Post from Tim:
We had just stepped off a harrowing 13-hour night bus and the last thing we wanted to do was to put up with Delhi's famous touts. But there we were, dressed as suckers, wearing backpacks and lost expressions while searching for guidance from a Lonely Planet map.
With a fair way to walk, our journey turned into quite a game. Here were the rules:
We crossed several major touristy areas in Delhi and as more "helpful" people approached us from all sides, more rules became apparent. Our journey was like a real life logic puzzle:
IF 100% of the people in Delhi who offer unsolicited help lie...
BUT 75% of the people whom YOU ask for help tell the truth to the best of their knowledge...
HOWEVER 50% of the people who try to answer truthfully do not know the answer, but make it up to avoid looking foolish...
HOW many wrong turns will you make walking to the Tourist Booking Office?
It didn't take long before we ignored the tout's constant advances and stopped listening. Even walking up to the second floor office, under a big sign labeled Tourist Booking Office with an arrow pointing up the stairs, someone pointed us into an incorrect office. I couldn't believe their lies - one after the other and all with a straight face. It was comical to a degree unmatched in 10 months of travel.
With a fair way to walk, our journey turned into quite a game. Here were the rules:
- Our object was to buy tickets at the New Delhi Railway Station's Tourist Booking Office.
- The object of the touts was to misdirect us to private tour companies, who would then lie to us about the availability of rail tickets and offer their bus tickets or tours as an alternative.
- These private tour companies were always labeled as being "Official Government Tourist Offices".
- Touts would say ANYTHING to get you to come with them, as in:
- I am a student and here to help. Just follow me.
- The office is over there (Pointing to wrong direction). Just follow me.
- The tourist booking office is closed today. Just follow me.
- There is a major festival and the streets are closed, so you must go to the other office. Just follow me.
- Etc. Just follow me.
We crossed several major touristy areas in Delhi and as more "helpful" people approached us from all sides, more rules became apparent. Our journey was like a real life logic puzzle:
IF 100% of the people in Delhi who offer unsolicited help lie...
BUT 75% of the people whom YOU ask for help tell the truth to the best of their knowledge...
HOWEVER 50% of the people who try to answer truthfully do not know the answer, but make it up to avoid looking foolish...
HOW many wrong turns will you make walking to the Tourist Booking Office?
It didn't take long before we ignored the tout's constant advances and stopped listening. Even walking up to the second floor office, under a big sign labeled Tourist Booking Office with an arrow pointing up the stairs, someone pointed us into an incorrect office. I couldn't believe their lies - one after the other and all with a straight face. It was comical to a degree unmatched in 10 months of travel.