Posted by m.stenta on March 12, 2013 at 5:47pm
Hello Kolkata Drupalers!
I will be visiting Kolkata during this coming June/July, and I am wondering if there are any recommendations for things I should do while I'm there. Specifically, are there any Drupal meetups or other gatherings that I could attend or be a part of? I am an English speaker, and I am making an honest attempt to learn some Bengali, but I doubt that I will be fluent enough to discuss Drupal topics. Nevertheless, I would love to see what's going on!
Just wanted to put this out there and see if anyone has suggestions or ideas. Thanks!
Comments
Summers in Kolkata! Really!?
Hi Michael.
What brings you to Kolkata in June/July? Those are not exactly the visitor friendly months here (read: you would sweat to death in the most humid urban summer you ever witnessed).
Drupalers across Kolkata have met each other at organized meetups only a couple of times. There is a good 30+ bunch, but it takes a little effort for us all to get past our client deadlines and family chores to come huddle up with geeks. But I would not mind pulling everybody in. High time! :-)
There are just endless number of things you could do in Kolkata! Share your interests I would be able to help you better.
I have lived in every major city in India and can vouch that Kolkata is a very different and intense experience. (most crowded street markets, village + urban dwellings, art and craft, more music groups than rest of India put together, politicos that can put your communism knowledge to shame, a 'weed culture' so tolerant you can score some in most temples, old world charm, what not! -- just to give you random examples)
But the best months again are from October to January. So.. ?
Hi Sumeet! Yea, everyone
Hi Sumeet! Yea, everyone tells me that I'm going at the worst time. Alas, it's not up to me. The main reason I am going is because my girlfriend is spending three months as part of her post-graduate research in social work. I will be going out for a shorter period of time, to visit her and experience Kolkata!
Outside of Drupal, I am a collector of photographs... mostly in the form of 35mm film, for artwork projects. I would love to collect imagery of the city and surrounding areas... anything and everything. I am also very interested in the city's history and heritage, as well as it's religious/spiritual centers.
All the things you mentioned sound great. I'm excited to come and see for myself!
Trust me, you have no clue
Trust me, you have no clue how worse are we talking about until you get drenched like that! ha.. poor chap knows nothing shrug and smile
But yes, Kolkata is a photographers paradise. Random pointers to help you below -
Connect with folks here, they meetup and do a city (and surroundings) walk every Sunday. Very HIGHLY recommended - http://www.facebook.com/groups/kolkataphotographersclub/?fref=ts and http://www.facebook.com/groups/kolkataphotowalks/
There are many on pixoto too (interestingly, a very large set of Kolkata photographers do not really have an internet presence or the numbers would have been even higher (remember old world charm city!)) - https://www.google.co.in/webhp?q=site%3Apixoto.com%20%22Kolkata%2C%20Wes...
Best photographer acquaintance I can connect you to - https://twitter.com/sahaanirban
Belur math (pronounced 'm'ouse 'te'rminator) is a goto spiritual destination. So is Kumartuli (scluptor's colony where they made idols year round)
If you are around during 10th July 'rath yatra' would be an interesting experience you could not have elsewhere in the world. A city called 'puri' (8 hrs from Kolkata by train) is like the HQ of this.
I would recommend friending some Bengali folks on CS and staying with them for a couple of days. It is the simple ways of Bengali lifestyle that intrigues me most about this place (I am a non-bengali, who belongs everywhere and nowhere)
^ Those should be good for starters.
Incredible! I couldn't have
Incredible! I couldn't have asked for better recommendations! Thanks again!