Post-lunch activity was a walkabout around our new town. A welcomed contrast to Calcutta, city of dust and grime. The air here is fantastic. The weather is cool with clouds covering the buildings because of the amount of elevation.

The bazaars are colourful, and surprisingly most tourists are domestic tourists.




The colonial past is evident in the architecture.


And, suddenly, like how the post of Minister Mentor is created without any forewarning, a modern shopping mall pops out of nowhere. The invasion of capitalism is nigh, everyone grab your yak skin caps and flee Darjeeling. But try to watch a Hindi movie before screaming hysterically and running off.



This is Chowrasta Square, the main open space at the top of the town. Darjeeling is arranged in progressive terraces of houses with narrow words snaking its way across all the houses. The Square stands at the top of the ridge. Many locals congregate here for early morning exercises and trade. There are even ponies here.




Roger tries to imitate the statute.


We had some Indian desserts. The yellow spirally thing is very sweet, and oily. Oh well. We need the oil to sustain ourselves in the face of the cold weather. The stuff in green has pistachio nut in it, and I ate the silvery foil. I wonder if it is aluminium foil. My stomach will find out.



Roger bought a corn.

Not to be outdone, I bought a beanie. It has always been my childhood dream to own one. I was clearly very excited. And I look like a retard.


I like tea. Do you like tea? Roger and Tim like tea so much, they offered to stand at attention for me so that i can take a picture of them. The monk in the foreground is so happy he is clapping his hands and shouting, "Majullah Singapura!"!


In fact, we love tea so much, we ended up having hot cuppas at the end of the day at this tea shop near Chowrasta Square. I really should apply for the position of tea promoter at Nathmulls. Note chinese guy gesturing enthusiastically in the foreground. Not seen in picture is a bunch of bemused natives.


We didn't knew what was to come when we stepped into Kanika's. "Veggie town" also turned out to be "suicide town".


Before the gory details are revealed, we were very surprised to see this. Before this, all the steel cups we drank from were downright dirty. The water in the cups we used in Chennai had a film of debris and oil at the top. But these cups at the restaurant were SPARKLING CLEAN. We used flash to increase the sparkle.


Unlike the foreigners in the background, we did what Singaporeans do best. Over ordering.


Dinner, was the biggest mistake and challenge we ever made and encountered in our lives. It was a vegetarian meal from hell, and we paid the price for it with bloated stomachs and unending post-meal flatulence. We ordered: 18 momos (i.e. dumplings), 3 large plates of rice, 12 cups of curries, 3 pieces of papadum, 6 pieces of naan, 2 lassis and, 1 hot chocolate. I am serious.


Witness the gore of mixing all the curries together with the rice. Looking at it now makes me feel like puking.


Manic laughter began after we hit the twilight zone, i.e. the last plate of momos. We had to laugh to make ourselves to finish the food. In the end we lost the battle, with the naans triumphant. We returned to our hotels with our metaphorical tails between our legs.


Speaking of tails, here's the sole candidate for dog of the day (girl not included):


I think we can start a monkey of the day pageant too. There are a crapload of monkeys here.