Callcuta Lodge

If you find yourself on APC Road at No. 68 B, you will see the sign for Callcuta Lodge. We have been here for a long time, watching the city change while our building stays pretty much the same. It is an old place with high ceilings and heavy wooden doors that sometimes creak when the wind blows. Running a lodge means you meet all kinds of people, some just staying for a night and others who hang around for weeks. We spend a lot of time changing sheets and making sure the water is running okay in all the rooms. It is a lot of stairs to climb every day, which keeps us tired but moving. The front desk is just a small wooden table where we keep the big register book. We write everything down by hand. It gets noisy with the buses going past on the main road, but that is just part of being in this area. We don’t have anything fancy like air conditioning in every room or a big dining hall. It is just a place to sleep for people who need a spot that isn't too expensive. We try to keep things clean, but the dust from the road always finds its way in. It’s a busy life, honestly, and there is always a light bulb to change or someone knocking late at night. Sometimes the tea we serve is a little too sweet, but most guests don't seem to mind much.