Scammers and the Scammees that hate their F'ing guts

Hi, my name is Priya Rajkumar. I am a visitor in India. I sort of look Indian, but I REALLY look American. Because of this appearance, I get SCREWED BY THE CON ARTISTS HERE.

1. I took a rickshaw to work one day. The driver turns on the meter and then says, "100 rupees." I said, "METER." He continued to drive. Almost there, he takes a left despite my numerous "RIGHT LO RIGHT LO" shouting. Left means we are stuck in traffic and I see the meter go up and up and up. We can finally turn around and we get to my office. The meter says, 100, so I hand him the hundred bill. He says, "NO, 50 more." I just shake my head. He insists, but I walk away.

That was the nicest experience so far.

2. They raise prices according to the way we look. So far I have paid WAY more than anyone else would have to pay. I'm not buying anymore stuff unless it is REALLY cheap. Bangalore had prices on every item. Here there are no prices and you have to haggle to get close to a "decent" price. And let me tell you, it gets really tiring to haggle. And even if you haggle, you will pay a lot more than what the item is worth.

4. Everyone in Agra is affiliated with a shop. Our tour guide kept taking us to the most expensive marble places to buy marble inlaid with stone (which is the style of the region). Then he takes me to a jewelry store. Everyone knows each other. Every place is a piece of con artist crap. Our driver takes us to the most expensive tourist trap where I literally laugh out loud at the ridiculous prices.

5. No rickshaw driver in New Delhi turns on their meter, you have to haggle a price to get anywhere.

6. We finally leave New Delhi and Agra and at the Bombay domestic airport we try to get a cab to our apartment. Some guy comes up to us and says, "meter, meter," which is what I want, a gawddamn meter. Nope. We all get in and he takes out a "fare sheet" which he wrote up, and says, "450 rupees." WHAT?!? No. Gina starts yelling at him, "It says 350," which is STILL more than what it should be. But we are all totally tired and we say, FINE WHATEVER. So the bastard says, "Give me 500, I'll give you 150." He hands me a wad, which Gina counts and it is not 150. Then he says, "You didn't give me 500, you gave me 100, give me another." He took my 500 and changed it to a 100! We are getting so conned and we all start yelling and get out of the car. He finally hands me back the 500. The "HILARIOUS" thing is that there a policeman standing there, not doing anything.

I would have rather been hit over the head and my wallet stolen because at least I wouldn't feel stupid and tired.

Everywhere people are just trying to rip you off. I can never get into a cab or rickshaw without them assessing me and scamming me to get more than they EVER deserve. I cannot walk down the street without them raising the prices not by just double, but quadruple. AND BOMBAY ISN'T CHEAP TO BEGIN WITH.

I miss Bangalore.