by Niklas Lindskog
Hi guys!
Thursday March 3rd, I started off by taking the bus to Esplanade. I shot at the bus station for about 20 minutes and then walked to the New Market area. I wasn't really that impressed with it (my new friend Arnab even warned me it isn't as good as the guide books say). I continued to the famous Park Street, but it's famous for it's nightlife and during the day, I found it uniteresting. From there I ventured northeast and found a wonderful neighborhood with friendly people, street markets and cows and goats in the street. Mostly muslim people seemed to live in this neighborhood, I talked to two young men who were both from Bangladesh. The call from the minaret gave me flashbacks from my trips to Istanbul.
Coming out onto a big road, I realized it was "my" big road, only about a 10 minute walk from "home". By the I was hungry and stepped into a small hole in the wall restaurant and got a mutton biryani. With a litre bottle of water it was less than 2 euros. Tasty spices , with cloves and cardamom and just a hint of chili. About a 5 hour walk.
After a bit of rest (no nap though), backing up of photos etc, I got a bus and the metro to Mahatma Ganhi Rd metro and walked into the Barabazar market area. Oh wow! This is THE place to go! Saying that I realize I feel that way about many of the places I've been on this trip... :-)
But the intensity here was on another level. Photos to be shot just about everywhere. The main distraction being avoiding to get mauled by trucks, bikes, motorbikes, handcarts and everywhere men with great big loads on their heads.
This was too good to leave anytime soon, so I kept soldiering on until I felt I was about to drop. Fortunately, I found a nice, air conditioned, restaurant to rest legs, back, eyes and mind after all those impressions and get a wonderful meal as well. Butter Masala Chicken and a garlic naan to die for!
By now I wasn't entirely sure where I was, but asking friendly people for directions can actually work! A young guy I asked spoke perfect English and we chatted for about 20 minutes. Very nice! It became another 5 hour walk, including the stops, which left my body quite sore.
The photos here are actually mostly from the way to Barabazar, an editing accident, since I started off in the beginning of the folder and found quite a few I liked... There are two from Esplanade bus station and some also from the bazar.
Be well everybody!
