Day 11 Lachung North Sikkim 9th July 09

Window view


Still from the window


View in almost greyscale


View from our bed room window.

We started the with “Bed tea” @ 0630hrs. Tea served on bed. Quite interesting concept and felt good to be treated like a VIP for once. Hehehe….

Stirring tea

his fav pic of himself..

Concentrating on the scenery

excuse me for the messy hair..

Afterwards headed downstairs for breakfast, poori looking food with potato gravy… Nice..

Savouring the poori

Up close

Tibetan ladies going to work..

me sitting outside the lodge

Up the road from the lodge

Another view of the morning

its only 0730hrs but the sun seems to be at its highest ..

Sunlight...

Itinerary for today is sight seeing to Yumthang Valley at 11,800ft (translated Valley of flowers) and Yumesamdong at 14,000ft where there’s a hot spring.

Diff view

First view of Yumesamdong

another view

First stop was Yumesamdong. The journey took around 2 hours and I tell you, its worth every minute spent in the vehicle going thru bumpy off road terrain. We were like just a stones throw away from a mountain peak!! I almost wanted to try climb up the steep slope to get to the top. Like jakun because never see snow covered mountain up close. And as you can imagine, its quite cold!! The weather is hot and sunny but when the wind blows,Brrrrrrrrrr…… damn cold. The view from where we were was fantastic, wonderful, beautiful, guess there isn’t any word to describe its beauty of the surrounding mountains at this valley.

We went to try feel the water at the hot spring. Yes it was hot, Sudan asked if we wanted to bath in the hot spring. I just shake my head cause I know after coming out from the hot spring, I will be damn freezing cold…. So I opt out even I came prepared.. Ramli said will try afterwards, but didn’t … We weren’t accustomed to the cold….

Jumping with joy

me too

Taking in the view

View after mini trekking ..

Lying down to enjoy the view..

We tried climbing up nearer to the mountain up a tiny winy hill and was already panting.. Sat and lay at the clearing for about 15mins to enjoy the view and take it all in rather than keep taking pictures but never enjoy the scenery. Small flowers everywhere on the grass patches and even poppy flowers in blue. And not forgetting the yak dung that was almost everywhere. Cindy stepped on 1 piece but luckily it wasn’t as fresh so didn’t make much “damage”.. The weather was just so fantastic, all clear and blue skies even for this monsoon and low season.

Yaks grazing

Up close

Im scared they might attack me..

It’s difficult for us to describe this wonderful place and best is that you could see it with your own eyes…

Yumthang Valley

Yumthang Valley, valley of Flowers

After, we headed to Yumthang Valley, a big green clearing with small flowers in bloom. There is also a river running thru the valley.. The view as compared to Yumesamdong wasn’t as fantastic but still beautiful. Sudan told us during winter time this place will turn into a winter wonderland with people coming from all over India to ski and play with the snow. Wow that sounds fun!! Sudan doesn’t really like the high season time as he said that too many Indians especially Bengalis makes the place all so noisy starting from 4am in the mornings.. kekekekekke Maybe isn’t good idea to come during the high season I guess but the weather will be better and the flowers will be in full blooms and the whole valley will be covered with flowers of all kinds..

We sat at the stall had some black tea and cashew biscuits and headed back down to Lachung for lunch back at our lodge “Seela Inn Resorts”. We are anxious to know what was prepared for us by the 19 year old chef Sonu..Rice, sliced stir fried potatoes, cheese cubes with curry gravy, dhal, and papadum, simple but nice. At first we thought the cheese cubes are tofu cooked like mapo tofu style. My first bite, eeeerrrmmm I had a hard time swallowing as it is too weird for me.. Cheese cooked savoury, but the gravy was nice. Ramli enjoyed it so much he finish everything. Good lunch for him…

trying to call someone?

can get?

is cold

We sat down at the porch looking at people passing, and the Grandma of Seela Inn sorting out the 2 crates of tomatoes that she just bought from the vegetable vendor.. She was just sitting right be side us. She turned and said something in Tibetan which we don’t understand at all. And pointed to the tomato and to touch her skin.. I guess is eating tomato will give you smooth skin… Than she continued talking to me in Tibetan.. Something about Yumthang Valley, beauty beauty… Than after the grandson Sonam translated for us … She asked if we went to bath in the hot spring… So we showed her, its too cold… She continued sorting the tomatoes and later she showed me her hand and held my hand and touch her face… Seems to be saying that her hands are wrinkled and mine still smooth and ‘beauty”… wahahahah I told her no mine is very dry and wrinkled too. We can feel her warmth even though we cannot understand a single word she say. She is dressed in her traditional Tibetan costume, hair pleated with pink and blue strings and tied up neatly. Her face wrinkled with 67 years of wisdom.. How we wish that we could speak Tibetan there and then..

Cant get enough

Stroll around the village for a while then headed back to the room to do some editing on the pictures while we wait for dinner!!

