Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.
What else I’ve been up to:
This week I’ve been up to nothing outside this site in terms of writing! I’ve had loads of massage appointments come through all week, so as I type this I’m laying on the couch waiting for MY masseuse to get here and fix me. I also played with an abandoned baby monkey who needs a babysitter until September.. Ben is with the monkey now, Nassi, and obviously wants to keep her. I’m also started a NEW business but that’s still a secret for now ;)
Now for your story!
We had just ordered our food at a nice restaurant. The waiter was just the nicest guy ever. It was raining and we were having a cup of hot tea.
The waiter came up to us with a huge smile and a cage… with a rat in it.
“Look madam, nice mouse, we just caught him!”
He was standing behind Ben and Ben was facing me. He silently mouthed, “what the fuck?” while I gave a huge smile back and said, “he’s really nice, are you keeping him?”
The waiter explained he was just going to go let him out somewhere else.
Now, I know some people would get upset about a rat (or the cutest mouse in India; it’s debatable) in the restaurant or even one being brought up to the table while you’re about to eat, but this guy was just so nice and I hate to make people feel embarrassed. For example, even when someone says something incorrect, I am not the type to call them out I just go along with it. I went along with this too.
The waiter walked off with his 8 inch “mouse” and we later enjoyed a delicious dinner.
This is India!
Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.
feature image source.
LOL! Thankfully I’ve never experienced this before!
haha yeah, I doubt many have!
somewhen in the 80s, in a restaurant in Baga, I saw a big cockroach in my wife´s
whatever-masala. but I knew their greasy kitchen already and was not to be surprised.
we both liked the food they served and kept on eating there..
haha nice!
Wow – that’s a different kind of show and tell!
lol, yes it was unusual
I would have squealed! I hate rats!
haha it was hard not to!
As long as it is not in your food, it should be ok :-P
agreed :)
I can’t say I’ve ever heard of an employee being proud that their restaurant has rats! Haha!
haah it’s a new one!
Ha! I would have loved to be there! I’m not so freaked out about critters being around either–it happens. It’s natural. Although that’s not to say that it isn’t something that should be guarded against, if possible! I would have just laughed and told him how cute he was. I’m a big animal lover–I caught a rat running around the daycare center when I was five. It was one of the pet white ones with red eyes (it had snuck out in the early morning, somehow). Some people have a phobia about rats–obviously I don’t. ;D
haha aw, cute that you caught one as a kid! I actually don’t like the white rats because their eyes scare me but this was a big fatty like the ones I see in Bombay! more like a small cat haha
Another great India story Rachel! But I am SO squeamish when it comes to rats, I don’t think I would have been able to be as cool as you were, I might have squealed, and even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to stop my face giving me away! :)
hahah yes it is hard, but I think I see so many shocking things I’m good at the poker face these days!
Unbelievable!
Are you sure that guy wasn’t trying to shock you and get a reaction from you?
As someone who just got back from India last night, I hope none of my waiting staff were of a similar mind.
hahah no I don’t think so! He was smiling and very proud! It was really cute actually.
hi rachel,
about that mouse…in vietnam he’d be on the menu.as we’ve seen.best to you.
haha ew, that’s an interesting meal!
Way to be able to go with the flow! I have no idea how I would have reacted in that situation. Wait…You guys have a pet monkey!?
hahahh a pet monkey, well no- but ben babysits a monkey and I go sometimes. There’s a place nearby that has like 40 and the babies can’t be left alone AT ALL for a YEAR!! so they need people to come, and in monsoon there are no people! so yeah, the baby is Nissa and she’s so cute
I thought that was a really cute story. I think rats are actually cute, but am unfortunately very allergic to them.
Thanks for another “This is India!” story – keep them coming!
oh wow, not a bad thing to be allergic to lol!
Depends on how you look at it. ;-) I like rats, and used to have a friend who had a pet rat I looked after from time to time.
Agreed, rats and most other animals are cute and I wouldn’t mind seeing that “mouse” myself.
Pahahah your reaction – you’re definitely immune to India moments like this now!
Can’t wait to hear about your business!
hahah yeah I am a little immune!
That is so out there Rachel and so funny. I hate rats but I don’t mind mice, and don’t get me started on monkeys. Everywhere I go, they follow, and they know!!!
haha how funny! I have a post coming up soon about babysitting some monkeys :)
I’m totally the same- I would just smile and look interested even though I’m really thinking wtf..? Ha. Very interested to find out more about your new secret business.. :-)
Yes, well everythign takes ages to get started in india so it’s a slow process. You may be waiting to find out for a while lol!
LOL! So I just read all the ‘This is India ‘Posts and just love them. # 9 with the rat was hysterical! I would of said exactly what Ben said! Im still laughing. I hope to meet you two some day. I hope to be on the road myself soon! Keep up the good work, Rachel !
I’m do glad you like them! thanks for the comment :)