I have been here for just over six months, you can tell as the blogging has slowly dwindled to almost nothing. However I went to Kolkata for the weekend so at least I have something more interesting to blog about!
Evelyn and I jumped into a cab to go to the mall which was round the corner from the hotel. Now we had been paddling in water that was around ankle deep but we spilt up when we were in the mall and decided to go our separate ways. Unfortunately by the time I left the mall it was pretty dark so I then navigated my way up the street opposite which turned out to be knee deep. Two gentlemen were behind me who swiftly over took me only to stop directly in front and start weeing in the street. The old saying goes don’t s*** in your own back yard and I can’t help but think the same should be said for peeing in the street you are paddling down! So I crossed the road only to find a cockroach floating past. It was at this moment that I did stop and review the situation - unfortunately I was equidistant from the start and the end of the road so I decided to plough on with thoughts of falling over running through my head. I eventually made it back and tried not to think of the soup I had just been walking through. Obviously if I am going to grace Kolkata with my presence during monsoon season then it would mean that they are going to have the worst rains for a decade!
Evelyn, Priyanka and I travelled to Kolkata on Wednesday night to arrive early on Thursday morning. Evelyn and I were discussing what we were planning to do and mine pretty much revolved around doing as much Western stuff as possible as I wanted to treat myself and to scratch the six month itch. Thursday started off for a trip to a couple of malls and we met up with Priti, it was lovely to meet up with her although I did feel a bit sorry for her being dragged around the shops and the dreadful lunch of KFC – well when in Kolkata!? I did manage to find proper cheese though for the bargain price of £15 for two blocks - note to self, check the price before you purchase!
We then went to meet with Priyanka’s family. I wish it was under happier circumstances as a close relative recently died but it was lovely to meet the family who were warm and welcoming. I hope to meet them again as they really are a wonderful group of people.
The rain which was a drizzle most of Thursday turned pretty torrential by Friday and Arko rang me to warn me that it wasn’t a terribly nice day and not to go out. However Evelyn and I had promised to meet up with one of our old colleagues so we braved it. I can’t help but think that Arko may have been correct but it was quite good fun paddling along Park Street (on the way to KFC - AGAIN!) The only time we did decide to turn back was on the way down to another mall as a school boy advised us not to go any further as there was an electric current, I may be stupid enough to brave a bit of rain but I am not messing with electricity.
Anadita paddling down Park Street
Evelyn and I jumped into a cab to go to the mall which was round the corner from the hotel. Now we had been paddling in water that was around ankle deep but we spilt up when we were in the mall and decided to go our separate ways. Unfortunately by the time I left the mall it was pretty dark so I then navigated my way up the street opposite which turned out to be knee deep. Two gentlemen were behind me who swiftly over took me only to stop directly in front and start weeing in the street. The old saying goes don’t s*** in your own back yard and I can’t help but think the same should be said for peeing in the street you are paddling down! So I crossed the road only to find a cockroach floating past. It was at this moment that I did stop and review the situation - unfortunately I was equidistant from the start and the end of the road so I decided to plough on with thoughts of falling over running through my head. I eventually made it back and tried not to think of the soup I had just been walking through. Obviously if I am going to grace Kolkata with my presence during monsoon season then it would mean that they are going to have the worst rains for a decade!
Luckily we woke up on Saturday to find most of it had drained away which was good. Arko rang me and asked if I fancied going to watch a band and have a couple of drinks – yeah I do! So we met up at 6 had a drink and headed to the venue. Please note Arko used to go to school there and couldn’t remember where it was but we got a little wet again and found the place eventually! The support act were interesting as were the actual band who apparently were runners up in India’s Got Talent. We managed to sit through one song before I started holding my head in my hands and we decided to leave. Now I don’t have a problem with some rap but when it’s not terribly good and the singer is using a faux American accent it does make it a little cringe worthy. There are plenty of Americans doing rap in American accents so I don’t think it’s going to set them apart on the International music scene. India has some amazing music so I think it’s a shame young bands are mimicking music that has already been done. That’s just my opinion on it though.
We then decided to go for a drink and we went to Someplace Else, which was amazing! One way to confuse stupid people such as myself is to serve water in a beer bottle – I tried it and decided it probably wasn’t quite right and passed it around and it swiftly got taken back to the bar. It is one way to ensure your clientele don’t get too drunk! I had a great time having a bit of a chair dance and then listened to some totally brilliant blues music – if you are in Kolkata on a Saturday you must go there.
Arko and I (just incase you forgot what I look like!)
| On Sunday I decided to nip out and try and find some fresh coffee that I could take back to Deoghar. Sadly I got utterly drenched again but I did find a much quicker route to the hotel from the mall I was in. That said the realisation that I walked around the block on Friday, down the very flooded road, was not a welcome one. Thank you to Priyanka, Priti, Anadita and Arko. All in all another brilliant weekend in Kolkata filled with experiences and laughs and more than my fair share of getting drenched! |
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