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Well it was a bit of a hard week last week with earache and not being able to hear but seems to be clearing up now I am using drops. Its no longer constantly painful.
On Saturday I travelled to the Sunderbans in a coach and then a steamer. I took an auto and a taxi to get to the coach as driver of auto didn't seem to understand what I said. We either went past my drop off point or we were on a different route. When got in taxi also I had to shout stop when went by it. It was really good to see rural India. Seeing the mud and thatched huts as well as the endless paddy fields. There were obviously still the crowded buses etc but I also saw bicycles carrying bamboo poles. Don't know how they managed to cycle with all their bamboo poles. The rural area around Kolkata also had quite alot of motorcycles driving around. There were also bicycles and motorcycles with a flat piece of wood behind for passengers to sit on.
We stopped for a toilet break at local garage. I went in and then thought better of it as I didn't really need to go. The floor was slippy and wet and I had my daypack rucksack, handbag and trousers on. I thought better of it as I could see myself ending up down the toilet or one of my belongings ending up there as there was no-where to hang anything. I wasn't surprised though as garage toilets aren't even good in England. Amusing to see cows near the petrol pumps. I don't enjoy seeing the half dead/half alive birds I've seen in Kolkata and think I saw in the rural area. Near the sudarbans began to look a bit like villages from the Jungle Book.
I was the only foreigner on the 2 day/1 night overnight trip but everyone was nice. Sometimes bit hard sitting on own for mealtimes. When I got to the village to get off for steamer I was expecting odd looks but didn't really get any (or no more than I do in Kolkata). On steamer guide gave us a talk and at times I felt like he was only focusing on me. When we arrived at Sunderban Tiger camp it was chucking it down with rain but most of weekend its been good weather. I am actually seeing the sun a bit now in India as I didn't see it that all when first arrived. At the Sunderbans I saw a Common grey mongoose, river terrapin, snakes, kingfisher, other birds, rhesus macaque and crabs as well as the mangrove forest. Unfortunately didn't get to see the Royal Bengal Tiger. I kept looking as we went past the mangrove forest and odd time thought I saw things but it could have been anything. We did two trips out in the steamer as well as the journey to get there and back in steamer. We visited viewing platforms, very small temples dedicated to goddesses and the mangrove interpretation centre.
At night the local people danced for us. At first I thought I am not going to enjoy this but then I became enthralled and appreciated it. It was a little embarassing as my clothes were dirty as I had slipped over while walking (but I had only brought very limited clothes for the trip- most were at homestay). Was a bit hard when they finished as people were giving them tips and I was straining my eyes to see how much they were giving.
I was staying in T-2. A tent room for four people which was half canvas, half solid. There was only me in it. I was really enjoying the Sunderbans and my room until I returned to my room after the locals had been dancing. I discovered a mouse in my room! I think it was a mouse and not a rat. I screamed and the staff came and shooed it out for me. Problem was I don't know how it got in in the first place so I was scared of it coming back in. I then went for dinner and then didn't sleep too well as was scared of one running over me in the night! Talked to my parents in the middle of my night and they were a great support as always. After phone call every time I heard a noise I tended to make a noise myself to scare anything there into little holes. I didn't realise that I am slightly fearful of rodents. I was also worried about what else could get in. If I had been with someone I could probably have had a laugh about it. I realised in morning that one of the noises I could hear was the fan which had a loose connection somewhere so it squeaked slightly. I loved the Sundarbans but if I went again don't think I would stay in a tent room. The room had owls all round the room and I had just bought an ornamental owl to remind me of my stay there. I don't think I will be forgetting it in a hurry!
There were a golden labrador and a black labrador in the camp and it was funny to watch their play fights and also waiters kept shooeing them out of restaurant. Made me laugh really that two dogs could cause so much trouble when probably there were so many animals hidden away in the restaurant. When I was leaving I had to ask an Indian couple about how much I should be tipping the staff for my stay. The staff were very good and after all I was stopping in a jungle so would expect creatures. Just didn't quite expect to find one in my room. I almost caused more trouble than it was worth though as I needed change for the tip so bought a Thums Up (some coca-cola product). Problem was they were short on change anyway so ended up swapping it with the guests. Thats what I find hard that you get the high denominations from the ATM but always need the low denominations. There are 5 rupees, 10 rupees, 20 rupees, 50 rupees, 100 rupees and 500 rupees notes that I know of. The golden labrador came to wave off his owner as he was on steamer with us so it was nice to be waved off by him. I was sad to leave and go back to noise and traffic of city but I was looking forward to a decent night sleep when I got to homestay.
On steamer on way back I swapped contact details with an Indian lady who lives in Delhi. When we got back to the coach I was planning to watch journey back as I had enjoyed it on way. However, I was so tired, the coach was very hot when we got on it and I felt travel sick anyway. The roads were not too windy or that bumpy but the coach weaved in and out around autos etc. Everytime I seemed to wake up to see a cow weeing then just went back to sleep with head knocking against the window. The lady from Delhi then talked to me after the comfort stop. It was a bit awkward to say that I have given up a job and am looking at changing career direction as the indians generally don't do that. I got ripped off on the taxi journey home. Everyone had been really nice when trip had finished and fussed over me getting me a taxi. I think that meant the taxi driver thought he could rip me off as he thought I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't be bothered arguing with him though due to the language barrier. At the end of the day taxis are alot cheaper here than they are at home.
Yesterday I had a bit of a lie in and then went to South City mall in auto there and back. I was just thinking on way maybe I am getting use to the traffic in auto when I had to close my eyes. Maybe not after all. On way back I realised what keen brakes an auto has as another auto cut in front of ours. I am looking forward to using pedestrian crossings again when I am home! The road outside the internet parlous is being relayed with new curbstone and surface so hopefully it will be done when I go. South City Mall was just like a mall at home so was comfortable to wander round on my own there. I bought a skirt, a watch, a card reader (to transfer photos from camera to computer- just got to find a computer now with a USB slot), dairy milk, handbag, card, felt tip pens and scissors. The stationary items were to make flashcards for teaching English to children as it is so hard when I can't speak their language that all.
Today I was in baby clinic this morning. There was a little kid with squeakers in her shoes. They were so sweet. Also found out a bit about helping children with their communication needs. Then I went into schools and a 15 year old boy read to me and I asked him questions on it. Only problem was he decided to pinch and crush my hand as thats what the story was about. He had a very strong grip. I also had to try and keep him from falling asleep. This afternoon been in pre-school nursery. It was a bit hard as teacher I had been working with was now in a different class so there were different routines again. Obviously language barrier is always going to be a problem. I also helped a little girl overcome her fear of the slide.
- comments
Jo Hopper Hi Suzanne, Glad your ear is on the mend now. Sounds like you had fun in the jungle. At least it was a mouse you were worried about and not a tiger! I can't say anything though, a beatle chased me out of the bathroom and ran on top of my bed in Sicily and I was almost hysterical! (it was a big beatle) Be careful in taxis. I was in Dubai on a trip and the car back to the hotel got stuck in traffic so he drove off road through a building site to avoid it. It was late at night, and I thought he was kidnapping me!!! luckily my parents don't keep camels so he probably thought it wasn't worth his while. Thanks for the brilliant blog entries, it feels like I'm there with you. Keep up the good work....Take care Super Girl!! Jo
Suzanne Hi Jo, Very true but I was a bit concerned if a mouse could get in then a snake could too. Ha I must admit I saw a massive insect about the fourth day at 2am at night and they are not a pleasant sight. Most of time I'm in house for about 6:30 and don't go out again. Aww that doesn't sound good going through a building site. Take care too Jo. Suzanne