20 July 2000

I stayed in Calcutta for one night. I am starting to like India a lot, though it made me a bit nervous while I got used to it. I went and visited Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity orphanage with a British lady. There were twice as many female orphans as male. Most of them actually get adopted out within a couple of years. There was another British lady that thinks they are abusing the kids there. She was very hyper verbal, and as the other British lady said "a bit mad". I agreed after visiting. She said they wouldn't let us in if she came with us, and I don't blame them. She was very paranoid. We took a human powered rickshaw back (50 cents US). I felt a bit guilty having a dude running and pulling us in the heat. At least half of the travelers I meet here are traveling solo, which was more than Thailand. I hung out with a nurse from Colorado and Delphi from Switzerland who had a cute French accent. The Indian food I had was pretty tasty. That night I caught a night train with sleeper cars to Darjeeling.

This will be my second night here. It is up in the hills (7000 ft) and has tea plantations all around. Today I took a 3 hour pony ride and visited where they process the tea and the Tibetan Refugee Center where they make Tibetan rugs, hats, sweaters, etc. That was interesting. I was lucky cause it cleared up quite a bit. I am learning what monsoon season means. Its usually in the clouds and been raining at least half the time I have been here. Its also nice cause they don't hassle you here at all, except a fight almost broke out when one pony guide thought the other pony guide stole his business (me).

later,

Duane