My first of many camels to see. This man was really proud of his camel. He made me laugh as he tried various facial expressions.
If you reject the food
Ignore the customs
Avoid the people
You might better stay home…..James Michener
I tried to keep the above quotation in mind yesterday. I arrived in Ahmedabad from Mumbai by night train. I was in second class air con. It was so cold that I had to wear a sweater. Overall the trip was fine with little hassles. It wasn’t as bad as I pictured an Indian night train to be.
While trying to exit the station one of the rickshaw drivers approached me with his usual questions. Where are you going? Blah blah blah
I told him I wasn’t interested and to go away..all politely of course. Then I ignored him and sat down outside on the curb. Another driver sat down beside me while I was reading my lonely planet guide. I was reading about one hotel that I had circled in my book. The second driver noticed this and said, it’s a good place and many foreigners stay there. I said okay let’s go. Then things got nasty.
The two drivers got in a huge argument with plenty of yelling and finger pointing. I didn’t want to get into the auto with either of them. So I hopped into another rickshaw and the two of them hopped in with the driver and argued all the way to the hotel. If I didn’t have my huge backpack with me I would have jumped out and walked. What a way to start my day.
Against my better judgement I stayed at this hotel. I didn’t have my wits about me because I was still half asleep and disoriented. My “deluxe” room smelled; there were unidentifiable bugs everywhere and the toilet was horrible. I was roughing it and it was my own fault for not moving.
I didn’t spend much time there. After cleaning up, I walked around and went to the city museum, a fort and a temple. This place was clearly not used to foreigners as I had my share of stares and leers. A couple amusing incidents happened too. It was a pleasant day and I only got lost two times. I planned my departure for the next morning to Udaipur.
A funny momment this was. I was walking around these narrow streets aimlessly when these old women beckoned me over. Then while trying to talk to these women, these boys came running out of an alley cheering and laughing. They came me some chai tea. I accepted it because they looked harmless enough.
The next day the arguments continued but this time I was the aggressor.
I went to check out at 830 am because my bus would leave at 930. The morning before I checked into the hotel at 715 am. Apparently there’s a sign that said “24 hour check out”. To me that means you can check out anytime. However, it means you must check out exactly twenty four hours after check in. I didn’t know this.
So when I went to check out at 830, the owner told me I had to pay 400 rupees for checking out an hour and 15 minutes late. (The room cost 550) I was livid. I was livid not because I had to pay extra (because of my misunderstanding) but because I had to pay almost the total cost of the room. How stupid does he think I am? He wouldn’t explain the calculation to me. He just kept repeating you can stay another night.
Now I usually don’t get upset but this time I was very angry and I said a few things I shouldn’t have said. I told him his place was a dump and I wouldn’t stay here again if it were the last place in India. (Maybe I went overboard) I was so fed up with people wanting money from me.
(At the museum yesterday, the guard wanted me to give him 20 rupees for opening the door. It was his job to open the damn door. I noticed he didn’t ask the Indian patrons for rupees.)
I told him I didn’t have 400 rupees and I gave him 100 rupees. Either way it’s not a lot of money but I was too angry to comply with his demands. I just stomped out and went to the bus station. (I was really paranoid that he would call the police!)