The one 'where we hear Tenzing's life story'

8th October 2009. 7.00 am start for Yumthang Valley - no flowers if you please so we go to see an empty valley but the Teesta was flowing away merrily.


But first, the almost visit to the hot springs. T and me found a path and decided to follow it. We asked a local passing by where it led. He said 'Hot springs'. So we followed and entered these magical woods where there were wooden bridges made of tree bark, the path was made of marble and granite and the fall colours all around us. Pretty reds, oranges and yellows.

Wooden bridge with marble path

Fall leaves

We eventually ended up at a swaying footbridge over which I was petrified to walk over but did it saying lets do this in my head like a zillion times. I looked straight ahead and sort of forged ahead.

Gave up on the springs and walked back towards the Valley. The river beckoned and we headed towards it. Stunning mountainous landscape around us.


Heard there were landslides happening across the way and made a quick exit to Lachung. Had lunch at 11.30 almost immediately on our return, had a shower and left.

We heard from Tenzing today that he is a father of a two year old son called Pinchoe. Tenzing is 23 years old!! He bought the Maxx for himself when he was 17, got married when he was 19 and has been driving tourists around for the last 6 years! He is such an enterprising fellow and knows everyone on the road. Told T that Tenzing would definitely own a travel agency of his own in the next five years for sure!

Ended back in Gangtok by 6ish, early dinner again. Tomorrow we do our last bit of shopping and head towards NJP to catch the 'Darjeeling Mail'

PS: We met Pinchoe after we entered Gangtok. Tenzing was sweet enough to introduce us to his lil kid. He of course brought out all my maternal instincts :D

Special people,rick drivers and child

I had this thought..there are people in our lives whom you can tell them anything and I mean anything and you are not judged for what you have expressed to them. It can be your deepest darkest secret and you are sure that they are not going to turn around and say wtf, why - those 'normal' thoughts people express when they are going to judge you...

I try very hard never to judge..it happens no doubt but I try very hard to view life through different coloured glasses. I have had people tell me things and they are like don't judge me before they begin. Why would u? Its not right and people have judged me in the past and these have been my own friends..being a so-called wild child has its pitfalls I guess!!

I have only 2-4 people around me who I can pretty much blurt things out, its nice to have people like that because it makes a tremendous difference in your life when you know that there are people who will listen to the shit that u've done in your life and not say,"Oh, why would u do that?" or even better I think its ok for u to do that..no one fucking asked for permission in the first place...if you get my point.

Lighter matters now. Yest, screamed my head off at the rick driver for being a rt arsehole. I mean, there is me and colleague sitting in rick, and this idiot on a mo-fucking-ped comes along and starts showing shining. (Marie, u r remembered here very fondly!!) I was like wtf, and totally yelled my head off at the rick driver and moped bozo. Rick guy maraaoes dialogue, "Tu neeche chal, tujhe bata deta hoon"...shit like this..told him there is no need of showing anything..He cd drop us somewhere and then he could show wotver he wanted to the dude! Men r such idiots especially when they r driving..(sorry for the true generalization)

Today this morning on way to meet Dee for run, I saw the cutest and funniest sight ever. I need to pass thru slums to get to the main road. I was walking half dazed. Then my nazar went on this child - it was naked as the day it was born but it had dark glasses on...hahahahaaha...so much attitude the child had....amazinngly funny sight it was..smile on my face right now.