India is an exciting, exuberant country where you learn to expect the unexpected. We travelled independently making all of our own travel arrangements and bookings. For the most part this worked out very well, but occasionally some unexpected things happened. But in the land of reincarnation, meditation and yoga, we learned to accept the unexpected as simply an opportunity to test of our “India-readiness.”
On Nov 1, 2001, after 13 days in Bangkok, it was time to move on. We flew to Calcutta: 2.5 hours flying time. Calcutta was dirty, congested and teaming with people. Nov was the “cool” season; however, for a westerner it was still hot and humid, about 30-32C during the day, but at least the pavement wasn’t melting as they say it does in the summer! Simply driving into Calcutta from the airport was an adventure! The road and roadsides were filled with a throbbing mass of humanity. There were people everywhere, cars, buses (more or less road-worthly), push cars, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, human-drawn rickshaws, cows, dogs, and more. Welcome to the second most populous country in the world.
Internet Cafes
In addition to email and web access, Internet Cafes provided a welcome respite from the noise, heat, and general chaos of the non-stop streets. Each one was a little air conditioned oasis where you could rest and regain your energy.
But one Calcutta internet café was particularly unique. There were 9 stations, in a room about 8 x 15 with a ceiling height of 5’. I felt like I had entered the movie set of “Being John Malkovich.” I got there by entering a restaurant, and climbing a set of half width stairs to a room suspended from the 20’ ceiling. In Calcutta, every space is put to use!