I was on my way to work when I found myself unexpectedly held up at the Park Circus 7 Point Crossing.
Not the usual Kolkata traffic jam this time.
An Indian Army convoy was making its way through, so traffic had to wait while a whole line of Army trucks passed through the crossing.
There was quite a convoy to watch, with one truck after another making its way past. Naturally, being stuck in traffic suddenly didn't seem quite so irritating when there was something interesting happening right in front of me.
So, out came the camera.
And as I've discovered time and again while photographing the streets of Kolkata, somehow I always seem to manage to get a Yellow Cab into the frame.
This time was no different.
Right there, alongside the passing Army convoy, was one of those unmistakable Kolkata yellow taxis.
It almost felt like the perfect Kolkata photograph—a convoy of Army trucks passing through one of the city's busiest intersections, with the iconic yellow taxi sharing the frame.
I've photographed Kolkata's yellow cabs countless times, sometimes deliberately and sometimes completely by accident. But they have this uncanny ability to appear in the most unexpected places.
The Big Yellow Taxi is probably as synonymous with the City of Joy as the Howrah Bridge, the trams, the Maidan or Park Street.
And perhaps that's why I keep clicking them.
One day, when these yellow taxis have become an increasingly rare sight on Kolkata's streets, these photographs may end up being little pieces of the city we once took for granted.
For now, though, I'll continue looking for that splash of yellow.
Because somehow, a Kolkata street photograph just feels a little more like Kolkata when there's a yellow cab in it.
I was just coming back home after a visit to the barber at the Shopping Complex near our place. Nothing particularly exciting about that, but as I was walking down the stairs, I happened to look across towards the taxi stand opposite the Calcutta Greens Shopping Complex.
And there they were.
Yellow Taxis. Lots of them.
I couldn't help but stop and take a photograph.
I actually counted eight of them lined up at the stand.
Now, the sight of a yellow taxi in Kolkata is hardly unusual. For decades, these iconic yellow-and-black—or rather, these days mostly yellow—Ambassadors have been as much a part of the cityscape as trams, hand-pulled rickshaws and the Howrah Bridge.
Except that they aren't quite as ubiquitous anymore.
The iconic Calcutta Cab is slowly becoming a piece of history, with newer vehicles steadily replacing the old Ambassador taxis. There was a time when you couldn't look down a Kolkata street without spotting several of them. Today, seeing eight parked together in one place somehow feels like discovering a little time capsule.
And perhaps that's why I found myself reaching for the camera.
There was nothing particularly dramatic about the scene. Just eight yellow taxis waiting for their next passengers. But sometimes it's the ordinary things that become the photographs worth keeping, especially when you realise that the ordinary may not remain ordinary forever.
For a city that has changed so much over the years, these yellow taxis remain one of those instantly recognisable pieces of Kolkata's visual identity.
So, eight yellow cabs it was.
A completely random photograph taken while returning from the barber—and perhaps, in years to come, one that will remind me of a time when the sight of a whole fleet of yellow taxis was still possible right outside our neighbourhood.
It had been quite a while since we'd been to The Bistro, so when my sister-in-law was in town, it seemed like a good excuse to make a visit.
We headed there for a meal and, as usual, the difficult part was deciding what to order.
We finally settled on the Roast Lamb with Herbed Rice, along with a couple of pastas for the table. The lamb was the star of the meal for me, while the pastas made sure there was enough variety for everyone to dig into.
Of course, no meal at The Bistro is complete without getting to the dessert menu.
We ordered a Caramel Custard, which is always a safe and comforting way to end a meal, but the real reason for being there was the famous Coco Loco.
Some desserts become so closely associated with a restaurant that ordering them almost becomes part of the ritual. Coco Loco is definitely one of those at The Bistro.
It had been a while, but the visit was a good reminder of why we used to keep coming back here. Good food, familiar favourites and, most importantly, a relaxed meal with family.
Sometimes that's all you really need from a restaurant.
It had been quite a while since we'd been to Eau Chew, which was probably long overdue considering it happens to be one of my father-in-law's favourite eateries.
And there is one particular reason for that.
The Chimney Soup.
He absolutely loves it.
So, when dinner plans came up, Eau Chew seemed like an obvious choice. We headed there, and naturally, the Chimney Soup was ordered. Some things are simply non-negotiable!
But while we were there, we decided not to stop at the soup and ordered a few of their other dishes as well.
What I particularly like about Eau Chew is that the Chinese food is very traditional. This isn't about elaborate modern interpretations or dishes dressed up to look fancy. It's the kind of old-school Chinese food that feels very much at home in Kolkata.
For the table, we got a Mixed Fried Rice, Gravy Cantonese Noodles, Chilli Pork and Chilli Chicken.
The fried rice and noodles made a good base for the meal, while the chilli pork and chilli chicken added the necessary bit of heat and flavour to the proceedings.
And, of course, there was the Chimney Soup.
Watching the enormous bowl arrive at the table, complete with its distinctive chimney in the middle, is almost part of the Eau Chew experience. For my father-in-law, it was clearly the main event!
It was good to be back.
Eau Chew is one of those places that reminds you why Kolkata's traditional Chinese restaurants have such a special place in the city's food history. No unnecessary fuss, just familiar flavours, generous portions and food that has been doing what it does for years.
And apparently, as far as my father-in-law is concerned, no visit to Eau Chew is complete without that Chimney Soup!
My in-laws asked us to join them for dinner at a new place called Casa Toscana, very close to Menoka Cinema. It had been opened by someone known to them, which was another reason for us to go along.
Of course, we are always game to try out a new place, so there wasn't much convincing required!
Walking into Casa Toscana, the first thing that caught our attention was the interiors. It had a very classic, almost old-world feel to it, with traditional woodwork, ornate details and chandelier lights that gave the whole place a rather opulent, mansion-like atmosphere.
What I particularly liked was the spiral staircase leading up to the restaurant. It was one of those architectural details that immediately catches your eye and makes the entrance feel rather grand. The whole place had the feel of walking into someone's rather elaborate old mansion rather than simply going out for dinner.
Then came the food.
Casa Toscana serves Italian cuisine and, while the food was quite okay, it didn't quite leave the same impression on us as the interiors did. Perhaps the setting had raised our expectations a little!
The saving grace, however, were the desserts from Casa Paneterria. These were definitely the highlight of the meal and a rather pleasant way to finish dinner.
So, while the Italian cuisine was just okay for us, the surroundings certainly made the visit interesting. Sometimes a new restaurant is as much about the experience of discovering the place as it is about what's on the plate.
And Casa Toscana certainly has the looks to make you stop and take notice.
