Advertisement
Published: August 6th 2013
Edit Blog Post
IMAG0085
Kolkata Taxis (the ones I never use) I am a little bit “on the spectrum” as they say. Technically (DSM-V) called “high functioning autistic”. But then again, maybe many of us are on the spectrum.
And so, making the transition from my structured life in down town coastal Australia, with my routines around my daily ocean swims, meditation and yoga, pedantic meal preparations, and self- talk alone in my house, to the chaos of India requires some re-structuring of mind and space. I had an arduous journey over 36 hours via three legs from Hobart (having spent 3 weeks in Tasmania) to Kolkata. Mind you, i'd had put together the very cheapest flight itinerary as is my bent. I now needed a bit of readjustment to again get into my 'just so' pedantic stride.
Arriving in Kolkata by plane was amazing – last time I did this (1980) it was into the sunset from Bangkok and during Kali festival (an incredible baptism of senses for me as I rode the local rickety old bus into the city amidst chaos and colour and noise). This time it was daylight and monsoon. A new powerful template of arrival has formed in my mind: massive
IMAG0086
Mmm... coconut pani! cloud banks moving swiftly against the far off Himalayas; incredibly rich green rice fields below; and just an overall sense of well-being and prosperity in those images of country.
As smug and inwards smiling as only I can be, I was the first lone traveller to reach customs after leaving the plane, due to my strict adherence to only packing hand-luggage (a feat that required careful manipulations of goods that had to be attached to my person and/or swapped between the main bag and the allowed extra 'small' bag to get me through the weight limits which I only just met. No waiting around the carousal for me with all those other losers!
But the time gain was lost in my other obsession: don't catch a taxi, get the local bus into town. Well actually its now the special air-bus. Being India, the bus (a vast improvement on 1980 – now a deluxe Volvo A/C) took a long time to arrive and a long time to then leave. But once mobile, it was a smooth affair, terminating at the Esplanade in the city and requiring just a 15 minute stroll to my booked guest
IMAG0088
My man with the 3 rupee lemon tea - still keepin' on house (all familiar to me from two more recent stays in Kolkata in 2010 and 2012).
Once in my room, it's the little things that both create familiarity as well as bring a smile of self-amusement to my face. First, I put up “the line” .
Tips for the travelling Aspergic. The Line: when establishing oneself in any hired room, it is compulsory to hang a clothes line across the room suitable for drying one's washing overnight. It remains the challenge of the traveller to discover where and how exactly this is accomplished within the often limited fixing points etc.). The shower is good – but of course I am proud of my accomplishment earlier that day in finding and taking a cold shower in the Kuala Lumpur terminal between flights. So this is actually my second shower for the day! There is a tad excitement to get back out on the street and re-establish my bearings – a lemon tea from the old man sitting in that same place on the pavement as he has been for many years (and still just 3 rupees despite the exchange rate now 20%!(NOVERB)
IMAG0089
The "Line" in my favour since my last visit). Then an egg paneer roll (again street food from a familiar stall). All is in its place and well with the world – even in the chaos of Kolkata.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.243s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 16; qc: 83; dbt: 0.133s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Carolina
non-member comment
Ironically funny and VERY familiar. Love ya