Sticks and Stones
Trip Start
Dec 10, 2006
1
7
20
Trip End
Jan 07, 2007
Jodhpur,
India
Monday, December 18, 2006
We've delayed our travels to Mandore by a few hours so that Adam may check his work email and for us to change some money.
There is only one ATM we've found in Jodhpur, next to a nicer hotel. We decided to go there by foot since it was only 2 miles from our guest house. During that walk we met a very nice Indian teenager who introduced himself and practiced his english on us. We took a picture with him and he requested that we send it to him when we have the photo printed out.
Throughout our trip, Adam has been handing out money here and there (a rupee now and then) to beggars. While we chatted with our newfound friend, Adam gave an older woman a rupee while we stood and talked with our new friend. In a moment, we were encircled by a few children. They followed and stayed with us for a while. They kept calling out "gora" (white person) and tugging at our clothes. After I repeatedly said that we were not giving out money, they finally got the hint -- or so I thought. The children lagged behind us a bit and as we walked ahead of them I heard a street vendor scolding the kids. In a second's time, I felt a large thump on the back of my neck, near the base of my hairline and realized that the beggar children were throwing rocks at us. A sharp headache followed. We rushed to the ATM and left that area by way of a rickshaw (a three-wheeled motorcyle that has a covered back).
It is interesting to think of the dichotomy of that moment in our trip. On one hand, a nice, young Indian man who wanted to parctice his english and receive a picture from us. Someone who was trusting enough to give us his home address. Someone who had an English education and warned us of the violence in Agra. On the other hand, young children starving and in need, as many are on the streets. Children that pelted us with stones.
Now we are sitting here in an internet cafe sipping saffron & cinnamon tea. I can see the large stamen - shaped saffron floating in our cups and think about how costly that would be in the states! It is delicious and I am glad for a break from the streets of Jodhpur.
Comments
Dichotomy..
You are experiencing a balance of poverty
(that makes people so needy that they are demanding) and Americans ugly
and innocence
(children never realize the full effects of their actions).
See 'Babel' when you return to the States~~where a child's action is nearly an international catastrophe.
Be good, be careful and have a good time.
Missing you, MomClaudia
Em called w Thanks and laughter re the leg lamp ornament! : ) miss and love you both!
travel stories
I love the stories you are posting. Although each one is unique, they are part of the larger group of interesing/crazy travel stories. After reading each of your posts, I am reminded of similiar experiences I have had traveling. Different setting but similiar experiences with poor children, hostile post office employees, and lack of ATM/banks. :) They are all classics!
The pictures are great- keep em' coming.
Love
Lara