Indi Smart Kolkata (Calcutta)

... and trees that had to be cleared. All the men were out of the bus ranting and shouting and rummaging around in the forest with torches, a scary moment for me in a new country. I'm very glad that darkness hid the cliff drop-offs. Eventually i made it to Kathmandu and checked in to the very comfortable Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel. And so begins the Nepal adventure. I was going to make it to the psytrance party in time.

... But in the end, the love and goodness in her was stronger than the hate she had surrendered herself to. She lived the pain of it (and we lived it along with her), but then she came through that searing fire, leaving this life as pure and radiant as she came into it, going eagerly and freely to meet her God. Her family's story is the same...of getting obsessed with the negativity of what didn't work out in two bitter divorces and their aftermath. But that doesn't ...

... sat cross legged in front of it, with their doing the same families immediately behind them. Nasim was alternately smiling, casually speaking to the groom, or her mother behind her, somber and devout. The lushness of the her bridal sari was breathtakingly elegant in its layers of draped detail, red, dripping with mirrors and other sparklies, and shimmering silk threaded border. She was bedecked in the family jewels (as were all women attending the wedding). I have never seen ...

... about 2 weeks until he finally stopped<br>doing that. He was so dumb. Another thing was that he had a service<br>phone which was calling almost at my bed all the time. I told him to<br>switch it off but he was refusing. I did in probably 25 times and then<br>I just stole it! He did not speak any English and he was watching at me<br>with a question in his eyes &#8211 ...

... I answer. 'Oh great, I love Aussies!' I've just met Bobby, an American who's been here living and working in Chandigarh ('It's a place where only the rich live, don't you know?') and travelling around South India by himself for 3 months. It's good to talk to Bobby initially, we chat about the differences in the Indian culture and compare a few travel stories - haggling, taxi's, restaurants - but Bobby's been lonely, and once he starts talking he ...

... weekend. It also means I will have to re-engineer my trip a bit and explore other parts of SE Asia and also maybe head to Australia early in anticipation of the great NZ trip ahead with "the bear". For now, I will re-check into my hotel, buy another book, and keep drinking Lavazza espressos (Im quite sick of chai) to pass the time. Also, using the internet helps pass the time somewhat cheaply.

... the Hampi Festival on 7 November we were going to go up to the Kutch area of Gujarat. I didn't finalize any plans as there were problems there before we left. The area is on the Pakistan border and many of the people there consider themselves Pakistan. There are many muslim people there. Lots of problems in the past and now. There have been several bombings in Ahmedabad (the capitol). Our friends here are telling us not to try to ...

... on their heads into and out a warehouse. Everyone treating me like a celebrity. I attract a crowd of forty. Khaligat temple-guide, donation book, shows me a card to prove he's a Brahmin. Everything in India depends on your good nature and trust and both are constantly being tested, violated. Leah picks a cafe because its one of the few that doesn't play music. I'm forming an addiction to kathi rolls. Calcutta a great city, the greatest in India.

... the energy of the city, the veil falls away and you see the place in an entirely different light - brimming with life and delight. Resonating with an energy that is authentically human. Welcome to India, heart of the Earth! We spent a morning strolling around the colonial part of the town. Several blocks worth of impressive buildings nestled amongst squalor, flanked with rows of white Ambassador Classic cars displaying `on duty´ signs, drivers sitting ready ...

... Overalt laa affald og mennesker sad og spiste af det! Meget uvirkeligt at se. Man horer om en saadan fattigdom i TV og alligevel er det svaert at tro sine egne ojne naar man bliver konfronteret med det live. Efter ankomsten til turistcentrum - en stoevet beskidt gade begyndte vi at lede efter en tur til Sunderban. Det viste sig at vaere svaert og vi blev hurtigt enige om at aendre vores billetter og tage til Andamanerne ...