FAQ

Contents

General

What is AOB?

Any Other Business, indicates discussions in a meeting that is not mentioned in the agenda, but relevant to be discussed.

Where can I find the recorded talks?

What are the venues named after?

Hills/Mountains of Kerala.

Logo

What is the animal in the DebConf 23 logo?

An asian elephant.

What is the significance of this logo?

Elephant is the state animal of Kerala.

Registration and Accommodation

Is my participation assured when I complete the registration form?

No, as we have limited seats available, participants will be contacted over email

Is there a registration fee?

No, there is no registration fee.

Can I be a paid attendee?

No, there are no paid tickets for the DebConf.

Are food and accommodation included in the professional and corporate registration fees?

No. While in the past the registration fees have included food and accommodation, this has often led to confusion and frustration on the part of our paid attendees. Also, in years when the conference is in a city, our corporate and professional attendees sometimes prefer to book their own hotel rooms rather than stay in the conference accommodations. To simplify the registration process, since DebConf13 the registration fees are kept separate from self-paid food and accommodation.

If I'm self-paid, can I stay in the same place as the sponsored attendees?

Yes, you must contact the hotel yourself to make your reservation and payment. Contact us for discount codes/links.

What does a bursary mean?

Bursary is grant or sponsorship for the accomodation or travel. Please read more on https://debconf23.debconf.org/about/bursaries/

How do I know when my registration is complete?

You will be contacted over email, if your registration is complete.

How much does food cost ?

Sponsored accomodation includes food. For those who only need food at the venue hotel, Cost at restaurant at venue to be added. Food at other local restaurants normally cost around 1-2 USD and up per meal.

I have someone accompanying me, do they need to register as well?

The accompanying persons need to be registered in the following cases:

To participate in the conference activity,
If they will want to sleep at the DebConf accommodation facilities;
If they want to eat at the venue.

Children

Are children allowed with participants?

Please note that everyone is welcome to attend, and we encourage accompanying friends or family that might have any interest in joining our community to register for the conference, too!

A childcare service will be available at DebConf23. Read more at https://debconf23.debconf.org/about/childcare/

Venue

What are the options to get around?

Auto Rickshaws are available for hire, which would help you beyond walkable places. (Rs 30 for 1.5 km and Rs 15 per extra km. But the drivers are very likely to demand much more than that)

Online taxi aggregetors like Ola and Uber are available at the venue.
Kochi Metro (Rail and water)
Buses are available from bus stops, which connect to Kakkanad (nearest town center) and further.

I need directions to the venue.

https://debconf23.debconf.org/about/venue/

Where can I find a map of the venue & surrounding area?

https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/731817480#map=16/10.0069/76.3643

Does the accommodation/food bursary include room service and other consumables in hotel rooms?

No, you have to pay for them yourselves. Food bursary includes three meals a day at common dining space.

How safe are the rooms? Can I leave my stuff there?

Yes, it's a hotel room. You can lock your stuff in room. NFC based keys will issued to you. There will be also a small locker inside the wardrobe of the room.

Is there a laundry service available ?

?FiFo Laundry is near to venue. They do pick up and drop. Charge is 40/- INR per piece. Please call them. Ph:08714572468 (Use country extension if necessary)

There are various laundry services available near to venue. Once such is https://www.thelaundrybasket.in/laundry-services/laundry-services-in-kakkanad

Also our venue being a hotel, there will be laundry services available. But it is super costly. Please visit https://people.debian.org/~abhijith/lp.pdf for pricing. (Note: There will be a 10% discount for the Debconf attendees. You have mention this during billing)

Where can I smoke?

Smoking in public places was prohibited nationwide from 2 October 2008 under the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008 and COTPA. There are some designated places inside the hotel where you can smoke. At Infopark hall, smoking place will not be available.

Also, if you wish to smoke in your room, let the reception know and get a room in the smoking floor. Smoking anywhere other than these designated places will be violation of law.

Is Kochi LGBTQ+ friendly?

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kerala face legal and social difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT persons. There is rising homophobic sentiment in the state recently due to various anti-LGBT campaigns. However, Kerala also has been at the forefront of LGBT issues in India after Tamil Nadu. It became one of the first states in India to establish a welfare policy for the transgender community and in 2016, proposed implementing free gender affirmation surgery through government hospitals.

<Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Kerala>

Where can I park my car / van / RV?

There is a limited number of car parking available onsite(Basement and outside). There is also a limited parking space outside the venue, adjacent to road.

I heard there are stray dogs all around, anything to worry about?

There were many incidents of stray dog attacks in Kerala recently. It's recommended to take extra care while traveling alone, especially at night.

What else to bring?

(partly from the welcome-e-mail)

Since it's a hotel personal toiletries, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, towels, hair dryer and (optionally) slippers are available in room or will be provided on request.
Earplugs if you're sensitive to your roommates's noise.
Sunscreen if you plan to enjoy the outdoors.
Mosquito repellent
Power adapter, India uses power plug sockets of Type C, D and M for power supply at 230V 50Hz (Euro plugs will usually fit)
Light shoes to walk around on the venue.

