Touts on trains

Midnite Toker · Nov 19th, 2001, 20:58

The train I saw most touts ever on went from Old Delhi to Haridwar. It was pretty early in the morning, and already the matronly women yatris (yatrinis?) near me were in full voice with gutsy devotional songs.

So many people tried to sell us all things - the usual men with pails of tempting-looking spiced chickpeas, "sigrits" (cigarettes), chaikoffee, Spirograph drawing templates, even one or two with a rapid-learning school course for your kids.

Best of all for me, though, was a tall Sikh man who walked through the carriage trying to sell his eye drops. He spoke in Hindi and (I think for my benefit) English. These drops cured tired eyes, helped you see better... nearly everything. He offered free samples to anyone interested. I was amazed that most of the matrons tilted their heads back obligingly for the man to drip a couple of drops into each eye. Nearly all agreed (after blinking and squinting out of the window a couple of times) that these drops really were as good as the seller claimed. The Sikh dispensed many bottles, even in the carriage I was seated in. I didn't elect to try the drops, so can't report on their effectiveness...

What unusual things have other rail travellers seen touted on their journeys?

indiamike · Nov 20th, 2001, 03:24

In Goa was the first time I ever saw a man doing the Ear Cleaning thing. I had heard about it, but never saw it first hand. I was staying in a house behind the flea market in Anjuna with a couple of guys from Germany. I don't think they were too familiar with the prices of "ear cleaning" and paid the old man 500 rupees for a cleaning for each of them. So for two cleanings 1000rps...

They did however say it was the best ear cleaning they ever had.

Mike

Annie_T · Nov 20th, 2001, 04:19

It was years ago now but I was heading, by train, from Madurai to Trivandrum. I had started to get a really bad sinus infection and woke up in the morning feeling very sore and very thick headed. About a hour or two out of Trivandrum we stopped at a station and the usual collection of wallahs joined the train with their combs and pens and torches! Amongst them was a guy selling bottles of eucalyptus oil - oh the sweet joy of a rapidly clearing head.

Just what I wnated, when I wanted!

Only in India!

Nov 19th, 2001, 20:58	#1
Midnite Toker absconding member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 474	Touts on trains The train I saw most touts ever on went from Old Delhi to Haridwar. It was pretty early in the morning, and already the matronly women yatris (yatrinis?) near me were in full voice with gutsy devotional songs. So many people tried to sell us all things - the usual men with pails of tempting-looking spiced chickpeas, "sigrits" (cigarettes), chaikoffee, Spirograph drawing templates, even one or two with a rapid-learning school course for your kids. Best of all for me, though, was a tall Sikh man who walked through the carriage trying to sell his eye drops. He spoke in Hindi and (I think for my benefit) English. These drops cured tired eyes, helped you see better... nearly everything. He offered free samples to anyone interested. I was amazed that most of the matrons tilted their heads back obligingly for the man to drip a couple of drops into each eye. Nearly all agreed (after blinking and squinting out of the window a couple of times) that these drops really were as good as the seller claimed. The Sikh dispensed many bottles, even in the carriage I was seated in. I didn't elect to try the drops, so can't report on their effectiveness... What unusual things have other rail travellers seen touted on their journeys? __________________ travel tips, blog, downloads, panorama photos, online security, tokes: the tokezone

Nov 20th, 2001, 03:24	#2
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,760	Not on Trains but in Goa In Goa was the first time I ever saw a man doing the Ear Cleaning thing. I had heard about it, but never saw it first hand. I was staying in a house behind the flea market in Anjuna with a couple of guys from Germany. I don't think they were too familiar with the prices of "ear cleaning" and paid the old man 500 rupees for a cleaning for each of them. So for two cleanings 1000rps... They did however say it was the best ear cleaning they ever had. Mike

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Nov 20th, 2001, 04:19	#3
Annie_T Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 61	It was years ago now but I was heading, by train, from Madurai to Trivandrum. I had started to get a really bad sinus infection and woke up in the morning feeling very sore and very thick headed. About a hour or two out of Trivandrum we stopped at a station and the usual collection of wallahs joined the train with their combs and pens and torches! Amongst them was a guy selling bottles of eucalyptus oil - oh the sweet joy of a rapidly clearing head. Just what I wnated, when I wanted! Only in India!

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