Going home

Sitting in an small Internet-outlet in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. I got the early morning Jeep taxi from Singhik to Mangan (15min), jeep to Gangtok (3hrs) and to Siliguri (4hrs) and an autorickshaw to New Jalpaiguri (20min). Next step will be the train, Kanchyan Kanya express, to Kolkata (12,5hrs).
I was REALLY lucky to get the train ticket only four hours in advance; luck and licking, I would say. The other option would've been 12-16hrs in a "Disco-bus", which then again is not so attractive, if you don't happen to LOVE hindi-pop. But in one hour I will board my nice and hard sleeping place in a crowded, but comfortable train!

New Jalpaiguri is one of those "towns" that exist for being a junction. It's the end stop of railway to the north and gateway to Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Nepal, Bhutan and the Indian Northeastern states. Thus, it's not all that attractive, whatsoever...
It has this semi-sleazy trucker stop attitude with dozens of identical (including the menu) small eateries, vendors, beggars, and probably prostitutes, who btw are not very visible in India, although very much existing. The unholy relationship of truckers and hookers contribute sadly to worsening HIV-situation in India.

However, I had a breakfast/luch/dinner date with Michael Palin and got too fascinated by the high mountains again. We had some discussions with Arun, our great mountain guide about some small scale climbing trip to Himachal Pradesh in November; maybe I have to give it a second thought...

The biggest reason I decided to leave today was instict. In the morning I just boarded the first transport there was with an idea to travel either to Kalimpong, Bhutan or back home. Since it's been raining heavily in the whole state for the whole day (in Cal actually for four days, said Robert) I decided to go home. (Into the rain, why?)

I really felt good about my decision and actually am looking forward to get back to my room now. It's a great feeling of freedom in traveling like thisl I'm free to go anywhere - including home.

Thus, my next postings will be from the campus. Also, changed back to my Indian mobile; +91-9831-555906

PS: Congratulations to TuKY (Students' union of Turku School of Economics and Business Administration) for the past 55 years! I hate to miss the party, especially because of missing the singing with Mercanto and Cantus Mercurialis and also receiving some compliments... ;-)

Kappale kauneinta Sikkimia!

(A piece of the most beautyful Sikkim)

I traveled north to the tiny village on Singhik with Jenny and Daniel from Switzerland. The sense of emptiness and wilderness was more present than elsewhere in Sikkim, I had traveled before. Also was the army. Since Sikkim is bordering Tibet, the question of defense (I hate that word - defense means war, nothing else) is still dominant in the area.

Singhik is the furthernmost village where you can travel with the standard permit, but it was not the reason to do it. The nature and the peace was. We stayed in a small family-ran questhouse "Friendship" and had a nice walk uphill to a gompa through mature rice-fields. The area doesn't see many tourists and people where curious about us, which was nice.

The evening saw some listening to music with two iPods and small speakers. Technocrats in the nature? Yeah, it didn't fit.

Rest and shave

Hi Friends,

Today I really enjoyed sleeping in the morning and woke up at seven! Got my stay permit extended and spent some time with a Swiss couple, Jenny and Daniel. A monastery and the Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok. Nothing spectacular but a good resting day with a PIZZA in "Little Italy".

But the big thing of the day occured in the evening! I got my beard shaved. Felt nice and costed 10rs. For the record, last time I did it was back in Finland...

Tomorrow (thu) I'm planning to go once again bit further in Sikkim to the North before returning to West Bengal and the plains. The wild north! I hope. Probably not. Just 50km. But some tranquillity after the Gangtok hassle, which then again is of course nothing compared to Kolkata but still.

I'm not made for big cities I notice. At least not for the ones with too much pollution and noise.

So, tomorrow some peace again! And nature!

puss och kram

Jussi

Gangtok, Sikkim

Hello friends,

a very brief update from Himalayas! Just arrived in Gangtok, capital of Sikkim. Last night and two days I spent with a GREAT Tibetan family in a Tibetan refugee village near Ravangla. Slept in their house, ate the mothers superb Tibetan food and hiked around with their eldest Son Karma Tashi (=good karma).

The whole Tibetan culture was a big experience and I spent some hours in their library reading about the history, situation and their buddhism. None of the people I talked to had ever lived in Tibet, but the culture lived strong in them.

You can visit "www.tibet.com or "www.freetibet.org to get some insight into the subject.

Now its Tuesday evening and I'm tired since its already 20.34 and these days I'm used to be in bed by ten and awake in the sunrise at 5. Nevertheless, got to get something to eat and some money and maybe a clean t-shirt since I just took everything to the laundry...

Probably I will stay a couple of days around here and then move back to south. This means, most probably I will travel until the weekend. Everything is going great, but homesickness is growing...especially to Bonn...

And "MERCANTO!!! I'm actually quite jealous about all the great quartett-stuff going on. Anssi, it would be great if you would get some photos to web. And yes! Croatia next autumn!!!

Ok, done and hungry! Miss you all and wish you a nice autumn!

Jussi