So, when we last spoke, Mike was finding it easy to throw in the towel regarding Darjeeling - and rightly so.
Save for the view - there's not much there (well, OK, apart from the tea). And I've not seen a mountain view in all the time I've been there.
Over dinner last night, met a young Spanish couple from Barcelona. We got talking after the young lady had ordered lemon chicken (expecting lemon chicken), taken one bite and spat it out faster than I have ever seen anyone do such a manoeuvre, saying there was too much chilli in the chicken.
We all laughed and started chatting.
Anyway, it transpires we are staying in the same hotel, so I get invited back for drinks in their room.
Offered marijuana (declined), beer (accepted) and cigarettes (....Okay, accepted!) and had a great fun evening with them. It transpires that at 26 / 27 years of age, they have a wish-list of holiday destinations, which on inspection, myself and Julian have pretty much done. This therefore brought us closer together as travel buddies, exchanged emails and will possibly see them later in the year as they are going to be in London for a wedding. We'll see what happens.
Back in Kolkata, I get a text from the young artist who I bought a picture from last week, saying he's exhibiting in one of Kolkata's top art venues and if I want to come along - great.
Why wouldn't I?
And it was very swish! With 20 of the top young artists from Kolkata, all exhibiting in a great space, nibbles and drinks laid on, topped off with the Indian equivalent of David Hockney to open the exhibition.
And there was some good work. Though I cottoned on pretty quickly, when a couple of the artists seemed more keen than usual to sell their work to me - obviously word had got around and that indian entrepeneurialism was still beating strong!
You'll be glad to know I resisted!
So, am back in wonderful, civilised Kolkata, where I have the most luxurious, QUIET room, which I intend to enjoy before I have to get up at 3.30am to get a taxi at 4am to the airport (it's now 10.56pm).
So excuse me if I turn in for the last time during this trip on Indian soil...
Sleep well mes amis.
Sleep well.
xx
Room Without a View - Dekeling Hotel, Darjeeling
Why Buddhism's not for me (sorry) - 72 hours of non-stop chanting, bell ringing and candle lighting
Darjeeling tea-pickers at work on the "First Flush"
Kolkata - street life from the taxi on a regular Thursday at 5pm
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