Some last minute advise!

I will be arriving into Trivandrum next week and I can%26#39;t wait. We are only coming for a week but I have lots of plans for that time. i just had a couple of last questions. I have been reading my rough guide and it has given some info in details in regard to ladies dress (i.e when and where it is appropriate to wear bikinis)which I have taken on board. What I wanted to check is if it is offensive for a man to walk around with shorts and no t-shirt? It might seem a silly question but my husband does not want to offend anyone. I am not sure if it wil be approporiate in the cities? My second question is to Paul (helper of the childrens home)I hvae sent you some messages but had no response in regard to what is needed at teh home at the moment as I will need to buy this weekend.

Thanks again

Joanne

Some last minute advise!

Hi Joanne

If you mean that your husband wants to wear only shorts on the beach or around the tourist area then that is OK. Once outside it is best to wear a shirt or t-shirt. If I travel to the City or anyother large town/non tourist place then I tend to wear long trouser and a t shirt or short sleeved shirt. We have had a couple of men (from the New Zealand work team) visit in only a t-shirt.

Many ladies wear bikini%26#39;s but do take note that some Indian males will stand and watch and even take photo%26#39;s of Western/white females in such wear. Today, on the beach there was a groups of 5 young ladies and a group of 15 to 20 Indian males, including the Lifeguards, standing watching them swimming. So, ladies please bare in mind that the less clothes you have on, the more attention you may get.

Regarding visiting our Home and bringing items for the children I did send an eMail on 7th March at 15:14hrs. I have re-forwarded it again. We have had connection problems and some of my eMail have somehow gone missing in transfer. For other, we have a %26#39;Wish List%26#39; on our web page as so many ask the same questions. You can find the list at:-

http://happychildrenshome.blogspot.com

Regards for now.

Paul

Some last minute advise!

Hi again

Silly me.... only visiting in a t-shirt!! I should hope not. What I meant was they only had shorts and no shirt.

Paul

Thanks Paul

I have checked my emails and it looks like it was blocked for some reason. I have mangaged to unblock it now!! Thank you for your help and I look forward to meeting you when we visit the children%26#39;s home!!

Joanne

Mrsweston,

You may actually find a sufficient number of local men not wearing a shirt or t-shirt with their sarongs, when they are working. Temple priests may only have a sarong draped across bare chests, in addition to the sarong around the waist.

I have seen Western men with no t-shirt on in Kerala. However, I would advise your husband to wear a loose, light cotton tee or casual light cotton shirt at least when away from a beach. Simply because it would seem curious and eccentric that a Westerner wears no shirt. It is unlikely to give offence, but may elicit a snigger among some folk.

i dont wear a shirt and no one sniggers at me.

Hi

What locals can do and what Tourists can do is completely different. Yes, locals can be seen without shirts but it is acceptable for a local person to do it. It is acceptable for a Western lady to wear a bikini/mini skirt but is it acceptable for an Inidan lady to do the same? The question is/was is it acceptable for a Tourist to go around the non tourist area%26#39;s without a t-shirt. Saying that local men who are working can be seen without a shirt is not really relavent to the questionas they are working in hot temperatures. In the UK it is acceptable and laughed upon, when we see (Council) workmen, working showing a far bit of thier behind, but it%26#39;s not acceptable for anyone to do it. It could be classed as indecent exposure. My own advice would be no, wear a shirt outside the tourist areas, and I am sure many other people would say the same.

Temple priests do not come into the question as all Hindu males entering a Hindu Temple MUST remove thier shirts.

Regards

Paul

Hi again

Try this page regariding Indian Etiqueete and what to wear:-

http://www.vayama.com/india-etiquette

Also I have read the following:-

Some of you might have observed- Men are required to remove their shirts and vest (baniyan) before entering certain temples. Most of the temples in Kerala, Sri Mookambika Temple in Kollur, the place where they serve food in Udupi Sri Krishna temple and so many other temples insist that male visitors enter the temple premises half naked and stay that way till they go out.

Read the full article at:-

enidhi.net/2008/09/takeoff-shirts-at-temples…

I have entered a indu Temple and all the men had to remove thier shirts.

Regards

Paul

Hi Mrs Wston,

After being in the area several times now, NO is the answer I agree with pdizzy westoners should adhere to Asian culture, and be respectable away from the beach/tourist areas. I was in Trivandrum couple of weeks ago, and although many westoners visit here, people still stare I have blond hair and remember many Indians havent even been out of their local state yet alone flown to Europe. They are poliet inquisitive, friendly and happy to chat with you, they just want to know more about you. It will be a great experience enjoy it, but try and do at least one day on the back waters this is where the true kerelan life is..... Kovalam is busy with tourists and so many indian people dont really take any notice, the further in land you go or north you go then they will want to know more about you. We took a train journey from Cochin to Trivandrum recetly 3 hours or more all for the sum of 68p we sat in low class carriage with the true indian people, drank chai with them ducked away from the cochroaches but had the best time. WE LOVE KERELA see you all next year pdizzy log on to www.happychildrenshome they are just the best.

We have just returned from Kovalam and we always respected the locals and wore top and shorts etc when we entered a restaurant, shops etc and only wore bikinis etc on the beach or by the pool but my hubby always covered up when out and about. Its maybe just us but i believe when in Rome and all that.

Which duvet cover should i get