Monthly Archives: Sunday February 3rd, 2008

This pre-honeymoon and post-honeymoon travel led us from Chennai (Madras) over Puri, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Charikot over a colorful wedding in Patan to Solo Khumbu.

 

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Chennai to Puri

Chennai really is a handsome city with even the riksha drivers not bothering you. Train to Puri in 2nd AC is surviveable.

 

 

 

Puri & Konarak

While Puri nowadays is a less visited “sacred” city today, it once was a famous meeting place of hippies and is still one of the major Hindu pilgrimage sites. The huge temple complex houses nobody less than the “Lord of the universe” + family members. The nearby Konarak-temple is not in use anymore, apart from being visited as a tourist attraction. Noteworthy are the iron-remains of strong beams. Despite the proximity to the ocean, they seem to be preserved well and for their age of at least a millenium show very little signs of oxidation.

 

 

Puri to Gangtok

This ride with formidable Indian Railways was just slightly more basic. Bording the train from Bangalore to Guwahati in the middle of the night at Bhubanesvar, we first had to fight for our reserved berths; no wrong: We first had to fight to pass the corridor and to get there. 2nd class without AC is somehow a more bottom-up approach. Luckily we saw the myriads of cockroaches not in the first night. Smelly things are sold as well as noisy things and absolutions from ladymen. Gangtok was reached by a comfy jeep-ride. A bit boring there at times when the orchids are sleeping – and virtually NO heated placed, except by the streetworkers fires.

 

Yuksam

Definitely a better place. Less fog, more sun, silence, posters from Swiss tourism, nice people, just 3 or so other tourists and lots of different biscuits to buy.

 

 

 

Kanchenzonga NP

After discussing with our guide about porters and cook, we managed to fit into an Australian group. The Aussies returned after two days and we proceeded with a leftover of two teenaged porters towards Gocha La. The poor guys were badly equipped and our all-caring guide had provided us with kerosene instead of gaz, which caused our stove to blaze like challenger after breaking apart. Boiling a litre took nearly two hours instead of 10 min and the all-pervading storm really sucked. Parts of us originally came with the intention of climbing a 6000 m peak, but did I mention the storm? It was like patagonia with just a bit more altitude. The weather was sunny though and not too much snow. We returned taking shortcuts just when the snow started falling again.

 

Darjeeling – Toy Train – Kakarbhitta NP

At least no wind here – and even sun instead of mist. This is relaxation. Hotels with real stoves inside each room. Kanchenzonga still visible. Cloud-sunshine inspirations for countless Wagner-opera-stage-directors. A town full of steep rotten signs of decent nobility … just not too much.