Found again

Well, all the friends I have made in the Evergreen hotel have just buggered off to Pushkar, though Duncan and Noa will be returning in a few days. Obviously I would have loved to have joined them, but I am committed to my music course.

Today, we were in a new room, over the road from Teena's house. It is so nice being away from baby piss, pushy mothers, random strangers coming and going who insist on grilling me for a few minutes.

But, to be honest, I am getting rather bored of being here. I've been in the same city for nearly a week and a half, and the same hotel for a week. Itchy feet!

I had a conversation with Teena about India today. I was trying to figure out a few things. Like the caste system. So I got her to explain it to me in very basic and simple terms. I told her I thought it was total arse and that everyone should grow up a bit. She seemed to kind of agree, though did admit that technically as a Brahmin (highest caste) she had to wash her hands if she touched me. She asked if I had had many girlfriends. I went coy and said that, no, I had not had many girlfriends. Just around the hundred and fifty mark. She looked shocked. I told her that I was joking, it was more like three hundred.

It is so easy to wind up Indian people.

The best trick that street traders, rickshaw drivers or anyone remotely involved in the tourist trade can do to stop someone is to ask "Can I just ask you one question sir?" Ok. "Why are tourists so rude to Indians?"

This is a good one as it not only gives you a chance to reel off your prepared tirade about how fucking annoying it is getting stopped, stared at, shouted at and laughed at all the time, it also makes you have to sympathise with the sneaky beggar.

Eg: "Oh, I don't mean you. I mean all the other nasty people who try to rip us off. Aww, it's ok. Don't cry."

But no matter how long your seemingly interesting conversation with this particular specimen of 'localness' lasts, it ALWAYS leads somewhere. Usually to a sob story and a request for help, money, trade; or an offer of a cheap lift.

It's hard work this. I've managed to meet so few genuine people. Tourists are just big dollar signs for Indians. Which is clearly a complicated issue, because if it weren't for us, such underhand, lurching tactics would not be necessary. Tourists create the tourist trade!

I asked Teena also about why Indian people seem so happy to live in filth all the time. Like, do the mice and ant colonies in her house not disturb her somewhat? And what's with the waste disposal? Or total lack of. They just throw away all their garbage outside of their door.
This one, it seems, is a little tricky. I guess everyone is just used to it.

Anyway, got to run. I'm hungry!