Once i gave a guy who cleaned my room in Jaipur, 50 Rs, and his eyeballs almost started spinning in their sockets. After that, i couldn't get rid of the poor guy and he was always trying to carry my bag for me etc.
So i asked about tipping here...and i was told Inidan's don't tip, but i'd made the decision to tip at the places i'd been to...
The reason is, i found out the average wage for a standard member of hotel staff is about 150 - 200 Ruppees a day (i.e. just £2 - £2.50 a day). So most of that wage goes on food.. A roti on the street is 2 Rs...a cup of tea 5 Rs. Inflation is rampant here and low income earners really struggle.
Locals also told me that a veg Thali at a local resto is around 100 - 125 Rs. I'd been spending about £4 - £5 a meal !
Hotel staff also work 7 days a week and sleep at the hotel on the floor (except at 5 stars) until low season starts in March - October, when they take a holiday..so in my view if the service is good, they deserve a tip..
I noticed in Delhi, when i tipped the guy for bringing tea or a meal to my room, he'd take the note and do a mysterious wiggle with it ... fluttering it in one hand over his head and then secreting it into his shirt pocket in one fluid movement...
I even watched a fruit seller at the market do this, when i probably overpaid for a bag of fruit...i think this is to give them good luck for the day...
I once tipped in a restaurant in Goa and the guy was so delighted I jokingly told my companion he was probably going to put down a deposit on a house. The next day I noticed my holiday money was strangely depleted, realised my placing of decimal point error...hope he likes his new house.
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