Sunday, January 11, 2009

Gurgaon Totally Sucks

I can't stand Gurgaon. It's such a wannabe Western city without any infrastructure. The only way to get a cab is to call on the phone and reserve one. There is no information on any possible public transportation, the roads all look alike and have no signage, and there are these hideous malls everywhere. I can't figure out the buses, and I'm not sure how to catch an autorickshaw. None of them speak English so I can't ask them if I can hire them to take me from point A to point B like they do in Mumbai, or if they have specific routes like they do in Kolkata. It's just not a friendly place. Even the beggars here are nasty. They'll bang on your windows and spit at you if you don't give them money. Very aggressive. And I thought the beggars in Kolkata were bad... The ones here are like gangbangers on crack compared to Kolkata.

There's a ton of construction going on, a metro being built, and the roads are in terrible condition. The frameworks of buildings under construction are on every street, the access roads torn up for new drainage pipes. I have no idea where a post office is. No idea where to buy packing materials to send out a package. Everything has to be done with a local accompanying you - you'll never find the place even if you have the address.

Whenever I want to spend time with friends we end up in South Delhi or somewhere around CP. There's nothing to do out here except shop or go to the movies, and there's no green spaces to let the dog run.

I've lived here since June and I STILL don't have proper cooking gas installed in my home. My electricity goes out at least ten times a day, even with a backup generator. The building complex where I live is poorly built and barely maintained. My landlord and his local representative are completely unresponsive. My apartment has two bathrooms and both of them are never working at the same time.

The servants hired by the company I work for haven't lasted more than a month at a time. One of them was responsible for letting a large piece of wallboard fall out of his window and it crashed through the back window of a car fourteen floors below. It could have killed someone. The owner of the car wanted 20,000 rupess to pay for the window. My go-to guy at the office came over and negotiated it down to 4,500. He kept saying that I was an American and I could certainly afford to pay. I think this same servant is responsible for the death of my cat as well. He kept leaving the door to the flat open, and my cat got loose and was killed by stray dogs that roam outside the building. The servant that I found through another expat was hired at an exhorbitant price. (Rs. 18,000/mo - more than twice the amount I pay in salary for link builders in my office.) She just gave her notice today because she wanted another 2,000 rupees for conveyance - that was on top of her uniform fees, holidays, two weeks paid vacation, and medical bills.

We get complaints from our neighbors all the time. They claim we throw our garbage out the windows, we make a lot of noise, that our dog causes a lot damage, they're always gossiping about us. I told someone that I lived at Princeton Estates and he said, doesn't that place remind you of the movie "The Grudge"? Yeah, it does. There's a weird vibe to the place. Another expat said he doesn't like coming to visit me because Gurgaon feels like it "isn't supposed to be there... looks out of place". Even the security guards are nasty.

My son says "Gurgaon is a city in denial about itself". My parents thought it was awful too, when they came to visit. They never even bothered to leave the house because there was nothing of interest to them here. Though many residents think it's paradise but I'm still searching for an oasis in this desert.

34 comments:

  1. So...do you miss Kolkata?

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  2. Absolutely. I don't miss the humid weather, I don't miss the diesel fueled air pollution, but everything else. It's a vibrant place, with plenty of things to do ans places you can go where not everyone is hassling you.

    I plan to return if at all possible.

    -- Jeanne

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  3. Just like United States sucks for Indians who are treated as third class citizens over there.
    Just like US sucks for every Muslim who is and will be branded as a terrorist, no matter what.

    Fair deal, eh?

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    Replies
    1. Do not give titi for tat reply. Accept the reality as is.

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  4. Bit of a generalization, wouldn't you say? I worked with plenty of professional Indians in the high tech industry. Many India-trained architects are prized in the U.S. because they're trained not only as architects but also as structural engineers.

    I don't think India sucks, I love India. It's just Gurgaon that sucks. I've lived in three cities now, Mumbai, Kolkata and now Gurgaon and Gurgaon is, by far, the worst.

    If you move as an Indian to the U.S., and live in an urban center, you'll find internet access to information for all your utilities, public transportation routes, google maps & directions. You can review typical apartment rentals and real estate properties with contact information. There are literally thousands of groups you can join to meet other Indians.

