The train finally pulled into Bamgalore. We were never supposed to come to Bangalore, but Dr. Shanker from the Dakshin foundation was based there. Dr. Shanker has worked not exclusively on turtles for over 10 years, but an array of well structured marine conservation projects and scientific initiatives. Dr. Shanker would give us insight into conservation in India through his experiences, and also detail academically what is going on and what we should be aspiring towards.

The train station was a hack, for lack of any other word. It was also where my movie mind of India was realized. By this I mean, international movies in India focus on poverty, the slums etc. Despite Mumbai being the biggest slum in Asia, I saw more desperate people with honestly nothing on the pavement outside the train station in Bangalore than I have ever seen in my life. It was not disturbing, just a reality check. Bangalore is rather an ugly city with little more than nothing to do in it, well this was my impression at least. Taxis take delight in trying to rip you off but once wise to the system you can prevent blatant robbery. I lost my cool for I guess the first time on the expedition, which I was not proud of, as we always try Burt Manrow (watch the Worlds Fastest India if you do not understand), but this time I could not hold it in. We got in a taxi (rickshaw) and insisted the meter be switched on, which it dually was. We were traveling to the TATA Institute where we were to meet Dr. Shanker for the interview, having been there before I knew 54 Rupees and 7 km. Well our meter was attached to something else, as it ticked away at 100m intervals every 5 seconds. Surely we were not traveling 50 times faster than the world’s fastest sprinter when stopped at the traffic light. The meter raced on and when we arrived the bill was over 100 Rupees and we had apparently covered of 15 km in 12 minutes… do the maths…. I proceeded to shout out loud that the meter was incorrect, and that why does everyone in this ridiculous country have to be a thief. I said that he was an embarrassment to India, his mother and all Hindu’s… then I marched off after handing him the money. I did feel bad after the incident, as I hate getting angry, but fighting everytime a transaction occurs is exhausting and I had reached the end of my patience, based on the principle of constantly being screwed.

We had a fantastic interview with Dr. Shanker, who has worked hard and brilliantly of a range of conservation issues. We met again fantastic folks, scientists and students alike all interested and passionate about of wildlife heritage, once again I was in a good and calm mood listening and learning. After the interview Linda and I bought a cheap bottle of red Indian wine, and showed it no mercy in front of a scratch movie in our room…. How we long for our car, just 9 days to go J