Calcutta / Kolkata : Sat 27th February - Mon 1st March
on Jen's Indian Adventure (India), 03/Mar/2010 04:03, 34 days ago
Calcuttaor Kolkata as it is known these days, is an amazing city. With a population of over 15 million there was plenty to do and see in the 48 hours we had there.We got the overnight train so arrived in a 8.30am ish, into the second largest train station in Asia, and saw big yellow taxis for the first time since arriving inIndia. As we drove to our guest house we passed many old, beautiful buildings that clearly were there since the days of the Raj– the time of British rule.Kolkata is a far more modern city thanBhubaneswar. It has all the trimmings of a large, industrialised, western city– it was once the capital ofIndia. Once we had checked into our guest house our first stop was the Victoria Memorial. On arrival we were told that the museum itself was closed for Holi but we could spend time walking around the grounds. After a pit stop for a real cappuccino we headed off to the local race track to spend Saturday afternoon in a very civilised manner. Our car, kindly donated for the day by a friend from Bhubaneswar,dropped us off outside the member’s circle and we pretended not to know where we were, expecting to automatically be let in as we were tourists. It didn’t quite work out like that as we were told to go to a different gate. Just at that time a lovely man came up to us and offered to sign all 4 of us in – usually wanting nothing in return. He showed us around the course and brought us to VIP seats right in front of the race track, where staff came to take orders for drinks and even took our bets. Now, don’t get excited when I say I was betting on horses. I bet on a horse to win in each of 3 races, and in each case my chosen horse came second. So I lost a whopping total of Rs 60.We went back into the city just as it got dark and spent some time looking around the local markets and getting a feel for Kolkata city life. Then we ventured off to a restaurant that served steak for dinner, and yes, I do mean steak. You should have seen the smile on my face when it arrived. It was the first time I have seen beef (apart from all the beef walking down the street every day) since I arrived inIndia4 months ago.(Note: I can’t believe I’m here 4 months already )Sunday morning was Holi, so we walked along the streets and came upon many groups of multi-coloured locals and tourists. We walked along the unusually, very quite city streets and throughMaidenPark. I was told the park was the largest in the world, but thePhoenixParkis bigger.We spent time sitting by the edge of the ocean, at Babu Gaat, where the local Brahmen met to wash off their Holi paint. No one seemed to mind us just sitting on the steps watching a cultural phenomenon new to us. In fact some were happy to pose for photos so they could see themselves in the camera.Sunday afternoon was spent sitting in a local café talking with an Irish doctor who was on a 3 month volunteer placement with a local charity and then we headed, as girls do, to the main large shopping mall. To get there we took the underground rail system – all exceptionally clean. I was surprised how clean it was compared to the streets aboveus and it was explained to me that people who use the underground are seen to be wealthy and so behave better there than they would above ground. The 2 stop journey cost Rs 4. Great value.That evening we found a lovely Italian restaurant that served real pasta, real home-made sauces and deeeeeeelicious apple pie with a toffee sauce and ice-cream.Monday morning was a bit different. We decided to visit the Missionary of Charities house- founded by Mother Teresa. We were warmly welcomed by a nun on arrival who told us where to go. We had access to the museum within the house– a display of pictures of Mother Teresa and the history of the order. The display included a letter found only after her death requesting to be released from the Loretto Nuns in Rathfarnham,Dublinfor a period of one year. The response was that she would be released for one year and longer if required as the Order Head understood that Sr Teresa (at the time) had another calling. When the nun in the museum realised I am Irish, she gave me a medal, explaining that it was different from the one I would be given when leaving and I was not to tell the other nuns that she had done so !I’m sure she does this with everyone but it was a lovely thought. We were then sent up a stairs to look at ‘Mother’s Room’, a very small space with a simple single bed, a plain desk and chair, a cross and a black and white picture of her with Pope John Paul II. The only place we were permitted to take a photograph was at her tomb, which is just inside the main door. As we sat in the room there was a constant trickle of nuns coming in to pray, including two novices.Our final destination in Kolkata was Mc Donalds. Every trip to a large city has to include a visit to Mc D’s – no ¼ pounders though – just chicken, chips and a very hard to get Diet Coke. Lovely !On the journey home we passed through the train station that boasts the ownership of the longest platform in the world- 1072.5 metres. We hopped off after 6 hours, but the train was to continue all the way to Kannyikumari (right at the southern tip ofIndia) a total of 3 days. So as I write this the train still hasn’t reached it’s final destination.I really enjoyed my weekend in Kolkata. Apart from all the trappings of city life I found the people to be much happier and more open to looking at you when talking than those in Orissa. I’m not quite sure what makes the difference.