So much adventure...

in such a little time so far.

first day in Mumbai, everyone is friendly and says hello on the street and just walk up and shake hand in passing. wow. So as I'm walking down the street I start talking to a young man about whatever and he decides to have me come home to meet his 3 brothers, grandmother and mom. He lives down a narrow busy little twisty and turny street lined with homes and businesses. It's an industrial area. kids, adults, animals, cars, bikes, trash , alters etc. so busy. His home is no bigger than my bachelor back home, and his whole family lives there. They were so hospitable, they treat guests like gods and roll out the best food to impress. considering they are pretty poor, that was very impressive. I've made new friends:)

The next day, totally different energy. I ran into a couple of rude people, got scratched by a child who was begging because I wouldn't give money. My friends baby pissed on me and then by the store a bird shit on me. Totally different energy that day. lol

Evening rolls around and I take a motorized rickshaw an hour through busy mumbai to train station. Only to get there to find my train is delayed by 8 hours:( Richshaw drivers trying to get me to take a ride to hotel, they say its too dangerous to stay there for so long at night. So driver takes me back across town to where I started, and says not to pay him till he comes back to pick me up and take me to the train station again at 2 am. When I thought he said he would arrive. Time comes, he's not there. I panick and take another rickshaw to train station. little over 1/4 of the way there, we stop for my driver to get directions from guys on corner. My driver calls and I can't understand him on the phone and I told him I left and was heading to train station, and hang up. Only to have the police start questioning me about whats going on, I tell them, its ok, I carry on. My new driver had decided he wasn't going to take me any further( I should have waited for the first one I guess) so he got me to jump on the back of a motorcycle that was going in that direction, CRAZY!!! So ya, thats what I do. He takes me almost all the way there, then says he can't go any further and stops and flags down another richshaw for me to jump into. Holy hot potato!! lol. Get to station, its dark and sketchy. My driver tries to rip me off, it doesn't work. I go into station and want to go take a piss, and an old man inside taking money from people grabs my hand and starts kissing it. While another couple of guys start talking to me about the driver I had earlier and said I have to settle up with him, we talk about this more as we are pissing beside each other. We finish and walk back out to parking lot, I meet my first driver and 5 of his friends( other drivers) We talk about it and realise it was a big misunderstanding and I pay him any ways. They thinks its honorable, they buy me tea and ask me to come waste my time with them while I wait for train. They take me over to hang with the other drivers off on the far edge of parking lot. They are sitting in a circle on the ground smoking and gambling ask me to join. I decline and chat instead. Time comes to catch train, they walk me there and carry my back pack, while making fun of me in hindi. They asked if I minded, and said no, boys will be boys. lol. They get me to my train and give me there phone numbers so I can call them when I get back to mumbai. They are my new personal drivers.

After 32 hours on a train, I'm in Kolkata now. I've met with my friends and we leave for the ashram at 6 am. I'm so tired... but this is the last time I can update for the next 16 days. The story is in the shortest form I can get it. Will give more deets in person:)

Not even here a week yet and sooooo much has happened.

Love from Mother India.

xoxoxoxoxox