As hinted inmy last letter my voyage around India has finished. A voyage of
truly mamoth proportions has left me breathless and a bit knackered! My
final few days were spent in Calcutta and at one of the Gangas many mouths.
My little pilgramage with the water from Gaumukh is complete. The spot where
the Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal is called Gangasgar. An Island in the
Ganges delta. The Island itself is very peaceful compared with Calcutta but
unfortunately the spot where the Ganga meets the sea is not too remarkable.
Gaumukh is stunning. Gangsagar is dirty and covered in pylons. Hundereds of
them. For an island that has electricity for only 6 hours a day their use is
mistifying to me. But then that is India. Confusing and startling. Always
something that will confound. I personally feel that the Ganga continues
into Bangladesh and Gangasagar is a spiritual mouth. But it was enough to
conclude my journey. The Ganges opens into the largest delta on the earth
and with a bit of squinting maybe it comes out in India. But I think not.
Its main flow heads through West Bengal and into Bangladesh.
So this morning I left Calcutta feeling a little sad but quite excited
for a destination I have been before but did not expect to see this time.
Bangkok. And what a feeling! Reverse culture shock I think its called. I am
back in the developed world! Smooth roads. Busses that go. No rubbish. Not
the thousands of homelss and destitute. One of my last evenings in Calcutta
was spent outside Mother Theresa's home for the dieing destitute. Compare
the scene there of hungary and homless waiting outside. The Kali temple
opposite (Kali was a hindu goddess who was I think in hindu style both was
married to and an incarnation of Shiva and represented his more destructive
side. Her toe fell here from the heavans after a fight.) with its temple
touts, devout belivers and awful smell of the mornings sacrifices with the
sounds of where I am now. The Kao San Rd in Bangkok. A bit of the med
transported to Bangkok with thousands of holiday makers on the piss. Very
contrastong. I have travelled east but gone west! A big contrast.
My first 12 hours here has been varied. From being amazed at how different
this place is to India, (or perhaps how different India is to anywhere else)
to being kicked up the arse by a man who was making a very poor effort at
making me a fake student card (cheap things are available with one of
these!) . I told him to stop. He did not like that. He took offenece.
Hereing the highly unbelievable account from a fat Belgian and his family
that all their belongings had been stolen, please help. His embassy could
not help as it was closed due to elections in Belgium. And finally having a
hundred Tuk Tuk drivers ask me if I want lady. Very busy!
Tomorrow I will persue my reason for coming here. Cheap tickets to Auckland.
All being well I should be on my way early this week.
I shall miss India as I miss you.
Ta Ta.
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