From Bangkok we went to Kolkata.
First thing that hit us in the airport was the utter chaos in getting a prepaid taxi and complete lack of security. Also, the pall of heavy balck pollution that was hanging in the air all around.
This will be impression that will get eteched solidly during our stay in Kolkata- a city, helpless, suffering from pollution and reckless people, uncared for throughly. A city where people seems to live to spit on the road, everywhere. I cried for my beloved city where I grew up. A pitiable city now where politics is played over investment, over banning of pollution spitting autorikshaw!
We have gone to Kolkata with a hope to buy a flat, looking at the pathetic plaight of the city, we decided against it. But for few malls like eyeshore, there were nothing is city to talk about. That after more than 30 years in power for the ruling party! Yes, the communist party has made everyone same in the city in suffering!
We went to Kali temple at Kalighat and Dakhsinerswar! I felt hopeful, Ma Kali afterall will ensure ressurection of the city where her devoutee are living.
We went to the botanical garden and looked in awe the Baniyan tree, 250 year old, thriving without its main trunk which was removed when some fungal attacked happened.
We went for a boat ride in the evening in outramghat. It was peace inspiring experience.
We went to Trinca in Parkstreet where I went at 22 for the first time and where I had my first glass of beer in eithties and Sheena went there at 6, such is the signs of passage of time!
We had Biriyani galore. We felt sorry for the decline in quality of Beduin and loved the most the food from Arsenal in Park circus. We lost some of our facination for Rolls which in a way define Kolkata street food.
Shenna loved having foochka which I couldnt bring myself to enjoy.
We went to parkstreet on first Jan, 2009, in the evening. She was all decked up then with neon lights and no one could see the many cracks and broken windows of the apartments around. Darkness sometimes is blissful.
Dinner at my friend Sudipta's house was awesome. Mashima is much aged now yet have retained the same spirit she used to have when I used to visit their house as s tudent, decades ago now.
The dinners in Bengal club and CRC were something that will stay in the memory.
Bangkok was full of foriegner and we barely saw 4-5 of them during our entire stay. That too mostly near missionaries of charity.
My sis in law and her family, now residents of NZ also joined us in Kolkata. We then realised why they say bonds of blood is something different. Shenna forgot us and spent all his time with his much older brother of 18, they were inseparable. Shenna will wear a jacket is his bro were wearing one and so on went on during our entire stay.
Im hopeful that Kolkata will rise again. I dont have anyother choice to feel that city will turn around and good sense on some on in power will prevail, someday.
First thing that hit us in the airport was the utter chaos in getting a prepaid taxi and complete lack of security. Also, the pall of heavy balck pollution that was hanging in the air all around.
This will be impression that will get eteched solidly during our stay in Kolkata- a city, helpless, suffering from pollution and reckless people, uncared for throughly. A city where people seems to live to spit on the road, everywhere. I cried for my beloved city where I grew up. A pitiable city now where politics is played over investment, over banning of pollution spitting autorikshaw!
We have gone to Kolkata with a hope to buy a flat, looking at the pathetic plaight of the city, we decided against it. But for few malls like eyeshore, there were nothing is city to talk about. That after more than 30 years in power for the ruling party! Yes, the communist party has made everyone same in the city in suffering!
We went to Kali temple at Kalighat and Dakhsinerswar! I felt hopeful, Ma Kali afterall will ensure ressurection of the city where her devoutee are living.
We went to the botanical garden and looked in awe the Baniyan tree, 250 year old, thriving without its main trunk which was removed when some fungal attacked happened.
We went for a boat ride in the evening in outramghat. It was peace inspiring experience.
We went to Trinca in Parkstreet where I went at 22 for the first time and where I had my first glass of beer in eithties and Sheena went there at 6, such is the signs of passage of time!
We had Biriyani galore. We felt sorry for the decline in quality of Beduin and loved the most the food from Arsenal in Park circus. We lost some of our facination for Rolls which in a way define Kolkata street food.
Shenna loved having foochka which I couldnt bring myself to enjoy.
We went to parkstreet on first Jan, 2009, in the evening. She was all decked up then with neon lights and no one could see the many cracks and broken windows of the apartments around. Darkness sometimes is blissful.
Dinner at my friend Sudipta's house was awesome. Mashima is much aged now yet have retained the same spirit she used to have when I used to visit their house as s tudent, decades ago now.
The dinners in Bengal club and CRC were something that will stay in the memory.
Bangkok was full of foriegner and we barely saw 4-5 of them during our entire stay. That too mostly near missionaries of charity.
My sis in law and her family, now residents of NZ also joined us in Kolkata. We then realised why they say bonds of blood is something different. Shenna forgot us and spent all his time with his much older brother of 18, they were inseparable. Shenna will wear a jacket is his bro were wearing one and so on went on during our entire stay.
Im hopeful that Kolkata will rise again. I dont have anyother choice to feel that city will turn around and good sense on some on in power will prevail, someday.
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