Avoiding getting ripped off in India--shoping the smart way!!!

When I got here to India I came so frightened about being flooded by people asking my to buy stuff. I was ready to put my ear plugs and let the Indians just talk their hearts out. This with no doubt happens no matter who you are. You can be Indian, American, Nepalese etc. You will still get your dose of Rickshaw Sr. Rickshaw. You will hear this a lot, very often. Also, India is know for its elaborate scams and for Indians taking advantage of you. Many people end up paying double, triple, or even four times the actual price of the item. This did not happen to me all that often because I somewhat look like may things. Indian,Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, Filipino, Nepalese, even Japanese, but never Mexican. How weird is that? Anyway, getting ripped off is something you have to deal in India and that is that. As they say hate the game and not the player. Indians are just try to make a living out of our stupidity. I got so annoyed to see so many people get ripped off in India that I have come up with a good system that will get you close to a more acceptable price.So here are the rules for this game and how to avoid becoming a statistic.1. It is sad, but always take it as fact that Indians have the upper hand.2. If you see something you like, make sure you actually like it and make some research on what it is that you are buying. For example, silk is a very good example. When you are trying to get silk you must know how to tell silk from other similar textiles. Lear its characteristics before hand. If in doubt, I think silk smells like burnt hair if you burn it. Not many other textiles do, except wool, but wool is not as fine as silk. 3. Indians will always invite you to come into their shop even if there isn't one. They will tell you to come and just see. "You don't have to buy anything." they will say. Come as friends and leave as friends they will say. It is up to you to stay or go, but it is from here where the pressure starts. They give you a lot of good looking stuff and I mean it is pleasing for the eye and they will make sure you want to buy stuff you probably don't even need. Then they will throw some prices at you that will be really high. I mean really high so here is what I usually do. If I like what I see, I say an amount about a third of the asking price.a) If the guy laughs at you, it meas that your price is ridiculous, but does not mean that you could not push and see if he actually sells you the thing.b) If he nods and gives you the item, then you have reached an agreement.c) If the guys doesn't laugh but actually seems a little agitated, that means that the price is ridiculous and you are going to have to bargain some more. For this you have to stay for a while and have lots of patience and not get scared about having a slightly loud conversation. The guy my just scream a bit and ask you to go higher, then you go just a few Rupees at a time until you get the price that you want.In general, if the guy you are dealing with goes on his way laughing or happy. That usually means that Yes, you have been officially been ripped off. If the guy goes a little angry that means you got a good deal. For the Rickshaws, they will give you a very ridiculous price and you will read in advance or ask about what is the going rate for the trip you may want to take.If the Rickshaw, is to expensive and you want to go. You have to invoke your child spirit and throw a fit. Yes, that is right! It not always works, but throwing a fit in India may get you a better price. Not all the time, but sometimes. I love this game and have learned to deal with it. I hope when you came or if you came to India can relate to this...I find it pretty awesome.

India wants to see you dead!!!

Hello Dear friends,

As I Travel in India there are many aspects that I like and others that I absolutely and with no doubt hate. No matter how much I try to avoid the dirt, the half dead dogs, the stomachache with the heavy cramps, the beggars, the sickness, they are always there. This experiences really makes you appreciate health. If you are in India, you will definitely get sick at one point--It is just a matter of when. A couple of weeks ago, I caught the wost cough I have ever had. I was laying on bed and could not breathe because my lungs were completely stuffed with who knows what. My eyes teared the whole night. This is something that I have never experienced. I must say that I got a bit worried. In fact, as we were eating dinner with a few friends in a restaurant in Calcutta, everyone was saying mentioning how they had stomachache, cold, diarrhea, or something. I was so annoyed with my cold that I told them " India wants to see you dead." They laughed at me and I felt so silly because I was exaggerating a little. This line become the joke of the week and I couldn't help but to accept how silly I was.

