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Wastell In India
Just a short blog today to say we have accomplished our mision. made to Delhi and succesfully picked up the girls in one piece, us that is dont know about the girls.
Have already made them walk in the midday sun and take a Tuk Puk ride.
Well was going to not bother with much a blog but having created a bit of a monster. 'no meat, spice or emailing for me' Barker has written the following:-
Yesterday after julie and Vicky had booked into the hotel we all walked to a local art gallery. It was very hot, 40+ degrees. At about 2 pm we had had enough and decided to go back to the hotel by two Tuk Tuks. It was still very hot and we were tired. The hotel was only about three blocks away so it would be a short but interesting experience for the girls. Two Tuk Tuks were duly flagged down and a price of R100 agreed. A bit steep (£1.00) but hang the expense let's get back. Instruction giving to the drivers, everything is good off we go. A really short journey so no need to get the map out. All goes well to start. We retrace our journey out this morning - to start with. Then, hang on where are we going? Maybe a quicker route? No, we should be there by now. Where is this bloke going? A tap on his shoulder "the Taj Mahal hotel". Nods and keeps going. No, this is wrong. Out with the map, waving it at him we pull over just after the next roundabout. Point at map where the hotel is labelled. Just then an Indian appears at the side of the Tuk Tuk. Not unusual the Indians are always happy to help. But this is Dave and Vickys Tuk Tuk driver. He is not happy. They having been chasing us down for half a mile. Words are exchanged. Our driver looks a bit like a scolded puppy. There is no doubt that he knows where we want to go now. Dave and Vicky head off back. Our man goes to restart the Tuk Tuk. Nothing. Maybe the battery is flat - great. He starts to rock the Tuk Tuk back and forwards in gear. Looks like the starter motor is jammed. Tries the hand pull start - nothing. What next? He pushes us backwards about 20m to the roundabout. Lucky there is hardly any traffic. What's the plan? Can I help? He starts to push us forward around the roundabout across the next exit. Traffic dodging us - don't look. Is he pushing us toward that other tuk tuk? No. He is bump starting us. Its going - but he hasn't got in. Yes he has. Off we go - max speed (20 kph?) back the way we just came. No time to spare, no slowing down for junctions or traffic or anything. 5mins and we are at the hotel. Vicky and Dave are waiting outside, camera in hand. I pay the driver the R100, probably a fair price now as the journey was three times what it should have been. "Sorry" says the driver, still looking very sheepish. "That's OK 'India' - thank you". A hand shake and we are all smiles and friends again. An interesting first Tuk Tuk ride, and probably not as typical as first planned, with a demonstration of how to bump start a fully loaded Tuk Tuk in 40+ degree heat. But, it was a genuine mistake. There was no malice in it and all worked out OK in the end - which is typical. Good meal again in the eveing if a bit 'poncy' in the hotel, with 'well this isnt very spicy' comments from the Barker boy.- comments