I also found this sitar cover of the beatles I am the walrus, which seems to be sending subliminal "drop acid" messages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mM6CdBeqZY

It would seem that one can do more with a sitar than erhu. But I guess that depends on whether you are interested in playing only melodies or being able to play chords/drones as well. Funnily enough, it looks like the bow-hold for the erhu is just like that of the viola da gamba. (If I were you, I'd learn viola da gamba instead of any other instrument but I am biased.)

Would you get a teacher?

erhu all the way

a teacher? no, I'll learn it myself. way more fun that way, and you make the instrument more your own when you learn it for yourself

sitar is really cool.

but i also think you should learn the clarinet.... it is so beautifully amazing, though i am a bit biased.

how are you going to get your hands on a sitar lol

I hope you've already learnt the harmonica?
As a keen pianist/cellist I'm not exactly used to being able to carry my instrument with me when going away, so I bought a harmonica. Now's the point where I should go on to say how lovely it is to play and how great it is to finally be able to play beside the sea, but I can't - I still haven't got round to learning properly. However, it is a lovely instrument, can be easily carried around and can do an aweful lot once you're truely in control of it!

I say you get a balalaika. Three strings; couldn't be simpler!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU7oqkJeItQ&feature=related

bass guitar? funk it up! i'm learning too. i also play saxophone

"how are you going to get your hands on a sitar lol" Thucydides.

That was my thought exactly...

I'm sure one night of dumpstering will yield a decent sitar.

No one seems to share my opinion that an ehru is way more awesome than a sitar

Fig, acoustic guitar is reasonably portable (although not pocketable) and great for sitting under the moon or by the sea and playing. And it makes you the center of the beach party campfire.

lol denis thats cause its not