Desh Bandhu Park, Bagh Bazaar, K.C. Das breakfast at Basu Bati

7 hashers met in front of The Statesman House at 7:30 am to visit Desh Bandhu Park and the Basu Bati in North Calcutta. Young civil lawyers Abhishek and Rupak, were equally gallant and escorted us along the by lanes of North Calcutta where we saw some beautiful architecture and many Romeo and Juliet type balconies! Ritika was so impressed with a house with bison horns above the entrance door that she peeked in and saw a piano inside. Rupak and Kristina ran around the Desh Bandhu Park while we walked around and stopped to gaze at the Bayam Samity and the numerous cricket pitches where matches were in full swing. There was a huge cannon ball tree heavy with fruit. On the way back we stopped at Bagh Bazaar and bought tulsi trees, varietas platy and various other fish.
Abhishek had already organised the breakfast from KC Das and we had a box with radhaballabi (matarshutir kachuri), chholardaal, amriti (large jalebi), rasamalancha (kheer wrapped in malpoa pancake), and shingaras. The daal was in a haanri and the tea in bhanrs. A truly authentic North Calcutta bengali breakfast sitting on the steps of the beautiful thakurdalan of the Basu bati. Sonalidi who is used to friends dropping in after their maach and gaach buying sprees at Bagh Bazaar was happy to host us and Abhishek, although he partied till 4 am was happy to show us around his neighbourhood and his art collection. If you want to buy any of the young painters he’s promoting, click on the link http://in.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/basuart/album?.dir=/13aescd&.src=ph&.tok=phkNt2FBkJg8Ym.L
click on Back to Basu Art to see the other artists in Abhishek Basu's album.
Before we left, Ritika sang the Rekha song from Parineeta at my request. Madhuri was totally bowled over. We think Ritika should perform there in a gala to raise funds for art, heritage and her Trust Trinayani.
The next hash will be at the Horticultural Gardens (and Bhowanipur Cemetery) followed by Taj breakfast. Meet at 7:30 in front of Belvedere entrance to Horticultural gardens.
There won’t be a hash on Christmas Eve and New Year’s eve.
The first hash of 2007 will be the Vintage Car Rally on 7th January where Kristina and Siddiqui are Marshalls. When we meet next Sunday we can finalise taking the children of the art school (who made the boats and painted rickshaws) to the Vintage Car Rally and give them a picnic there so they can see the Vintage cars. The children are part of the River Festival on at Millennium Park on the 16th-17th December.
Here’s Lee’s message for the hashers.
Dearest Neela,
Hello from Madagascar. Thank you for sending me this message. I looked at the Blog and felt so nostalgic for Calcutta. I also felt very far away and it made me a little sad, but happy to read all the great things going on there. George and I send lots of love to all our old friends and hashers -- be well and take advantage of everything the beautiful eastern part of India offers!
love, Lee
P.S. George runs the hash here every other week!

Botanic Gardens & Taj, Shankarpur and Shantiniketan and Alcha

While some regulars and newcomers went to the Botanics and the Taj for breakfast, others were away on a weekend out of town. Siddiqui and Kristina and her kids enjoyed their beach outing to Shankarpur. A bus that leaves at 6:30am costs Rs.90 and takes 4 hours to reach. Hotels like the Ashoka charge Rs.375 for a double room. You can slide down the sand dunes to reach the beach. There's swimming or rather wading as the Indians are used to on the empty and clean beach. Siddiqui says one can buy lots of large shells at Rs.15 while the smaller ones are Rs.2-3. You can see millions of red crabs on the lonely stretches of the beach. They had lovely prawns (Rs.20 each) in malai curry and basic Indian fare of daal, jhurjhure alubhaja and phulkas. Another trip had better be planned soon, as my mouth is watering already.
Jennifer came down from Hyderabad and with Padminie's pal Benoit a documentary maker and an ex DJ with Radio Nova and Dusty Tape blogger, we took the Shantiniketan Express on Saturday to Shantiniketan for theSaturday haat and Nandan Mela student's campus art show where along with the art installations like the Korean giant fish there was an international food fest organized by the students where we ate fried flowers and bhanrer chai. We ate breakfast and dinner at Alcha and met with old friends who are potters, artists and musicians there and Nayana's mom with whom we had cocktails and mua. It's always a treat to go back to the peace and quiet of Shantiniketan. Abhishek who will host us on Sunday at his residence Basu Bati was in Shantiniketan with his family who pointed out to me where pati shaptas– pancakes were available at the haat. Chiru had given Benoit and Jen a tour of the Santal village dropping them to the haat before heading back to Cal. for a wedding reception. Benoit sang lots of our favourite French songs and we penned Alcha postcards to old hashers like Andy, Francois and Padminie. Bappa Ganguly, Nayana's cousin who goes to Shantiniketan every Saturday, took the Ganadevta trainback with us. On the 3 hour train journey back we ate things like jhaal muri, chiki, shon papri which were explained to Benoit as muesli, rice crispies and cotton candy!
Looking forward to seeing a large group at Statesman House on 10th Dec at 7:30 am to go to Basu Bati and walk around North Calcutta. Monica Positano tells me there is an Italian DJ performing at Fusion, Golden Park on Saturday night and we have to go and meet him. The Revolutionary Saturday Hash is on, on so look out for email from the krh3. krh3.blogspot.com Please confirm whether you are joining us on Sunday by calling to wishme on my birthday tomorrow!
Cheers,
Neela
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Bird watching in Satragachi

8 of us turned up at the Taj Bengal at 7:30 am to convoy to Satragachi bird sanctuary in the lake opposite the Railway Colony. Migratory birds land on an island of the Satragachi wetland, some 20 kilometres south of Calcutta off the Kona highway. An estimated 4,000 migratory birds visit this Satragachi lake annually during the winter.

Bonani, who has been flying in and out of Calcutta and was recently in Dhaka with Zinedine Zidane, brought her book on Indian Birds. Anando Mukerjee a lyric tenor, whose Concert repertoire consists of Areie antiche, Arias from the principal Bel Canto, Romantic and Verismo Italian and French Operas, Leider, Chansons, Canzone and English and Continental Art Songs gave a concert Friday evening at Calcutta School of Music which Zoria and I had attended. Madhuri heard about it from her dinner companions the same evening. Bonani would have joined us but was on a train in Jharkand. As his cousin's friend, I was able to net Anando to join us on our hash walk on Sunday. An Inlaks Foundation Scholar in 1999 for a Tripos in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, he knew enough zoology to describe the birds as seen through Bonani's pre world war binoculars while we looked up his descriptions in the pictures in Bonani's book. Bonani even saw a Girgiti on the newly constructed railings around the lake and Bonani had me locking eyes with the lizard until it fell back into the water. Madhuri, Siddiqui, Kristina and Petra missed all this as they flew around the lake and found our picnic spot.

Anando, after completing his degree in Cambridge, has been training with retired professors of the Royal College of Music, London since October 2001. For the initial part of his operatic studies, he obtained a Charles Wallace (India Trust) award administered by the British Council and it's the British Council who sponsored his flight to Cal. Kristina will be happy to know that he is also a student of and receiving master classes from the celebrated Swedish Tenor Nicolai Gedda, singer of the Royal Court, Stockholm. In May 2007 he makes his Wigmore Hall debut accompanied by the internationally renowned pianist Leslie Howard and all the hashers are cordially invited.

