Just Say No.

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If I have been disappointed by anything in my trip so far it has been the number of people who want to talk to me only because they see an oppurtunity to get money from me. Rarely has it been the case that people are generally interested in me. I think this has created a prejudice in my mind where I'm only willing to talk to Indians who are clearly busy doing something or other travellers. Although I have only been to Kolkata the amount of people begging on the street there was huge. Just leaving my hotel every morning was a gauntlet of avoiding people saying "hello" because I knew if I got caught up in a conversation with them, then it would inevitably lead to me giving them money for something I didn't want.

The other peril, of Kolkata at least, is people offering to give me tours or accompany me to places to show me the way. This usually starts by people following me down the street which is disconcerting to say the least.

On my 2nd day I made the mistake of making conversation with a teenager called Michael; an English name he'd given himself, we chatted for about 5 minutes and then I went to have breakfast and he said he'd wait for me. I wasn't happy about this and took my time in eating my breakfast in the hope he'd go away by the time I'd left. But no, outside he was paitiently waiting on the pavement I then said I wanted to buy train tickets and he took me to a small agents where the internet connection wasn't working. I then went to a larger agent, still with Michael in tow, where the transaction took all of five minutes and I quickly went back to my hotel ignoring Michael, who was now making offers to take me round the city.

I hoped I wouldn't see him again but 2 days later he caught up with me again and offered to walk me to the Victoria Memorial when I told him I was going there. I replied that I thought I knew the way as Julia had pointed it out to me when we were together the day before. I said I would take the Metro as it would be cooler. But Michael insisted that the metro wouldn't take me anywhere near the VM and that it would be really hot. Not certain that I was right I agreed to walk with him to the VM.

He then proceeded to take me all the way across the Maidan park which according to my guidebook is the largest open air city park in the world. Across the park. In Kolkata. In April, the hottest time of the year.

I was not happy during this walk.

Oh and while we were walking across the massive boiling park he proceeded to try and wheedle money out of me, saying he needed Rs2,000 to buy a work permit because otherwise he couldn't workand that we were friends. Once we reached the VM I gave him Rs20, for taking me to the VM, which he took and then walked off without another word, our "friendship" was pretty short lived.

Incidentally I took the Metro back to my hotel from the VM, it was very quick and direct. And a lot cooler.

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Comments

[Arnab]

dude...let me suggest u for free
well...i am localite...stays at kolkata... by metro Victorial memorial is the safest,cheapest and coolest way to reach...and be there before evening else the place will get closed...u dont need anyone out there...avoid the pimps and touts! hang around central places like...park street,camac street and evening you can head to Howrah bridge and catch a ferry to cross the river....if u ask me what are your interests I will help you out free..and of course no money!!