India 2024

DELHI
  • Delhi
  • Red Fort
  • Jama Masjid
  • Chandni Chowk
  • Raj Ghat
  • Gurudwara Shri Bangla
  • India Gate
  • Laxminarayan Mandir
JAIPUR
  • Road to Jaipur
  • Jaipur City
  • Amer Fort
  • City Palace
  • Palace of Winds
  • Birla Mandir
AGRA
  • Road to Agra
  • Chand Boari Stepwell
  • Agra City
  • Agra Fort
  • Taj Mahal
  • Mehtab Bagh
  • Baby Taj
VARANASI
  • Varanasi City
  • Sarnath Monastery
  • Sarnath Museum
  • Varanasi River Cruise

then (1974)

and

now (2024)

Preporuka:

Preporucio bih svim onima koji razmisljaju da posete Indiju (I, normalno da imaju mogucnosit) trebalo bi da to ucnine sto pre.  Indijci uvode mnoge restrikcije na mnogim lokacijama; te moze telefon a ne kamera, ili moze kamera a ne telefon, zabranjeno slikanje ovde, zabranjeno slikanje tamo, skidaj cipele ovde, skidaj carape tamo, ostavi to ispred vrata itd.  Nije problem ostaviti to ispred ali problem je ako se cipele, telefon, kamera itd ne nadju posle posete dzamije, muzeja… Ovo pogotovu sto svi upozoravaju da se cuvamo dzeparenja.  To je izgleda deo forklora.

Ovo sve moze biti jos gore. Cuo sam da ce pecine Elore I Adzante (moje najomiljenije destinacije u Indijui) biti zatvorene za publiku a da ce se ispred pecina prikazivati filmovi tj snimci iz unutrasnjosti istih sto ipak nije isto kao kada se to vidi “uzivo”.

Recommendation:

I would recommend to all those who are thinking of visiting India (and, of course, having the opportunity) should do so as soon as possible.  Indians are imposing many restrictions in many locations; Here you can take a phone inside but not a camera, there you can take a camera but not a phone, it is forbidden to take pictures here, it is forbidden to take pictures there, you must take off your shoes here, you must take off your socks there, leave it in front of the door, etc.  It's not a problem to leave it in front of the door, but the problem is if shoes, phone, camera, etc. are not found after visiting a mosque or museum... It's a reminder to everyone to beware of theft.  That seems to be part of the folklore.

All of this could be even worse. I've heard that the caves of Ellora and Ajanta (my favorite destinations in India) will be closed to the public, and that in front of the caves there will be shown films, i.e. footage from the inside of the caves, which is not the same as when you see it "live".

The first impression is that India (or at least the few places I've visited this time) hasn't changed much in the last 50 years since my first visit.

The difference that catches the eye is the new vehicles; mostly Suzuki (about 90% according to my estimation). The other 10% would be Toyotas, Hondas, etc. There are also more and more motor rickshaws, popularly known as "tuk-tuks," which seem to be the most popular type of taxi.

The crowd, smells, sounds etc. are almost the same as they used to be 50 years ago.

You can find out more about "Then (1974) and Now (2024)" here.

Prvi utisak je da se Indija (ili bar ovih nekoliko mesta koje sam sada posetio) nije promenila mnogo u zadnjih 50 godina (od moje prve posete).

Razlika koja pada u oci su nova vozila; uglavnom Suzuki (oko 90%, po mojoj proceni). Ostalih 10% bi bile Tojote, Honde itd. Isto tako ima sve vise motornih riksi, popularno zvanih “tuk-tuk” sto je, izgleda, najpopularnija vrsta taksija.

Inace guzva, mirisi, zvuci itd je skoro isto kao nekada.

Vise o poredjenju “nekad (1974) i sad (2024)” mozete naci ovde.

Traffic

In India, the driving code is to drive on the left side.  However, many interpret this rule as a "recommendation", so motorcycles and rickshaws go as pedestrians, i.e. as they wish, and it is not uncommon for cars and even buses to go that way.

The "participants" in the traffic are also cows (it is not uncommon for a herd of cows to rest in the middle of the road and normally, no one chases them, but everyone bypasses them), dogs, monkeys...

