September 23, 2011
(this blog was written after 'Delhi Madness' but I made changes that caused it to show up later and don't know how to move it back!)
I made it safely here to the house boat of Mr. Fayez Boktoo in Srinaga. And that is only the start of my troubles! Since arriving at the house boat, I've been feeling like my every move is being watched and monitored. I'm "allocated" some nap time after a lunch of Maggi mee (noodles) - believe it or not! Then Gurzal, the oarsman, comes to my door announcing my presence is requested by Mr. Fayaz. Upon finding Mr. Fayaz, he casually prompts me to sit and hang out on the kitchen floor while his eldest daughter is getting her hair oiled by the visiting mumfiz. We're making the most far out chit chat...and I'm mostly observing in blaring amusement at this whole situation while trying to figure out what to do. Not wanting to just sit on the kitchen floor for hours, I asked to head back to my room so I could clip my finger nails, only to be questioned why I needed to do so. Mr. Fayaz then escorts me back to the room to get my nail clipper so I can clip them at the front side of the house. At this point, I'm suspecting they are keeping me away from the young foreign couple I'd seen walk into their room next to mine earlier. After clipping my nails onto a notebook given by Gurzal, I asked to take a shower. Again, the same fan fare of an escort. However, I have to take a bath in the main house as the adjoining shower in my room only provides a cold shower.
After my "bath" I am happy to go with Gurzal on the little rickety boat rowing around the lake to civilization. We end up at Nurul Park. Gurzal is quite happy to be chatting with me in English and seems to have taken a liking to me. I'm quick to tell everyone about my boyfriend, which I think I should elevate to label of husband very soon, save for not having a ring on me. I feel more open with Gurzal as he doesn't seem to be trying to hide anything. He advices me not to buy anything from anyone as I'll just get swindled. When I asked to buy water, he proceeds to get it for me as I will otherwise be charged more. He comes back with two big bottles, and tells me he'll return my change later. I'd given him 100 rupees (about US$2.20) - perhaps these are his actions that tell me his trustworthiness. We end up buying some potato chips later with the 20 rupees! I have some fun on the boat by getting to paddle around for a bit. When we return to the house boat, which I'm suspecting, aren't really even boats, Gurzal never even tries asking for a tip. He might be my best ally here.
I was shown the family room where I finally meet Mr. Fayaz's wife. I sit watching her mend some clothing while waiting for dinner to be brought to me. An elder woman is sitting next to Mrs. Fayaz the entire evening who I do not exchange a single word with nor do I still have a clue who she is. A relative for sure. Eventually, I excuse myself to head to bed where I sneak off to meet the young couple from France, who turns out, have been bamboozled into the same house boat trip! Just like me and Ruben Nagore, from Spain.
Julien Haran and Auxelie Charazac are young recent college graduates looking to travel through India for 3 months. Their stories match those of mine and Ruben. It's funny how we all got trapped in the same manner. We've all just arrived in New Delhi and being overwhelmed with the sights and sound, are taken by a prepaid tuk tuk driver to "India Travel & Information Center" where we're sold this vacation package to a houseboat in Srinagar. Omer Batook, the sales rep, is the son of Mr. Batook, house boat owner. Get the picture now? Omer even invites us all to his sister's wedding coming up in early October. Wanting to escape New Delhi, we all are glad to sign on for something that's going to take us out. And for that, we're all now on these house boats! Julien and I figured that at least, we do have some clean air and quiet down time. But the whole operation certainly is beguiling and they make it difficult for us to get off the boat sooner.
While my hotel manager in New Delhi had tried warning me to avoid coming here, I think they over did it by scaring me even more and leaving me unsure who to actually trust. All in all, there are some truths in what they admonished, but thankfully not to the degree they stressed. The same goes for the whole sheistering travel agency. There is some truth to what Omer has sold me on, but equally as many lies. I'm not sure why these folks don't just come clean instead. I'd have been happy to come here anyway just to get some fresh mountain air! Ah, but perhaps would not have spent US$420. Hence, the bamboozling. Underneath it all, it doesn't seem these folks are evil crooks. They are mostly petty thefts, trying to make a living in this impoverished area. My plan now is to hunt down Ruben so we can escape this town together! I don't have any problems staying here a few more days, but just want to make sure I get going sooner than later!
No comments:
Post a Comment