Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

The Streets of New Delhi, India. Photo by Author.

Traveling in India is as taxing as it is inspiring, as frustrating as it is easy, and as intriguing as it is overwhelming. Laden with a deep culture that cannot be observed and that is never talked about, its hard to understand what’s going on around you as a traveler in India. So how do you get to the bottom of it? Read!

Indian authors with experience abroad or expats that have spent years in India are often best able to convey these complex themes in the form of literature. Whether you’re about to embark on a journey to India, have always wanted to, or are simply looking for a good read, here are 5 books about India for you to dive into:

1. The White Tiger - by Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger is a tragic yet humorous tale of one boy’s rise in India’s impenetrable social hierarchy through hard work, perseverance, and… murder.
2. The God of Small Things – by Arundhati Roy: In The God of Small Things, the author sheds light on the country’s adoration of Western values through the story of one Indian family. The novel traces the evolution of the family structure as the family grows apart after a tremendous loss.
3. Life of Pi - by Yann Martel: The son of a zookeeper is set adrift on a life raft with wild animals when their trans-oceanic ship sinks. Though the majority of the story is set at sea, the reader is exposed to various elements of Indian culture through stories from the protagonist’s childhood in India and how life circumstances changed.
4. Holy Cow! - by Sarah Macdonald: A cynical recount of one young woman’s return to India after a miserable Indian backpacking experience in her youth, Holy Cow is interesting if not the most serious of reads. While the tone is often sardonic and a bit harsh, Macdonald doesn’t hide any of the details or critiques of modern India.
5. Shantaram - by Gregory Roberts: Shantaram depicts one man’s moral development in India after escaping from an Australian prison. This book is SUCH a page turner that it won’t take you as long as you’d think to read its 900+ pages.

Have any great books about India to recommend to other travelers? Tell us about them in the comments section below or on Facebook! (Click here if you can’t see the comments: Trying to Understand India: 5 Best Books about India)

To Shake, or not to Shake? Photo from photozoujp.com

If you’re more comfortable with the distant wave or firm handshake, traveling often requires you to get closer and more personal with people you meet along the way. I am, of course, talking about cross-cultural greetings. A cheek kiss or a bow feels a bit unnatural and rigid at first, but with a little practice, you’ll be initiating kisses and nodding first to new friends without looking awkward. Though the greetings vary significantly depending on the familiarity and formality of the setting, you have to start somewhere. Whether for work, travel, or fun at home, here’s a brief guide to international greetings:

Greetings in Asia: While the bow varies in style from country to country, it is a very typical greeting throughout Asia. How do you bow? Well, the Thai wai looks best with elbows in to your sides and your hands just below your chin, and the Japanese ojigi is typically a bend initiated at the waist rather than at the hips. It seems simple, but I’ve found the bow to be one of the more difficult greetings to master. It’s probably worth asking a local friend for some tips.

Greetings in Europe: Europeans love their kisses–sometimes just one, sometimes three, some beginning on the left cheek, and others on the right. Typically, its more of a cheek to cheek touch with a “smooch” sound rather than a drooly lip plant on your new friends cheek. Spain’s two cheek kisses usually go from right to left while the faire la bise varies in number by city.The best guide to European kissing is to just watch it happen in the streets a few times, then go for it.

Greetings in North America: North Americans are well-known for their excessive grins and firm handshakes. There are entire books on the art of the perfect handshake, but here’s a quick overview United States handshake rules: always use your right hand, apply enough pressure, make eye contact, and don’t let it linger too long. My advice is to practice it on a few people, feel their grip, and try to apply it on your own shake.

Greetings in South America: Many countries in South America have a visibly touchy culture, so it only makes sense that the greetings would be a hug and a kiss. Typically, Argentinians give one kiss on the cheek, while Brazilians give between one and two kisses depending on the region. As always, watch and learn, then go for it.

Ever had an awkward greeting abroad? Tell us about it on Facebook or in the comments section below! (Click here if you can’t see comments: French Kissing and Other Casual Greetings)

Image Provided by Flickr Nesster

Despite the fact that it’s still summer and the impended changing of the weather makes me grumble, I can’t stop thinking about my favorite month! Can you guess which one?

October!!! Why? Halloween obviously!

1. I love a good scary movie, not gory though – I liked to spooked, not grossed out.
2. I love a good ghost story.
3. I love feeling like maybe I should sleep with the lights on because I am so scared – You feel me?

This year I think I am finally going to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time. . . A haunted tour – of sorts.

What it will consist of I am not really sure yet. Here are some ideas. . .

•  Stay in a haunted hotel
• Visit a haunted asylum/hospital (is this even an option?)
• Creepy forests
• Famous crime scenes (morbid I know but still intriguing)

Ok so the list is small. . . but I will not be discouraged!

So now I am going to ask you to help me out.

• What would you do?
• Have you done anything related to this?
• Do you have any suggestions for me?

I have about 3 months to plan an epic fright fest!!! So give your girl a hand and leave your suggestion and stories in the comments below. I promise there will be photos and blatant honesty. Mad props if your suggestion(s) scare me to the point of tears…

BRING IT ON

While messing around on Facebook last night I came across an app titled 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die – The Food List Challenge. I like to think of myself as an adventurous eater, I will try anything once, so I had to click on it. The list had dishes like alligator, paella and (my favorite being from New Mexico) frito pie!

