MozCamps 2014/Logistics

Traveling to Bangalore

International Travelers

Bengaluru International Airport (IATA: BLR), (ICAO: VOBL) is located in Devanahalli, 40 km (25 mi) from the central business district of Bangalore (MG Road) and 30 km (19 mi) from the Bangalore City Railway Station.

Immigration Process:
- Immigration check is done for all passengers, Indians or foreigners, both at the time of arrival and departure. The passports are duly stamped at arrival as well as departure. Passengers should be careful to see that their passports are duly stamped before leaving the immigration counter.
- All passengers, Foreigners as well as Indians, coming to India or departing from India are required to fill-up D (Disembarkation) Card and E (Embarkation) Cards on arrival and departure respectively. The following information is required to be provided by the passengers in these cards:

       Name and Sex
       Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Nationality
       Passport details viz. number, place and dates of issue/expiry.
       Visa details viz. number, place and dates of issue/expiry (for arriving foreigners only)
       Address in India
       Flight number and date of arrival/departure
       Occupation 
       Purpose of visit to/from India

Passport/VISA Requirements

More info coming soon.

Domestic Travelers

Reach airport 60 minutes ahead of your Departure time
Carry Indian Government issued Photo Identity card
Carry a print out of the air ticket
If you have questions related to your travel like what to carry and what not to carry, please email events at mozillaindia dor org.

From the airport(KIA) to JW Marriot Bangalore City

For all the staff and volunteers, airport pickup will be arranged.
If you wish to travel on your own, below is a list with available transport options.
- Please note if you are traveling on your own, you have to pay for and make own arrangements.

When & Where

June 20 - June 22, 2014 in Bangalore, India
For both the accommodation and the sessions at MozCamp India Beta event, the venue is JW Marriot at Bangalore.

JW Marriott
24/1, Vittal Mallya Rd, 
Ashok Nagar, Bangalore, 
Karnataka 560001, India

Hotel Sponsorship

SPONSORED dates: Friday, June 20th - Sunday, June 22nd

Arrival on Friday, 20th June & Departing on Sunday, June 22nd evening/night
List of people who are sponsored to attend the MozCamp India Beta can be found here.

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BEFORE OR LEAVING AFTER THESE DATES - you will be responsible for your own hotel stay, food and transportation to/from the hotel except otherwise confirmed by the MozCamp Beta Team.

Wifi at the Hotel

Network: --- Password: ---

Food & Drinks

Mozilla will arrange food from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch.
The welcome dinner on Friday will take place in TBD
The Saturday night event will take place in TBD
Saturday night after dinner walk to UB City(Opposite JW Marriot) TBD

Moving around with-in Bangalore

From the airport(KIA) to Bangalore City

Buses Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)[27] operates buses from various points of the city every 15 min to the Bangalore International Airport (BLR). A total of 156 buses ply to and from the airport. 40 of these buses are air-conditioned Volvo buses, called Vayu Vajra. The cost for each trip in these buses ranges between Rs 50-250 depending on the distance. This is the cheapest and an extremely convenient way to get to the airport moreover, this service is available everyday, day and night. While taking this mode be aware that you will need some one to pick you up from the bus stop or you will need a auto rickshaw ride for the last mile.

Post-paid taxi KIA has selected Classic Cabs India(http://bangaloretaxis.com) to provide basic taxi services. The taxi operators will have basic A/C cars, all equipped with tracking devices to ensure safety and transparency. Both operators have professional call centres. Hence, guests traveling to the airport can call the cab call centres and a cab will pick them up and drop them at the airport. Meru Cabs have been reported to be highly un-reliable by users. They have been known to cancel the appointment at the last hour leaving the customer high and dry. The Meru Cab drivers do this if they find a better deal from a street pick up while they are on their way to an airport pick-up. For travelers arriving at the airport, there is a dedicated taxi holding area. The post paid taxi facility will be available on meter charges @ Rs 20/- per km (subject to Govt regulation). These are by far the best and most convenient mode of transport from the airport. It may cost you approximately Rs 600 to get to Bangalore's CBD. About Rs 700 to Koramangala.

Taxi Companies

Tel: (Uber) - Download App and just use. [Internet required]

Tel: (Ola) - +91 8033553355

Taxis are based right outside of the arrivals area. Official black and yellow Bangalore Airport taxi cabs should be used at all times. Reliable companies in operation here include include Ola Taxis and Uber Taxis.

