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 I was up to other than here:
- I’ve been back in Goa this week after the whirlwind that was England and Austria. We had so much fun and didn’t work a bit so it’s hard to go back to our computers… this week was lots of work because today I leave for the goMowgli tour, so I needed to have everything scheduled to go out while I was on the tour!
- I am SO excited for the upcoming 8 days with goMowgli and meeting some of the awesome girls who signed up… stay in the loop on my Instagram @hippieinheelsblog
- In blogging news, Travelnuity was nice enough to call me one of their favorite 10 bloggers & I contributed along with some other “experts” on India travel to this article written by Anna who is on the goMowgli tour with me: Top Female Bloggers Reveal Why they Love Traveling in India.
Now your story,
I fly a LOT.. and I often am flying within India or into & out of India. There’s something about flying here that drives me freakin’ nuts.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but whenever I talk about Indians cutting in line or being a bit pushy, Indians have commented it’s true and it’s because of years of needing to be first or you get nothing. They are just engrained to be like this. I KNOW it’s just the way things are and I’m totally cool with fighting someone over a nice carrot in the market or bumping my shopping cart into a guy who’s trying to cut to secure my spot. I know how to play the game, and I don’t get as mad anymore… except when I fly.
I guess I feel like when I’m flying, especially Internationally, people will be like “wow we paid a lot for these tickets, lets be good, follow the rules…” but I’ve seen people who somehow got cigs past security, light up on a plane. The rules don’t matter ;)
There are two things that kill me.
1) Disrespect to flight attendants. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say no, ignore, or laugh at an attendant when she tells them to turn off their phone. What!! It makes me wonder if flight attendants are considered like “staff” to take care of them, and therefore aren’t respected as much? Whereas in the US at least, it’s a nice job and actually quite coveted.
2) You have to stay seated until done taxi-ing. We are ALL getting off the plane. In fact, once we’re off we have to wait for everyone else to get on the little bus to take us to the entry of the airport most times. But, there is always that ONE guy who is like I’m gonna get my bag now (obvi so he has it and can just stand up right away and be in the aisle ready to depart, because that in itsself is a race) and not listen to any rules. The flight attendants are on top of it though. “Sir! You have to sit! No! Put it back!” It’s funny, but I feel bad for them because they know, there is always going to be that one guy. Who is this guy, and why does he feel above the rules?! I think I’m going to ask him next time.
This is India!
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Rachel, I absolutely agree! I lived in Goa for six months and did a fair bit of flying around India and it was the ONE frustration that I couldn’t just shrug off. Living in India is totally worth all the little annoying things though, it’s my favourite place in the world, and I miss it every day – but reading your blog posts help!
Yep, it really gets to me as well :/
Yes! So true! And the ridiculous thing is, when the seats are assigned, it’s not like pushing to get on is going to get you a better seat or anything! The worst thing I’ve seen flying into India was a guy refusing to fix up his child’s seatbelt when the attendant asked him to. She had to shout and him and demand that he did. For his child’s safety! I’ve never wanted to be a flight attendant anyway, but being one in India would be the absolute worst.
Hahahah love your observations!
Hehe! The Indians have nothing on the Bangladeshis standing up and getting there bags during taxi. Like everyone gets up. I felt stupid that I was still sitting there. Oh man, I heart South Asia!
Hahaha
Hi Rachel! I’m fe from the Philippines. I’m married to a Goan and currently in Goa for 2 months now. I’ve been coming back and forth when we used to work in Singapore. It was my first time to experience in a flight where the flight attendant shouted to the passenger on the domestic flight for standing and taking his bag and not waiting for the plane to come to a full stop.
Another thing that annoys me during a flight, is they dont mind about other passengers taking a nap and they just continue talking too loudly.
Glad you got to see the spectacle ! lol
Rachel, perhaps you can lead a movement to change behaviors starting with air travel.. Ure bound to become famous if u succeed and it’s possible.
haha this is the goal!
Haha we’ve been in India a month now and the constant race continues to make us laugh! We took an internal flight for the first time a couple days ago and noticed the exact same thing. But it’s on all modes of transport. The race to get on the bus, the race to get off. And the preparing to get off the Delhi metro the stop before they want to get off, even when they know the metro will be stationary at the platform for a whole 2 minutes.
lol we always say ‘rushing to go nowhere”
The UNITED airlines flight from Newark to Bombay uses the same senior flight attendants that must have been with the company for years.Either they have volunteered to work this flight because it pays better, OR it is because United needs them to keep the passengers in order. These flight attendants know what to expect. When it is time to board the plane, they just stand back and watch the stampede. And there always is a stampede: Pushing, shoving, Hurry, Hurry get on the plane. They did not try and maintain order. That is a waste of time.
On my first flight to Mumbai, while the passengers were being seated, I watched a flight attendant grab an old auntie by her ear and as she escorted the old woman off the plane. I heard her say to the old woman, “Oh no you don’t. I am in no mood for your shit tonight!” And that was that. I have no idea what the lady was doing to be booted off the plane (by the ear), but it pissed the flight attendant off.
Whats amazing is, with a stampede incedent happening, the United Airline (of all) dosen’t feel any kind of security threat with Indians ! :) Truly amazing.
lol you are SO SO right!! Those flight attendants kick ass – I have seen them tell a guy that if he doesn’t get his bag in and sit down that they plane won’t take off and he can just keep his ass in mumbai! hahaha
That is just so frustrating! Rude! Interesting about how it’s engrained in them.
Yep! Agree.
You are absolutely right when you say, there is this ‘ONE’ guy who always end up being like this. I have been flying across India and abroad for so many years … In the early 2000’s it was ‘EVERYONE’ doing this.. so it was way worse than now.
I do see a difference in the past few years especially with people following the “not get off the seat while taxiing thing”. But then there is always that ONE guy who would do it …
What is more annoying is that people starting their mobiles as soon as plane touches down and removing the seat belts. This behavior is still prevalent and many seem to do it unconsciously. We could easily make a single ringtone of the myriad sounds coming from the various cellphones starting and the seatbelts unlocking plus the announcement telling against doing this.
I must say that some people of India are brought up to be the most impatient citizens in the world but at the same time not exactly “time conscious”.
I’m glad to hear it has improved! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Rachel! First, I love your blog. I’m booking my flights to India on Monday and although I’m travelling with my boyfriend I hate being told I can’t do something because I’m a girl because it makes me want to do it more – your blog gives me extra courage. So I’m planning to fly to Kathmandu and go hiking for a couple of weeks (£700) and then travel by train & bus to Delhi, to Mumbai, to Kerala & Goa (most excited for that part) and then to finish in Sri Lanka. I’m working really hard and will hopefully have saved just over £5000 by January. If I’m travelling for 6 months do you think I’ll be rushing (as I don’t want to have to rush I want to explore)? And although you travelled for 6 months on £2200 exc. flights do you think £3600 will be enough as I know the South, especially Sri Lanka, can be more expensive.
Many thanks,
Don’t stop blogging, Louise xx
I do think it’ll be enough cash but take a credit card in case of an emergency – you should be fine though for sure. thanks for the comment and reading my blog!! :)
May I ask u one thing,in which state are u now
I am in Goa now.
I really like your blog maam, its really informative, i will come here regularly!
thanks :)
glad you like it