Bangers, Boomers and Crackheads...(nothing to do with sausage, yuppies or drugs)

Well, Diwali has officially started and outside the air is punctuated with a chorus/cacaphony of rumble, crack, snap, bang, boom of fireworks and crackers going off. The should call it the festival of support for the Chinese economy instead of the festival of lights, since the amount of fireworks purchased is staggering and nearly all are made there.

I was given three masks by the hotel manager to wear when I go outside as the air gets so infiltrated with dust and particles from these fireworks that you need to wear one. Already cut a small hole in one to fit my ciggy in when I smoke... or maybe I can save some money as just a deep inhale outside should do it for me! The pollution will go on for a week, he said. Unbelievable.

I was told that some of the wealthier families will spend up to 2000 GBP on fireworks. So bizzare that so much is spent on something so frivolous with so many starving, but who am I to say?


Food consumed: Paneer in tomato sauce, potatoes with spinach, stir fry noodles...and three scoops of ice cream!
Cigarettes: 7 (should be even lower tomorrow due to the availability of smoke in the air).
Bollywood dancing: none