The airport taxi meters in Bangalore start at a basic fare, but additional charges are usually made for luggage, late-night driving and travel on public holidays in Bangalore, so it can prove useful to ask the taxi driver about these before leaving. Taxis will carry a maximum of four passengers. Mostly they prefer cash and provide bills. Credit cards may not work. Cab drivers can speak and understand basic English.

It is recommended that you select a taxi that can be pre-paid for if possible. The cost of traveling from --- Airport to JW Marriot should be less than Rs.400 INR (~$6).

Public Transport

Getting around Bangalore (Public transport information) India has a wide (and cheap) public transportation service. The bus service has --- that connect almost every point of Bangalore City. Link to bus service in Bangalore.

Power plugin converter

Having forgotten my power adapter for my last trip, I thought I'd look up the power information. Lesson learned...It is always better to have power adapters before traveling, but they are easily findable.

India has two kinds of plugs in use, a [LINK TBD European type-C plug] and an [TBD], the later being more common, both running at 220V/50Hz. Be sure your electronics can handle the voltage, you can usually find the voltage on the power adapter. Most mobile devices, laptops, etc. are fine, but DO VERIFY.

You can find power outlet information for all countries at electricaloutlet.org.

If you'll have to charge more than one device, you might find use in something like a mini plug/usb power strip and a universal kit.

Mobile Phones

The Government of India has tightened the regulations on the sale of prepaid SIM cards to foreigners after November 2012 and therefore you need to be prepared to submit the following documents to the vendor along with an application form.

2 color passport photographs of yourself
A photocopy of the personal details page of your passport. You will also have to produce your passport for verification, after which it will be returned to you.
A photocopy of your Indian visa. Once again, you will have to show the original visa for verification.
A photocopy of the proof of your home address in your country of residence. This could be your passport, driver’s license or any other Government issued document. Remember to carry the original document along for verification.
Proof of where you will be staying in India. A letter from your hotel confirming that you are a guest will suffice.

If you have the required documentation, all you have to do is fill out a form and submit it to the vendor. Once the documents are verified, you can purchase the SIM immediately (approximate costs Rs.550 or $10) and will get a 10-digit mobile number. Usually, the SIM is activated within 24 hours, after a confirmation call is made to your mobile phone for verifying the details provided in your application. If you don't take this call the SIM may be deactivated.

Where to buy SIM cards for your phone

On arrival in India, you can buy a SIM card at the international airport from the kiosks of mobile service providers such as Airtel or Reliance, which are located almost immediately after you clear customs. Alternatively, you can also buy the SIM card from the stores of the cell phone vendors in the downtown areas, including shopping malls. The procedure for activation is similar with both options.

[LINK Getting A Pay As You Go SIM in Bangalore]
[LINK Network 1]
[Link shop locations]

Money and Tipping

The official currency is the India is Rupees (INR). Credit and debit cards are accepted by the vast majority of hotels, shops and tourism establishments. In small restaurants, taxis and on public transport, however, only cash is accepted. There are ATM cash machines all over the cities and larger towns.

In Bangalore you can exchange USD/ do money conversion at ---- TBD You should only use those in secure, well-lit locations.

The exchange rate is approximately --- to the U.S dollar.

Vast majority of hotels, shops and establishments include a 'service charge' in the bill, in this case you don't need to tip. In other cases, it is good to leave a ~5% tip in restaurants, bars with table service, hotels, hairdressers, spas, and for tour guides.

Information about India and Bangalore

Gastronomy

In Bangalore you can enjoy food from different regions and several typical specialties. The city has specific areas where you can choose from a wide range of restaurants. More info on Where to Eat

Must Try:

Art and Culture

Concerts at Bangalore Palace Grounds, Check the local listings to see if any concerts are happening. Most international acts happen at Bangalore Palace Grounds and the venue has hosted Metallica,Rolling Stones, Bryan Adams, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler, Aerosmith, Sting, Uriah Heep, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Machinehead, Scorpions among others.
Rangashankara, 36/2, 8th Cross, J.P. Nagar, 2nd Phase. ☎ +98 80 26592777, +98 80 26494656. [65]. Evening shows start at 7:30PM. Many local groups perform here, although more often shows are presented by traveling groups touring India. Quality of the performances varies, but most plays are worth seeing, especially the ones by Indian playwrights and / or directors, as they can show you an "Indian" (or let's say "non-western") perspective. Shows are in various languages, so it is a good idea to double-check whether the play is in English before buying / reserving (“blocking”) tickets. Tickets cost between Rs 45–100.
Jagriti Theater , Varthur Rd,( Whitefield). ☎ +91 80 4124 2879 [66]. Jagriti is a hub for the performance and visual arts in Whitefield, Bangalore. It consistently features renowned national and international theater groups. Almost all performances are in English. Tickets usually cost Rs 300.

