Chai // Feb 23, 1990

It was a single room, so they spread out some mats on the floor for the five us to sleep.
The price for the room was one fifth of the regular fee. By the exchange rate at that time it was about 300 yen(=30Rs, 3USD).
Such a cheap price, it was quite the lark.
The next morning, four of the Japanese girls left, but I decided to stay one more night at the same hotel.
The Indian man who had introduced us to this hotel last night was named "Balic".( I'm not sure how he spelled his name though.)
In the morning he brought me some Chai, a very sweet Indian tea, but I was anxious about whether or not it was safe to drink it.
I had heard stories that there were tourists who had their drinks spiked with sleeping pills and that all their luggage was taken away.
Even if he seemed like a good man, I knew I should be careful about it.
Finally, after giving it much thought, I took just a sip.

チャイ

それはシングルルームだったので、部屋にマットを敷いてもらいそこに5人で寝ました。
値段は通常の料金の1/5。当時のレート換算で約300円。面白かったし、格安！

翌日、4人組の日本人女性達は出発していったけれど、私はもう一晩同じ宿に宿泊することに決めました。
昨夜このホテルを紹介してくれたインド人男性の名前はバリック。（スペルは不確かですが・・）
彼は、朝、チャイ（とても甘いインドのコーヒー）を部屋に運んでくれましたが、
それを飲んでも大丈夫なのかどうかまだ不安でした。
観光客が睡眠薬入りの飲み物を提供されて、荷物をとられてしまうという話をよく聞いていたからです。
彼はいい人に見えるけれど、やはり気をつけておかないと。
いろいろ考えた末、一口だけ飲むことにしたのでした。