Greetings punters!
So my fourth and final week begins on a train after 10 hours north from Kolkata - sans buffalo - and then a car journey of another 6 hours to reach Darjeeling.
This is Himalaya country. The Brits might have set it up, and the Indians might own it, but it is run by and for the locals - Nepalese / Tibetans. These countries, as well as Bangladesh and Bhutan are no more than 2 hours drive away and so making Darjeeling (2 syllables with a french sounding J) the cross roads in this part of Asia.
Famed for it's tea - the stuff is regarded as the champagne of tea - only 4% of the global tea market, but fetches the highest prices at auction.
Disappointed at the moment - the legendary views (both from my hotel window and from the town) have been obscured by haze. also my expectation of a British style Baden Baden have been crushed. Yes, it could be Ambleside in the Lake district, but the noise and dust etc. makes it most definitely Asian!
Up at 4.30am in the morning (just in case all you thought I did was lay in bed all day) to get the sunrise from Tiger Hill over Everest and the Himalayas.
Haze, mist and cloud permitting.
A bientot.
xx
First Home from Home - Darjeeling supports N5!
Second Home from Home - Darjeeling supports the Lake district!
Local monkey
Darjeeling centre from my hotel room with Katchenjunga in the background
Darjeeling plantation
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