Once you get over the" India wants to see you dead" feeling you can go on and enjoy what India is really about. I love taking the trains and talking to people. I have learned a great deal from other travelers and their patience. Sometimes when I am dealing with someone who is really difficult and when I am about to snap, I see other traveler dealing with the same person and his/her face is very serene. That has helped me to somewhat control my impulsiveness. You need a little patience when you are traveling in the trains because Indians want to ask you about everything.

Like I said, trains have become my favorite activity. In India, you can take the first or second class train or the third class. I have traveled once in first class, but I prefer second class. One because it is cheaper and two because it is a bit more interesting. My trip in the first class train was really eye opening because here is where you see the prosper Indian. The ticket price is doubled and the people in the first class seem more refined.

In the second class, it is different because you can deal your sit if you don't like it. There a wider variety of smells and sounds. In the second class train you usually get woken up at around four or five in the morning by the sound of annoying voice saying Chai, Chai, Chai and then another saying Canebole, Canebole(food man). This absolutely did not happen in the first class train. This is the only thing that makes me angry in the train.

However, in the second class people are more wiling to chat, sing, play games, and share food(something that the guides recommend to avoid, and you should). For example on my way to Varanasi, I was traveling with a mix of foreigners and locals. With this group, I ended up singing, and playing a strange game that is played with the fingers. You eliminate players as you go along and the player who gets out last gets a good hand beating. Trust me it is fun. This story will continue.....

I Belong Here!!

Have you ever woken up and thought...God... I am really happy? Rightnow I am going through a moment of euphoria where everything seems to be just perfect. I wake up and the sun is just out there waiting for me to come out. I get up, take a shower, and do the routinary things. Then I got to the market and look for something that looks good to eat. It is like an adventure every moring. I begin to think....what should I eat today? How about the Fish? The Mango rice looks really good too? I also miss the pancakes...so I make a compromise between mango rice and the pancakes and leave the fish option for the noon time. After breakfast...I say thaks to God from time to time and then I lift my backpack onto my shoulder, strap my small pack to my shoulders and begin to walk in any direction. The phylosopy that keeps me walking is that I have no phylosopy and that I am looking for one. I constantly think if I will ever find what I am looking for? I find that this method of wondering into thought is what many people call meditatio. It really works. It keeps my shoulders from hurting. I get so lost in thought that I forget that I have about 45 pounds on my back. Anyway...for the first time in a really long time i feel free. I feel that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing....Whatever that is. Perhaps I am going crazy...but if this is crazy..then please let me be this way. Happy! No. Internally contempt. Yes. Dear, freinds stay in touch I love hearing from you.

Mario

Thailand Experience!!

Dear Friends,

I would like to tell you my Thai story and experience. The Thai story is one that has no measure in my mind. It has broken all my pre-conceived notions. Thailand has been really enriching as well as easy to travel. The people are so friendly that one always thinks--when am i going to get robbed? That feeling goes away after a while.

