05.19.07

In Which I Get Taken For A Ride

Posted in India at 18:30

After checking out, I still had a lot of time to kill before my flight. Six hours in fact. I was reluctant to spend that much time at the airport after such a “friendly” reception at the international airport, and even more reluctant to wander the city with a suitcase and two small bags in tow. So I asked about a cab to the domestic airport. When the man heard that my flight was not for another several hours, he offered a tour in an air conditioned car that would drop me off at the airport at the right time. He gave me a map, circled some sites to see and gave me a price. It worked out to about $25. I didn’t really care too much about seeing Delhi, but it would be cool and safe and would perhaps be more interesting than sitting in an airport.

I prepaid the driver of the tourist car after he had loaded my bags. Or overpaid by 50 Rupees (a bit more than a dollar) since I did not have exact change. A scrawny shirtless boy pressed against the glass of my window, his hands cupped. I shook my head, but he stayed. I ignored him. The driver drove away while the boy was still pressing against the glass.

We saw the India Gate and the Parliament House and a few other sites. On the way to the Parliament House, the driver unbuckled his seatbelt, rolled down his window, stuck out his head, and spat on the pavement. Then at a stop light, he rolled down the passenger window, leaned across the car out that window and spat. For good luck?

The driver had asked a few times whether I was interested in shopping. I didn’t have the energy and had said no. He took me to a store regardless, assuring me, “looking only.” Beh. I supposed I could humour him. He probably gets money from the store owner for bringing people here. Which may or may not be legal. Also saves him gas not constantly driving and running the A/C. I walked in and saw a lot of women’s clothing. A shopkeeper asked if I needed help. I asked for men’s clothing. He led me to the back and began unfolding shirts and holding them up for me to see. Probably making a mess so I would feel obligated to buy something, I thought. Not going to work on me today. I refused everything I was shown and eventually walked away. My driver sat outside chatting with some people and seemed surprised that I was done already. He instructed me to get in the car, which he started (presumably for A/C) while he found a restroom.

Next we stopped at a site for which one buys a ticket. The price was 5 American dollars or 250 Rupees. I could have sworn I had five dollars. I’m pretty sure I counted correctly (though I did count quickly). The man counted the money and showed me I had only given him four dollars. Sleight of hand on his part or bad counting on mine? $4 was not enough and 200 rupees was not enough. I could not buy a ticket. I explained the situation to my driver. He was symathetic, but after I consulted the map, he explained that the remaining sites would all charge admission (this and one other site). He asked what I wanted to do. I decided to go to the airport even though there was a lot of time yet to wait. He told me that I could not go in until two hours before my flight, but I didn’t really have any other choice.
When I got there, a skycap got a cart for me and the driver unloaded my bags onto it. We walked to the airport entance. I showed the security official the internet itenterary printout I had. I hoped he would accept it, but I supposed if he didn’t I could go to the outdoor Kingfisher window nearby. He let me in. The skycap pushed my cart and told me that I could not go into the next section until 2pm. So I sat in the terminal.

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