Nov 14
An early start today, alarm went off at 3:30am, we left the hotel at 4am, and were in position for sunrise about an hour before the action - and we needed to be there in order to get a good spot. Sunrise was nice, but (luckily) they happen everyday - watching the sun reflect off the high peaks in the Himalaya - now that is not an everyday thing! So awesome. Today was a long day with the early start, and then two other stops before we had breakfast!! It was a culture-ful day. There are some challenges on the trip regarding access to some sites, and the overall security - there are concerns that foreigners tramping across the landscape might stir up trouble - the whole Gorkaland separation movement thing - it is all fine - like I said before - we have that police escort - great for traffic jams and maybe appearances. Before breakfast we visited the Darjeeling Railway (world famous narrow gauge railway- maybe even a UNESCO world heritage site), then to a monastery in time for some prayers. After breakfast we visited the zoo... (and two museums - saw the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, cloud leopard, common leopard (did you know there were this many leopards in India?!?), red panda, and a black panther), then the Tibetan Refugee Self-help centre, then a tea factory, then tea sampling, and a bit of a plaza! Gah!
I am glad the day is finished - best part might have been the 6:05 Everest sighting...
An early start today, alarm went off at 3:30am, we left the hotel at 4am, and were in position for sunrise about an hour before the action - and we needed to be there in order to get a good spot. Sunrise was nice, but (luckily) they happen everyday - watching the sun reflect off the high peaks in the Himalaya - now that is not an everyday thing! So awesome. Today was a long day with the early start, and then two other stops before we had breakfast!! It was a culture-ful day. There are some challenges on the trip regarding access to some sites, and the overall security - there are concerns that foreigners tramping across the landscape might stir up trouble - the whole Gorkaland separation movement thing - it is all fine - like I said before - we have that police escort - great for traffic jams and maybe appearances. Before breakfast we visited the Darjeeling Railway (world famous narrow gauge railway- maybe even a UNESCO world heritage site), then to a monastery in time for some prayers. After breakfast we visited the zoo... (and two museums - saw the Bengal tiger, snow leopard, cloud leopard, common leopard (did you know there were this many leopards in India?!?), red panda, and a black panther), then the Tibetan Refugee Self-help centre, then a tea factory, then tea sampling, and a bit of a plaza! Gah!
I am glad the day is finished - best part might have been the 6:05 Everest sighting...
Not Everest - Kangchenjunga
Everest is the middle peak in the cluster of three peaks in the middle of the photo.
Kangchenjunga
Darjeeling railway spot - nice colours
Darjeeling fire hall.
Part of the Tibetan Refugee Self-help Centre.
Poinsettia x 2
Tea drying.
Walking through a market - can’t get over the ‘backdrop’!
Mountains ... mountains everywhere! Glad you are where the air is a little 'fresher'!
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