21/12/2009. We left our quarter at 12 midnight to board Gour express which was supposed to come at 00:40 am. Naba and Santu accompanied me up to station. I looked for a coolie, but I couldn't find anyone. Train arrived on time. Nearing Sealdah Siddharta, my college friend, suddenly discovered me. I actually couldn't recognise him. His curly thick hair is gone. He is bald and ?beautiful. Station came and we didnot have enough time to share our feelings .
At sealdah station we boarded a car arranged by Zuventus, and started for Mandermoni. Our driver, a hot tempered fellow, Ismail by name took us to Hotel SONAR BANGLA. The hotel is good looking from outside with lot of areas. Its claim that all rooms are see facing should be taken with a pinch of salt. One has to lean over balcony to have a glimpse of sea from room. Room service are horrible. For the first time I found a intercom telephone was not working. Food quality is pretty average.There is not much menu to choose from. It has a beautiful garden with many swings. Evevnings are pretty beautiful. We took a stroll at the beach. We found few starfish for the first time in our life.
Sea beach is long and flat. As there is scarcity of visitors not many people were found in the beach. We went to take bath and become disappointed. Water is pretty cold and the waves are small and don’t cause the sensation that we are used to get in Puri. Out of lot of excitement we played there for sometime. Beach is very hard. One can drive a car on the beach. In fact one has to reach the hotels by driving on the beach.
