Our train was supposed to leave Gaya at 11:30pm. We shared the waiting room with a wedding party and numerous other floor-sleeping travellers. Lots of children! I tried to blot out the noise with music on my phone but the crowd won out. Alas, our train was going to arrive at 1:15am and after a hurried cross to the other platform, we found our carriage with a minute to spare, made our beds and made every attempt to sleep at 1:30am. We are still intrepid but it may be time to go up-market...
So, we are now in Kolkata with people using the stand pipes to wash away the sleepiness: life on the street. Even across from the High Court of Calcutta, people were taking their morning wash from the gushing pipes and stands were cooking all sorts of breakfast food whilst lawyers walked to court in their pressed white trousers or black suits though we did not find out who was higher. I guessed the white trouser brigade as they looked more pompous!
As befitting the old capital of India, Kolkata has a layer of the British raj. The Victoria monument is enormous (and shabby) with statues of Victoria and King George and Robert Clive. Many of the old buildings reflect the commercial activities of the East India Company. There are churches associated with such people as Warren Hastings and a memorial to the Black hole of Calcutta. This city brings back a lot of school history but I know I was told the British biased version!
We were given the task of looking up Octavius Steel tea company, started by the ancestors of a walking companion of Francis in Toowoomba. Next to the old GPO was the instructions and there it was. Now the company has changed hands and the history of the company is fading fast.
So, we are now in Kolkata with people using the stand pipes to wash away the sleepiness: life on the street. Even across from the High Court of Calcutta, people were taking their morning wash from the gushing pipes and stands were cooking all sorts of breakfast food whilst lawyers walked to court in their pressed white trousers or black suits though we did not find out who was higher. I guessed the white trouser brigade as they looked more pompous!
As befitting the old capital of India, Kolkata has a layer of the British raj. The Victoria monument is enormous (and shabby) with statues of Victoria and King George and Robert Clive. Many of the old buildings reflect the commercial activities of the East India Company. There are churches associated with such people as Warren Hastings and a memorial to the Black hole of Calcutta. This city brings back a lot of school history but I know I was told the British biased version!
We were given the task of looking up Octavius Steel tea company, started by the ancestors of a walking companion of Francis in Toowoomba. Next to the old GPO was the instructions and there it was. Now the company has changed hands and the history of the company is fading fast.
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| People sleeping on street near our hotel |
 Flower market- garlands of marigold |
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Still reading keep them coming
ReplyDeleteWe are back in Delhi and go to Amritsar for two nights tomorrow with Jayshree. We fly home on Friday and so looking forward to my own bed!
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