We were very cautious about eating the wrong food because everyone gets sick here so we ate at nicer places and avoided being sick. Our first few days we went shopping and buying Indian Clothes & other fun things.
After a few days of just hanging out and eating in Delhi we decided to see the sites before we left Delhi. On our way to see the sites we went to the Train Station to book our ticket to Shimla. It's a small town in Northern India with views of the Himalaya Mts.
When we got to the train station the man stopping people and asking for tickets directed us to the ticket booths. When we were confused he escorted us and then suggested that we take a Auto-Rickshaw to the Government Ticket office. We had heard that they could issue tickets so we went.
When we got to the Government Travel Office they told us that the train to Shimla was booked up but we could fly to the Himalaya for a really great package deal. $169 for our flight and for 3 nights in a Houseboat on a lake.
We were reading the lonely Planet guide book and I became suspicious that they might not be the real Government Office. When we suggested that they were fooling us they called the number in my book and I talked to the Gov. Tourist Office. I saw him dial the number and talked with him myself. He assured me that this was just another branch of the same Government Office. So we decided to go for it. He even threw in a free Taxi tour for the day of the rest of the famous sites in town!
Well the next day the Taxi guide picked us up and delivered our package to us. When we arrived at the Airport we realized that he had tricked us and we weren't going to the place he had said but to Kashmir. We wondered if we should go but we figured that since we purchased it we should go and do it.
The flight was really great. But when we arrived we felt like we had just landed in a Military Base. We were expecting something like this because we had been reading the book since the Airport, but it was still strange to see so many soldiers everywhere.
When we got to the Lake Houseboats the Tour Manager presented us with different tour packages. We had planned that India would cost between $500-$1000 for 3 weeks and he was trying to sell us a package for $3500 USD! We told him we didn't have the money but we'd talk it over and get back with him.
When he came back I, Jason, told him we were not planning on getting a package. I also told him that we were going to check around for other prices tomorrow in town. When I said this he flipped out and started cussing us out! He said he hated Americans and hoped we died and went to hell! He started yelling so much Coralee started Crying. I was very calm and realized the guy was nuts but he was so furious that I mentioned checking around that he said that he was going to cancel our package and that we would have to buy a flight home and that we were going home tomorrow. Now he wanted us to pay $450 to go home the next morning! When we said we wanted to try taking a bus he raised the price to $500 cause he was angry with us!
He was saying that we would probably get hurt or die if he kicked us out. When I said we wanted to leave he said we couldn't! He was basically holding us hostage till we purchased the package. Since he was going to charge us $500 cash just to fly back the next day without a receipt. We finally agreed to take a package for $700 to spend the 3 nights in the mountains and take the train home. After we accepted that deal he kept pressing us to upgrade the package and spend $1200 (not counting the $320 to get up there...) and we felt like we shouldn't keep arguing. We decided that if he would take half cash and half credit we would just do it cause it wasn't worth risking our lives!
Well after we agreed two guys took me to an ATM to make sure I got the money. When I returned they ran my credit card. I was so worried they were going to do something to Coralee while I was away! Thank God they didn't do anything.
That night I, Jason, couldn't sleep because I thought they might try something I also couldn't sleep because I was so disgusted about what we had gotten ourselves into and kept retracing every step remembering each step we went wrong!
The next 4 days were very tense but we began to trust the House Workers to do their jobs. They were going to take us on the lake one day and another day in the Mountains. It's really had to enjoy sightseeing when you realize that you are basically being held hostage and you can't do anything about it. Each day we went out we wondered if we would come back and if they would try to get more money out of us once we were in a even more remote area.
Well it turned out that the lake was nice and we began to feel better about things. Then they couldn't get a train home for us so they said they would upgrade us to flights back for free. So basically we didn't trust anyone but we were starting to feel a little better. They also extended our time there an extra day. Basically whatever they told us we just went along with because we didn't want to get into a dangerous situation.
The strange thing is that we didn't see one other white person while we were there. And the few times we did see someone they would rush them off so we wouldn't get to talk to them. Well the third night an Australian girl showed up while we were at the Gardens. We figured the same thing was going to happen to her but we couldn't do anything.
When we came back and saw her later she told her that they had pressured her and threatened her that if she didn't pay she wouldn't go home. She had been crying a lot because of his threats and she was comforted to talk to us but they told us not to talk about the price to each other. They also came in and escorted us to bed so we would stop talking about things too... We were wondering if we would see her again or if they would move her and isolate us again.
Well the next day they wouldn't let us go to the Mountain together and separated us again during the day. We did get to see K-2 though which is the 2nd highest mountain in the world. Its was freezing though and there was tons of snow.
She ended up talking with an English couple who had also been scammed and were threatened too to purchase the package. We ended up talking about everything till 2 am. We even got to share the Gospel with here and talk to her about Christ!
Well today we made it to the airport finally. We realized that the Tourist Manager that forced us to buy the package was basically a Mafia Leader! Everyone else had to go through extensive searches by the soldigres but because he was with us we went right through. He bragged that he knew everyone in security and that the plane wouldn't leave without his permission!
Well at the airport we finally got to talk to the English couple (after the Crazy Mafia guy left us). Not only had they been threatened to buy the package like we had but they were told that he knew everyone in the police and security in the area and that if he resisted buying the package he would be beaten up and would never go home!
Well we made it to Delhi alive! We were so relieved. We felt like we had just been to Iran and were hostages. We are now in Agra the town with the Taj Muhal! We finally feel safe and are so glad to be back in normal India!
1 comment:
Dang....that sucks. Sounds like you guys should have skipped India and went straight to Kirkestan. I couldn't imagine being forced to have a good time at my own expense. Good thing Jesus has better things planned for you guys together. That's certainly one for the scrapbooks eh...not too many people get to reflect back on the time when they were being held hostage by an Indian Mafia Lord "IN INDIA"...well except for me when I used to work at an Indian movie theatre which was like India, but at least you guys got to experience it together. That's the good stuff.
Seriously, glad you guys are alright. I know I don't often write, but I check your blog frequently. Be safe.
Love Javier.
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