Kolkata, India

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From Varanasi, we took overnight train to Kolkata (everyone still says Calcutta). I have to say that I've had great seat kharma this trip. On all 3 overnight trains, I got the best seat (the sideways berth with full length window with only 1 other berth above me). Yeah! We got on the train at 6pm and played cards until people started getting their beds together. In 3AC class, you get pillows, blankets, sheets, towels, and AC - it is luxury but again it is all relative. About 10pm we started going to bed and the lights went out. I never did get much sleep on the trains, I tossed and turned but it was ok. It's much better than buses because there are bathrooms and you can walk around alot! Oh the bathrooms... there's a western toilet and a squat at the end of the AC cars. Usually the western toilet is ok until about 10pm - then it is just better to deal with the squat toilet. Of course, the minute you are using the squat toilet, the train will lurch horribly, you will lose your balance, and you will pee on your pants and sandals! Uh um I heard that happened to someone!

Anyway, about 6:30am, vendors will walk up and down the aisle yelling CHAI COFFEE WATER CHEESETOAST CHAI CHAI COFFEE etc... You regretfully have to wake up at 6:30am. But it was nice since I had the cool seat, I opened the curtains, listened to my ipod, and gazed out the window for the next few hours. We finally arrived in Kolkata at 1pm (we were a little late). When you walk out of the train station, you see hundreds of old school yellow cabs. For a moment you forget you are still in Inda. Negotiating with taxi cab drivers is as intense as with tuktuk drivers but we got a cab and were off to our hotel.

In Kolkata, we stayed at the Hotel Victerrace. I got a single delux room for 870 Rs. It was luxury compared to our previous hotels / guest houses - including AC (YES!), a TV, and a spankin' clean bathroom. The hotel was located in the center of Kolkata, next to the city’s business center named Camac Street.

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta, also known as "The City of Joy") is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the River Hooghly. The city has a population of almost 5 million, with an extended metropolitan population of over 14 million, making it the third-largest urban area and the fourth-largest city in India.

The city served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Like other large cities, Kolkata continues to struggle with poverty, pollution, and traffic congestion. Kolkata is noted for its revolutionary history, ranging from the Indian struggle for independence to the leftist and trade union movements.

Unfortunately, I only had a day and a half in Kolkata. I was running out of time, so I decided to cut my stay in Kolkata short and spend more time in Kathmandu.

We spent time on the famed Park Street - eating lunch and browsing the record store. Park Street remains Kolkata's foremost dining district with noted restaurants and pubs. Kolkata's nightlife revolves around Park Street's nightclubs, pubs and coffee houses. Park Street has several notable buildings such as the Asiatic Society, St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, a Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the South Park Street Cemetery has cenotaphs and tombs of prominent figures from the British Raj era and Kolkata's Armenian population.

We also saw parts of colonial Kolkata, with architecture making it difficult to remember you were in India - that is until a cow strolled by or a tuktuk tried to get your fare. We explored the area around our hotel and found cool bazaars and shops. It was my last shopping opportunity in India, though as a whole I didn't buy many gifts on this trip.

I REALLY wanted to go to several Mother Theresa sites but couldn't squeeze them in before my flight to Kathmandu.

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