Today signalled the final moments for each of us prior to our shift into a new reality. Tomorrow morning we will wake early to throw our bags off the train in a very different environment to Kolkata, leaving behind us a city that we have immensely enjoyed, but not without its mental/physical/emotional challenges over the last 7 days.
I mentioned to the boys last night that most of them will probably never venture back to Kolkata again, but that this city will always have an enduring presence in their hearts and minds. This place truly is the City of Joy; it is so full of industriousness, hope (and depression in the same breath), and authenticity, that it tears you to pieces daily before building you back up again.
So what did our final hours in Kolkata look like:
Sunday 15 December
6am- Wake Up time; crazily early but we had business to attend on the outskirts of the city
6:45am- After completing the final elements of pack up (in which surprisingly several 'quality' clothing purchases where left on trash pile) we all ventured off the Blue Sky Cafe for the final time. Nostalgia took over with many ordering the same meals from day one, with the final goodbyes being difficult
7:45am- We departed for Don Bosco Ashalayam Kadamtala- a one hour drive once public buses had been flagged down (always a funny process in itself)
9:20am- The group arrives at Don Bosco, a French initiated NGO that provides for young boys who are orphans/street kids/abandoned, taking them from the depths of despair that is prevalent in the beggar world to a new lifestyle of education and thus opportunities. What follows at the Ashalayam is three hours of sports-mad fun, shoulder rides and the deafening sound of 'Uncle Uncle Uncle' (the classic Indian term of endearment to older males that the young kids echo out with such enthusiasm and love)
12:30pm- Lunch is served on the outside, cracked concrete basketball court. At least 120 of us are in attendance. The meal has chicken in it- not such a special feature necessarily if you were living in most parts of the world, however meat is so expensive here for the poor that this is one day (1 of possibly a maximum 12 in any given year) where this luxury is able to be realised. From our boys the sense that the tour account money ($180) had created a chicken feast that fed well over 120 people left a sense of satisfaction and even more questioning
1:15pm- Everyone heads back to the Hotel, lapping up another public bus experience. This time it is much more authentic however as 60 people are counted on the 27 seater bus according to Alex's accurate number analysis. More importantly, Hamish mentions upon arrival back at home base that he was grinding between two Indian men over every bump during the ride home. And finally, spare a thought for Reilly who was propositioned several times by the wandering eye of an eloquently dressed Indian man sitting in close proximity to him. Everyone is claiming Reilly is just a big flirt
2:45pm- We take a moment to sincerely thank Paul Walsh and his team from the Jungle Crows for their amazing friendship and willingness to do anything to make our time in Kolkata so special. Then the final hour or so of Kolkata freedom is made available with the boys scattering to buy more snacks, and to farewell this city, and its people their own way
4pm- Hugo Stewart offers an excellent explanation of the Social Customs in India, including how marriage, dowries and the urban vs rural intermixing plays out. Well done that guy
4:30pm- Goodbye Hotel Emirates. With bags on backs we take off for the Howrah Train station. All cabs cost 300Rp (negotiated by the Editor on the road side), although Jonty somehow hands over 450Rp for his cab (so so so incredibly soft). The same Morreau would go on to buy romance novels once inside the train station (the absolute truth)
5:15pm- The group splits inside the busy station and the staff explain exactly how the whole system works via a comprehensive walk around. The boys are completely blown away by the volume of passengers, the noise and the rats (it was only fair we pointed them out)
7:40pm- The train takes off on time!!! It is another new experience for the group, with many smiles evident when they found out the difference between Two Tier AC (where they are sleeping) vs the public Sleeper Class. Before I hit send on this update I should note our expected arrival time is 06:20 into Mughal Sarai, followed by a 40 min auto rickshaw ride into Varanasi itself. There awaits some very nice accommodation, a shower that consists of water (both hot and cold, coming from the wall rather than a bucket) and a couple of well earned and well needed days to recuperate/recharge
So that is it. Leg 1 (Kolkata) is over. Challenging - Yes, Frustrating - Definitely, Inspiring - Absolutely.
Our current health tally has everyone accounted for as being healthy with the exception of Chris Moses (the Birthday is well and truly over buddy!), Patrick Jung who has also hit a big low, and quite possibly Tim Burns who looks like he will be heading towards dark places for the next 24 hours or so as well.
But we are living right now and it is good!
Ben
MVP- Sam McConnell. Now young Sam considers himself to be some sort of athlete (proving that notion wrong can wait for another day however) so today was kind of his homecoming; an opportunity to play a variety of sports in a community on the outskirts of the city. The stage was set, the kids were pumped, and the sun was shining. Until . . . Sam approaches the basketball hoop, goes for a might slum dunk and bring the whole hoop off the backboard. At this point the sun goes down, the kids start to cry (one even said 'does this mean there is no Christmas now?') and the hopes and dreams of all (just like the hoop itself) were shattered. NB- Now the truth is Sam was the unlucky one as several others had done similar Michael Jordan tricks prior to his, however let's not let Sam live this down. Little does he know that it will be repaired overnight and that the locals were cool about it, but in the meantime please join me in chanting 'Sam ruined everything!'
Thought- Which direction are you heading in? Late this afternoon we spent a few hours watching trains and their respective passengers come and go at the largest train station in India. Whilst sitting on the platform I got thinking. Where are each of us heading to today? Similarly what direction will your train head in during 2014? Or stripping the concept right back, have you actually been able to locate your train for the inevitable travel the lies ahead for you?
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