Taking off Travel blog

Doing business in India? Then you’ll appreciate this ready reckoner from Priya Parul.

India is at a stage when it cannot be ignored. With a GDP growth of 7.8% (2011 Q2 estimate), India is one of the most rapidly developing economies. It is attracting multinationals and investors in large numbers. Visiting India, and doing business here, is quite an experience though. So whether you are an investor looking to meet future partners or you are an MNC employee here to engage with your global team, this post may just be what you need to read.

Geography: Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad are the most prominent cities for business purposes. While Delhi, being the capital, is the seat for all governmental activities, Mumbai is the financial capital. Bangalore and Hyderabad are the IT hubs, and Ahmedabad is emerging as a strong investment destination with a number of special economic zones coming up. Whereas Delhi is to the north, Ahmedabad and Mumbai are in the west. Bangalore and Hyderabad fall in the southern part of India. This is helpful in order to keep climatic conditions in mind when travelling. The north experiences severe summers and winters; so, if you are travelling to Delhi (or anywhere in the north) during October-March, it is wise to carry warm clothing.

Business Behavior: Due to the large presence of multinational corporations in India, the etiquettes followed here are quite similar to the globally-accepted ones. This stems largely from the British influence dating back to the colonial rule. Compared to cultures like Japan, India is more absorbent of other traditions. This is perhaps due to the existence of a wide variety of cultures within India itself.

For a meeting, a handshake is acceptable as a form of greeting. If you are meeting a lady, however, it may be better to wait for her to extend her hand. Exchanging of business cards too takes place in a simple manner. Indians prefer to open conversations with small talk, usually bordering on personal. So if your host asks you about your family, do not think it to be intrusive. It is merely a way to make you feel at home.

Considerable importance is given to position and/ or rank. So if you are meeting your subordinates, do not be surprised if they insist on calling you Sir or Madam. Similarly, if you are meeting a senior, politely enquire how s/ he would like to be addressed.

Most Indians are comfortable with English but they may have a thick accent, depending on the part of the country they belong to. Similarly, they may take a while to understand your accent. So speak slowly and ensure you are being understood. Also, ask a person to repeat  if you have not followed the thread of conversation.

Though Indians are quite tolerant about religious diversities, it is a wise move to not initiate discussions on religion. Political discussions are more acceptable. As with any self-respecting nation, India is fiercely proud of her cultural heritage and history. It is thus good to focus on the positive aspects of the growing and developing India than to dwell on the pain points like poverty, filth, and backwardness. Read up on the current affairs in order to have intelligent and safe small talk with your Indian colleagues.

The occidental cultures are more direct and to-the-point. You may find Indians different when it comes to this. A simple no would be said with a lot of politeness and hesitation. While interacting with Indians, it is good to be a little less abrupt and more evasive. E.g. if you wish to decline an invitation, do not say no directly. Instead, say, “It may be difficult but I’ll try.”

In a business interaction, the process is more important than the outcome. Indians will focus on the soft aspects of the interaction, e.g., the relationships being formed. So if you want a successful result of your visit, ensure you give as much importance to the people as to the numbers.

Do not be upset if your hosts or Indian counterparts turn up late for an appointment. Indians have a relaxed concept of time. So do carry enough material with you to keep yourself busy if your Indian meeting delegates do not turn up on time.

Check back tomorrow for part 2 of our India Business Travel Guide.

Image: ~FreeBirD®~

Today’s featured travel blogger is Brian, a fellow British expat who lives in and blogs about the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. His site, Discovering Puerto Rico, gives you an in-depth look at the island and its attractions, with some great pictures too. Follow Brian on Twitter at @coqui2008.

Brian, what’s your travel background?

I am an expat Brit now living in Puerto Rico and so my site naturally focuses on the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico. Prior to Puerto Rico I lived in the USA (Florida and North Carolina) for a few years and before that the majority of my life in the UK. I visited several European countries and traveled extensively around England. Most exotic destination to date: Kenya for an amazing Safari. Longest trip to date: 3.5 week road-trip exploring the beauty of British Columbia, Canada.

What’s different about your blog or site?

I started Discovering Puerto Rico (it was actually named something different at first) to help with the adjustment of moving to Puerto Rico and I used it as a way to research and get to know the island and people.

One of the things I noticed immediately was the lack of up to date information on things to see and do in Puerto Rico on the web, so I believe my site helps to fill in some of those gaps plus gives visitors to the site a local perspective on things rather than the big corporate feel of some of the more well known tour guide sites. My in-laws are always telling me that I know more about places to see here in Puerto Rico than they do, so I guess my site is doing something right

What’s the most unexpected thing that has ever happened to you when you travelled and how did you handle it?

To celebrate my wedding anniversary I arranged to stay at a hotel on the west coast of Scotland overlooking a loch. I naturally made a reservation for a loch view which I confirmed several times before arriving. On arrival the room was very nice but to my complete surprise we had a view of a huge road bridge (and slight water view). The next morning we left the hotel and found an even better one close by where we celebrated our wedding anniversary in style.

