I was feeling better about life and we gathered all the students and we set off, we had a list of places to see. There were twelve students with Gilly and myself. Gilly led and I was happy to follow up and chat with the stragglers. Me being the ultimate straggler. We were approached by a well dressed man who wanted to know where we were going. Gilly told him the places we wanted to see. He confirmed that it was a holiday, but said one of the sites was open and he would happily take us there. What a nice chap!

He led us through the streets on to some busier roads. Every sight and sound still assaulted every sense but I was calmer and enjoying the company of the students. Our ‘guide’ seemed very pleasant, our early experience led to us letting our guard down. Eventually we arrived at a large building. Crafts and Arts emporium. It did look quite interesting, but this was where he had led us – a very large shop aimed at tourists. We were hustled inside and then the entrance was blocked by shop workers and our ‘guide’. 

We made the best of it, looking at wooden elephants, carpets and silk scarves but it was a lesson learnt. Some people who are being helpful may not be as helpful as they seem, Our guide disappeared, having picked up his commission for delivering fourteen tourists into the store. My more cynical nature took over, it was good that on the first day we had fallen so easily into a trap. It actually cheered me up, here was a challenge – be more questioning, work out who to trust and who was playing with us. I enjoyed questioning anyone who offered help from then on, it was a psychological test – and I liked it.