In an e-mail--part of which I posted as a criticism of my blog last week--my friend J claimed he wanted to see some good news on my site; well here goes. You will again be able to travel to India without worrying about Charles Sobraj spotting you as an easy mark and the view of the Taj Mahal will not be obscured by a horrid shopping center -- and finally, I shall not be spamming you from Britain. Doesn't that make your day?
First, I have an up-date on a chap whose career we have followed for years. Charles Sobhraj, protagonist of Tom Thompson’s book Serpentine was captured yesterday in Kathmandu. He will be tried for the murder of a Canadian and American tourist there in the 70s. He entered Nepal in his usual way--with a fake Dutch passport. He probably learned Dutch in prison as a backup disguise. Charles is now 59, almost a senior citizen.
The second item of good tidings is that the planned malling and theme-parking of the area next to the Taj Mahal was nixed by the Indian government. The palace the Shah built across the Jumma River, so he could gaze out at his beloved wife's tomb, would have now looked down on a mall. The developers had even filled in part of the Jumma river to build this cheesy tourist development.
Next on the cheerful side is the news that Britain is going to outlaw e-mail 'spammers'. Fines will go as high as $11,000 for offenders. About time that started in Canada. Is that last comment too negative?