Bonani is now keen to organise another concert for Anando in Kolkata perhaps during the December River Festival 2007. When I told him about the hash cruises on the river, he was delighted. We'll have to book him on one when next he's in town.

Satragachi is the one of the busiest railway stations in West Bengal. We could see that when our cars were stuck at the railway crossing for 40 minutes after we'd had breakfast. Siddiqui had organised tuna, cheese and egg sandwiches from Nahoum's, and some Appy to wash it down. Zoria and Kristina brought thermoses of coffee. One of the Railway staff who is part of the nature lovers club came and spoke to Anando, the only male amongst us birds. Bonani was also accosted by another group of bird watchers who were spending the whole day there. Madhuri mistook them for picnickers like us.

Rajesh Nath, whose daughter is a keen bird watcher, was busy with the German delegates. Lilly, Felicity, Sunita were all at the St. Andrew's Ball last Saturday and Lilly has won a free trip to England, while her escort George won a weekend at the Hyatt's Presidential suite! Gherdie was away to Jamshedpur with his family. Everyone wants to get away from Calcutta while the weather's beautiful and Zoria has found out that the WB government suggests day trips to Garchumik, Geokhali, Panitras, Antpur.

Siddiqui has found out that it is possible to go to Shantipur by train. Those keen on going this weekend, please give her a call on 9433867101. Kristina and family, Carl, Sid, Zoria are getting tickets on Wednesday so if you'd like to join call before Wednesday for some fun by the beach.
I'll be heading to the Nandan mela in Shantiniketan (see earlier email)
Dev r Nil are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of d designs and their success at the Lakme Fashion week on Friday 1st December at Underground with a Fashion Show from 9 p.m. onwards. Call me for passes.

3rd Dec. 7:30 am Botanics followed by Taj unless you are going to Shantipur/Shantiniketan
10 December 7:30 am in front of Statesman House to do one of the 10 walks of Calcutta. Will try to organise breakfast in an old house - Basubati in North Calcutta

Newcomers and old hashers please collect your blue T shirts from me and Siddiqui on 10th Dec. There are no more white T shirts from the boat cruise of 2005 with Pradeep and Bonani. Perhaps we can take up Madhuri's idea of a small hash back pack for the end of the year. Let's meet and decide the next hash venues on 10th December. Please come up with venues till end Jan.

Neela 9830014934

TARATALA

On 19th Nov at 7am, 5 regular hashers met at Garden Reach Water Works opposite Mudiali Fisherman's Cooperative/Taratala Environment Park(straight down from Britannia factory Behala) and enjoyed breakfastat Taj Bengal.

On 25th-26th Nov we were planning an out of town Hash to Jamshedpur, to see mica mines, dam etc. The stay was to be organised at Beldi Clubbut but this will have to be postponed. As I have been travelling for the last couple of weeks to Hyderabad and Jaipur I feel I have spent atleast 3 days in the last fortnight on train /bus journeys. Another train journey on Shatabdi Express of 4 hrs is not to be envisaged right now.

We can instead go to see the birds at Santragachi lake. We will also pass the market there and we can stop and have a look at Calcutta's winter vegetables! We will take a picnic from Nahoum's so please confirm your presence. Siddiqui will be collecting sandwiches and cakes on Saturday itself. Please meet at the Taj Bengal to Car pool and convoy to the venue. Back by 9:30 or ten I imagine.

As the numbers have declined at the hashes, I invite you to bring along any family, friends and prospective hash members. We will charge Rs.100 of guests too till the end of the year to boost attendance.

3rd Dec 7:30 am meet in front of Turf View for convoy to BotanicalGardens Shibpur Entrance. Breakfast at Taj Bengal.

At Interhash Chiang Mai 2006 more than 3000 people voted to have Interhash 2008 in Perth during the Easter weekend. Start planning now if you want to be part of the wild weekend in Western Australia.
On, On.

Diwali Hash at Lakes Southern Avenue opposite the Lake Kali Bari

8 hashers walked around the lakes followed by breakfast at Banana Leaf on Diwali day.
29th October 7 am Horticultural Gardens and Taj Bengal
5th November 7 am Botanical Gardens Breakfast Taj Bengal
12th November 7 am Swabhumi Lakes Breakfast at Stadel or somewhere else if Madhuri can find out.
A number of international students in Calcutta have shown interest in going to the art exhibition of Indian and International artists on 29th October, for an out of town trip to Baruipur Choudhuri Bari to see an Open Studio with painters, art and video installations from 3-7 p.m. There are buses organised from Golpark at 2 and 2:30 p.m. Return after 7:30 p.m. Drive 1 ½ hours as in the map and invitation attached. Please call and confirm your seats or make your own way there.
I'll be in Chiangmai at the Inter Hash 2006 27th to 29th october where around 6000 hashers from round the world have registered.
The International Film Festival starts 10th to 17th November 2006 at Nandan, Rabindra Sadan, Sisir Mancha, New Empire, Star Theatre www.calfilmfestival.org/nandan.htm
Neela
9830014934

SNAKE DAY HASH in WETLANDS - The SOJOURN

11 of us met in front of ITC Sonar Bangla. Siddiqui and I got a ride with Madhuri. Zoria picked up Patrick and Gherdie piled into their car. Kristina joined with her 4 kids Martin, Anders, and the twins Rikard and Petra. We were all thrilled with the walk as we saw lots of creatures. We saw so many snakes that Gherdie said George would have been most delighted with this Snake Day hash. We skirted a papaya plantation according to Zoria, past the snake lakes. We saw the fisherman removing the small fry from the lakes and throwing the big fish back in. They threw some enormous frogs out of the nets towards us on the bank and they would have loved it if we sat on the yellow plastic chairs and watched them fishing. We walked parallel to the duck path along the goat track and made it back to the cars. The thatched mud houses and the greenery all around were very welcome. Truly a lively livestock hash walk.

We then had breakfast at The Sojourn where we all tried the different canned juices – orange, sweetlime and pineapple and had our eggs made to order. Zoria was organizing a picnic to Dasghara and Patrick, Siddiqui, and Kristina decided to tag along taking a picnic.

Next Sunday Diwali meet in front of Southern Avenue Lake Club at 7:30 am to walk around the lakes. We are going into Winter time as you can ascertain from the archives of October 2005 on calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com This will be followed by breakfast at Banana Leaf

The Sunday after, on 29th October, please decide whether you would like to do an out of town trip to Baruipur Choudhuri Bari to see an art exhibition of Indian and International artists. It is an Open Studio with painters, art and video installations from 3-7 p.m. There are buses organised from Golpark at 2 and 2:30 p.m. Return after 7:30 p.m. Drive 1 ½ hours as in the map and invitation attached. Please call and confirm your seats or make your own way there.

It may be more interesting than heading to Swabhumi lakes in the morning. Doing both may be a bit tiring.
I'll be in Chiangmai at the Inter Hash 2006 27th to 29th october where around 6000 hashers from round the world have registered.

See you in November. We are thinking of taking the art students to Science City as Children's Day comes around.

5th November 7:30 am Botanical Gardens Breakfast Taj Bengal

Neela

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River cruise for Immersion - Bisarjan

The river cruise for the Bisarjan along with Bengali meal on 2nd Oct had about 40 places for hashers, family and friends on the top deck of the Ahalya.

Durga Puja, as celebrated in Calcutta, is truly an experience not to be missed and so is the immersion, when Durga is immersed in the Hooghly for her journey back to the Himalayas.

