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Go2India [Pre-Documentation]


BomBholenat
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Hey guys,

I will use this thread as a platform to inform you about my trip to India. I am happy about EVERY hint, tip or everything else that could be helpful :)

I hope this is the right place to open this thread, please admin, move it if you like :)

I decided to do the trip before I watched the very beautiful Stain Hunters India expedition. when I saw it, i knew where I was going to stay the most of the time. So my trip is very influenced by the strain hunters and especially Franco Casalone. Thank you very very much for that! (I watched the documentation for about 15 times now. no joke)

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When? I will do the trip from the middle of july to the end of september. So we'll witness the whole rainfall period! unfortunately I have to leave just before it is charras rubbing season :(

The trip will take 70 days.

What? This will be a try of making a documentation, I just bought this camera: the go pro hd Hero2 (franco uses it too, as i noticed)

kopfmontage.jpg

It won't be a strain hunt (man, that would be cool) because I dont have the knowledge to do that AND it is the wrong season. A friend of mine and me will do a tour from north to south and back, but my main destination is himachal pradesh.

And I decided to find some seeds of the kerala landrace. we'll see what destiny brings ;)

up to now, this is our Route:

<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.stepmap.de/js/stepmapexport.js'></script>

<div style='height:720px;'><div style='position:absolute;'><img src='http://www.stepmap.de/getmapimg.php?id=194375&w=432&m=2' width='432' border='0' alt='Travel route India' usemap='#stepmapexportimg194375_432' /><br />stepmap.de: Jetzt eigene <a href='http://www.stepmap.de' target='_blank'>Landkarte</a> erstellen <br /> <map name='stepmapexportimg194375_432'><area shape='rect' coords='307,683,423,711' href='http://www.stepmap.de' alt='StepMap' title='StepMap' target='_blank' /> <script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.stepmap.de/getmapjs2.php?id=194375&w=432'></script> <area shape='rect' coords='0,0,432,720' href='http://www.stepmap.de/karte/travel-route-india-194375' alt='Travel route India' title='Travel route India' target='_blank' /></map></div></div><br /><br />

propably we'll start from new delhi, doing a short trip to himachal pradesh, to see how the grass grows, hehe ;) I hope we can do an intermediate stop at haridwar.

after that we'll go to mumbai, then goa and after that kerala in the south.

after that, we will head up to kolkata, city of varanasi, aplace where George Harrison used to live:

and then, finally, I will travel himachal pradesh! Our tour will take about 3-4 weeks.

It would be a pleasure to send you some fotos from there.

Estimate of costs:

25€ per day, that would be 1750€

Flight: 600€

2000€ reserve money, included money for a sitar (traditional indian instrument 500€ ) and tablas (a pair of indian drums: about 50€) you never know...

we will use traveller checks, so it's not that painful, if we get held up...

please comment if this estimate of costs is realistic or not for 70 days.

Aims and Destinations in Himachal Pradesh:

-Fields, fields, fields... It would be so nice to go to those places, where Arjan, Franco, Franco Casalone and Simon went... Unfortunately, i won't be able to rub some charras, because of the season...

-The place where Galeno lived*

-Franco Casalones Cave*

-Tosh

-Pulga

-Malana

-Manali

-Kullu

-Chowki(?)

*I will ask Franco, if this would be okay for the two guys. If not, i will cross those destinations off my list.

Other things that could be interesting:

here something about the social and environmental problems about Malana: http://www.joergo.de/malana.htm unfortunately it is in german. it says that the price of charras doubled (because of the malanian buisness sense). the townsfolk achieved to affluence, consequence: the number of inhabitants doubled. the houses are mostly made of wood, so the people chopped down lots and lots of trees, and also they need lots of wood for cooking. that caused landslides and other environmental problems. They also have to deal with the problem of water pollution: the wells water is contaminated; twice as much people cause twice as much fecal matter. The "Malana Power Project ltd." was started up by big indian high street banks: hydroelectric powerplants are mentioned in the strain hunters india expedition. workers come and half of them stay after finishing off the construction areas (statistical). the author tells about illicit distillation, brothels (prostitution) at the slums of the construcion area workers. AND he tells that the malanian people have to lock their doors at night (what wasnt common before the workers came, because everybody knew everybody in town) because of stealings that happened.

taday i found a very interesting documentation of malana valley:

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=702jn8FvDqY&feature=related]

Equipment:

-Visum, flight ticket, passport

-Artemisia tea to prevent malaria

-Go Pro Camera to document the trip

-trekking backpack

-map of kullu (yes, i've got one!!!)

