It's About Time Part I: We Leave Varanasi And Head North

We've been back for a while now and prompted by several friends, family and neighbors, I want to catch you up on how we spent our last 6 weeks in magical India

We left Varanasi on October 27 for our first week of independent travel. Carol and I had decided we'd spend our week up north in the towns of Gangtok, Kalimpong and Darjeeling. Ten of our students had made the same decision except their itineraries took them in the opposite direction (wonder how that happened?).

From Varanasi we went by train to New Jalpaiguri and then by car to Gangtok in Sikkim. Sikkim is a beautiful state and Gangtok a beautiful city. Entering Sikkim is like entering a different country. The religion, culture and topography are so dramatically different from Varanasi. Gangtok is built on the side of a mountain and we stayed in a very clean and commodious B and B called the Hidden Forest Retreat with a stunning view of the city below. Our lodging was owned and operated by a Buddhist family and also serves as a retreat setting for Buddhists--alone or in groups. While we were there a group of Buddhists from Indonesia were enjoying their final days in Gangtok. Gangtok is clean and welcoming and has a thriving downtown area. Here are a few shots we took.

Downtown Gangtok in the Mahatma Gandhi Marg (what's missing from this picture?)

Two signs you're not likely to see anywhere else in India--or if you do, few people observe them and few people enforce them

Carol, the gardener, found this Poinsettia plant beautiful and seasonally appropriate

Enjoying the garden at the Hidden Forest Retreat

Don't ask, don't tell

Khangchendzodnga--the world's third highest mountain

Quite beautiful, wouldn't you agree?

From Gangtok we took the long, winding, slow and very pot-holed road for an overnight stay in Kalempong and then on to Darjeeling (where the road gets windier, and more pot-holey).

Shots of the very friendly vendors at the market in Kalimpong

It's not very far (as the proverbial crow flies) from Gangtok to Kalimpong and then to Darjeeling. But it takes a very long time. Since we were in no hurry we stopped frequently to enjoy the vistas or visit an occasional temple. Below we stopped for an hour or so at a Hindu temple featuring our favorite monkey god Lord Hanuman.

Darjeeling, an old British hill station and home of that tea we all enjoy, was very interesting and fun. We took several long hikes, one to the Tibetan Refugee Center and another to a Tea Plantation. Great restaurants, wonderful views, friendly people, a fantastic market and very good book stores. What else could a couple of country kids from Oregon want?

This young Darjeelingite wanted to take our picture. He did and in return his dad took ours

Our day long trek to the Tibetan Retreat, and the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute. I'm fighting a bit of a head cold, plus I just bought my first ever scarf (60 rupees) and I'm determined to wear it.

Carol bought a number of items at their shop--all made locally by Tibetan refugees

Tea, anyone?