Day One: Leave Boston
I started out for India at 6:30 PM, when Joy gave me a ride to the airport. Turns out Boston Logan does not have a very swanky international terminal, it was rather sad really, dark, empty, and cold. But, after 2 hours of waiting (because I did get there 2 hours ahead of time), I headed out on British Airways to London.
It was an long red-eye flight, I read a book, watched a movie, and then tried to sleep, with some irritated grumbling from the woman in the seat behind me. After some relaxation I finally fell asleep, and the good karma police were nice enough to give me 3 seats across on my next leg, so that was good. We arrived in London at 8 AM!
Day 2: London Airport
I spent 8 hours in the London Airport. At least this international terminal had a lot of fun stuff, with shops, bookstores, food, and a quiet room. I read a book in the quite room looking out the window at planes and a dreary overcast and raining day. While walking around, several times I got to pass by the armed (with big automatic weapons) security people. I don't think guns in airports are such a good idea. At 3 o'clock, I was off again on the BA flight to Kolkata. We had dinner, I read a book, then watched Nanny McPhee, before sleeping. On this leg, I had 3 seats across - so much ROOM, it was wonderful to sleep until breakfast, I then watched the Narnia movie while eating. At 5 AM we arrived in Kolkata.
Day 3: Kolkata to Hyderabad
After arriving in Kolkata, I looked up and on the plane was the sister, niece, and mother of Appy Nandi, one of my friends in NY from Princeton! How crazy. I talked with the family (who was also visiting for a wedding, although a different one), while going through customs. After customs, I walked outside (at 5AM it was light out, soupy, and 100 degrees) to the Domestic terminal, then sat around until my 10AM flight to Hyderabad. This airport had guards with very old looking rifles, and when you go through security women have their own line, so we can be patted down with the wand under a tent - to protect us from men's eyes, I guess. I napped a bit on the plane and ate really good Indian food, and arrived in Hyderabd at 1 PM. My driver met me (and was I think surprised by a woman, my name in India is male) and took me to the hotel. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing work and sleeping. Turns out all that travel took a lot out of me.
Day 4: Hyderabad
This morning I got up and headed into the office. I felt like I was in a sci-fi novel, going to the Cyber Pearl in Hi-Tec City in Cyberabad. The names were crazy, the buildings were huge, and everyone was doing technology. I spent the day in the IBM office, meeting the teams, and then after a day of work, went out with the manager, saw the new IBM site, and then went shopping for pearls. Hyderabad is also known as Pearl City, and is the place in India to get pearls.
After the outings of the day it was time for dinner. I had a traditional local dinner, which began with a dish I will call Fire Water with a hint of Lemon. This was really Lemongrass Lentil Rasam, but it felt like drinking fire. OH MY GOD it was hot. Then I had, Hyderabadi murgh biryani, the local biryani, a rice dish, before finishing the meal with Khubani Ka Meetha - sweet and syrupy apricots, which were almost as painfully sweet as the soup was fiery.
Day 5: Hyderabad
I got up in the morning, not feeling very good (something from the nights dinner disagreed with me), but after a light breakfast began my tourist tour of Hyderabad. I started at the Golconda Fort, hiring a guide and doing a walk around the fort. The fort offered great views of the area, and a history lesson of India. Continuing my history tour, I went to the Salar Jung Museum, and saw the Nizams' Jewellery - an amazing display of gems - huge blobs of diamonds and emerards. The Nizams definitely had some money. My driver then took me by Charminar, before returning to the hotel to rest by the pool until my flight to Kolkata.
The flight to Kolkata was full and easy, and I arrived without much trouble around 7PM. I then took a cab to Hiland Park (where my friend Ian lives). Approaching Hiland Park, an older India man knocked on the door and asked - "Are you Karna?" when I said yes, he turned the cab around and said, we are going to my house. He also then explained he was Ian's future father in law. We then went to his home, where Ian and his family were gathered to eat dinner with the Mitra family. I had some home cooked Bengali food, before we (Ian, his brother Kim, and I) headed back to Hiland Park for the night. Meeting us at Hiland Park were Jason, Arthur and Kimmy, who had just arrived from California.
Day 6: Kolkata
After waking up, we went down to the street for breakfast - Indian style French toast and chai - SO YUMMY.
I went shopping for Sari's with the girls, while Ian waited for Gidion, the wedding photographer, and a friend of his from school. I found two beautiful Sari's. Then more shopping for gold and the men.
We then went to the Tolly Club for a Bengali New Year (not just Easter weekend, it was also Bengali New Year) celebration and dinner. Then it was back to Hiland Park, and the arrival of the final out of town pair, Martin and Susmita.
Day 7: Kolkata
Easter Sunday was mainly a quite day at the house. We went shopping at Big Bazzar for the Henna Party, and I got my hair washed in a local promotion. We relaxed and got to catch up/know one another.