We had an opportunity to see the immersion from a boat on the river on 2nd Oct. The boat left at 7.30pm from Millenium Park and returned at 10 pm. This was a 2 1/2 hour cruise, cost Rs. 250 per adult and Rs. 200 for children.
This included an authentic Bengali meal with fish. We arrived early so that we got a choice of seats and heard the dhakis and saw the dhunuchi natch.

Shubho Bijoya - Botanical Gardens and Pandal Hopping

The visit to the Botanical Gardens was great fun and lots of photos were taken under the Banyan tree.

We visited the wonderful pandals in Khidderpore to which we have been going every year. Francois has even decided to bring (to my) home a blue matir statue at one of the pandals which we have brought home as installation art. Photos of the Behala and new alipore pandals will hopefully be on the blogspot as soon as Francois can send me the CD of pictures.
If you are interested in Pandal art the Kantha embroideries are for sale at Rs.2000. each panel is 3 feet by 2 feet.
Neela
9830014934

Happy pujas, Happy Durgotsab everyone. It takes a few seconds to load.

http://anandautsav.com/mahisasur_pala_2.html



On Sunday 24th September, the hashers visited the Horticultural
Gardens and 8 of us had breakfast at the Taj Bengal.

Sunday 17th Sept. Hare Krishna Bus to Mayapur day trip
26 people went to Mayapur as a few of the exchange students at IIM Joka joined the group organised by Siddiqui and Nitish. There was a bus and sumo leaving 6 am for Mayapur Everyone met at 5:45am at 3/c Albert Road Kolkata in front of the ISkCon temple near Minto park.
En route there was a stop at a temple and breakfast. From what I learn there were lots of temple visits and prasad. There waas an English speaking guide who explained the Hare Krishna philosophy and the museum vist and Arti at noon. The lunch was a vegetarian feast of pulao, daal rice, alu gobi ka salan, mixed veg pakoras, paneer, alu, chana dal, and as everyone had to sit crosslegged on the floor and eat off the banana leaves it must have been great fun.
There was a room allotted where the hashers rested before and after lunch. The more enterprising went on a boat cruise and even saw dolphins.
By 4 p.m. the bus had left and reached back towards Park circus by 8p.m. and Camac street by 9.

KUMARTULLI - Anand
Doc, Sid, Usha, Christina, Damien, Laurent, Julia (3 French exchange students from IIM Joka) and I were the 8 at Kumartulli. I woke Lilly up on the phone and she came to her balcony of Statesman House to wave to us on the pavement. In Doc's car and a taxi we headed out to Kumartulli. Before we set off in the alleyways, Doc insisted we pay the camera charges of Rs.50 per camera that go to paying for an eye camp for the potters. Doc took loads of pictures as did the newcomers. The head of the samiti told me that there is some talk of making a building there for the potters instead of the ramshackle sheds they now have. We wove our way through the hundreds of idols till the waterside where Doc gave us his talk on the significance of Durga Puja that encompassed the Indian burial rites to yoga to the Surya Namaskar, and through the spice route. We were good listeners. We then tried our hand at rolling the clay but it was too sticky for me. Doc stopped at the Fish Market and we learnt to distinguish between the Hilsa and ruhi and Doc bought some live crabs. We even stopped to see the courtyard full of potters and the painting of rubbish bins. We were to have breakfast at Infinitea but as the tearoom doesn't open till 11 am Doc ended up buying tea. We then went to Anand for a South Indian breakfast. We suggested upma, idli, lassi, cold coffee and South Indian filter coffee (and lots of banana splits) for the French who aren't too keen on spicy food as they get enough in the canteen at Joka. We will plan a hash walk there in October.

I ascertained that Nitish has got tickets from ISKCon for his family, Sid, Carl, Usha, Doc, Christina and family, Lilly and Madhuri... for the trip to Mayapur on 17th September. Meet at the Iskcon Temple at 5:45am at 3/c Albert Road Kolkata 17 near Alpha Centauri nursing home behind Minto Park opposite Birla High School . The Hare Krishna deluxe Bus returns by 9 p.m.

As Sept 17 is Biswakarma Puja, I'll be flying kites in the TARA NEWZ office at lunch.

WEAVERS STUDIO is presenting a lecture and slide presentation on Tuesday 12th September, 2006 from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm by Ms. Jorie Johnson a leading textile and Felt artist from the USA. They would like to take this opportunity to invite all to attend this very interesting textile technique of felt making followed by an interactive session with Jorie at 5/1 Anil Moitra Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata-19. Ph- 2440 8937/26/27 (Jolly our origami expert should attend as should Usha!)
Sasha is having a fashion show in their shop at 27 Mirza Ghalib/Free School Street on Wednesday 13th September at 4 p.m. (Julia was very interested but I don't know if she can get away from class at 4 p.m.)
There is a Ping Pong Table at the British Club and I think on Thursday we can have a tournament there to revive flagging interest in the Club. Britain vs. the rest of the world ;-D (well the French atleast who have been practicing at IIM Joka)
Gallery Rasa is having a retrospective exhibition of graphic prints by Ramendranath Chakravorty (1902-1955) at 828/1 Block P New Alipore Kolkata 53 from Sunday 17th September to Sunday 15th October, 2006 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily except Mondays. Special cocktail invite to hashers and friends from Ritika's brother on Saturday 16th September 6:30 p.m. onwards.
There is also a Taal Tantra performance by tabla maestro Tanmay Bose at Princetomn Club, Merlin, Prince Ghulam Mohammed Shah Road (Metro Tollygunge) on that Saturday evening. All are welcome.
Usha please do the write up for the 17th Sept. hash in Mayapur. If I don't see you at any /all of these events, I'll see on 24th Sept. at 7 am in front of Kalighat Metro for some pandal hopping. Breakfast at Taj Bengal
Season's greetings!
Neela
9830014934
www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com

On Sunday reached Lakeland Country Club around 7:30 am despite the drizzle. Though I took time looking for an umbrella in the morning, I didn’t actually need it. Had my cap like young Nishant. Nitish and Jolly had umbrellas as did Natalie and Doc. 4 cars headed off from Turf View. Usha with Natalie and Doc, Madhuri with Carl and Sid and Zoria.

So we were 10 ½ hashers. We started the walk inside the club as Carl and Sid had only walked around the perimeters during the past hashes there. Nitish gave us the grand tour around the complex which has a number of swimming pools. A lot of construction is going on to build resorts and cottages behind the club where Nitish’s tiles may be used.

The walk by the waterside was very scenic and no one slipped on any moss. While it pitter pattered outside we sat in the thatched restaurant and ordered alu parathas and yoghurt, alu puris and cups of hot coffee and tea. Jolly taught us how to make paper boats out of the pink and yellow table napkins and the test will be at the end of next month when hopefully we will have also learnt the origami bird that flaps its wings! We then tried sailing the boats from the little pergolas on the water beside which a number of fishermen were trying to catch their Sunday lunch. Our hopes sunk along with the lopsided paper boats with and without rudders. Those on the botanic expedition to pluck eucalyptus leaves (anti cold and mosquitoes) and Bhringaraj leaves (for preventing hairloss) were more successful in their efforts. Hopefully Madhuri and Zoria have made good use of the leaves. Ashish's ginormous night t shirts were then handed out to those who wanted them. All those wishing to enroll in our Sunday morning origami classes please turn up at the next Hashes and get more XXL T shirts! \
7 am Statesman House for Kumartuli on Sunday 10 sept. Breakfast Infinity in Poddar Court
5:45 am Iskcon Temple for Mayapur on Sunday 17 sept. Snacks and lunch provided. Return at 9 p.m.
Those non-hashers wanting to come to Kumartully and Mayapur, please pay up Rs.500 and get a giant night T shirt

www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com for schedule

On 20th August we walked around the Common Wealth Graves and then towards the Alipore prison through the termporary bamboo and cloth Presidency Jail Janmashtami welcome gate in saffron colours to see the colonial houses belonging to the District Magistrate, DIG etc. Madhuri, Alka, Rajesh Nath, Zoria, Sid and I then enjoyed breakfast at the Taj which now serves cold salmon, Parma ham and other delicacies. I tried to convince the others to head to Kewpie's for the last day of the Hilsa Festival.

