Days 8 & 9. Siri Khola to Darjeeling to Hyderabad

Day 8: 22/10/2011

Siri Khola to Rimbik & Darjeeling.

Day 9: 23/10/2011

Darjeeling to Hyderabad

Leisurely morning at Siri Khola. Another lovely day in the Himalaya. Most of the trekkers at the Hut were slow to get going. I went to the stream for a wash. It is the last chance to feel the cool water. Then a stroll on the Bridge. We were here 5 days ago, setting out on our small adventure. Now we are at the last stage. It is just a 2 hour walk to Rimbick. The path to Rimbick will soon be a road. Already Seppi, half way between Rimbick & Siri Khola, is motorable. Progress will bring the road & commerce to Siri Khola. This lovely junction of streams might soon become a village & a town. But, today is the chance to enjoy the sights & sounds & the swaying of the bridge.

The Guides also were in a good mood. It was the end of the work week for them too. Pratap, our guide, had made our trip a pleasant one. We hadn't wanted a guide & we had not been sure if Pratap was the right person. But he had done everything to make our trip a success. Cheerful throughout, he had been eager to please. He was justly proud of the trek & all its attractions & he made sure we enjoyed it. He paced the walk such that I wouldn't be troubled & at the same time we reached the destinations in good time. He was sure footed & he knew every path, & importantly, every person. Once at the Hut, he made sure we were comfortable, that we got our Tea and our hot meals. But he never intruded. At Gorkhey he even went out of the way in helping with the meals. He even cleaned out the toilet before we used it. He is a good guy & good guide & we had enjoyed his company.

How about the trip? For me it was an adventure. Having been used to the comfort of home & the 3 ready meals everyday this trip was a perfect adventure.

It was not too difficult. Just difficult enough to get us to the Hut at the end of the day with tired muscles.

It was not too remote. Sandakphu & Phalut were lonely places, but we were always near people.

We were not really roughing it, but it was enough to give me a sense of what it could be. At every place there is a comfortable Hut and a warm meal.

It was not too cold. Sandakphu & Phalut brought the chills but that too was an experience.

And for all that we had some of the best walking, some of the best scenery, some of the best sounds, some of the best smells, some of the best people that I could imagine. I couldn't have asked for more.

I got to visit a corner of our country, I have never been to before. I got to see a different culture, a different lifestyle, a different environment. The Singalila Ridge Trek is a happy trek which can be done with your family with a little bit of training.

I could have enjoyed it more if I had known more about trees and some botany, if I could have identified some of the lovely trees and flowers in the forest. I should have known the names of the mountains I was going to see. I could have been fitter & not struggled at a few spots. But, there is always a next time & there will be. I want to get closer to these mighty mountains.

We were in Rimbick by 11:00 & we marched into the Green Hill restaurant to get a taste of the great Chow Mein & Corn Soup. The Tata Sumo took us by to Darjeeling as taxis here do, with the the additional incident being a flat tire.

I had one more memorable scene that day. As I walked towards the Chowrastha, the Tibetans were taking out a Candle-light march protesting about immolation in Tibet. There must have been a few hundreds & they were led by School Girls in Uniform. The girls were chanting rhythmically & loudly. It is a haunting memory.

Breakfast in Darjeeling on a terrace. We said farewell to Kanchenjunga. It is as majestic here as it was in Phalut, but the Buddha was not sleeping. Kumbhakarna presents a different angle here.

Ramesh, our driver to Bagdogra, came with the news that a bridge in Bhijen Bari had collapsed killing tens of people & that some of his family was involved. He took our permission to hand over the driving duties to a nephew while he went to Bhijen Bari. We reached Bagdogra well in time & were in Hyderabad by 9:00 pm.