Here I am sitting here in my future in-laws spare bedroom listening to the insane traffic go by just a few yards away. As much as I like curry, after a week of it (today it was fish brain curry for lunch) I could really go for a burger and fries.
Getting here was interesting, the day before I left I noticed I had broken a tooth overnight and then at a hastily announced meeting my company announced they were closing my office, ironically moving my development work to India.
In the end, all turned out well, a dentist friend opened her office for me and fixed my tooth a few hours before the flight (can’t ruin the wedding pics) and my company is giving a fairly nice severence package, so I’ll be able to take the sabatical I’ve talked about for over a year and learn a few more tunes.
Calcutta is an interesting place, the people are wonderful, the old buildings are amazing and the sweets are killer, however the heavy pollution and poverty are heart wrenching. Seeing a five year old girl carrying an infant walk though heavy traffic to beg is almost unbearable.
I brough my Paddy Ward Delrin Eb to get a little practice time, it’s a big hit with all of the aunties and uncles. I’ve got the address of a flute shop in Dehli where they make traditional Indian bamboo flutes. If I’m lucky they’ll be open the day I’m there and I can pick up at least one.
Calcutta is a wonderful city.
Check out the Chinese restaurants.
Also you might visit the Ramakrishna
Institute of Culture in Gol Park.
There is a huge park next to it
with two lakes where you can
swim.
Lots of good bookstores.
Lots of music and culture.
A modern underground subway
system.
The beggars are sometimes professionals.
In India sometimes they have houses
and a good standard of living,
put on their rags in the morning
and take the bus into town
to beg.
Not so likely in Calcutta, however
appearances in India are sometimes
deceptive. A good rule is never to
give to children, because it encourages
the use of children, and sometimes
the selling of maiming of children
to use as beggars.
Very true, in Cambodia many times the local mob owns children who are professional beggars…They get a majority of the money they earn and the children will sometimes get a meal through it…its best to probably just give them food.
There’s actually an India/Chinese restaurant close by, wonderful food. There are no good ones in Houston.
We’ve hit most of the places Jim mentioned, unfortunately pollution obscured our view of the two bridges from Millennium park the day we went. I’m sorry that we’re leaving just a few days before the Calcutta book fair, it sounds amazing.
That’s very true regarding child beggars. One a friend of a friend tried to give money to a child outside the airport in Hyderabad. He was so mobbed by people that he literally had difficulty getting to his car.
Mary, you ought to drive here, this will cure your feelings about Houston traffic. nah, I wouldn’t really recommend that to anyone. I’m not horribly worried about the job, I’ve been ready for a short break for a while and I’m pretty good and turning most situations to my advantage. I have a knack for landing on my feet. It won’t make me rich, but it will keep me happy.
I’m off for the first of several wedding rituals and probably won’t be online until I’m home. Everyone take care and be safe.