GANGTOK

Cousin Julie, Joe & Evie, from New Zealand, meet us at the airport for the flight to Bagdogra.  

From here it's a long, long drive along the river valley to Gangtok.

Welcome lunch at Norma's uncle & aunt's house

with delicious home made food, served by members of the family.

Next day we visit Tsomgo Lake, a glacial lake in East Sikkim.

The lake is associated with many myths and legends 

and is revered by many Sikkimese as sacred.

Altitude 12,310 ft

Yak rides around the Lake are popular.

Evie is given the biggest Yak!

A really memorable experience

and great fun.

Next day Julie's husband Andy arrives and Dikki acts as tour guide

at Do-drul Chorten Stupa 

where there are 108 prayer wheels with mantras inscribed on them in Tibetan.

Lunch at the Taste of Tibet Restaurant ... speciality deep fried momos.

Origami swans.

Evening meal at Anjali's

Tomorrow Julie, Andy, Joe & Evie will visit the Temi Tea Plantation,

 and the rest of us will head for Lachung.

DEHLI

Our second visit to Delhi.
This time the crazy traffic, hogs and monkeys on the pavement, and
the general noise and chaos of the place is slightly less of a shock to the system.

Our friendly Tuk-Tuk driver, Baba Singh

takes us to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Delhi

where the intertwining bylanes sell authentic Indian food, delicacies and sweets, 

sarees, books, clothing, shoes, electronic goods etc. etc. 

Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India.

Then it's back to the oasis of our wonderful hotel, where we dress for dinner

and head for the bar to await the arrival of our guests

Norma, Ningku, Vikram and Mona

(not the best photo, but the best night)

The following night Sean arrives and we celebrate with champagne!

Tomorrow we fly to Sikkim

KATHMANDU

It's been a while since we have been able to access the blog, so for those of you still with us ...

Our time in China has come to an end.  We are grateful to have had the opportunity to visit such an interesting place, but also grateful that we don't have to live there.  We have many memories and stories to share, but not on this blog.  'Nuff said!

Our next stop, Nepal.

The flight from Lasha to Kathmandu offers us the most amazing view of Mount Everest.

We are met at the airport by James Lama, a old schoolfriend of Norma's.  

It's so good to have a local guide.

We quickly unpack and head for the Bakery Cafe where we meet Sanomaya, 

a friend of a friend, to deliver photos and gifts from the U.K.

The streets around the hotel are fascinating, filled with colourful sights and sounds

and delightful cafes serving Kathmandu local beer!

The local transport is pretty cool too.

There is a fuel crisis here at the moment, petrol is not getting through, 

so we are particularly thankful that James has been saving his fuel for our visit.

He very kindly arranges a personal tour around the historical centre.

Buddhist Monastery, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, popularly know as "Golden Temple", 

believed to have been consecrated in 12th century.

Pashupatinath, a sacred Hindu temple located on the banks of the Bagmati River

Wooden funeral pyre. Cremations on these platforms are a common activity.

Sadhus are wandering ascetic yogis, who are trying to acquire liberation 

from the cycle of death and rebirth by meditating. 

The Great Boudha Stupa, much seen on the news following the recent earthquake.

An important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis.

We like Kathmandu, it's a place of contrasts ... 

here we observe how many people can fit into, and onto, a mini bus

then retreat to the wonderful Garden of Dreams,

before returning to our rather unusual hotel

Too brief a stay here ... definitely on the "to return to" list.

LHASA

For the first time on our trip we join a small tour group to visit 

Drepung Monastery at the foot of Mount Gephel.

Prayer wheels

Covering an area of 250,000 square meters, it held 7,700 monks in total and 

possessed 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday.

The ground of the monastery is organized on the caves and temples for Jamyang Qoigyi, 

together with two magnificent white pagodas,

 along with many cultural relics and statues.

Next stop the Potala Palace, built in the 7th century and extended 

to it's present size by the 5th Dalai Lama.

It is in two parts, the White Palace and the Red Palace.

 It is thirteen stories high and includes living quarters, temples, 

tomb stupas and monk dormitories.

 Monks debating

Wonderful view from the top and a perfectly clear sky apart from these 3 little clouds!

The people are so photogenic

Rickshaw ride back to the hotel

 through the many attractive old buildings lining the main street,

There are also many interesting little cafes and bars.

Evening meal in a typical Tibetan restuarant with our small tour group.  

Great night out with folk from around the world; Singapore, Russia, Iran, America and Wales.