Held Hostage in Jaipur / Road to Jodhpur
Trip Start
Oct 14, 2005
1
14
21
Trip End
Oct 31, 2005
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Jaipur,
India
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
We had a 7am wake-up call for an 8am departure on the long, long drive to Jodhpur. This day was supposed to have been a flight, but Indian Airways changed dates and the flight was no longer available. The cancellation of the flight is what made possible the lavish royal treatment we received the previous evening as that little bash wholesales for about $70 per person -- a fabulous fortune here in India.
I got myself ready and out the door. At breakfast the manager made another appearance, this time with the poor boy in tow who was going to suffer if we did not pay. of course he was humble and beautiful, and we didn't want him to have any problems. But earlier that morning, when I was meditating on what to do about this situation, I had read one of my daily reading that I bring with me on tours to help keep me centered
01 Palace of Winds / Jaipur
. The title of this one was "Principles Before Personalities" and it talked about how import it is to always live according to your principles and values no matter who is involved. At that moment it became clear to me that I could not succumb to the pressure to pay anything at all for the bottle of champagne. It was extortion and theivery, and if I agreed to pay it would only encourage them to continue the practice with the next birthday celebration.The birthday person and his partner came to the bus and they would not let them clear their bill. Furthermore, they took their luggage and locked it away. We went back and forth many times telling them they had to release the luggage and allow us to leave. I asked that they call the police. They said they were doing that. Time dragged on. We were still discussing and arguing at about 8:30, and everyone in the group was getting restive. I decided it was time to talk with them and let them know what was going on. Of course it was not about the money -- that sum was a tiny drop in the bucket for these guys. They wanted to pay it and be off on their tour, but I asked them to think about what Gandi would do in this situation. They all agreed that it was important to stand on principle.
Then the most amazing thing happened
02 Palace of the Winds
. They decided that if they were not going to let us leave the hotel, we would all go back inside, and make a show of civil disobedience. At first it was suggested that we all sit around in the breakfast room naked, but fortunately I was able to disuade them from going that far. What we did do was go back inside and make some fuss. Some guys started shouting "Release the bags to the fags!" which had me absolutely doubled over. I went into the dining room and approached a group of women to inquire if they spoke English. When I determined that they could understand then I proceed to tell them what had happened and caution them that the needed to be very careful about dealing with this establishment. Other guys got the cue from that and fanned out and began talking to other tables. The staff was looking on in horror.Finally, I think my guide slipped a $100 bill to the manager, and gave him the condition that if he was going to get that money he would have to come onto the bus and make a public apology for delaying the tour. We got everyone reseated in the coach, and he came to say that he was sorry, and he became the subject of terrible derision and abusive language. I contributed the thought that what he was saying was far too late, and told him (on the microphone so that everyone else could hear) that he had not heard the end of this matter, but that I would be writing the story and publishing it on the internet
03 Pushkar Palace Hotel
. In a way I suppose that is what I have just done, isn't it?I was in quite a state of rage, and it wasn't until we had proceeded into town and made a stop at the "Palace of the Winds" for photos that something happened that made me absolutely forget the hell I had just been put through. We were walking by a snake charmer, and about four cobras were swaying to the sounds of the oboe. I was talking with one of my clients who at the beginning of the tour had expressed a horrific aversion to snakes, and just as we were passing one of the cobras decided to extend itself in our direction. We both screamed and collapsed into each other's arms and staggered howling hysterically towards the bus with much amazement from the onlookers. Ah, India.
Hugs,
Dan
