ancient cave paintings

Well... the bus driver insisted it was only a 2km walk to the site from the main road. Knew it was closer to 4km (2.5 miles) 'cause that's what Lonely Planet said. But the bus driver wouldn't let me get off the bus in town... so resigned myself to walking. Hot & sweaty, made it to the entrance then... found out they're all liars! Yeah, it was 4km to the entrance... then another 5km to the site. That's a total of 5.5 miles, one way, uphill, thru the desert, with no trees, at high noon, in 111 degree weather!! Ended up walkin' it but kept thinking 'bout turning round & when the water ran out... started hallucinating about circling vultures overhead.

Often get men trying to chat me up offer to take me somewhere or even sightseeing on their motorcycle. That's normally great ('cause it's free)... but the last two days... both guys really smelled! And now I've gotta take an overnigth train without showering & just know I've got that last guys stink lingering on me. In Kenya actually got off a bus in the middle of nowhere 'cause I kept gagging over the stink around me.

It just amazes me how many people around the world smell. And smell bad! Ok, most people don't wash their clothes everyday & sure some of that stink is 'cause of that... but please, if they're smelly... you gotta wash 'em! And ok, many countries don't have deodrant, but if your country does... USE IT! If not, bathe often! PLEASE, for the sake of your country folk, wash your stink.

Considering petitioning the World Health Organization to start a deodarant campaign.

WARNING: Stop reading now if you get quesy easy.

Normally I'm not the type of girl to talk about poo. But when 'ya travel... well, it's a major topic of conversation. Can't tell you the number of times discussed what happened in the bathroom that day with another traveler while eating.

Well, I'm sick again. For the thousandth time on this trip. It's not too bad... won't get me back into that size 0.... only provide me with an intresting array of colors. So far this week there's been red & yellow & then today... the brightest green I've ever seen in my life. It was so inhuman actually thought about taking a photo... but then the girly girl in my came back out & I stopped myself.

Finally left Kolkata (Calcutta)... which was supposed to be my gateway to Bangladesh. And obviously, didn't cross that bridge. Not that I'm abandoning Bangladesh... just that it's too damn hot now. So I'll hit it at the end of the year after India & Nepal.

The heat here is really ridiculous! It's over 100 & humid. Last night was able to get an airconditioned room for $10 but the electricity went & within 30 minutes my pillow was soaking wet. In fact, feels like I'm always soaking wet. It's like being in a suana 24/7. At least my pores are nice & clean. But that's why I'm gonna try & race up towards Kashmir... where it's nice & cool... but the problem is the road in doesn't open up 'till May & if I don't wanna backtrack, the road out doesn't open up 'till mid-July. Sounds strange but it's because of the snow. Oh... snow sounds so great right now!!

Seen a movie in almost every country. Except Yemen where women weren't allowed in the theather & Laos where couldn't find one.

Yeah there's the whole entertainment value of seeing a movie. And usually they're cheap. Kenya & Jordan tied for the most expensive tickets at $6. But Kenya also had the cheapest at just $0.30 a ticket for a year old movie in an about to collapse building.

But that $0.30 ticket didn't have air conditioning & to be honest, go to the movies more for the respite from the heat. The hotter the country, the more movies I see.

But also love the whole cultural side. About 75% of the countries ask you to stand before the movie while they play the national anthem & display their flag waving or photos of their leader. Strangely several countries won't let you in the theather until 5mins before it starts -- so you have 5mins to buy your popcorn, maybe use the bathroom & find your seat. Again, strange. About half the theathers have an intermission. And that's nice but Egypt's intermission was only 2mins, not long enough to do anything. And today checked out a movie in India.... the best intermission anywhere.... 15 guys selling anything you could imagine walking up & down the aisles.

Oh & the movie I saw today... "Revolution Road".... knew nothing about it except that it wasn't scary (can't watch those) & it was in English... & got really lucky, loved it! About a couple thinking about selling everything & leaving the country... could really relate~

Couple of months ago firmly transitioned into the 'madam' category. And I'm ok with it. Really. It's ok.

But a little worried... & don't laugh too much... that I'm not getting harassed too much. That should be great... harassments what I hate about travel. But why did it stop???

Was here in India just 3 yrs ago & the harassment was still strong & annoying.  So what happened??? Ok, not being botoxed anymore, but don't think think I've gotten that much older & uglier the last 3yrs!

Maybe I'm just being optimistic (it's not me, it's them) but actually think Indian men -might- have matured a bit in their knowledge of women. 15yrs ago they used to think the right way to pick up a woman was to grab her ass & say "wanna fuck?".... whereas 3yrs ago it had nicely transitioned into them looking at you like you were naked & then giving you a greasy "hello". Think their approach now is to sit next to you & wait for you to look at them or say something. (And I am getting lots of that.) So actually think they're learning!

Some spots in the world have that certain something special that's hard to pinpoint... but it's there... & it draws people. Puri is one of those spots.

No idea what the draw is. There two great sights but you can see 'em in a day. And there's the beach... but it's disgusting. Yet still, there's something here. It's kept me here a week & I'm sad to be leaving tomorrow.