India Plans

Since I'll be in India for two weeks I've been trying to plan a side trip to see the Taj Mahal one weekend. I figure what else have I got to do, hang out in the hotel? I'm going with a co-worker for just a quick trip. Its been interesting planning our travels there. We've been told repeatedly that its best to hire a private driver as opposed to a taxi in India. So we contacted a co-worker recommended to us who lives in New Delhi and asked for some help with our plans and they totally offered for us to use their personal driver for the day when we are in town for free! Seriously amazing to have a private driver take us the 2-3 hours to Agra from Delhi and not have to pay for a train ticket or out of our own pockets. How cool is that? This guy doesn't even know us! He also offered to kick his kids out of their rooms so we could stay at their house if we couldn't get a hotel. Not too mention another person in our Bangalore office has already said they could help us go to a nearby city for a sight seeing tour on their day off. Again someone we've never even met.

It's just one more way I've noticed how hospitable people are when we come to visit them. Random strangers who only know your name are willing to take you places and drive you around. It makes me realize how inhospitable I can be. Especially here on the West Coast at times. When I was in Memphis I was treated extremely well. We can be pretty aloof, and protective of our off work time. Its made me realize that when people come to visit the US I need to go to out of my way to offer my help if they need it.