Anxiously waiting for dinner

Time pass so fast and it was already dinner time 1930hrs. Went downstairs and see what was prepared for this Tibetan feast… Sonam introduced to us their traditional Tibetan dish, a steam bun looking mantou hand made with stir fried cabbage and tomato stir fried with dry chillies and garlic and also a simple vegetable soup.. Dig in!! As usual dinner was great.

Chit chatted with Sudan, he told us his expedition to Mt Tallur @ 7000+m (might be wrong spelling).. He say it was so cold and near to the sun that the skin on their faces peeled and was burnt black and their lips chapped so badly… Even moisturizer wont be able to help.. Told us there is one summiter who fill up a water bag with hot water to put in his sleeping bag to keep warm, but in the middle of the night he kept shouting for Sudan cause his water bag was leaking and wet his sleeping bag.. Wahahahahahahah Sudan laughed … Than the topic change to cats, cause we didn’t see many cats in India.. There are stray dogs everywhere. Then he told us, actually in the afternoon he still have the other half of the chicken he bought yesterday… They left the chicken in the kitchen than later saw the small little cat took it and ate it all… Ooohhhh we said no wonder there is no chicken for lunch today… Wahahahha the cat was a resident of the lodge…

Elder Sis, Brother and baby sis

Arent he adorable... His eyes just melts your heart..

Family pic

After a while 3 little kids came into the dining area.. 2 girls and a boy whom we saw loitering outside yesterday.. The little boy was grabbed into the dining room yesterday night by Sonu as he wanted to give him a chappati with fried cabbage… He was real cute, his face was all dirty and his pants were dropping that we could see his butt crack… He walked out in his blue rubber boots, so cuuuuuuutee!! I’m happy to see him again today, walked over and wanted to talk to them, but the moment he saw me he ran out like speedy Gonzales… Kekekekek so I spoke with the little girl with of course a translator, the grand daughter of Tibetan Grandma… The eldest is 7 years old and she is carrying her 1 year old sister and the little speedy Gonzales was her 4 year old brother.. I looked out and see him running across the streets in the rain screaming…Ahhhh ahhhhh ahhhh and when no one was looking he ran in from the other door and tried to peep at us from behind a partition… Ahaahaaa when I stood up and wanted to approach he ran out again criss crossing the streets … So adorable la this little boy.. After running out a few times finally his elder sister manage to grab him inside but only for a while then out he went again… But Finally he mum grabbed him inside cause I said that I would like to take a photo of them… Felt bad cause the mum hit him and scolded him…

After the children came 3 police officers who was visiting Lachung from Gangtok on duty. One of them was interested in our EEE Pc so asked us some questions and we started chit chatting with them… They recommended places for us to go in Sikkim which we wish we could be able to go but due to the visa dates we had to move on.. Maybe another time we told them… They told us that to get out of India and travel Singapore is their dream… As they say to travel outside is too costly for them… So sad… : ( but told them if they were to come can always contact us… But we didn’t exchange contacts.. wahahhaha But took Sonam’s FB id so we could keep in touch…

By then it was already 1020hrs … wow time really flies here … So we retired to our rooms to get some sleep… Tomorrow we will be leaving this beautiful place….

Day 10 Lachung Village, North Sikkim 8th July 2009

Morning came with Ramli visiting the toilet for 2 times at the wee hours of 0300hrs in the morning… Seems that his diarrhoea have not recovered since that day. After Subuh went back to sleep and got up at about 0700hrs to have a chilling shower and pack up for Yumthang Valley.

Carried our 15 to 16 kgs back pack and our day packs, headed up hill to Altitude Adventure. This uphill walk was unbearing for me, I think I’m going to faint as I feel the bag is bringing me down and pressing into my internal organs and I feel my lungs will collapse soon.. Wahahha exaggerating la me.. Its just tiring la for not training first for this trip.. we took a medium pace 15mins walk uphill to reach our dest in which a normal walk w/o backpack take about 10mins only. Maybe it wasn’t that bad.

Anyway when we reached the shop, I quickly dumped my back and started wiping off sweats all over my face and neck. The owner saw us and advised that we are still the only ones going, so I guess no choice la. Paid the balance and than headed to the jeep with our guide Mr Sudan. Met with our driver not sure what name at the car park and started out journey.

Lachung Village is 140kms away from Gangtok and is at 8100ft above sea level. Get ready for the humpty, bumpy ride. About 15 mins outside of Gangtok the driver stopped at a meat market out of no where and went searching for the halal chicken which Ramli requested earlier. First shop wasn’t successful and the second shop! Yeah they have !! we are so looking for dinner today.. At long last some meat for me….

Drove for a bout 1 hr later and came to a 7 Sisters Waterfall which is 500m high and have 7 steps to the waterfall that’s why the name. Took some wet pictures and visited the extremely clean public toilet and continued with our journey.


so high ...


my turn

1145hrs we reach a Everest Hotel to have lunch. Sudan spoke with the lady for a while and only understood that they haven’t prepare any lunch as this is the low season they didn’t want the food to go to waste. So they could only offer Waiwai Masala Vege Maggie noodle with diced tomatoes and onion, apples and black tea. Continued our journey after 5 hours on the jeep seems everyone felt sleepy even the DRIVER!! I can see from the rear view mirror that his eyes are half close half open, he is trying his bests to stay awake. I was thinking no!!!! Please be alert!! I don’t want to fall down the hill ok please!! Luckily about 10mins later we reached a check point and the driver went and freshen up . Phew!!

