Let's bounce this country 1/17
We are so ready to go, we've been ready to go. Last night was a shit show of sleep. Music was blaring late- something w drums and a fucking kazoo. Why is a kazoo used? It's a horrible noise. Then a drunk dude started honking outside the hotel and calling and banging on doors nonstop. Andy got up and told him to stop because he's waking up the whole hotel. The dude said "mind your manners". Haha! That didn't work well w Andy of course. Well the dude stopped then another dude came by and started honking. Then the dog came back and started barking and howling. No sleep for Andy, mine was shit.
In the car Sanjay asked us (well Andy really) how our trip was. All was well? I did a great job? Well no you tried to scam us but Andy carried on like all was great trying to make amends. Then he hands us a card from the drivers Union talking about the "tariff" that is "compulsory " and we should give 20% for couples. 20%!? That's the most fucking ridiculous thing I've heard. 1) your a driver not a tour guide 2) you tried to scam us out of $50 3) this is India 4) nowhere do you tip 20% 5) I'm tired of this BS 6) you get what you get- your lucky your getting a tip (see #2).
During a tea break Sanjay asks Andy about the tip again. We have 4 more hours of driving and all he can ask about is the tip. Jesus. The conversation lasted for about 10 minutes (I stayed in the car). The bad thing about women's inequality here is that everyone talks to Andy instead of me. But that's also the good thing. Andy can face the BS.
India is a fantastic country and I think everyone must visit to understand how the rest of the world is. It probably would have been better to do India first (although we couldn't have). Start out w the roughest traveling and end soft. By this point our patience was low which doesn't mix well with 1) being constantly asked for money from every single person that you look at 2) being on your toes from people trying to scam and steal from you 3) getting food poisoning 4) people wanting to "guide" you walking anywhere you go 5) not taking "no" for an answer 6) people kicking dogs. To be honest, all this is based on Rajasthan which is the probably the most touristy area and there weren't many tourists so that likely played a part. Darjeeling wasn't like this and I don't recall Bangalore being like this either.
The positives: 1) it's raw- 1.5B trying to live, you see some shit (no pun intended) 2) it's dangerous which is fun 3) there's so much beauty and things to see and do 4) it's colorful- the people, clothes, food, landscape 5) people speak English and are friendly so good for traveling (even if it's a fake friendly sometimes). There are more positives, I'm just tired right now.
Sanjay drops us off at the airport and we part ways. McDonalds for dinner, a wonderful 3.5 hr flight to Sri Lanka (got to watch movies the whole way), and the airline is putting us up in a hotel for the night for free w transportation. Who knew (wish I wouldn't have booked that room)? I'm liking this airline and country. Too bad we aren't staying. Early flight to paradise tomorrow.