Kolkata

Planning the trip to the north has been a challenge. At the beginning we thought about taking a train but it would be a trip of sixty or so hours. We wanted to split it into a couple of days trip but somehow it became very difficult time wise and it would take us over a week. Hence we decided to indulge in a bit of luxury and booked a cheap Indian airline (no way to mistaken them for any other as the safety instruction picture in our gallery shows). Anyway we took a bus from Pondichery to Chennai airport and after two hour flying time we landed in Kolkata on the 19th of February - former capital 16 million plus inhabitants. We were a bit hesitant as to going to Kolkata since we imagined that it will be tougher than Delhi. The reality exceeded our expectations. Whereas we landed in a very decent airport and without any problems got a prepaid taxi to a booked in advance hotel (this time we did not dare to go and wonder around), the way to our place was completely outer space. In fact we commonly agreed that it was a bit like in the Mad Max 2 - The Road Warrior. The first thing that hits you in the eyes when you start your journey from the airport in the Ambassador (what already feels like being in the fifties) are the neons of huge new shopping malls, then slowly you start seeing rickshaws pulled by humans, and all kind of vehicles that should by law of physics and common sense not be able to move and clog the streets. The poverty, little fires on the street around which people warm themselves up blend with signs of KFC or any other western chain.

The atmosphere of the city was incredible and we both fell in love with it. The next day we started exploring it on foot (went to Victoria Memorial and Maidan park - nice and for some reason the main place for shepherds with goats). In Victoria we saw a very nice museum about Kolkata and how it was founded by the British. In fact it was so easy to walk around that we decided to stay one more day and take the explorations one step further. In short we decided to decipher the public transportation - buses. We did manage very well. They are almost for free and you just have to ask around to get to know the destination. Once though it got pretty tough as for some reason the road became blocked by the police and the driver refused to go any further. As a result we witnessed how the passengers have almost beaten up the crew of the bus as they did not want to give the money for the tickets back. Metro seems a better choice if you have the liberty of choice.

Otherwise, we have stumbled on "Social Communications 7th International film festival" screening Miklós Jancsó's movies (now after stumbling on a bakery powered by Hungarian "wheat grinding machines from 19th century" together with Hungarian cakes in Pondichery and Hungarian chicken in Bodhgaya (about this in next post) I feel like Poles are underrepresented considering the number of people leaving back home...Good job Magyarorszag ! We have also seen a great market place where we learned why most of the Indians are vegetarians :) We personally did not feel that it is by any means safe to buy meet there. I guess Indians developed such instinct instinctively.

Koklata has some kind of charm that is difficult to convey in writing. But it is something about peace between past and the future.

Everything in Kolkata coexists somehow in harmony does not disturb anyone. All in all we were was so happy about our adventures that one evening I managed to lose our mobile phone...this was the price for our happiness. I guess nothing comes for free.