Welcome to Kolkata!!

Day 2 and it seems i cannot escape the wiley ways of life in india extracting every last rupee from you, guy from the KFC opposite hostel (only there for a plastic spoon honest!) was insistent i upsize the reg pepsi (coke/pepsi a day keeps dr away theory) and kept saying o.k large mam 'no reg thanks', o.k so a large will be xx!! Even the cat at breakfast this morning not interested in the other indian people dining sat and meowed only at me looking pleadingly for food!!

Staying at the YWCA right in heart of Kolkata off Park St (where all english lived when they ruled), doesn't escape the poverty on street, shoe polishers, curry sellers, beggers. To delight of shop keeper had a moment of jet lag induced loss of enthusiam for bartering splashed out 550 rupee (just over 7quid) on some assam and darjeeling tea!! Accom v basic, but managed 3 mins of hot water from shower, minor miracles are everywhere - they guy who downed the pepsi i bought for him spilling all over beard in haste to drink to delight of cricket team when i offered to step up and bowl. Today is cricket sunday and the median (large green well brown space a little like central park of kolkata) was covered with men/boys playing, was a little dissapointed that west indian guy i met didn't even know NZ are currently playing against them!!

Programme starts tomorrow with a day of orientation and when i have a faster internet connection will load some pics, sky umm what sky very hazy and gets pretty warm during day although evenings chilly.

Ta ta - goodbye in bengali, alot of english spoken so bengali not progressing so much, suspect that will change when i start programme and have no other option!