Kolkata (West Bengal) - February 18th, 2007

Kolkata is just west of Bangladesh, in West Bengal. South of Kolkata is Sunderbans, in the massive Ganges delta, the largest mangrove forest and highest concentration of tigers.
The British established a trading post in Kolkata in 1698.
The image many people has of Kolkata is of human suffering. But, even though there is a lot of poverty here, the modern city is not at all what we picture.
There are lots of colonial architecture and historic temples, art centers, and museums, botanical gardens and air conditioned malls.
Locally, Kolkata is considered the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Since Independence, the communist party is strong here, and often they have strikes for new policies from Delhi's government.
On the last few centuries the British created a miniature version of London on the banks of the river. The Indians who served the Rag lived in cramped and overcrowded shantitowns, miles along the banks of the river.
Sudder Street is where most budget accomodations are, and also many professional beggers because the tourists concentrate here. Some beggers set camp on the side walks, doing cooking, schooling, and bathroom, all in the sidewalk, few meters from the important Indian Museum.
My roommates are a lady from Madrid, one from New York and one from Switzland.