Darjeeling II

 A day that was dictated by nature. Accepted the dictum with a lot of respect and did what I was supposed to do, NOTHING.

Day started with a slightly different thought in mind.

Got up at 0500 to head out to the Tiger Hill View Point. Was greeted at the reception, and asked politely if I had a pass, which I obviously did not. Who goes and gets a pass !! Guy told me I’d get stopped before I knew what, so turned back without reaching Thar.

Spent a couple of hours at the resort view point looking at the mountains as the sun rose.

 

The clouds rolled in along with the sun rising.

 

Any thoughts of doing anything else quickly died.

Had a hearty breakfast in the midst of the hordes that are staying here. Thought I’d grab what little was left of the disappearing sun. Got back to my room round 1000, placed my bottom on the comfortable sofa, turned on some music, and closed my eyes. Was spoken up by the staff who wanted to clean the room. By the time they were done, it was 1230.

The staff cleaning was concerned that I had not gone out like the masses. Told him the clouds had shut one part of my pleasure, and traffic the other.  The conversation had him tell me that I did not need a pass to go to the view point once the sun had risen. Since it was past kudi time, I headed to the main activity area. Manager, brimming with concern at my presence at the resort instead of mindlessly walking some tourist spot, grabbed me and asked the me same questions. And, got the same set of replies. He told me that a pass was required at all times. Decided that I would anyways get a pass.

The road out of the resort is a one bus wide road, steep, with loads of curves, local shops and locals of all sizes and forms. Navigated my way thru that to the traffic ridden highway, strictly fooling maps. 10 minutes later, maps stopped me saying the police station I had requested was to my left. All that was there was a steep drop down to who knows where.

Got to manual mode, and asked a local where the police station was. Well,he was helpful and had nothing to do. So asked me why. Explained my reasons. He laughed and said that once the sun rises, no one asks for anything. There are two gates. The first is operated till the sun rises, to control tourist traffic. The second is a Forest check post that is always manned. So, unless I went at 0400, I did not need a pass. And, he was pretty confident.

I believed him, Large part of my mind wanted out of traffic. And, the thought of getting in to Darjeeling, navigating to the marketplace, finding parking, scared me. The monoxide was hitting me hard. Found a place to turn the Thar.

Reached the road to the resort. Started up. Had a Maruti come my way. Navigated a bit to pass each other. Past me there was no place to navigate. By the time we were done and passed each other, I saw a mini lorry in my rear view. Maruti was stuck. Then saw a Police jeep ahead of me. I was stuck. So, tucked my Thar as close to the curb as possible, switched of engine and waited for the situation to resolve itself. And, it did, fast. Local shopkeepers stepped out. Told the Maruti who by now had been hustled parallel to me to stay where he was. Moved me up along the curb. Manoeuvred the police jeep past me. Got me past the car parked couple of car lengths ahead of me. Got the jeep to park where I had been . Manoeuvred the Maruti to where I had been moved before I scooted. And, all was clear.

Got to the resort and did what any person on a cloudy day should do. Had a couple of Old Monk. Then some fantastic Pork in Raiku Sag.

Got back to room by 1445. The clouds were still covering anything and everything. Slept till 1645. Stepped out to look at the surroundings. Nothing had changed.

This is being posted a day late. Internet was on the blink last evening