This Sunday we should try and reach Lakeland Country Club between 7:15 and 7:30 am.
Those needing rides, please organise with fellow hashers and friends. You can get a lift with them at 7am from in front of Turf View, big block of flats, opposite the Race Course before the Kona express flyover that we have to take. Those who've never been to the Lakeland Club, it's best to meet in front of Turf View and proceed from there.

Breakfast will be at the Lakeland Club and I'm sure we can use the facilities like the Swimming Pool for a nominal amount. There is also Go Karting I think but I don't know what the timings are.

Those free on Saturday afternoon, please join Bill and Sarah who are in town from Amman on a Revolutionary Hash from the Ranger's at 3 p.m.

Please bring hash cash of Rs.100 for the Mayapur Hash on 17th September. If your friends want to join, we will collect their Rs.270 as well for the round trip and meals organised by ISKCON. The bus leaves at 6 am from Isckon Temple at 3/C Albert Road near Birla High School off Camac Street.

Neela
9830014934

CENTRAL PARK - The Sojourn
We arrived late to Central Park as Nitish had to pick me up and then Siddique and Carl at the Park Circus round about. We caught up with Gherdie walking around Central Park and Zoria across the bridge. It started drizzling but it wasn't too heavy and we continued on to the rose garden. Coming out of the Garden, Nitish, and Sid had a vile green concoction of karela, kalo megh and other bitter gourds. Jolly and I tried the herbal ginger and tulsi/basil cup. Carl may have had a fresh coconut water to get over the taste.
We then went to the Sojourn Hotel and I was given the panoramic view through the glass of the bubble lift from the 7th floor. Breakfast of eggs to order and fresh out-of-a-can juice, along with paratha and alu dam, corn flakes and some very creamy pastries came to a little over Rs.100 per head.
We decided the next hashes and discussed that we should try a trip to Mayapur as Nitish and Jolly have been and recommend it as a Hash out of town venue. The non ac bus organised by Iskcon leaves at 6 am from in front of the Shantiniketan building on Camac street takes 3 or 4 hours to reach. Lunch is served at venue and its a sprawling complex. Please confirm your attendance as we have to book tickets which cost Rs.270. Hash cost: Rs.100
After breakfast where we discussed what one can take and not take as hand luggage on board flights, and how to renew a work permit and get exit visas, we decided to check out the Abcos food court to see whether it opens early for breakfast. Unfortunately it doesn't.
Ed and Twila and their son and wife came to the Haanrir Khabar Food Festival at Swabhumi later in the day where I was feeding TARA celebrity guests like Rakhi of Kewpies and Shaun Kenworthy. Watch the programme on TARA NEWZ at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays.

www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com for schedule

After my long holiday in Houston, New York, Paris and Bombay, I’m back in Calcutta. Here are the month's hashes for August.

Next week let’s meet at Central Park at 7 am followed by breakfast opposite the Stadel. The TARA Haanrir Khabar Food Festival is on 13th August at Swabhumi Rangmanch from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Please come and enjoy different specialities, games and shopping at Swabhumi heritage park. I can bring passes.

13th August 7 am Central Park breakfast opp. Stadel
20th August 7 am Meet at Taj to walk to Horticultural Gardens, Bhowanipur cemetery
27th August 7 am Lakeland Country Club with breakfast
3rd September 7 am Botanics followed by breakfast at Taj

In September we can plan Kumartulli and an out of town hash. All suggestions for the Pujas 21st september to 1st October are welcome.
www.bangalinet.com/durgapuja.htm
www.durga-puja.org
www.123durgapuja.com/

Neela
9830014934

The venue was changed to elliot Park and I had sent the mail but all bounced back.

There was five of us and we have decided that we will not hash next Sunday 30th July at Nature Park which will be slushy. Of course, those who want to hash feel free to do so.

WE will meet on 6th Aug. at Botanics 7 am as usual and breakfast at Taj.

We will have a meeting to discuss our finanaces.

sid
Am in Paris when it sizzles rather than Cal where it more than drizzles by the sound of it. Will catch up in August. - Neela

Armenian Church

(parking next to the Gillander House (with the beautiful lions on the gate and the elephants)
We walked down Old China Bazaar which actually has 3 names and nearly bought painted enamel plates there as a farewell present for Yvonnick who is leaving us to go to Daresalam Tanzania and starts his travels in Rajasthan next Sunday.

Mr. Paul gave us permission to photograph the graves and the church and Siddiqui was so moved she's planning to stay back for service next Sunday at 9:30 since we will be in the area to do the Chinese Church, and the Synagogues (for which we have to get prior permission from David Nahoum).

We were lucky to find Mr. Paul who gave us lots of details about the Armenian Church and the Armenian school and college. The Church has one of the oldest graves of Calcutta dating back to 1640.

It is also one of the richest Armenian Churches and there are some 150 students /orphans studying in the school. Doc bumps into some of the young Armenian Rugby players at practice.
Usha plans to ask permission to do wax rubbings of the graves which has some beautiful motifs.

We also visited the Portuguese Church on the main road and waited till a little past 8 for it to open for service at 8:30 am. As Andy was in town and a late night at Roxy meant that Lilly didn't join us but promises to be there next weekend.

The Taj had some lovely chocolate boots and other piece montee by the German chef for the World Cup.

Notice: Meet in front of Statesman House 7 am on June 18th to do BBD Bag/St. John’s Church/ or Armenian Church/Synagogue… Breakfast at Taj Bengal
Afterwards at 11 am you are all cordially invited to the TARA Studio at Opera House Dharmtala, 5 B Lenin Sarani (opposite Saki Bar) to listen to a recording of Farida Parveen Folk singer of Bangladesh. She is an internationally renowned Bengali singer and you would enjoy the folk melodies of Bengal.

A special Hash is being organised at Vedic Village on Sunday 11th June.

www.thevedicvillage.com/
Vedic Village - a unique home away from home, with the flavour of the
Bengal countryside. Set in the exclusive Rajarhat Megacity - a 20
minute drive from Kolkata airport and just 40 minutes away from the
centre of the City.

An international Resort & Spa is the nucleus of the complex surrounded
by farm lands which form part of the Bungalow Estate. A place where
you can buy a farm house or just visit on holiday. To heal, renew and
reincarnate.

We car pool at ITC Sonar Bangla at 7am. Vedic Village is a 20 minute
drive away. We walk around the complex ( See photos on the website and
click on the www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com Archive for June 2005.
We breakfast there and can even make a day's outing.
Use the pool for an extra Rs.100.
Last time, Zoria even went riding...
Guests pay Rs.250 for the breakfast.
Please RSVP as if we are more than 15 we can also book a bus to go there.

