Our rooms were on the 7th floor. Watching a fog covered city with a cup of coffee to wake your senses up has a simple charm of its own.
The thought that finally after a very long hiatus, I was going to watch that long forgotten traveller in me peep out and explore things put a smile on my face.
A power breakfast and I sit down with my friend to take my daily dose of instructions, which continue for the next three days.
I have the metro stations written on a piece of paper. Directions given to find Victoria memorial, St. Paul's Cathedral church and India museum. She advices me, the best thing to do is take the cabs. I think that's the best thing to do on the first day of a holiday trip.
I pack up a water bottle, wallet, cards and she warns me not to forget carry a jacket, which I follow like a good girl. I get on to the road start looking for a cab.
What the heck! I have all the instructions to catch a metro. Granted, I'm in a new city.. But I'm not freaking uneducated. I speak English and passable Hindi. Let's do it and screw it!
The next thing I know, I get into one of the ricketiest bus. (Info : You just have to raise your hand and buses stop :) Only make sure they are going to the destination you want to.) Its around 9'0' clock and the bus is filled with kids going to school. Maybe I'm generalizing, but every kid was rolu-polu-shonu-monu! kind. Believe this or not 7 out of 10 children I counted were munching on something in the bus. No!.. It was not breakfast, who has a packet of Lays for breakfast?
I guess being plump goes with the prerogative of living in Bengal (kolkata at least). I finally reach the metro. Kavi Nazrul is station is the first. I look out for Maidan station. My concept about Bengalis needing to work on their waistlines is re-iterated in the metro. Gosh!.. By Bengali standards I'm anorexic. If Indian Health ministry compiles data to find out the fattest states in the country, hands down! Bengal's gonna be on the top 5.
I get down at Maidan station. I ask somebody for directions on the road. This nice person actually takes out a few seconds, when everyone around is rushing to office, gives me the directions to Victoria memorial in grammatically correct English, with a Indian accent which I so like.
Just to let you guys know, when I told my friends I was gonna visit Kolkata, many pointed out that I should be extra careful in this rude city. Granted, Kolkata does not have the best of Infrastructure. Heck!.. after the whole tour there weren't many places I liked.
But 5 days of figuring out everything without a local on my side, 5 days of asking for directions, traveling in metros, trams, old, almost falling-apart buses, cabs, I can say one thing - The first thing and best thing I like about the city is the people.
They help you out, they talk, they smile. Yes!.. they chew paan and spit on the roads. But there is enough new blood in the new city which is so different from the pre-conceived notions. Every in Kolkata is not a aggressive communist. They don't fight against capitalism and healthy economic growth. They want to know you, open their city for you, make you comfortable with the things they have to offer. Unlike some bizarre predictions, I haven't been man-handled, molested or raped in Kolkata :)
Anyway, as I walked towards Victoria memorial with a Bhel puri in one hand and a heavy bag in another, I started loving the city. Every tree has a cement bench under it. Every tree for sure has a couple under it :P
I purchase a ticket and walk in. The security guard, tells me I can't take pictures inside the museum. He actually smiles and compliments me about the pictures I click around outside the memorial. Can you believe that! the guard telling me I have a keen eye for photography. He pays me this compliment in broken English, Hindi mixed in sweet Bengali... How cute! :P
(Ok guys this post is getting too long.. will post a Part 2 of day 1)
Bye..
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