An early start as we caught the local Sikkim National Transport Bus. There were 2 reasons for our decision. Firstly, it was cheaper than a shared jeep and secondly, it left from opposite our hotel. This saved about an hour's walk to the jeep station! Actually the driver was less crazy than the last jeep driver, partially because every 30 seconds we stopped to cram the next person and their; blanket, box of eggs, bag of clothes, sack of potatoes etc. etc. into the bus. Luckily no live animals.
It rained a little on the journey but we did have windscreen wipers. We also had a spare wheel as we collected it from a tyre shop as we went passed. We also stopped to have our tyre pressures checked. They seem to use a lot of remould tyres, which I think are now banned in the UK.
We arrived in Siliguri about lunch time so that meant just one thing, Food! Today we sampled a local biryani. Needless to say it was really nice. Next, we slowly commenced our 5km walk to NJP. We passed through different areas; clothes markets, vegetable stalls and small villages. There was a lot going on in each and we enjoyed the hustle and bustle of it all. There were people taking water from their communal wells. Others were arguing whilst the whole street watched! Kids played with their 'homemade' toys. One group of boys had some paper exploding red caps, like we used to have when we were small. They very kindly let us join in. They had large metal bolts each and each cap was half covered by a large nut. When the nut was screwed on enough, you threw the whole thing at the floor. KABOOM, off went the cap!
As a small snack, mid walk, we purchased some vegetable pokkora from a street stall. This was washed down by a nice cup of chai.
Preparations for the Durga Puja festival were more obvious now. There were plenty of lights being hoisted in the streets Also large bamboo towers across most of the roads. Finally we reached NJP, where we sat for a while in a small cafe. Here we played Scrabble and drank more chai. The owner kindly let us charge our phones, which are so useful for everything; finding our way around, staying in touch, booking trains and hotels, looking up places to visit, reading books, watching movies, listening to music and lighting up dark alleyways. We use them a lot but we are certain every Indian person uses their's more. The youngsters are smart phone savvy to say the least!
At the train station we found a reservation office to book advanced train tickets. We had previously used the online system to try and book a ticket between Varanasi and Agra. No tickets available. Not on any date for about 2 weeks! We tried absolutely everything. Nearby stations, different days, different times, tourist quotas. ALL FULL. However the booking office found us seats. How, we have no idea. It is a total mystery to us but thank you reservation office!
The Darjeeling Mail left on time once again and we are on our way back to the big city. Kolkata awaits.
It rained a little on the journey but we did have windscreen wipers. We also had a spare wheel as we collected it from a tyre shop as we went passed. We also stopped to have our tyre pressures checked. They seem to use a lot of remould tyres, which I think are now banned in the UK.
We arrived in Siliguri about lunch time so that meant just one thing, Food! Today we sampled a local biryani. Needless to say it was really nice. Next, we slowly commenced our 5km walk to NJP. We passed through different areas; clothes markets, vegetable stalls and small villages. There was a lot going on in each and we enjoyed the hustle and bustle of it all. There were people taking water from their communal wells. Others were arguing whilst the whole street watched! Kids played with their 'homemade' toys. One group of boys had some paper exploding red caps, like we used to have when we were small. They very kindly let us join in. They had large metal bolts each and each cap was half covered by a large nut. When the nut was screwed on enough, you threw the whole thing at the floor. KABOOM, off went the cap!
As a small snack, mid walk, we purchased some vegetable pokkora from a street stall. This was washed down by a nice cup of chai.
Preparations for the Durga Puja festival were more obvious now. There were plenty of lights being hoisted in the streets Also large bamboo towers across most of the roads. Finally we reached NJP, where we sat for a while in a small cafe. Here we played Scrabble and drank more chai. The owner kindly let us charge our phones, which are so useful for everything; finding our way around, staying in touch, booking trains and hotels, looking up places to visit, reading books, watching movies, listening to music and lighting up dark alleyways. We use them a lot but we are certain every Indian person uses their's more. The youngsters are smart phone savvy to say the least!
At the train station we found a reservation office to book advanced train tickets. We had previously used the online system to try and book a ticket between Varanasi and Agra. No tickets available. Not on any date for about 2 weeks! We tried absolutely everything. Nearby stations, different days, different times, tourist quotas. ALL FULL. However the booking office found us seats. How, we have no idea. It is a total mystery to us but thank you reservation office!
The Darjeeling Mail left on time once again and we are on our way back to the big city. Kolkata awaits.