Ah, incredible india...

I was sick yesterday.  I don't know what I ate that did it, but I can think of a few things!  I think I'm going to go back to being ultra conservative and picky about what I put in my mouth.  You miss out on some good stuff, but then again you don't die...

One thing I noticed was that I was a lot less patient and tolerant of some of the petty annoyances here yesterday when I wasn't feeling well.  My hotel for one -- it's overpriced and I get the impression the main difference between a budget hotel and a midrange one (besides the price) is basically the presense of a tv.  From now on I'm sticking to budget hotels -- the first night I was here it was impossible to sleep because there were a number of indian families staying on my floor and they decided to all hang out together in the hallway outside my door.  Somebody's TV was going at full volume and their door was open -- probably so they could hear it from the hall over everybody elses shouts.  In the morning the noise started up again and I wanted to go scream at them. 

I eventually got up, had some "corn flex/pooridge" which was corn flakes with hot milk.  Then I hopped on my first bicycle rickshaw.  I offered 20 ruppees to get to the south most ghat -- he finally agreed and then dropped me off half way.  I walked the rest of the way along the river (I'm in varanasi by the way...) and ignored most of the people trying to sell me something.  The sales approach is usually the same.  It starts out with "Hello friend" or "Hello Uncle" or "Excuse me sir" and then progresses to "What country you are [sic] from?"  I generally respond with "United States". They apparently all understand America and most get USA, but I think United States might sound a little too much like "You something something" which confuses them.  Thats when they usually repeat the question and after a few more rounds sometimes I'm nice and just say America.  Then of course there's the "how long you are in India?" and "How you are finding Varanasi?"  That one had me confused for a second -- did they want to know how I got here or how I like it?  After about 2 minutes of chit chat they generally want you to come visit their store.

The rickshaw wallahs are much more direct.  Simply "Hello friend, where you going?"  I hate to be rude, but really, I didn't ask for a ride, so what business is it of theirs?  You can't walk 20 steps from your hotel to the internet cafe or just some street shop to pick up water without five guys asking where you're going and saying they'll take you there for 50 rupees.  The last few nights I walked back to my hotel from the town center -- I gues it's about 5 km. 

"Hello friend, where you going?" 

"This way.  For a walk."

"I give you ride.  50 rupees."

"No thanks"

"Ok sir, 40 rupees."

"For what, I'm just taking a walk!"

"Ok, 30 rupees sir". 

At this point I just try my best to ignore the guy for the next 5 minutes as he rides along side me waiting for me to ask for a ride.  Sometimes I have fun and offer to take them for a ride on my back for just 5 rupees, but yesterday I was tired and that game gets old quick. 

Ok, I should really get out of here.  I need to head over to the train station to see if I can get a ticket out of here in two days.  It's insane.  I went to the tourist office next to my hotel to ask if they could help me arrange a ticket out of town. 

"Sir, it's very easy.  We make nice office for you at train station"
"I know, I've been there.  Its a room with 50 people all waiting for one person to help them get their ticket"

"No sir, we have special room for tourists.  Very nice.  Very easy."

"Yeah, that's the room I was talking about -- there are 50 tourists sitting on the ground waiting to get helped.  Is that the only way to get a ticket?"

"Then now there will be 51."

"So that's the only way?"

"Yes sir, only way."

Time to go be number 51...