Sep 23 2007
Courteous Indians
In the last survey conducted by some organization (can’t remember), Malaysia was regarded as rude and lack of courteousness. For once, I protested, and thought we are a courteous bunch of people.
In this 3rd trip to New Delhi, I finally learnt what courteous means…
After registering at the hotel, the front desk instructed a guy to escort me to my room. There are people from concierge to take care of my luggage, but this guy’s duty is to ensure that I get into the room safety and that the key works. No doubt, I’m sure he expects to be tipped, but the tipping amount expected is usually small, not even half a dollar!
When the hotel car dropped me at my office, I asked which direction I should go (there are 2 blocks and within the same block there are 2 wings). After telling me, I was actually quite clear of the way, but the driver went an extra mile by asking an office worker there to escort me to my office. Well, actually I was extremely uneasy with this, as I seldom trouble others and I can handle it myself! 
And the next day morning, while I was waiting for my colleague to pick me from the hotel, the hotel’s travel manager came asking whether I needed my office drop, as he recognized me from the day before!
In my office, the office cleaner was extremely friendly. He served me drinks, helped me with the electric sockets, etc, without me even asking!
My colleagues are also very courteous. They offered to make arrangements for me to visit Taj Mahal, as I’ve never been there (so sad, three times here still miss it). I didn’t take the offer coz I have too little time to go – it needs a 1-day trip.
This is definitely a more pleasant trip, and I felt being treated like a VIP. 
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Think there are rude and polite people in every race and society. Some of the rudest ones I have ever met were Chinese :}