Time concept in Mumbai is something I really struggle with. The general principle is that we will plan it for tomorrow, and if it doesn’t happen, well reschedule, maybe. We’ll see. This is a place that requires extreme patience.
Last Friday, I was supposed to go to a bank that doesn’t charge a fee for exchanging traveler’s checks. Friday morning came and I was ready: brought my passport, copy of my passport, traveler’s checks, list of banks that would do this (thanks Daren!) and……nope. We’ll try again Monday, maybe. Eh, no, I really need to do this. Monday came and the answer was “Maybe”. I had to get a little assertive and off we went. As it turns out, the bank that initially told our supervisor on the phone that they exchange traveler’s checks apparently doesn’t after all, so I was sent to the ONLY place in all of Mumbai (somehow I doubt this) that could change them. A hefty fee later, I had at least exchanged them. If you decided to travel in India, use your debit card to take out of the ATM. Much easier, much cheaper!!
Hanna and I were so incredibly excited about visiting our first fabric producer today. We arrived at the office and were ready to get going when we found out that he was rained out. We can’t get there today. Great. Now what?
We decided to try to utilize our time visiting something called the Weaver’s Center and see what resources they might have. Apparently, you cannot just go there, you have to make an appointment. OK, so no big deal. Pooja called for us and found out we can go there tomorrow. Oh by the way, because we are foreigners, it will cost us Rs200 to get in. Each. Just love Indian fees. India may seem cheap, but by the time you add all the fees for everything, you are nearly out the same amount. Between rikshaws and groceries, Hanna and I have spent $200 each in one week, and trust me, we are not buying lobsters.
Anyway, the schedule for this week is right now as following: we will hopefully spend the day at the Weaver’s Center tomorrow and on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we will stay with the fabric producer. It is actually too far to travel each day, so we have been invited to stay with him and his family. For a fee, naturally.
In the meanwhile I found out that my train ticket to Kutch is booked under “Bonnie Junker”. Since you need to show ID, in my case my passport which says “Anne-Marie Junker”, my ticket is suddenly no good!! And you guessed it, there is no changing it, I have to cancel and buy a new ticket.
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Bonnie.... your insight is so interesting and some times I feel your pain. I remember in the PI they would agree to any time you wanted but it meant nothing. They did things in their own time but always would say yes to whatever you ask. Took a few disappointments for me to see the pattern. When you put the price of things maybe in ( ) you could put it in US money so we could see what you mean. Look forward daily to your blogs. Miss you lots. Worked with Dana today. Every time I turned around I thought it was you except for the long hair.
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