The never ending day- Everywhere in Darjeeling

What a day- we were everywhere! I feel like I have had 10 years of experiances just in one day.

Starting at 1:45 (I, Jessica, could not sleep again becuse I was worried we would miss our guide to Tiger Hill)... the rest of the clan got up at around 2:30 to get ready & we were out the door by 3:00am. We fumbled our way in the dark(we did not think to bring our headlamps) down the stairs and out side into the deserted streets. After a few minutes of waiting our guide came- he took us through the main town square to the taxi and we drove for 45 min. to Tiger Hill. We had to pay Rs 20 per person to get in plus Rs 10 for the cab. For that we got to sit inside a building while we waited & drink tea. Pema our guide talked to us in great detail about making tea. He lives in a tiny vilage just out of Darjeeling called Bama Gram next to the Happy Valley Tea Estate. We waited and more and more people showed up. As the sun peeked over the hills there was a loud cheer. We went outside to watch. The sunrize was fantastic! All around people were talking and ladies yelled "Coffee, Coffee" As the sun came up more it illuminated Kachenjunga & then Everest (far in the distance and very small)- for that there was another louder cheer & a cheer when the sun actually came up over the hill.  After that the place cleared out very quickly. In the rush to leave Tiger Hill all of the cars caused a traffic jam and all the drivers were honking and backing up to unclog the roadway. Thank goodness we walked back to Darjeeling. We stoped in some monestaries & small villages- a walk of 9Km in all. It was fantastic. We got back to the hotel at about 11:00 & after a long drink we headed out to get food at a resteraunt Pema recomended. The resteraunt was a bit crazy but the food was cheep & delicious- in all it cost $ .75 each and we were stuffed. Great vegetarian food! So what if the chairs were a little broken...  From there we wandered slightly lost trying to find the zoo. Shortly after we entered the Zoo we were standing looking into an enclosure, out of no where I(Heather) was accosted by a fruit.We got there late but managed to see all the animals and spend some time in the Himilayan Mountaineering Institute Museums as well (sadly no pictures in the museum).  Although they had a disturbing mural of a mountaneer rapelling from a flake.  I guess art does not always imitate life. Hopefully.

Great vegetarian food! So what if the chairs were a little broken...

From there we wandered throu a market. Heather & I got some spices - I sure hope we can actually bring them back to Canada without a problem!. We made our way toward the Happy Valley Tea Estate where Pema had told us "just ask for me". We asked around & no one knew him. :(  We gave in and made a call & he appeared with in 2 minutes. He took us to his village to meet his wife who runs a tea & Coffe Shop. She was to shy to come out to see us but she did bring us tea & yummy pastries. We sat and talked and looked at pictures for a long time. Pema then walked us back to our hotel (this is good becuse it was getting dark & I think I would have been lost). He showed us all the Christian Houses along the way- they all have star decorations up & lights to celebrate Christmas right now. He said on the Trek he will bring us special food to celebrate Christmas - also a weird fruit called the Tree Tomatoe... I am not sure about that one but a lot of people grow it in thier yards so it is worth a shot. In between all of that we managed to tape a few little interviews with people about thier travels (mostly other travellers at our hottel). Now we have to eat dinner & then go pack up. Tonight we will also have showers! The first time we have really bathed since getting here... to be honest I think I could go a few day more if it were not for the Trek comming up.

Jessica, Heather & Kathy.