    It's usually easier for Indians because they typically aren't moving to the U.S. without understanding English. Here every state is a new language.

    Don't lump all Americans as racists. True, there are uneducated masses who listen to and believe Bush' war mongering and propaganda, but there's been a huge backlash. Many people are involved at the grass roots level and that's why Obama won the presidency. I'm hoping his presidency can bring about significant change and bring cultures together.

    If you look at Europe, there's a much more vocal attitude against immigrants. The Repatriation Movements in countries like the U.K., France and Germany are growing in strength every day. Even the U.S. is suffering from anti-immigration groups, but the pro-immigration groups are just as strong. It was a huge point of debate during this past presidential election.

    Not all Americans are racist. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. It's a beautiful religion that preaches peace. It's the fanatics of ALL religions that preach hate, death and war against all non-believers. Maybe we should just ban organized religion? :-)

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    1. Great :)
      But you don't know India Has ruled by Britishers , And the time of freedom is just less , alomst 60 years.
      Not like your America who Independent by 200 years.
      And whats not in India who American and Japanese Have.

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  5. As i am Indian and very familiar with NCR but i don't like Gurgaon any more because here everywhere is construction is going on, dust is everywhere, auto riksha is not in good condition, Driver fill the riksha as many they can. It's totally Untolerable condition but after 4 or 5 years this city going to beat other top cities of India.

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    1. sadly its 2017 and it still sucks eggs ans will continue to do so till the day people here learn some moral values and ethics.

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  6. Kapilver:

    I'm glad to hear that Gurgaon will improve in 4 to 5 years, but I'm not willing to wait that long. Life's too short. :-)

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  7. Rouf:

    I'm a big fan of Eminem's music and the first thing I thought of when I read your post was, "word to yo mutha, beyotch." (urban American for I agree.)

    I'm hoping things are better here in 2009. I really, really do.

    later.

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  8. Come back to Kolkata, there's a great startup scene happening here. I think the grassroots tech folks are just waking up, they're not going to leave it to the big boy old fart club anymore. Plus there's a new young generation of engineers, coders, programmers who are going to be rocking the scene. And bitching about Kolkata otherwise known as adda is a must, everyone does it, and everyone love the city. There's some collective bonding thing that happens in India when you bitch and gossip, I'm starting to understand that. And we have horse races! :-) There's more social and cultural events happening here than I can handle, that says a LOT!

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  9. How do I get in touch with these young turks and would they be willing to pay me for my background? Startups are my specialty, girlfriend, and I love the chaos. where on line do they go to hire someone? Monster, Naukri, & TimesJobs are all so over...

    Later.

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  10. last sunday one freind of mine witnessed a grusome incident.... Sunday morning 6 A.M., a woman-labourer was mowed down on the toll expressway and 5 vehicles after the culprit vehicle made mincemeat of her body in quick succession... like a dog on the road.
    Such development, a 32 lane expressway without an overbridge or underpass to cross over!!! Such an incident has not seen any heads roll.Sigh!!

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  11. hi Jeanne, a friend forwarded your blog to me. We used to live in Gurgoan for 3 years, and now just on our way out. I totally share your frustrations. If you are still looking for a maid, I shall highly recommend our maid who we hired after having a dozen maid changed. She is very good comparing to the others. You can call me at 011-2611 2233 room3202. We're leaving tomorrow. Good Luck. Laura Ford

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  12. Thanks, Laura. My maid and I had a heart-to-heart, and now she'll be hiring a second person herself to do all the hard work while she does the shopping and cooking and won't be raising her fees for now. Thanks for the information. :-)

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  14. Global Adjustments:
    This is typical of what I expect in India. I clicked on your name to visit your blog - no profile. You don't list a web site, just a phone number, local at that - no +91 for those still in process who could really use your services. If you ARE truly global, you would have a web site (preferably in multiple languages) SEO'd for proper search engines, a blog with case studies or basically examples of client requests and how you helped them, perhaps testimonials as well.

    I'd have sections on how to move kids, how to move pets, how to order utlities, do's and taboo's in your new location, day trip partners that enable new families to see Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, etc.

    To be a leader in the industry, I would also enable users of your service to host their blogs in your site and you marketing their blogs as well. Major traffic and PR rank on search engines that is extremely targeted for your market.

