Quick Calcutta trip

I am going into international traveller mode. Earlier this month, I made a quick visit to Calcutta. I haven't visitted Calcutta in summer in a really long time. . .so there was an overeating of mangoes and jackfruits. The rainy season started soon after I reached, making the temperatures fairly manageable. And my parents were there, en route to Moscow. So I got to meet with them.

PSA: Be careful with your luggage if you are flying British Airways through London. In fact, avoid it altogether if you can.

On the way over there, my luggage did not arrive with me. Apparently with new construction, new security regulations and all that stuff, Heathrow is a mess. So, I spent the entire trip expecting that my luggage will be delivered by the next flight, as I was told. And it never arrived. Now I am back in Maryland, and it still hasn't arrived. It's been over a month now. Calling customer service means a minimum of a half an hour hold before you speak to someone who doesn't know anything. All you can do is wait for your luggage to miraculously get to you. And file for compensation (which they still haven't acknowledged, and it's been over two weeks, so I need to follow up with them again.) But at least, I am in good company: apparently A.R. Rahman and Shilpa Shetty lost their luggage too.

Anyway. This August, I am likely to go to Thailand for a field study and Taiwan for a conference. So stay tuned for more travel stories.