I have finally finished two hectic weeks of travel through India for work and having worked every weekday and two weekends, a day off was in order.

Given my interest in China, I had a wonder through China Town. It was quite different to the last one I visited (in Liverpool) and seemed to reflect clearly both the length of time since the first Chinese settlers in the 17th century and integration with the local context.

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I didn’t, for example, notice the traditional gateway.

I did notice hints of Chinese culture about it (restaurants, some Chinese characters on signs and carved into buildings), but without these it might have been almost indistinguishable from neighbouring parts of Kolkata (it did, really have the feel of an immigrant community).

What was noticeable was the support for the local communist party, the signs and posters being a legacy, I presume, of the recent elections. West Bengal, though, I as communist state, so this is not necessarily different to other relatively poor neighbourhoods.

Saturday tomorrow and museums.