Before I go on. I have to tell you about my first Thai experience. I took the plane from Narita in Japan, I made a stop over in Korea. In the airport, I checked my email and in doing so..i made eye contact with a young woman she smiled and then i smiled back. She came over and introduced herself. She was coming from the United States and was on her way to Thailand. She came to talk to me because she thought I was also Thai. I told her that I was not Thai, but that I was traveling to Thailand. She said that she was also going there. To our surprise, we had the same flight from Korea to Bangkok. We had a few hours to wait before our flight so she went off to do her own thing. I then got into the plain and she was sitting right across from me. We did not talk on the plane, but constantly looked over. When we finally arrived to Bangkok, everyone got up and the masses directed themselves to Baggage Claim. I did not thing of anything when I got off the plane, but later I hear a voice from behind who called my name. It was the same Thai woman from the Plane. She asked where I was going(a very common question in Thailand) and that if I had a hotel reservation already. I told her that I was going to Kaosand Road and that I did not have a reservation. Then we got to baggage claim and got our bags. She came over and asked me if I knew how to get to the area where i was going. I told her that I was going to take a taxi. She told me that the service was really expensive and that I could get a better deal outside the airport(this is true) and that maybe even her uncle could take me to Kaosan. I refused, but then she insisted. I was a little nervous at this time because she asked me to come out of the airport and ask her uncle for a ride. I came out and there was the usual airport crowd of individuals embracing their loved ones. The she said there... that is my family. I felt a little more relief when I saw a complete family. She then asked her uncle were if he could give me a ride to Kaosan. To this he replied that he could not take me all the way but could get me close and then I could take a taxi. I said it was ok and then we went on our way. We crammed into a small pick up truck and got on our way. We talked about her experience in the US and she said that it had been a very positive one. She said that a lot of people helped her and that she promised to help people in return. Then, after about an hour, the truck stopped in a long highway. The uncle stopped a taxi told the driver to take me to Kaosan and to put the meter on. The family put me in the taxi and gave me a phone number. She said " when you get there call us to see that you are O.K. I nodded and said that I would call back. She asked me if i had coins. I did not have any so she made her boyfriend to cough up some coins and she was about to give them to me, but I told her that she had already done a lot for me and that I could make some change. This experience has stayed with me for a long time and so I decided to share it. So the point of the experience is that that experience is not unique....Thai people are just that nice. Now...I was a little afraid to come to Thailand by myself, but this place is more safe than other places I have been. People here are not violent and do not want to get your material things. They do take advantage of you other ways, but never by force. You always pay more for things because you are a foreigner. I prefer to pay more for thing than to be mugged.

Thailand!!!

I have taken a long break from this blog to reflect on what I have seen so far. Anyway, a few days ago I went on a trekking trip in the Thai Jungle. The first day I had a great time because I saw new things. I saw the beautiful mountains with their awesome flora and fauna. It was great to walk through the rice fields and get mud on my shoes and feel the cool breeze that slowly moved the rice plants. The group I traveled with made it very exciting. We bonded really well on the tough times. We had blisters in our feet, we were really cold and hungry, but also celebrated by showering in the naturally occurring pools in the Jungle. I must say that the experience will leave a long lasting mark in my memory. As we got deeper into the Jungle, we began to hear more natural sound. Naturally occurring waterfalls and beautiful birds, and then after a days worth of walking, we ran into a small village. The small village was made up of 10 houses. These houses were really vulnerable to the elements, but they felt warm. The families living there greeted us as we walked into the town. I made my rounds though the village and observed what they did. The families were primarily farming and hunting families. They were separating rice from the plants. It was a great thing to see. Later at night the beautiful children sang songs to us. I have made a small recording of the beautiful voices from the small children who came to sing for us. I must say that I have been touched by this experience. Now...i must go..but more is coming up.

The Crazy Adventures in Japan (up date)

If you are reading this blog entry, I want to say thanks for reading and would like to congratulate you for putting up with so much crap I am writing. Anyway, here is something kind of funny that happened to me a few nights ago. After being tired of paying about $50 dollars, I moved to a cheaper place. There I met a woman who we will call Mrs. G for now. I arrived to the new place after a long intense search for the address because this house is really outside Tokyo. Anyway, I got there and she was going out to the Indian Embassy. However, the house only has two key and she was taking one. I was really hungry and insisted I kept the key to go eat. She did not want to give up the key and so I suggested to come along if she didn't mind. She agreed and said that she was going to meet a friend in Shinjuku. So we got on our way, we talked for a while and she gave me a good insight of her life. As we were talking, she said that she had forgotten to check where to get off for the Embassy and so we made a pit stop at a coffee shop. This Coffee Shop was like Nordstroms x 20 in luxury and price. Anyway...She told me that it would be useless for me to pay and go all the way to the Indian embassy and that she was going to meet her friend here at this exact place. She asked me to wait there and wait for her friend. I didn't have to spend money to go with her. I waited and browse the internet and after an hour a japanese woman kicked me out of the station and was told to sit elsewhere. However, soon after that, both Mrs. G and her friend come by. We talked for a while and then headed out to a bar. It was a gay bar. I did not mind because I payed $10 for all you can drink wine for two hours. In those two hours my friend Mrs. G got so drunk and got us in more trouble than I have gotten in my whole trip thus far.....to be continued

