Travelling tales...

The day of scams...

Trust no-one!!! There are only 2 kinds of people in Dehli. Those that want money from you now and those who want to save you from those nasty people but still want as much (if not more) money for the privilege!

Today was filled with such scams... Today I fancied taking a tuk-tuk (a three wheeled scooter taxi) which are cheaper than the four wheel variety. Being inside one is a bit like the game Crazy Taxi. Winding through all the traffic pushing past pedestrians,cows,cars,stray dogs and various strewn wreckage these heroes take everything in their stride. It was one of these guys who picked me up after a trip to Connaught Square. I wanted to go to the Old Fort in Delhi but it was closed yesterday. So I tried again and it was closed! Grrr.... I was telling my driver about my trip to Rajisthan and he was saying how much he hated people scamming tourists and how he wanted to stop it and try to be an honest guy in this town. He was saying what I paid was way over the top and that I should go to the Government Tourist Office where I could get a proper trip and report my hotel to the authorities. Then he will show me an old market which is friendly to tourists (ie no haggling and no hassle). The "Government Tourist Office" was down the most non-governmental road you have ever seen. Thought I was walking onto a set from Blade Runner (Hindi Style!). Needless to say alarm bells were ringing hugely and I politely declined to sign on the dotted line with Mr Big and Mr Bigger over my shoulder. I told him I would cancel with the hotel first and then call him to get me out of there. Yeah right, seeya buddy! Next was the market which was a shop with overpriced tat. Quick lap round and straight out. Luckliy a German tourist came in and that gave me an excuse to leave while the thieving vampires stuck their fangs in nice people attended to him.

After that adventure I saw an outdoors Hindu play on the Arakashan Rd near my hotel. Was very nice although I:-

• Had no idea what was going on
• Had to put up with the smell which was REVOLTING. Think Glastonbury on the last day in a toilet cubicle at the hottest point of the day. This was worse...
• Everyone stared at me rather than the play....

Went to bed early to escape world....!