India

            March 31

The reason people are drawn to travel is because it is such an exercise for the senses. For a certain amount of time you are completely engulfed in a sea of new sites, sounds, smells, and taste. The change and the newness of it all is what I love. My trip from Delhi to Siliguri, then to Kurseong, and finally to Darjeeling was a perfect example of all this. These areas introduced me to an India unlike any that I had seen.

            These three towns are located in the Eastern half of India and are snuggled in the legendary Himalayas. Darjeeling was the main destination and I couldn’t tell you how excited I was to see the snow covered peaks of this massive mountains. I was going to be able to even see the mighty Everest.

             Traveling of course can be stressful, so it was so nice to have my father along side me for this week trip. We both landed and took a cab to our first hotel in Siliguri. The town was small and pretty much based off one road. The market was fill with live chickens being prepared to sell and random religious items being sold from stand to stand. We couldn’t find much to do here so I suggested a movie.

            India is known for it’s movies and is second in this industry only behind Hollywood.  This Bollywood scene is mostly based out of Mumbai and it produces movies 24/7. Though many are very low grade and poorly put together- some are very very good and professional. The one I took my father to see was one starring the classy, dreamy, beloved, shahRukh Khan! I would explain to movie, but when discussing the film with some people before I was told that it was in fact in the theaters in the U.S. I had seen this movie, but I loved watching it again and I think my dad was really caught off guard by some of the movie differences- such as intermission and assigned seats.

            After the second day we had a car drive us to the first hill town know as Kurseong. Here we would do nothing, but wait. It was a crowded town that’s roads where filled with jeeps. I walked up the streets that were filled with various shops and I was instantly struck with the difference. The first thing I thought was, “where are the Indians?” Of course the people of Kurseong are Indians, but they don’t appear as your average Indian, they look more Chinese.  The reason is because these hills are filled with the Tibetan people. You looked around and you would see monks and prayers flags all around. It was so beautiful.

            As the shops started to close down for lunch I heard the loud blow of a steam horn. Again and again the piercing noise rattled the narrow streets. When I saw the steam burrow over the wall of the train station, I knew what it was- it was my train to Darjeeling. The Darjeeling train is the second highest altitude train in the world and it is one of the oldest trains, but here in India it is known for something else, being the slowest train. Despite it’s unbearably slow pace it is a must see. This train took us on a scenic route along the edge of these mountains. The whole time you could here the train chugging along to the beat of “I think I can I think I can!” But after numerous stops one couldn’t help but think- “do you really think so?”

            What drew me to the train ride was who had once ridden it. Many who know me know of my love for Mr. Mark Twain.  In mark Twain’s book Following the Equator he discusses his journey to this foreign India. Although he came here and did more notable things like gave Gandhi a copy of Huck Finn, he also came here and rode the Darjeeling train. The glory of it all wore off though as the seven-hour train ride rolled on.

            We got to dead black town of Darjeeling at about ten and was forced to find our own way home, a home we had never seen. When we found our hotel we both collapsed exhausted and slept throughout the night.  When I finally woke up I glanced outside to see the view in the daylight. Nothing. It was so cloudy I couldn’t see ten feet in front of me. The only part of the mountain we got to experience was walking up its hills to get from place to place. There would be no good view of the mountains until are journey out three days later.

            We did get to see some pretty amazing things regardless. The first day we spent exploring the town and visiting the Darjeeling zoo as well as the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI).  The streets were filled with Chinese restaurants and Tibetan art, which I never quite got use to. It really showed me how diverse India actually was.  The zoo housed animals I had never seen before animals that have strived in these harsh mountains for hundreds of years. HMI was connected to the zoo, which made a quick and interesting transition from animals to climbing. Reading about these people climbing Everest twice or without oxygen tanks made me feel pretty depressed that I had been complaining about my feet from the walking.

            The next day we woke up to even more clouds, which pretty much stabbed our thoughts of seeing the mountains. Because of this we decided to check out what Darjeeling was known for, which is its tea. We were lucky enough to be shown around a tea plantation and factory that was located right on the side of the mountain. It was so neat learning about the tea being picked and dried out- it also made me crave a huge pot of Darjeeling’s finest. Our driver plowed his way up the mountain towards our last destination for the day, which was Observatory hill.

            Observatory Hill is an old holy spot for both Hindus and Buddhist. It sits right on top of a hill and looks like it is in a small forest. The trees host thousands of strings with flags hanging down from them. These are the famous Buddhist prayer flags, each containing different prayers inscribed on them. This temple was one of the favorites I had seen and it led me wanting to see another Buddhist house of Worship.

            So, before we made our way to the airport we stopped by the oldest monastery on the mountain, which is located in the town of Ghoom. Like many Buddhist temples this monastery is tucked away in a peaceful quiet area. We were greeted by a monk who showed us into a room that housed a five meter high Buddha statues along with other artifacts, such as photos of the Dali Lama with the Pope, holy books, and loads of bananas- which he kindly offered to us. It was so weird to think that in a two-hour flight I have gone from mostly Hindu temples and Mosque to Buddhist monasteries. This truly is, Incredible India.

            Before long though it was time to go and we were winding down the mountain, accelerating, slamming on the breaks, and dodging pot holes as well as the edge of a mountain. As I looked out my window I finally got to see what I had come to see. The beautiful Himalayas- and man was it cool. Though it came late, these views were a great way to close out the trip. I needed this get away and it was great time spent, but now I’m back in Delhi and the stress is about to pile up.

            Tomorrow I am going to Pappankalan for a last little get together with some of the people and then I will try and enjoy my last day in Delhi. I will be flying out that night. Bittersweet at it’s finest.

The freezing wind against the millions of prayer flags

more flags

the train

I DON’T KNOW WHY THE PHOTOS STILL AREN’T WORKING!!! I’M SORRY.