INDIA IS READY FOR YOU – BUT ARE YOU READY FOR IT?在候下 臨， 對 有充 準 ？

印度已 恭 閣 大駕光 你 印度之旅亦已 分 備嗎

Everything you think you know about India is true. But here’s the thing: the opposite is also true, says MRIDU KHULLAR RELPH

JUST WHEN YOU begin to think you can sum up India, it surprises you. But don’t be intimidated. India, with its rich cultural history, exceptional diversity and wonderfully delectable food, is a place not to be visited, but experienced.

ACCEPT EVERY INVITATION

The Sanskrit phrase atithi devo bhava translates to ‘a guest is equivalent to God’, which explains why Indians take hospitality so seriously. They will invite you into their homes, insist you attend their daughter’s wedding, give you the last piece of chicken and have you ingesting so much chai you’ll wonder how you survived so long without it.

DRINK CHAI

You can’t walk 10 metres in any direction without encountering a tea stall, someone drinking tea or someone delivering it. Indians love their tea, particularly chai – it’s strong, milky and sweet; and served at any opportunity.

TRY SOME STREET FOOD

You’ve heard the advice about not eating on the street and drinking only bottled water. The advice about the bottled water is correct. But you don’t need to avoid all the street food. The trick with food in India, especially the food on the street, is to consider how it’s cooked. Don’t miss aloo chat, potatoes fried in hot oil. The chicken marinating in 35°C heat? Give that one a miss.

A sweet shop is always around the corner in India and the Haldiram’s chain, with its huge selection of sweets and snacks, is the perfect place to stop for a break.

EMBRACE INDIAN STANDARD TIME

However long you think your journey will take, double it. You will be stuck in traffic for hours. There will inevitably be an argument. You will arrive at your destination hours later than expected. But not to worry – that’s okay and completely acceptable. Most Indians function by Indian Standard Time, which translates to the actual time plus a minimum of 30 minutes.

HAGGLE LIKE CRAZY

In India, you’ll often be charged more than the value of the product or the service, especially as a foreigner, unless you learn to haggle like the best of them. The street markets, which are worth a wander on their own merit, are also where you’ll see some of these haggling skills. India’s a fantastic place to shop for fine textiles, eye-catching jewellery and mementos to take home, but remember to negotiate when buying.

PACE YOURSELF

It’s impossible to see all of India in one go, so pick a few places and get to know them well. Be open to letting the country show you its different sides – and there are many – and you’ll be in for a wild ride.

當你以為自己了解印度時，這個國家往往又有許多你意想不到的東西。要但不 因此而卻步，印度擁有豐富的文化歷史、多姿多采的風土人情和美味的佳餚，需要深入體驗，而非走馬看。花

接受所邀有 請

梵語「atithi devo bhava」解作「賓客等同神明」，正好解釋印度人重視待客之道的原因。他們會邀請你到家中作客，求央 你出席女兒的婚禮，將後最 一塊雞肉讓給你吃，更不停為你添，茶 令你不禁猜想，以往怎能熬過沒有印度奶茶的日子。

暢飲印度奶茶

無你何論 往 處走，每隔十米必會遇到茶座、喝茶的人，或正在送茶的人。印度人愛茶，尤其是濃香 幼滑、美甜 可口的印度奶茶，被視為奉客必備的妙品。

試嚐街頭美食

你一定聽過不要吃街頭小食和只飲用樽裝水的忠告。只喝樽裝水的建議是正確的，須但毋 將街頭美食一概視為洪水猛獸。選擇印度美，食 尤其街頭小食的秘訣，在於烹調的方法。以滾炸馬油 的 日薯aloo chat是必試極品，至於在35度高溫下方製的雞肉就可免則免了。

甜品店遍佈印度每個角落。連鎖店Haldiram’s售賣各式各樣的甜點和零是食，歇腳的好地方。

接受「印度標準時間」

無論你預計行程需時久多實，際所花的時間將會倍增。你會因交通擠塞而呆在 車上好幾個小時，更途中 會因行車路線而起執爭 ，最後抵達目地的 時總是較預期晚得多。但你大可放心，遲到是完全可以接受的。印度人大多奉行「印度標準時間」，即把實際約定的時間再加上至少30分鐘。

盡情殺價

除非你殺價的功力跟當地同高人 樣明，否則在印度購買產品或服務時，特別是外國人，所付的費少往往高有於原 價。值 當地的市集得值 一逛，更可見識地當 人還價的巧技 。印度是搜購優質布料、奪目首和飾紀念品堂的天 ，不過購買時記得議價。

無需緊湊行程

你絕不可能一次就能遊遍整個印度，因此不妨每次挑幾個地作度方 深。遊放開懷抱讓， 印度向你展現多姿多采的面貌，就能享受令你目不暇給和充滿樂趣的旅程！