|
Post by shyamwestwind on Jan 24, 2012 9:42:38 GMT
Hi Everyone My wife and I are planning to be in the U.K. from around the 10th of May to the 30th of May, 2012 . We wil be staying with my cousin at Kent most of the time but will, ofcourse go sightseeing to the many beautiful places in your beautiful country. I have been advised to rent a car so I guess I'll be driving around. I have a valid Indian Driving Licence and I hear they will permit me to drive with that. Could you tell me where each of you live ,in the U.K. and the distance from Kent to your place ? We would love to visit you and this information will be useful in the planning. We do want to visit Scotland and hope to meet those living there. Yes. N.Ireland is in our dreams too and I know quite many of you stay there and maybe, we could meet in some common venue . Please do mail me the distance charts from Kent to your place to help me plan. Looking forward to meeting as many of you as we can. This will be a dream coming true !
|
|
|
Post by geraint on Jan 24, 2012 19:26:56 GMT
Hi Shyam, it would certainly be a pleasure to meet you here in the uk, and maybe hear you sing with us too. I live in North Wales, which is about 250 miles from Kent, but is on the way to both Scotland and Ireland. Beautiful countryside and a fantastic history with plenty of old castles and buildings, wales is also known as the land of song. My wife Ali and I would welcome you with open arms were you to visit.
|
|
|
Post by doricvision on Jan 24, 2012 22:50:58 GMT
Aberdeen is approx 500 miles from London and I'm sure myself and Weeo would love to see you make it up here . Bigmike
|
|
|
Post by shyamwestwind on Jan 25, 2012 6:13:25 GMT
Thank you Geraint and BigMike. We sure hope to make it to your part of U.K. and will definitely try and plan accordingly. I want your addresses and phone nos. to be able to contact you when I'm there. Even if we arent able to meet you, I will definitely want to call you !! Thanks for the warmth.
|
|
|
Post by shanless on Jan 25, 2012 16:58:23 GMT
Hi Shyam....let me know if you ARE going to make it over to Ireland...we live on the North coast..5 mile from the Giants Causeway ( which is a must to see if you visit Ireland )... Kev
|
|
|
Post by shyamwestwind on Jan 30, 2012 9:06:58 GMT
Scotland !!!!!!!!! Everyone says we must see Scotland . Sure hope we can make it there, somehow. We had quite a few friends from there who worked at the Cochin Shipyard in Kerala India and they were such lovely people. It took us a while to understand their way of talking but it was fun ! I wonder where they are now ....... we met them in 1980 !! Aberdeen !!!!!!!!! I still sing that lovely song "Aberdeen , Aberdeen, prettiest town that I've ever seen ................." We're so excited about this trip ......... a dream coming true !!
|
|
|
Post by shyamwestwind on Feb 5, 2012 15:02:44 GMT
I need advice and suggestions, guys ! I hear travel by bus and rail is pretty costly and my good nephew who was in he U.K. for quite some years has decided to take the tab for a hired car for the 3 weeks we will be there. The driving regulations are the same here ....... we keep to the left ! I have an automatic and there are plenty there. Your traffic is very disciplined compared to the chaos here so it should be easier driving there, though I know we have to adhere to speed limits on lanes. Are there any lanes where I can drive reasonably slow ? I am polio stricken on my left leg and the automatic suits me fine, with no clutch. I have been driving for thirty odd years and am a safe driver. Do I need a special licence as I'm handicapped ? Any advice and suggestions will be welcome.
|
|
|
Post by Tubbs on Feb 5, 2012 18:16:51 GMT
Once you have a full licence (not provisional) then i don't think you need a special licence to drive a car because of a disability, a friend of mine in the uk drives a modified car where by all the controls are on the steering wheel and he just has his normal licence. I guess there is no harm mentioning it to the rental car firm when picking up the car (just in case of any clauses in the insurance policy with them) but i don't think there will be a problem Shyam. And beware of the speed cameras...keep to the limit, the British Government just love little boy racers because it keeps the Treasury very happy.. It might be no harm bringing a note from your Doctor too just to verify you are medically fit to drive.
|
|
|
Post by simmo123 on Feb 6, 2012 0:50:35 GMT
Hi Shyam,with regard to your driving in the UK, on the few occasions over a 44 year period Patricia & i have visited the UK last one being about 3 years ago we have been able to pick up a little cheapie vehicle costing just a few hundred pounds, because we had an extended stay each visit sometimes as much as 3 months it was certainly cheaper option for us,as we got near the end of our stay we would sell it for whatever we could to recoup a bit of the cost,in your case because you will not be staying for a long period it would be a lot of hassle & not worth it.With regard to a hired car which we also did i found that there are some companys who specialise in hiring cars that are a few years old for a cheaper rate,we have also gone down this road as well,the advantage of doing it this way is that the cars although they are not new & shiny & usually have a few dents & scratches on are mechanicly sound,so when you park anywhere (usually on busy streets or in even busier carparks) you are not sweating that someone will put a dent in it or scratch the paintwork in which case if you had a newer car you would be penalised by the hire companys for possibly several hundred pounds,the amount taken off your credit card, in some cases without your knowledge . (we have friends to whom this has happened).The other thing we found useful was if you can get a letter from your current insurer giving details of your car insurance history,(hopefully not to many big claims etc),this will be very helpful when hiring a car as well.My experience of driving in the UK after driving since 1968 in Australia(i did get my first driving licence in the UK in 1955) was that although a little nervous at first i found that the standard of driving & courtesy was a lot better than i expected,i found that although the traffic was busier than at home in WA most of the drivers were very considerate.We found that parking was always a problem with most streets having double yellow lines which means no parking at all times,however with your disability Shyam you may find that there are special conditions when it comes to parking,worth checking this out.While Patricia & i were on our last trip we managed to get across to Ireland taking our old car via the Fishguard to Rosslare ferry which we found was excellent,we loved Southern Ireland but did not have the time to get up to N Ireland which was a shame,if we ever do another trip this will definitely be a priority.Well i guess i have rambled on a bit but i hope that some of this will help you in your planning,i expect after seeing the traffic conditions in your part of the world driving in the UK will be a breeze..Best Wishes...The Simmo's
|
|
|
Post by weegeo on Feb 6, 2012 2:01:53 GMT
Hiya Shyam, Lots of useful tips there so i won`t add to them but maybe just clarify some of the points. It is most assuredly in your best interests to bring `proof`of your home vehicle insurance just to prove you are a responsible driver. Your own driving permit [if it is international]is sufficient the problem with your own domestic permit is that some car hire companies may not accept them. Parking in `built up`areas can/is a nightmare but as you are registered disabled and if you have a disabled badge you would be able to park in most areas,over here in the UK we operate a blue badge for the disabled if you have a badge in India then your own badge will cover you as for driving over here in the UK as has been said watch out for the speed camera`s they show no mercy lol.