Neela 9830014934

7 and a half regular hashers came to the Vedic Village – Zoria gave Siddique a ride and the two of them stayed back to enjoy the pool. Doc and Natalie gave Usha a ride. I got a ride with Rajesh Nath and daughter Sana. Rajesh had organized the breakfast and there was no hibiscus tea though there were other organic and out of the ordinary breakfast items like hummus, green banana pasaruttu etc. Zoria was greatly impressed by the quick service of her eggs.
We walked around with umbrellas in the heat and saw the eco cottages with the turf on the roof and the mud huts with Shantiniketan style wall murals. There were even Worli paintings on the walls. The caretakers opened up a number of the residences for us to see.
Usha and Zoria had a lot to say about the landscape and the complex. I reeled around from the heat with not much to say despite Doc’s baiting. Aunt Siddiqui looked after Sana but we didn’t see the kingfishers.
After breakfast we drove back though not on the hour long scenic route taken by Zoria who drove with her driver sitting in the back seat and heroically managed the very congested Pakapole Sunday Haat where we found ourselves stuck at an intersection behind some trucks. We were able to feast our eyes on the fresh vegetables, giant pumpkins and jackfruit and wondered whether Doc got stuck there buying his Sunday maach when he didn’t follow us out immediately.

Victoria Memorial - Flury's - Marble Palace

We met at the Victoria Memorial and I waited with Yvonnick for Margarette, her friend Jennifer from Hyderabad here for the weekend, and Usha. Carl, Siddiqui, Zoria were already inside. Rajesh Nath was back from his holiday in Germany pre World Cup. This was Niti’s last hash before she moves to Bombay.
We walked around the Victoria Memorial and took pictures of the building, trees and early morning strollers in their various activities from frisbee to yoga. The sound and light show in English is at 7:45 p.m. but stops during the monsoons. This is not to be confused with the musical fountains outside.
The sky was darkening by 8 am when we reached back to the gate under the flyover and headed in various cars to Flury’s for breakfast. We needed to kill a couple of hours before the Marble Palace opened at 10 am and the slow service at Flury’s made it the obvious choice. The service was slow as usual, but breakfasters didn’t complain of the quality of food. Different dishes were tried out from almond croissants to ham and cheese croissants. Ritika even swears by the coffee at Flury’s. Flury’s also serves lunch and dinner and that’s lucky because what with the prices and slow service, the hashers may not be able to breakfast there too often. The T3 on the opposite pavement is the Hasher’s choice. By the time the food arrived and the rains stopped, Zoria had to run away in haste after breakfast and Usha went home with Carl to change into a sari for a memorial service and a birthday.
We went on to Marble Palace with Yvonnick surrounded by a harem, which from the Statesman house included Lilly and Seema. We walked around the gardens looking at the stone lions, the walking pelicans and the Giant squirrel. We enjoyed talking to Mr. Hirendro Mullick, and after our visit comparing Yvonnick's nose to Queen Victoria's, Ritika sang Rabindra Sangeet for the three generations of Mullicks while we sat on the steps enjoying the weather. We even had our fresh coconut water outside the gate.

TARATALA NATURE PARK - TAJ

Taratala Nature Park is also known as The Mudiali Fisherman's Cooperative. Gherdie came after a long absence and was welcomed as was newcomer Simar, Tony's daughter who has joined the hash and will hash with us whenever she is in town. She left the next day for Bangalore with tel. nos. of the hash groups in the South. Yvonnick and I were delayed reaching at the level crossing where we waited on his bike beside the fisherman carrying fresh fish in a pot behind their bicycles.

Chef Yvonnick was shown some of the fish and verified that they were indeed fresh.

We reached to find the hash group, visible thanks to Tony's orange Taj Hash T shirt, being given a talk by a Nature Park warden in their green shirts.

Usha and Doc were listening intently. Zoria and Natalie were happy to lead the pack at a brisk pace all around the park, passing the swings, the bamboo benches and restaurant area and the fisher folk catching fish in their nets wading through the water.


George would have been tickled to see the large water snake that climbed out onto the bank towrads the hashers because the waters were being agitated byy the fishermen and fish were flying everywhere!

We saw birds, tamarind flowers, and bel, champa and frangipani trees. But the most interesting animals were the dromedaries beside the deer cage.

We hadn't been to the park for a while as the Flyover was in progress and the changes there were many.
The sign outside the Nature Park and Cooperative, Rs.10 entrance, says that it has generated employment for about 800 people at an investment of Rs.5 lakhs from the government and Rs.5.4 lakhs from the cooperative society of Mudiali fishermen.
Yvonnick took tons of pictures and some will be put up on the blogspot.

Belgachia Jain Temple - Chennai Kitchen

7 hashers met in front of Statesman House and took two cabs to the Belgachia Jain Temple. As it was Buddha Purnima on Saturday, there was some festival at the temple with a shamiana outside with many saffron dhoti clad priests and many men and women inside the temple reading scriptures and making offerings of rice.
The main offerings were almonds and I think peeled Musambi oranges tho some of us wondered whether they were mangoes or potatoes as they were covered in saffron or turmeric.

There were a number of structures and four gates. We had a leisurely stroll around and were finally joined by Yvonnick who brought along his camera. Then the 8 of us, Yvonnick, Lilly, Francois, Sid, carl, Usha and I along with guest Seema boarded a slow tram at the depot, back towards Lal Bazaar.

We took lots of pictures in the compound of the Jain temple and Yvonnick took lots of pictures on the tram ride.
We then walked back from Lal Bazaar to Bentink Street and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at Chennai Kitchen where the foreigners and I were able to sample, some for the first time, rawa dosas, Pao Bhajis (favourite), aloo puri along with mango juices, lassis and coffee.
Yvonnick had a long chat with Usha about their hobby photography and Francois, back in town for a short stint to collect his first hash t shirt, had us in stitches.

Neela 9830014934

BOTANICS - TAJ BENGAL
The hashers met at 7am in front of the main gate of the Botanical Gardens. We found it without getting lost. Once inside we all got lost in various directions. Nishant accompanied Nitish and Rachna. Priyanka brought a guest. Niti waited for the Poddars at the circle. We still managed to converge at the gate at 8 am sharp to pile into cars to head back to The Taj for breakfast in our new Taj T Shirts.

Next week we've decided to do something cultural for new hashers Lilly, Priyanka, Sunita and Niti who are all keen to discover North Calcutta.

HORTICULTURAL Gardens and new Taj T shirts
Old hashers and new were at the Horticultural Gardens at 7 am. Hashers now pay their own entrance fees to Parks (Rs.10 for Horticultural Gardens, Rs.5 or Rs.50 for foreigners at Botanics). Carl and Sid who were sporting the new blue T shirts had walked down from the Taj after depositing the T shirts there. We walked around the gardens a number of times and met up with the Poddars and the Jains who had entered from other gates.

Twila had seen the fountain rising up from the wooden boat in the lake but by the time we reached, it was switched off. We saw the newly constructed Udayan or memorial by the Birla’s and Natalie and I both mistook the flooring for wood when it was actually marble!
We also stopped at the Epitaph of Sidney Percy Lancaster 1886-1972 Secretary of the Agro-Horticultaral Society 1914-1953 and I copied down this Ode to a Gardener.

The world more beautiful he made
With loving zeal he plied his trade
His tools the trowel, hoe and spade.

