Don't trust the mob

Its easy to say, and seems like a pretty simple formula, but really, they're decieving, especially when you can't speak their language, they have a monopoly and even though they have posted prices, these are arbitrary to both them and the local police standing around. After my experience I think the police were actually confirming that the mobsters/boatmen were charging enough to complete payment of their bribe for the day.

Along those lines, I spent 12 hours on a bus, charged triple prices ($2.50) for a boat ride around a dirty river to see waterfalls that were easily 1/3 of the size anyone advertised. I'm beginning to think in India, if they actually do advertise themselves, then there really is no need to go. However, if you have to find out about it, or ask questions of the locals to force them to give you the knowledge, well, at that point you can be fairly well assured the object/location of desire will be absolutely amazing, if it doesn't really really suck.

The moral of the story is, never trust anything someone on the street says unless they are already agreeing with you, and then only trust them halfway...