I am a tourist and I am loving it!

Woke up the third time the alarm went off, and put on my shoes and off I went. Relentlessly jogged for 20 minutes, soaking kolkata streets in. The early morning chaiwalas preparing for their first customers, vegetable vendors sprinkling water over their comodities, and more and more activities that i could glance through as I brisked away smiling.          

To coldplay  ' speed of sound' I matched my feet, drops of sweat at the edge of my chin. Pleasure redefined!

Reached my hotel and greeted my new friend, jha sahab (sunil jha,  U.P. se) sipping tea by the gate. After my one hour walk last evening, I had sat down getting to know him . He was finishing dinner that his wife had made, a heap of puris and aalloo ki bhaji. He said his wife makes it the best. Happy thought. Sorted my evening..

so had another jha who drove us from howrah station to our hotel at elgin road. With his toothy(of little that was left there) smile, he had guided us through the way.

I must say, I love this process of getting to know new cities  through the eyes of these people who tell you the basics. Jha the cab driver said  'victoria memorial. .tch tch..usme toh sab woh raani ka pahanne ka aur woh ghumne jaati thi toh pahanne ka aur aisa sab bhara he..konsa majja ye saab dekhne me'

 Though jha saab, please check it out, its quite awesome, Victoria Memorial.

I met babupyaare, omelette wala in the evening. You know what's great? I got a double yummy omelette for 8 bucks! And the sincerity with which they made food by the road on his little stall, him and mohan, his brother. I was so moved with the little money they charged for such a yummy dish that the next day I went back for omelette and kulhad daal fry. Babupyaare has two children, one in 2nd and the other in 7th. He opens his stall at 8 in the morning, preparing for the day and runs it till 11 in the night. After packing 3 kulhad wali daal and double omelette, he asked for just 52 rs. I was like,  'What! ?' Gave him 70 and explained that he wasnt making any profit. He laughed, returning 20 back, discounting 2 and smiling a humble smile. I didnt push.

The moment I had put my bags in the hotel the day we had reached kolkata,  I had just walked off to grab a beer. Not finding a single wine shop,  I settled  into' Don Giovanni' a chinese restaurant and bar and ordered a tall glass of blue lagoon. Oh! The pleasure of sitting there by myself. I asked for a pen and scribbled down random happy thoughts on a paper napkin smiling and feeling good. Vijay, a waiter approached with a broad smile,  'kahan se aaye he? '


I am tourist. I look like one. And the feeling is so awesome.  People don't matter,  they don't know me, so I am fearless.  I have the liberty to be myself.  A new city lets me not be bound by people. Let's me be. Something I plan to adhere into routine too.

Only the last night that I spent in kolkata gave me a scary moment that I might hold onto for a long long time. Just as I had come back from my walk I saw the hotel caretaker taking a huge Labrador mixed breed for a walk. It was so golden and big and looked so adorable I just went close to it. It let me caress him for almost 20 seconds before just like that hit barked ferociously,  attacking me. And I swear! He put his paws on my chest and we were face to face! And he scratched me as I moved back in defense and bit on my tee to not let go off his prey or whatever!

But the next morning he shaked  my hand...

I am in Darjeeling now! The place with tiny lil eyes and tinier lanes...



I can see they know I am a tourist as they see me walking around fearlessly by myself, smiling...