Trekking

As per Norm Jr.'s request....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS-O6jW4sxw

Enjoy, more to come.

Trek Pictures Day 1

Note: Last picture is beggning of the day... first pictures are the end of the day. These are a very small amount of pictures, and with limited internet I'm trying to post as many as possible.

A small lake with a wooden pathway to a shrine/temple. And... RAMBO! These two pictures are from the beginning of day 2... Thus ends day 1... more pictures to come soon.

The room in the hut where we slept. Mine was the second bed from the far wall. And part of the group. From left to right: Jim, Biren, Myself, Mortasa, Dominic, and two of our porters.

A single hut in the woods, accompanied by mist makes for a creepy scene.

A small trekkers hut at Bakhim - about a forty minute walk from Tshoka. Behind me was the guest house where horrible things happened.

Some Views... Misty Forests.

Leeches!!

Some of the bridges we crossed.

A view from Yaksum, and Tomba

So what's next?

So... the current tentative plan -

I have finally had a few days to relax here in Gangtok. After the incessant traveling of the past week or so, some days to let it all soak in have been nice.

Don't get me wrong, seeing all those places were incredible, but moving around alot does take it's toll. But a new plan has emerged! On Tuesday, me and two other travelers I met at my hotel depart for the Trekking trail and National Park Entrance at Yuksom, in Western Sikkim.

From there we will have a 2 day trek through Tshoksa, to the summit view station of Dzongri. Barring any bad weather, we should be able to see the Great Himalayan Mountain range as well as the third tallest mountain in the world, Mount Kanchenzdonga (28,208 ft, 8,586 m). The trek will be the three of us, some porters, a cook, and a guide... I hate paying for expensive types of trips, but with this... I think I'll have to bite the bullet and go with it. Oh, and what a delicious bullet it should be. The pictures of previous expeditions look incredible.

Ideally, I wanted to trek alone, but that might have been a bit naive. We are pretty far up in altitude, and people getting altitude sickness on the trek is not unheard of. Also, the weather up here can be unrelenting, and unlike getting stuck in the forests of the North Eastern U.S (Harriman would be considered a joke, here), no one will find you if you get lost. There is plenty of time for solo treks in other far reaches of the globe.

As I write this, I am in a cafe/bar with free Wi-Fi and the power just went out. They just delivered me a candle so that I could see as I type. Only in India.

After the 4 days of trekking, we arrive back in Yuksom. I figured I would just head back to Gangtok, jump in a jeep and go to NJP. That is, until I found out there ARE places you can walk alone to.

About 12km south of Yuksom, there is the Buddhist Monsatery of Tashiding. Apparently there are numerous monasteries hidden amongst the foliage in these misty, forest covered hills. From there, a three hour walk west brings you to yet another Monastery, the Monastery of Pemayangste. On top of all that, just a little more south of this latter monastary there is the hill city of Gyalshing, which provides shared jeep rides back down to NJP and Silliguri. What fortune! The ability to do a real mountain trek, as well as walk alone through the hills to various Monasteries and hill stations!

I keep expecting to wake up and either be at home, or be on the plane on my way to India. I'm crossing my fingers this is all real.

So... Gangtok > Yuksom. TREKKING. Yuksom walking to Tashiding, to Pemayangste, (with intermingled exploring) to Gyalshing. Then back down the mountain.

I am thinking of retiring to Hampi (Eco-Daya) for my last month before work begins. Get some real alone, peace and quiet time in an amazing, sanctuary type of environment.

This looks like its turning out to be more and more exciting. Let's just hope it doesn't rain as it has in the past couple hours. Hell, let's hope it DOES rain. It will make the trail more treacherous, exciting, and challenging.

Volentis Nil Difficilis

Gangtok Pictures

A couple views from my hotel roof. The clouds change by the minute and sometimes you can go out and see the middle picture... almost nothing. Other times the sky breaks and you see what the picture on the left is showing... a beautiful sky, with cloud covered, forested hills. Rain or shine, its beautiful here.

Pictures from walking to the Zoo

SNOW LEOPARD - RED PANDA - AND CIVETS

JAGUARS AND WOLVES

As a side story:

There are a lot of side paths at the zoo, going through small patches of trees and underbrush. I trudged up one particularly muddy one, thinking 'as long as I don't jump a fence, I shouldn't be in with any animals...' Well, I got to the top of this hill, panting, sweaty, when I look up - just to meet eyes with a female jaguar looking into my very soul. Let me tell you I nearly fell back and slid all the way back down that path.

The male and female were in seperate cages. The male at first was pacing back and forth, and the female relaxing on a log (as you can see). The male came up to me a couple times, sniffing around, seeing what I was about - but continued his pacing. Once or twice he rubbed up against the fence and I got a chance to pet him breifly. Then the female was wondering why I was still there and came to check me out.

To my amazement, and utter joy, she stayed for a bit. And then she also rubbed up against the fence and I got a chance to touch the soft, soft fur. That touch seemed to have lasted, because for the next minute or so she pushed into the fence, and I dug my fingers further into her fur. Behind her ear, on her shoulder blades, neck, even (and I admit my foolishness in going this far) but was able to pet her underbelly a bit. It was an incredible experience. She had growled a few minutes earlier, and that sound alone was enough to put me into my place and know not to cross it's path. But how could I miss the opportunity to pet a live, adult jaguar?

At most I would have lost a finger or two, no big deal.

And if I get a chance to load the video of it, I will.