passing yourself off as Indian

halema · Nov 26th, 2003, 18:11

Hi

I know it sounds cheap but l'm looking at possible ways to further my tight budget and l have noticed how Indians/Foreigners are charged different entry fees. A friend told me how a Spanish guy sucessfully passed himself off as Indian so l'm hoping it won't be a problem for me, do they check your passport or anything at the entrance of say the Taj Mahal or other tourist attractions??

Cheers

Halema

angelika · Nov 26th, 2003, 21:11

mmmmh

they never asked for my passport.

But I'm wondering how you successfully manage to tell them you are Indian, if you look like a typical European or American...

goldfish · Nov 27th, 2003, 04:43

They asked my Australian-born-of-Indian-heritage fiance for his passport when he tried it. If he had been wearing Indian-made clothes and no sunglasses it *might* have worked, but we both doubt it.

halema · Nov 27th, 2003, 05:20

Hi

Thanks for the advice, l reckon its worth a try. By the way, l was born in Britain but both my parents are Indian Punjabi.

Cheers

Halema

Fiski · Nov 27th, 2003, 08:11

1. Spit betel nut juice next to the ticket vendor's boots or
2. Strike a healthy dose of nasal mucous and fillip it on the road before asking him "kitne paise bhaiyaa?"

On a serious note you shouldn't have any problem if you can speak decent Hindustani.

radz · Nov 27th, 2003, 09:23

Taj they will check,with all security check

) It depends luck of the day.(poor INDIA

) ....)

jaz · Nov 27th, 2003, 09:57

I was thinking of doing the same although l'm not sure l can get away with it. Although my parents are Indian Punjabi l can't speak a word of Hindi/Punjabi and everyone tells me l look more Greek/Italian/Spanish than Indian but like you say its probably worth a shot!

bijapuri · Nov 27th, 2003, 13:25

It helps if you dress like middle class desi indians. Traditional Indian dress ( pajama, kurta) without rough hands, stooped back, country accent, or that "bury me standing, I been on my knees all my life" look of lower caste Indians is a dead giveaway for a tourist. Local copies of officewear seem to be ubiquitous. And I don't know what it is about it (perhaps the fit) how they do it, but it's pretty easy to spot the desi officewear from the foreign made. Then there are the "safari suits" which mercifully are going out of style, but scream desi for all the world to see. These aren't what we see on hosts of animal shows on the telly, but again something very desi. I can't explian them either, but you'll know em when ya see em! If you have toe cajones to be seen on one, you might get a desi discount out of sympathy alone!
the finishing touch would be to hold hands with another man as you approach the counter

bijapuri · Nov 27th, 2003, 13:29

Addendum- If you are female, a sari should work wonders. Or, you can "send the boy" for tix and then saunter onto the train looking as desi as you can.

halema · Nov 27th, 2003, 17:19

Bijapuri

Excuse me for my ignorance but what do you mean by 'desi'?

I can speak fluent hindi/urdu/bengali/punjabi and most people seem to think l'm European aswell and l won't be wearing a sari but a salwar kameez. I'll let u know how l get on!

Alan D · Nov 27th, 2003, 18:07

halema

I've never heard of people being asked for their passports at national monuments. After all most Indians wouldn't be carrying passports!

You should be OK as long as you don't speak hindi/urdu/bengali/punjabi with a Manchester accent. That would be a dead giveaway!

Pravin · Nov 28th, 2003, 00:26

Halema
Don t worry you should be ok.I am of indian origin and lived all my life in the UK.My English is so much better then my Hindi,but i can get by ok.
As Bijapuri said as long as you dress in indian clothes you should have no problems.If you speak hindi punjabi it will a breeze.
My wife and I went to the Taj in Feb,she dressed in a punjabi suit ,i wore trousers and a shirt and had my flip-flops on-no problems.When i went to pay the guy did ask where i was from,with my best hindi i told him i was from Gujarat,he gave me the tickets and we went through.

jaz · Nov 28th, 2003, 04:40

Do you even have to speak??! I was hoping l would just hand over the cash and thats it?? I don't think l've got much chance but if they ask where l'm from l'll just say Punjab, maybe l should invest in a turban??!

halema · Nov 28th, 2003, 04:51

Looks like l will definitely have to perfect my Indian accent! Like all mancs my accent is v strong! Good to know others have tried it, thought it was just me being a tight cow!

radz · Nov 28th, 2003, 16:33

I just dont understand, why people make so much noice about entrance fees ?
People going other countries Museum ,
monument they visit &pay the entrance fees whatever that amount is,
without any complaint.
Being from India Madam Tussad or Eiffel entrance fees is high for us,
but still we dont complaind, to see unique places one has to pay.

Taj entrance fees goes for maintaince only.I do offen hear from forign tourist,complaing entrance fees

(.
Not fair guyz !

(

Its my view ,not to hurt anyone feelings.

