INDIA TRIP : Bangkok - Kolkata

March 18,2006 | Bangkok - Kolkata

I'm pretty sure my travel partner is not reading this post (but if you are, I'm sorry. You have to live with it "You're the worst travel partner I've ever had)

To Deepak, even you told me not to go to Kolkata because it's horrible. I did go there anyway! coz it's the easiest way to go to Sikkim. I was not sure about it either about arriving there in the middle of the night and I had no idea how to get away from the airport!

And I was so smart. My camera went dead since first day in India. Battery was gone. And I forgot to bring plug converter even I was told to bring one. (I thought it would be easy to find in Kolkata! but it took me whole day to find the place where I could buy that)


Entry form. I don't know why on earth they want to know if you're a doctor, lawyer,
sports person.. for?



TG313 : one of indian dudes next to me asked for "whisky no ice" all the time. And
kept telling flight attendant how beautiful she is. You should see her face when
she heard that. It's screaming "Stay away from me!"


We landed Kolkata almost 1 AM..middle of the night. I was looking for Prepaid Taxi Stand which is the safest way (and least hassle) to get away from the airport. We were standing outside arrival hall and I mumbled "Where the hell is prepaid taxi stand"

There was Japanese guy standing around there didn't look like he knew where he wanted to go or what he wanted to do. His name is "Kutsu" I found out that it wasn't his first time in Kolkata.

"So do you know which is the best way to go to hotel? where did you get taxi last time?"
"hehe...I don't remember..!" That's why he didn't look like he was sure where he wanted to go.

For only once in this trip that my friend is helpful. The Taxi Stand was just right next to Exchange Counter that we just changed $50 there.

"Why didn't you tell me then? we've been looking for that booth for half an hour" (yeah, sometimes I could be that bitchy)
"Well, I didn't know"

Thanks a lot.

Finally I managed to get a prepaid taxi. Kutsu shared the taxi with us. Taxi driver drove us through the darkness of Kolkata.. It was so dark that he couldn't see the "STOP" sign ahead. (looks like they were doing some construction work) He almost hit that f**king sign. He pulled over his taxi and that was SO CLOSE to it. I heard Kutsu screaming in Japanese.



Toilet at Kolkata Airport. One is "Western" and one is "Indian"

We arrived at YWCA almost 3 AM. Nobody's around. Not even stray dogs. We rang the bell as I was told to do so when I called for booking. After 20 minutes it was an old man in security uniform came to open the door for us. Apparently he doesn't speak much English. But it doesn't matter. We finally got in.

YWCA has big courtyard and the building is charming. Most important, it's away from Sudder Street (Which I found later that it's not very pleasant area to stay.) YWCA is right next to Park Street where you can find very good bookstore, cafe, decent places (but not too expensive) there.

We spent only a few days in Kolkata. After we got our train tickets booked for "New Jalpaiguri"

I find Kolkata is pretty charming city. Ofcourse not that everywhere is nice. It's not super clean place but I like it the way it is. Lot of beautiful old buildings. Watching people playing cricket.. Or just simply sitting next to the river watching people bathing.