Hello to you all and thank-you for helping me as I set off on this adventure. Travelling nearly six hours into the future is a little tricky, as I’m sure you can guess, so it has taken a little while to adjust to the surroundings. You will see in the Control Centre on the website that I have my first “Mission”, which is to understand the language people speak here. I hope that you will listen to some of the sound tracks I’ve sent as clues, to let you know what my ears are hearing. IT’S VERY NOISEY!
It’s hot, it’s dusty oh and did I mention the noises? (BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!). I’ve included some pictures of the many ways that people get about here, from trams (there’re not like the ones in Manchester) to rick-shaws. I’ve noticed that the buses have no windows and look like they are made from wood, they remind me of some of your imaginary drawings we did together. As for the smells, well my nose is continually full of exotic spices, incense and clouds of dust (aaaaaaaaaa chuewww!).
Lots and lots of people live here, some in home-made tents on the pavement, including children and babies. I’ve seen many children working, cooking and cleaning in the markets, even building the pavements by hand. Actually most of life seems to take place on the pavements, they are so full of people making, and recycling and fixing things that most people end up walking in the road.
Luckily I’ve found a good place to messages to you from, it might not be so easy over the next few days as I’m heading north soon into Assam. Assam is near Bhutan, which is famous for Yeti’s. I must remember to try to get some fairy tale books from the book market here I’ll let you know how I get on).
Kolkata is awash with art and I am already doing lots and lots of drawings in my sketch book. In fact there is singing, dancing, radios, load speakers and beeping horns coming out of every window. The city is a treasure trove of imaginative creation that is constantly changing day and night.
Did you see the picture of the post box I put up? Imagine what it would be like communicating without the internet?
Can you imagine what the train to Assam will be like?