The app got me reminiscing with friends about the “strangest” things we have eaten while traveling; things like pigeon fois gras, steamed silkworms and in my case, goat eyeballs. Why would we eat these things? Part of it is to say that you have, I mean come on, but really most of it is out of politeness. In many cultures it is considered extremely rude to not eat the food that has been given to you. What may seem strange to our American sensibilities are considered delicacies in other lands. So what do you do when your host hands you a plate of blood sausages? Smile, say thank you, and you never know, you might like it! Either way, you have a great story to share with your friends when you get home. You only live once right?

Head Cheese - Image Provided by Flickr Stu Spivack

If you are inspired but not quite ready to eat crickets, headcheese, or tongue tacos, you can certainly find some fun food themed tours in your own city to help expand your palate. Are a few in the US to help get you started!

• In Chicago, Illinois: http://www.grayline.com/Chicago/Your_Love_of_Food_Tour
• In Newport, Rhode Island: http://www.grayline.com/Rhode-Island-Providence/The-Providence-Riverwalk-Gourmet-Tour
• In Boston: http://www.bostonfoodtours.com/

And if you were wondering, I scored 81 out of 100 on the Food List Challenge. Did you see the app? If so what was your score? Better yet what are the “strangest” foods you’ve tried on your travels? Let us know in the comments below! (Don’t see Facebook comments? Click here to view the full 100 Foods to Eat Before You Die blog post)

Unless you want to stand out like a Halloween costume at a tuxedo party, you are going to have to learn some rules of etiquette before visiting South Korea. This nation is strongly founded on the virtue of dignity and its people have consequently developed very distinct behavioral codes. Many foreigners inadvertently snub the rules of Korean etiquette by carrying their Western sensibilities with them to the East. These cultural differences often lead South Koreans to view foreigners as rude and uncouth. If you don’t want to contribute to the bad reputation of foreigners in South Korea, then follow our pointers and surprise your new friends with your politeness.

Bowing

Bowing is an important part of the greeting process. Do not exaggerate your bow, because this could be construed as a mocking gesture. In the Far East, bowing does not imply subservience – it is a simple sign of respect akin to a handshake or a kiss (sometimes three) on the cheek.

Chopsticks

You should never leave your chopsticks sticking out of the rice bowl. This would be similar to stabbing your fork into a steak and leaving it upright when you aren’t eating. You should always place your chopsticks on the table or across the top of a bowl.

Accepting Drinks

If you are offered an alcoholic beverage by an older person, you should always accept it with two hands. It is sufficient to accept the beverage with your free hand supporting the receiving hand. Korean dinners often involve soju and your elders will invariably insist on you imbibing a few too many.

Probing Questions

Do not be surprised if you are asked about your weight, marital status or income. These are all ordinary questions in the Korean context. It might feel uncomfortable to divulge this information, but it is simply a Korean attempt to break the ice.

Buses and Subways

It is essential to keep quiet on public transport. Unless you want to get the evil eye from a person who has about 20 years of Taekwondo experience, it is best to abide by this simple rule. Koreans find noisiness very rude and it’s best to hold onto your riveting tale until you disembark.

Politeness

As with any travel destination, simple polite gestures go a long way. If you behave in a respectable manner, the people will warm to you and you will have a fascinating time. Remember that you are visiting their country – the onus is on you to adapt, not them!

by Taylor Record

Any grilled-meat-loving person knows that Bratwurst and Sauerkraut go together like… well… Bratwurst and Sauerkraut. So you can almost imagine my dejection as I ordered my Original Thuringer Rostbratwurst at a roadside stand in Berlin, Germany, and my request for the fermented topping was denied!

“ Germans don’t really eat sauerkraut on this,” she told me with a thick German accent and the look of pity plastered across her face.

I felt like a naïve American tourist as I solemnly ate my German Brat, lonely in the crisped bun with a just the swirly pattern of yellow mustard to keep it company. It was if the world as I thought I knew it had been altered.  She probably thinks I’m an amateur. Maybe they call sauerkraut something different. Maybe bratwursts aren’t really even German. Is this German beer even German??

Three years later, and today is finally the day to uncover the real answer to this timeless question. Do they eat sauerkraut on Bratwursts in Germany?

I searched all over the web, and the verdict is sometimes?

 In Germany, some bratwursts are often served with crusty bread, potato salad, and sauerkraut.  However, the Thuringer variety is traditionally served on bread and brushed with mustard. Judging by the strict adherence to Thuringian tradition in composition and preparation of this bratwurst, I wouldn’t be the tourist to demand kraut on this dog.

Perhaps the best source of information I have is the information that the woman at the eggy-walled stand gave me. I smiled and even spit out the best “Guten Tag!” I could muster. I can’t imagine she mislead me to deter bad etiquette!

And if she was trying to fool me, she certainly won. She would probably be quite amused that I have devoted three years and, well–probably only 30 minutes of thought to the issue–but that is certainly more brainpower than I typically spare on a single lunch item.

One of the most exhilarating and amusing parts about traveling the world is experiencing a whole new sector of ingredients and culinary feats. From fried tarantula to durian, there is no more literal way to get a taste for a culture than to taste the food. Take note of your ordering missteps and serving faux pas along the way, and you’ll move away from novice tourist to regional expert.

So please, fellow travelers, ask politely about the kraut-laws for your brat of choice before boldly requesting. As for beer pairings and mustard etiquette… you’ll have to figure those out for yourself.

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