Sea Ip Chinese Church - Tiretti Bazaar Chinese brakfast

Hi Hashers,

We all met at the Statesman building but parked only briefly as Police were very much in evidence as they awaited the arrival of officials to pay their respects to the Editor who had died the previous day.

We then made our way to Sea Ip Chinese church and some Hash members lit incense and burnt offerings. Unbeknown to us we had chosen a very auspicious day as it was the centenial celebration of the church's inauguration and festivities were planned complete with the dragon which we were told would arrive in 30 minutes! So we rushed off to eat the various steamed delicacies in the street market around the corner finishing off with fish ball soup for the daring-photos to prove it!

We watched the brisk sale of fish,including catfish,one of which met a swift and brutal end as it attemped to make its getaway! Urgent lunch plans were changed as Santanu spotted some fresh crabs and live purchases accompanied us on the rest of our travels-to the hotel (previously restruant) where Tibetan refugees used to stay, then back to the church to await the arrival of the dragon. Unfortunately no show but the local children enjoyed their ride on the mobile carousel and photo session courtesy of Santanu.

Realising the dragon was obviously working on a different timescale we made our way back to the cars passing a street theatre where a young female contortionist was busily balancing a bottle and glass of water on her head whilst she twisted herself into unbelievable shapes-oh to be supple again!

Rosie

Prinsep Monument down Strand Road to Eden Garden stadium - Taj

After due deliberation with fellow hashers, we decided to change the venue from the mossy paths at the Taratala Environment Park where we risk going for a toss to Prinsep Monument on Strand Road to walk down the riverfront and visit Eden Gardens. I wonder if our owls and parrots are still there...
Breakfast at the Taj.
Bring an umbrella!
See you Sunday come rain or shine,
Neela

Here's Patricia excuse for missing Sunday's Hash:
"Sorry everybody for last sunday...I was sleeping because my wake up alarm clock was sleeping also, without battery!!! So when I woke up around 8:30am, is too late!.. I was very sad but... What can I do?See you when we come back from Malaysia with NeelaThe best for everybodyPatricia"

This is what she missed :
Last Sunday, a beautifully sunny morning with blue skies, we set off from Prinsep Monument down the river front towards Eden Gardens in our Calcutta Hash floppy cricket hats made by Carl. (many thanks). There was a padlock on the gate as the army like God has turned us out of Eden Garden. Calcutta’s tourist spot is no longer accessible to the public until further notice. We therefore walked into the Eden Garden stadium that can hold 90,000 spectators or should I say frenzied cricket fans. We saw the gardeners working on the pitch and taking our seats on the bleachers swapped stories about why the Ashes are called Ashes. Of course Bonani’s version was ornitho-logical! (Something far fetched about a sparrow who died on being hit by a cricket ball).

We walked by the Maidan and returned to the cars and breakfast at the Taj. I'll convey your best to Alice in Singapore when I meet her. I'll take the Floppy Calcutta Hash Hat and maybe Malaysian hashers (Malasia being birthplace of the Hash) will recognise a kindred spirit.

Botanical Gardens George’s farewell hash

Around 20 hashers met at the Botanic Gardens on a wet Monsoon morning. This was George’s farewell hash. As there was a slight drizzle, we’d brought along umbrellas, even lilac ones. Patricia who’d hashed with us in the muggy heat of May, was back from her trek in the snowy peaks near Dharmsala where she saw the Dalai Lama. She’s delighted with the drizzle of the Monsoons and the lower temperatures.

We followed a muddy path to the ferry ghat that Zoria had discovered last month; we passed a beautiful dilapidated old colonial building that was the old office of the Botanic Gardens. For the last 3 years George has been saying that someone should make a restaurant by the waterside and looking at that lovely old house Ruth and I wished it could be turned into a café-restaurant. We all took the ferry across the river to Garden Reach and back, rubbing shoulders with the milkmen with their cycles and the other daily commuters.

We got off to find Pradeep and Bonani who had arrived late but had discovered a very good chaiwalla selling hot cha in a clay pot for 1 rupee. We all stopped for a tea break beside the white temple near the ghat and passed each other little bhars of tea - even to the coy cops who are part of George’s Security whom we will also miss henceforth on our walks. We really regretted that none of us had remembered to bring a camera, so it was decided that Shantanu would go by Peter’s house on the way back and collect the camera.

Back at the cars, we found Manu from the Taj, who had also arrived late and must have jogged all around the gardens looking for us. Siddiqui and Carl gave out our new hash collared T shirts, a bright orange colour to match The Hub logo with Taj Bengal Kolkata printed on the back. There was much ribbing about it being BJP colours and a spiritual hash, but it actually looked very bright and cheerful once we’d all changed into them back at the Taj. The two Rajeshes were there and Taj had organized a delicious chocolate cake for George which he cut after breakfast.

Peter has now been designated Hash Flash and Siddiqui dragged George for a picture by The Hub podium which could be captioned in the dock. We all trooped outside for the farewell Hash photos on the steps and Peter playing the fool nearly made it into the pool. We also took a picture with our backs to the camera looking over um, our right shoulder. While we crowded around the cake table and took more pictures, in walked Gaby and her husband who are also leaving Calcutta. Our fond farewells to them, to George, to Delphi (away till October).

Happy 4th of July, Lee and George. All the very best!