In transit

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Despite Emirates' best effort to sabotage our reservation, we made it out of Bombay early this morning thanks to the efforts of Eric, our Airtreks consultant. We were both relieved to make it onto our flight, and not just because of our pre-booked gorilla safaris we were afraid we might miss. We were both ready to leave India, and when Emirates informed us yesterday that they had cancelled our reservation on an overbooked flight, it compounded what was already a very trying day. Its not that we haven't enjoyed India--quite the contrary--but it does require a certain amount of work, patience, and good humor to make it, and I think yesterday in Bombay completely exhausted Stacy's reserves on all counts, but especially her patience. Standing in 4 separate 'queues' at the post office to mail a parcel is taxing, especially in the heat (100+) and humidity. What really pushed her over the edge, though, was the painfully slow process we had to endure in each line. When all was said and done, it took 5 postal workers behind the counter over 4 hours to process a whopping 6 parcels before our turn came. And everything was computerized! If it sounds unbelievable, you obviously haven't been to India.

Endless queues are just one thing I will not miss from India. Another thing that wore thin over the past month was a non-commital head-gesture I refer to affectionately as 'the nod'. Throughout India, everyone used it in answer to inquiries requiring a simple 'yes' or 'no' in reply. Instead, you would receive 'the nod', which starts with a reassuring up-and-down head-bobbing motion, obviously signaling the affirmative. Quickly, fluidly, 'the nod' begins to take a diagonal slant, and before you know it, it finishes with a short but clearly horizontal motion. Negative? I never did figure out how to interprate it.

Finally, I will be greatly pleased if I don't see another 'bathroom attendant' for a while. Not the hand-you-a-clean-towel -after-washing-at-the -marble-basin variety you find in posh locales; I'm referring to the guy-standing-beside-the -open-pit-next-to-the-bus -station variety, who expects a couple of rupees for watching, along with everyone else in the bus station or on the street, while you relieve yourself. Its not the pennies I would spend that was irksome, more the idea that you were essentially paying someone to watch you do what you wished you didn't have to in a place you normally would avoid based on the stench alone. I often found myself wondering if he was truly employed--and if so, by whom?--or just a random person in need of a few rupees. Maybe if they did away with the 'bathroom attendants' in India, people would be less inclined to use the designated public urinals rather than piss all over the palaces, forts, and monuments.

JB

Jason does a pretty good job of describing things that will not be missed but he did leave out a few that I will not miss. One of the things I found particularly annoying was the guides' continually feeling that they needed to repeat themselves three times. I couldn't figure out if they thought we were stupid or that they couldn't remember what they said a moment ago, therefore needing to say it again and again. Also the continuous horn tooting could have been done without. An occassional toot seems to be within reason but these drivers would honk just for the joy of honking, I think. And since a few of them had joined in this party the rest decided they also needed to join. You couldn't drive a block with the horn being honked at least 20 times. The garbage in the streets will also not be missed. I have never seen such filth in my life. But even though there are many things that will not be missed there are those that will. Having a car with chauffer to drive you wherever you wanted for less than $20.00 a day has been wonderful. A few others are the food, the bright colorful clothing, ayuruedic massage and I'm sure Jason will miss his 'shave'.

SB