Saturday turned out to be rather like an other Saturday. As was due to meet up with the Calcutta Soroptomists at 4 pm i joined everyone else in keeping cool (I didn't want to arrive a melting mess) in the south city mall. Where Marks and Spencer et al continue the British connection here!
The meeting was great fun. Unlike Bangalore here I'd been asked to give a lecture. . so I delivered my PhD thesis in the allocated twenty minutes and provoked an intense energetic debate on domesticity and feminism.
A sandwich ( minus crusts) and a nice cup of tea to round off a pleasant time with new friends. And I was even back in time for a swim.
Travelling the streets in a car at night is every bit as scary as in daylight. All the daytime hassle with the added extra of prostitution in every possible variety!
Sunday too turned out to have an English slant. The streets were eerily empty thus morning as church attendance is high, a chance for me to admire the city gardens in peace before heading into the Indian museum. Aka the British museum but with a twist. ' living fossils' were stuffed animals, ancient bones displayed in even more ancient cabinets, a creepy collection of pickled fish for an aquarium, but also a stunning display of decorative arts and an exhibition on Indian Buddhist history which has attracted monks from across Asia.
Sunday afternoon I browsed the flea markets, decided against travelling on the city's antiquated tram system as its quicker to walk and watched the antics in the parks, from trapeze artists to the inevitable cricket games. Just a normal weekend, albeit in the Calcutta heat rather than the English winter..
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| Calcutta's British connection |
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| At the Soroptomists Meeting - Laxmi, Me and the Committee |
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| The whole "gang" |
Travelling the streets in a car at night is every bit as scary as in daylight. All the daytime hassle with the added extra of prostitution in every possible variety!
Sunday too turned out to have an English slant. The streets were eerily empty thus morning as church attendance is high, a chance for me to admire the city gardens in peace before heading into the Indian museum. Aka the British museum but with a twist. ' living fossils' were stuffed animals, ancient bones displayed in even more ancient cabinets, a creepy collection of pickled fish for an aquarium, but also a stunning display of decorative arts and an exhibition on Indian Buddhist history which has attracted monks from across Asia.
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| Early morning in one of Calcutta's parks |
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| City parks are surprisingly beautiful - in sharp contrast to the city streets |
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| Stunning historic decorative art in the Indian Museum |
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| Ivory Sandals - bet they were uncomfortable! |
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| Superb collection of Buddhist Indian art attracts many visitors |
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| 1 of the Museum's pickled fish |
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| A very old and dusty collection of fossils |
Sunday afternoon I browsed the flea markets, decided against travelling on the city's antiquated tram system as its quicker to walk and watched the antics in the parks, from trapeze artists to the inevitable cricket games. Just a normal weekend, albeit in the Calcutta heat rather than the English winter..
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| If only the inside was as nice as the outside..... |
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| Circus act in a field near to the bus station |
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| A shrine with a difference |
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| The Ancient tram system |
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