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Published: November 4th 2009
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Hi Everyone,
Delhi seems to me to epitomize all that is wonderful and horrible about India. I ended my trip here, but most tourists start here because Delhi is a major international destination. I heard more than one horror story from fellow tourists that I met in Agra and Varanasi about the tourist scams that go on. One couple told me that instead of taking them to their hotel their taxi driver dropped them off at a 'tourist information office' which was a front for a travel agent selling private tours of Agra, Jaipur and Delhi. They tried to tell leave, but the agent insisted that all the hotels in Delhi were booked and that they could only get a place to stay if they bought his tour package. They were there for two hours before they could leave. Another girl told me about a tourist office that sold her train tickets that turned out to be fake. I wonder if things like this happen to tourists in America. I imagine that no matter where you go there is always someone waiting to take advantage of your ignorance. It is really sad because travelers become paranoid that everyone they meet is
Red Fort
Built by Shah Jahan and modeled on the fort at Agra, this palace became a site of political importance even into the 20th century. out to trick them. It can make you miss out on meeting people that are authentically friendly.
While I was here I rode on the metro which was like taking my life in my hands. I haven't seen a metro that jam packed with people ever. Even in Tokyo during rush hour. I visited the Red Fort and the National Museum and I did lots of shopping. Everyone on my Christmas list are getting presents from India.
I try my best to be positive and unbiased whenever I write this blog, but I have very mixed feelings about India. On one hand I have learned and experienced a lot, which is the entire point of traveling. The larger the culture shock the more you learn about your own culture. Everyone makes assumptions about the world based on the culture that they were born to, but I love to see the world as it really is and confront my biases. India really makes me do that. I love the Indian saree, and the food is delicious. I got to ride an elephant and see the Taj Mahal. Most things are alot cheaper than at home or in Europe. Many people here
are happy to speak to you in English. I don't feel any resentment from people that I don't understand their language. And everyone is eager to help if you need it. On the other hand everyday in India makes me feel like I going into battle. It is impossible to walk down the street without at least 20 people hounding you. Today a man blocked my way on the road and wouldn't let me by until I shook his hand and then he wouldn't let it go until I yanked it away and for a second I wasn't sure it that would work. It is impossible to do anything in peace because westerners stand out too much. I have seen rickshaw drivers shove Indian customers out of the way just to chase me down the street because they assume I will pay more. Although part of the hassle I get could be because I am a woman alone. It is hard to separate the tourist hassle from the woman hassle, but I doubt that man would have held onto my hand if I had been a guy.
There are blatant double standards for everything. Today I visited the National museum.
The entrance fee for Indians was 20 rupees and for foreigners 300 rupees. Granted I can afford 300 rupees, but they weren't asking for more money from the people that could afford it, after all there are many Indians that have and make more money than the department manager from wal-mart. I do consider it my duty as a tourist to help the local economy as much as I can, but the discrimination is very annoying after awhile. I have never heard of something like that in America or any of the other places I visited. I am still not sure why.
Of all the places I have been to on this trip India is the only one that I am glad to leave behind. I am glad that I came, but I am glad to leave.
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