This humble man did in his way
Bring beauty to the world to stay
Not one but nearly everyday.

There are some lovely benches dotting the park, not that we got to sit and rest as the Doc, accompanied by his wife set a fast and furious pace. We even started following an early morning walker for a while and he must have been quite disconcerted to find himself being followed by a band of at least ten. We passed the elephant’s foot tree and Twila pointed out some green plants that may be called Elephant ears.

I told everyone to go see the Mid Summer’s Night Dream production by the British Council at Tolly Club. Priyanka, who was there the previous night, has joined the hash group. I also met for the first time new hasher Niti who said I had loomed large in my absence. I still loom Large in the new hash T shirt that most of us changed into at the Taj before breakfast. 10 were also given to Taj.

23rd April 7am. The Lakes Southern Avenue near Calcutta Rowing Club

16th April 7 am The Princep Monument

The Wetlands Picnic
9th April We’ve cancelled the picnic to Gadhiara as the kids might have got heatstroke given how hot it gets even by 8am. The Gadiara picnic has to be postponed. The Wetlands will be cool as it is near the water. So meet at ITC Sonar Bangla at 7 am to go to the Wetlands with a picnic. Everyone is to bring their picnic. Hasher's have brought sandwiches, cookies, cake, kebab, fruits at past picnics. We’ll be there till 10 am I reckon. Bring water and sun screen.

2 April 7 am Botanics. Breakfast at Taj.
This was actually Peter and Rosie’s farewell hash. They introduced Ian and Suzie who are their replacement and their 2 kids. Newcomer Nidhi, Pradeep and Bonani, Siddiqui and Zoria were all there. Manosh of Bates was there wearing his Bangladesh Hash T shirt given by Rail Jerker. Everyone had to pay the exit fee at the Botanics!
Lilly and I were in Bombay along with Nil for the Lakme Fashion Week. It was Lilly's birthday on Sunday and we celebrated with a brunch at the backpacker's haunt Leopold Café in Colaba. Lilly's modeling Dev r Nil's outfit in The India Today magazine!

Lakes and Taj Bengal

26th March The Lakes Southern Avenue near Calcutta Rowing Club 7:30 am. Breakfast at Taj. The Poddars, Pradeep & Bonani, Siddiqui and Carl, Zoria and Madhuri and newcomer Nidhi were all there.

Niti has become a member of the Hash group
She joined Carl, Siddiqui, Zoria and Ed Miller at The Statesman House.
They went to the abandoned, haunted warehouses in Howrah and it was a
cool visit in every sense. They strongly recommend that we schedule
another walk there sometime so more hashers can visit the ghats on the
Howrah side. They walked around and went for breakfast at around 9:30
to the Food Plaza at Howrah station.
I was enjoying breakfast at Alcha restaurant and lifestyle store in
Shantiniketan.

Botanics and Taj
We met at the Banyan tree as hashers Bonani and the Poddars had already got in. Madhuri picked up Carl, Sid, Lilly, me and Sunita. Zoria was waiting for us and had parked inside against Rs.50 parking fee. Madhuri's car was parked opposite.
There was some confusion at the gate when the fee collector wasn't around to take the tickets. Next time as it will be summer, we will reach Botanics at 7 am and there shouldn't be any problem about buying the tickets.
We had a long walk and a long chat at the Taj over breakfast. Sunita who had spoken with Bonani was able to meet her for the first time and everyone congratulated Bonani on her victory over the Wetlands. All the construction there will be razed.
The next schedule has been put up. We will do Zoria and Carl's Howrah expedition although there was a little trepidation regarding snakes in the abandoned lots in Howrah.
We saw a gentleman in a blue collared T shirt with red piping on the collars and sleeves and we have decided that we shall make T shirts for the Bengali New Year.
Regular hashers and newcomers will receive the Tshirts. Absentee hashers (depending on attendance)can buy them. Some T shirts will be available to The Taj for Sale as our Orange T shirts have caused much interest at The Taj Breakfasts.

Gadiara on the Ganges

21 picnickers went to Gadiara on Sunday 5th March on a dolphin sighting expedition. The size of the group ensured that all expenses were covered. The weather was beautiful and balmy breezes accompanied us all day.

We took George, who was on time, but hasher from Chennai missed his wake up alarm. After my call at 7:45, Anurag managed to reach us in twenty minutes. In the meantime, Patrick gave us details of Gadiara, which is the confluence of the Hoogly, Haldi and Rupnarayan rivers where three different species of dolphins have been spotted – gangetic, irawady and hump back dolphin. Chips, apples, newspapers and crosswords had been brought along for the bus journey. We took a 1 km detour to have brunch at the Azad Hind dhaba recommended by Rajesh Nath. There we sat at 3 long tables and everyone went Dutch for a brunch of naans, paranthas, tarka, dahi, and egg bhurji. Rakhi's son Deep who was starving by ten when we pulled into the Bharat Petroleum station beside the large and airy Azad Hind dhaba even had his chicken butter masala! Emmanuelle de Corse who has joined the French Association had her first Kabuli Naan. Our table had the Telegraph Sunday papers and we laughed over Patrick Pringle's account of his first 60 days in Calcutta. After polishing off the paranthas and posing for a picture and making various pit stops, we got back in the bus to continue to the riverside.

We reached the sprawling Roop Narayan Tourist Lodge at 12. Carl had booked a room and we left our bags there and after refreshing ourselves took the ferry to the opposite shore to Nupur. We spotted dolphins from the belly of the ferry on the way in and back. Rakhi and her friends, Anirudh, Margarette and Sohini stayed on board with Stan and Anurag while 7 of us got off the gangplank and visited Nupur which has a Missionaries of Charity Brothers center. We thought we'd be able to visit the gardens but the watchman at the asylum prevaricated or "quibbled". We ended up having tea at a stall overlooking the waters killing time until the ferry returned. Emmanuelle showed us all the pictures she'd taken of the villagers and the fishing boats. Though we'd imagined that the others were toing and froing on the ferry catching glimpses of the dolphins, unable to walk the rickety gangplank, they had got off on the mainland. Some had taken a smaller nouko but rather than majhi songs were inflicted with horrible hindi songs.

We caught up with them back in room 103 overlooking the palm trees where a poker game was in progress with matchsticks as stakes. The real tournament was to be the Scrabble competition and we took the board down to the lawn in front of the lodge. Deep single-handedly lugged the plastic tables and chairs out and then sat to play with us with Sohini/Lilly/Rakhi helping him. Anirudh won the first match and Margarette turned the tables in the second. By then we'd ordered onion bhajis and tea. Rakhi who runs Kewpie was horrified at the sloppy tea service and sent the waiter back to get clean cups and a teapot. We were all set to leave at 5 when we learnt that 6 of the group had missed the 5:10 ferry and would be taking the 6:10 ferry back to us. This created much consternation as evening plans had to be cancelled and Sohini had much explaining to do to her parents. Luckily, I had brought Odomos against the mosquito attack in the dark. We continued to play a crazy game of Crazy 8 while Lilly and Rakhi went to buy fresh galda chingri (crawfish) at Rs.400 a kilo. This was rapidly put into the now empty beer cooler. When the others finally arrived around 6:30 we hurried them into the bus and we took off at 6:45. It took us 2 hours to get back into town.

