This was a unique experience. On a brief stay in Kolcutta I decided I wanted to walk these hectic streets. I was a bit apprehensive at first because I was unsure of the crime rate in this huge city.
Kolcutta (used to be called Calcutta) is near Bangladesh. It's a big commercial hub for the eastern part of the country. In the city itself there are about 5 million people. Compare that to less than 2 million in Manhattan, NY. Yeah, it's a crowded place.
I took a taxi from my hotel and I had him drive me to the busiest part of the city. He dropped me off and I just began to walk...and walk and walk. For hours I walked, occasionally stopping to rest my back. In all the time I walked I never saw a single foreigner. How can that be in a city that size? Perhaps they were in another part of the city but I never saw a white face. Only locals.
Here are some pictures from my walk:
Lots of local goods
Public baths? This is like Ancient Rome!
Bikes, carts, and rickshaws for transport
Wonder what they're talking about? Being a paranoid person I'm sure it was about me!
How long can their backs hold out???
No bike or cart? Use your head! Or back.
Do they live here?
Streets could be quite dirty.
Selling their local produce
I only bought one thing during my walk. Mostly because I didn't want to carry stuff around. I bought a pound of turmeric to bring home. It's a great anti-inflammatory that helps my arthritis.
I do like Indian food but I didn't buy any on the streets of this city. Normally I don't shy away from street food, but this city didn't look like the most hygienic I've visited.
I've walked through many big cities of this world, but I think I felt more out of place on this walk than any other I've taken. I don't think I'd ever been to a city this size and not seen anyone of a different nationality. Especially having walked these streets so long. Here is a video flavor of my walk:
It was a great experience to walk among the locals for so long. Finally I tired and found a taxi (surprisingly not easy to find in this large city) and made it back to my hotel. I flew home the next day.
When I hear Calcutta India, all I can think about is mother Theresa and how poor of an area Calcutta is. If there was ever a saint it was her. I would have a real hard time enjoying myself in such a different lifestyle than I am accustomed to. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
To crowded for my blood. The congestion of vehicles and people would have been to much for me.