    Internet marketing is the cheapest form of marketing. Get with the program. You could grow your company so quickly. I could send you a quote on what it would cost to make this happen. Depending on your costs for services, you could make back your investment with two or three customers.

    Good luck! :-)

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  15. Hey Jeanne,

    I feel your Gurgaon anguish.

    Having stayed in Mumbai for most part of life,the 18 months spent in Gurgaon felt like living in a war zone.
    Daily power cuts,lack of water,lack of quality transportation,high rent and many other features that Gurgaon is so famous for apart from the wonderful natives ;)

    God,it feels great to be back in Mumbai!

    Cheers,
    AVP
    www.avp-blogs.com

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  16. As an Indian, I would have loved to stick my neck out and say that you are wrong, but even with sentiments and emotions set aside, even factually Gurgaon is most neglected city in state of Haryana. I have lived here for about 6 months now and it really sucks!! I moved here from Delhi's Dwarka suburb and that was probably a bad decision. About inconveniences you had, I would say you would have been better off in Delhi. Although most people praise Gurgaon, its in shambles and falling off piece by piece even as new structures are being erected!! And although my comment is about 2 years late on your blog...but I had to say this..

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  17. It's still bad, but there have been some improvements. My son uses the metro nearly every day to go visit friends in Delhi. HOWEVER, there's no parking areas around the stations for you to park your car, so you still have to find a cab or a rickshaw to take you to the station. Water and electricity is still hell to get and expensive when you have it, especially in the hot summer months (this past summer, we got an electricity bill for 36,000 rupees!!!!).

    We're closer to a shopping mall (out third place in Gurgaon in as many years), and have found our way around a bit better, but we still have transport issues, housing issues (any one know how to get a rat out of a kitchen?), and the traffic and roads are still as bad as ever...

    Gurgaon is hell. I don't care what anyone says - I feel that we're just surviving, that there is no joy in this city, that people merely stay here for a job and never seem to make enough to feel comfortable. I'm not saying just expats, there are many Indians who feel the same way I do. I haven't met anyone who has lived here for more than six months who says unequivocally that they love it here. Most of the expats that live in Delhi like it (if they're inclined to India in the first place). Just not Gurgaon.

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  18. @Jeanne: I cannot believe you paid 36000 for electricity. That's almost 10 times my bill!! About parking, I am not so sure. My dad worked with Delhi metro and it was never supposed to support personnel transport by providing parking space, except at major stations...but you can still park in Delhi and still pay only Rs10 for 4 hours..I remember paying an obscene amount at ambience mall for about 5-6 hours..thats one bollywood movie and one large meal in Nawabganj Safari. But in any case, anyone who has spent certain amount of time in any of India's big 5 will tell you that Delhi is best one to live in...

    P.S: Delhi doesn't include Gurgaon, as we are made to believe.

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  19. Hi Jeanne,
    I totally agree with you, i have lived in shimla, chandigarh and delhi before i came to Gurgaon for work, it totally sucks here, the most pathetic city, even people here are so unhelpful and materialistic, they would even charge you for breathing if they can, i so wanna move back to delhi, wish i could get a job there...

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  20. Jeanne,

    I work myself into a silent rage every time I have to visit Gurgaon (which, thankfully, is not very often). The sheer arrogance of this city - "we'll build a huge ugly building in the middle of nowhere and expect you to pay half a million dollars for an apartment in it".

    I've lived in Delhi for five years and even this city gets to me at times (exorbitant rents for substandard apartments), but nothing gets me riled up like Gurgaon. Gurgaon is, what we Indians call, "loot" - a gigantic plot to suck every penny from hardworking Indians who can't afford places in Delhi. I hate this city with the kind of vengeance usually reserved for ousted dictators. There's nothing organic about this Gurgaon. It's such a crass, cheap imitation of America (and not the good parts of America) propped with some of the worst infrastructure anywhere. Roads? Non existent. Water supply? Nope. Electricity? Doesn't exist.

    I'm happy that you moved to Pune. Way better city than Gurgaon.

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  21. So True. Not only Gurgaon.. the whole Delhi NCR is shitt... sparing Delhi of course... That Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida, Greater one are all shittt

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  22. I am a Bengali. But, ff all the cities I have lived till date. I would say Pune is the best.

