Boyzz on Hoogly River in India

So in October 2025 we were off to India (again). On the first day the padres messed it up big time. The got the date of the flight wrong, and we bowled up at Valencia Airport a day early. So we made the best of it by booking a hotel in the city

Once we got to Kolkata (that is what Mr Modi calls Calcutta these days) we settled in to the Taj Bengal. This is the sort of young gentleman's hotel that we like to stay at. Polite staff will get you anything, and it goes straight onto the padre's bill !

Then we boarded the Pandaw Katha and had a few days seeing the sights of Kolkata


Cabin 201 right at the front of the boat & we could keep an eye on the captain	Nice cabin, but not spacious enough to squeeze in all four of us	We had the occasional visitors to help us sleep at night	One night we were attacked by thousands of flying insects


We do not go big on old stones, and these were old stones	A throw back to British colonialism - the Victoria Memorial	We were not the only visitors, but we were the only British ones	We had VIP seats at the Hindu festival parade

There were lots of colourful floats	But the local TV was more interested in us	..as was the West Bengal Tourism Department	They insisted that we gave them interviews

The mud wrestlers were very, very fierce	We decided not to fight this chap, mainly because he would win	Even the little boy could have thrown us into the river. So we ..	..left it to the padre to try his luck. He did not last long

The local flower market was very impressive	The Ganges was really dirty, but they are washing away their sins	We were not sure who the Admiral was. But he must be famous	The madre found these buns in the local market


The local police had heard we were coming and were ready	At least this was a complete building and not a pile of old stones	Tuk Tuks are fun and we had several rides in them	There is more than one sort of curry. You just mix them to taste

We had a small boat trip up and down the river	Helping the chef with making curry - he was very grateful	Made us very thirsty and we needed several cocktails	The madre learning the finer points of curry making


Met these little girls in their school	Saw "old brass" rather than the usual "old stone"	We don't think we would like this job	Counting the end products

It was warm in here	You would not believe it, but that is cow dung being dried	They are swimming in the dirty water to wash away sins. We think that the water must be dirty from all the other people's sins	And they catch fish in this water. Wonder if it's on the menu

A dance group came aboard ..	..and we gave them a few musical hints on improvement	We got to old stones eventually	..a bit like a military parade ground here

View from the back of a tuk tuk	must be the 103rd temple they have taken us to	..and another museum, which did not have a bun shop	The madre was puffed out from the climb up to the roof

More old stones, but at least they have the roofs on here	They took us to another school. Could be a hint	..but it did have a very nice teacher	A passenger had a birthday and hence a cake which he shared

Clever one here-4 dancers looking like a many hands Hindu god	More sins being washed away. The water is still dirty	A magician came aboard, but he could not confound the padre	These young entrepreneurs were using magnets to find coins

Below is where Hari Krishna has their world headquarters, and all the money flows in here


That is their big temple under construction	And this is the fellow who started it all. We saw his picture ..	..everywhere. But not a numerous as the collection boxes	24 hours a day, every day, someone recites the Hari Krishna

The had some serious looking cows here ..	..and we got on a cow drawn cart for a ride	We would not want to bump into these fellows on a dark night	When we drove the cart, we had a good view of a cow's behind


This was a church rather than a temple	And they took us to yet another school	We have no idea what the blackboard says	Your normal herd of cows on the pavement

We climbed all the way up there. A long way if you have ..	..short legs. but you get a good view over the river	..even though it is a bit undignified to have a photo	..And another tuk Tuk


We blew a raspberry at the local police, and scampered	Then we got to stop at quite a nice cafe. But there were ..	..no buns, only a view out over the river	..but we did have a cup (paper) of coffee

On the last night there was dressing up	We avoided the dressing up , and got quite a few cocktails .	.in while the madre was not looking	The pair of them fancied themselves as Maharajas


Getting settled in to our room in the Taj Bengal	These nice ladies looked after us in the Club Lounge	We had the Club Lounge to ourselves	And enjoyed tapas and a glass or two of wine


	Madre eating ice cream. We did not get an invite to this party .	..but we did get a few other meals in Valencia	And we bought her breakfast just outside the market


The crew line up to say goodbye to us	..and the madre supervises our baggage off the boat

Boyzz on the Hoogly River in India