-hiking shoes

-rain jacket

-no shirts, trousers, I'm gonna buy them there.

-compass, if we get lost

-GPS with altimeter

-headlamp, in case of electricity failures, nocturnal journeys to the toilet ;)

-no tend, we'll rent them there.

-extra warm sleeping bags for the cold himalayan nights...

-mosquito repellent

-lonely planet travel guide

-hindi, bengali and urdu phrase book

we'll buy there:

clothes! clothes! clothes!

mosquito net

Questions and Problems:

I am looking for some webspace to do some security backup for the video material, does anyone know a possibility?

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some more things which are very interesing:

design your own map for free:

http://www.stepmap.de/editorpro.php

and here are two of them:

kullu district:

Kullu Valley
stepmap.de: Jetzt eigene Landkarte erstellen

zoomed in:
pulga tosh malana
stepmap.de: Jetzt eigene Landkarte erstellen
http://www.stepmap.de' alt='StepMap' title='StepMap' target='_blank' /> http://www.stepmap.de/karte/pulga-tosh-malana-194437' alt='pulga tosh malana ' title='pulga tosh malana ' target='_blank' />



the new india map:

Travel route India
stepmap.de: Jetzt eigene Landkarte erstellen
http://www.stepmap.de' shape="rect" target="_blank" title="StepMap" /> http://www.stepmap.de/karte/travel-route-india-194375' shape="rect" target="_blank" title="Travel route India" />




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nice video, and nice maps man ;)

Looks cleaner than before :P

Soon soon ;) You've seen there is another member that is going in india soon? staying for 1month and a half, he made a thread today or yesterday

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RESPECT BomBholenat! Very cool trip you are planning, and very cool thread as well.

Concerning the maps, I can reccommend you upgrade to the professional version of Google Earth, that is how we planned our original Strain Hunter trip in 2009. Great detail, great mapping features, and full GPS integration.

I also advise you carry a GPS and an altimeter with you, very useful on the mountains.

Topographic maps of the area are available in Chokki at Negi's Himalayan Adventures (say hi to Chappu, the owner, for me!!! Great guides, great guys. They can help you find the best fields in the srea and can be trusted). From Kullu it's an hour drive to their place, on the way to Malana...

You have plenty of time to plan it very well. It's gonna be awesome. Well done!

;-)


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Thanks a lot franco! google earth is better than i thought! (unfortunately) I just bought a map of kullu valley for 22€... aaand we organized a gps with an altimeter :)

of course i will greet chappu from you :) do you remember how much you paid for the guides? would be interesting...

the funny thing is, that there are TWO malanas around kullu valley! did you know that? there is one in the north-west of malani and the one near by tosh and pulga...

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Jangooooo! Thanks a lot!!! nice to have some pics that are very up to date :) if you want to send me some more, please send me a PM :)

how long was your stay in india? did you have the chance to rub some charas by your own? i am very curious about your trip, so if you want to share some of your memories and experiences, dont hesitate to write ;)

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...

Hey Guys,

i was very very busy in the last months so i didnt had the chance to participate that much in the forum... sorry for that :)

LOTS of things changed. Yes, of course I'll do the trip, but i had to change the route and the time I'll stay in india. I had to shorten the trip down to 45 days (from 80) because of certain reasons. It also had influence on my route:

Mumbai - Delhi - Kullu - Kerala - Goa

At Delhi I'll meet up with a very nice member of our community, looking forward to seeing him!

I am VERY excited! I'll leave my homecountry on wednesday.

