A Day in Kolkata

Kolkata is big, loud, dirty and aromatic. It is a city that seems to be falling apart from every seam, yet still manages to function. Its resident population of 15 million is supplemented during the day by an additional 6 million commuters, so it is constantly in motion. For all of this, the traffic flows better than Seattle.

The first thing that strikes you, indeed continues to keep your notice, is the poverty. It is everywhere. Yet, it is not that distressing to see. No one appears to be starving, or even particularly unhappy with their lot. It is a functional poverty. People are working; making enough to get by day to day. Walking down the narrow streets you pass by small storefronts that sell every conceivable item. One small stand sold nothing but ball bearings. Even the sidewalks host little enterprises, like barbers, tea sellers, and laundries. For a photographer, this makes for a target rich environment.

We spent our day viewing various temples, museums and monuments. Given the context of all the street life and the vitality that it offered, these tour stops seemed more like interruptions to the attraction of the city around us.

Tomorrow, we are off for a two day trek into the countryside where will will be visiting several villages that specialize in pottery and other crafts. Certainly more adventure awaits us there but, alas, no internet access until we return to the splendor of the Oberoi on Thursday.

Note: you can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

Mike offered the earlier text, now its my turn. I am so tired that I can only share some brief items with you. Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be more rested but we get up at 5:30am, so maybe not.

I took a shower in the dark today because the hotel had blown a fuse (twice), for breakfast I had a pretzel, some cheese and salame, a lotus fruit, some pistachios and a cup of tea and I ate a wonderful Indian 4 course dinner at a long white clothed table beside the swimming pool by moonlite tonight.

I have images from the Kali temple I visited last night at dusk-girls playing in the street outside with white pieces of broken marble that captured the evening light as they threw them across the dirt of the courtyard, winding down an alley filled with red cloth and incense and entering the inside perimeter of the temple, then walking past where a goat was sacrificed that day in honor of Kali the mother goddess of Kolkata. Taking our turn walking into the temple in our bare feet through the mud and over the wet marble to see the statue of the goddess. Some of us being annointed with red paste on our foreheads before returning to find our shoes. Coming back to the hotel room to find a very comfortable bed waiting for us. I know these images are out of order-maybe when I catch up on sleep they will make more sense.

carol