On a Kolkata rooftop

 Our Parsee meal with Gulnar and Cyrus last night was superb. Really tasty meal, lovely conversation. They are part of the fascinating Zoroastrian community which is relatively small in India and the majority in Mumbai. 

We rose relatively early with the intention of spending a few cooler hours in the Botanic Garden near Howrah. Our plan was stymied by not being able to get an Uber ride, perhaps because of the presidential visit drivers were reluctant to try and get right through town. So we both enjoyed a bit more sleep! 

I had a late morning walk to the shops for lunch snacks before a planned WhatsApp call with the tablet perched on the edge of the balcony wall. 

Mid afternoon Gulnar collected us to be driven a few miles north to the Tollygunge apartment of Shirin, Cyrus' sister. 

What a stunning place! They have the terrace garden apartment in an extremely desirable building. We had drinks and chats in the garden with views across Kolkata and much wildlife visiting. 

The red building belongs to a Nepalese maharani, to the left is the German Embassy 

Most flowers had passed as summer arrives, but plenty remained

Handmaid moth joined us for snacks 

One of our visitors 

There was what appeared to be a mayfly hatch and a few geckoes took advantage of them being attracted to the light. 

Shirin lives here with her son, daughter-in-law and their three children. She's been working for a large charity for many years. It began placing children for adoption, and still does, but also has residential and day support for children of all ages who might fall into the category of needing care. But definitely not a school, because that would change the regulatory environment, or, more accurately, add to conditions of operation in ways that would contradict each other. 

Another fascinating person. Hours later Cyrus collected and drove us back to our digs. 

We're being picked up in the morning for our Sundarban trip - probably ought to think about packing.