1st & 2nd days in Delhi; the shock: what (not) to do

darkside_of_d_sun · Jan 23rd, 2008, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by safari vala

qutb minar is not mughal at all.It predates the mughals by 350-400 years roughly.

Yep, it was built by the Khiljis I guess.

Cheers,
Shamik

alspants · Jan 23rd, 2008, 16:44

thanks for the proof reading safari.

nayan · Jan 23rd, 2008, 17:06

Not the khiljis.... they came much later....
As far as i can remember from my school history classes... it was started by Qutubuddin Aibak and completed during the time of Iltutmish. They were from the slave dynesty.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 23rd, 2008, 17:16

Nayan got it right...

This is Mud · Jan 23rd, 2008, 22:34

I was in India a couple of years ago and got the same culture shock Alspants experienced. It took around a week for me to get used to India as I had never set foot outside Europe/North America before.

However, once I was used to it I had a great time. I think the important thing is to go with the flow.

I also agree that the touts appear to be able to spot people straight off the plane. Once you've been around for a while you either get better at ignoring them or they don't bother you so much. It's probably a combination of both.

I was in Mumbai and a couple of other places in Maharashtra so don't know exactly how it compares to Delhi, but once you're over the initial shock you should have a great time.

anubisgrau · Jan 23rd, 2008, 22:39

mumbai is an easy go lucky place. totally. i just loved it, you can get lost without anyone staring at you or bothering. it would be too strong to say it has almost reminded me of bundi in that trouble-free feeling but here you go.
delhi was completely different experience in 99, i'll see in a month if things changed

Nick-H · Jan 23rd, 2008, 23:49

Great write ups of two wonderful days!

The bafflement and the unfolding.

Alohaguy · Jan 24th, 2008, 01:42

Enjoyed both the write ups!
Do write about subsequent days.

alspants · Feb 14th, 2008, 15:11

Back Again.

I went away. I put the story, and any advice I could think of for one going to Dharamsala in the Hiamachal Section. Here is the link for anybody interested in going;

Dharamsala, MacLoed Ganj - Report.

Thanks

R

kristinm · Feb 14th, 2008, 16:07

If Delhi freaks you out go and hang out in Khan market for a bit - expensive, but very like any little cobblestoned chic corner of any big city - it provided us with half a day 'out' from India that we really needed... there are also some great shops there and excellent kebabs at Khan Cha Cha

rhill1 · Jun 1st, 2008, 06:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey S

You can't. It will be like this every moment of every day, almost anywhere you go in India and no matter how many times you've been before.

The harassment of tourists in India is a national disgrace, and ordinary Indians should be ashamed of the impression it gives of their country.

what do the touts do that you refer to 'harassment?' Follow? Grab? I am there June 27th...just trying to prepare myself.
TIA

kristinm · Jun 1st, 2008, 07:25

No grabbing - just endless talking...... on and on and on in your face! Its more annoying than anything- you're standing there trying to discuss whether you'll get a rickshaw or where you'll eat - whatever, and they just talk at you right across the top of you. I really lost it once in Jaipur with a puppet seller - poor bloke! Sometimes you duck in somewhere to get away, or you tell the rickshaw driver not to wait while you eat
and you come out and there they are!!!! So you walk purposefully off and they trot beside you yammering on at you.

Its kind of like having an extremely annoying child with you all the time - but sometimes there are more than one.

THe best thing is just to completely blank them and shut them out, but its easier said than done and occasionally if you turn and get angry it can work.

rhill1 · Jun 1st, 2008, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

No grabbing - just endless talking...... on and on and on in your face! Its more annoying than anything- you're standing there trying to discuss whether you'll get a rickshaw or where you'll eat - whatever, and they just talk at you right across the top of you. I really lost it once in Jaipur with a puppet seller - poor bloke! Sometimes you duck in somewhere to get away, or you tell the rickshaw driver not to wait while you eat
and you come out and there they are!!!! So you walk purposefully off and they trot beside you yammering on at you.

Its kind of like having an extremely annoying child with you all the time - but sometimes there are more than one.

THe best thing is just to completely blank them and shut them out, but its easier said than done and occasionally if you turn and get angry it can work.

cheers kristinm,
i have these new white framed sunnies...my eyes cannot be see. i will wear them 24/7 so the touts cannot see my expression!!

awesome...24/6 delhi here i come!!!!!!!!!!

kristinm · Jun 1st, 2008, 09:37

Who IS that in your Avatar?

I have to say I have far more sympathy for movie stars and their battle with the paparazzi now

It is a bit like being stalked when the same guys appear in front of you each day or wait while you do something .. we made the mistake at the beginning of trying to fob them off by saying we'd look at their shop later - of course then they just keep at you.

The sad thing is of course that we may well have wanted to purchase something from them or their shop or ride in the rickshaw, but they never give you a moment to breathe or consider anything or look at anything - so they lose out on a sale and just make everyone angry. So many times we saw something we liked just a scarf or something and walked into a shop or picked it up to feel the fabric or look closer only to have everything in the shop literally thrown in front of us, tea brought, forced to sit down.. you can't get out fast enough! It seems they cannot be convinced that this is not the right way to do business and wont or can't understand that westerners like to be left alone to decide what they want.

Having said all that - it certainly didn't ruin our trip or make us hate India - It was a nice change when we were in small places with no touts for sure, you could really talk to people and shop in peace! But the rest of the time we just dealt with it, we had about one spack-out each in 5 weeks, but really the longer you're there the more they fade into the rest of the noise and hubbub around you. If you choose to let it drive you mad it certainly will - but like lots of other stuff in India, its best to just say 'this is India' with an internal head wobble and a deep breath and choose to let it slide off you.

rhill1 · Jun 1st, 2008, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

Who IS that in your Avatar?

