Sikkim Monasteries

Gangtok is famous for being a Buddhist pilgrimage site and so of course we had to see a few.

Rumtek Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located just outside of Gangtok. It was about less than 2 hrs drive...considering the Indian roads.

Rumtek Monastery....turning the prayer wheels. 

This old woman was begging inside the monastery...which took me by surprise.

The second monastery that we visited was the Lingdum Monastery near Ranka. It's not so old monastery built in 1999 but it is quite big and gaining popularity.

Lingdum Monastery

Tsuklakhang Palace and Monastery is a Buddhist royal monastery. This is the main centre for prayers with an assembly hall in the centre. The place also served as a location for coronation, marriages and victory ceremonies among Sikkim royalty.

The entrance to The Palace. The Sikkimese guy, I forget his name....Sangay?...guiding us. So nice of him!

Two lil monks!

The Palace Monastery

The Palace Gate

Gangtok!

The trip to Gangtok was more than I asked for! Even though I was down with a severe cold...running nose, cough! cough!! I really enjoyed my trip along with Sophie, my travelling companion/friend from France! I also got to meet few of my friends from college days and the re-union dinner which my friends hosted took me by surprise!

Gangtok is the capital of the mountainous north eastern state of Sikkim in India. After the British rule, it existed as an independent monarchy but joined India in 1975.

Just wandering around Gangtok....visiting some monasteries and catching up with friends.

River Teesta which flows through Sikkim

Gangtok by night!

Early morning town view from my friend's terrace.

Happy Losoong! (This is the Sikkimese New Year, of the Bhutia tribe.)

Winter Carnival - Dancers

Sikkim Chief Minister Chamling with the Sikkimese actress who also is the Brand Ambassador for the Winter Carnival. (Don't know her name though!)

A Sikkimese Lepcha man with a typical hat.

Changlo Chen Hotel where my friends took me for dinner!

Wall decor in the restaurant

"Thukpa" Tibetan Noodle Soup

Oh Darjeeling!

An unplanned trip...spur of the moment! Sophie & myself just decided over a cup of tea from a pavement chai wala! (near Mother Teresa's home) to buy a ticket and just go!! It's been an adventure and we loved every minute of our time here!

Just 2 days prior, we  booked our train tickets from Kolkata to Siliguri on Tatkal Scheme. (Tatkal - This is a ticketing program established by Indian Railways. The scheme is used for booking journeys at very short notice.) The train's departure time around 7.30 pm......and till about 7pm....our tickets still hadn't got confirmed! But nothing was going to stop us from travelling that night. So we cancelled the train tickets....called a Bus Service company......and just made it on to their last trip for the day!

Kolkata to Siliguri.....it was an overnight journey. We were to have reached by 9-10am the next morning. However we hadn't considered Indian roads and traffic! We reached Siliguri late afternoon...about 3-4ish! Our journey wasn't over yet.

From Siliguri we took the local "sumo" taxis (it's an SUV which takes about 8 passengers) to Darjeeling. This was around 5ish in the evening and about 9pm we were dropped at the middle of the Darjeeling town...taxi stand. From there...in the cold, we trudged with our backpacks looking for a hotel! Yes, we hadn't pre-booked as we thought we would be there in the morning and plenty of time to search for one. Talk about going with the flow and a travel companion who was just game for anything and was just as understanding and adaptable to the situation! Merci beaucoup Sophie!

We checked in to a hotel. Went out for some dinner. Met up with 2 other travellers who Sophie befriended in Kolkata. Made plans to see the sun rise at Tiger Hills the next day. Life's beautiful!

Here's some photos from this trip.

A view of the Darjeeling town from somewhere close to the Japanese Temple.

Another view of the Darjeeling town from the Rope Way.

Yet another view of the Darjeeling Town from down the Mall Road on the way to the zoo.

Kanchenjunga view from the War Memorial.

Brrrr! It was frickin cold!! Subhoshish & Sophie. Woke up real early to leave by 3am to catch the sunrise at Tiger Hill.

Awesome view to start the day with! Dawn breaking over Kanchenjunga....the reflection of the sun seen over the mountains. View from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling.

The lil Nepalese girl at the end of the Rope Way.

Himalayan wolves!

Hot Stimulating Cafe! A small tinned roof cafe which I had to check it out....famous for Momos & Tongba! :)

Wondered if the car was an offering! Yes, that's a small mandir (temple) carved into the rocks!:)

Sophie just excited at being here in Darjeeling! Love Revolver!! Our hotel! I made a good choice!!

Moi approximately here at this coordinate! At the Revolver!! :)

Beatles theme hotel with electric beds!

Socotra once again!

Loved Socotra so much that I brought a group here. There were seven of us and it was an amazing trip once again!

Took the Felix Airlines - Dubai to Socotra.

Yes, we're sleeping in tents in Aomak Beach......all arranged by Abdullah!

Kosta says "Leave Nothing".....so the chicken curry has been all polished off!

Once again Qalansiyah...and we are taking the boat.

We did see the dolphins!

The old man's beach.

The next day we head to Wadi Druher. It's a short trek through the canyon with water flowing.....a lovely place. At the end of it there is a beautiful natural pool where one can cool off if it's too hot. The area is home to many "Dessert Roses" and that time of the year it was all in full bloom and so looked really beautiful. Having lunch under the shade.....life is beautiful!

"3 Dessert Roses"!

Lunch being served!

Waiting, while the guys change the flat tire.

Debra in the cave

Kosta snorkeling!

Delishah Eco Lodge

A stream running near the Deilisha Beach

Last day before we are dropped to the airport we take in the sights and sounds of the capital Hadibo.

Gas station.....need to fuel up!

Sight of Yemeni women......very rare! Had to take a photo.

 That's a car still in use!

Drive a donkey!

Sinisa trying to converse with the locals!

A protest march in the market!

The group along with our Yemeni hosts.

And as we were waiting to board the flight back to Dubai.....Sinisa got this postcard and had all of us signed....."Socotra always".