OH MY GOD!
Nothing can prepare you for the assault on your senses when you leave the airport - the sea of people, cars, bikes, rickshaws, tuk tuks is simply overwhelming and in pure numbers (16 million and counting) is hard to comprehend. The filth and rubbish you see in the 2 hour drive from the airport - $6 and only 22 kms - is beyond anything I expected.
The chaos on the roads with ancient taxis all jockeying for position and where rules are merely suggestions is something even the most hardened traveller couldn't but shake their head at.
Our hotel is in a residential area in the south of the city and is an oasis of calm and pretty flash compared to the backpacker accom in Sudder St where most travellers (read young) gather. It's good to be in this part because you also don't get bothered by touts and beggars and you get to see the daily life of ordinary Indians.
Today (Sunday) we went to the Victoria Memorial - a monument to the Empire days. Wonderful building and a good way to get an understanding of the 'rule' of the Brits who were brutal and hardly benevolent towards their commonwealth subjects. Then we went to have a look at the Hooglay Bridge and onto the New Market. The highlight was a trip to a Gungeer Sweet shop - Moghul sweets are world renowned - burfi, galam julung etc and all made with pure Ghee. We also had a Tharli lunch - dahls, curries, chapati's, pickles and dessert for $3! Magnificent.
We are off to Veranasi tomorrow morning by plane (couldn't get a train until 16 Sept) and here's hoping the for a few less people and a shorter ride from the airport!
Nothing can prepare you for the assault on your senses when you leave the airport - the sea of people, cars, bikes, rickshaws, tuk tuks is simply overwhelming and in pure numbers (16 million and counting) is hard to comprehend. The filth and rubbish you see in the 2 hour drive from the airport - $6 and only 22 kms - is beyond anything I expected.
The chaos on the roads with ancient taxis all jockeying for position and where rules are merely suggestions is something even the most hardened traveller couldn't but shake their head at.
Our hotel is in a residential area in the south of the city and is an oasis of calm and pretty flash compared to the backpacker accom in Sudder St where most travellers (read young) gather. It's good to be in this part because you also don't get bothered by touts and beggars and you get to see the daily life of ordinary Indians.
We are off to Veranasi tomorrow morning by plane (couldn't get a train until 16 Sept) and here's hoping the for a few less people and a shorter ride from the airport!
No comments:
Post a Comment