Let's begin this way. We discovered we have basement. Yep, that wasn't bad it was thrilling because its approximately 15 degrees cooler down there at all points in time. So Sarah and I picked up our mattresses and moved em down to our swank new accomodations.

our basement abode

the steps to the our guesthouse basement

The good times however were not to last. I started feeling rather poor that night and by the time I went to sleep I was shivering furiously and extremely achey. Sarah assured that me it was in fact still above 80 F in the basement so I deduced (sorry been reading Sherlock Holmes) that I had fever of the highest order. I hoofed it back upstairs and collapsed on the couch for half the night where for once 91 degrees was a blessing.

The next morning I almost blacked out from dizziness, lack of breath and pounding in my head, while attempting to climb the stairs again, and decided I had better stay in for the day. I stumbled back downstairs and blacked out on my bed. I'm still feeling extremely week 24 hours later. So, you know all the symptoms. Bets on whether its malaria or not?

Five hours of sleeping later I decided I could handle a quick trip to the train station to reserve tickets for Mt. Abu (a hill station we are very excited to reach). This, however, turned out to be an entirely unpleasant hour and a half lesson on unsuccessful bureaucracies. To begin with, the reservation office was very allusive. After wandering aimlessly and constantly asking direction we walked out the train station and down a narrow road past residential neighborhoods, with passing Indians nodding and telling us "sita sita" (meaning go straight, straight) we finally reached an entirely separate building... and that's when the real frustration began.

We sat in line for at least 45 minutes but with only two costumers ahead of us. At first we thought an old woman in the front was holding up the line. But when our turn finally came it became very clear that it wasn't the 90 year old but the over-paid dick bureaucrat sitting in his airconditioned cubicle that was the problem. The man moved with the jolting speed of a sloth, conducted a friend's business while we stood waiting, and when the first train we asked for was full tried to pawn us off to another line until the blessed woman behind us castigated him in Hindi. He then proceeded to not read our form right, have us spell out our names twice (even though it was spelled in clear bold letters on our form). Then he left for a while. When he came back he was carrying another role of ticket paper. He didn't immediatly put it on though, favoring a chat with his friend next door for a minute or two. By the time I finally had my ticket in hand I had sweat a bucket.

If this wasn't a lesson in what complete job security, over pay, and no evaluation of work quality does to a bureaucracy I don't know what it. I've been repeatedly told that to get a government job here means you are SET. Its virtually impossible to get fired, it pays better than most, and there is good retirement payment. Not to mention that it is generally accepted that most government workers are expected to do virtually nothing. Whooeey. I will never complain about the school registrar again!

Aww well, I guess every day can't be a laze by the pool, but I could really just use a bowl of chicken pho, sushi, and real raised wheat bread to make things better.

Cheers

written by  Drie on April 12, 2008 from Jodhpur, India
from the travel blog: Adventures in Hindustan
Send a Compliment

---

So you are needing some of your dad's home made bread! It will for sure be int he oven when you arrive.
Hope you are feeling better. I am about to search for info on Mount Abu when I finish here. Love ya.

written by  Mom on April 13, 2008

---

It's not fair leaving folks hanging. Your aunt Mary was apparently convinced it was malaria since so much time has elapsed since your last blog entry. I know better, but still I am waiting with baited breath for what comes next. Love ya and miss ya.

written by  Mom on April 22, 2008

---

Aw Dana...I'm sorry you got so sick. I know how you feel :). I hope it wasn't too scary. And now you are better and traveling on your own! Yay! I hope you have an amazing time, truly. I can't wait to swap stories with you. Also, for the record, I miss wheat bread terribly too. My dad doesn't even make it fresh ;); I'd settle for Sara Lee.

written by  Margeux Clemmons on April 27, 2008

comment on this...