I have to say I have far more sympathy for movie stars and their battle with the paparazzi now

It is a bit like being stalked when the same guys appear in front of you each day or wait while you do something .. we made the mistake at the beginning of trying to fob them off by saying we'd look at their shop later - of course then they just keep at you.

The sad thing is of course that we may well have wanted to purchase something from them or their shop or ride in the rickshaw, but they never give you a moment to breathe or consider anything or look at anything - so they lose out on a sale and just make everyone angry. So many times we saw something we liked just a scarf or something and walked into a shop or picked it up to feel the fabric or look closer only to have everything in the shop literally thrown in front of us, tea brought, forced to sit down.. you can't get out fast enough! It seems they cannot be convinced that this is not the right way to do business and wont or can't understand that westerners like to be left alone to decide what they want.

Having said all that - it certainly didn't ruin our trip or make us hate India - It was a nice change when we were in small places with no touts for sure, you could really talk to people and shop in peace! But the rest of the time we just dealt with it, we had about one spack-out each in 5 weeks, but really the longer you're there the more they fade into the rest of the noise and hubbub around you. If you choose to let it drive you mad it certainly will - but like lots of other stuff in India, its best to just say 'this is India' with an internal head wobble and a deep breath and choose to let it slide off you.

Matthew Lloyd!! Captain of the mighty Essendon Bombers!!!!

Jan 23rd, 2008, 17:16	#34
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,717	Nayan got it right... __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

Jan 23rd, 2008, 23:49	#37
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,644	Great write ups of two wonderful days! The bafflement and the unfolding. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Jan 23rd, 2008, 16:44	#32
alspants Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ireland Posts: 35	thanks for the proof reading safari.

Jan 23rd, 2008, 17:06	#33
nayan Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,023	Not the khiljis.... they came much later.... As far as i can remember from my school history classes... it was started by Qutubuddin Aibak and completed during the time of Iltutmish. They were from the slave dynesty.

Jan 23rd, 2008, 22:34	#35
This is Mud Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 1	I was in India a couple of years ago and got the same culture shock Alspants experienced. It took around a week for me to get used to India as I had never set foot outside Europe/North America before. However, once I was used to it I had a great time. I think the important thing is to go with the flow. I also agree that the touts appear to be able to spot people straight off the plane. Once you've been around for a while you either get better at ignoring them or they don't bother you so much. It's probably a combination of both. I was in Mumbai and a couple of other places in Maharashtra so don't know exactly how it compares to Delhi, but once you're over the initial shock you should have a great time.

Jan 23rd, 2008, 22:39	#36
anubisgrau Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ser Posts: 122	mumbai is an easy go lucky place. totally. i just loved it, you can get lost without anyone staring at you or bothering. it would be too strong to say it has almost reminded me of bundi in that trouble-free feeling but here you go. delhi was completely different experience in 99, i'll see in a month if things changed

Jan 24th, 2008, 01:42	#38
Alohaguy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hawaii USA , Now living in Japan Posts: 169	Enjoyed both the write ups! Do write about subsequent days.

Feb 14th, 2008, 15:11	#39
alspants Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ireland Posts: 35	Back Again. I went away. I put the story, and any advice I could think of for one going to Dharamsala in the Hiamachal Section. Here is the link for anybody interested in going; Dharamsala, MacLoed Ganj - Report. Thanks R

Feb 14th, 2008, 16:07	#40
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,515	If Delhi freaks you out go and hang out in Khan market for a bit - expensive, but very like any little cobblestoned chic corner of any big city - it provided us with half a day 'out' from India that we really needed... there are also some great shops there and excellent kebabs at Khan Cha Cha

Jun 1st, 2008, 07:25	#42
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,515	No grabbing - just endless talking...... on and on and on in your face! Its more annoying than anything- you're standing there trying to discuss whether you'll get a rickshaw or where you'll eat - whatever, and they just talk at you right across the top of you. I really lost it once in Jaipur with a puppet seller - poor bloke! Sometimes you duck in somewhere to get away, or you tell the rickshaw driver not to wait while you eat and you come out and there they are!!!! So you walk purposefully off and they trot beside you yammering on at you. Its kind of like having an extremely annoying child with you all the time - but sometimes there are more than one. THe best thing is just to completely blank them and shut them out, but its easier said than done and occasionally if you turn and get angry it can work.

Jun 1st, 2008, 09:37	#44
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,515	Who IS that in your Avatar? I have to say I have far more sympathy for movie stars and their battle with the paparazzi now It is a bit like being stalked when the same guys appear in front of you each day or wait while you do something .. we made the mistake at the beginning of trying to fob them off by saying we'd look at their shop later - of course then they just keep at you. The sad thing is of course that we may well have wanted to purchase something from them or their shop or ride in the rickshaw, but they never give you a moment to breathe or consider anything or look at anything - so they lose out on a sale and just make everyone angry. So many times we saw something we liked just a scarf or something and walked into a shop or picked it up to feel the fabric or look closer only to have everything in the shop literally thrown in front of us, tea brought, forced to sit down.. you can't get out fast enough! It seems they cannot be convinced that this is not the right way to do business and wont or can't understand that westerners like to be left alone to decide what they want. Having said all that - it certainly didn't ruin our trip or make us hate India - It was a nice change when we were in small places with no touts for sure, you could really talk to people and shop in peace! But the rest of the time we just dealt with it, we had about one spack-out each in 5 weeks, but really the longer you're there the more they fade into the rest of the noise and hubbub around you. If you choose to let it drive you mad it certainly will - but like lots of other stuff in India, its best to just say 'this is India' with an internal head wobble and a deep breath and choose to let it slide off you.

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