The chemist shop owner...

Trip Start Feb 14, 2005

Trip End May 06, 2005

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Flag of India Jaipur, India
Saturday, March 19, 2005

(Peter) Although we are currently in Jaipur, I wanted to write about an amazing experience that happened about a week ago.

Since we have been in India, we have met many interesting people during our travels. However, the one that stood out was a Chemist shop (Pharmacy) owner in Bikaner:

This owner was the person that changed my outlook of India. Up until the 3rd day of our India leg, it just seemed like everybody we met either gave us bad looks, begged for money or food, or wanted to sell us something. I thought it was going to be a long trip. But then, when we arrived in Bikaner (our first stop after leaving Delhi), we went to a post office to try to mail a package of souvenirs and other stuff to the U.S.

Here's the scene: we're at a crowded post office in an "I never saw me an oriental" type of community; there are no signs in English on how to do anything; people are staring with somewhat hostile looks; and we're in a line waiting, but the locals are jumping in front of us with an attitude that we shouldn't be there.

We eventually ended up making it to the help counter, but we were told that there were no boxes and that we'd have to come back with everything packed

grand rehearsal pic 1...

. So, we left the post office and started walking in the direction in which we were told where we could get our souvenirs packaged. However, nothing looked even remotely close to a store that could provide that service. After looking into a couple of places, we walked over to an open shop to ask for help. It happened to be a pharmacy (Indians call them chemists), but the shop owner didn't speak English too well. Actually, he didn't even seem too friendly at first. We played pictionary for a couple of minutes in an attempt to communicate our question, and I guess he got the idea from there. He motioned for us to come into the back of his store. Cautiously, we entered. He, then, had his assistant grab a box for us. I tried to ask how much, but I don't think he understood. At first, I thought that it was a multi-purpose store that sold medicine and provided packaging services. However, the assistant just handed me the box, so Nicole and I sat on the floor and started packing our stuff while 4 locals stared on.

For what I thought was a packing service, it wasn't good service at all. We weren't initially provided with any type of material to use as support and stuffing for our package and we weren't given any tape to tape up the box. Nicole had to go over to the local shop and buy some newspaper for us to use.

I'm not sure if we just looked pitiful or not, but the store owner then started to help. He told his assistant to grab some papers and extra cardboard from the back for us to use

grand rehearsal pic 2...

. He also handed us tape. He, then, started looking at what we were packing and was noticeably excited to see the bottle of wine that we got in Cambodia. With the help of his assistant, he asked information about the wine and tried to buy it from us. Being it was from our once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cambodia, I had to decline.

We finally finished packing, and I grabbed my wallet to pay for the box, tape, and other materials that he provided. Surprisingly, he motioned that it was free...Huh!?!?!?!? Up to that point, our impression of India was that nothing was for free. Every person that we had met seemed to want something from us, and they usually tried to lure us by saying that something was free. But, it never was...

I couldn't believe it. I was so taken back by his kindness. Bikaner is not a rich community. During a time when locals generally tend to fight for every tourist dollar available, the amount of time and resources that he provided was more than kind. The store ended up just being a pharmacy, and he was just being helpful to a couple of people in need. That experience was a pleasant surprise for us and gave us a glimpse of the kinder side of the country that appeared to be hidden during the first few days in India.

I'm happy to say that since that time, we have experienced plenty of nice locals and great experiences. But, it started with Bikaner...