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  23. My friend was working in Mumbai and he moved to a different company for a raise of 4000$ a year but there was a catch. They first placed him in Pune and then shifted him on an assignment to Gurgaon. I do remember when I was working in India and my colleagues requested for onsite opportunity the Project Manager deported them to africa-SriLanka. These has bow become unwanted places in India. I never asked for onsite and they moved me to Zurich.
    My friend is packing and moving back to Mumbai. I cannot imagine how so many MNC's setup their offices in Gurgaon, NCR. These are well recognized MNC's with poor HR ethics. (Employee safety ?)
    Microsoft, Adobe, HP and the likes..

    Gurgaon is like being in an unsafe african / middle eastern country thats unsafe for tourist and even locals / delhities. The big buildings and huge malls further hides the danger. You move to Punjab and the youth are druggist and if you move to delhi border / Bihar / UP its rapist.
    I noticed that such crowed from north (not saying all) when they move to Bombay, Pune think that they can rule. There was such group of 5 guys from haryana/ punjab that visited a posh pub in Mumbai and was eve teasing n harassing a group of Mumbai girls. Waiter said to leave the girls alone and leave the bar. These drunk guys paid 400$ tip and said they wont leave. We were there watching if something goes wrong to help. But then mumbaikar girls paid 1000$ to the bouncers and said hit them such that they get hospitalized. How people from north gurgaon/chandigargh/ delhi think they can show money power in Mumbai is laughable.

    Sent from iphone, ignore my sentencing.


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  24. Sorry Mam But Now you can come to gurgaon again i can bet you we will never disappoint this time now Gurgaon is Most Popular hub for Industries and now youc can get cab whenever you want.

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  25. I couldn't agree more with all the things written above. Over seven years after you wrote the article, it's still the same dump that it used to be. I'm regretting my decision to move here and can't wait to escape to actual real civilization from this jungle. Everyone here is an unevolved primitive ape. It'll take generations for this place to become fit for humans. I don't understand why the people here call gurgaon a city. It's worse than a village, never mind a city. The place I live in has an eerie feeling too like yours felt like the grudge. Mine feels totally like it's straight out of Orange is the new black. People here are constantly attacking you with their weird attitudes and illogical thinking. Horrible horrible place this!!! It's only good for a punishment posting if you want to punish an underperforming employee. Not sure about that too because the employee may quit and sue for damages, being sent to such a lousy place.

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  26. I couldn't agree more with all the things written above. Over seven years after you wrote the article, it's still the same dump that it used to be. I'm regretting my decision to move here and can't wait to escape to actual real civilization from this jungle. Everyone here is an unevolved primitive ape. It'll take generations for this place to become fit for humans. I don't understand why the people here call gurgaon a city. It's worse than a village, never mind a city. The place I live in has an eerie feeling too like yours felt like the grudge. Mine feels totally like it's straight out of Orange is the new black. People here are constantly attacking you with their weird attitudes and illogical thinking. Horrible horrible place this!!! It's only good for a punishment posting if you want to punish an underperforming employee. Not sure about that too because the employee may quit and sue for damages, being sent to such a lousy place.

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  27. Hi Jeanne ,

    I think you are are right for few seconds and you explain very well about Gurgaon transport ,infrastructure etc.But i can't say you are 100% right.
    Definitely Gurgaon is not to much better rather than other city.But Few locations & Residential areas are really appreciable.

    Thanks
    Anil Kr.
    WudStay PG

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  28. I totally agree with your views about Gurgaon. Its 2017 and nothing has changed a bit. People are so mean and rude. No sense of politeness in talks or whatsoever. Garbage all around the city. Beggars pick up the trash while educated ones throw McDonald's Cola containers on streets. Worst place to live and worst people I have ever met. Incredibly terrible.

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  29. Cont. 9873471133,9871851133 For discount* in Trump Tower Gurgaon. World famous ultra luxury 3/4 BHK Starts booking @25Lacs. Residential Apartment Delhi NCR in Sector 65 Gurgaon On Golf Course Extn. Road; With world class modern features & amenities. More: http://trumptowersgurgaon.online/

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    Replies
    1. I approved this to be added to the comments because I think Trump Totally sucks just like GUrgaon. They are perfectly suited to each other!!! I can smell the irony from Myanmar!!!

      Delete