Okay. So I keep going back to “there are more people” and “it’s hotter this time” and “maybe I’m not in travel shape yet.”
But the reality is I’m older. And I’m also using my energy to make sure Camila is okay. Constantly looking over my shoulder (or in the cases of different train cars for me and women) and keeping my spidey sense doubled.
India has changed. There are way more people with disposable income. Young professionals. And strangely, the first thing I noticed was more coffee shops (remember India is the land of tea) and more small yummy western type cafes. Now that could be just Kolkata, our neighborhood, or just my lack of observation skills.
Either way, near our modest Air BNB, we have experienced some of the yummiest NON Indian food I’ve eaten over here. Breakfast, lunch AND dinner. But some of those prices are more like 40% of Bellingham prices versus the normal 10%.
AirBNB with shared bathroom is 15 bucks a night. Not bad. It has AC.
The people, as always, as amazing. Sometimes English works, sometimes not. But we have been constantly asked if we need help when staring at a metro map.
Kolkata (and Mumbai ) have a new air conditioned Metro. I was like “I don’t remember this” and if you look back at my blog from Kolkata 7 years ago, I never mentioned it. Turns out both are new. And game changers.
But confusing at times.
We tried the local train yesterday, got derailed (no pun intended) by a local man who kinda spoke English, missed our train, then ended up walking halfway to Howrah Train station thru the flower market. It wrecked us. Even with an AC Metro ride home and a pedicab from the station.
Finding myself a little more exhausted likely has to do with the mental aspect of not planning a massive trek. My reward for hiking in the mountains is relaxed city observation with the ability to retreat to AC when it gets rough. But alas I had traveled here alone all but once so double everything. Intensity, cost, risk. And add seven years. The longest between trips to this part of the world ever. And many life changing events in between; including heart surgery. Just takes me longer to get going. My body hurts more and I just seem to forget how lucky and healthy I was 7 years ago to do that massive trip without incident. More caution now.
Either way, the Indians always bring a smile to my face, even though I long for the Himalayas and the Buddhist culture. Soon enough. I can’t speak for Camila but I know, as always, she is taking it all in. More than me!
Tonight is the night train to the Bhutan border. Should be an adventure….
