India snapshot (#4)
Although the visit of the Ranthambore National Park felt too much like a tourist trap, with dozens of jeeps and trucks criss-crossing the dirt roads at a density such that it is surprising they ever see tigers!, it was quite informative to observe the reactions (and plain colonial attitudes) of our fellow jeep passengers:
– (To me) Could you sit in the middle? I had the middle seat on the previous trip and I could not see a thing.
– (To the driver, after crossing a cattle herd) Now that we have seen these cows, could we please move somewhere where we can see some wild animals? Is this still the National Park? We are supposed to spend the visit in the National Park!
– (To the driver, as we were visibly heading back) Sir, we have paid till 10:30, there remains one hour, could we go somewhere else in the park and look for some wild animals? We should be given another chance to see tigers…
January 2, 2013 at 8:08 pm
Hey, tourists are obnoxious everywhere ;). What’s colonial about that? If you meant non-egalitarian, India had full control of that aspect long before the British came along. On an unrelated note, you may enjoy reading Basham’s classic book.