First two days in Darjeeling

Two days into my stay in Darjeeling and the clouds have not yet broken - The air is full of moisture and the clouds steam over the ridges as I walk through the town. The market place is shrouded in mystery with a cloak of fog/cloud rolling around the streets revealing only slowly each of the lights of stores and restaurants as I pass. It is a magical place where people politely nod and call ‘Nameste’ as they pass.

Darjeeling has a wide range of attractions to keep visitors occupied for days. My first visit was to the zoological gardens and Himalayan Mountain Institute museum (100r entry). The zoo is a well designed and spacious environment for most of the animals which are cared for by attentive staff in purpose built enclosures with informative and clearly laid out on small notice boards. I spent at least an hour walking around and was taken by the ‘Red pandas’ who were active and inquisitive strolling over their large purpose built structures, I was captivated by the way in which one of the pair came over to the edge of the enclosure as if to enquire - Why are you so interested in me? Is this close enough for a good shot? And it was.

The Himalayan Mountain Institute Museum is on the same site as the zoo and has some memorable nostalgia from our mountaineering exploits. The Everest exhibit is quite moving with 3D models of the Himalayan range and another of the tallest mountains of the world. There was also an extensive range of climbing equipment from a range of successful attempts on the summit including a pair of tiny boots worn by a climber who had lost his toes to frostbite. Spending an hour here is easy with every exhibit providing an incite into how mountaineering has changed over time - it is hard to comprehend how these brave and adventurous men ever managed to succeed in reaching the peak of Everest with the equipment available in 1953... Simply amazing.

Have met several wonderful people during my stay here including those on gap years from work, holidays and working visits. I would like to take the time to mention Iain and Sarah who I met in Kurseong and who were keen to complete some hiking around Darjeeling - They are a fantastic couple and I wish them every happiness in their future as Ian proposed during their stay here and Sarah accepted :)