Burning (Through) Bengal

I can see my Indian friends who follow this blog are looking at the title and shaking their heads in disapproval: not funny.


Anyway, I arrived in Kolkata (or Calcutta), India's 'cultural capital' this afternoon, after a fairly productive day.

I managed to buy a plane ticket to Bangkok (for Sunday), finish my reading (Hamlet, along with commentary), and generally avoid harassment by numerous beggars on the train, thanks to my courteous, grandfatherly-like Bangladeshi travel companion.

Except one. A eunuch.

It came, it pointed, it said 'ten rupees,' and ten rupees was duly given ($0.20).

I got off luckier than most people. But everyone-- and I do mean everyone-- paid up.