Final days in Calcutta/Kolkotta: some saw the museum (charging 150 rupes for foreigners and 15 for locals), some visited Kali temple or Victoria memorial, and some stayed in bed with rumbling tummies and/or fever, regrettably missing out on some of the excitement of the city.
On our “day off” from the Mother home, we scheduled a boat tour at the Sunderban tiger reserve (home to the largest mangrove forest IN THE WORLD). We started our day off at 4am, and left in two jeeps by 5am. There was no chance to sleep on the car rideĀ unless you were hoping to get whip lash from the never ending pot holes. Three bumpy hours later we were transferred to an ornately crafted boat, equipped with toilets of both the eastern and western variety, and a personal chef! The majority of us enjoyed a peaceful care free day of lounging and sipping Chai, with occasional stops to walk around. We saw deer, monkeys, crocs, egrets, and a lizard. Some had high hopes of seeing a tiger, but we were informed such a chance only comes about every 5th trip. We were packed back into the jeeps around 6, and arrived to the hotel around 9:30 understandably exhausted.
Our last day at the Mother home (-3 sickies home in bed), we were sang to (as is tradition there) a farewell song. The gist of it is as follows…
we thank you from our heart
we love you from our heart
we miss you from our heart
(+ lots of hand clapping)
Some last minute sight seeing and snack buying before the train, then we checked out of Hotel Afreen and headed to the train station. The train ride was painless and buggless, and we arrived in Sikkim the following morning moderately well rested. We squeezed into one jeep and began our ascent to Gangtok. Once outside the city, the scenery became mystical. We climbed higher and higher, up narrow winding roads in a cloud of white dust, through pockets of colorful chipped-paint cottages gathered around the clear rushing river. We stopped for pop-corn and Mazza (brand of Mango juice), and took in the pure crisp air, peering up at the endless rolling hills, dripping with lush forest and disappearing into the mist. Erin exclaimed with pop corn in hand “I feel like I’m on vacation,” we all nodded in agreement.
By the time we arrived in Gangtok the sky was dark. We met up with our guide Arthur, who lead us down a short cut to our homestay. Here in this narrow dark path it began to rain, then pour. Two minutes in we were soaked to the bone, laughing/crying/splashing down the muddy trail to our destination. When we arrived, our host called out to each of us “welcome home!” Our dinner was fresh and flavorful (and much to my satisfaction, NOT fried) and our new host family so warm and hospitable.
The house is large enough to accommodate the two large host families, a student from Hawaii, and all 10 of us! It’s a palace. In the daytime, light filters in through every window, and a sweet breeze blows through the rustling curtains in every room. The view is breathtaking. Today we slept in, took care of laundry, and were briefed on Sikkim’s history by the delightful Arthur.
We’re all in good spirits here (how could we not be!), feeling grounded in this peaceful place. It’s is such a nice change of pace from the rush and grime of the city.
we thank you, love you and miss you from our hearts!
cobes and rie-rie (aka cobie and miriah)