Good ole Kolkata

Just a very quick entry to say that after a brilliant train journey I am now back in Kolkata. I actually managed to get some sleep on the train and didn't feel scared (although I must admit I was a wee bit on edge as we were leaving the platform). I haven't done too much since I last wrote but just wanted to let everyone know that I'm safe and sound.

Till next time...

The world we live in

On the news last night we heard about a bomb blast on a local train in West Bengal. The explosion happened on a train that was 28kms from where I am sitting now. The blast occurred on a train, two of whose carriages were to be connected to a train called the Darjeeling Mail (it is a service that goes every night). I am catching this train back to Kolkata tonight. This morning I was all set to travel for two hours and catch a plane back to Kolkata (which would have set me back quite a few pounds). However I have decided to face my fears and get on the train. I'm sure it will all be fine but it's just made me realise that we live in a not so nice world.

I thought I should do a quick entry while I'm sitting filling time in Siliguri. Siliguri is a town that is best known as being a junction for travelling to various points in the Himilayas. I have been here for the past couple of days. I've been staying in a 4 star hotel for the meagre price of 20 pounds per night. I have spent the last two days relaxing and catching up on sleep.

Since my last entry I have done the following things.

I have driven in a jeep that I'm sure was part of the program MASH (it was that old). I could see the road through the floor and there was no need for air conditioning as the holes caused by the rust provided enough ventilation. There were no windows on the jeep and it would only start if we were facing downhill. It was quite an experience. We drove in tis jeep to a place called Mirik. It's got a beautiful lake which is surrounded my mountains. It was lovely and peaceful. While we were sitting down having our lunch a family came up to us and started chatting to us and wanted to have photos with us. This has happened quite a few times since we have been travelling. I think I'm going to try it when I get back to London... The journey back to Darjeeling involved a journey through tea gardens and seeing workers completing their work for the day. We are so fortunate in the west.

The day I left Darjeeling I awoke at 4am, got into a jeep (much nicer than the one mentioned above) and was driven up to Tiger Hill. Needless to say I was not the only crazy one to do this. There were at least 800 people on the hill. Tiger Hill is the place to go to if you want to see the sunrise and also possible get a glimpse of Eversest and the third highest mountain (which begins with a K and I can't spell it). Upon reaching the top you stand around drinking chai waiting for the sun. We thought that the sun was up so I took a few photos of the mountain (which was not very visible) and then walked down the hill. One of the girls I was travelling with felt sick so we went back down the hill.

Our jeep driver told us that we were to come back as soon as the sun had come up. We settled into the jeep and then suddenly heard cheers and applause. I looked at the friend I was with and it dawned on us that we had missed the actual sunrise.



This was what we thought was the main event (you can vaguely see the outline of the mountains).

So we jumped out of the jeep and ran up the hill. We felt sooo silly. The sun was shining on the mountains and it looked really pretty and quite clear. It just shows that one has to be patient!!






This was the real event!!





I decided that I had seen enough of Darjeeling and so I decided to set off and see some other sights. In Darjeeling there is a train called the "Toy Train". It takes 8.5 hours to get down the mountain (bear in mind that the jeep ride takes 3 hours) and cost 3 pounds (or 200 rupees). It's quite an experience as it does not go fast at all, people hang on to the train as it is going down the hill and if you jogged at a moderate pace you could run with it the whole way. It's a great way to see the countryside and get to see the locals close up. Not something you should do if you are following a strict timetable.

So that has been what I have been up to in the last few days. I've learned that travelling has high points and low points and points when you have to trust the one who made you.

Well that's all from me for now, till next time....

Greetings from the rooftop of the world

Hi there. I am currently sitting overlooking two of the tallest mountains in the world. Darjeeling is an amazing place and very different from the other parts of India that I have seen so far. It's very very hilly and my legs have been given an amazing workout (don't need to feel bad about not having been to the gym for a couple of weeks).

To get to Darjeeling you have to go through a 3 hours jeep ride around some of the windiest,steepist and most narrow roads that I have ever seen. We were being tossed all over the place during the ride. The driver kept laughing at me whenever I bumped my head or came off my seat. The jeep is meant to carry 10 people, we had 12 squeezed into ours. My friends and I were crammed into the back. I usually get carsick but thankfully I didn't this time -I think I was too scared to be. The view at the top made the journey worthwhile though.

We visited a Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre today. It was amazing to see first hand what goes into making rugs and blankest that we take for granted.

We also visited the zoo and the Himilayan Mountain Institute. Being a kiwi I thought it was important to see things about the great conquest of the summit of Everest by HIlary. During the tour I quickly came to realise that SirEd Hillary is not considered the main man in these parts. It's all about Tenzing (Darjeeling was his birthplace). They don't even mention the fact that Hillary is a New Zealander!! It was brilliant to see some of the equipment and clothing that they used for the climb.

