‘Photo please’ extortionists

Sama

then if there was a sign in English stating that, I missed it, and if there was a sign in Tamil, I couldn't read it.

but I also took pics in the station when I left for Madurai, and also outside the Madurai train station, and also in the Rameswaram station.

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machadinha

It's not always that strictly enforced but it was my first thought too. There doesn't have to be a sign to that effect, it's just a general rule. India is traditionally touchy about its infrastructure being photographed, owing to its military conflicts over the past decades no doubt.

Sometimes we take things personally when there's a third factor that we overlook because we just can't recognize it.

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amyl

Well I donot totally discourage such steps taken by able women but I have not been able to come over the fear of the dreadful possible experience that might come on their way. I need to overcome that I guess. The UNNECESSARY RISK am talking about could well be an UNNECESSARY WORRY from my side . Yes Macha..we do get inspired by such such (lonely) enthusiastic travlers...male/female.

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amyl

thats more likely to be a reason for their objection. Besides that, may be they are scared/apprehensive that the fotos taken would reveal their mismanagement at their stations. Whatif the fotos taken of the dirt around, filthy waiting rooms, outdated information boards, and such discrepancies get into the papers next day saying
"Station officials unconcerned about the Station management and passenger facilities"

Sama

then somebody should tell the train station cop that in Rameswaram -- one was sleeping on a bench and did not even wake up when the cart vendor was yelling and harassing me to buy something from him....

Sama

WHEW! thank goodness no one hassles us OLD ladies!
I guess women over 40 are invisible anyway....

Nick-H

Oh no you're not

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amyl

I heard ppl in Yoga are always 'young'

well, I was kinda 'harrassed' by a tourist .... at Palolem Beach... this hefty guy was quite keen on taking me in for a ferry ride around that small island...simply coz the ferry wud be cheaper for HIM since I wud be sharing the charges. I was tired and a little disappointed already at the sight of Palolem...was expecting a quite beach to spend my last night in Goa...but was the otherwise. Alas! So was simply standing wondering where to look for a room or hook my tent when this bugger approached me. I politely said.."sorry sir..am not interested". Do not how he took it..may be my sore throat then sounded a little rude and terse to him. He was like "Dude, I am not robbing you or snatching anything from you.just asking to share a ferry". I really did not want to go. I denied again. He got pissed off and said something close to 'begger' to me for not spending 100 bucks... that indeed peeved me and I was like "you fu**r who is a begger here??!!!...I think its YOU.....you as**le" in high tone and raising my hand showed him a middle finger while he walked away towards the ferry. then he said something..I hailed at him and showed both middle fingers. He came back "Look dude.....I am a military man. If I give you one "..intimidating...I was looking at him like "So..". A small group of onlookers were already there around us to witness this.....He did not do anything...May be he felt pity on my lean body and left me alone . Being lean and lonely cud be advantageous sometimes, to arouse forgiveness for oneself .

Normally I would not abuse anyone...I prefer ahimsa even in words, but his words really triggered my disappointment/frustration at the beach leading to this small incident. Whatever....over time I have learned that you do not have to stick to your principles at times. What Ahimsa and what politeness when your own safety is at stake. Let it go "out of the window" and JUST DO IT! I would not have given a second thot if someone comes and grabs my camera or anything....just give him/her a nice lesson.

capt_mahajan

I really should change my avatar

amyl

aye....its changing upper to lower case...what auto-editing your editor does , Nick!?


[after posting]....oops....it auto-edits only if its only that single line....of smileys...its showing when i added the above line. Strange.

amyl

:d :d :d

sirensongs

Hmm, a rule without a sign is no rule at all. I can accept that it is a rule, but not the behaviour of the official who jumped all over me about it. All he had to say was "No photos allowed."

He also had the nerve to compare the railway station with the White House. (!) "If I come to your country could I photograph THE WHITE HOUSE?!?!??!!"

Yep, I'm pretty sure you could.

"REALLY???"

Yep, especially if you visit as a foreign tourist....people take pictures of it all day long, in fact. ;-)

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robotvoice

too true. sometimes by the young ones too.

lotus blossom

amyl, amyl, amly...

i am sure that you don't intend to mean that women are "subordinate", nor that you, men, are "superior". sure, we may be treated as such, but that doesn't make us so.

re venturing out alone, are you telling us women are not safe traveling alone? i can understand this, to an extent. for example, here in delhi, i don't go out on my own after dark. i'd like to take in some things that happen at night, so it sux that i cannot because of some unsavory individuals. but then the last two times i was out, in broad daylight, two moronic men yelled out to me "i wanna f*ck you"! , whilst i was a passenger in a cycle rickshaw.

i personally would not go to bihar because of the stories i've heard about it. none of my indian (male) friends dare venture there, so visiting there would be "pushing the limits", but the incident i speak of happened in delhi, quite near and in a touristy monument.

this is my fourth trip to india, and while one could attribute my lack of incidents such as the one i had the other day to luck or karma or what have you, i attribute it to being cautious and knowing how far i can push. in fact, i don't push but rather stay attuned to know how far i can go. and while i may travel on my own, i am not fearless. but not to travel would be the most cowardice act of all.

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Nick-H

(
Amyl, I've had that trouble with that particular smiley too. Something about when it is one of the first characters in the first line. Very odd, but so far as bugs in the site go, I don't think it is worth waking up Nadreg!

)

I'm not getting involved in what our tender little female flowers should and should not do --- else I shall be firing off pro-feminist broadsides all round . Suffice it to say that I think you've got away very lightly with your comments (so far ). Suggest you keep your head down!