I board an Indian Airlines aircraft at Bombay for Delhi on my way back from Israel. A German tourist takes out his camera to photograph his companion sitting inside the plane. An air hostess sternly tells him: "Did you not hear the announcement? You are not allowed to take photographs in the plane!" The German tourist rounds on her with suppressed fury and says: "First, let me tell you that one does not have to use hand-held cameras to photograph your airports, aircraft and runways. Have you heard of satellite photography, laser imagery and such like which can do the job easily?" Before the air hostess could recover, the German continued his tirade. "Let me tell you what is not allowed in modern world travel. Your flights are not allowed to be late. Your planes are not allowed to be dirty. You are not allowed to keep passengers waiting indefinitely in airport lounges. Nor are these waiting rooms allowed to be deficient in seats and washing room arrangements. Nor are you allowed to have plane seats with tattered upholstery." He delivered the punch line. "First, you don't do these things which are not allowed, and then tell me not to take the photograph of my friend." The German was obviously not aware of Francis Bacon's other admonition to travellers—"For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided."
