I will hold on hope, and I won't let you choke

Alternatively titled: Trevor Hall, Your Wish Is My Command

(Jan. 12) Kolkata as we hoped for: for a day of bonding, Kaka took us over the river (Ganges) and through the woods (purely metaphorical) to the Ramakrishna temple. It was Ramakrishna's birthday (hence a state holiday hence no school--the first of hopefully many days off) so there were a TON of people there. I'm talking MN state fair and then some.

Kaka pretended to be our tour guide, giving us all the history of the people and places, which is useful because we were born without an innate knowledge of Hinduism and Indian philosophy. Since it was a tad crowded, we decided after a bit to go visit the Dakshineswar Kali temple.

The Dakshineswar temple I have been itching to visit for quite some time because at his concert, Trevor Hall told Kelsey Kircher and me that it was his favorite place to visit in Kolkata when we asked for recommendations. Kaka visits there all the time and again gave us the tour guide lowdown though I knew a great deal of the info.

Some fun facts:

-The philosopher Ramakrishna lived there. Yup, same Ramakrishna! He's very famous here; he believed that Hinduism should accept all religions (his temple was built to reflect this in the architecture--Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim, plus the floor outline is built in the shape of a cross) 

-Kolkata is believed to be named after the goddess Kali

-Kali is the goddess for the poor and farmers, and support for them is always something I can get behind

Other fun facts:

-I crossed myself with water from the Ganges-- Mixing genres, baby!

-We were given flowers to throw through the door at the statue but somehow I got confused and failed to do so

-There were puppies running around, normal because there are dogs everywhere here, but not normal because it looked like they were dyed pink

-We almost got taken out by a cow running through the crowd--it seriously came out of nowhere

-Kaka makes friends with everyone, including the guys who hold our shoes while we go in the temple. They loved us so much they danced for us.

-At the train station while we were waiting to leave, we had a Delhi flashback and found ourselves to be the center of attention from a large group of admirers who wanted pictures with us (of course). Kaka gave them a no-no, and then proceeded to befriend them all as they flocked into a crowd around us and continued to stare stare stare. This was unusual because in Kolkata, we haven't had a lot of staring like we did in Delhi, but then we find out... this group was from Delhi. It all makes sense!

Washed by the water.

As we went back, I was thinking as I stood in the open door of the train high on its track with the wind zipping through, this is the India I expected. Crowds, wiliness (people trying to cheat us because we're foreigners) yet friendliness (people trying to get to know us because we're foreigners), rich and poor living right next to each other, religious diversity, and despair contrasting with happiness. Especially the kind of happiness found purely in just being, despite all surrounding conditions and poverty. I may be speaking way too soon, but I think I am emerging victoriously though culture shock--a few days ago I was pretty disenchanted with all things Indian and now I am once again enamored. Maybe its just the mood in which I write, but I am quite joyous. 

However, I do not mean I love everything here-- the goddess Kali straight up freaks me out.