Notes from journal - 2008Monkey business and Panda Scams - pronounced Pawn-duh
Our journey to Braj from Delhi was very pleasant and for the most part uneventful save and except for getting started. One hour in India means two hours and two hours means 3-4 hours. The "Counting Translation Story" will come later.
Monkey Business
I noticed that Poverty in India has created unusual ways to make a buck. Nobody is starving but there is widespread poverty.
When coming to a complete stop at a toll bridge our driver got out of the taxi which was immediately swarmed with young men selling what looked like plastic necklaces and other worthless novelty items. Trademarked Made in China. I was struck with wonder because India has such a large unemployment rate, why would the Manufacturer of these Indian styled novelties out source them ? Then it hit me like a brick. China cloned them and are selling their copied version at a much cheaper rate. Even the poor Indians feel the economic pressure caused by the Chinese.
I was thinking about that when a monkey jumped in the car window nearest to me and startled the heck out of everyone in the car. Monkeys are known to snatch eye glasses and any other loose item , then they run off with them and you will never see them again. No pun intended. I quickly closed the window leaving it opened just enough as not to smash the little rascals toes and fingers. This allowed him to hang on the window long enough for both of us, the monkey and myself, to get a very close look at each other, eyeball to eyeball . I said to the funny little monkey; "you should watch out for your toes, they could easily have been smashed ". At that exact moment he jumped down. I noticed he was attached to a long rope and at the other end a young man around 18-19 said; "picture !!??? TAKE PICTURE WITH MONKEY - 1 dollar". As I looked around I noticed about 7-13 other men and boys walking their captive monkeys toward the many cars getting ready to stop . If they can get a dollar from 50 cars in one day it would be a very sizable amount. There's definitely no shortage of customers for the traffic is endless.
A Nice Visit
The following day we went to Radha Kund to visit some friends. They had prepared a very wonderful lunch consisting of coconut salad, pumpkin dahl, a sweet vegetable. They sprouted wheat berries then ground them into flour, then adding water making them into dough for chapattis. They cooked them outside over a wooden fire. Rice was also served and some Brijabhasi sweets, lugdo and gulab jamin, devotee favorites. After enjoying the meal we then read from Sri Prabodhananda's book in glorification of Sri Vrindaban Dham. Prabhodhananda prabhu is none other than Tungavidya Shaki. The mood was very pleasant and all the devotees were feeling transcendental bliss. After the meal we went for a walk around the back of the house down a side street toward Radha Kund. My traveling partner was walking up front with the others and I was bringing up the rear with our driver.
The Panda Scam .......
At Holy places there's what's called Pandas. A Panda is a person who can explain the holy sites to you. Most of these guys are crooks and are not really Pandas and if they say anything at all , they demand rupees. In any event I was chatting with the driver and I saw my friend fall into a Panda rupee trap and it ended costing over 500 rupees. I said to the driver as soon as the panda speaks he demands rupees. IT IS AGREED BY ALL that these guys should be avoided . When going to a holy place go with a Friend\Guide who is a resident and can speak the local language to ward off these guys. This reminded me of plunders that roamed the streets during the 70-? just ripping people off. It is common sense that when you rip someone off they will be upset with you and your organization but their idea is; "IT'S OK, THEY'RE JUST KARMEES and its for their own good". What nonsense; but that was then and these rupee monsters are now. They do seem to have the same mentality as the plunders. I have also noticed that some European and Westerners who have lived in India for a long time begin to display this Pawn-Duh and monkey business mentality.
More thoughts on Pandas ......
The Scamming Pandas see the tourist "especially the non-Indian" as targets of opportunity and will show you nothing and tell you very little about a holy place and will demand a large donation. They know you are "with wide open eyes" in awe of the place and exploit your devotional sentiments but that is your own naivety. In my opinion it is nothing more than robbery. Again a genuine Panda is an honest and kind person generally born and raised at that holy place and we must show him or her a great deal of respect. Have knowledge of where you are visiting so you can ask good questions and get your rupees worth.
Shadow Pandas should be respectfully avoided.
