Travel Tip Number 5 - Water

Right now it is raining like crazy in Tennessee. I guess that means that the next tip should be about WATER.

The water in India seems to be a problem even for the Indians. Each state I have visited has it's own sort of problems. Even our guide chooses to drink bottled water in certain locations. We just solve all those problems through avoidance and INSIST on drinking bottled water at all places. Although there are a few places, like the SRF Ashrams and a certain place in Auroville, where the water filtration system is excellent, where we can drink water from the special pitchers.

In fact we suggest that you take it a step further and insist on brushing your teeth and rinsing your toothbrush with bottled water. Boy, it is hard to resist that impulse to rinse your toothbrush out in the sink. Some of my travellers have taken an additional toothbrush along in case they forgot what they were doing. Some of the hotels provide extra toothbrushes and of course, you can buy a new one there in the stores.

Just remember, ALWAYS drink bottled water. Check the cap too, to make sure it was sealed.

At certain times, when the group is large enough, we take a bus tour with our own bus. In these situations, the bus driver and his assistant will buy water by the case and keep it on ice for us. That is so handy! We have to pay a little more for the water, but that is just a little service charge. Water from the store is usually around 12 rupees (about 25 cents) per liter. Cool water from the bus driver is usually 20 rupees (about 50 cents) per liter. Water from room service in a hotel can be about US $2 or more. So there is quite a big variance in prices.