Great Tip On Traveling In India

Something to keep in mind from C.J. I love reading his travel journals as I hope to get to India soon myself. But this is something to keep in mind:

"Note: never tell a driver where you plan on staying, even if you have a reservation-- they get commission and you get the bill; or you are refused admission by the owner. Always have them drop you off at a common point and walk to your intended place of accomodation. Trust me."

I do trust him--taxi drivers can be shady. I hate taking taxis, mostly because I feel that they rarely can be trusted. While this doesn't happen in Chicago, it happens too often that I have to tell my driver where my destination is.

But it's not all bad -- sometimes it can be a fascinating cultural experience. When the cabbie isn't on his cell phone, I like to ask about the best place to get a meal of the country where he comes from. I now know numerous locations in Chicago that are ideal for fresh goat thanks to many conversations with Ghanese, and my favorite yet was talking to a Persian whose family lived in Bombay.

And of course there was the guy who, before dropping me off, asked if I wanted to refinance my mortgage. (Note to self: if a cabbie offers to sell you complex financial products, it probably means there is a bubble brewing.)

The world is more complicated and beautiful than we expect.