Darjeeling to Nepal

So, I did not mentioned, that on the drive from Darjeeling to Nepal, we had another flat tire somewhere in the mountains. So, waiting and had another rest. Was OK.

Kakarbhitta

The place in Kakarbhitta was nice, although it was quite near to the border. I walked a little bit outside of the small village and found nice green places. I stayed there at Hotel Mechi and the bill says, “yes, of course, I am from Australia!”.

Airport Kakarbhitta

I took the plane from Kakarbhitta to Kathmandu which took me 40 Minutes instead of 18-19 hrs.  by bus. I planned to go by bus, but there is not time for this anymore unfortunally… The flight was OK, there have been 24 passagiers in the small machine from YETI-Airlines (I like the name…). I had no chance seeing the himalaya mountainas through the clouds.

Next time, I am sure :)

Tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea.

After seeing the sunset this morning, I went to the tea-fields in Darjeeling. Interesting, as I have never seen tea-fields in real life before. The plants are very low and look like “Schwarzbeerstauden” (Blueberry plants). A nice green. Went to a tea-factory…

After having a short sleep I was woken up by a thunderstorm with heavy rainshowers. When I am sleeping I am sleeping. Normally I am not waking up by loud noise or sth like that. But this time I was woken up by the water, which came down on me from the ceiling :)

5 o’clock tea

Then I went for another tour through Darjeeling and after a while I stopped at a coffee-shop to have 5 o’clock tea and a blackforrest pastry… Good good! I think, my stomach will do it.

The temperature in Darjeeling is OK, although I am wearing a fleece-pullover. In the night I need two blankets as it gets colder… It”s OK, compared to 44 Cels. in the other regions :)

Tomorrow: Kathmandu

Tomorrow morning I am leaving to Kathmandu/Nepal. Going by jeep down to the Shiliguri, then by jeep to the border - crossing it - then with another jeep to the airport or by bus to Kathmandu.

Soo much to see……..

More images?

Check here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarmeloncom/sets/72157604536603810/

A short summary where I was and where I am at the moment…

Started in Delhi and went to the top of North-India - Kashmir. Then Jammu, Amritsar, Chamba and Daramsala. Then one day Delhi. After that Varanasi and Kolkata. Now I am staying in Darjeeling.

Next stop is Kathmandu, then Delhi - Agra - Delhi - Vienna.

Currently I am having about 4.500 km behind me.

Größere Kartenansicht

Größere Kartenansicht

After three days in Kolkata I am leaving this evening at 7 PM with the nightsleeper-bus to Shiliguri in the north of West-Bengal. From there I am going to Darjeeling and staying one or two nights.

I visited a lot in Kolkata: City, BBD, Mother Theresa, Chinatown, New Market…

Yesterday evening I was watching a Bollywood-Movie at the New Market. It was quite funny and after that I had some French Fries at KFC. Bad, bad, bad decision, as I was on the toilet the whole morning and then decided to take antibiotics as its really bad…

Looking forward for a good bus this night!!!

My next steps
In McLeod Ganj I prepared the next steps. This night (from 11.05. to 12.05.) I am going by sleeper bus from McLeod Ganj to Delhi.
Tomorrow (12.05.) I will visit Old Delhi and at 6.30 PM the nighttrain is leaving to Varanasi. I am very much looking forward to Varanasi. It is an old, but - as told - very, very dirty city. I am looking forward seeing the Ganga and the Ghats. Trying to stay at a place called Hotel Alka.
I will stay there one night to continue my trip to Kolkatta. Again by nighttrain, which will take me 10.5 hrs from 14.05. to 15.05. In Kolkatta I am going to stay for 2 days.
I will decide in Kolkatta how to go on: Either going to Darjeeling and then to Kathmandu or directly to Kathmandu from Kolkatta. So many possibilities… :) Super…

It seems, that my original plan is working + some more.

