And We're Off

We had a great last day in Darjeeling. Up early for breakfast and then off to the Happy Valley Tea Estate where women were in the tea fields picking leaves. We were then off to Tenzin Norgay's Himalaya Mountain Institute and Museum that is located in the Darjeeling Zoo. We caught the sights of some beautiful animals: a snow leopard, a dream leopard, both an Indian and Siberian tigera and Tibetian wolf. I don't really like zoos. They leave me feeling sorry for the animals, especially those intelligent cats that I am imagine must suffer the worst for being caged. The tigers here were pacing back and forth, back and forth over the same 10ft of their cage. We stopped in for momos and chai at the Hot & Stimulating Cafe before heading to the Busti Gompa to see their renovations of the 150-year-old monastery. We met a sweet monk there who chatted with us for a bit. We walked every where in the best weather we have had the whole time here. The valley stayed clear and you could see the tea farms and the mountains for miles. Luke is tying up a few things for work now and then we are catching a share-jeep to Siliguri to catch our 10:40pm train to Varanassi. We should arrive tomorrow afternoon after a 16-hour ride tonight.

More later from Varanassi!
oxo

ps Luke has posted tons of pictures from the Kailash trip. Click here to see them!