Tourist attractions/Sight seeing

Although Bangalore is not known as a tourist city, there is still a lot to see. If you only have a limited amount of time in the city, you should consider taking a tour.

Typically, the city tours do NOT include entry fees into the attractions. Bangalore, as with the rest of India, has a habit of charging foreigners a lot more than locals. For example, Tipu Sultan's Palace, which is on the half-day tour, charges Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 (or US$2) to non-Indians.

For more information check here.

Shopping

Bangalore provides a wide range of options for shoppers. One can buy many things ranging from clothing to electronic goods and vehicles. Being an IT city, Bangalore provides all kind of services but one might find things to be costlier.

Many visitors come to Bangalore searching only for sandalwood carvings and silk saris and so miss out on the true Bangalore shopping experience. Here is more info on Bangalore shopping.

Party

Bangalore is also nick named as Pub City. You will find numerous option to party

Map and Points of Interest

[link Great Travel Guide to India].
[link Interactive Map of Bangalore]
[link Bangalore tourist guide]

Staying Safe in India/ Bangalore

In Bangalore and the larger cities you have to watch out for petty theft and take basic precautions such as not wearing expensive looking jewellery or watches; always keeping bags - well attached and closed shut - where you can see them; and wearing cameras on a strap, preferably out of sight. There are areas of Bangalore to be avoided, as in any big city, but on the whole, you will feel safe.

Bangalore is a relatively safe city during day time. However, most of Bangalore practically shuts down a little before midnight - even very safe residential areas can be very desolate by 11 PM.

Some of the lower-income areas can be somewhat unsafe once it gets dark. Exercising caution and good sense will increase your chances of staying safe.

It is not advisable to walk alone along deserted alleyways or lanes after dark. Avoid doing so in areas that you are not sure are reasonably safe
Avoid using an autorickshaw if the driver is not alone, especially at night
Do not flaunt jewellery, high-end mobile phones / laptops, watches etc.
Do not withdraw large amounts of cash from ATM's in deserted areas
Beware of pickpockets in crowded areas such as exhibitions, cricket matches etc.
Make sure you always have an eye on your belongings.
If you are returning late from a party, it is advisable to pre-book cabs through reputed companies such as Ola/Uber as against flagging down an autorickshaw on the road
Exercise caution in stopping to help if you see a broken down vehicle at night, especially in lonely streets and in cases where you will be outnumbered
Foreigners may be hounded for money at tourist sites/crowded areas
Just ignore the beggars/street sellers and they will go away.
One has to be watchful while going into crowded areas.

   Emergency Numbers [TBD]
   * Toll Free Number for Medical, Police and Fire ☎ 108
   * Police Control Room 100 (The response is very swift.)
   * Child Line Facility ☎ 1098

Language

Being the capital of Karnataka, the official language in Bangalore is Kannada. However, most people are also able to speak Hindi or English. Other Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Tulu, and Konkani are also spoken by the respective migrant communities.

Most retail transactions in the city are conducted in English, as are most signs written in English alongside Kannada.

Basic Kannada knowledge will come very handy, while dealing with work groups like roadside vendors, maids. However most shop owners, auto drivers, bus conductors and utility service providers can converse in basic English , Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, if required.

To greet in Kannada, say "Namaskara"
To ask, "How are you?" in Kannada, say "Hegidira"
To tell, "I am fine." in Kannada say "Channagidini"
To ask, "How much?" in Kannada say "Eshtu"
To say, "Too pricey" in Kannada say "Tumba Jasthi"
To thank in Kannada, say "Dhanyawada"

Leaving Bangalore

Paid Staff

Depending on their date of departure, paid staff can either return to the airport via a taxi or take part in the shuttles scheduled to depart on Sunday evening (June 22nd) and on Monday (June 23rd).

Volunteers

If leaving on Sunday (June 22nd) from JW Marriot, volunteers will have the opportunity to take a designated cab to the airport. Your travel may be paired with other Mozillians leaving at the same time, please coordinate your trip to airport accordingly. Here is the cab pairing list

If leaving on any other day, individuals will be responsible to pay for and arrange their own transportation returning to the airport.