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.

District and National Sports

After nominating ourselves to tag along with the crew competing in the sports, Sarah was enlisted as the event Physio and Si assisted as general dogs-body for the CRP team. The day began by loading a couple of wheelchairs onto a ute...!!!
Some of the other teams made their way to the arena by public transport. Don't be misled by the apparent good condition of this Tempo, they are generally only held together by the peeling paint work, and perhaps the conductor, who stands on the back step as they race along at break-neck speed through the streets of Dhaka.
We had an inkling of what was to come in the opening ceremony when we discovered this bag moving and spotted a pigeon's beak through an "air-hole". Even with this foresight, we were a little surprised to later witness 5 birds(!) being released from this one bag.
CRP had by far the biggest team at the event. All of the competitors paraded around the arena with the assistance of the support teams.
The event was officially opened once the flame had been lit.
One of the highlights was a wheelchair race which included 6 of the older guys from CRP (out of 7 competitors). Each race was organised during what appeared to be a rather heated discussion between several staff members of the rival teams... who then needed to be cleared from the field before the race could get underway.
Later in the day the teams flexed their muscles for the shotput event.
Prizes were handed out for each event, and as it turned out the Physio got one too. Our flat now contains 6 new high-quality glass tumblers.
The competitors (and bideshi support crew) had a great couple of days. It provided us with a really nice opportunity to get to know some of the people that we have seen around CRP for a while (and practice our Bangla). Many are now in training to attempt selection for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi. We wish them the best of luck.

Boxing Day and New Year

Although we worked Boxing Day, in the evening we were treated to a nice meal at our "local" Italian restaurant... that's right you read it correctly... an Italian restaurant located in a rural area near Savar.
Both pizza and tiramisu were gratefully received after recent consumption of excessive quantities yellow coloured foods. Less well received was the amusing soundtrack of Aqua (remember Barbie Girl and Doctor Jones?) which we think is saved especially to make bideshi's (foreigners) feel at home!
Happy New Year!!
It appears that the cold weather in Bangladesh has inspired some new fashion trends which sometimes double as mobile phone holders...
Once again pizza and Fosters were on the menu, this time with the roast chicken that was missing from Christmas Day.
Then we moved on to Pictionary Mania. Si's bewildered team looks on as he tries to draw the Eiffel Tower with his eyes closed...
New Year number 1! The Bangladeshi Government gave us the opportunity to celebrate New Year twice by turning the clocks back 1 hour at midnight.
New Year number 2! A somewhat quiter affair...

Christmas Day

Christmas Day started with a Bangladeshi breakfast in our favoured local food barn. Roti, curried vegetables, omelettes (without chillies for the little one) and cha all round.
Our guests patiently wait for dinner that was served on Bangla time (2 hours late).
Luckily there were delicious home-made dips and knitted christmas puddings to keep us entertained.
Gavin and Simon enjoying special christmas beverages.
Sam in his Christmas punjabi suit, playing with his new wind-up chicken (that no longer winds up).
Serving up.
And the grand finale - christmas pudding served with caramel custard, chocolate cake, mince pancakes, chocolate balls, apple crumble and shortbread!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve began with local friends helping us to get our hands on decorations, including a borrowed tree from the CRP nursery. The christmas lights, which were wired up specially for us using a cable pulled off an old lamp, would have made the engineers amongst you proud.
With much excitement the decoration team enjoyed home-made pizzas with naan bases and home-grown mushrooms as we tested out the stove-top camping oven.
Meanwhile, the contest was on for the creation of the best snow flake. Pictured below is Gavin in the process of setting a high standard.
Kath, intent on having angels for the tree, initially created ghosts out of white material..... until aluminium foil was supplied for wings and halos.
Our master piece.
Snow flake exhibition.

Christmas Food Preparation

As Christmas puddings and mince pies are not easily acquired in the 'desh, we embarked on a mission to create our own. Many ingredients were unavailable so a little creative license was used and a few ingredients were swapped. Dates replaced raisins, local sweet bread replaced regular bread for crumbs, and the rind and juice of something green and round that could be either a lime or a lemon was used.
Grated date molasses became a good substitute for brown sugar (with a little extra white sugar.)
Then the standard 6+ hours boiling.
All the while fueled by Si's spiced tea.

The Lunghi

Step 1 - Put lunghi on over head

Step 2 - Fold pleats

Step 3 - Tie loose material around pleats

Step 4 - Neaten pleats

Step 5 - Pose for photo

Step 6 - Test out the shorts option

Step 7 - Relax!