Getting lost in India for three hours gave me a deeper understanding of the wealth inequality in the country.
◦ Mysterious Indian Address
Before heading to my guesthouse in Varanasi, the landlady provided me with what seemed like a "complete" English address. After entering it into Google Maps, the map pointed out the exact location, and I set off with complete confidence. Little did I know, my three-hour adventure was just beginning after getting out of the tuk-tuk.
First, I tried to think logically, following the way I would navigate in Taiwan: "XX Road, YY Number," so the house should be on XX Road, right? As I walked along the road, things started to feel odd. I couldn't help but wonder, "Why does this building say 10, but the next one is 28/155?" "All the doorplates here are in Hindi, what number is this?" (India has its own script for numbers, and some Indians prefer using their script over Arabic numerals).
Well, I'm good at asking for help and seeking assistance from locals. I quickly approached someone who seemed familiar with the area. When I handed over my phone, their reaction to the English was similar to mine when I encountered Hindi - a puzzled expression and vigorous head-shaking. After several unsuccessful attempts, I remembered my experience in Mumbai with tuk-tuks. Due to a lack of education among the general public, many people may struggle with reading Hindi, let alone English.
◦ Stereotypes That Helped Me Solve the Puzzle
Once I realized this, my next goal was to find someone who appeared to be "well-educated." In other words, someone who seemed wealthy or wore glasses, giving the impression of being well-read. This time, I approached a gentleman dressed in clean white attire, covered in gold necklaces, and wearing multiple golden rings on his fingers. As expected, this gentleman quickly recognized the address and directed me in the right direction. I have to admit that sometimes stereotypes can be quite useful!
After finding the hidden guesthouse in the winding alleys, I finally understood the meaning of the English address: "AA Area, BB Road, CC Number." It meant that not only did you need to find the road, but you also had to find the area within it and then find the location based on the number.
This foreign adventure of getting lost not only helped me understand the logic behind India's regional divisions but also gave me a deeper appreciation of the cultural impact of wealth inequality.