Cool Darjeeling

Well my wishes came true- it's foggy and freezing here in Darjeeling and I love it! It's not as cold as H.P. in December, but it is delightful all the same.

Library's a bit sad, but the rhododendrons and magnolias are out

I arrived here a couple of days ago. Met yet another Canadian in the Sikkim permit office at the rail head town on the plains where I had stopped off, and we detoured on to Jadalpura Wildlife Sanctuary. Went on an early morning elephant safari - we were about 5 metres away from 2 beautiful rhinos (not sure how to spell the plural) when our elephant quivered and shook, stamped her feet and established her superiority! Saw monkeys, hog deer, owls, peacocks and parrots by the ton! It was great. Stayed at the tourist lodge where we were served chips and toast for breakfast - Yummy! Think that was the vegetarian menu! Will post some pictures as soon as I find a faster connection than Darjeeling - and show all from amazing rhino backsides to chips and toast breakfasts.

And here they are: rhino bottoms and chips and toast brekkies

Unfortunately on the journey between Siliguri and eventually making it to Darjeeling, I lost my specs. Lucky that I was travelling with James, it was really difficult managing without being able to read a thing. Emailed Deb in my desperation (she's the woman who will always know just what to do - or otherwise give really good sympathy!). I had the keyboard held at arm's length, the guy in the internet cafe checking my spelling, and great embarassment when I finally got a replacement pair of glasses and saw the spelling in the email i'd sent.

Ghoom town

Today we went to Ghoom which is higher above sea level than Darjeeling. There is a very old monastery. All the murals were repainted a few years ago; the setting was magnificent.We were served tea and puri curry but not sure what the occasion was. We intended to walk back but the mountain mists closed in. Made it as far as another monastery where there were young lamas at play (marbles, cricket), and they gestured for us to come down and look around the gompa. Their Rinpoche will be visiting on 29 March, so there were great preparations happening - repainting, lots of scaffolding. After that it was a jeep back 10km to Darjeeling.

On Saturday I'm invited to go to Sikkim with the young woman from the Sikkim tourist office here in Darjeeling, who is going to meet her mother in Gangtok for the last day of the Sikkim inaugural international flower show. Looking forward to it.

Heading off for high tea now..