Dear ALL

This applies to coach holidays arranged by one of our community groups. This etiquette was followed some years ago during a trip to Russia. Since that time I had made some modifications.

To make it a super holiday or day-trip some parameters need to be observed:

  • One of understanding the others needs before self,
  • Other’s idiosyncrasies before self - and
  • Utmost tolerance.

Even a small issue should not merit an argument or fight. Even if the other’s point of view flies against common sense or rationality; please treat this issue as some important point being made that may escapes one’s immediate analysis.

Dos and Don’ts:

  1. There are no reserved seats. Any one can sit anywhere with whoever occupies the adjacent seat. No reservation policy is followed. No nonsense comments like ‘I always sit next to my wife’. Follow Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago speech ‘Brothers and Sisters’ and treat the person sitting next to you accordingly.
  2. Once a seat is taken on the first journey - it does not constitute the same seating arrangement for the rest of the trip. Each entry to the coach constitutes a new arrangement and free for all ‘without fights’.
  3. Because one sits by the side of the other, does not constitute the need for conversation. People may try to meditate or go to sleep – so please respect their views. Motto is to observe, learn and follow, if acceptable.
  4. Some times a short and simple question may be asked expecting a short and simple answer. Please refrain from long answers without colon, semi-colon, commas or full stops. Dialogue rather than monologue is the key.
  5. Try to control the sound levels of conversation – some times one may prefer low decibels of response but the same person may prefer at other times higher decibels – so allow for these vagaries of behaviour.
  6. Do not use sensitive comments like ‘are you short of hearing?’ ‘Didn’t you sleep well last night?’ ‘You should see a GP or have your hearing tested’, ‘you snore a lot and so loud’ etc. These would not be treated as concern but downright rude.
  7. As people are passing through tender ages, due allowance to be given for reduced memory retention and lack of focussed attention.
  8. Please understand that some may like to ask questions but may not wait for the answers or concentrate on something else when responses on good faith are given. Please do not misunderstand and put it to age-factor; also, understand that you may go through that phase lot sooner.
  9. Avoid contentious topics or activities – Religion, Muslims, Iraq war, Iran, India, Brexit, Trump and avoid, Bush, Blair, Home office, Immigration, unfair taxes etc. These can be done in the comfort of UK but never on the coach trip. Enjoy the scenery. The guide will explain what is important. You do not have to take responsibility and explain to show off that you had visited these places.

  10. If a tour is arranged, say, by ‘I for India’, by Messer’s Satish, Sridhar, Revathi, Kartik, et al, especially close family friends for a lot of us, be sensitive to any shortfalls in management of the trip. Comments, preferably, in the following format – ‘may be or next time it should focus more on …’; rather than any strong worded comments. Follow the Bambi rule ‘if you haven’t got anything nice to say, then say nothing at all’.
  11. The organisers are just volunteers and not Bankers. So pay the money for the trip well in advance so that they can pay for some services, like coach or trains, in advance. Do not wait till the day of travel. This would only mean them carrying a lot of cash and liability for theft is transferred to the organisers rather than the individual.

Let all of us have swell of a time on such organised trips.

‘Love all and serve all’

Mani Mama