grIndia

Customs at the border made no problems and everything went smooth and quick. I have involuntary gained a guide at this stage, who would be kind enough to help, help spending some money definitely. West Bengal craziness is not much different from that one in Bangladesh, but its 'businessmen' seem to be a bit smarter and more experienced.
I took a train to Kolkata. This regional capital and fairly big city too, metropolitan-wise one of biggest in India, I reached late in the evening and was not easy to find a shelter though I managed but not cheap at all. The streets of the city at this our do show its raw and rough face. Dark and dirty, busy with dogs barking and fighting, cockroaches running from side to side, people sleeping on all sorts of spots and surfaces... Next morning I checked out and purchased my Indian sim+phone for 1200 Indian Rupees all together and with good old (British imported) bureaucracy it only took half an hour, requiring passport + 1 photocopy, one photo and a present address in India - all this for pre-paid sim? Using a phone in India you should be ready for piles of spam in form of SMS or non-human calls at least 1-2 a day. But always buy me a better mood with very refreshing a freshly squeezed juice/lemonade which is sold anywhere in the streets.
Later in the day after failing to find a host via CS I accommodated myself in the dormitory for 90 Rupees a night. This was non-clean nor dirty hotel in Sudder Street - which is full of foreigners and therefore many adequate places to stay. The same day I met Ash who was kind enough to show me around and explain few simple principles on living in India, tips and tricks which I may find useful. Price for meal may vary from 20 to 300 depending on what are you having and most importantly where it is being served. Next day I had a blind date with another CSer who has taken me for drinks and foods in rather fancier places(for me fancier place means that with AC and clean environment;) where prices were still not so high. I decided to have some beers and as it looked OK I took a meaty dish - Nepalese pork dumplings - Momo. Later we enjoyed more beers and Indian whiskey at another bar with people plus some extras from Czech Republic.
I was not feeling 100% since I came to India and it culminated early in the morning being sick and spending most of the morning in the toilet. All I ate whole day was water and managed to drink 2 plain toasts. Being strong but resting in the bed for all day I was new born next day though with not much energy left. Proper food and a dose of fruits have made stand on my feet again and I could be touring around Kolkata with my new Czech friends. We have visited the Victoria Monument - White House/Taj Mahal hybrid - I still can not believe I payed 150 Rupees to get in, although the museum was worth it.
After visiting few more places and a time spent looking for pickled gherkins but failing we made it to Czech guys host's place where I helped to prepare some chicken schnitzel with alternated potato salad, which we fed to amount of people. Splashing such a meal with a cold Indian lager may sound simple but at the time very pleasant. Especially when surrounded by young and nutty Indian law students...
Next day I returned to my hotel, picked my stuff, got bone-wet right after taking a shower in a pouring rain and at noon I have been on the train to Santi Niketan, where I was to find a peace and rest after crazy days in Kolkata meeting and staying with my dear Italian friends whom I met in Dhaka. I am staying at the theater house in the middle of jungle, with few people looking after the property and its surroundings and Sadu, the spiritual guard of the place and a great cook in one...