I have mixed feelings about this tour. I was met by Balla who was feeling ill and introduced to his ‘brother’ Shiva. Both were friendly and I had met them the day before along the chats (separately to finding them on guru walk). The tour didn’t follow what was written here, but since I was on my own I feel as though we went where I asked and where my heat limits could take me! I was extremely hot and sweaty and Shiva took his time and we sat and stopped for water and chai as needed which slowed the tour timings down. We went to the smaller burning ghat which was a very moving and interesting experience. We went to another temple where I was asked for small donations. I’m glad we went out to the universities, that was interesting to get out of the city and to see the larger temple which was a much less hassling experience. Shiva paid for all tuk tuks and chai throughout the tour. Past these bits, I felt as though i was then taken to places where the guide got commission and I was asked to spend money. I didn’t feel pressure from the guide but I did from the people at the places I went, one of which was an astrologer who I spent nearly £100 with. This was my mistake and something I shouldn’t have let get pressured into. It was something I was mildly interested in but I think it was poor communication as it’s not somewhere I expected to be taken. There was also a perfume/oil shop which again was lovely but I felt pressured to buy something that I will probably end up throwing away. The saving grace was that since it was Diwali I was invited to lunch the following day. I went to Shiva’s home, ate with his family, his daughter made some henna on my hand. This was a nice experience. I am not sure if money was expected here but I didn’t give any. Ultimately throughout the course of both days the conversation steered towards money a lot. How much Indians make, how much things cost. I think it is just part of the culture but it made me question the motives of the guides and their set up. I would have preferred a modern guide who steered me against things like that. I also felt, when checking information the guide gave me with others, that the amounts he told me were acceptable to pay were way higher than the actual rate. For example with tuk tuks and henna etc. I feel he did this to inflate my expectations of what to pay him. If you are nervous about going into temples and wandering the ghats alone, then take a guide but if you are happy to look and ask and find then you will probably have a nicer, calmer time and feel less taken advantage of if you go alone, in my opinion.
