17 July 2000

I just arrived in India today. It was a major fiasco getting my plane ticket. Actually I ended up buying it the day of my flight (today). I shouldn't of procrastinated. All those Thai travel agents don't print their tickets right there. Also I new where the ticket counter was at the domestic terminal so I went there first and was told I have to go to the International terminal to buy international tickets. This was after walking around the airport looking for an agent to check the price of tickets from Air India to compare and them hunting around for a travel agent at the airport to see if they had better deals. They didn't, so I thought rather than wait around for them to get a ticket from who knows where and trust them to send it to my hotel which I didn't know where I was going to stay, went to the international terminal ticket counter to buy it except found out that if you buy it at the airport it was 19,000 baht, the travel agent 13,000 baht, and at the Bangkok office down the road 10,000 baht, so I decided to take a taxi to the office, but it was closed already so it would have to wait until today. I went today and it was closed today, some Buddha holiday, so I ended up buying it at the airport travel agent and they barely got my ticket to me one hour before departure despite me being their three hours early. Anyway, I have an open ticket to fly back from Calcutta. I tried to reserve the 19th but they said it is full. I am reserved for the 21st, but maybe I should come back earlier I don't know. I think that would mean the 17th or 16th. Is there any ruins or sights up by where you are?

later,

Duane

 

17 July 2000

Actually, she was. I hung out with them one evening. They taught me some Thai and entertained me some. Racoon in Thai means "I love you," no kidding. Another person taught me "koon -lau" meaning stingy, but in a different context, of course. "You #1 koon-lau" with a smile. I spent last night in Bangkok. I am getting to know that airport real well. Today I bought my ticket and have been in Calcutta now for about 5 hours. I thought Bangkok traffic had to be the worst in the world, but Calcutta is at a whole other level. I can't tell you how many rickshaws, cows, other taxi's we dodged. And then there was the several near missed head on collisions or getting squashed by a bus seemed imminent. And there aren't any seat belts! It is very hot here, and I drip sweat as I walk down the street. People come up to you and follow you and don't leave you alone. One guy wanted to show me the hotel that was 20 ft in front of me at the time, follows me there and wants a tip for it when I was on my way there anyway. Another guy offered me some hashish. Anyway I hope to get out of Calcutta soon enough and go up to Darjeeling where it should be cooler and nicer.

There are definitely a lot of poor people around here- naked kids running or crawling around on dirty sidewalks. Most places seem kind of dirty. It may be a challenge finding a clean place to eat in this part of town. So far I've avoided diarrhea and hope to continue my luck.

Thanks for all the e-mails,

later,

Duane