India

I am too busy to blog. I am just waiting by the door for the mailman to show up with my McDonald's letter. Nothing yet. I got a nice email from my momz this week and realized she could be a good blogger. I thought I would share with you. They are in India. Anyway, here you go (I did alter a few words for better context):

This should be titled Tractor Guy and Grandma conquer India or India conquers Tractor Guy and Grandma. To sum it up: the people are very kind and try to help, but it's a lot different than the good old USA -- and also similar. Obama and McCain are on page 1 of the newspaper.

We arrived in New Delhi at 11 pm last night after a 9 hour flight on British Air. My vegetarian food was delicious. The crew were very pleasant. I had an aisle seat. It was a smooth flight. We had a pleasant seat mate from Jaipur who is in the travel business (at the wholesale level, I think) and invited us to call her for a drink in Jaipur.

We purchased a prepaid taxi in the airport. I didn't see an ATM there so exchanged some cash -- I planned my cash needs with the expectation of ATMs. Paid 340 rupees for a taxi to our hotel. Went outside and saw more people than ever anywhere. We found our taxi #2197. Watched them put 3 of our bags in the trunk and one on the roof rack. Tractor Guy asked if they would tie down the bag on the roof, but they said no.

A few minutes we pulled into the side of a gas station. An area full of cars. Both the driver and his helper left us with an incomprehensible explanation. I felt fairly certain they would return, but I was recalling that the guide book had recommended the pay ahead taxi so we would not be taken away by 2 men who were up to no good. We had the suspicious 2 men. After maybe 15 minutes our men returned with a tire and added it to the luggage. I made Tractor Guy check that they were not removing any of the luggage.

Next we had to come up with more money for a toll road -- 68 rupees (47 to a dollar). Not a lot of money to us, but a lot to Indians who may live on $1 per day. We left the toll rood and drove through totally dark streets. Our driver kept noticing people on the road: a ricksha driver with no customer, guards at various places along the road, a man who appeared ready to lie down on a mat/blanket on the grass, 2 policeman, more building guards, etc. None of them gave the right directions. Tractor Guy is ready to check into any hotel we see, and I am concerned to use the hotel we already paid $265.

After more than an hour while Tractor Guy suggested the car might run out of gas we finially spied a sign for the Lemon Tree Hotel. Then we couldn't figure out how to drive up. We could see a large parking lot either in front of or behind it. Our driver tried to go around to what he thought would be the front, but that was a construction zone and not passable. Then we drove along the edge of the parking lot (out on the Street) and finally found a narrow driveway and a Lemon Tree sign. The lot was very bumpy, but we did get to the hotel and someone was out there immediately to take our bags. I tipped the driver 500 rupees ($10) after Tractor Guy suggeted that he maybe close to running out of gas. I was impressed that the driver never dropped or dumped us at the wrong hotel. I don't think he could afford all that extra driving.

We checked in uneventfully EXCEPT the desk man did not think we had prepaid. I gave him my credit card and said we could figure it out in the morning. IT was 2am here, but only about 8 pm in London. We were pretty wide awake after out frights. Eventually I slept and somehow woke up about 7:30 am (just when the breakfast buffet started.

There were no Indians in the dining room. All westerners. At the same time, there was no recognizable western food except bread to toast and croissants. I had a spicy potato dish that was quite good. I also really ejoyed the plain white rice. It reminded me a trip to China when the SacTownGuy ate entire plates of rice at any meals. We each ordered eggs. The fried eggs looked fairly normal, my scrambled eggs looked strange. I got some protein!

Gigi, I have to report that I have seen no one sleeping on the sidewalk, but it is about 50 years since you were here. I did see a tent at the side of the road with 4 hard hats handing outside. I'm guessing that road workers were sleeping here. The roads do need work.

Some dirt hit me in the face as we drove in the taxi. The taxi was really about a 3-star attraction.

We are resting up today and flying to Calcutta tonight. I'm wonderig if I should be making arrangements for a car to pick us up. I now realize that the middle and upper classes do not use taxis here. They have clean modern vehicles and drivers. Last night at the airport arrivals there were at least 100 men with boards with hotel or passenger names on them. It gave you the feeling that your own name must be there somewhere.

After hearing that we hadn't prepaid the hotel last night, we were pleased to hear this morning that we have the rate which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, some laundry and ironing and transport to and from the airport. I believe we are appreciating the humor of our ituation.

I don't mean to sound like I am complaining. We are quite content and learning a lot. I had read that Indians can not say no. It istoo harsh. So one says that perhaps it is thus and so -- when one has no idea howto answer a question. I suspect that was what was happening last night with the taxi directions.

All Indians so far have been friendly, helpful and kind.

We wish that all of you were here with us discovering India.

Yesterday in the London airport I saw an interesting light skinned African man. He had short braids all over his head and was wearing a suit -- with the pants slung low, but not loose and under the suit a hoodie. That may be the style for 2009.

Lots of Love, Tractor Guy and Grandma