Valleys and flags

Thanks to meeting up with Pierre and his daughter at the amazingly laid back, hotel Kabur I was able to join them for a jeep trip to some of the local special places. First stop was a holy 'wishing' lake, followed by a lovely waterfall and then onto the tiny hamlet Yuksum . Once capital of the state, home to a significant religious site and the starting point for trekkers heading for the mountain trails.

We had fun and thrills on the trip even though it stayed cloudy and cold all day long. On the way back we stopped off for a short stroll through a delightful quiet local village, surrounded with fields of flowers. For the rest of the bumpy journey home we all snooze and sneezed.

Still shattered after a pot of tea and some plain boiled potatoes  I hit the sack early only to be pestered with cramps through the night. Stood up early to see the incredible mountains in all their glory, and all my niggling woes just faded away for a few hours as I sat on the roof and gasped at the sight.

The Sikkim I have seen is not one full of stunning architecture and temples. Rather the landscape is like one giant temple. With prayer flags on every turn marking your way. Adding to the natural joys are the ever friendly Sikkimese smiles.