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Monday 26th May. We left Kalimpong today but not before I purchased a new silver bracelet that I had spotted on Sunday in a jewellers. At the same shop there was a block of 12 1910 Tibet stamps; they appeared authentic, and at about 20 pounds, I couldn't resist them. More stamps for my collection; as if I need them! The bracelet is broad and thin with Bhutan writing in solid gold letters. The words are from the Prayer of Compassion; something I'll need to start practicing from now on! There is also silver filigree, and 2 dojas which are for praying carved in silver. The inscription reads: O Thou Art a Jewel on Lotus; so there you are, I'm now definitely a pansy Anyway, I love the bracelet. They had a narrower girlie one that was lighter, and hence cheaper, and a broader male one that was heavier but much more bland, and it didn't feel as comfy on my wrist. The one I purchased was about 50 quid.
On the way to the shop we passed all the schoolchildren on their way to their various schools Each school has it's own uniform. The kids look spotless, even at the end of the day. They are so happy and chatty; they put our kids in the UK to shame. They have a good knowledge of English. Seems I've said all this before!
So once the items had been paid for, we started on our journey back to the airport at Bagdogra. We arrived at 12:00. The ride was uneventful. On the way we saw 2 hydro-electric stations being built. We passed numerous army lorries, the smaller version of which would be ideal transport for me if I was ever able to convince Alison to move here for 6 or so months of the year. Any cars that I bump into would just bounce off the enormous tyres! And it's really high, and has a huge capacity for loading wood etc. Just a pipe-dream I suppose.
Once we got to the airport we said our goodbyes to Asoke but Umesh stayed with us until it was time for boarding the plane for Kolkata. Then we made our farewells to him too.
It's cloudy with lightening here in the city ar the moment. I was going to use the Internet at the hotel until I saw the prices: 3 pounds per half hour, and since I'm so slow it would cost me a fortune. So instead, I'm paying 25P/hour in the city but it's embarrasing: the lass next to me types about a 100 times faster than me. In the process of trying to find an Inyernet shop I kept getting accosted by males wanting to show me around; also had a few beggars too. Fortunately, my compassionate bracelet wasn't working at the time, and I started to lose my temper latterly. I think one of the beggars is sitting patiently out on the street; she obviously is oblivious to my lack of prowess with a keyboard! She'll need to wait hours yet as I am hoping to process a few photos in a minute.
At Bagdogra I spied my first hole-in-rhe-floor bog Fortunately, I only needed a wee so I was spared any hassle! Now we're back from the sticks, it's quite okay to have a wee by rhe side of the road; the only person that I saw doing this up north, was me! Well, we went walk-about on arriving in Kurseong - a bit stupidly, I had taken 120 mg of Furosemide on arrival at the hotel as my legs were so puffy. If the swelling is allowed to stay it can persist for the duration of the holiday, in this heat, and then there's the risk of phlebitis
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umesh
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HAPPY JOURNEY.....
mr russel i am very happy that you enjoyed my company and about information that i had given it will take some time to memorise for both of you especially mrs wootton.........actually prayer of compassion is like this ....OM MANE PADMA HUM........it means HAIL THE JEWEL IN THE LOTUS....... thanks.....hope to view my photos in your blog and also will wait for your email.........bye god bless