Calcutta , General info:
6/10

New name is KOLKATA - that is closer how it used to be pronounced in the native language - Bengali.

Airport code is still the old code CCU for Calcutta. The airport is on northeast corner of metro - also also called Dum Dum from the local township name.

If going by train, try station names of HOWRAH or SEALDAH - the latter is a friendlier terminus, but less trains go there. Howrah is the traditional rail terminus - on other side of river Ganges.

Calcutta , Cheap stuff:
9/10

Great food - whether Mughlai or sweets, and most reasonable price among metro Indian cities.

'Get Well' Clinic is the best as well as very cheap PHYSIOTHERPY & ACUPRESSURE Centre. You can get really sincer and dedicated treatment here.

Calcutta , Different stuff:
8/10

Tough driving and narrow / slow roads.

Calcutta , Don't miss:
10/10

Victoria Memorial.

Darjeeling - a hill town about 600 km north.

Digha - a seaside resort - about 4 hours drive

Calcutta , Food:
10/10

Great food everywhere in this city

Calcutta , Hotels:
8/10

Quite a few 4 and 5 star hotels

Calcutta , Safety:
7/10

Safer than other towns - but beware of pickpocketing.

Kiev , General info:
7/10

A pleasant surprise for most visitors. You think eastern Europe is all grey post communism heavy industry with factories speing out thick black smoke? Think again. Kiev is one of the greenest capitals I've ever seen (and I've seen 62) with huuuuge parks right in the city centre.

Kiev , Cheap stuff:
8/10

Alcohol and locally produced stuff.

All imported goods are just as expensive as in western Europe.

Kiev , Don't miss:
7/10

The cathedrals

Andrews Descent

The mummified munks in the lavra

Hydropark in the summer

Chernobyl museum

Kiev , Food:
4/10

There is a reason to why you can't find ukrainan restaurants all over the world, but some very tasty stuff if you know where to look and which meals to avoid. Plenty of indian, turkish, italian, chinese and mexican places to dine too.

Kiev , Hotels:
3/10

Either superexpensive luxuryhotels like Hyatt og Radisson, og expensive ex-Soviet-style coloss hotels with service attitude stright from the KGB-book. Save your money and rent an apartment instead, seriously.

Kiev , Safety:
7/10

Not worse than any western European big city, but keep an eye, or a hand, on your wallet and valuables in the horribly crowded metro.