We were happy to return to the comfort of the Hotel Cecil in Kolkata. Despite our colds we managed to get some sightseeing in before the time came for us to catch the train to Delhi. We spent a few hours at the family home of the famous Indian poet Rabrindranath Tagore. It Was worth the trip just to spend some time in the rambling building. The house looks inward into central courtyards in the classic Indian style and is very serene. It was surrounded by other similar old houses, most of which had sadly fallen into disrepair.

Tagore was from a very distinguished Kolkata family. The impressive talents of Rabrindranath and other family members were showcased in the museum. I found the section on his world travel fascinating. He was interested in linking the culture of other Asian countries, notably Japan, with India. He was an important figure in the struggle for Indian independence and the development of India’s pride in its rich heritage. However, he worked against nations pitting themselves against each other. Maybe it was a good thing that he died before he saw that chaos that the Second World War wreaked in Japan.

I must admit that although the museum was fascinating it was too much to take in on one visit. I was also a little suspicious about the way that Tagore was and is worshipped. Maybe I have become too cynical about lauded male gurus falling from grace in recent times. There don’t seem to be any skeletons in Tagore’s cupboard so far though.

We also paid a visit to South Park Street Cemetery. This had similarities to Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and Highgate Cemetery in London, both of which I have visited. The graves were not quite as magnificent and I was struck by the extreme youth of the majority of those interred. For many a job in the East India company meant certain death, but many were tempted by the riches promised if they survived.

It was good to see that efforts are being made to maintain the cemetery. It seemed that there was a thriving nursery business operating from within it. Unfortunately there was no cafe nearby so we trudged in the direction of Fabindia which also houses a Jamie Oliver Cafe franchise. Fabindia sells Indian scarves, fabrics and clothes which are on the expensive side but good quality. I restrained myself on this occasion, but I and Tim tucked into a couple of Jamie burgers. Fortified we set off in the direction of the metro station, stopping for pudding in the form of cheesecake on the way. Feed a cold as my Mother used to tell me.

Our thoughts were beginning to turn to home. While in Kolkata I searched flight websites and found a return to Bangkok for both of us for under £1000. It was with Air China and the outbound flight on 10th January involveds an eight hour layover in Beijing, but hey we can handle that, I reasoned optimistically. I had a nagging worry that if I didn’t have a ticket booked out of the UK on my return there, events might conspire to prevent me ever leaving again. The deed done, we left early the next morning to catch a train from Howrah station that would take twenty four hours to reach Delhi.