The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India, May 2007
I'm not happy. Over some unjustified deductions in my payslip. But I have hopes that it’ll be sorted out. Meanwhile, to keep my mind away from that issue, and to not spoil my mood any further, here’re photos of a city that we visit quite often. Every year, a couple of times at least.
Why? Because all flights into Assam and North-East India fly via Kolkata. (OK, with the exception of some flights from Delhi and Mumbai that goes direct to Guwahati). And Kolkata has direct flights to most of the main cities in India and every airport in the North East, plus direct international connections to a number of destinations, including Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, the cities that matter for us.
That’s not all. My high and mighty international banks (namely HSBC and Standard Chartered) have no branches in our dear village of a city, Silchar. The most convenient place where they're in is, …yeah, you guessed it, Kolkata, where each of them has at least emm 6, maybe 8 branches?? Don’t actually know.
Kolkata’s not small. Its population is around …20 million people. That’s about the population of Australia!
And although we’ve been there uncountable times, we’ve not thoroughly explored the place except for the New Market area, and Salt Lake (to be near the banks). I’ve been keeping these photos for ages to post them with the other attractions in the city, when we visit… But what the heck, these are almost antique now. Could have sworn I have more photos than these but dunno where they are now…
The spanking new International Airport of Kolkata, Apr 2013. I like the looks, neat and simple, but bold, with huge calligraphy on the ceiling. Nice touch, but there’s next to zero facilities (meaning no shops & restaurants) when we were there. Heard it just opened a few months back.
At Kolkata’s Old Airport, which is closed now, Aug 2012. With Mary Kom, India’s 2012 Olympic bronze medallist for women’s boxing. She’s from Manipur, a neighbouring state of Assam. We’ve bumped into a few well-known people in the airports while travelling in North East India. We flew in the same plane once with the Chief Minister of Assam. He was on the seat just in front of us and Anu didn’t recognize him!
More views of the Victoria Monument
Recognize this? My Facebook profile photo – taken in the gardens of the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata
Howrah Bridge, Nov 2006. Taken with my old film camera.
Inside the Indian Museum, Sudder Street, Nov 2006
Sudder Street with a church in the background and a pulled rickshaw, taken from inside the Indian Museum. Sudder Street is in the New Market backpackers’ area. This is where we usually stayed before Justin was born. After that we sorta upgraded ourselves.
Kalighat Temple, May 2007. Well known for animal sacrifices, mainly pigeons and goats. Mother Teresa’s Nrimal Hriday (hospice for the dying), is just next door.
A rare picture of Anu pregnant, June 2009, at Fairlawn Hotel, Sudder Street, one of the nicer hotels in the area. Owned and run by an Armenian family, probably settled there during the Armenian diaspora days
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