The mountains and hills of north Sikkim is so different from East Sikkim(Gangtok). There are waterfalls at most of the corners of the mountains or hills. Small, Medium or Large .. Some even flows right onto the road, there is one particular one which flows at a big area on the road, the motorists stopped and parked right in the flow and make use of this free water to wash their car. Good idea!! Only if Singapore have a few of this waterfalls, we don’t have to rely on our neighbours for water.


Bhimala Waterfalls


My legs elongated

Stopped at a Bhim Nala Waterfalls just by the road, took some pictures and left.

After another few hours finally we arrive at Lachung Village at 1533hrs at our rest place Seela inn Resort for the night. This village is fantastic, all natural with mountains and valleys surrounding the village and a river the flows so strongly down the village. You can hear the roaring of the water from the road. After admiring the scenery for a while we checked into our room. Wow first sight!! I was totally impressed as this was to me “heaven” after so many days of crappy rooms and filthy toilets.. Yahooo and the room actually smells so clean and their sheets look so clean. We had frontal view to the village and the river, woooo!!! Next was the toilet, wow clean clean clean and for the first time I could step into the toilet barefooted.. And most importantly they have heater!! Yahooooo another something to look forward after dinner!! Hot shower!! Finally!!


Dining area

After dumping our stuffs in the room we went out to find some adventure. Walked along the river took some photos and than tried walk up hill looking for anything… As this is really the low season, most of the hotels are close for holiday and seems that we are the only tourists in town. No one bothered us much, just look when we pass and let us be on our own again … This village is so amazingly peaceful and quiet, wow I don’t mind staying here for a few days,… Just want to take in the peacefulness which I haven’t found for a while. Just strolling along the houses and hotels with Ramli, watching the few cows grazing and the colorful flowers with mountains surrounding and guarding over us.. Waaaahhh another “heaven” for me… Weather was cool and comfortable, I couldn’t ask for more..


Little Domah ..


trying to shake hands with her..


peace?


kekekek

Slowly we stroll back to the hotel passing children playing some rock “hantam” game and young men playing makeshift cricket… We sat at the porch of the hotel sipping our hot black tea, eating biscuits and still enjoying the peace and view. As the evening came the temperature dipped so we headed back to our room to enjoy the clean room for once.. Sudan came up a while later and we had a chat with him. He is 25 years old and have been doing free lance tour guide for 8 years now and most of the times he goes trekking at west Sikkim and since now is low season he came along with us. He already have a 6 yr old son!! Wow I think we should wake up some of our “ideas” wahaahh like real….


lady cutting wood..


the river just outside our lodging..


Hands wide open for the nature

He recommended that we go Ladakh for trekking instead of Nepal as now is trekking season in Ladakh. Nepal would be same like in Sikkim monsoon and cloudy.. I guess we will see hows the situation when we arrive at Nepal than decide. He told us some history of Sikkim as we still are curious of the need of the ILP. So the history goes, around 1960s a war broke out between Sikkim and China as usual China want to take over this land. At that time Sikkim is still a Kingdom independent but with very little resources to be able to defeat the Chinese so the King sought help from India and there after winning this battle Sikkim became a Union of India. India supported Sikkim in their growth till today investing a lot of money to bring up Sikkim. India military is very involve in Sikkim especially North Sikkim as it is near the borders of China and Tibet thus the reason of the ILP and also the PAP (for tourist visit to restricted sight seeing area).. Ohhh now we know .. I asked if he thinks that Sikkim will be independent again he say not really as now is better as India is investing in their country and helping the growth of their economy.

After a bit more chatting it was time for Dinner!! Long awaited Dinner!! We headed down after solat. And was greeted by Sudan our guide, Sonam the hotel owner’s son and Sonur our 19 year old cook. Dish by dish they serve it to us.. My eyes was eyeing on the chicken!! We couldn’t wait anymore and dig into the Rice, Fried kicap Chicken, Fried Cabbage and Dhal curry.. Yummy!! This little boy can cook or maybe we are just too hungry due to the cold… While eating chit chatted with the 3 guys and got to know more about Sikkim and the Tibetans …And also found out that Sikkim Gov do not allow smoking in public and if caught there will be a fine of Rp5000 (SGD150.00) and 1 day jail time…. the wonderful dinner ended with hot black tea and fruit platter of Banana and apples.. … Wonderful…


Waiting..


Looks messy, but tasty.. And finally chicken!!


Fork


Retired to our rooms at about 2050hrs to have that long awaited HOT shower.. Wwwaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh Feels good!!!! Update some blogs and awaiting the morning for bed tea @ 0630hrs… They serve tea in bed (but not breakfast in bed) interesting… 0730hrs breakfast than head off to Yumthang Valley and Yumesamdong…

Its too cold here!! Freezing for us.. Soon we will hide under the thick covers and snooze off to another wonderful day of adventure… God Bless…