Bose "QuietComfort 2"
Accoustic Noise Canceling Headphones

Visit the Bose website or
see the reviews of the headphones at the end of the article.

Elimanation of the Worst Part of India - The Noise!

My worst complaint about India after the nine months of this trip hasn't been the roads or any complications that have come up, but the incessant noise. Yelling in hotel hallways, blaring TV's with scratchy Bollywood divas and the ceaseless blare of horns have been enough to drive one mad.

While having breakfast in Katmandu, I looked over at another table and saw a man wearing headphones but with no radio or cd player. I immediately knew what these were, something I'd heard about for years but never tried - the Bose noise cancellation headphones. I went over, introduced myself and asked if I could try the headphones and he just gave me a knowing grin. Putting them on the rackous waiters, chefs and most amazingly, the construction crew working on the restaurant just disappeared. Turning the power switch on was like turning a big volume control for the whole world down to just a mummer and sweet silence was all that remained.

In less then an hour I had visited the Bose online site and purchased mine. When they arrived I felt like the entire trip had changed colors as what was noise and racket was now just a slight din in the background. It may sound silly, but yes, I wore these to bed in many of the roadside hotels, in restaurants and other places but the tradeoff of looking a little silly there in my headphones was easily given up in return for silencing the horns and blare that is a constant in India.

If there was anything I wish I'd had early in the trip these headphones were it and they would have saved a lot of aggravation if I had had them earlier. In the carrying case that comes with the headphones, Bose puts a pile of 15 "courtesy cards" which are marked with the Bose contact numbers and the website address of the headphones. On the card it states that because their customers say they are constantly asked about the headphones, they created this card. With the knowing smile the guy in Katmandu gave me, I suspect he really is often asked about them. On For my part though, I haven't needed them yet as I simply haven't been able to hear anyone who was asking.

If you are coming to India or Nepal, check out these headphones, they are a trip-saver if there ever was one! There are quite a few good reviews of the headphones out there. Here are some I checked before buying:

PC Magazine Review - "The hassles and fatigue caused by harsh background noise fade away when you slip on the Bose QuietComfort 2 noise-canceling stereo headphones."

CNet Review - "Bose's standard-setting noise-canceling headphones have just upped the ante."

ZDNet Review - "Five Stars"