An Afternoon at Bannerghatta

Sunday morning worship was followed by lunch and a trip to the Bannerghatta Biological Park outside Bangalore.  An excellent place to see tigers--including white ones--and other wildlife indigenous to India.  Just as interesting, however, was the display of an aspect of Indian human behavior.  Being squired with my Indian friend to the front of a long line of waiting people and then boarding the “safari” bus with him, I was immediately ushered to a seat in the front, next to the driver, from which I could more easily take photos; my friend found himself squeezed somewhere in the back of the bus.  At least one other Westerner was also relegated to the back so I discerned two factors for my promotion: I was a Westerner and I had a Nikon.  The relationship of these factors and my preferred seating quickly became apparent when the guide urged his offices as a photographer on me.  I permitted him to take some (now mostly deleted) shots on my camera knowing that meant “tip.” 

He was, I could tell, disappointed.  But I’ve been in India often enough to assess exactingly the value of unrequested services.  Nonetheless, I’m left with a nagging sense of guilt: I could easily have afforded more and there’s no doubt the marginal value of additional rupees would mean more to him than me.  So, readers, should I have forked over more money for the services for which I didn’t ask?