India Sound Bites
"20 Million people take the train
in India every day" - lame explanation by Leela Concierge about why
they didn't yet have our tickets
"pineapple pineapple pineapple" - vendor at Nandi Temple, Khajuraho
"Aspatagoose" (Asparagus) - Rachel Perl, tourist, Khajuraho
"This is a seatbelt" - Jet Airways flight instructions, as seat belts
are not all that commonly known to Indians
"Shool pen" - common request of children begging
Manpreet - woman at Oberoi investigating our use of airport transfers
and suspect in the events of 12-oct 4am
"No, I'm sorry sir, vee are manual here" - Jet Airways reception
attendant, Khajuraho - when asked to confirm a FF number
"It's like cattle with degrees" - British guest at Alsisar Haveli,
Jaipur, referring to Brides Wanted section in Sunday Times
"Barbie is an infidel slut" - Rick, re: news clip on a pious Barbie
alternative (Razanne)
"Two Shahms are better than one" - Jenny, re: drivers at Alsisar
"Have we been to any place that's not crappy?" - Rick
"Nine queens, nine bedrooms // palace is a poke house // new city - low
class" - Guide at Tiger Fort, Jaipur (Nhargath)
"Nice hat, but bad shoes" - Shoe vendor, Pushkar, Rajastan
(Windows chimes, AIM sounds) - used for announcements on PA's in
airports and train stations
"We know where it is - right over there" (gesturing) - Referring to New
Delhi train station at 5am on very nasty street, negotiating with
autorickshaw driver
"Get this for your wife, she give you three kisses" - Jeweler, Agra
"What's that smell?" (Rick) "Hmm - I have an idea..." (Jenny, glancing)
- Agra Train station
"Steek Kaart een zlot for multifoon" (Dutch sign - afterwards Jenny
says "it's like they take English and then make it sound ridiculous)
Jennifer Das - name seen on a man's nametag at the Leela Palace.
(Jennifer is not an Indian man's name either - I checked). It
wasn't a mistake either, he wore the nametag multiple days.