After the saga of my journey I arrived in Kolkata...
So far (1 1/2 days) I really love the place. It has the bustle of India, including amazing markets but still feels chilled out.
After catching up on my sleep on arrival I went out and about to explore the Kolkata nightlife. It seams to consist of hotel bars, decent but expensive and local bars, full of blokes listening to all girl groups singing live Bengali music! Yes it is as seedy as it sounds....
1st full day I visited the Indian Museum, a crumbling museum with natural history, geology and archaeological exhibits. I was a bit disturbed in the geological gallery to discover a cabinet displaying asbestos... It's fine in it's raw form I though. Next cabinet, asbestos in its processed dust form.... Nice
Next up was the Victoria Memorial a stunning colonial building, the last built in the old Calcutta before the Raj capital moved to New Delhi. It also contained a fascinating museum detailing Calcutta/Kolkata's development over the last 300 years. It also had a really interesting gallery of late 18th early 19th century oil paintings, painted by British artist's who arrived in India with the East India Company. It was the most interesting snapshot of pre colonial India I've seen so far.
Kolkata is a strange mixture of the glory of colonial India and the squaller of modern India. For me though it demonstrated the damage the empire building has caused and continues to cause in this part of the world. Yes I mean you, the USA!!
2nd full day, I've had a wander around the former colonial centre of Kolkata, including St Johns Church built in the 18th century
I've also discovered there is a race meeting at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club on new years day. Hopefully it will make up for missing Cheltenham next year...
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Dust and Fog
So having got Christmas out of the way it was time to hit the trains again.
God knows what made me think that trains in India would be as efficient as China.... My train to Agra was 4 hours late arriving at New Delhi station and then was further delayed by an hour and a half between Delhi and Agra!!! That meant instead of arriving at 18.30 I arrived at 23.30. Try getting a nice hotel at that time! That's right, I didn't.....
But that's all forgotten now. Today I visited the Taj Mahal, although undoubtedly a beautiful building I found it lacked historical context. It seemed to me that most people were just be there for the photo, which I found a bit of a shame.
Anyway to go with the trend here are a couple of pictures...
After the obligatory visit to Agra Fort, which I found very interesting and in much better context, I decided to check on my train booked for that evening....
You probably guessed it, cancelled!!
So after much research in an Internet cafe (where I discovered I'd lost my bank card, another saga) I found out my best option was a train back to Delhi and flight to Calcutta. An agency matched my price including overnight stop in Delhi, so far so good....
Feeling happy again, I Went to watch the sun set over the Taj and then back to agency only to find.... Train delayed by 6 hours!! With risk of flight being missed.
At this point I have to admit I lost my rag! The agency boss after I long row agreed to get me to Delhi airport by car.
So as I write I'm sat in the car on route with fog all around us.... I think I offended the driver when I put on the seatbelt but hey!
...
Just to finish off this post, I made it safely to New Delhi. Spent the whole night in the Airport. And caught my flight to Kolkata with no further problems. (Other than sleep deprivation!)
I'll update you on my Kolkata adventures anon
God knows what made me think that trains in India would be as efficient as China.... My train to Agra was 4 hours late arriving at New Delhi station and then was further delayed by an hour and a half between Delhi and Agra!!! That meant instead of arriving at 18.30 I arrived at 23.30. Try getting a nice hotel at that time! That's right, I didn't.....
But that's all forgotten now. Today I visited the Taj Mahal, although undoubtedly a beautiful building I found it lacked historical context. It seemed to me that most people were just be there for the photo, which I found a bit of a shame.
Anyway to go with the trend here are a couple of pictures...
After the obligatory visit to Agra Fort, which I found very interesting and in much better context, I decided to check on my train booked for that evening....
You probably guessed it, cancelled!!
So after much research in an Internet cafe (where I discovered I'd lost my bank card, another saga) I found out my best option was a train back to Delhi and flight to Calcutta. An agency matched my price including overnight stop in Delhi, so far so good....
Feeling happy again, I Went to watch the sun set over the Taj and then back to agency only to find.... Train delayed by 6 hours!! With risk of flight being missed.
