3rd Day

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Hello everybody.

This is now the 3rd day we have been here in Kolkata. Its an enormoud culture shock as there are a monsterous amount of homeless and poor. Its also perhaps the noisiest place on earth, all the cars beep more then they drive. After arriving at 1:30 am we were booked into a fairly nice guesthouse-it had a tv and a bathroom. Basically just went straight to sleep. The next day we checked out and went looking for a guesthouse called the 'Sunflower' recomended by our guide book. It was easy to find, so we got a room for 2 nights. This also had a tv and a bathroom although the atmosphere wasnt as niceas previous.
From there we walked around the streets getting a feel of what this place is like to live in. There are so many classes, from 'untouchables' which are homeless disease riden people, to just homeless people, to people who seem to just do nothing, to poor people who work at stalls, to those who have jobs but are still poor, then those with jobs that have a bit of money, then the filthy rich. There are little tourists. All of this on one street. After this we found our way to Mother Teresa's Home and Tomb. This was a relaxing quiet place in which there were many friendly sisters. We then found a park and wathched some club cricket. In the evening we went to victoria memorial and watched a light show and briefly watched a live band.

The next day we decided to go to bbd bag which is a very busy area full of market stalls and lush shops, all mixed around eachother. There will be an amazing levis shop then outside a homeless person trying to beg off the man next to him selling fake garments. Also around this area were alot of stall trying to sell necklaces out of sink plugs which we found entertaining. A man came up to us and spoke very good english and just chatted to us (his name was also Ali, funnily enough). After a while he told us that we should check out his antique store, to cut a long story short he told us how he sold hash and opium that was grown in only the finest places and he had been doing so for 15 years. At this point we left/ran. hohoho. After this we went to a flower market and then to an absolutely massive botanical garden.

Its very strange here, and im way out of my comfort zone but im trying to enjoy it. Theres nothing i really want to eat and im not sleeping well at all. But hey i guess thats all part of the travelling experience!

Until next time!

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Photos

Calcutta street
Everything here is mental, all the cars dont have wing mirrors because they actually have 5 imaginary lines (when theres only meant to be 2). Also everyone beaps for no apparent reason.

Vicoria Memorial
This building is enormous and was incredibly beautifull at night where they had a light show.

Goats
Something that supprised us was the amount of goats that just wander around...these ones are accompanied with a herder. This is also when we were watching a spot of cricket.

Botanical Gardens
This huge garden houses a 200 year old Boghi Tree that covers anormous ground. This picture is of Ali by the lake, just after we say a massive wild snake.

Babu Ghat
People washing next to the ferries and train tracks. Thousands of people wash in the rivers here in india...no showers? hohoho

More Vic Mem
Me standing infront of the Victoria Memorial. Our mighty Queen can be seen sitting in the distance behind me.