In Delhi "colony" is used in the same way that we would use suburb.  Eg Defence Colony, New Friends Colony etc.

And while I do take your point about backpackers not having drivers, neither do they tend to hang around in the outer suburbs.  Backpacker ghetto's in town have lots more white folk than our area where I am so unusual that people stop me and ask me what on earth I'm doing there.

Backpackers also tend to travel in groups or at least pairs - so I think all my comments about safety for white female expats probably still stand.

As for the last time I saw a backpacker go for a wash and blow wave..........

[Rohini]

Can anybody guide me about how far is pathways world school from udyog Vihar? I mean how many kilometers? Whish is the better school Suncity world school or Pathways world school?

I would really appreciate if somebody provides me with good information.

[goforit]

Ahhh, the food, atmosphere, new experiencies - like the people still smell after a shower - no deoderants.

Magic people, I'd go in a flash...

[yupp]

Oh Lord:
They bomb on festival days. That's when you should go into your dugout.

[contact]

Hi ,

The country head of my company in Gurgaon was an expat who lived in India for 5 years before moving to Singapore.
If you msg me, I'll give you the his name and the company name.
I dont know him well and can't introduce you to him but he works in Singapore now and if you can get in touch with him directly (just call up the office), probably that will help. He stayed for close to 5 years in Delhi. 

[Shiva]

I've been there quite a few times and enjoyed it when I went. Not sure I would like to live there but many do. I first went because my brother was posted there. He loved it, married an Indian and much later came back to the UK for their kids education. He always missed the place and he and now thier children are out in the big world they're planning to move back out there early next year. Can't be all that bad!