December 16, 2007
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India Trip
Delhi – Saturday 17th November 2007
My excursion in the Indian capital on an incredibly hazy day was haphazard for photography. The intense pollution didn’t help either.
Parliament Square
Parliament Square
Armed guards
Parliament Square
Parliament Square
Cars for government officials
Gate of India
View from the side
Locals at the Gate of India 1
Indians have an unusual fascination with Caucasians with many asking them to pose in their group photos.
Local snack
Locals at the Gate of India 2
Locals at the Gate of India 3
Locals at the Gate of India 4
Locals at the Gate of India 5
Locals at the Gate of India 6
Locals at the Gate of India 7
Locals at the Gate of India 8
Locals at the Gate of India 9
Locals at the Gate of India 10
Connaught Place is said to be the tourist magnet comprising of shops and restaurants. I found both to be uninspiring and boring. It is beyond my comprehension why tourists would want to stay at this prosaic place. Gangs of con artists operate here specifically preying on solo travellers. One would walk beside you claiming to be a student and wanting to practise their English before politely offering assistance in your search of a particular establishment. If you happen to unwittingly fall for this trick, you would be led somewhere where your valuables will be dispossessed.
So as my explorative instincts led me around Connaught Place, it wasn’t long before one of these con artists attached himself beside me. He looked around 19 years of age but experienced in the techniques employed to befriend a naive tourist.
Kid: “Your sunglasses are really nice.”
I didn’t bother to reply.
Kid: “Where are you from? Japan?”
Silence.
Kid: “Korea?”
Silence.
Kid: “China?”
Silence.
Kid: “What are you looking for? I can take you.”
Silence.
Kid: “Why you not say anything? I want to talk to you.”
Finally, I couldn’t contain myself, “Well, I don’t want to talk to you, dickhead.”
Kid: “I just want to be your friend. I’m a student.”
“I don’t want any friends, especially you.”
As the kid trudged off, the corner of my eye vigilantly caught him conversing with an accomplice in an orange shirt, and their eyes locking onto my camera bag. My guess is that Orange Guy will track me and then attempt to engage in conversation. As I’d delved into the outer circle of Connaught Place, Orange Guy made his move, neatly sliding through the crowds to position himself beside me.
Orange Guy: “Excuse me sir, do you know the time?”
Me: “No.”
OG: “You don’t have time?”
Me: “No.”
OG: “No time?”
Me: “No time.”
OG: “No watch?”
Me: “Do you see a fucking watch on my wrist, dickhead?”
Orange Guy then decided it was better to pursue other targets. In India at least, my travelling experiences taught me that anti-politeness acts as a better deterrent to their annoying persistence. And wearing sunglasses to avoid eye contact. Plus totally ignoring them. Another tactic I’d later adopted was to wear earphones and pretend to be listening to music. This is perfect in ignoring and discouraging street vendors and touts from approaching you. However, it can be counter-productive in that potential thieves believe you are in possession of a mp3 player/mobile/ipod worth stealing.
Right beside this road opposite Central Park is a prepaid booth for taxis and autorickshaws.
I’d took one to transport me to see the Qutb Minar. The duration of the journey was 45 minutes by which time the sun was beginning to set.
Info on the Qutb Minar. Due to the large number of people reading this tab, I’d had to shoot it quickly so my apologies for the bottom part being out of focus.
The Qutb Minar victory tower is 73 metres (240 feet) high to commemorate the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. It has five distinctive storeys with the first three made of red sandstone and the fourth and fifth storeys of marble and sandstone.
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
For some unknown reason, these girls ask me to take their picture with my camera.
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex
Inside the Qutb Minar complex – the Alai Minar
Info on the Alai Minar
Advice For Daughters
1. Don’t imagine you can change a man – unless he’s in diapers.
2. What do you do if your boyfriend walks-out? You shut the door.
3. If they put a man on the moon – they should be able to put them all up there.
4. Never let your man’s mind wander – it’s too little to be out alone.
5. Go for younger men. You might as well – they never mature anyway.
6. Men are all the same – they just have different faces, so that you can tell them apart.
7. Definition of a bachelor; a man who has missed the opportunity to make some woman miserable.
8. Women don’t make fools of men – most of them are the do-it-yourself types.
9. Best way to get a man to do something, is to suggest they are too old for it.
10. Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.
