Kolkata

On January 18th we set off on our visa run to India. The prevalence of fancy cabs, which lacked dents and had mostly complete paintwork, was one of the first indications that we had arrived in a slightly more developed country.
However, the OH&S standards, particularly when it comes to maintaining power lines, are quite similar between Dhaka and Kolkata.
We took the opportunity to partake in the fancy beverages available in the tourist zone of Kolkata.
We also enjoyed copious amounts of cheese, not easily available in the 'Desh.
In addition to the trials and tribulations of the visa process we did manage to do quite a lot of sight-seeing, including Victoria Memorial (pictured below), Kali Temple, Birla Planetarium and wandering the many busy and narrow streets of the city. We also went out to the Marble Palace and miraculously got away without paying any baksheesh to the multitude of "guards", "guides", "gardeners" and general helpers.
The flower market was a particularly colourful and crazy environment. We visited here on a longer walk that took us past some fantastic colonial architecture as well as many people living their lives on the street. The contrast between rich and poor in Kolkata is quite striking and constantly apparent.
And then there was the visa debacle... we turned up the first day to be greeted by a counter that never opened (due to a spontaneous public holiday) and then returned to the same urine-stained section of pavement the next day to try again. Having submitted forms, waited 2 hours, had an interview, waited another 30 hours (luckily not outside the window this time) our visa application was promptly rejected.

Another day... another form... we went round the carousel again just with more butt-kissing this time. Eventually the all-powerful secretary decided to give us 30 days instead of 3 months and told us we would have to wait until Monday for the privelege.
So the expected 3-4 day visit turned into 9 days, but it wasn't all bad as we had a lot of fun in between visits to the High Commission, and enjoyed the change of scenery.