Complete the sentence: I never travel without … because …

I never travel without an open mind, because you can miss so much if you visit a place with a preconceived mind set.

When it comes to travel and travel blogging, who is your mentor/hero and why?

I really like the work of Julie Schwietert Collazo from the Matador Network. I like how she captures a destination and integrates a lot of local perspectives into her writing.

What place is on your travel bucket list? Why?

It’s a place that I have already visited (so hopefully it will still count as a bucket list item). Kenya (or Botswana) for a safari. I had such an amazing time the first time I went to Kenya back in the 90s that it is #1 on my list of places that I have to visit. It’s probably not going to happen any time soon; but it will happen.

What is your favourite travel planning tool?

A cop out, I know, but I’d have to say the internet. I know there are a lot of online and phone apps for planning trips, but I do not have one single tool that I use. I’d rather just use a search engine and plan my trip that way.

Anything to add?

For anyone that has recently moved to a new country/city, I strongly urge them to start a website or at the very least start collecting information about the place. It’s a great focused way of finding out about a new place and will get you out of the house exploring and meeting locals.

Thanks, Brian. Want to be featured in this slot? Leave a comment on this post to be considered. (Image: james.rintamaki)

Whistler is the ideal place for work or play. There is plenty to do in between meetings, so you can keep your employees’ minds fresh and ready for the next big idea, and there are plenty of resorts, condos, and rentals that offer opportunities for accommodations and meeting space. Perhaps a trip to Whistler is just what you need to inspire your colleagues and rejuvenate your creativity.

Organized Teambuilding Activities

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games were held in Whistler, so the area is rife with the competitive spirit. Tourism Whistler can customize teambuilding activities in a local resort or wherever you’re staying, or you can take part in activities that have already been designed expressly for this purpose. The Amazing Chase allows groups with up to 1,000 people to race through the area, finding clues and route markers along the way. CI:The Crime Scene Investigators gives individuals the opportunity to use the skills at which they excel while solving a staged crime.

Impromptu Teambuilding Activities

Of course, the fact that Whistler centers around sports makes it the prime place to create your own team building activities. If your employees are athletic, take them heli-skiing. This activity relies on loyalty and group interaction. A helicopter brings you to the top of a mountain, and you ski down, paving your own way as you go. It requires cooperation and teamwork, and can give you a chance to put your minds together while getting away from it all.

Whether you’re visiting in the summer or winter, take part in a ziplining tour with Ziptrek Ecotours. Fly over the tree canopy on a series of cables suspended from the treetops. Ziptrek offers a Bear Tour, an Eagle Tour, a Twilight Tour, and more. Facing your fears and doing this adventure together can build camaraderie and teamwork skills.

Another summer teambuilding activity is whitewater rafting. Navigating the bumpy white water, paddling in rhythm, and avoiding capsizing is a great way to learn to work together outside of the office. Once you know you have one another’s backs, you’ll feel more confident moving forward in the workplace.

A Rested Worker is a Productive Worker

Although it’s not necessarily traditional to hold a spa day as a corporate event, giving employees time to rest and rejuvenate makes them more efficient. Hard work eventually leads to burnout if employees don’t take the time to recuperate. Partner up and head to the spa for a rejuvenating treatment. Coworkers will enjoy getting to know one another better in a more relaxed setting, and even if you don’t discuss work, you’ll all return to the office ready to be more productive.
Stay off the Beaten Path

Although Whistler is home to many resorts with meeting and conference facilities, you can have a more intimate corporate event if you rent a few houses or cabins. A variety of vacation rental companies offer visitors the ability to rent a lodge or townhouse for a weekend, several days or a few weeks. Rent a large cabin and make group dinners to bond and relax after a long day of working, or hold daily meetings in the living room of your lodge.

Next time you hold a corporate event, why not have it in Whistler? Your colleagues will likely play hard and work even harder, because the beautiful Whistler area is energizing and rejuvenating. It’s not a place for sluggishness; Whistler invites people to get moving. Brainstorm on the ski lift or build camaraderie while whitewater rafting. No matter what you do, you’ll get the wheels turning.

Sean Peterson, a travel consultant and sports enthusiast, also contributes content for WhistlerHotels.org, a descriptive site about one of the most famous mountain resorts in the world. The ski in ski out hotels in Whistler, British Columbia provide both charm and excitement for visitors and residents alike.

The Caribbean is often a place of extremes and that was never more apparent to me than on my last trip to Jamaica. As we were driving out of Port Royal and heading for the hills, we passed through a bustling town with the usual Saturday morning market sounds and smells. It was busy and colorful – like what many tourists expect from a foreign market. At the same time, there were dozens of people dressed up to the nines as they went to church or did other business that called for a little more formality. Shops were crammed along the streets cheek by jowl, while vendors showed off their wares to every passer by. But once we’d left that area behind, the landscape changed.

