Dec 3, Faizabad

Faizabad, Dec 3, 2011.

83 km.

I got no breakfast at Shivay and had to go out on town for it. Eventually I settled for a couple of tasty Samosas and chai by the bus station. While chasing around for it I met again the young boy who helped me find Chandrika soap last night. He is one of those charming teenage boys who greet me with "Welcome to my India!", very helpful guy. I asked if he knew where I could find a place to top up my Airtel sim card. He said it would not open until ten, and asked if I wanted to come visit his home in the meantime. I did not and said I had to go. Probably he was in the area looking for me after he had talked to his parents and got clearance to invite me.

It is of course very nice of people to invite me home, but I never accept. I feel much better being in a place where I pay for my room and what else I have. Then I can come and go as I like, sleep when I want, not finish the food if I should happen not to want it all. I feel if I accept an invitation to someones house I will have to entertain them, and answer all their questions, which are often too personal. Not only what is my name and where do I come from, but also where is my wife, what do I work with, how much do I earn and why am I on this trip.

Very soon after I left Basti I came back on the National Highway and realised that it would have been much easier coming in to Basti that way.

Today I cycled practically all the time on the National Highway. It took me a good while to find a place to stay in Faizabad. It is India for real here, no tourists at all. Actually I have not seen a white face since I left Bhairawa.

Many people here in Faizabad are very small. Just after I had checked in one Indian youth asked me if I was here for a basket ball game. Back home I am not particularly tall, but here they seem to think I am a basket ball player!