23. Mumbai to Aizawl

I am standing in the middle of the Kolkata domestic airport. Up at 3 am and have made the first leg of the journey from Mumbai to Kolkata. It's funny how the memories of previous trips here all come rushing back, just standing in this chaotic, noisy building . Already I see people who are obviously from the North East of India. They are easy to pick out - their  gentle smiles and beautiful features .
Left the hotel in Mumbai to the awful realisation that I made a huge mistake in booking my flights back from Aizawl. Somehow I have a flight on Wed from Aizawl to Kolkata but booked my flight from Kolkata to Mumbai for Thursday. I can't imagine how I have done this, but there it is on paper . I am hoping that I will be able to fix this once I reach Aizawl. Maybe tomorrow .
I had decided in Mumbai that the hotel fee was too much to have them drive me to the airport and planned on taking a metered cab. However, when I got to the lobby this morning at 0345 the wonderful man at the desk told me he did not want me to take a metered cab, "Maybe it's safe . Maybe not so much this time of night". Then he offered one of his staff to drive me in the hotel vehicle and "you pay what you like ". You can find kind generous people no matter where you are in the world.
Flew from Goa yesterday. Sat beside a very lovely talkative man from Libya. He had been in ill health and was recovering in India and could not say enough good things about it. He remarked on the "calmness and coolness" of most Indian people and I have to say I agree for the most part. He marvelled at the fact that there are 365 days in the year, however, because of all the different religions in the country, there were 367 different holidays /festivals . He also said that he would need to come back again as "India is so large, it is like a continent. Like Africa . You cannot see it all and experience it all in one trip ". Again , I had to agree .
The funniest thing happened as I stood here. A young gentleman who once acted as my interpreter in our last medical clinic approached me. He recognized me in the crowd ( the blonde hair in the sea of black and brown hair likely helped )and I recognized him right away. Nice to see a friendly face .
Will try to post this when I can although I am unsure of what internet services will be available in the next few days.
Ps. Squatting over a squat toilet with a heavy backpack on your back, because the floor is too disgusting for you to set things down on, pulling you backwards whilst toileting is another feat I can add to my list.