A brief stop over in Kolkata

The YMCA in Kolkata is the oldest one in Asia and it looks it, the old worn steps on a busy street lead up to a small glass fronted wooden booth (The kind you used to find outside old cinemas) with paintwork peeling from the walls and the woodwork clearly showing its age and with a distinctly musty air. However, the rooms are very spacious and come with AC, a TV and hot shower and bed :)

Breakfast was a quick bite of egg, toast and tea prepared on site in a kitchen I wished I had not looked into… But hey I think I can deal with street food now… Then it was off to explore the city in the one day that I had available - The Maiden (pronounced Moi-Dan) is a large grassed area like central park which has attracted a number of hawkers selling the usual tourist bumph including snacks and postcards, however here you also have a plethora of horse drawn carriages in all colours and hues from the traditional to the space age silver. Each carriage owner states he can give you a cheap ride but the horses look very tired and worn out. A faster way to move around the city is by taxi and these are straight out of a 1950’s USA movie. They are bright yellow and fill every street with vibrant colour, each cab seems also do have been individually decorated by the owner and forget the payment shown on the meter - the prices have doubled this year!!

Sites in Kolkata not to miss are the Queen Victoria monument - Which is a marvellous construction of marble topped with an amazing sculpture entitled “Angel of Victory”. The gardens which surround it are guarded by barbed wire and are meticulously kept. The grounds men are seen constantly working to keep the park in perfect condition while the inside of the building houses some impressive statues of Queen Elizabeth and others - Although you may not take photos inside. Worth the 150r entry fee.

The Indian Museum houses some dusty relics covering fossils, Ancient Egypt, mammals and man. The building itself is run down with paint peeling and wood mouldering and many of the exhibits seem dusty and poorly stuffed… There had been a clear effort made to modernise some parts including dioramas of the human cultures of India which could make in more interesting for children but beware the mammals exhibits as within this hall you can see small human babies in jars… Not the most pleasant site… Highlight of the museum has to be the Buddhist items including a preserved gateway which is 26’ high with 9’ high walls made using interlocking beams which have been decorated with a range of wonderful images.

Finally no trip to Kolkata would be complete without a trip to Mother Theresa’s Home. This is down a tiny side street and is difficult to find, my taxi driver drove past it 3 times before coming to a halt… It is accessed via a side door where nuns continue to support the needy of the city - inside there is a small shrine to Mother Theresa which is tastefully organised with a few small arrangements and newspaper articles about her life and work. As you leave there is the opportunity to collect some flower petals from the home and place them in a piece of paper with your future intentions written on them. A moving place in its simplicity.

If eating in Kolkata and after a lovely Chinese or Indian meal you can’t go wrong with ‘Jongs’ superb food cooked to perfection and served in luxurious surroundings. Faultless on my visits here J