That night was the Henna Party, where all the women's hands were decorated, and the men needed to feed us. It was fun.
Sleeping with the henna on my hands, not so much fun.
Day 8: Kolkata
On Monday, we ventured forth, taking a bus to the subway. The subway was nice and clean, and then we exited to the craziness of New Market. After a lunch in a local shop, we went shopping, and I got gifts at the India Government cottage Industries shop. Then went for a fancy tea break with Martin and Susmita.
We then all met up with Ian's family for a final batchlor dinner at the very COLD fancy restaurant in the Park Street area. After dinner, we headed home to Hiland Park.
Day 9: Kolkata
All but the groom were up early at Hiland Park, as the day of wedding activities was beginning. First, we headed to Tolly Club, to create gift baskets for all of Maureen's family. A car full of gifts was created, and then taken over to her house by Kim, Torbin (the brothers) and Kimmy.
I went with Sasmita and Martin to get Martin an outfit and pick up my Sari tops. I now had new outfits for both events. Upon our return to the Tolly Club, Maureen's family came over with gifts for Ian's family (including their outfits for the night).
The rest of the afternoon was spent getting ready. I had my hair and nails done, and then got dressed in my peach sari. Ian got ready, in his "groom's outfit" and then was picked up by a car decorated in flowers - beautiful. He and his brothers headed off and then the rest of the group followed.
The ceremony involved Ian receiving blessings in his family circle, and then Maureen receiving blessings.
Ian was then taken to the roof, where 2 huge tents (with fans and chandeliers) were set up for further ceremony. He did a ceremony with a priest in the tent, then went outside and Maureen was carried around him several times, and then they went back inside for more hours of ceremony - at least now they were together. It was long, and during the ceremony her dad came by to remind us to go to the other tent for food. Once the ceremony was over, Ian got to spend the night with her whole family were supposed to keep the couple up all night long!
I had a room at the Tollygunge "Tolly" Club for the night, and I returned for a much needed nights sleep.
Day 10: Kolkata
In the morning, I got up and had a bit of pampering with an Ayurvedic massage. After that relaxation, it was back to the Groom's parents room for the ceremonial arrival of the couple. Ian and Maureen arrived, and were blessed by Ian's parents, and she was now given over to his house. Finally, they could rest.
For the rest of us, the afternoon was filled with golf and swimming, and then getting ready for the big reception night. I had my hair done again - this time "up" and had help with the draping of my sari in a formal draping. I wore my pearls from Hyderabad with the outfit and they were wonderful.
Everyone said I looked regal. I felt like a princess. Then there was final preparation for the reception. Not everything went quite as smoothly as we would have liked, but eventually the room was beautiful, and everyone could come in to meet the new couple. The couple also signed the registry and exchanged rings. I got to be the gift auntie, and sit and receive gifts. This was a fun way to see everyone.
At the end, the new whole family gathered in all their brilliant color to celebrate the new couple.
At the end of the evening, we decorated Ian and Maureen's bed with flowers and said goodbye to the finally married couple.
Day 11: Kolkata
For my last day in Kolkata, I hired a car for the day - the 10 seater was great, because the whole group could fit into the car and we didn't need to breath the fumes from the road (the way you do with cabs). One of Maureen's friends Ateyee (?) had offered to be our guide/fellow explorer, and so with her Bengali language skills and a good driver, 9 of us were able to explore.
First we drove through the colonial part of town, seeing the big buildings and fields. Victoria Memorial is a beautiful building. Then we headed out to north Kolkata, over the old Howrah bridge, to Belur Math. As we explored the temple and temple grounds, we felt probably the most peaceful of anywhere in Kolkata. It was so nice to escape the hustle and bustle of town. We also at lunch at the temple, the free meal offered to any and all. Everyone sat on mats and at off of banana leave plates. We had rice, dahl, vege curry, then a serving of mango chutney and rice pudding. Very good food.
Next we walked a few blocks to the ferry stop, and we took the ferry (very small boat) to the Dakshineswar Temple, a Kali temple. It was closed, but still beautiful to look at from the outside. Our driver met us there and took us to Botanical Gardens, Shibpur - home of the oldest (and biggest) Banyan tree. It was nice to explore the gardens.
Then it was back to the Tolly club. We were all exhaused. I took a nap then got a massage, before heading out to dinner with the group, then to Hiland Park for the night.
Day 11: Travel Home
At 5AM, Kim and I got up and took a taxi to the airport. The taxi was filled with mosquitoes. The last of my bites. We checked in, and then waited for the plane. I was able to change seats with someone, so we could sit together on the way home. Most of the flight was spent sleeping, reminiscing, and watching movies. Upon arrival in London, we got to wait in Long security lines, then we got some food and candy, and waited for my flight.
I said goodbye to Kim, then boarded my flight for home. I arrived in Boston around 7PM. Home. Much to my surprise, Vinny was in the airport to great me and take me home!
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