Two of my photos did not download probably because of the number. Anyway, these are the two that should have gone with the last post. I have no more new photos to post, only words.

Before I get into what has been happening on the ship I do want to complete India. First, I forgot to tell you about the red brick that I photographed and posted in the last post. This is really not brick but a stone that has been cut from its natural environs. They cut it out as it is very soft and porous filled with water. Then they dry it and when it becomes hard it is used as if they were bricks.

Second, taxi cab drivers. I want you to know it is true that one out of every two Indian babies born becomes a taxi cab driver. If there is no room for him to operate here they send him to New York. I am kidding of course to make a point that you have to imagine one in every 50 cars is not a taxi. I believe there are more taxis here than any place on earth.

Third, the hustlers. These people I admire greatly and I have an anecdotal story that says it all. After my tour, Joan and I caught a taxi to the Taj Mahal Hotel where there is a shopping area. As we were walking there and were saying no to all the street venders a young lady presented herself as our savior keeping the venders and beggars away, keeping us safe as we crossed the street and leading us to the best shops. And, guess what, when we emerged from the shops she was still there waiting for us. I finally gave her a tip and thought we would lose her. No such luck. Store after store she was waiting patiently. Finally, we stopped at Leopolds for a beer and as we emerged she was gone and we uttered a sigh of relief as you must understand that we didn’t know how much she was going to demand for these unwanted “services”. After all, between Joan and myself we do have about 140 years of experience and are perfectly capable of crossing a street. Anyway, as we were walking she spots us and showed us her “baby” and began escorting us again while carrying her “baby”. She finally hailed us a taxi (as if there weren’t enough to go around) and we paid her another tip. She made about $10 for an hour and a half which is very good wages for working for someone who didn’t want the services. Joan and I are convinced that her “baby” was borrowed to gain more sympathy for more money. You must give her credit for “working” to get the handout rather than begging.

Which brings me to the next and last India topic---beggars. This is a serious problem and the government is starting to crack down on the true abusers. I believe anyone seen giving them a handout should be jailed for 24 hours just to remind them of what havoc they are wreaking on the children. In order to engender the sympathy of tourists and others some parents will maim their children to gain deeper sympathy which in turn makes them more money. They will blind their babies or break their bones. These are a minority but it is within the beggar community and part of the lifestyle.

Not a lot has been happening on ship so I will cover that in my next post as I wanted to close the chapter on India. Mom’s birthday party will be coming up and Kate, she is just as sassy as ever. I will close this post as Maurice just came in to the Exploration Café and I wanted to show him a couple of photos.