Bud's side of the story....... India!
Thoughts on India as we exit this very, very unique country of the world.
They say “If you love India ,she will love you back.”. Well, I tried to love her but she did not love me back! I seriously tried. Upon arrival on November 10th, right during the start of their demonetization crisis, we charged our metro fee and headed to our New Delhi railway stop. Everything was normal, other than not being able to get rupees, then we step out into sheer pandemonium. People honking from cars and Tuk Tuks, vendors selling things, pedestrians, everywhere, dirty dusty streets and virtually no signage. Craziness continues, as we dodge beggars, stray dogs, and the vaulted sacred cows of India. We finally step inside our hostel and take a deep breath.
We have a problem with our Chinese VISA but that was not India’s problem. We are also a victim of their attempt to clean up their money problems, so our timing was unfortunate. I was also the victim of a serious stomach and rear end problem so that is only partially their issue. Needless to say, I did not get off to a good start. After solving and recovering from all of the above, we visit various Temples and the new, but already famous Akshardham temple, mosque, and cultural center. Over the next 10 days we visit Jaipur, Pushkar, Agra for the Taj Mahal and back to New Delhi. The Taj Mahal is as good as expected but I would have considered the others to be better stops, in better shape, and easier to get to and pay for.
For an experienced traveler, I am not usually dissatisfied with any destination. I was just plain thrilled to get out of India. In fact, we left a week early and continued on to Beijing. Without a ton of detail, I will just list the major problems that we encountered and why India should make every effort to get out of being a third world country.
1…..India’s government has not moved properly to get out from underneath their dependence on a cash only society. When the major malls, restaurants, and private businesses are the few people who take credit cards, something is seriously wrong. Equipment, software, and related programs need to be put in place immediately to solve this problem.
2…..India must improve its sanitation situation or it will never become anything other than the backwater country that it is. They have to provide an effective trash collection system and provide effective toilets for the general population. The smell of urine and human waste is way to prevalent in far too many areas of the major cities; for that matter, in practically any city.
3…..India’s life blood for moving residents and tourists alike is their railway system. It is an utter mess. From making a reservation, to payment, to the train stations, to cars themselves; they all need a complete overhaul.
4…..With all due respect to the basics of the Hindu religion, something needs to be done about the cattle, goats, pigs, and stray dogs that are simply everywhere in the country. I realize that animal life is sacred, but put them all in a few areas, control the populations, and clean up the constant mess that their waste deals you on a daily basis.
5…..The populations governance and tax base must be expanded so more than 5% of the people pay income taxes and these monies are effectively put back into society. 78% of the economy runs on cash and this has to stop.
6…..It’s hard to know where to start in fixing the tourist experience for a foreign visitor. From cleaning up the sites themselves, to making the tours more user friendly, to solving the above problems: they all need extensive work.
In conclusion, I would recap by saying that I would not come to India in the near future. Seeing the Taj Mahal is not worth it. Just enjoy the pictures and move on. If you do come, stay in a better hotel, do a bus tour, and have drivers and guides for a rather short visit. If you stay more than a week, some kinds of bug will surly get in your gut. Be ready for the smells, general poverty, noise, and overall pollution you will encounter. I can think of so many better places to travel. Bud
