One thing that has been sad to see in India is the beggars. Some are adorable children, others old women, and most of the rest are maimed. We're advised to simply ignore them but this is difficult. From what we've read, the children are run in gangs by adults who take any money the children are given. The children stand at intersections and pound on the doors of cars containing foreigners. If you're on foot and give money, you'll be surrounded by a mob of beggars who are said to distract you while picking your pocket once they see where your money is kept. The old ladies chase people! India produces superb female sprinters. We've ignored the beggars as advised but it seems cruel.
Something more on the irritating side is the con men. We were at a park yesterday and one targeted us like a heat-seeking missile. Before we could get away, he pinned an extremely cheap "flag of India" pin on Pati's shirt leaving two pin holes and a dark smudge with it while saying "Welcome to India!" He then asked us to sign his book giving our names and where we are from. The book was a handwritten page from a notebook with names, home countries, and donation amounts of as much as 5000 rupees ($125). When Pati declined the opportunity to donate and gave the pin back, he told us we must donate "for the poor" and he was "just doing his job."
About a minute later, a nearly toothless man "gave" us a one minute tour of a tomb we were passing through to get away from the con man. We didn't want the tour but I gave him 10 rupees anyway. He looked at it and said "Only 10, give me a dollar!" Even by US standards, the tour was barely worth the rupees we gave him. Pati and Beebee ignored his indignation and ran. We can sprint too!
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