tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post8005914769969116191..comments2023-09-05T21:24:28.397+05:30Comments on BombayJules: The Mumbai Expat : Maximum ShockBombayJuleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13832768677477639407noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-55678771450287703942014-03-07T13:20:27.299+05:302014-03-07T13:20:27.299+05:30Hello! Thank you so much for writing what must be ...Hello! Thank you so much for writing what must be the longest comment BombayJules has ever received! It's so nice when people take time out to actually explain this to us bewildered foreigners. Well yes I agree about the white tax but the thing is - even though in terms of what we pay back home it is is less and yes, hopefully foreigner payments are going to the upkeep of historic sites and national park - the fact is that it becomes a principal thing. My husband has a PAN card because he is a tax payer here - he pays a lot of tax and still gets charged the higher rates of entry. We also patronise the same guys on the market and recommend our friends and we just want to be shown respect. But I know how we contrast with them and I shouldn't quibble (and usually don't I always walk away unless someone is being ridiculous). Anyway, I am sure it's not just foreigners - but the burgeoning middle and upper classes of India - at least they have the ability to haggle and argue...i do not! BombayJuleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832768677477639407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-32161186121301995172014-02-25T20:05:11.766+05:302014-02-25T20:05:11.766+05:30Hi Jules, you have written such a nice post and I ...Hi Jules, you have written such a nice post and I must congratulate you on not only understanding but also explaining the complexities of Mumbai in such a comprehensive way. Mumbai is a very tough place to live but yet the overall tone from your post was positive and appreciation towards her :-)<br /><br />I think, regarding the "white tax" thing :-), I could be wrong but I think it has a lot to do with being a non-local to that area. You will find this to be prevalent all over India. I have lived in Bangalore and being from hindi heartland :-) I couldn't speak the local language. The street vendors would get that in no time and hence would charge extra :-). Even in my town where I live now, the taxi drivers (especially the ones near auto stands, the local ones know that I am a local) would ask me to pay more than double of what would be a regular fare. And then I would have to tell them that bhaiya I know this place is this much kilometers from here and I know the fare :-). However at night time we still have to pay nearly double of what would be the regular fare but that is another issue. <br /><br />My point is and again I could be wrong and it may very well depend on personal experiences but street vendors and taxi drivers especially are going to charge you a hell lot more if they can sense you being a non-local to the area/city. And they are also likely to charge someone more if you happen to come from upper middle/rich class (they can sense that by just the way you speak and the clothes you wear, my personal experiments ;-). So you can now guess why this "white tax" thing is, as a lot of "whites" :-) are assumed, not necessarily it should be the reality but they are assumed to be rich and from outside by these vendors. It is definitely wrong, but it doesn't stem out of any kind of hatred or dislike. Its a bad and unethical practice of business, but you know when even the big corporate houses in India are notorious for their unethical business, you can't blame the poor ones :-(<br /><br />Also regarding the heritage sites, I read it somewhere which I cannot recall and I could again be wrong, but whatever money you have to pay as entrance fee or in whatever form, that money directly goes for the preservation and maintainance of that site. It doesn't go to the govt. And both Indians and Non-Indians have to pay the same amount, but the Indian govt. subsidizes either a part or full of that amount on behalf of Indians. <br /><br />Loved reading your blog Jules, enjoy your life in India :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-82696409120288542692013-11-22T16:26:42.360+05:302013-11-22T16:26:42.360+05:30Thanks VJ!Thanks VJ!BombayJuleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832768677477639407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-61780702874129333572013-11-20T18:02:31.981+05:302013-11-20T18:02:31.981+05:30Loved reading this post ... despite having no plan...Loved reading this post ... despite having no plans to ever move to India, although definitely plan to holiday sometime in the next few years! What an insight into Indian life ... Vintage Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695570690989980599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-76179720739014006992013-11-07T23:29:36.270+05:302013-11-07T23:29:36.270+05:30I always tell foreigners not to pay the children b...I always tell foreigners not to pay the children begging for anything from money, pens, biscuits, etc. Giving them food is fine. "One Photo Please" is the common request from young males usually asking foreigner females for a picture with them and sometimes they become difficult to get away from so avoid them at all costs. Or like you mentioned they will send one of the group close to you as if they are clicking him when actually they are clicking you!!! Highly avoidable!!!Aadil Desaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01269350305126694091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-16107882246743799342013-11-07T09:47:47.742+05:302013-11-07T09:47:47.742+05:30Thanks Terra - and good luck with that book althou...Thanks Terra - and good luck with that book although suspect it would get lost in the post to India!BombayJuleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832768677477639407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6209917895693447861.post-6065634806462670492013-11-06T22:06:57.206+05:302013-11-06T22:06:57.206+05:30I read this post with interest and learned a lot. ...I read this post with interest and learned a lot. I live in California and have no plans to move to India but find your posts fascinating. On my blog I am giving away a copy of the book I co-authored about Christmas.Terra https://www.blogger.com/profile/04396481049075747940noreply@blogger.com