Well I am now in Mumbai (Bombay) and feeling slightly over-awed .
I arrived late last night and had been in the country less than five mins when I experienced the first scam. I am not sure what it is about me......but I do seem to attract the doggiest people. I was trying to find a cab to my hotel when I met a guy who quoted me a price and grabbed,y luggage. It wasn't, cheap but it was late at night and I was buggered so decided go with him. We ended up walking about two kmsand hopped in a dodgy old cab. We drove about two hundred meters and pulled up under an old bridge where the guy asked for the fare as he was going to go back to the airport and the driver would take me to my hotel. I handed over the money-a 500 note, a100 note, and 3 x 20 notes. I saw him exchange something with the driver and then he asked why I had only given him 160 rupees....he showed me the money and the 500 had disappeared. Now I am not sure if it was the scots in me or the accumulated tiredness.......but i got really pissed off. I am twice the size of those guys and I really resent been ripped off in my first moments of being I the country. So.....there was some shouting, there were some threats, and there was a lecture on how ripping off people brings bad karma. I think they were both a little intimidated :).......and my friend told me there had been a misunderstanding, the 500 had mysteriously re-appeared and all he was trying to do was explain that I had given him too much money!!! Eventually we made it too my hotel and the driver then asked for a tip........so we had another long lecture about how ripping people off brings bad karma....and he left without any extra.
The hotel itself........is disappointing. It was a bad move to start my trip in Bangkok where the hotels are cheap and beautiful :) this one costs the same, has no windows, nowhere to sit outside of your room/cell, the hot water doesn't work, and neither does the safe :)......and......the location is "interesting".
I am booked here for three nights.......but may just take the loss and head south earlier. We will see. I have to organize train tickets today and that means a trip across Mumbai :)
Have fun and be kind........or the bad karma will get you!
