Bottled water that are safe for drinking in India

Getting reliable portable water in India can be tricky - there are horror stories about unethical vendors re-bottling empty bottles with tap/drain water.

Here's how you can mitigate the risk of purchasing contaminated water:

• Exercise common sense - buy ONLY from reputable vendors/reasonably clean stores
• Always check that the seal is intact!

These are some of the brands of water which have served me well while I was travelling across India:

Bisleri, Himalayan (by Tata), Kinley (Product of Coca cola), Aquafina (Product of Pepsi co) and Bailley

Stick to these and all should be fine! 

Oh by the way, water happens to be the top beverage of 2013 among adults, so cheers and drink on!

Get a $25 Voucher code for your first booking with airbnb - Use in Singapore

Airbnb has a new deal - free $25 credits for new members!!!

All you have to do to qualify for the voucher code is to click here and register your account.

Note: Only valid for new accounts

I recently had my first trip with Airbnb and I loved it - new people to meet and you pay less for accommodation. I wish you a great holiday! :)

Obtaining a Pre-paid Sim Card in India

Note: if your stay in India is less than 3 days, forget getting a pre-paid sim

Thankfully, I did some research beforehand and had some idea of the process. Unlike in most countries where you can get the sim activated on the day of purchase, it actually takes days (2-3 days to be more precise). You will have to call a certain number once you get signal to verify your name, address and father's name. I would assume these safeguards are in place for reasons relating to terrorism. Otherwise, it would simply be appalling inefficiency.

I chose Airtel (Red logo, you won't miss it - right when you enter the arrival hall at Delhi International Airport), in part for its affiliation to Singtel (no, I am not a shareholder at the time of posting), although Vodafone would probably serve the same purpose. Again, another complex process awaits; a form to fill, affix a passport photo (don't worry if you have used your last for your Visa on Arrival; they have a webcam and color printer to serve as a crude backup).

I was carrying an iPhone 5, so the guy had to cut the sim into nano sized (I'm pretty sure he has a micro cutter if your phone requires).

In all, I paid about S$10 for 200 minutes worth of local calls and 1GB of data (valid for a month). Data allowance and credits could be used anywhere in India (I visited a few states). The salesman tried to peddle a top-up of 1300Rs (S$26); but I knew better. Ask for the cheapest top-up amount with data, you can top-up if you run out of credits.

My advice is, if you are staying for more than 1 week, get the data. Against conventional wisdom, Google Maps actually work wonders in India (especially if your tuk-tuk/auto driver has no idea where your hotel is).

Visa on Arrival at Delhi International Airport

While the Singapore passport exempts holders from visa requirements for many states, I found out that India does not exempt Singaporeans from visa requirements. Instead, upon arrival in India (Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Trivanduram, Bangalore, Hyderabad etc.), a Visa on Arrival needs to be obtained (remember to bring a passport photo).

I would not describe the process as a breeze - it took the officer about 20 minutes per passenger. 3 passengers were ahead of me, and it took a whole 90 minutes to get my visa. Every single field is vetted.

You would imagine that for US$60 a pop, there would be more staff serving/a quicker experience. Sorry to disappoint.

They says first impression counts; I counted 90 minutes of my time away. I would recommend that if you have a connecting flight/train/bus to catch, have a comfortable allowance or try to get the Visa in Singapore (not sure if this is possible).


For more information on Visa on Arrival (VOA) for Singaporeans, visit the Indian High Commission's page (Singapore).