We had such a wonderful time on this excursion that we decided to plan a return with the hashers who missed the opportunity. We could also take children, of the art school we visited, on this outing. The children had done a project on the river and this could be an opportunity for the hashers to take the kids on a picnic. A 50 seater bus could be organized along with a picnic lunch from hash cash. Tentative date could be 1 month from now on April 9 th.

Let's not miss spring at the Botanics on the Sunday before Holi. Meet at the Botanics at 7:30 am. We can decide then decide the hash schedule until Bengali New Year mid April.

Rendez vous with the River Dolphins
On to Gadhiara this Sunday for an out of town picnic.
This was decided last Sunday in order to make the most of the weather before the heat of summer!
Rajesh Nath was there last week and he took a boatride on the river and saw more than 40 dolphins in the space of a few hours. He even had a Majhi-fisherman who sang songs! The boat ride was Rs.60 but they were so delighted with the experience they gave him 100.

Meet in front of the Parcomatat 7:30 am for a picnic to Gadhiara
We'll take a bus and stop en route for breakfast at the Dhaba on the Bombay highway to have paranthas.It will be a two hour bus ride.

Take a picnic lunch along and drinking water.

We can set off again in the afternoon after spending the day there.

Bring your friends, badminton rackets, cards, Frisbees, scrabble other board games!

Hash cash Rs.100
Guests Rs.200

Please book your seat at the earliest. Will accept entries at the British Club on Thursday.

Botanics postponed to 12th March
RSVP
Neela 9830014934

10 hashers at The Wetlands walk and Breakfast at The Tea Table
Sunita joined and was delighted with the whole sunday morning walk and adda! Look out for her write up soon.

Here’s wishing all the hashers a Happy Valentine’s Day. Be sure to go the extra length to make it special and connect with your loved one in the city.


We are changing the venue for this Sunday’s hash in order to connect with the city in the Marathon.

On Sunday 19th February 2006, Exide presents the The Telegraph Kolkata Marathon. There will be 3 races: -

Race Distance Starting Time

Marathon 42.195 Km 7:00 am

Ladies Run 10.500 Km 7:15 am

Fun Run 4.200 Km 8:00 am



We hashers will once again be participating in the Fun Race.

Reach Red Road at 7:30 to fill in your registration form and collect your Marathon T shirt and cap.

Once the Fun Run is over, you can collect your breakfast box and drinks. By 9 after the Fun Run is over, Kolkata’s very own Sandeep Vyas will be performing on Red Road as he did last year.

To check who all ran last year in the Airtel Marathon check under Archives for March 2005 on www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com

The total prize money on offer this year is Rs 7.60 Lac. The event is being organised by the Athletics Coaches Association of Bengal. (ACAB).
The Co Sponsors for the event are

Eveready Industries Co Sponsor

Ramsarup Group. Co Sponsor

ITC Sunfeast Co Sponsor

Selvel Vantage Outdoor Partner

Pepsi Beverage Partner

Red FM Radio Partner

High Life Management Event Managers


So come Run For Your City and join us in making this years marathon a grand success.


More on www.kolkatamarathon.com

Tiretti Bazaar - Chinese breakfast

On Feb 12th, Lilly, Carl, Siddiqui, Peter, Rosie, Madhuri and I met in front of Statesman House to do the China Town visit.

We walked past Bow Barracks and the oldest undertaker's. We also saw the oldest chinese restaurant of Calcutta - Nanking.

We ate lots of street food at the stalls - pork pao/buns, chicken "wons" ;-D
The prawn sui mai was excellent. The vegetable dumplings too. The Chinese sauces were hot and spicy. I even bought a packet of prawn crackers.
Lilly took a lot of pictures of all the interesting things en route.

We then went to the Sea Ip Church for prayers and astrological predictions for the Chinese new year of the Dog that started on 29 th Jan.

The sticks predicted lots of good things for Peter, Rosie and Lilly. Madhuri was delighted with the candles, paper and incense sticks we burned. I was delighted with the Chinese breakfast so we were all very happy with the new year.

We headed back to Chennai Kitchen for juice and coffee after a walk through Bow Barracks.

Botanics - Lexicon

I didn't make it out to the Botanics as it was my father's birthday and we cut the cake at breakfast so the rest of the day is sweet ;-D
As I can't do the write up I leave you with a few new expressions.
Like the branches of the banyan tree of knowledge, here is some interesting vocabulary to take root in the hashers' psyche!

Larfs for the Intelligentsia

(The Washington Post runs a yearly competition in which readers are asked to submit alternative meanings for various words …)




Flabbergasted (adj.) appalled & amazed over how much weight one has gained


Abdicate (v.) to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach


Esplanade (v.) to attempt an explanation while drunk


Willy-nilly (adj.) impotent


Negligent (adj.) to absent-mindedly answer the door in one’s night-gown


Lymph (v.) to walk with a lisp


Gargoyle (n.) an olive-flavoured mouthwash


Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks one up after being run over by a steam-roller


Balderdash (n.) a rapidly receding hairline


Testicle (n.) a humorous question in an exam


Rectitude (n.) formal dignified demeanour assumed by a doctor immediately before examining patient


Oyster (n.) person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddish expressions


Circumvent (n.) the opening in the front of boxer shorts


Frisbeetarianism (n.) the belief that when you die, your soul goes on the roof and gets stuck there

Coffee (n.) a person who is coughed upon
Pokemon (n.) A Jamaican proctologist

Kung Hoy Fat Choy Happy Chinese New Year of the Dog

We were around ten to assemble at the Hall of the Taj on Sunday 29th January 2006 on Chinese New Year. Lilly arrived early and has become a member of the hash Group as has Usha whose cab drove up just as we were walking out. The “late” Andy also made it as usual to all our cemetery visits. Cees is back from Mauritius for a couple of hashes and we looked at the Canals while crossing the Alipore Bridge which dates back to 1932. The Municipality water gushes out on the bridge and it becomes a sort of bathing ghat as we noticed on our way back from the cemetery. We walked around the Commonwealth Graves that are being well maintained as they are returfing the parallel alleyways. We stayed off the new grass but admired the gravestones with the insignia of the regiments of the young corporals, lieutenants, stokers and firemen who gave up their lives in 1944-45. We noticed a few graves of soldiers from the Ivory Coast and Nigeria amidst those of the pilots of the Royal Air Force. There is even a Hindu grave amongst them.
Outside the hedged area of the Commonwealth graves, Siddiqui wanted to take a picture of her neighbour’s grave to send to the relatives. A plot costs around Rs. 6500 according to her. We saw relatives tending a grave and Shanti felt touched. We learnt that women weren’t allowed into Muslim cemeteries so we won’t be able to visit the cemeteries around Park Circus. We also stopped by the more recent yet unnamed graves of Bob Wright of the Tollygunge Club and little Maxx’s with the flowers growing on it.
We walked also around the National Library after signing ourselves in. Andy, Nil and Madhuri’s guests were walking slowly, so we walked ahead and didn’t see them. It was past 8:30 when we assembled again at the Taj. Rajesh Poddar, who is keener on brisk walks than cemetery walks headed to the Horticultural Gardens and was foiled as they couldn’t give him change for Rs.100. He walked around the National Library instead which though a public space has a board saying “trespassers will be dealt with”. He reached the Taj before us and I explained the advantages of sitting on our convex side of the circular table which give you more elbow space.
This was Howard and Shanti’s last hash on this trip as they have to return to the US and continue the work on their house there. They were able to give Lilly a few leads on a story that she can do on Rain Water Harvesting. We stayed chatting till ten when the breakfast buffet closes with a Chinese friend celebrating the start of the New Year. Lilly got a few more leads including Nil’s good news that their d designs have been selected to showcase at the Lakme Fashion week in March in Bombay.

