India, India, India
It’s raining in Nainital, India, today so we’ve sought refuge in this leaky Internet cafe. Barb and I have learned we were wholly unprepared for everything India had ready to throw at us, so it’s been a pretty interesting few days. Above all, we were not prepared for the extreme level of poverty and the overwhelming mass of humanity. There’s very little private space with a billion people fighting for a spot in line (although calling the Indian style of queuing up a ‘line’ is generous), a space on the road, a seat on the train, or simply for something to eat. We’ve been constantly challenged, which isn’t exactly what we had in mind for our honeymoon, but it’s proving to be an enriching experience in ways we didn’t expect.
So far, we’ve encountered two types of people here: those who want to somehow separate us from our money in exchange for overpriced taxi/rickshaw/camel/horse/boat rides that we don’t want or need or by any number of other scams; and those who see us as a set of curios who are here to be stared at and to snap photos of. We’ve joked that we feel like Angeline Jolie and Brad Pitt — or at least the z-list equivalent — as everywhere we go folks want to snap our picture. Obviously not something we’re used to.
Although we’ve had difficulties coming to terms with being treated as dollars on legs, it’s put into perspective what absolute poverty impels otherwise good folks to do. We waiver between being ready to lash out at the next offer for a taxi we don’t need to being ashamed for being so fortunate to have this experience in the first place. It’s utterly sobering to be carrying an $800 camera when all around you folks are fighting just to survive. The difference between “us” and “them” is so great that it’s been hard to find common ground.
Which isn’t to say that things have been all frustrating… we’ve come to celebrate our triumphs over the petty scams that are everywhere here. I’m sure we’re still getting taken in ways we don’t realize, but we enjoy overcoming the ones of which we’re aware. And, of course, the countryside is stunning. Delhi is situated on a vast, boiling plain. We spent a day there and a day traveling from Agra and back to see the Taj Mahal, and that was enough. Then we escaped up to the foothills of the Himalayas, where it’s cooler and relatively peaceful. We plan on hiking and exploring the wilderness around us for the next few days. Stay tuned for more…
