Saroj Deep Kolkata (Calcutta)

Quick Summary (We'll write in more detail later):

We were supossed to go to the Mother Theresa House & public hospital this evening, but Alanna became very sick with a high fever & had to go to a clinic.

Tom was totally worn out from running all over town in the heat all day, trying to find a 'step down' electrical transformer. By the end of the day his stomach was starting to ...

... was also doing the dash to Nepal, he'd had enough of India. I took a pre-paid taxi across Howrah Bridge that had a welcoming banner sign tied to it sponsored by a telephone company and it read 'Welcome To The City Of Joy'. It was ironic that the destitute had made their living space from cardboard boxes and plastic in the filth of squallid ground underneath it. Some of the people were so dirty and ...

... of mind that I long for in this life. Maybe I'll never have that conscious awareness of the Spirit in any ongoing way that I have tasted. My mind has been at it again. Getting ready to leave, I am so aware of how much I have related to you at a superficial level, and now I am leaving. But the misery drives me to deeper practice, which is good. That is the source of the only peace I do have." "Whenever you have a thought like that, don't let it own you," Baba said seriously ...

... alone learned. We have been given 2 pieces that are meant for children yet are harder than anything I could imagine learning as a child. Mitra, Shantanu's 6 year old daughter is adept at proving me wrong on that thought and is constantly teaching and showing us the way to do things properly. Even though these songs are meant for children there are many students our age who are also learning them with us and seem to find them just as difficult. These two ...

... Teek-hachy, teek-hachy' (okay, okay). Later on Subatri laughs at my pathetic mosquito net and comes back with an industrial strength one. She makes me a delicious dinner containing vegetarian-meat (I am soon to learn that this is one Indian delicacy that I will be pleased to never ever see again) and helps me put up my mosquito net. She talks in Bengali constantly, constantly, and we manage to thrash out a few meanings between us. I imagine our conversation going a little like this ...

... Rajasthani souvenirs and maybe even a piece of furniture or two....! Day 5 - Our last day in Kolkata was spent with Marisha having a lie in and a good ole gossip with the family and Mike was treated to a game of Golf by a family friend "The Colonel" at the local private club of Tollyganj. The boys back home will be pleased that I was still ***** but didn't leave the 18 holes early!!! But what an amazing course. You are not allowed out without a caddy and you have to be a ...

Today is the most important day of the Durga Puga. Ashtami or the 7th day. We come to the Puja House at about 8:30am for the morning Puja. Hundreds of people will pass through here this day come to bless and be blessed by the goddess. The Pundit (house priest) conducts the services and we are all included. There is too much to tell you here about what happens but it is very spiritual and we really do feel blessed by our ...

... the Hooghly River. All pandals or temporary halls are made of bamboo, thermo-coal, wood and mud were ready with Goddess Durga in them. She fought the evil Mahisasura along with her four children, Saraswati, Kartik, Lakshmi and Ganesh. Her vehicle is lion and that is what depicted in idols. We went pandal hopping as going from puja hall to puja hall is known. 17th is just the initial day so crowd was rather thin yet by European standard crowded. We were told that ...

... it with the evils of this society, and aside from the friends that I already have, I find it hard to believe there are many a decent, honest, non-scandalous people here whatsoever. You must realize that this is not Jesse being a stonewaller to beggars or poor, helpless children and street people. It is everyone. The threat and pursuit are constant. And they don't feel bad about anything that they do. And they continue to do it. It forces you to build up a ...

... anyway on anything in front of anyone. it didn't take long to this see in action as the first sighting of many happened on the tuk tuk ride from the chennai airport. its any wonder the place stinks. so many huddled masses, spitting ******* and ******** in the streets. a quick aside from this diatribe. if you don't suffer from a heart condition, are fearless have little regard for your safety or your life, a tuk tuk ride in chennai is for you. we're on our strict budget ...