BKK

I've replaced the broken camera but my mind is still on the fritz. Writing is not as easy as shopping or eating for that matter. Since I arrived here yesterday at 4PM, I've been mostly engaged in the latter. Street food is all that they say it is. There are one million euro tourists on khosan road and and enough shops, bars, cafes, computers to service them all. This afternoon I had a very wholesome massage - no happy ending to speak of - and then took the above photo in a nearby park with my newly aquired camera. All is well. I leave for the southern pennisula tomorrow, by aeroplane, not bus, not train, and what do you know, I'm NOT in India. I'm on vacation, I think.

I was sitting in a bar just an hour ago, having a beer with two English, ex-social workers who had given up their jobs for a year of world bouncing. We had a lively conversation that began with a discussion of their experience visiting the Bangkok red light district and specifically what exactly a 'ping pong' show consists of, and furthermore what exactly is happening here, sexually. In the end we all agreed that Thailand and especially Bangkok is not a land of clearly marked one way or even two way streets. I think the exact term we came up with was: spaghetti junction. It has a nice catchy ring to it and is really quite apt for this place so I thought I'd share it. Nothing else, for now.

Indian Independence

I have no camera. It was broken long ago below the base of Nanda Devi, hence the final photos below. I have since travelled the length and breadth of Northern India, by foot, bus, and rail, all of these means providing their own unique tests of endurance, triumph and joy. Sorry if I sound like I am setting up the narration for a saga or perhaps a Bollywood love story, but it's been a while since I've been writing for the sake of writing. Now with no pictures to accompany, I suppose the only choice is to read and create your own mental images, if you so choose.

Kolkata:
I have watched many crappy and some not so crappy American movies on satellite TV in my air-conditioned hotel room in the past two days. This is my last day in Kolkata. My last day in India, and my last day of a fairly epic affair of overland travel and personal stamina. I am neither over nor underwhelmed by this experience of India. I am very satisfied and quite grateful to have had this opportunity for 6 months and four days of work and adventure and even I think some lasting discovery.