Today I woke up at 4am and felt like a new day would bring me some new and exciting experiences to encounter. I ran in the park. People are doing so many unusual things such as yoga, and breathing exercises and looking foolish. I can skip, jump and swing my arms and no one thinks anything of it. As I was leaving the park they were handing out free orange juice. You would have thought they were handing out $100 bills the way the crowd gathered. I managed to get my juice and walked back to the guest house feeling refreshed from running and energized for the day.
Today my only goal was to get scissors to cut my bangs, some Band-Aids as I cut my toe last night and alter the shirt I purchased a few days ago. Simple, yes? Satyaki came by with Band-Aids, he took me to the xerox place to make copies of documents for the luggage. I went to his home and gave the papers to Isihta and had tea with her and a lovely chat. I came back to the guest house so they could clean my room then I took off. I stopped by the pharmacy to purchase scissors and probotics. The malaria meds are killing any good bacteria I have and I need to replenish my body. This was a task as they didn't know what I was talking about. I finally pointed to a box that had exactly what I needed.
I went to the shop and told them what I wanted with the shirt and what was done before. We came upon an agreement as to what needed to be altered. I'm escorted two blocks down the road to the woman on the sidewalk with the sewing machine. As I'm waiting a bird decided to poop on me. I asked for a piece of cloth to wipe if off and the girl giggled as if I deserved it. I dunno, I was standing on a street corner with all these cars and bikes and people and I'm breathing in the dirtiest air and look over at this dog lying in the middle of the sidewalk you can barely walk on because of all the people and this dog is like the king of the hill, no one touches or disturbs him.
On my way back to the guest house I took pictures of one city block. The sun was in the way so the pix are not that great, but you get the idea of how busy the main street is.
I turn down my street.
An update on the sidewalk and a picture of my residence right now. Hey, I have a door man, more than I can say when I lived in NY!
I return to the room and look at emails when Satyaki calls and tells me the luggage is in Kolkata and we need to get to the airport before 4:30 in order to receive the items or we will have to wait until Monday. Anil comes by to pick me up. Anil is Satyaki's driver. He drives like I do swerving in and out of traffic but he is much better. I'm smiling as we ride down the roads with bumps and pot holes and we reach 110 MPH and this is no freeway, there are crossings for people to walk, there are bikes and people walking on this road. I think were about to fly we're going so fast and I'm completely relaxed. I can see a cow up the road that is crossing. We approach this cow and it looks like we can fly by him but he decides it's time to get in our lane. Anil slows down from 110 to about 20MPH in a matter of seconds to let the cow cross the street and then we're speeding down the road again.
The airport procedure was something like in the early 1930's or 1940's. A man would write something down on a piece of paper that is so thin and limp and soggy from the humidity and another man takes it down the hall. Then the 2nd man comes back and the first man writes something else on the paper. The 2nd man, takes it down the hall, etc. etc. etc. An hour later I am ready to go get my luggage of which one is still missing.
I go to the mishandled baggage line and wait for 15 minutes until someone comes to help. He takes me in this room that is loaded with lost luggage and it smells like a dirty diaper in there with lots of flys. I thought I was going to throw up. My gag reflexes were on overdrive. Of course my luggage is spread out from one end to the other but I manage to get 2 suitcases and 2 boxes. The boxes were opened and taped up and falling apart. They got beat up pretty bad but I didn't care. I had them.
Anil is waiting for me outside and takes the trolly with my bags. These 2 little boys try to help and we keep telling them no. Don't touch. I'm on the phone with Isitha to let her know the status and I'm yelling at these boys to put my luggage down and Anil is trying to put this huge suitcase in the trunk. Oh my, persistence is strong with the people on the street begging and these 2 little boys were not giving up. As I get in the car they ask for money. I felt bad but I didn't ask for help. I told them not to help and I told them no money. His voice is still ringing in my ear. It is difficult to know when to help and when to say no. I have to look out for myself and I want to help. I know I cannot help everyone but I want to.
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