It is 5:30pm and I am rather tired. I checked out of Puja guest house and wandered about. Now I am at Shiva Lodge with owner Vijay Dixhit for Rs 200 in a room facing the Ganges. The view is not luxurious but it is certainly interesting and foreign, and it seems to be family-run. Right now I do not feel sociable but I do want to go out once more before it gets too dark. Mr. Vijay says there is a terrace on the roof — perhaps I should write there.
I went north today toward a bridge over the Ganges. After walking just a short was I quite seeing any foreigners – apparently the touristed area is quite small. I walked along the edge of the water until I came to a bit of construction and then I went up stairs into more winding alleys. Away from tourists few people spoke English. I went to Lal Khan’s tomb erected in 1773. It was an Arabic building but I do not have knowledge to categorize it. A student type approached me there and I gave him my email address – his name was Akrat. The grounds were mostly ruined foundations but there were three towers locked up. There were sprinklets around the grounds and the lawn was lush and maintained. It was strange because of the lack of tourists in the area – I paid Rs 100 to get in and I thought it was fair because I hope the place continues to be so well-maintained. I went around a bend and found myself on the bridge over the Ganges. At the beginning of this bridge is an abandoned Church of England dedicated to Queen Victorie, but it was locked up. I continued back toward the tourist area. At one point I stopped for chai. I drank from a clay cup and gave the boy Rs 4. Some other boys came by and one with cricket gear spoke good English. He immediately asked how much I had paid for tea and when I told him he told me he would ask the seller to give me Rs 3 back. I told him I learned but this time I did not want back. I told the boys to leave the bench and walk with me and they did till they turned away to an alley. I had a snack from one man who wanted Rs 15 when probably Rs 5 would have been right. I tried to give him Rs 10 but he wanted fifteen, so I was glad to give it to him. I called my mother and told her good things. I said that she would like it here and she said that she wanted to come. That surprised me but it would be a good idea because I know that she would like it here. I will write her a letter tonight so that she will have something to hold.
When I was to pay for the phone a girl managed the booth and she spoke better than average English. It was strange that she knew only a few words but she articulated with less Indian accent than most. First she asked for Rs 6000, then 1000, then 84.
I wandered around until dark and then found Shiva Lodge. This is a friendly place but Mr. Vijay tells me that if I am on the roof alone then I should have a stick to fend off the monkeys. I saw them up close on the roof and they are bigger than I thought.