Ok, first a couple important things:
1. I keep forgetting to mention that my guest house is directly across the (very narrow) street from a muslim mosque. So at 4am every morning I am blasted awake by prayers over a loud speaker...
2. So far I have managed to avoid getting really sick. A few small episodes of stomach cramps and mild diarrhea but nothing major.
3. I have pictures but the internet is pretty slow here so will upload them as soon as I can. Most likely not until I get to Australia the middle of November.
4. I think that's about it. Aside from not getting much sleep, things are good!
So yesterday being Kali Puja (the Diwali festival here in Kolkata) the streets were pretty busy last night. Well, more it was fireworks, firecrackers, drumming, and music (some good, some not so good) all night and into this morning. Mark took my friend Maria (whom I volunteer with) and I on a tour around to a bunch of different sights. We went to the Krishna temple, which is the largest temple here in Kolkata and is made all of marble. The various gods are dressed in hundreds of diamonds (the temple is surrounded by security guards) and very ornate.
After we walked around through the streets looking at all the lights, candles and flowers decorating everything. Mark then took us to his families house where we met his parents and sister. His mom gave us each a plate of Bengali sweets which she and his sister made. Most of them are pretty much pure sugar. Super sweet. They are served with puffed rice which is actually really good and not sweet (well, some of it is)!
Then Maria and I jumped into a cab, Mark explaining to us how to know how much to pay (you have to double whatever the meter says) and making sure we were planning on going straight back to our hotels. He was a bit worried we might want to go to the Disco (club) which really isn't very safe for foreign women.
The trip back to the hotel was uneventful. Trying to sleep last night was not the easiest due the the fireworks and drums and music going all night and into this morning added onto my 4am wake up prayers. So needless to say, a little tired today.
I woke up this morning with a bit of an upset stomach but it seems to have settled. Maria on the other hand is not feeling well at all this morning. She has been up since 6am with a very upset stomach. We are thinking the homemade sweets are to blame :( A combination of way to much sugar and who knows what else!!
Had some sad news today. My sister-in-law (soon to be sister-in-law) had a miscarriage the other day. She hemorrhaged quite badly and is in the hospital right now. My brother said the bleeding has stopped so that is very good. They are both pretty heartbroken as they were really excited about having a baby. :(
Anyhow, I really need to do some laundry today as I am on my last clean clothes. Will do my laundry and head out to walk about this afternoon.
haaa.. sorry to hear about your sister inlaw.. sad for both of them .. and tia Juni..
ReplyDeleteyou say it's not safe? for foreign women.. even in groups??
have you bought any cool things?
It's ok in groups. You just get really hassled. You have to constantly keep your guard up if you are out at night (well, anytime really). In groups I haven't felt unsafe. The men aren't used to seeing women alone so really stare, look you up and down, will deliberately walk so they have to brush you as they pass (even when there is plenty of space to avoid it). During the day it doesn't seem to be as bad.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few incidents in the last couple years (particularly on Dewali). A couple girls died last year or the year before (being drugged). Also, there is a big problem with Nigerian male tourists. They have a history of causing alot of trouble, fights, etc. and a girl was gang raped by a group of them... so, the Indian people themselves are pretty ok most of the time, but lots of people from all over the world. Just have to use your common sense and pay attention to your instincts!
I'm waiting to buy stuff. Will hit up shopping next week before I leave for Mumbai and then shopping in Mumbai!!