Summary - week 1 29th April

I’m coming to an end of my first week in India. I’ve packed and checked out, but the hotel staff have kindly allowed me to sit in the foyer until time for my train. It’s too hot to be outside.
Several times I’ve had occasion to wonder what on earth I’m doing here. This apparently isn’t just me; my table-mate at breakfast and dinner in the hotel, born of army parents, ex-navy, travels the world installing generators, says he gets moments like that. Evidently the sense of wonder, or the surreal, never really leaves some people.
So – first week – aside from the shock of some living conditions and not being used to being pestered on the streets – All round friendliness and courtesy. The man whose job it was to sell hotels and taxis from a booth at the airport rang my hotel on his mobile and got my taxi to come back, even though it wasn’t one of ‘his’ hotels. The lady on Mumbai station who came back from her own carriage to check I was ok. Another lady outside Ahmedabad Station explained to yet another missing taxi driver where to find me because he and I could not understand each other. Finally, the manager of the President, whilst I’m waiting in the foyer for time to tick away, comes over to ask me if I’ve had my lunch. No? Then please, have lunch here, it is complimentary. His finally courtesy was to call a tuc-tuc and negotiate the price for taking me to the station. Don’t pay any more than Rs 50, he says, no tip.