Page 36 - Seniors Today -Volume no1
P. 36
Travel Tales
Just how do we change this Pehchaan of Indians?
We are like this only, but it’s no excuse for bad, boorish, rude behaviour. Vickram Sethi takes
a close look at why ‘desi’ is the new four-letter word, in an open letter to Swiss Tourism
brand ambassador Ranveer Singh.
Switzerland is swamped by Indians
Dear Ranveer, gets offensive. This is a normal scenario in
You make India proud. The fact that you are economy class.
the Switzerland Tourism’s brand ambassador We are compulsive talkers and regale each
is itself amazing. Earlier, only the very very other with stories of our lives and of the
rich Indians visited Zurich, Zug and Zermatt anticipated trip. Each one of us knows of
and ate pseudo-Indian food at The Hilti. some very special place where the shopping is
Thanks to you Ranveer, all that has changed. cheap etc, etc. If all this is not enough there is
Last year, it is estimated that 350,000 Indians the loud talker behind you, who feels the need
visited Switzerland - the saviours of the Swiss to share every detail of the current political
tourism industry. The Swissair flights on situation. You want to turn around and say
the India sector have air hostesses well past “Man, shut the heck up”. Keeping our voices
their prime and who in previous jobs have at a reasonable level is basic travel etiquette
been matrons at delinquent boys’ schools. which we lack. I can see it coming when the
Announcements in four languages extending person in the next seat smiles at you. After the
a warm welcome to platinum, gold, silver, tin, basic pleasantries, it becomes increasingly
copper, turquoise and rusted steel members obvious that they want to talk and I simply
cruising etc, etc. The flights are chock-a-block. don’t have the energy for that. I pretend not to
I have great regard for families travelling notice and fall asleep.
with young children but it’s a horror story Nevertheless, thanks to you Ranveer, we are
when parents allow their kids to run up everywhere from the big cities to the small
and down the aisle, thinking nothing of the towns of Gstaad, Sannen, Montreux and
inconvenience to others. Or a kid next to you Rosemont; and in the trains our theplas,
playing Mario Kart constantly beeping and bhakarwadi and chivda come out of the bags
booping. You ask the flight attendant to tell so that everyone can partake of the treasury of
the kid to turn the volume down and the chap olfactive sensory delights.
SENIORS TODAY | Volume 1 | Issue 1
