Indian hospitality

trak77

Well, yesterday was one for the books. I'm in Chennai, making travel arrangements. I was walking around the Egmore area, looking for the Air India office and I walked past a beggar. Since this was approximately the 75th beggar I had already avoided that day (it being only 10 AM), I just ignored him as usual. But when I walked past him, the SON OF A BITCH SPAT IN MY FACE! I was so startled that I didn't react for a few seconds, then I spat at him. I looked for a cop but there was no one around. HE SPAT IN MY
FACE.

I didn't think anything could be worse than my previous "sublime" experience in India. I was in Delhi, walking around Connaught Place, minding my own business, when a local points at my shoe and says look. I look and there on the top of my shoe is a huge lump of s__t. Having just read about this scam in the Lonely Planet guide, I knew the local had just thrown the s__t and now wanted me to pay him to clean it off. Instead, I picked up a rock and screamed at him until he did his job.

I've toured 45 countries on 5 continents and I've never had problems like this; only in India.

I'll tell you, between the "polite" beggars, the shoe "cleaners", the ubiquitous garbage (I've seen 2, count 'em 2, public garbage cans during my months in India), the ubiquitous cow s__t and cow piss (not to mention the flies and the people walking around barefoot in it's vicinity), the universal habit of men (and sometimes women) to urinate in public, the food that is so poisonous that you can't go for more than a week without hitting the Cipro, the electricity going down 4 times a day and the people who alternate between being rude and seeming the survivors of a nuclear holocaust, as far as I'm concerned they should burn this country to the ground and start from scratch.

passingby

ok that's a little bit too extreme.. I can sympathize with your anger, but I still don't wish that they should burn down India. then there will be no place for all of us on this website to go to.

anyhow, I know India is hard to travel. my husband has a similar story with the s**t on the shoes in Connaught Place. every time we past by that same spot he made me hurry up.

I believe they can train Indian men to have manners. still to this day I believe that Indian men behave very much like savages. don't even get me started why I believe that. like you said: they spit everywhere, whip their junk out in public and piss everywhere, they s**t everywhere, they eat with their dirty hands, cook with their dirty hands, clear their throats very loudly every morning so we can all hear, they try to cheat you with money, they never have manners towards western women, they fart everywhere.... when I think of all this I wonder why I did 2 trips in India???? and still thinking to go back one day.

I guess this is what you call the Indian mirage. the country is a pretty disgusting place, but yet it makes you wanna go back. I don't know why.

I keep giving myself a reason for wanting to go back. as I have said in a previous thread, I think the sight and smell of shit makes you want to go back. it's pretty addicting.

but hang in there, India is the only country on Earth that makes you think so hard and appreciate life to the extremes. it's the only country that really opens your eyes and makes you learn. look at the bright side and when you pass by a man who shits or farts or spits, just turn your head in the other direction. at least this is what we do
...

SHIMLA

Who will take the lead in doing so ?? Easier said than done, my friend !

A more suitable option for you is to avoid India altogether. Imagine a beggar(!!) spitting in your face !!

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Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

cyberhippie

India is not for everyone and YOU have to change to accomodate India not the other way around.
Perhaps it's time to go home?

I've never really understood, why, when people have a reaction like this to India, they prolong the agony.
If things were that bad for me, I'd be on the first plane home and put it down to experience!!

Sorry India was so bad for you!!

Indojingai

Spitting back was the right thing to do. Rude reply to a rude question sort of a way.

Indian men are known for their crude mannerism but this was way too extreme.

But dont let just this form opinions on all of Indian hospitality. Those in India fortunate enough to afford education will never do such things to anyone and those who do, will not be reading forums such as this.

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I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.

cyberhippie

Agreed the spitting story is rediculous, I'd be pretty pissed if someone did it to me!!

PRIYA

Well trak77........that post was pretty heavy going and also pretty harsh. You have one of two options. You either accept India for who she is or get the hell out. No-one is forcing you to stay. To be able to survive India you have to have a sense of humour - and you've obviously lost yours with your experiences.

You've come to a site where the majority of us adore India........just ponder on that and ask yourself why!!! There really is no big mystery......we love it for what it is, and wouldn't change it, ever!!!!

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Happiness is for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. (Anon.)

anindya911

I agree that the experiance was as worse as it can go, I am not justifying it.

However, it is not fair to NOT visit the big US of A because you can get mugged in some back alley and likewise.

There must be some good things in India too, at the end of trip one can weigh the good against the bads. So, either it can be good, bad or somewhere between.

__________________
Let Your mind roam ...
and the body will follow!

john.sw

You'll find a lot of people around the world who feel the same about America.

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passingby

now that's extreme too. yeah, the only ones who feel that way about America are some Muslims and the Arabs. I agree with that.
an Indian will not think that way about America, since they know that ever since Bush came into power India has become richer. all the jobs go to India, and Indians are really happy with that. they don't want any harm to happen to America. but the arabs hate America.

anyhow, I would not be happy with somebody spitting in my face at all. once in Mumbai somebody spit the red paan juice on my T-shirt. I was not happy with that since I had to throw the T-shirt I really liked in the garbage.

anyhow, I don't think one deserves a medal and recognition for staying in India long and putting up with the filth and all other disgusting things.
if you talk to a lot of educated and rich Indians, they don't like their country for the filth and the dirt, they try to become more like America. all the rich Indians are crazy with sending their kinds to USA. so I guess they know what is wrong with India. the rich people want to live like the westerners, only the crazy westerners want to live like the poor Indians.

rangers

One thing for sure about India.It cannt be generalised on any point,any place or any particular incidence.
Its too diverse for that.

john.sw

You can add the following to the list:

Argentina
Colombia
Brazil
Mexico
Canada
Cuba
China
Taiwan
Japan
Korea
Australia
France
Spain
United Kingdom

and many more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Americanism

I have personally witnessed Anti-Americanism in the UK, France and China. I have seen the American flag burnt on TV in many countries.

I like America, especially Texas, and I like many American people - we have friends from LA staying with us next week...

It is an unfortunate fact that America and Americans are disliked by a lot of people around the world.

anindya911

passingby

I don't mean to offend, but that was a biased view.
Bush surely wouldn't have made India richer if America doesn't become more richer in the process.

Indojingai

This is a seriously fooked up message. Do you know every dirty Indian and Arabian in the world and their opinions on the USA?

Indojingai

John: the poster you're trying to reply isnt known to take to reason.

Even when they know, none of the street shitters read this forum.. they want to make the point. Again and again and ... ...