Nov 26th, 2003, 18:11	#1
halema Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manchester,UK Posts: 22	passing yourself off as Indian Hi I know it sounds cheap but l'm looking at possible ways to further my tight budget and l have noticed how Indians/Foreigners are charged different entry fees. A friend told me how a Spanish guy sucessfully passed himself off as Indian so l'm hoping it won't be a problem for me, do they check your passport or anything at the entrance of say the Taj Mahal or other tourist attractions?? Cheers Halema

Nov 27th, 2003, 09:23	#6
radz Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: India Posts: 748	Taj they will check,with all security check ) It depends luck of the day.(poor INDIA ) ....) __________________ My Photo gallery

Nov 27th, 2003, 13:25	#8
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	It helps if you dress like middle class desi indians. Traditional Indian dress ( pajama, kurta) without rough hands, stooped back, country accent, or that "bury me standing, I been on my knees all my life" look of lower caste Indians is a dead giveaway for a tourist. Local copies of officewear seem to be ubiquitous. And I don't know what it is about it (perhaps the fit) how they do it, but it's pretty easy to spot the desi officewear from the foreign made. Then there are the "safari suits" which mercifully are going out of style, but scream desi for all the world to see. These aren't what we see on hosts of animal shows on the telly, but again something very desi. I can't explian them either, but you'll know em when ya see em! If you have toe cajones to be seen on one, you might get a desi discount out of sympathy alone! the finishing touch would be to hold hands with another man as you approach the counter __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Nov 27th, 2003, 18:07	#11
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	halema I've never heard of people being asked for their passports at national monuments. After all most Indians wouldn't be carrying passports! You should be OK as long as you don't speak hindi/urdu/bengali/punjabi with a Manchester accent. That would be a dead giveaway! __________________ What a long strange trip it's been!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Nov 26th, 2003, 21:11	#2
angelika Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Munich - Germany Posts: 109	mmmmh they never asked for my passport. But I'm wondering how you successfully manage to tell them you are Indian, if you look like a typical European or American...

Nov 27th, 2003, 04:43	#3
goldfish Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 20	They asked my Australian-born-of-Indian-heritage fiance for his passport when he tried it. If he had been wearing Indian-made clothes and no sunglasses it might have worked, but we both doubt it.

Nov 27th, 2003, 05:20	#4
halema Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manchester,UK Posts: 22	Hi Thanks for the advice, l reckon its worth a try. By the way, l was born in Britain but both my parents are Indian Punjabi. Cheers Halema

Nov 27th, 2003, 08:11	#5
Fiski Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: B'lore Posts: 46	1. Spit betel nut juice next to the ticket vendor's boots or 2. Strike a healthy dose of nasal mucous and fillip it on the road before asking him "kitne paise bhaiyaa?" On a serious note you shouldn't have any problem if you can speak decent Hindustani.

Nov 27th, 2003, 09:57	#7
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	I was thinking of doing the same although l'm not sure l can get away with it. Although my parents are Indian Punjabi l can't speak a word of Hindi/Punjabi and everyone tells me l look more Greek/Italian/Spanish than Indian but like you say its probably worth a shot!

Nov 27th, 2003, 13:29	#9
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	Addendum- If you are female, a sari should work wonders. Or, you can "send the boy" for tix and then saunter onto the train looking as desi as you can.

Nov 27th, 2003, 17:19	#10
halema Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manchester,UK Posts: 22	Bijapuri Excuse me for my ignorance but what do you mean by 'desi'? I can speak fluent hindi/urdu/bengali/punjabi and most people seem to think l'm European aswell and l won't be wearing a sari but a salwar kameez. I'll let u know how l get on!

Nov 28th, 2003, 00:26	#12
Pravin Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: U.K Posts: 27	Halema Don t worry you should be ok.I am of indian origin and lived all my life in the UK.My English is so much better then my Hindi,but i can get by ok. As Bijapuri said as long as you dress in indian clothes you should have no problems.If you speak hindi punjabi it will a breeze. My wife and I went to the Taj in Feb,she dressed in a punjabi suit ,i wore trousers and a shirt and had my flip-flops on-no problems.When i went to pay the guy did ask where i was from,with my best hindi i told him i was from Gujarat,he gave me the tickets and we went through.

Nov 28th, 2003, 04:40	#13
jaz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 192	Do you even have to speak??! I was hoping l would just hand over the cash and thats it?? I don't think l've got much chance but if they ask where l'm from l'll just say Punjab, maybe l should invest in a turban??!

Nov 28th, 2003, 04:51	#14
halema Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Manchester,UK Posts: 22	Looks like l will definitely have to perfect my Indian accent! Like all mancs my accent is v strong! Good to know others have tried it, thought it was just me being a tight cow!

User Name		Remember Me?
Password

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Passing through Delhi - Need advice	Rick	Delhi	4	Jan 10th, 2005 11:11
Passing the Time on Trains and Buses	Vespar	Indian Railways	1	Aug 28th, 2004 09:43
Indian Grocery stores & Indian Restaurants in United States	ddutta	India Expat Area	0	Aug 24th, 2004 14:27

Nov 28th, 2003, 16:33	#15
radz Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: India Posts: 748	I just dont understand, why people make so much noice about entrance fees ? People going other countries Museum , monument they visit &pay the entrance fees whatever that amount is, without any complaint. Being from India Madam Tussad or Eiffel entrance fees is high for us, but still we dont complaind, to see unique places one has to pay. Taj entrance fees goes for maintaince only.I do offen hear from forign tourist,complaing entrance fees (. Not fair guyz ! ( Its my view ,not to hurt anyone feelings.