Thoughts on India and business
I just finished lunch for today and made it quite easily. About 25+ hours of fasting. I somehow did not gorge when I finally did eat. Rogers wife kindly makes lunch for me everyday….and I love it. Chipati’s, rice, dhal, and other saucy type thingys….great stuff. I remember loving the food last time in India and this time is no different.
On Monday morning, I woke up around 6 a.m. and went for a walk. Karol Bagh is the area that my Hotel is in. The front desk dude told me the Para Ganj (the area near the train station and where I stayed 6 years ago) was about a 5 km walk. So I went for it considering it was early and cool.
As most folks that have been to India before know, walking down the street is much more interesting than walking down the street in a western country. As some guy explained to me in Kathmandu just before I went to India 7 years ago…
“India, it’s in your face, mate.”
Yes it is….and once you know that - it’s also great. Walk to the Para Ganj I remembered how fun it is to walk down the street. Cows, Rickshaw, and generally a sort of organized chaos going on all around.
I made it to this backpacker area, Para Ganj and it was not quite like I remembered it. Of course, last time I was there - I looked like the backpackers that were currently staying there - dirty, grimy, hairy, cool look on there face that says.
“Dude, I’m in India - I’ve travelled”
The Hotel I stayed at last time, Hotel Navarang was still alive and kicking….but I was glad that I did not stay there this time. Maybe I am getting old - or just not in a “Cheap as hell travel-mode” - but the place did not appeal to me this time at all.
Am I getting snobby?
I hope not - I still love to travel and see how other folks live and listen to their stories. I just don’t necessarily want to stay in the cheapest place possible anymore….not that I want to stay at the Ritz…
More thoughts
Hanging our with Roger has been great. He is 30 like me, married with a kid. Despite us living in different parts of the world, we have a ton of things in common. He is into his Health, Music, his family, movies and lotsa other stuff and he has spent some time in the west - so when I act like an arsehole yank - he is not totally offended and kindaly shares with me why things are they way they are here etc.
Sorry if this was a spew - just wanna get some stuff down.
Comments
India is ‘in your face’ but he great thing is the optimism of the people, I really liked that about them.
Know what you mean about changing gears when travelling in a different way. I’m usually happy to sleep in the cheapest place, dorm, whatever when traveling but just recently got a little bit steamed when my A/C wasn’t working! In Brunei it was hotter than Georgia asphalt and I was dripping wet, the A/C in my room wouldn’t work and the receptionist said “Maybe you go out for a while and when you come back maintainence man fix it.” No way!!! I wondered after if I was turning into another ‘business traveler’.
Next time you travel you will have to take a camera, I’m imagining the sights you saw along the way to Para Ganj.
Nice quote Barrie - and as you know - there are plenty of them here in India.
Nick - I have some snaps and will try to post them today before I leave this place…as far as wanting a bit of a better place than the cheapest…
when I am travelling as a backpacker with little time constraints - inconvienences do not matter as much - but of course with less time - the opposite is true.
Good quote, Barrie, and perfectly timed for Sean’s blog.
Time constraints, purpose of travel affect your disposition to discomfort - age may also play a factor.
The first thing that I am doing after our telephone call, is to say, thank you for calling! It was great to hear you and know your views on India. See you during your next visit. Have a wondeful trip back. 
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G’Day Sean,
Your walks are a buzz and it reminds me of a quote by T.S. Elliot:
‘The first understanding of a foreign country is to smell it…’