Wish me good luck, i'll shoot a lot of photos for you guys (yeah, very wrong time for "flowers", but i will do my best),

Take care, bombho :)

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I just made some contacts with locals.

You can buy decent Green in Goa at Rs 500/25-30gms. You get cheaper weed but it usually has a horrible flavor and it will probably have seeds and too many leaves and its just not worth smoking.

As for hash, you can get a T (i.e. short for Tola) for anythin between Rs. 800 to rs. 2,000. Depending on who u buy from and where the black is from.

I would advise you not to buy your black from Bombay/Delhi because I know a few people who got pretty sick smoking it. They mix stuff like shoe polish and rat shit (not kidding) and god alone knows what else.

Manali is a good place to buy black. You could get it for as cheap as Rs.300 for a T. But then again considering the fact that you're white prices may vary. Try and get a hold of this stuff called "Manali cream" It is the best black I've ever tried. Its soft and almost melts in ur fingers while u try to roll a Joint. But u get sooooooooo BAKED! Its AWESOME!

As for Kerala Gold, its also called IDIKI Gold.(I'm not sure if I spelt it right) It is supposed to be one of the best strains of Green in India. I'm not too sure about the price though... I'll ask around and let u know.

If u want to buy a Chillum, I know this guy in Goa who is supposedly one of the best Chillum makers in India. But you could buy just a normal one for like anything between Rs. 100 to infinity.. Depends on how much you're willin to spend.

Bhang Lassi - It is quite mad! After drinking it, your world starts spinning. Its pretty awesome. But one important thing to control is your STATE OF MIND. If you start laughing, your gonna laugh unnecessarily for the entire duration of the trip. But if you cry, your gonna be crying for no apparent reason the whole time.. It is pretty funny to see people cry for no reason.

Cops - well all of that depends on your luck. If you are travelling by train you really shouldn't have a problem. But sometime they might just check you so be aware. Avoid carrying too much because the more you have, the more they can fuck you up for it! And in India cops just want bribes. So if you can talk your way out then there's nothing like it. You just have to keep your wit sharp! And try not to appear guilty!

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  • 2 weeks later...

sweet man you might even already be in india by now :D

I hope everything will go well, and say HI to that indian member for us, i hope you will a lot of beautiful things and keep them in memory for a long time ;)

Enjoy man and stay safe!

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Beware of smoking Chillums. The cops in India will check your hands and see when you smoke a lot of Chillums with a cloth. There will be strains from nicotine between your middlefingers and the inside of your hands - one look and they KNOW you are a smoker !

KERALA is said to be close to pardise-twice as nice and what a weed-bring or send seeds !!!

And finally enjoy your stay in GOA just before you go back to Delhi and back to babylon

A pity you don't visit the mountains, maybe next time. Nepal or way up north in the himalaya there is the fine Charrs and good air.

Enjoy and a safe trip + happy returns.

BAM BAMBHOLE - Shiv Shamboo you will know what that means, soon..lol

Get a Chillum on Anjuna Beach. They make specials over there. A friend brought me a special selection made in the new years season of 1978.

Golden letters saying 1978 ANJUNA BEACH - a very nice brownish/golden color clay with a special glace, smoked excellent - Normal filling meant 2 Filter cigarettes with 2 gram black afghan/Himalya hash and a piece of cloth with water or fenchel tea - There were no bongs available back then. neither headshops

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey guys! finally i am at kasol, parvarti valley! i stay at a guest house for very little money and the host, a widdow called "mama" has a big variety of different charas... like pinapple, chocolate mint, she even has hash oil! another thing that is very special: she has charas from 3 years ago, she buries it in the ground... very nice... i will do some hiking the next days after the big trance festival and try to rub some charas^^ looking forward!

cheers friends, i smoke a big joint for yous,

bom bholenat!

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yeah man finally time has come and the trip started :D

Very nice to have some news from you i hope your trip will be safe and amazing for your eyes :)

Don't forget our pictures, and record it all in your memory ;)

Have a good trip and festival ;)

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