Misc

What are the payment options in local shops and restaurants?

Credit/Debit Card payments are accepted at most big shops and restaurants though some shops still accept only cash or local app based payments (UPI). It is recommended to get some cash before you leave the airport. Visa and Mastercard cards are widely supported, if your card is on other networks, please check with the cashier regarding support.

Which are the suggested restaurants and pubs in Kochi?

Ans: Kochi doesn't have local brewery beers or drought beer pubs, though there are lot of bars around for bottled beers and other alcoholic drinks. There is one inside the venue called "caper". It is an high end bar so cost more.

There are lot of restaurant and fast food joints around Infopark with local, north Indian, chinese cuisines.

Are there ATMs I can use?

Cards on Visa and Mastercard are supported in all ATMs, if your card is on other networks, please check for their partner bank, which support those. Some atms also have stickers indicating supported networks. We have an ATM operated by Axis bank near the venue inside Infopark campus and another operated by South Indian Bank on the Infopark Expressway (800 meters from Four points hotel away from Infopark) or many ATMs on the other side of Infopark near Hotel Olive/McDonalds. Venue page on debconf website has a map of amenities including ATMs and restaurants nearby.

Where can I get SIM cards

SIM Cards are available at operator kiosks in the terminal, located near the exit. Please keep a copy of passport photo page, which might be required to get SIM card. It would cost around 400-500 INR (5-6 USD).

Airtel representatives have agreed to come to the venue with SIM cards if there are many people who want it. If you have e-visa, you will need a color printout of eTA document with photo (not the email). You'll need to pay cash, 300 INR (~3.6 USD). You can sign up at DebConf/23/LocalSIM.

Power plugs and adapters

India uses power plug sockets of Type C, D and M for power supply at 230V 50Hz. https://people.debian.org/~gwolf/DC23_Kochi/IMG_1318.JPG

Euro plugs will fit in the sockets of the venue hotel.

Forecast Weather

It is rainy season in September in Kochi. Around 25-30 degree celsius.

Presenting a lecture

See https://debconf-video-team.pages.debian.net/docs/advice_for_presenters.html for some information

Security

I'm concerned about security. How should I behave?

Medical

Is there a medical store or drugstore nearby?

There are multiple pharmacies inside the city of Kochi.

Are there required vaccinations to enter the country?

Yellow fever (only visitors from high-risk countries?)

Are there recommended vaccinations?

It would be unwise to have a general guideline (on medical grounds) for everyone because vaccination is dependent on the risk an individual has and the risk they're willing to take: the best assessment can be done by your own primary care provider of family doctor.

For more details see:

COVID

online registration

How much would a doctor visit cost for cold, cough or something simple like that in case the medicines need a medical prescription?

Doctor visiting charges would start around 2-3 USD. Discounted rates are avilable at government health centers.

Medicines for cold and cough etc can be obtained easily without prescription.

Are COVID rapid tests available on site?

Yes, see COVID-19 page on the website for more details.

Visa

Please visit Visa page for more details. https://debconf23.debconf.org/about/visas/

I see so many websites offering Indian e-Visa, which is the official website?

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in is the offical website to apply for Indian e-Visa. No other website is authorised to apply for e-Visa. There are many scam websites, some of them provide link to the official website. Beware of fraudsters and don't lose your money in random websites.

I am from a country which doesn't get Indian e-Visa, what should I do?

Citizens of those countries must apply to their local Indian mission/embassy for visas.

Does India provide Visa on arrival?

Visa on arrival is only available to returning vistors of Japan,Korea and UAE.

Can I apply for a Indian conference visa?

Ans: To be updated.

Food

I am a vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/lactose-free, will I get food of my diet preference at the conference?

Yes, we will have vegan and vegetarian food. We will also ensure that there are options for diet preferences like gluten-free and lactose-free.

Are all Indian food spicy?

No,there are non-spicy foods too. Also you can ask for restaurants to go light on spices for your order. At the venue, we will ensure options for attendees who cannot tolerate spicy food.

What are some food items I should try when I come to India?

Are all Indians vegetarians?

Ans: No, majority of Indians are non-vegetarians.

Is it true that Indians don't eat beef?

While beef is not commonly consumed in most parts of India, it is very common in Kerala, the state hosting the conference.

Tourism

Where can I find more details about Indian tourism?

https://www.incredibleindia.org/

Is there an official website for Kerala tourism?

https://www.keralatourism.org/

Also checkout the Muziris project (near Kochi): https://www.muzirisheritage.org/history.php

What is the climate in India in September?

Climate in India will be mostly sunny with less rainy days, but it varies by regions.

What is the climate at Kochi in September?

Days will be hot and sunny with a few rainy days, average temperatures will be 30°/ 24°C (high/low) with relative humidity at 79%

What kind of clothes should I pack for this trip?

Ans: - Pack light cotton clothing and comfortable footwear. - Carry sunglasses, hat or an umbrella. - Take SPF 30+ sunscreen. - Mosquito repellant creams

CategoryDebConf23

DebConf23Faq

FAQ