Some business associates of mine who do business in Asia have described India as one of the most backward places they’ve ever seen. Even the Indian ones would prefer not to do business there.
And yet plenty of our companies can’t wait to move IT jobs there to unqualified, but cheap of course, call center monkeys - probably many of the same ones squatting al fresco.
Let’s be honest - many of their countrymen who come to the States have some of these same (read: lower) standards of hygiene. And many of these new arrivals are buying up hotels and motels and applying this same standard of cleanliness which is to say no standard at all.
ANYTHING that costs money - A/C, water, soap, etc. will be rationed as if the war were on. These are some grasping, greedy buggers.
I booked a room at what was ostensibly a chain hotel owned by one of our Indian friends. It was an absolutely shocking experience...I opened the hotel door, saw the state of the room, turned on my heel and checked out. Of course, Srini at the front desk frowned and muttered something about a ‘minimum charge.’ I told him my credit card company would most assuredly take my side and that he could get stuffed.
I went to India last year and as the plane descended, I saw the largest slum I had ever laid my eyes on. Before the plan touched down, I wanted to turn back. Weirdest place on earth.