At this point I have to admit I lost my rag! The agency boss after I long row agreed to get me to Delhi airport by car.
So as I write I'm sat in the car on route with fog all around us.... I think I offended the driver when I put on the seatbelt but hey!
...
Just to finish off this post, I made it safely to New Delhi. Spent the whole night in the Airport. And caught my flight to Kolkata with no further problems. (Other than sleep deprivation!)
I'll update you on my Kolkata adventures anon
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Friday, 24 December 2010
Hurrah
I finally feel better!!!!
To celebrate I went to the cinema last night to watch Tron Legacy. Which I surprised myself by really enjoying (particularly the Daft Punk score)
Today I visited the Indian Parliament district. The buildings themselves were spectacular. I also took in the parliamentary museum and the Nehru museum, as I'm interested in the independence movement.
Keep forgetting it's Christmas Eve so not sure on my plans for tonight yet...
To celebrate I went to the cinema last night to watch Tron Legacy. Which I surprised myself by really enjoying (particularly the Daft Punk score)
Today I visited the Indian Parliament district. The buildings themselves were spectacular. I also took in the parliamentary museum and the Nehru museum, as I'm interested in the independence movement.
Keep forgetting it's Christmas Eve so not sure on my plans for tonight yet...
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Anish Kapoor
Even though I am still ill and as such have been stuck in Delhi, I have been trying to do some stuff the last couple of days.
Yesterday I jumped on the metro and went to have a look at the Commonwealth Games stadium (which was surrounded by a ten foot wall and so impossible to see anything) and then onto the Lotus Temple. A fascinating temple given over to use by all faiths for the own prayer or meditation.
Today after a nice stroll through New Delhi, I visited the National Museum of Modern Art to view the first Indian exhibition of Anish Kapoor's work.
It was superb and also free, which was a pleasant surprise when compared to how much you have to pay to see one of his exhibitions back in the UK.
Here's a quick pic I managed to sneak in....
Yesterday I jumped on the metro and went to have a look at the Commonwealth Games stadium (which was surrounded by a ten foot wall and so impossible to see anything) and then onto the Lotus Temple. A fascinating temple given over to use by all faiths for the own prayer or meditation.
Today after a nice stroll through New Delhi, I visited the National Museum of Modern Art to view the first Indian exhibition of Anish Kapoor's work.
It was superb and also free, which was a pleasant surprise when compared to how much you have to pay to see one of his exhibitions back in the UK.
Here's a quick pic I managed to sneak in....
Monday, 20 December 2010
Sunday, 19 December 2010
India
After a fairly simple flight from Kathmandu to Delhi and a (surprisingly easy) taxi ride to my hotel I arrived in Delhi. I decided to stay in the cheap pahaganj area between New and Old Delhi. I should have known thing we're never going to turn out easy though...
On arrival I went for a meal at a restaurant recommended in the Lonely Planet and then a few beers, so far so good. That night it all went wrong as I woke up feeling as sick as a dog and had to spend the whole of Saturday in bed!! Today (after a trip to buy some antibiotics) I have been at least feeling like I could leave the hotel.
After all of these troubles Ive had a pretty sucessful day. I booked the train tickets for the next part of my trip, 3 days in Jodhpur returning to Delhi for Christmas. I managed to get my iPhone fixed and then visited the National Museum.
Tonight I'm going to take it easy so I can enjoy my day in Delhi tomorrow before catching the train in the evening
On arrival I went for a meal at a restaurant recommended in the Lonely Planet and then a few beers, so far so good. That night it all went wrong as I woke up feeling as sick as a dog and had to spend the whole of Saturday in bed!! Today (after a trip to buy some antibiotics) I have been at least feeling like I could leave the hotel.
After all of these troubles Ive had a pretty sucessful day. I booked the train tickets for the next part of my trip, 3 days in Jodhpur returning to Delhi for Christmas. I managed to get my iPhone fixed and then visited the National Museum.
Tonight I'm going to take it easy so I can enjoy my day in Delhi tomorrow before catching the train in the evening
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