Lama Tashi and the monastery driver Samten insisted that they would love to drive us to Sikkim. We started by heading towards Darjeeling. It was a stunning day.
On The Road
The first treat was to see Kanchenjunga looming over Darjeeling.
Darjeeling sprawls across the foothills which are quite steep. It is a shock to see how much higher are the snow peaks of the mighty Himalayas
It is interesting watching an Indian road crew. Notice how many are working and how many are watching them work
Each bend in the road had it’s own surprises
This roadside temple is Hindu
And then there is the single gage train, famous throughout the world.
They were as interested in us as we were in them
Trucks are often lavishly adorned. It was after one of these babies that we named Beloved Elephant
The monastery of the Drukchen, head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. I had met him years ago and wanted to discuss the nuns in Bhutan.
Unfortunately he wasn’t there but it was such a blue sky day, perfect for some photos.
The entrance to the monastery was lined with painted bas reliefs of the special Precious Adornments of a Dharma King, named in the Mandala Practice
The Precious Jewels are adorned with the presence of Precious Jewel Lama Tashi
The Precious Minister
The Precious General
The Precious Queen
The Precious Horse
The Precious Elephant
The precious village surrounding the monastery
And then.....back on the road
Bus Stop
Tea Plantations, Darjeeling side of the border
Approaching the border of Sikkim
In we go
We were stopped here for some time getting our passports checked. Even though Sikkim is now part of India there is still some kind of border control.
This was the view out the window of the office where we got our permission to enter
Looking up river, I loved the way the sand path was outlined with white rocks.
Back on the road we are happy to see the local emphasis on Organic Farming
Renewable Energy is also a popular topic of concern
Some of the villages we drove through were quite humble
Others sported high rises
There were many rivers
Tea Plantations
No building can function without the brick and concrete carriers
This plantation was in the midst of harvest
Can you see the family below, celebrating
Can the car really cross this bridge?
Portrait of our driver, Samten
We are close to our destination
Quick, before the sun sets.....
