SEP 21, 11 .. CALCUTTA BUS RIDING
THIS IS TOO MUCH FUN..
AWESOME CAPTAIN.. TOTALLY AWESOME.. YOU’D THINK THAT YOU ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOIN’ ..
On my own.. with NO coaching except from people-on-the-street (on a zero to ten scale with 10 being tops.. people-on-the-street can rank all the way from a MINUS FIFTY ((they are lying to you and they KNOW they are lying to you)) to a PLUS 50) and bus conductors.. I found a totally new and I found a totally different way back to my hotel from visiting Kitty Brinnand at Mother Teresa’s Mission.. Shantidan..
Up to now.. to go to Shantidan.. I have gotten myself first to Sealdah Railway Station.. purportedly the busiest commuter rail station in all of Asia.. in a series of ways.. getting oneself to Sealdah is NO big deal.. you just keep repeating the word.. SEALDAH (SEEEE AL DUH).. and you get to Sealdah Station.. from Sealdah I then catch a Number 24 bus.. a Number 24A bus.. or a Number 213 Bus.. all local buses.. the ones THE LITTLE PEOPLE RIDE.. and after a challenging 15 to 20 minute ride.. I arrive at Shantidan.. facing South..
I had a hunch.. I had a sixth sense.. that I could then continue heading South from Shantidan.. and NOT going back North.. from whence I had come.. back to Sealdah Station.. and down A.J.C. Bose Road to my hotel..
I sensed. IF I WAS CORRECT.. it would be quicker and easier and less stressful..
So in leaving Shantidan.. I had to go IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION to what I have been doing for 11 days now.. IF I was wrong.. I figured I would just back track and only lose some time.. probably an hour of time..
The key was this one simple fact.. I had sensed that I could get to Park Circus by continuing South from Shantidan..
So in the fast approaching dark.. in the rain.. I stepped up to the plate.. I DID ask several people-on-the-street (with a distinct gesture pointing South) .. saying “Park Circus” and all nodded yes..
Onto the Number 24A bus heading South.. and I asked the conductor.. “Park Circus” and he nodded yes.. several passengers vehemently said NO.. but then I pointed North saying “Park Circus” and all backed off.. it had to be North or it had to be South.. and it was South..
When the bus got into Tangra.. the conductor motioned me off the bus pointing to the right.. “Go right on this street”.. did I just say street? it was an eight lane.. four lanes in each direction .. MAJOR THOROUGHFARE..
As I started to cross this major thoroughfare.. an Autoricksha was in front of me and I said “Park Circus” and he motioned me into his rig.. I did the cost sign.. rubbing my thumb with my index finger.. and he said Six Rupees.. in I jumped.. OUT OF THE RAIN..
And off to Park Circus.. passing Prem Dan on the way.. another of Mother Teresa’s MAJOR Missions in Calcutta.. perhaps the most major mission .. I have been to and I have worked at Prem Dan many times.. KNOWING the Mother Superior.. Sister Charmaine Jos personally.. Patti and I met Sister Charmaine Jos in 1996.. she nearly ascended to become Mother Teresa’s replacement..
And back to the hotel and this Internet Cafe.. still raining..
THAT RAIN CHANGES EVERYTHING.. ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK OF NIGHT.. to beat it.. I hopped an Autoricksha from the Park Circus vicinity..
On a zero to ten (ten being best) he was at least a 20.. great chemistry with him..
AND WE’LL HAVE FUN FUN FUN TILL HER DADDY TAKES THE T-BIRD AWAY..
OH YEAH.. I CAN STILL DO THIS THING.. OH YEAH..
YES. IT WAS A BETTER WAY HOME.. BUT I DON’T THINK I COULD DO THE REVERSE YET.. NOT IN THE DARK AND NOT IN THE RAIN AT LEAST..
MUCH LOVE.. LOVE. Cap..