Blogs from Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Asia - page 11

Greeting to you all, I'm afraid its my turn to enter a blog. I don't write such interesting articles as Becks, but bare with me! Darjeeling, what can I say, well anything was better after leaving Varanasi. It was a long train journey to Darjeeling, via Patna( Lonely Planet describes it as rough and lawless),the coolest station so far in India, with a wicked food plaza( Becks ate loads, but I ate nothing as I was feeling tender after my vomiting in the morning!) Then another train to Siliguri, and then we got on the old vintage Toy train to Darjeeling. 7 hours going at 15kms an hour ,gradually ascending to 2000 m at Darjeeling. We went first class( only 4 carriages to the whole train), First class is not first class! But very quaint and ... read more

It’s often interesting to hear about the costs of things in other countries so here are few things for you. Remember that there are about 30-32 rupees to the dollar. 1 hour on the internet - 30rp. 1 small kit-kat - 5rp. A cup of street chai - 7rp. A good cup of REAL coffee - 25rp. 375mls of local whisky (tastes O.K.) - 92rp. 500grms of those delicious little sweet cakes - 85rp. A Thai feast for 5 in a little restaurant (my birthday) - about 1000rp. Naturally everything seems incredibly inexpensive, but then the average person here would earn so little that these things would be luxuries. An interesting hairdressing experience. I decided that my hair colour needed doing and after having hunted high and low (in Darjeeling take that expression literally) I went ... read more

A walk (long walk) to the Japanese Peace Pagoda. Not a single picture in my last up date, so this one is all pictures. Enjoy!... read more

Within sight of the Himalayas in Darjeeling... read more

As many know, Hel and I get over excited by walking/trekking/rambling for lots of reasons, but here would be five: 1. Simplicity of getting from a to b with only needing to make sure you are warm, dry and fed 2. Time to chat, or not 3. Space/vistas 4. People 5. Physicality However, that's a bit boring and not what this is about. We've just come back from an exhilerating 5 day yomp in the Singallia National Park, going as far north as foreigners are allowed in this part of the Himalayas, to boarder points of India, Nepal and Sikkim. I'll let Hel describe the enchanting tea houses, tough climbs above the clouds and stunning sunrises and sets over Everest to the East and the Kangchendzonga (world's third highest peak and banned to people) Range directly ... read more