Of course it was Good Friday yesterday and to mark the occasion the heavens opened and we had a right old storm that knocked all the lights out at Jaipur Station. It's raining in Delhi now, so I think we'll spend the day at museums and art galleries. We arrived at 0630 and in the usually friendly fashion were attacked by hordes of Auto-men trying to rip us off. The one we had today had an apprentice with him and together they tried to convince us that the hotel we wanted didn't exist, had no rooms, was closed, had burned down and foreigners aren't allowed in Old Delhi anyway. When we argued, they'd laugh and say No English!
I made them take us to places of my choosing but fate dealt me a cruel hand and denied me the victory of succeeding. We wound up at a hotel they chose - Rs220 - which is okay, but I gave him a small piece of my mind. I wish they spoke Tamil, I could insult them properly then. They are an evil breed of liars, hypocrites, con-artists and downright arseholes.
We're increasingly aware of con-men now, and it's very distressing when people pretend to be nice to us then ask for things. We're always wary now, thinking What do you want? instead of, I'd love a cup of chai, thanks. Jaipur was a classic example. Make friends then invite or coerce them into your scams. We'd had visions of being clubbed to death or thrown off the roof by the touts for not complying with Bobbi. He got all defensive when I asked for his address, questioning the legitimacy of his deals. Not an experience I wish to repeat.