Another day on the local train.
I saw the dumbest thing. Tips on top of tips. Why not tips on tips on tips? An elderly member of the group had already added to the tip kitty, but as she got off a tuk tuk organised by the your leader, she tipped again. She said it would be appreciated by them. No s**t Sherlock. But what are you tipping again for? What was the point of a tipping kitty for this elderly lady?
So what happened yesterday at the Karni Mata Temple? We were to pay INR470 for the ride. INR30 to be able to take pictures inside. All of us gave INR500. Low and behold, when we got there, we paid INR30 to take pictures. The constant scamming.
Even when the guide organised breakfast for some members, they were promised 2x bananas, but they only got 1x. Tourists, particularly elderly and first-timers, are easy targets for guides. They try to make you feel guilty. I have no guilt (refer to yesterday's page entry).
When you stay at a hotel, you pay for a room. You shouldn't need to tip because your bed was made upon your arrival. If nobody makes your bed overnight then there is no tip required...as there was nothing done. Only when a service is provided would it be appropriate to consider tipping, if service was decent. You would not tip if service was rubbish or non-existent. The Indian culture is expecting something for nothing. India appears to be stuck in a cycle of colonial servitude mentality.
It is funny how much you can observe. There is a good reason why so many Indians seek a better life outside of their own country.
Arrived into Jaisalmer. Staying at Deepak Hotel, within the compound of the Jaisalmer Fort. This is a living fort, as in, people live within the fort walls. Really nice architecture. I was able to easily walk the entire area within the afternoon. Like everywhere else in India the is rubbish strewn around.
I finally got sick on a trip. It had been going around in the tour group. Fever chills and headache. Hope to shake it off in the next couple of days.
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