India and some inputs
Time is running very fast and every day is a real adventure. Varanasi, Kolkatta and the rest will be very interesting. India is very interesting. It is one big states, with many smaller states in it. Those states are very different, even the people there are different in their behaviours and looking. Religions… Hindhu, Sikh, Muslim… A lot of different things in a complex setup which is running more or less “peaceful”. Some states are wanting their independency (Kashmir, North-eastern-states and so on) and are having mixed emotions with Pakistan. People differ from every region. Sometimes friendly, sometimes rough. Kashmir people are very friendly as well as the people in Amritsar. Delhi is a hard place lets see, what the other regions and cities bring. Punjab people are having their turbans, with their hairs in front of their head. The people in the north are more Hindhi, wearing their colorful Saris and having a good makeup with kayal and so on…

Today I met Robert and Wolfgang - both had been in Nepal last year (check Wolfgang’s Nepal-Blog here: www.sugarmelon.com/nepal). Robert showed me his pictures from his trekking-tours and with Wolfgang I had some chats about India and Nepal.

There are two possible routes, travelling through Nepal and arriving in Kathmandu.

Route 1 is from Darjeeling, passing Kakarbhitta and then 200 km in the south of Nepal to the Royal Chitwan Nationalpark, where I will start Route 2 (coming from Patna in India) and going forward to Kathmandu. Depending on time and transport and my personal condition.

In Kathmandu I am currently thinking about 2 things:

• Either flying with Yeti-Airlines to Lukla, staying there for one night or 
• doing a round-flying-trip to see the Himalaya-Mountains (Mt. Everest, Makalu…).

Fascinating - it would be great to see those landscape and those mountains about which I read about in Wolfgang’s Blog.

On Monday Morning I am going to receive my Visa for Nepal…

Ok, I am focusing on a more defined route. I will focus on the northern part of India and will join parts of Nepal:

Delhi - (Agra) - (Jaipur) - Rishikesh - Bareilly - Kanpur - Varanassi - Patna - (Darjeeling) - Kathmandu - Delhi

The idea is starting from Delhi. I am not sure, wether it’s a good idea visiting Taj Mahal and the palace in Jaipur. I will make my decisions in Delhi. My plan is going north - where the Ganges has its source. Going to Rishikesh and going further into east by following the Ganges: Bareilly, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna.

Depending on transport, time and my personal condition, I will decide in the area of Varanasi/Patna wether I will travel to Darjeeling or directly to Kathmandu in Nepal. If I am visiting Darjeeling, then I will travel to Kathmandu via Darjelling by jeep and bus. Should be an adventure. Crossing the borders…

Yesterday I succeeded in the second part of my rabbies vaccination. Same symptons as last time: A little bit cold, a little bit hectic and a “hot” night, which means, that I felt, that my body was struggeling with some side-effects of the vaccinations. Interesting, as it was the same last week after the first rabbies-vaccination.

Interesting stories, which Albert and Anna-Maria are telling about India. Very valuable infos and tipps.

The planning is now focusing on Dehli and the North-West to the source of Ganges and this area. Depending on some things, I will decide following the Ganges fast to arrive in Darjeeling. Something like this…

Some guys are asking me - what are your plans in India and where do you want to go there.

My plans in India are exploring the country and getting in contact with another culture.

I am planning three different routes. I do not have a lot of time - there are 3 weeks left. It’s OK and I know, that even within three weeks it is possible to see and visit a lot. I have got some plans and possibilities, but will decide on the fly, where to go and what’s the best.

What I am planning is to start in New Delhi. Go to Agra and Jaipur. I will go there by bus and train. The weather in India is very hot at the moment and it is short before the raining-season (is starting in June).

Route 1: If it is not too hot, public transport is OK and it is possible to travel “fast”, I will choose Route 1 and  go further into the south: Ahmedabad, Bombay, Goa.

Route 2: If public transport is OK and the weather is too hot, I will check the East: Kolkata or Darjeeling with a wonderful view to the Himalaya.

Route 3 I am going to choose, if I decide to focus on nature and the north and if I notice, that a big tour is getting too exhausted.

Lets see…