Two Beers and a Pretzel

Interesting flight from Kolkata…  I talked with a couple of Bengali guys and compared music on iPods.

Kolkata was pretty nice.  I wonder if it waas just that they have been getting rain, so all the trash had washed away (my cabbie’s theory), but it was pretty clean.  Here’s a pretty cool accidental motion shot I got with the Olympyus…

It could also be that it is the home of the Indian Communist Party (I assume employing people to clean the streets).  Their symbol is everywhere on posters, flags, buildings, and spray painted like gang signs on walls.

The Sitar Maker’s Shop.

My new toy…

In other news,there has been some unrest in Kashmir and even Leh, so I’m bummed I didn’t see it, but glad I didn’t go up there durring the scuffles.

Also, the Travelling Bunny has really been acting strange ever since getting kicked out of te Taj Mahal…  I hope he gets over this phase before we get to New York .

I’m taking it easy… In just over 48 hours I’ll be leaving on a comfy Emirates flight from Delhi (Dep 7:10 AM EST on the 13th) to New York (arr 7:45 AM EST on the 14th) with a layover in Dubai.  Then I still need to find a connection to Memphis to get to my Sister’s new house and visit my sweet little nieces.  I’m looking at about 30 hours of travel.  Should be easy after the 60 hour bus in South America, but it’s still harrowing.  Especially when my iPod batter only lasts about 8 hours.

I got my Sitar today!!!

Sorry, but I can’t upload photos from this internet cafe.

The taxi pulled up to a shop in a long line of small garage bays along the street.  Inside a small area barely big enough for one car were 2 men carving and staining materials to make Indian instruments, with about 20 of said instruments hanging from the rafters. The owner seemed a bit tee’d off that i didn’t get there yesterday as planned, but quickly warmed up to show me his creations.

I was expecting a bare bones sitar suitable for a beginner.  This thing has inlays, carvings, and decorated tuning pegs and a swan-shaped tuning bead on the main string.

The case is a monster – considering that you’re basically trying to protect something longer than your typical guitar, but made from a pumpkin.

Shipping it home is going to cost almost as much as the instrument itself…

I’ll get a pic uploaded when i get back to Delhi tomorrow.

I’ll also upload some pics of Kolkata.  This town is all right.  Surprisingly clean compared to Delhi and Mumbai.  Horrid traffic.  A better selection of non-vegy food.

Truly remarkable… the cab and rickshaw drivers are not rude or malcontent and actually want to drive you somewhere for a reasonable rate.

FYI:  I’m doing fine on the Indian food now.  I’m going to miss it!