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Blogs from Sikkim, India, Asia
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May 24th 2013
Monday morning I find myself dragging my suitcase back down Gandhi Road in Darjeeling, to the pickup point for my ride to Gangtok in the neighbouring state of Sikkim. A Permit is required for foreigners travelling to Sikkim, as it is a restricted area, and I got mine sorted the day before. They cost nothing, but you do need a photocopy of your visa/passport and a passport sized photo. I had bought myself two seats in the share jeep for 200 rupees each ($3.75 ea), one for me and one for my backpack, to assure myself of some elbow room. There are usually four people squashed in across a seat where we, in Australia, would legally sit only three. But who cares for legalities here? If four people fit, four people it is! And just for ... read more
May 20th 2013
Our retreat back to Siliguri and India, by the cheapest local bus available, was a breeze. The expected old jalopy was actually roomy and comfortable, and - contrary to the outward equivalent journey - we emerged at the border in the morning with all our belongings. A further bus dropped us back in Siliguri, conveniently outside the Sikkim tourist office where permits are readily available without charge (the usual photocopies and a single photograph are required; 30 days are given if you specifically ask). The shared jeep up to Pelling in Sikkim (200rps) was mercifully under occupied, the back seat having just Ali, a young local lad and myself. They both slept soundly on my shoulders oblivious to the buckarooing ride. As the hair-pins wound ever upwards dusk was hastened with the arrival of a mighty ... read more
March 29th 2013
Nous poursuivrons notre visite de Sikkim. Toujours des routes qui descendent vertigineusement en lacets pour traverser les rivières et les remonter de l'autre coté en serpentines nauséantes! Des routes qui contournent les montagnes en découvrant des perspectives époustouflantes sur les vallées. La grande majorité des chauffeurs sont extrêmement jeunes mais ils sont très bons conducteurs, très prudents, avec un grands sens civique. Nous n'avons jamais vu des chauffeurs s'engueuler ou se faire des signes désobligeantes ou sacrer!!!! Pour eux la route se partage vraiment et la politesse est une question de survie. En plus ils sont pas mal zen quand des pepins arrivent: un de nos chauffeurs a eu une panne de moteur et une craiveson - jamais un mot, jamis une grimace, il a tout regle sans aucun commentaire! Nous sommes souvent étonnés par le ... read more
"Welkome to Sikkim, land of peace and tranquility"
Published: March 23rd 2013Asia » India » Sikkim » Pelling
March 22nd 2013
je rajouterai terre de montagnes sans routes! Car on a du réviser nos notions de mauvaises routes. Je pensais avoir vu le pire dans mes périples en Inde et en Amérique de sud, mais il faut toujours garder son "optimisme", le pire est toujours possible. Et nous l'avons expérimenté au Sikkim ou toutes les routes sont en haute montagne, soit en réparation soit en construction. Certaines régions n'avaient pas de routes jusqu'à il y a 2 ans. Nous avons roule sur de "routes de la mort" sans garde-fou, en lacets serres, en pentes abruptes, avec de trous incroyables, de la boue profonde et de rencontres épeurantes avec des camions ou autres jeeps sur la seule voie coincée entre un mur de roche et un précipice sans fond!. On a eu en plus de la pluie, du ... read more
March 16th 2013
Après une autre nuit en couchette ( train toujours a l'heure) nous sommes arrivés le matin a New Jaipalguri d'où nous avons pris un jeep collectif pour Darjeeling. A partir de ce moment tous nos déplacements se font en jeep (privé ou collectif) car la voie ferrée fini a NJ. La route sinueuse et panoramique a souhait, nous a coupé le souffle (au propre et au figuratif, car la conduite n'est pas un cadeau et nos coeurs ont sauté autant que nos fesses!). Darjeeleing, bien connue aux amateurs de thé, est une ville de montagne incroyable: perchée sur des collines a 2100 m, elle est bâtie quasiment en verticale car les pentes sont très abruptes (d'ailleurs toutes les villes de montagnes ici sont pareilles, construites sur des parois abruptes presque verticales). Les habitants sont vachement en ... read more
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November 21st 2012
Many years ago I followed the 'tourist triangle' around India. I did not make it to Darjeeling and I have long intended to make a return visit to rectify this omission. Sikkim is the small state next door so I decided to go there for convenience, not realizing that it would turn out to be a wonderful destination. The name Darjeeling is used to cover the whole of the mountainous area of Bengal, not just the eponymous town. The area is largely populated by ethic Nepalis and Tibetans and the term "Ghorkaland' is widely used to express the spirit of independence from the rest of India, and solidarity with the natural brotherhood of Nepalis whose border is just a stones throw away. Entry to this area is pretty much universally through the lowland city of Siliguri. ... read more
August 18th 2012
So we arrived at Darjeeling at about 7.30am and made the very exhausting trek up the mountain - heavy rucksacks and all - to the hotel we had decided on (and later advised as it was 'out of town'). After gorging on omlettes - our second meal in India - we finally had some much needed sleep (we had only had one full nights sleep at this point) before an setting off on an exploration of the colonial tea town. Darjeeling is a not your typical Indian town (speaking from experience) and it the most environmentally friendly town in the country thanks to the presence of rubbish trucks. There is a distinct colonial presence at the top of the town, and surrounding it thanks to the vast tea plantations. Lower down the mountain you get a ... read more
May 15th 2012
‘Tibetans in exile’ The festival has been organized to acknowledge, honour and sincerely thank the government and people of India and especially the State of Sikkim and its people for providing a refuge in which the Tibetan community has thrived. More great videos every week based on adventure, nature & culture of the most isolated places of India http://www.youtube.com/user/PujaCommunications... read more
April 29th 2012
Unknown people … unknown place… mere imagination creates curiosity to come across. Most of us are driven by desire, to experience, the real face of such things. In Yoksum there is a popular trekking route to go to Kanchajungha . People from around the world visit this place for trekking to Kanchanjungha. But, I decided to explore a very less known trekking route Hungry, a small village of lepcha community at top of the mountain, & not well known, to the trekkers.... read more
April 16th 2012
While the jeep ride up to Darjeeling had been a real beauty, it was very much a nothing special Norma in comparison to the rather exceptional drive to Gangtok from Karmi Farm. The journey began with a descent to the valley floor on a steep zig-zagging road (all roads here are steep and zig zaggy), passing through forests we noticed the temperature rise and flora become distinctly more tropical as we descended. Upon reaching the valley floor we came to a bridge which crossed over an impossibly scenic river, this marked the border between West Bengal State and Sikkim state. We were advised to get out of our jeeps and walk across the bridge as Andrew at Karmi Farm had advised us that there were concerns locally about the strength and stability of the bridge, especially ... read more
