What gives

 I decided to extend my stay in Kalimpong  by a day. The day being a festival ,getting a cab was difficult but providence works in ways we fail to undersgtand  often. The gentleman who was driving me happened to be from my church denomination but now worshipping in the local church so he was quick to offer help for the next day although he was already booked for the airport the next day.The hotel guys were finding it difficult to find a cab for the day but they offered to try so we left the hotel early morning on foot .We wanted to walk around a bit.At eight in the morning this particular sight tugged at my heart-strings and brought to memory a scene from more than a decade earlier when as a young doctor I had seen a similar scene which had moved me to the roots. These are young and middle aged men offering themselves for manual work.Anyone who needs them needs to come here and pick them up .There surely must be a more dignified way of doing this. Just today I was attendi...

 We started for Darjeeling at eight sharp after a leisurely English breakfast at the Elgin, The gentleman who was to drive us to and back to Kalimpong for the day happened to be from my mother church. The drive up was slow but the view and the places like Peshok, Lopchu, Jorebungalow all had a box in my head but I did not know where to place it . As you approach town a bold sign greets you. The Queen sure seems to be a self-assured dowager. While one can see a scuffle to project tourism in more amateur places,one has a tough time keeping up with who Darjeeling is. Two things strike you as you climb up the hill as one leaves Sikkim and enters Bengal. 1.The roads are picture perfect  and almost surreal and with it are signs which read 'Roads are mantained by PWD,West Bengal'. 2,Traffic jams are crazy.The government has to find a way to meander this problem in the hills. I had a list of things I wanted to see,I ended up sauntering about in the moody Darjeeling weather,just enjoye...

  I have been fighting my demons in Kalimpong .Elgin Silver Oaks was originally built by a famous British Jute Magnate in the year 1930’s and was later sold to Freiderich Deshraj who is said to have built the Teesta bridge.Freidreich Deshraj later sold it to Diamond Oberio. who added an extra floor and converted it to a boutique hotel.The traffic jam to Kalimpong   was back breaking and having reached the hotel a wee earlier than the check in time we found the housekeeping in a state of panic.While we waited for the rooms to be ready an old soul lead us to the flamboyant lounge,gave us the traditional scarves and a glass of juice. Another fifteen minutes and the room was partially ready so we parked our stuff and decided to saunter to the market.Kalimpong seems to be in a state of disarray.Tight fit town looked like the Gangtok of the eighties.People also seemed to be stuck somewhere in the time zone.Went looking for food in town and predictably ended up in Gompus.The place ...