The next part of our journey took us past one of the island’s top educational institutions on one side and Jamaica’s Beverly Hills on the other. Don’t scoff at the thought of Beverly Hills on a Caribbean island. These mountain top mansions were pretty impressive, sprawling over several acres, covering a few floors and looking as though they’d been recently painted. And let’s not forget the equally impressive satellite dishes to keep the occupants in touch with the world. I thought that they must have had a fabulous view of most of the island, though not all of it. Jamaica is so big that you can’t always see the sea, a rarity in the Caribbean.

In the Mountains

Climbing higher took us to the end of our journey and another quintessentially Jamaican experience. As we pulled into the John Crow Blue Mountains Holywell National Park, I felt a sense of coming home. I’ve always loved the mountains and now I was surrounded by them. Climbing more than 4,000 feet, the mountains are pretty impressive, and the park is a testament to how you can enjoy nature without defacing it. Wooden cottages and gazebos were set into different areas, accessible by short trails, so you could have privacy while enjoying nature. These were only partly accessible by car.

Once we reached our hut, I was able to sit on a mound and look out towards Kingston or back towards more mountains. it was a peaceful location, largely untroubled by the sound of transport, and with a refreshing breeze. The highlight for me was to be able to look across and see the clouds move past at eye level, seemingly close enough to touch. That’s something you just don’t see every day – and it’s why I’m sure I’ll be visiting Jamaica and the Blue Mountains again.

Flying to Jamaica? You can travel from JFK on United, JetBlue, American Airlines and others, including Air Jamaica. There are also direct flights from Miami and other US cities. Don’t forget you can park and fly with Park Ride Fly USA –  check us out on Twitter and Facebook for coupons.

It’s the place you dream about when you envision white sands emerging from clear, turquoise waters. Photographs of the ocean taken from a bird’s eye view expose every shade of blue, green, and teal, and you’re almost certain you’re looking straight through the surface to the bottom of the sea. It’s where lagoons transform from an imaginative fantasy to stunning reality and thatched roofs and coconuts are a way of life. If you’re not there, you wish you were, and when you are there, you won’t want to leave. It’s Mauritius, a perfect little island nation in the Indian Ocean whose beauty borders on profane as it tests the limits of paradise.

Secret Lagoons

The reefs surrounding Mauritius Island create serene, protected lagoons that are perfect for kayaking. In fact, the only way to reach some of these lagoons is by sea. If you’re the kind of person who prefers to travel where there are no footprints, paddle a kayak around the coast. Many hotels offer kayak rentals or you can take a guided tour. Some multi-day kayaking tours allow you to spend the night on secluded beaches and enclosed lagoons.

Hidden Waterfalls

Tamarin Falls cascades over the edge of a canyon in one of the most serene places on the island. You can view this series of seven waterfalls from the road, and most taxi drivers can take you to an overlook, but the best way to view them is by foot. Trek down through the forest that opens up onto volcanic rock closer to the waterfall. You’ll follow the open rock down to the plunge pool, where you can bathe in the crisp water or stand under the plummeting falls.

The lava cliffs that hide behind Rochester Falls are a geological wonder. The pool at the base of the falls reflects the clear, blue sky, and the white water gurgles down the rocks. You can view the waterfall from above or below, but a swim in the plunge pool is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Secluded Islands

There are several islands near Mauritius that can be accessed by boat or kayak. Ile aux Benetiers is a flat, clam-shaped island that contrasts with the mountainous terrain of Mauritius. It’s a quiet island that does not allow water sports, so expect to be completely relaxed. You can get there with an organized excursion, or you can hitch a ride with fishermen from one of the small villages on Mauritius.

Rodrigues Island is almost deserted. The beaches are not crowded, and the diving is superb. There are few hotels on the island, but it’s easy to access as a day trip. One of the main attractions here is the Caverne Patate, an underground marvel with impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

Ile aux Cerfs means deer island, but there are no longer any deer on this island. Instead, there is a ribbon of soft beach and millions of fish to observe while snorkeling. Swimming here is like being in a pool because the water is so clear and warm. There are no hotels on the island, so you’ll have to leave before sunset, but there are plenty of boats to take you back and forth to the main island.

A beach vacation will never be the same after you have experienced Mauritius. Even though it is a popular vacation destination, you can find areas that are nearly untouched, and it’s easy to be alone with nature. You won’t believe how easy it is to be swept away by a warm breeze and a warm ocean. Swim with the dolphins, sail on a catamaran, and enjoy the sunsets.

Photo credits: Golden Brown sunset by Colin Houston/flickr; Grand River South East waterfall by Adamina/flickr; Ile aux Cerfs by Adamina/flickr

Sonya Neal, as a travel writer, loves finding fascinating colonial history. The Silver Beach Hotel Mauritius provides some unexpected history uncovered during her travels.