I am sure you will have a great time in Kent it`s a lovely county do try and travel about as much as you can,you can drive to Scotland and Wales but you need the ferry for Ireland and the you can drive up to the north to cover all this in 3 weeks is a big ask it would be great to meet with you so when you get here let the forum know and i`ll jump on a flight and meet with you for a few hours [provided i`m free of course]failing that let me have your mobile number and i`ll phone you.
weegeo
|
|
|
Post by shyamwestwind on Feb 6, 2012 14:11:29 GMT
That is what I needed - good practical advice. Thanks a lot guys. ....I'll store them in my memory bank now itself and recall them when there. I found a few useful videos on Youtube and it gave me a fair idea of the roads there. What I'm curious about is whether the cops will book me if I'm slower than the speed limits on particular lanes . I dont think I will ever cross the speed limits in a country I dont know. Thanks goys..... I;ll get all the documents you suggested and keep myself street legal. I cant afford any fines and I dont think I'll want to wash dishes in a police station rest room !!!!!!! Gosh I wish I had my daughter to drive me around , ut she aint getting any leave then.. I used to ride horses in my school days ........ maybe we'll hire a couple of horses and stick L boards on their rumps !!!!!!! Seriously, do please tell me about any other hings I need to know. Thanks a lot.
|
|
|
Post by JohnG on Feb 6, 2012 14:35:44 GMT
Hi Shyam,
You might get stopped by the fuzz if you go very slowly in any lane on any road, on the basis that you're holding up traffic. On motorways I should try to keep the speed up to 60 mph in the inside lane.
It might be worth trying to hire or borrow a navigator and set up your journeys beforehand in it. The latest ones are really good and may even warn you where there are speed cameras.
Kent is a lovely part of the country, and full of orchards in many parts. Back in the late seventies I had the good fortune to work, for a couple of years, on a contract in West Malling, and drove to the site through the blossom route for two consecutive spring times. What a truly delightful way to start a working day.
I drive through Kent every time I visit the UK by car, landing at Dover from Calais. I've spent many single nights coming or going in hotels or B&Bs on the coast there. Love it.
If you have time spend a day or two in the Lake District too. It might be a bit nippy though still in May time.
All the best, JohnG.
|
|
|
Post by shyamwestwind on Feb 9, 2012 12:40:45 GMT
Gosh I'm so excited about this trip but I cant help the nervousness about the driving. My wife thinks I' m needlessly getting worked up and I guess she's right . She knows I drive good ......... have never had any scrapes and I always follow rules. Why oh why cant my daighter come with me Sigh !! Guys , how costly is it to get an internet connection on a mobile phone in the U.K. ? India must be the cheapest place in the world for calling or for using the net !!. The per minute rate for calls here range from 40 paise to 60 paise . Internet charges are around Rupees 70 per month for normal usage, like checking mails, downloading some music, using Skype etc etc. I think the Pound Sterling is around Rs.70, so calculate and you'll be surprised as cheap mobile usage is here. Who is the most reasonable operator there ? Dont get bugged with me guys, I'm just getting prepared and well ................. if I cant get to see you guys, I'll be able to chat with you !!
|
|
|
Post by JohnG on Feb 9, 2012 15:25:12 GMT
Hi Shyam, Here's one place to explore, O2. www.o2.co.uk/They're a fairly major player. Of course there may be cheaper ones. I got a SIM to put in my phone, from one of their shops, that also gives me up to 100 minutes per month to use to 'phone home' for free. This gets renewed every time I top it up. They register, I think, the first non UK country you ring and allow you access to that. I do a top up every time we go on holiday to the UK and get free calls back home. I usually put a 10 pound top up in each time and it does us the whole holiday. Maybe your daughter can acquire the SIM just before you arrive. It lasts a month from the day of purchase. Their site also gives you broadband fees. I've no idea how competitive they are. Any help? JohnG. P.S. They may have changed the tariff. Looks like 1p per minute International to India for 15 pounds.
|
|
|
Post by geraint on Feb 9, 2012 18:47:30 GMT
I think the providers are much the same in price Shyam. Your daughter is probably best placed to get you a good deal just prior to your arrival.
|
|