Around the world: Delhi

April 6

Getting to places in India is such a miserable experience that I have to give the crown to India. It was ok in the country side where people will help you out. It got a lot worse in the big cities because nobody will help you out.

I bumped into a Russian woman with an ilIndian guide/lover? I was asking her which train to take to go to Delhi. The first thing the guide said when he saw me was: “You should go with him”. As if I am competing for her attention. Once he found out I am just asking for directions, he tried to find out if I am trying to go to a hotel or need a taxi. I know where this conversation goes. Indians in Delhi will not help you. Unless money is involved. Actually starting from Agra, the whole trip is basically scams after scams. 600 INT government bus my ass. It only cost UNR 195. Granted they drop me off in the middle of nowhere. But the lies in my face… My business principle is that once the person lied, there’s no point in continuing the dealing even if the price is attractive.

That and about 2 people got their phone stolen right in front if me. The police brutally beat up the kids who attempted it. I wonder how many times my rope connecting my phone and wallet to my belt deterred thoughts about targeting me.

Compared to Nepal, I feel like I cannot let my guard down at all. Even though I was already on guard a bit in Nepal, but here, I am constant on guard to the point Where I cannot enjoy anything at all.

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April 7

I met up with Laura last night and compared notes about our experiences in India. We basically came to the same conclusion. That it is very shitty to travel in India.

So it is not something that’s in my head. Every experienced traveller I’ve met so far said the same. We were guessing that the ones who said they loved it have not travelled much at all, or are not aware of all the scams that were done on them. It’s the fact that it is non stop scamming that’s frustrating.

I believe mentally, I have already marked the end of my travels. That’s probably why I feel this heavier than normal exhaustion. There’s a need to be amongst the familiar. To be back home and surrounded by people who knows me. 

I think I learned an important life lesson. The reason why working life was so boring and forced many to go out to seek adventure is because we get into routines and forget how to seek adventure in the same place. We forget hiw to interact wih strangers and our social circle becomes stale. We forget, or never learned, how to find new and interesting experinces in the city we live in. We never learned how to live with strangers that have different habits. Travelling force fed these on you. For those without an expertise in society, travelling became their expertise and they can’t get back. For those with an expertise. I hope it drags you back.

I want to go back, but back is a dream that I have to construct from scratch.

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April 8

It occurred to me that Laura is the only person on this trip so far who actually actively sought to meetup with me. Our meeting wasn’t rainbows and fireworks, but it was interesting. She was also the person who never asked what I did back home. I think we just acknowledged each other as travellers and that was enough for the both of us. The thing is, she’s been shying back from physical contacts as I tried to get intimate. Sigh… so sad as she is so far the only person who passed my secret test.