"I lived in India for 8 months. One time I needed to catch a bus...

"I lived in India for 8 months. One time I needed to catch a bus to a remote town. I went to a massive bus station and asked someone where the bus-stand to get to my town was. He pointed me in some direction and I walked all the way over there. When I got there I asked if I was in the right place and they said no and tried telling me in Hindi where to go and I went there instead. I got there and they said no and to go somewhere else. This continued like this for an hour until I got sent back to the original bus-stand exhausted on this extremely hot day. I gave in and went home. This is one incident of many in a country like India where doing simple tasks is difficult."

This is typical of many Asian countries, the person you spoke to obviously had NO idea where you wanted to go. It was much easier for them to point in a direction rather than admit that they didn't know. Its all part of saving face. This is even worse in countries like Thailand where its impossible to get a straight answer. Best not to waste your time asking people, better off researching yourself in advance.
However I do agree, it isn't easy and there lies the problem.
Just as well you weren't owed money, you'll be an old man before they paid you back. The excuses would be so varied that you could write a book.
I remember a friend of mine was carrying out a seminar for UPS in Delhi . He couldn't believe how unreliable Indians are, they were always late and always had a different excuse each day as to why they were late. He then decided to bribe them by offering gifts and money, amazingly everybody showed up in time after that.