A lesson more than a family tour to Darjeeling and Gangtok-Oct’2021

I am a 'tourist'

With a mentally free from Covid-fear, we first researched a lot in net to enjoy our itinerary. We mainly focused what are the disadvantages of being proactively prepared & tackled – like a steep pathway from hotel to tourist attraction. Also, there was a thought in my mind to surprise my wife & son with a new experience of roaming & staying, and fooding. Finally, we planned and booked tickets & hotels to save some expense and to be relaxed. Bag & baggage was packed as optimized to carry. Sufficient cash with debit card & credit card was in the wallet as I have faced the crisis in crowded spots and empty ATMs. Medicine and Insurance paper was included in the 'must do' list.

Before starting the journey, I was overloaded to complete the plant operational activities so that I can be with family and with 'alone-time’ not with 'company eating time’!

My wife more actively managed the perishable stock of sweets etc. as she had to close her café for a week. During the journey, she was maintaining the customer's demand like cake from the supplier over the phone – she is creating the Royrance brand image smartly!???

The half-yearly result proved that my son is serious in the study – so 'don't disturb me' during this tour!

Let us make our tour as 'entering into the outside world'….

I am 'road'

Guwahati to New Jalpaiguri train journey was full of suspense what to see. Whereas returning to home, more talking with side by tourist parties was about the excitements with evidence of snapshots & videos. I was lightly discussing with my son about the lacking of facilities in villages and the struggles to fulfill a dream compared to the scenery beauty moving fast through the windows!

Traveling by Xylo car was comfortable in hilly areas but the panic of accident could not be avoided from the back of the mind even Mr. Chopel, driver (M93396 58699), was confident, cooled & smiling throughout up and down. Riskier was overtaking / speedy driving by some young who are overexcited to do fun! Riding to Darjeeling requires more alertness due to the narrow road than driving in East Sikkim.?A long-distance with Teesta River from Darjeeling to Gangtok was only time pass. Gnagtok to Lachung @4hrs was a mixture of colourful series of hills and dangerous slopes for heart-stopping.?

Plants with different green shades, tiny flowers, ferns & mosses attached with rocks are eye-catching – Leaves can be equally beautiful with flowers! I don't know what the spiritual significance of these lives is and who is recognizing their identities!

Some hills are covered, some hills are naked, some hills are beautified by the zig-zag roads….some hills are crying or smiling in form of waterfalls I think – a pain of loneness or joy of connection?

Capturing video in front of Naga falls on the way to Lachung cannot be bypassed.

Somewhere clouds in the sky and somewhere only blue sky provoke to search the inner meaning of nature.

Open the mind to enjoy the path before reaching the destination!

I am a 'tourist attraction'

We felt 'last second to die' when climbing down to visit Rock garden – it is inclined more than 45 degrees! At the same time, the waves of the tea garden have balanced our eyes with a spontaneous feeling of 'need more' to see.

In the early morning, we followed the queue of cars crossing the jungle of pine trees – all are standing with an attitude of 'I can' and reached Tiger Hill. A thrill cannot be forgotten in life – snow white Kanchenjunga Mountain looks like melting from the top by the golden-red sunrise light.

But the Ghoom Toy Train station was not maintained as a showcase of heritage – We have the right so I asked the station manager why it was not cleaned and why it was devalued our feel-pride? Recruiting an authority position who is passionate to deploy the work value matters a lot. My son did a short trip by the steam engine but the surrounding location could not make him happy.

MG Marg in Gangtok is a source of passive income – well organized to roam, sit, eat and buy. With a touch of Thangka painting, Gangtok center is having a feel-good impression.

Lachung is a small village at a height of 8,858ft about 118km from Gangtok. In the lap of snow-covered peaks, there is a sound of calmness.

Yumthang Valley (Sikkim Valley of Flowers sanctuary) is at an elevation of 11693ft and is surrounded by the Himalayan Mountains.??We missed observing the rhododendron, the state flower that grows in March.?The Teesta River flows in a dancing mood in between the valley.????

Zero point@15,300ft was mesmerizing to us – though my wife faced the breathing trouble, we just stunt discovering the snowy mountain to touch, shivering by the chilled breeze, realizing the bigness of nature.

Tsomgo Lake@12,313ft from 40km from Gangtok, Ropeway & Yak riding was refreshing enough.

My total demand in the entire tour was to see from Thambi Point but the road was blocked by military activity forced us to miss it. I waited for 1hr then decided to come back as the day was ending. We didn't know whether the sky was clear to see the world from the top but now I regret my impatience.

I am 'food'

Fried pork momo and Steam chicken momo at Kunga Restaurant, Darjeeling, was 'must try' with a long waiting line.

Kasha Mutton at Sonar Bangla Hotel, Darjeeling, was rich, tasty as well comfort food.

No compromise in food quality when it is a family tour – so tasted the premium bakery items at Glenary restaurant & bar, Darjeeling.

The homemade pork & mushroom recipe at PEGS homestay, Gangtok, was healthy.

Don't expect extraordinary food at Norling residency, Lachung, – better to order simply rice, dal, mix veg, and egg curry.

The pure veg menu at Amba Regency, Gangtok, was just awesome. Breakfast at its roof highly organized was perfect for a selfie!

We all tourists at MG Marg became too hungry to control our emotions – so we booked a dining table at Oriental Hotel, Gangtok, and had our dinner after waiting – better to say sleeping on the table!?We accepted the service as normal because of high demand.

I am 'hotel'

We recommend the hotel rating as best to average as Amba Regency, PEGS homestay, Sonar Bangla, and Norling residency.

I am a 'tour operator'

Mr. Phurba, Connecting North East (M83720 38491), is a genuine guy whom we can rely upon. His brother Mr. Prema (M97344 54257) engaged with permit-related activity is very cooperative. The package cost was very competitive to deal.

I am 'nature'

Being a part of nature, we should be responsible to take care of the environment, we should connect to make mutual happiness, and we should balance the sustainable co-existence of human creation and God's creation.

A golden handshake with nature as a part of a tour is an art – so we need to change our mindset to learn how to import the goodness of nature into our home, office, and society.

If re-birth is believed, then we are the ultimate decision-maker on how to live in this world once again!

SARAT?ROY

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