Camels are still used (for towing as well as for transporting tourists) as well as elephants. Elephants are used to transport heavy things as well as to transport tourists (females, as males can be disobedient).

With camels and elephants, there is a problem with "parking".

Saobracaj

Zvanicno, u Indiji vazi pravilo voznje levom stranom.  Medjutim, mnogi to pravilo tumace kao “proporuku” tako, da motori i rikse idu kao pesaci tj kako stignu a nije retkost da tako idu automobili pa cak i autobusi. Ovo vazi kako za gradsku voznju tako i za medjugradsku.

Inace, “ucesnici” u saobracaju su i krave (nije retkost da krdo krava odmara na sred puta i normalno, niko ih ne tera vec ih svi zaobilaze), kucici, majmuni...

Jos uvek se koriste i kamile (za vucu kao i za prevoz turista) kao i slonovi. Slonovi se koriste za prevoz teskih stvari kao i za prevoz turista (zenke, jer muzjaci mogu biti neposlusni).

Kod kamila i slonova javlja se problem gabarita tj problem sa “parkiranjem”.

Tipping

I've only heard "Baksheesh" (which used to be the most popular word) once.  TIPPING is now in fashion. Everyone expects to receive tip as "compensation for a service done".

  • Waiters, which is normal (but when issuing invoices, they emphasize that "service is not included").
  • Porters in hotels and airports. Some wear a uniform that says "no tipping please" but are more than happy if they get the money.
  • The agency that organizes a bus for a trip with a guide, driver and driver’s assistant (who mainly takes care of luggage, water, etc.) officially asks the passengers to provide a tip. (I must point out that our guide in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur did not insist on the tip and emphasized that we give a tip only if we are satisfied with the service done)
  • Many beggars ask for "money" at every bus stop: these are mostly children or women with small children in their arms.

I'm wondering where this is going to end. If a TIP is treated as a "compensation for a service done", it can reach a high level because, practically everyone does a favour.

Where is the red line between TIP for a service and corruption?  Which officials and politicians can accept tipping, and which cannot.

I'd like tips to be included in the price so I don't have to think about who I'm giving what, how much, whether they'll be happy or not. In addition, it is easier to plan the trip, avoiding unforeseen costs. 

Tipping (napojnica)

“Baksheesh” (sto je nekada bila najpopularnija rec) sam cuo samo jednom.  Sada je u modi TIPPING (napojnica). Svi ocekuju da dobiju tip kao “nadoknadu za ucinjenu uslugu”.

  • Konobari, sto je I normalno (ali obavezno, prilikom izdavanja racuna naglasavaju da “servis nije uracunat”.
  • Porteri u hotelima I na aerodromima. Neki nose uniformu gde pise “no tipping please” (Molimo vas ne ostavljajte tip) ali su vise nego srecni ako dobiju novac.
  • Agencija organizuje autobus sa vodicem, vozacem I vozacevim pomicnikom koji se uglavnom brine o prtljagu, vodi itd. Agencija zvanicno trazi od putnika da daju tip. (Moram da naglasim da nas vodic u Delhiju, Agri i Dzajpuru nije insistirao na tipu i naglasio je da damo samo ako smo zadovoljni ucinjenom uslugom
  • Brojni prosjaci kod svakog zaustavljanja autobua traze “money” (novac): to su uglavnom deca ili zene/devojke sa malom decom u narucju.

Razmisljam o tome, gde se to tj na kom nivou  tipping zavrsava? Ako se tip tretira kao “nadoknada za ucinjenu uslugu”, to moze da dosegne visoko jer, prakticno svako ucini neku uslugu.

Gde je crvena linija izmedju USLUGE I KORUPCIJE?  Koji sluzbenici I politicari mogu da prihvate tipping a koji ne.

Ja bih voleo da se sve ukljuci u cenu tako da ne moram da razmisljam kome sta dajem, koliko, hoce li bit zadovoljan ili nece. Sem toga, lakse je kod planiranja puta, izbegli bi se nepredvinjeni troskovi