Trekking in the delhi ridge

ronsaik · Jan 21st, 2008, 13:27

Is there some rational way to go about it? Without running into a gang of serial killers or vacationing RJD workers?

Does anyone have some firsthand info?

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 21st, 2008, 13:43

Its a protected area..constantly under survilience of Army and Police due to Anti Social elements..

jyotirmoy · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:21

Our killers are on the roads and not in the ridge !!!

mmmmdave · Jan 21st, 2008, 23:39

Not to dissuade you from your adventure, but here's what happened to me in the forest just outside of GKII: my wife and I were walking along around 2:00 in the afternoon (this was in August). It was very desloate and we hadn't seen a soul in about a half hour when a cop rode up on his motorcycle. After a lot of yelling in Hindi (from him, not us), we realized he was saying we were in the forest during a time it was supposed to be closed.

We argued for about twenty minutes in the hot sun, eventually overcoming the language barrier to realize he was threating to take us into the station for a 30,000 rupee fine (or we could pay him 5,000 rupees right then and there). Finally I called my landlord for a translation; after a discussion, the landlord told us he was just trying to extort a bribe and we shouldn't pay him a thing. Instantly the officer's demeanor changed from threatening to pleading as he asked us for a "gift for policeman." I gave him 400 rupees ("Please," he pleaded to Jenny, his English suddenly improved, "double that!"); and then the charade was dropped, and he gave us huge grins and big handshakes and directions to return to our neighborhood. I regret not taking a picture with him; I'm sure he would have eagerly posed.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 22nd, 2008, 23:44

hmmmmm Dave..that's not like you..shouldn't have paiudhim..

Dilliwala · Jan 23rd, 2008, 00:54

"hmmmmm Dave..that's not like you..shouldn't have paiudhim.."
Yes, I agree.

400 bucks??!! That was dumb. Do u know how difficult u just made it for the next person (read foreigner) going there?
As strongly as I disapprove of bribing public officials, if u were bent on paying him, the MAX u shud have paid is 40 bucks. Even better is if u had accompanied him to the PS. U wud have discovered that the fine (if at all there actually was one) is probably max. 100 bucks. Believe me, I know a little about this subject.
Was there a board where u entered giving opening/closing times? Did uu ask if there was one ANYWHERE? I have the feeling he saw u with an imaginary large sign around your neck saying "SCR.W ME", and that's what he did!

mmmmdave · Jan 23rd, 2008, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilliwala

400 bucks??!! That was dumb. Do u know how difficult u just made it for the next person (read foreigner) going there?

I had been in India all of two weeks when this happened, and this was my first experience with a crooked public official. Obviously if this happened to me now, I'd react differently. I think I can be forgiven for not knowing what to do.

Quote:

I have the feeling he saw u with an imaginary large sign around your neck saying "SCR.W ME", and that's what he did!

well, yeah, obviously. And he was right!

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 23rd, 2008, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmmdave

I think I can be forgiven for not knowing what to do.

Okay..now you can pay for my beer in the next meetup and I will forgive you !!

Dilliwala · Jan 23rd, 2008, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmmdave

I had been in India all of two weeks when this happened, and this was my first experience with a crooked public official. Obviously if this happened to me now, I'd react differently. I think I can be forgiven for not knowing what to do.

well, yeah, obviously. And he was right!

I didn't mean to seem harsh, more a gut-reaction of the "oh no, not another cop easily conning a tourist" kind. If u go there again and see the cop, give him two kicks (one from u, one from me).

Jan 21st, 2008, 13:27	#1
ronsaik Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 155	Trekking in the delhi ridge Is there some rational way to go about it? Without running into a gang of serial killers or vacationing RJD workers? Does anyone have some firsthand info?

Jan 21st, 2008, 13:43	#2
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,177	Its a protected area..constantly under survilience of Army and Police due to Anti Social elements.. __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Jan 21st, 2008, 14:21	#3
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 4,387	Our killers are on the roads and not in the ridge !!!

Jan 21st, 2008, 23:39	#4
mmmmdave Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: brooklyn/delhi Posts: 41	Not to dissuade you from your adventure, but here's what happened to me in the forest just outside of GKII: my wife and I were walking along around 2:00 in the afternoon (this was in August). It was very desloate and we hadn't seen a soul in about a half hour when a cop rode up on his motorcycle. After a lot of yelling in Hindi (from him, not us), we realized he was saying we were in the forest during a time it was supposed to be closed. We argued for about twenty minutes in the hot sun, eventually overcoming the language barrier to realize he was threating to take us into the station for a 30,000 rupee fine (or we could pay him 5,000 rupees right then and there). Finally I called my landlord for a translation; after a discussion, the landlord told us he was just trying to extort a bribe and we shouldn't pay him a thing. Instantly the officer's demeanor changed from threatening to pleading as he asked us for a "gift for policeman." I gave him 400 rupees ("Please," he pleaded to Jenny, his English suddenly improved, "double that!"); and then the charade was dropped, and he gave us huge grins and big handshakes and directions to return to our neighborhood. I regret not taking a picture with him; I'm sure he would have eagerly posed.

Jan 22nd, 2008, 23:44	#5
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,177	hmmmmm Dave..that's not like you..shouldn't have paiudhim..

Jan 23rd, 2008, 00:54	#6
Dilliwala Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dilli Posts: 3,258	"hmmmmm Dave..that's not like you..shouldn't have paiudhim.." Yes, I agree. 400 bucks??!! That was dumb. Do u know how difficult u just made it for the next person (read foreigner) going there? As strongly as I disapprove of bribing public officials, if u were bent on paying him, the MAX u shud have paid is 40 bucks. Even better is if u had accompanied him to the PS. U wud have discovered that the fine (if at all there actually was one) is probably max. 100 bucks. Believe me, I know a little about this subject. Was there a board where u entered giving opening/closing times? Did uu ask if there was one ANYWHERE? I have the feeling he saw u with an imaginary large sign around your neck saying "SCR.W ME", and that's what he did!

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