Southern Avenue Lakes Breakfast at Banana Leaf
Sunday, 22nd January 2006, we met in front of the Rowing Club. The newcomers were Rosie’s 2 sisters. Leaving Zoria to race off round the lake, the other ladies followed Madhuri and Sid into the Lions Safari Park
The slow starters decided to look out for “rabit”s and yoga shed and “merry go roundy”. We didn’t see the Laughter Club.
Doc had to rush off to a picnic and various wedding invitations according to Peter as did Zoria. 9 of us put two tables together at Banana Leaf and ordered very interesting South Indian dishes that are specialities of Banana Leaf. Rosie got ribbed when she ordered a ginormous paper dosa that reached till the other end of the table. Her two sisters took pictures. They ordered a tomato Uthapam but it was agreed that Carl’s and Madhuri’s Rawa Cheese dosa was the best! Rawa is apparently semolina. The Upma Peter mistook for potato until I explained it was a kind of couscous. The mini idlis were a grand success too as Peter’s Cashew nut Utthapam took a while to reach the table. I ordered a “podi dosa” which is basically a gun powder dosa - dynamite!!! We started and ended with south Indian filter coffee.

The venues were decided in order to have one cultural, one open air alternately.

Greetings all!
On Sunday 22nd January at 7:30 am we do one of our favourite spots - the Lakes of Southeren Avenue. Hope Doc Bannerjee will lead the pack at his brisk pace and Kunal and Alka could bring up the rear as it's practically on their doorstep!

Meet in front of the gate of the Calcutta Rowing Club opposite Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.

We will have breakfast on Rash Behari Avenue opposite teh Lake Market at Banana Leaf or Komala Vilas if you want to try another South Indian joint. Bring your hash cash of Rs.100.

For the Dover Lane Music Festival - all night Classical Music concert, tickets for 22-25th January at Nazrul Manch are available at Melody on Rash Behari Avenue beside the Kalighat Metro Station.

Bengali Films on Kolkata are being screened at Gorky Sadan, on AJC Bose and Camac Street crossing, from 16th to 20th Jan, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.

Anybody need a calendar? Check out the attachment for The Hooters 2006 Calendar. Bonani will be sure to love it!

The Statesman Vintage Car Rally

This an annual event of Calcutta in January.
Siddiqui and Carl are regular marshals.
Nitish, Jolly, Doc, Peter, Rosie and Lilly were all there.
Sandeep Vyas was performing and Saw and DD were backstage with the dancers.
Yvonnick and Andy have been given their Taj T shirts over the week.
Nil and Dev have qualified for the Fashion Week in March! They can hopefully give inputs for our next batch of T shirts!

The Botanics has now become a paying proposition. We were more than a dozen on Sunday and foreigners had to shell out Rs.50 each while locals paid Rs10. There was even a parking charge. I think we can get around it if we reach there before the guardians at the gate do, but am not very clear on that.

After so many monthly meets at the Botanics, Peter, Rosie and Bhaskar still managed to get lost and had to walk the perimeter of the Botanics from the outside to reach the right gate. So they just managed to join us on our return to the Banyan tree and didn’t get much out of their Rs.50!

Hhoward and Shanti are back after a lot of back breaking labour on the cellar of their house which got flooded because of a burst boiler. We got horror stories of mildewed walls that can be cleaned with bleach I’m told. Bhaskar was back from Bangkok where he’s obviously slimmed down on Thai food. Howard and Shanti successfully got his goat by telling him instead he’d put on weight!

Rajesh Poddar, his wife and daughter did double the walk we did as they are regular early morning walkers. Howard and Shanti back from snowbound lands were recounting the pleasures of being snowed in and sitting by the fireplace reading. Shanti is delighted to be back to a cultural capital where there are all sorts of possibilities of outings. They, Peter and Rosie went to the Flower Show at The Horticultural Gardens after. And they and Lilly went to 15 Park Avenue the new Aparna Sen movie that very evening while I spent the day at the TARA Telefilm Festival at Nandan.

We saw truckloads of villagers in town for the Rally and there were mile long queues at the zoo.

Siddiqui gave invites for next week’s Vintage Car Rally.

Dear Calcutta Hash Group:

Greetings from Madagascar where we celebrate summer as you are celebrating winter. Hope all of our friends are well and thriving. The Hash here meets only every other week, but it is a real change to go up and down hills and mountains! Still, the company isn't as good...

Best wishes for a wonderful 2006!

-- George and Lee (aka "The Sibleys" in Carl's record-keeping)

George N. Sibley
Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy Antananarivo,
Madagascar Tel: (261)(20)-22-212-57 Fax: (261)(20)-22-345-39
This message is UNCLASSIFIED according to E.O. 12958

Botanics on 8th Jan at 7:30 am

Happy New Year fellow hashers!

Hope the New Year brings everyone health, wealth and good cheer.

It was delightful to see you at the New Year Bash in the garden on 1st January and at the races!

My desk calendar for January 2006 Week 1 says “Dream new dreams today. Set new goals today. Spend your time on things that truly count today. Love your family today. Be a friend today. Do things better. Today.”

The Vintage Car Rally has been postponed to 15th January, 2006.
So on 8th January we will meet in the Botanics at 7:30am. We will walk around till 8:15 and then head to the Taj.

Neela 9830014934
www.calcuttahashgroup.blogspot.com

Here's wishing all a Happy New Year 2006!

Tentative schedule for January 2006

1st January, 2006: Race Track 12:30 am
After a late New Year’s Eve bringing in the year 2006 with a bang, we might not be very many for an early morning at the Botanics. Not to worry, we’ll reschedule the Botanics later in the month.
On 1st January, it’s Race Day at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club. Since one of our hashers June has a son in law who is a trainer we have an inside at the race track. We’ll spend a day in the sunshine racing back and forth between the paddocks and the betting counters. Exercise and entertainment guaranteed. And every chance of starting the New Year with a bit of good luck! Meet at 12:30 at the races. Lunch and drinks available there. No collection. You pay cash and enter.

7:30 a.m. 8th January, 2006 Statesman Vintage Car Rally
Siddiqui is Marshall and will give us Car passes and all. The hashers will have their personal guide around the cars. Prithvi Tagore is not entering his car this year and will tell us all about vintage cars. Bring your cameras. Breakfast can be bought at venue
Meet Princep Monument 7:30 so we don’t get lost and I can hand everyone passes. Vintage Cars get flagged off at 8 am usually

7:30 a.m. 15th January, 2006 Botanic Gardens
Taj breakfast

7:30 am 22 January, 2006 Southern Avenue Lakes South Indian
Breakfast at Banana Leaf
This is the weekend of the Dover Lane Music Festival at Nazrul Manch near the Lakes for those interested in Indian Classical Music. The best performers come on at 4:30, 5 am in the morning as the all night music festival reaches a climax. So the Southern Avenue Lakes is where one should be.
23rd January is Netaji’s B’day and a holiday. Those wanting to come to Shantiniketan for a Bangladesh Festival of art, music and opar Bangla cuisine 21-24th Jan @ Geetanjali, let me know and we’ll make a trip.

7:30 am 29th January
Let’s do one of Zoria’s adventure spots- Howrah???
Breakfast at Taj

Happy New Year everyone!
Neela
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