14 Kolkata Film Festival

Back on the subcontinent in Kolkata.
Very happy to be back. The heat is gone and it's delightful.
Any city with green space, a user friendly subway and a film festival are Eden.

I'm continuing onward in my dysfunctional love-hate relationship that I'm having with India.

But I've come to a realization that I just have to come to terms with.
I've discovered that it all comes down to a constant battle of wills.
I hire a cab to take me to a temple.
It's early morning and I want to just get there while all the worshippers are gathering. The conversation goes something like this:

"I want to go to this ghat and take a boat to the Kali Temple."
"No, you go here."
"No, I want to go here."
We go back and forth, we compromise.
After that, I had to haggle with the price.

This is one example of the constant battle.
It's usually over what I want versus what they want me to do. I have control issues so this doesn't help the situation either. But this is the constant battle.

And it's not just tourists, it's with the locals too.

I land in Kolkata, 12:30 AM local time. (2 AM Vietnam time.)
The person I meet on the airplane (story of my life) haggled with the cab driver he was helping me to get, only to walk away in utter exasperation.
His father (and brother & sister) ended up driving me to my hotel.

This is also an example of the kindness of Kolkatans.

I happily and gleefully landed in Kolkata during the International Film Festival. (The one thing I truly miss is going to the movies!) I'm at a loss as to how to purchase a ticket for the next showing. I walk out and turned to the only person standing on the steps for help. He happens to have a press pass and just walks me in.

The following day at a different theater I'm able to purchase a ticket. About $1.50 for an expensive seat. Really.

I find disheartening the amount of people who I've met who can't read. I guess I shouldn't be so shocked but I am.

(Shout out to Rebecca and Steven, Baby Boy #3 !!! name is to be determined!)