KATHMANDU TO KALIMPONG 2014: Tuesday, 25th February, 2014 Kolkata

Slept quite well on the train, no doors on train between carriages, don't stumble !! We arrive in Kolkata about an hour late, not too bad. Olga left us at the station, she was met by Indian friends and is staying with them for a few days. Kolkata is still chaotic, a melee, noisy, porters jostling for your business. Persistent, child and adult beggars demanding your attention. We are met by John's agent in Kolkata and taken to the Fortune Select Hotel, Vanda and Fraser are staying at the Baptist Mission Hostel with friends. I stayed there last trip, very nice, but John, Jennifer and James were going to the Hotel so I decided to go with them. A little bit of guilty luxury. We immediately went for a lovely breakfast then afterwards I had a look at Spike. He is filthy, in a sorry state, keeps giving me dirty looks saying clean me but he will have to wait. I re-boxed him and made sure he was properly packed for the flight home. Washed hair and had a shower then joined James poolside for a blether. I had booked a full body massage in the hotel for 2.00pm, £24, you would pay at least £80 back home. The masseuse appeared with a small tray containing a sweet drink, a bowl of water and what looked like a large pill !! I drank the drink, popped the large pill in the water and surprisingly the pill began to grow, it was a towel to wipe my face. What next !! The massage was wonderful but painful, I called a halt when she started folding one leg over the other and bending it back.. Enough is enough. Met John, Jennifer and James for drinks and dinner, James accidentally spilt a bottle of red wine over Jennifer and me, a fitting end to our trip! James flight is during the night, another one leaves. My flight is at 8.55am so we are leaving at 5.00am, last early start. Nearly there, nearly finished, nearly home.