11. If you want a committed man, look in a mental hospital.
12. The children of Israel wandered around the desert for 40 years. Even in biblical times, men wouldn’t ask for directions.
13. If he asks what sort of books you’re interested in, tell him checkbooks.
14. Remember a sense of humor does not mean that you tell him jokes, it means that you laugh at his.
15. Sadly, all men are created equal.
Cat Lending A Hand
Comments (17)
too many bad colour combos!
I’d have to say, nice tips from the world traveler. Each city has their own set of knuckleheads trying to “pounce” on unsuspecting victims.
My first time to NYC I was almost duped into a so-called taxi ride. But, I was warned to only take yellow cabs with a medallion on the hood. Ended up saving me at least $100, if not more.
Besides, when you’re my size…an evil look is usually enough (I can look like a stereotypical mobster).
excellent post, I find also the architecture in India interesting.
the local snack looks quite familiar. do you know what’s it made of?
In those situations I actually have an old non-working cell phone that I carry around and pretend to talk on. No one bothers you…and if they want to steal the cell phone, they can have it!
beautiful pics…Yes, what are those local snacks made of? they’re nice and puffy looking…
A very educational blog!
The womens’ saris are so beautiful. I love the government officials’ cars too. It’s interesting to me seeing what people wear and what they drive and how they decorate in different countries. The time period never seems the same.
I like the pictures with the locals =) And Such foul lanuage coming from you! XD I would have said something similar thouhg. Those types piss me off.
ryc:Maybe I am, but I’ll get over that too… and starbucks really IS expensive here, and they’re able to get away with it because they’re the only starbucks in the netherlands. But once the whole thing of “starbucks” has coold down, we’ll all go back to our cheaper equivalent the Coffee Company.
At first I was thinking “Why’s David such an ass to the kid?”
Those little thieves! You’re well adapted to these travels.
Your pictures bring back so many memories! I loved taking pictures of lcoals. In my facebook album of India, I have some really nice ones.
I visited India in a group of five girls. Three of us were white, the other two mexican with very tan skin. Indians everywhere would ask us for pictures, and the two Mexican girls would come in the picture, and the Indians would ask them to leave! “Fascination with Caucasians” accurately describes it. At the Taj Mahal, people approached me & asked me to take pictures holding their baby (this was really fun), even though many of them didn’t have cameras, they just wanted me to take it on mine. A few groups of girls asked me to take pictures of them on my camera too, then for the 2nd picture asked me to come into the picture. It was really interesting
My apartment in Egypt was downtown, in one of the busiest sections of the city. There were touts & conmen everywhere because there were many hostels and travel agencies downtown. This meant that on my daily walk to/from school men would try to latch on, either by commenting, asking for a date, telling me they have perfumes or oils, asking me if I want to see the Museum or the Pyramids. The funny thing was that it was the same conmen every single day – I thought after a few months they’d realize! Eventually I learned how to say “I’m Egyptian and I live here, please don’t treat me as a tourist” in Arabic, and they would laugh & back away when I told them politely. Regardless, I quickly learned that sunglasses & headphones, and NO smile, were the perfect remedy.
dang, remind me not to ask you for assistance whenever you’re here
wow. great pics! (as always).
hmm, those kind of “operations” are everywhere. i remember one time going to a church where most of the sellers would meet you up as you walk your way to this big church attaching you with different kind of pins, ever rosaries and tell you it’s a blessing and good luck. i was happy at first but when they started asking me to pay. what the? i thought this was for free and they’re blocking my way.
india looks nice!!
good tips about india. although, i would never travel alone.
thanks! i’m not much of a photographer unfortunately
my gf’s took care of all the picture taking, i figured 5 cameras worth would be good enough..
always nice to live vicariously thru other ppl’s travels .. i doubt that i’ll ever find my way to india, but at least now i’d have a better idea of what to expect !
Hey David, I always enjoying viewing your pictures. You have a very good eye and wind up capturing such nice shots. When you were shooting the locals (apart from the girls who asked you to take their picture) were you shooting with a zoom lens or did you go up close. The people largely seem to be totally unposed, which can be hard to get if you ask people if you can take your pictures. Very nice job.
You should write a book(let?) of advice for novice travelers! I’m sure you have plenty more little gems of wisdom like the one you shared in this post (We’ve only tried the ignoring tactic).
Loved the cat shot! Only a cat would dare to be so bold on such short acquaintance.