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Published: January 27th 2006
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The hand that feeds
Pilgrim gives money to beggars Based on a discussion that we had had yesterday about a book called "The Diceman", George tossed a coin this morning to determine where we would have breakfast. Fujya Green won out, and demonstrated that its slow service was not just confined to dinner.
We had one final wander around the main temple complex. Through the stone fence bordering it on the west side, many beggars were sticking begging bowls or even just their cupped hands in order to receive alms from the pilgrims. Looking at these people through the fence was like seeing them behind bars.
It was then time for us to catch an auto to Gaya, as both our trains were leaving at around lunchtime. I could be wrong, but it seemed as though our driver booted out his existing passenger when he found out where we wanted to go. Unfortunately he turned out to be a maniac, as well as choosing what was a shorter but considerably more pothole-intensive route. My train came in first, so George and I went our separate ways, and I hope some day to take him up on his offer to visit him in Cape Town (my current homeless status
prevents me from reciprocating for now).
The trip to Patna was only a couple of hours, and as soon as I left the station I could tell that this was a place not used to making its money from tourists - not a squeak from any of the waiting rickshaw drivers. Making use of my inability to distinguish north from south, even with the aid of my compass, I took a very indirect route to my intended hotel, receiving many stares from interested locals but only being approached by a young girl called Dolly, who asked the question that no doubt everyone else was thinking - why on earth would a tourist come to Patna? (FYI the answer to that is that I can get a train to Siliguri from here, and Siliguri is the gateway to Darjeeling.)
The hotel seems like a business hotel, but it was recommended in the Lonely Planet as offering mid-range comforts for budget prices - which is attested to by the single room rate being only Rs 350, but coming with hot water, towel, TV, and 24 hour room service. Not to mention a large lizard/gecko that pops out from behind the
water geyser at inopportune moments, e.g. when I'm mid-stream.
Unfortunately my first encounter with room service was unsuccessful. 1 hour after I'd ordered, I phoned again to ask where the food was. A chap was despatched to my room, whereupon he asked for my order again. Now, the main reason I'd ordered room service was so I could eat it while doing some admin, but now that the admin was done, I wanted to eat out. Since they didn't appear to have even started on the cooking, I said I wasn't going to order again. This caused a commotion, and the room service manager was called for. He tried to insist that I order again, saying that it would only take 2 minutes. I tried explaining the above reasoning to him, but I don't think it got across (plus I would have been a little suspicious of how well-cooked a 2 minute dish could be). I almost had to fight my way out of my room, so intent was he on getting me to reorder. I think they had the impression I was enormously cheesed off about the forgotten order, whereas in fact I was only mildly irritated.
To my surprise and delight, I found a cheap and fast Internet cafe nearby. Unfortunately it doesn't look as though I'll be able to get a train out of here until the day after tomorrow so it may turn out that, like with Bikaner, I become the longest-staying tourist ever in Patna.
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sukezcool
sukesh
patnaite
well, m frm patna n hv bn helpin foreigners on their trip here. it started wd me helpin my australian friends, bt nw i hv bn helpin others so dat they can hv fond memories of my city n hence d image of patna is not spoiled..