Now I don’t know why they call this New Market as its not new! It was built in 1874, and of course could do with a little renovation. Its has 3 levels, the upper level which is the old market and then 2 lower levels that are airconditioned. This trip we didn’t explore the lower levels…
We walked in the cool afternoon breezes… ok I lied, it’s hot, damn hot, real hot… its 47 C / 117 F !!! Freezing cold it is!! But you kinda get used to it. OK I lied again, you don’t get used to it!
On the way we walk down Russell Street, but before we get to Russell st, we must walk past one of the numerous urinals in the gutters. The stench is so bad that you wanna gag…its gross. Its not meant to be a urinal, its just a gutter beside a building that for some reason to only a local just happens to be the place to pee, and we aren’t talking men, the street women also squat and pee here too!
But I digress , here Russell st is full of old buildings, like the old Royal Calcutta Turf Club which is now just a derelict old building, it once was fancy and looks like in 1950 they just locked the door and walked away. It still has the windows for placing a bet, and also the remains of the odds boards.
Further down the street a nice old hotel building that was once grand, but now its pretty sad…
If you enlarge this pic you can see a ‘little person’ who is the bouncer at the bar on the left… he is standing on the steps…
Further down the street we see some strange things, firstly a guy picking thru another persons hair, like he is removing lice…
Another pair of street bums are doing something equally as weird, he is scraping the other persons back with a piece of metal…ouch
After crossing Park st (park street is the street for bars and nightlife..oh and the only Mcdonalds in town!) you get to see a god and get blessed by a guru who sits all day blessing people, collecting donations and handing our marital and sexual advice… ok maybe not the last couple of things..
But I know why he is there, this is the view you see as you cross the street with a green walk sign….
Here is the little god you pray to after surviving the road crossing…
This billboard and graphic really makes me rush out and buy whatever they are selling:
There are lots of street side vendors, selling everything from Underwear to silk suits, a name brand business shirt costs just Rs150, or $3 !
And finally we arrive in the market. For security reasons I wasn’t able to take more than one pic inside… and that one I nearly got arrested for.
