Calcutta
Pete Writes: Having spent the last 14 weeks roughing it up, it was really nice to stay with Chloe’s cousins, eating lots of nice homemade food and drinking some good whisky, we have really been looked after. We also have seen a different side to India, as well as an interesting insight into Chloe’s family history.
Sol had a couple of horses running at the local racecourse, so we had our first trip to the races. It would of been more fun if we had of won some money, but the atmosphere was good all the same.
Elijah (a close friend of the family) was a perfect guide for the 3 days, taking us to all the sights and giving us a better understanding of how the city was 40 years ago. We took an interesting walk around the New market (that was older than it sounds). The stalls have been handed down through families for decades selling everything from flowers to fish. There were even turkeys running around waiting for one careful owner to look after them until the 25th 
Chloe Writes: As Calcutta is my Dad’s birth place, Elijah, a childhood friend of the family and our tour guide for 3 days showed us not only some of the tourist sites but where they went to school, where my Dad used to live and my grand father used to work and their old synagogues which unfortunately closed about 15 years ago due the shrinking, and now practically non-existent Jewish population in Calcutta.
Elijah took us to the botanicals to see the infamous banyan tree. A banyan tree’s roots grow out-side of the ground and incredibly this tree covers a kilometer in circumference. The marble palace is also well worth a visit, it is made from marble (surprisingly enough) as are many of the pieces inside. The most incredible thing about it is the dilapidated state the palace and all it’s pieces are in. The inside looks like a dusty old house clearance but with priceless artifacts and paintings. There is even a 12 foot wooden statue of queen Victoria that any museum in the world would probably love to own, just stuck in a badly lit, dusty old room where few people will ever see it. Lastly we visited the Victoria memorial with it’s architecture we thought very similar to the Taj.
Our visit to Calcutta has been really special. We stayed with my cousins Sol & Mena in their apartment which has been a real treat and we have been so well looked after. We have eaten some wonderful food, been taken out dancing and to the races. And Mena and I have enjoyed drinking some red wine together 
It’s time to leave India after 2 1/2 months here. It’s been an amazing experience, I don’t think there is any place quite like it. The next 4 months of our journey will take us through South East Asia.
First stop Thailand.
Page Gallery
This was the queue for the train from Chennai – Calcutta. It was crazy, this photo does not do it justice
The Victoria Memorial
The VM wasn’t the only attraction, I found a friend
A view of the Race Course from Sol’s box. You can see the Victoria Memorial in the background
One of Sol’s horses
One of the Beautiful Synagogue’s which are now closed.
Elijah looking at the last of the scriptures in the Synagogue, there were once 150.
The entrance to my Dad’s old school, my grandfather also went there.. it’s still a school today but with no Jewish attendants
Inside The Market
Fish Market
The great Banyan tree… yes it’s all one tree!
Calcutta is full of yellow taxi’s….
…..And blue busses
Christmas Turkey’s
Tags: India
December 24th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Hi C&P,
Thanks for the text. What wonderful pics of Calcutta. How proud you are Chloe of your origin. I was very moved when I saw Dad’s house and school and the synagogue and your beautiful friend in her red sahri.
It must have been really interesting for you Pete to see Chloe’s cousins and be well looked after.
I’m glad you both made it there and I’m telling Dad how to get the blog. He will be overjoyed with the pics.
Tried to phone but have a lovely Xmas and I’m sure the New Year will be so Memorable.
PS. See you both soon.
Love you both. Mxx
December 24th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Hi Mum,
Sorry i missed your call, we are 7 hours ahead so i was probably asleep. Try and give me a ring this morning if you can x
Have a fantastic day, i will miss your roast dinner, were off to the barbican tonight to hunt down some turkey.
Happy christmas,
Lots of Love x
December 26th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Hi to you both,
Thank you both for the lovely pictures and comments. I can see you are having an exciting time. Hope you had a lovely Christmas, and it was nice to hear you on Christmas Day. Have spent a nice couple of days with mum and dad, and Christmas Day with Kirsty and Gary. I wish you all the best for the new year and your forthcoming marriage, and I look forward to seeing all the pictures.
Lots of love to you both
Nan xx
December 26th, 2007 at 4:01 am
Hi PJ & Chloe
Good to speak to you yesterday. Hope the hangover is not too bad today!
We
too
can
suffer
time
delay!
We are going to see Aunt Meg today, and have printed out a copy of your travels for her to see.
See you soon.
Love Mum & Dad xx
January 1st, 2008 at 1:56 am
Hi Pete and ChloenrnrMerry xmas and happy new year. We are at Andy and Sals celebrating the new year.nrnrChloe do you remember the nosey characters on the Lloyds TSB ad???? Well they have now made the tune in to a hardcore tune. Gary got it for me and I have been doing my nosey dance to it ever since!nrnrHope you guys are still having a fab time - it certainly looks like you are.nrnrGood luck for your big day which is coming up fast now!!!!nrnrBig hugs V xxxxxx
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:18 am
Hi Pete and Chloe
I tried to send you a New Years message whilst at a party at Andy and Sals house but I don’t think I sent it! If I did, apologies for another one so soon!
Sounds and looks like you are having a fab time. As I now have the January blues I am dead envious of you and your trip.
Chloe - I know you like the Lloyds TSB nosey characters just like me. Well they have made the tune in to a hardcore version and Gary bought it for me as a bit of a joke. We have spent most of Xmas putting the tune on at random intervals and doing the nosey dance! I even have a couple of little characters on my Xmas tree.
We saw Little Pete at New Years too. Can’t believe its not long till your big day! You must be getting excited.
Well we celebrated New Years with a party at Andy and Sals house minus Andy and Sal. However they did call from New Zealand and we all got to have a few words with them which was great.
Love and hugs for now.
V xxxx
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:25 am
Hi Vanessa,
Happy New Year, I hope you had a good one. I do love that tune and I would be very interested to see the nosey dance.
I cant belive the wedding is only a few weeks away, Little Pete is comming too.
We spent NYE on Koh Pah-nang but are having trouble loading up the photos for the blog.
Really nice to hear from you,
Lots of Love,
Chloe x
January 4th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Amazing…what a great side of Calcutta to see. It was our first city of India. We liked it, even though it seemed very dity!
And how many people did you have ask for your photo at Victoria Memorial? At that point we found it very funny… by the time we got to Darjeeling it was very boring! haha…
Guys, this is crazy, but I’ve been speaking to an old friend from school lately, and she just happened to mention she’s off to Thailand. I said I was hoping to go, but couldn’t make it, but was planning on going to a wedding. “Really?” She says. “Who?”. So I tell her. Apparently you know Naz too! Mental. Small world. Now I really want to go to Thailand for your wedding :o( I feel like I’m missing out big time :o(
January 5th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Hi Rupert,
Your name keeps coming up on the blog. Seems like you’er really keen to go to C&P wedding.
So you should go or you will miss out big time!
This is from Chloe’s Mum
January 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Hello Chloe’s mum!
Aw, we would love to go back to Thailand, and share that amazing moment with all of you. Sadly Laura can’t get the time off work and I wouldn’t dream of going without her.
People have to stop telling me to go - I feel terrible :o(
Lots of love,
Rupert
January 7th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hi Mum and Rupert,
Glad to see that you are keeping the blog going in our absense :o)
We are having a nightmare with the camera and viruses :o(
It is a small world Rupert but funnily enough we dont know Naz, she is coming with our friend Shital, but were looking forward to meeting her.
Maybe you and Laura could meet us on our travels??
Take care x x