Hello ,
Greetings from India.
Namaste :)
I arrived here last week and have been attending the spectacular gift and handicrafts bi-annual show in Greater Noida which is a satellite town to the east of Delhi.
Last Friday I was telling you about the Indonesian concept of "Adat" - a powerful magical force that you need to understand to do business there. You can read about it here.
Delhi improves by degree everytime I visit, drivers are more obeying the rules, streets are a tad cleaner and the trade show is monument to efficiency and friendliness. You have to give them credit for making it happen. But one thing that still seems the same is the air quality. After a few days.. and it always happens I get a hacking cough, and regardless of what I eat - the condition known as Delhi Belly. I guess that is enough detail.
So I'm usually glad to escape Delhi area and head for .. well almost anywhere is better.
I had a bit of an adventure..
I arrive in this new city, and in India they have a pretty good system. In any airport you will see a pre-pay taxi desk - you go there tell them where you want to go and they give you a fixed price and a slip of paper you give to a taxi guy outside. Things can still go wrong, but mostly it is a good system. Except this time I arrived there was a queue for the pre-pay stand half the way back to Delhi. I looked at the snaking queue and thought, goodness that's a two hour job. So "Plan B" - just go outside, and wait for the dodgy guy who comes and asks if you need a taxi. Of course this being India - once you are outside the airport, you can't get back in without a ticket.. so a little risky.
So I sally forth outside into the usual bedlam and sure enough within about thirty seconds this guy sidles over to me and asks if I need a taxi. I say yes brightly and give him the name of my hotel and ask how much, he is already grabbing my case, and telling me not to worry. So I worry. Tell me how much? - I say firmly holding on to my case. Well his price was five times up the pre-pay taxi rate. To be clear I don't mind over paying because it's not loads of money but I object to be taken for a fool. So I said don't worry I'm cool. Thinking I'll get the next offer.
I walk away from him down towards the arrivals terminal. Sure enough some guys leans out of his window and asks me if I need a taxi.. how much? Amazing he gives me near enough the pre-pay rate. I jump in loading my luggage in the back. We are just about to pull out - when the first guy comes, sticks his hand inside the car and grabs the guys keys. Then they are shouting at each other in Hindi, dodgy guy is banging alarmingly on the roof, some of the words exchanged are more anglo saxon.. This is not good, what am I going to do? So my good taxi guy is at a distinct disadvantage - IE no keys and as negotiating positions go, he is stuck. He turns to me and says "sorry sir, doing that wobbling head business, this man says you are his customer. There is a police guy near by.. I get out and try and enlist his help. But he's off out of there on some pressing business as soon as he see's the situation.
No choice but to recover my luggage and stand there fuming. This dodgy guy is again grabbing my bag. Now his arguments run to, "his boss will beat him if doesn't get the fare" and "I promise not to ask you for more money half way there". He has a smug look on his face, he knows I have no choice, because he can acost any other driver the same way. There is no way I'm going with this guy.. I was once mugged in Kathmandu under similar circumstances, so my warning bells are ringing like Westminster Abbey on a Royal wedding day.. So I tell him firmly and in my best posh English: "Sir, If you were the last (expletive) taxi man on earth, if you wait forever and ever and a (expletive) extra day - I'm never going to get in your godforsaken taxi - so sir.. please go forth and multiply". Then I took a picture of his smug face. That upset him.
All the policeman had vanished.. What was I going to do?
Shall I tell you next week?
OK Ok.. calm down.
Not too difficult, I just called my hotel and ordered a limo to pick me up, I explained the situation briefly and where I was. I had to wait 20 minutes, while that guy hovered at a distance, smoking and glaring at any taxi driver thinking of approaching me. The hotel guy found me and I walked to the carpark with him, where his car was.
I know what you are thinking - expensive right? - but the hotel apologised on behalf of India and offered me the pick up on a complimentary basis.
More adventures.. next week.
Oh and before you ask - they do have Uber in India, I must download it :)
Take care.
David
