Setting up base....Kolkata

3 months since my last entry. And I am sitting and writing this one in a cybercafe with the guy next to me peeping into what I am writing.What has life come to? I am in a software company and sit on a computetr for the better part of the day but cannot update my blog. Such is the security in TCS. No gmail, no orkut, no yahoo etc.Either that or I have not found out the method to access it yet.

Kolkata.. what can I say, is the complete antethesis of Mumbai. If the latter is the city that never sleeps, then Kolkata sleeps all the time.For a person like me from Mumbai who is used to the rush hour traffic, the crowded streets, the late nights( I mean at home), it is something totally alien.Firstly, sunrise happens at 5am and sunset at 5pm. All shops close at 9pm. Which is funny given that they open at 8am and stay shut in the afternoon.

Apart from the slow life, the food is a big problem here. Vegetarian seems to be rare on a menu. 50 items and 3 of these will be veg. And there seems to be some obsession with Chinese.And their 'chowmin' is something out of this world. Wherever you go you will find roadside shops selling 'chowmin'. Also their spellings are funny. Mutter paneer is 'motor paneer' and pav bhaji is 'pao bhaji' and there is 'dahi bada' etc.Their chaat is not all that good and it is expensive. Mumbai chaat is better. Here they donot have the concept of meetha and teekha chutney. Just jhaal which is teekha masala.2 dishes I liked though, 'jhaal moodhi' and the famous 'puchka'. The sweets are amazing. Certainly living up to the expectations. Cheap too. Mishti doi comes at half the rate that it comes in Sweet Bengal(14/-).I have not had real authentic Bengali fish yet, but plan to soon.

Now, the more important part. Accomodation.We are 9 boys living in a PG bungalow. This may seem to you like it is cramped. But believe me when I say that space is not a problem. We have a Tv, DVD player, refrigerator and negotiations are on for gas and stove.2 attached bathrooms ensure there is no conflict in the morning.So, currently our life consists of going to office and watching TV, studying a bit and playing TT(table tennis). Those lucky to be in a project have training and I am the only one who has some little work. But it may start mounting soon.
Regular reports will keep coming. Keep checking.

One more thing, not all Bengali girls are Bipasha. I believe I make myself clear.