Before coming to Darjeeling I spent two days in a safari park. This included an elephant trek where we came across three rhinos and a bison. It was incredible (and quite scary).

We then caught a commuter train from the park to Silaguri where we caught the jeep. The train was slow and basic but we got to see quite a few of the locals andsome tea plantations close up. It's amazingwhat we in the west complain about considering the basic commodities that the people in this part of the world have and appear tobe happy with.

Well it's almost dinner time and my 4th cup of tea of the day.

Till next time...

ps- see I didn't mention the rugby this time - I thought I'd mentioned enough about a kiwi being on top of the world.

Transportation

The main feature of the last two days has been the different modes of transport that are available in this vibrant city.

I love rickshaws and they love speed bumps (judder bars), rough surfaces and craters in the road!! The auto rickshaws are particularly fun, its like being on a permanent dodgem/rollercoaster ride.

I now also have a greater appreciation for the London underground although they could learn a few things from the Indian system. For starters on the metro here you have a section where only girls are allowed, there is a guys section too but girls can go there - exactly how it should be!! Secondly they also have tvs on the platform showing world news and sport, I was able to follow some of the cricket and also some of the English football. No rugby showing at this stage but a little birdie did tell me that a certain nation from the south managed to embarrass the World Champions!!!

The pace of life here is vastly different to London life. Things take double the time to get done and no one seems to stress out the same. The business that mum and dad are doing involves ordering a lot of fabric, beads and other material. The negotiations that take place are a delight to watch. No one wants to lose face. You will also often have 5 or 6 people helping you to purchase 5 metres of fabric. It's all about customer service.

The girls that mum and dad work with are really lovely. There are 11 of them and I am trying my best to learn all of their names. They have it easy as they call me sister - much easier to remember. Mum and and Dad are called Uncle and Aunty.

I was not born with a crafty bone in my body (and I'm referring to the material sense and not the other sense). Mum and Dad run a business that exports hand crafts and bags to NZ, the US and other parts of the world. I've been (trying to) helping them with an order that has to go out on Friday. My tasks have involved checking bags, folding them and wrapping them in plastic. It's quite different using my hands instead of my brain (although some would question whether I really use that in my job!!)

My stomach has good days and bad days re. the food. Thankfully dad makes porridge in the morning so I do feel like I still have part of my London routine. Mum also does a lot of western cooking so I'm not subjected to weird and wonderful dishes every day.

I ventured out with another girl who is visiting from NZ the other day. It was the first time that I had gone anywhere without mum and dad. We headed to the train station for a trip we're taking to Darjeeling next week. We stood in a queue for an hour and barely moved. They have interval breaks. They start work at 8am, two windows have a break for half an hour from 12.00-12.30 and the other two windows have a break from 12.30-1.00. They finish at 2pm!!!
The system of queuing here is incredible - there isn't one. I'm sure that at least 5 people pushed in front of me, but all you can do is just smile and "chill".

Dad took me into the centre of the city today which was quite overwhelming on my senses. I can't even begin to describe the sites and the sounds. There is stuff happening everywhere and never a dull moment. NZ is going to seem very quiet.

Well time is ticking on and I'd better head home and get back to the bag checking. We are having broadband installed at home this week so when that happens I will be able to download some of my pictures on to the site.

Till next time....

The Kiwi has landed

Well I have now been in India for 4 days and I'm beginning to settle into life over here. It is very very different from London life. There is never a dull or quiet moment and the horns on the cars never stop tooting. I am however loving the relaxed lifestyle and being able to sleep in and also observe a different culture.

My flights here were interesting and thankfully turbulence free for the most part. I won't comment on the airline food as there may be young children reading this site :)

I had a rather interesting time during my stop over in Mumbai. It took me an hour to find the correct terminal as 4 people told me 4 different places to go. This was also not helped by the fact that the plane I was flying on had changed its name since I had purchased my ticket. It was interesting to be flying on Kingfisher Air (yes indeed the same company that makes the beer).

It's been great spending time with my mum, dad and sister. It was dad's 60th birthday yesterday and we tried to make the day as nice as possible for him. We had breakfast in a western style hotel and then went shopping (I love this place particularly when using pounds) and then had chicken roti from a sidewalk cafe (literally sitting on the sidewalk) and then ice cream at the Curry Club.

I don't have much else to report apart from the fact that it is very very warm (approx 29 degrees every day) and the mosquitoes love me!!

I'll be heading into work with mum and dad tomorrow which I'm sure will be quite different to what I've been used to.

I will try and update my site more frequently (the internet has been playing up at home so this was my first chance - sorry Gabby)

Matt - I haven't opened the Christmas card yet.

Until next time....