Just when you think someone actually cares about you, you find out it's because they think they can make a buck.

Here it comes eh, the growing disillusionment, cynicism and finally, the anger "Thanks Kashmir! See you later! Fuck you too!". But I can see it crystal clear, and I am of the same persuasion ie not a big fuss-creator with the tendency to leak empathy until drained. And this is barge who grew up there and speaks the lingo fluently!!!!!

Let me tell you about a fantastic wee scam in Connaught place. I was walking through the pedestrian underpass, when a guy started perstering me to have my shoes cleaned. I refused and, as I started walking up the stairs, he pointed to my feet saying the shoes were dirty. Sure enough, there was what looked like a scoop of dog-shit on the end of one of my shoes. I turned to him and said 'ya I bet that fell from the sky' and I refused to give him the job of cleaning it, instead paying someone else to do it.

I love India, and eveytime I'm back, despite the changes and the insane rush to copycat the excesses of capitalism and gangster politics, I am always able to perceive the timeless quality of something that transcends it all. But the vibes in Delhi are not particularly nice - everyone for themselves, screw everyone else, 'where's MINE?' - for the most part.