Monday & Tuesday - March 30, 31, 2009

Leaving Siliguri was interesting. I was told the jeep leaves at 7 - so I showed up at 6:30. At 7, I was told jeep would leave at 8. No problem - I bought an English local paper, and waited till 8. Then we were ready to go. The jeep had three bench seats and two "little" jump seats in back... room for 11 people. I sat in the back jump seats - and the side curtains were all up, and there were only 2 of us so it was very comfortable.

We left the jeep station , drove 3 minutes and stopped on little back street while someone in jeep went and did something. Then off again ... to the gas station for fuel, of course. Then off again ... to the tire repair shop where a lot of discussion went on with a lot of people then a tire was strapped to the top. Then we were OFF and away.

A four hour trip that was 90% on a narrow bad road on the precipice of tremendous drop-offs. The man sitting across from me would quite often put his hands in front of his face in a prayer, and his lips were really moving. He was a Buddhist and was the Jeep helper. He made this trip everyday, so when I saw him start praying, I jumped my prayers into high gear. It was a prayer journey.

At times , looking out the back of the jeep - (where I was sitting with just a tailgate to keep me in) I would see only AIR as I looked out at the shoulder of the road. I had flash backs of the time in Wala Wala, Washington when my brother and I had skydived out of a little Cessna. I was scared then, and I was scared now.

But ... of course, we arrived safely - no problem. When I arrived in Pelling, Sikkim it was raining, cloudy at ground level and the wind blowing. I got a hotel room with hot water for $5.00, and a patio just outside my door, and a good restaurant. It also had a swapping book library and a comfortable lobby. It was GREAT! So ... I spent the rest of the day in the lobby reading and having 'tea'. However, there was no electricity - so, no hot shower right away, and I had to use my flashlight to read by. But it was very comfortable, and I was enjoying the day.

I turned my dirty clothes in for laundry, and was told I could get them back tomorrow... Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday, I went hiking to visit the local sites and look at the mountains. The mountain just out of town was 1,200 feet higher than the village and very close. It was very steep.

I went to get my laundry, and the man said , it was not back yet. I went back 30 minutes later, and he told me 10 minutes. I went back, and he said the laundry man had not been able to get everything dry, and it would be tomorrow. I told him I was leaving at 6 in the morning, and he stared at me for a moment, ..... then reached under the counter, and handed me my dirty clothes. They had never sent them out to the laundry!!! So - at least I got them back.

Tomorrow I will leave headed for Kathmandu, Nepal.
Another great day.