So Mrs. G was completely wasted and then tried to go dancing on the stripping pole at the bar. Howevers, there were some drinks on the little stage and she spilt them. A couple of american girls got mad because those were their drinks and wanted to her to pay for them. The girls came up to me and asked me to take care of my girlfriend. To this I replied that she was not my girlfriend and that I had barely met them. They then told me to just ditch them, but I explained that I had come with them and being so new in Tokyo I did not know where to go. They calmed down after I explained my situation, they became more friendly and did not bother me anymore. In the meatime, Mrs. G was having the time of her life trying to pick on someone. She got really anoying and we decided to leave the bar. Soon after we left, she fell to the grownd and began vomiting. I was really embarrassed because everyone was staring as she just laid ther in the foor. A little later, we called a taxi cab and loaded her into it. However to my good luck she began to vomit and we did not have anything to put on the Taxi sit. So what do I do? I took off my polo shirt so that the she does not make matters worst with the taxi driver. We then arrived to Mrs. G's friend's house and slept there. The next morning when we were due to return to our hostel, we found out that she had lost her hand bag with both her money for the ticket and her passprot with the Indian visa in it. We looked for it for a really long time and did not find it. It was a true nightmare. After looking for it for a while...she phoned the house where we were staying and made arrangements with other travellers to meet at 1pm because she had the only key to the house. We somehow manage to arrive later than expected and the guys at the house who had been waiting for a long time were also mad with her because she did not keep her world. Anyway to make the story shorter, this women has been by far the most complicated person I have ever dealt in my life. She told me a little about her and told me that she did not understand why nobody liked her. At first, I did not know what to think because I had barely met her. However, she really made mad because she never thanked her friend for paying for the cab, for taking her into her house(with a stranger), for wasting her evening. She pissed me off also because she did not say thinks for puking on my shirt and because later she dare to suggest that I could have been the person who stold her money. Now that I am far far away for this person...i would sugges to keep as far away as possible for she will make your life a living hell.

The Tokyo Rumble!!

I have been in Tokyo about 4 days and have been shocked with the Japanese society quite a bit. I have never seen a large city such as Tokyo without the usual homeless population. I constantly wonder...where have this people gone. This curiosity my get me in a little of trouble, but I have decided to start asking where are the homeless people and what happens of them. I am really sure that there are homeless, but I do not see them. All I have seen in Tokyo and most of the train lines is the typical Japanese that we all imagine. The highly fashionable, clumsy, shy Japanese girls and the un-kept Japanese men. On the surface Japan seems great, but is it really? I have also found that Tokyo has one of the largest and most active Red Light districts of the world. I read in a book that the sex industry brings about 2.3 trillion Yen...now that is a lot of money. From my personal inferences, it is not hard to imagine why the Japanese sex industry is so active here. Life in Tokyo is extremely expensive this means that children from a household will live with their parents until their marriage. Japan also has one of the lowest if not the lowest birth rates in the world. Japanese men are pushed to the limit to make something out of themselves in this ever shrinking job market. So why do I mention this facts and mention the sex industry? I do it just to perhaps acknowledge that there is some kind of repression(internalization) that may translate into a sexual one. I am not trying to infer that that is the cause of the robust sex industry, but that there may be some connection. So...do I think Japan is beautiful? Yes. However, we the tourist and the people who come to Japan for a while only see the surface of a complex society with problems like the rest of the world. Now if I compare the lifestyle of a Japanese child with that of a child in Mexico. You may think that this is an apples and oranges comparison, but if you look at it closer. What would you rather be a child who has little but has time to play in the dirt or a child who has a lot(by this I mean both social and economical pressure like the Japanse) ?