Apr 12 - Day 8 - The demure Kanchenjunga

Day 8 - Uttarey to Pelling – Sightseeing Visit the Pemagyatse monastery, Rabdtense ruins, Khecheopalri lake and if time permits to Yuksom.
O/n at Elgin Mt. Pandim

I wake up around 5:30, but it looks cloudy outside my room… I guess no views happening today and I crawl back into bed, but soon enough Ron is knocking on the door, saying “C’mon out guys”. I rush out to see that the snow-capped ranges are starting to show up from behind the clouds. “If at all you get these views, you get them only between about 5:30AM and 6:30AM” Piran had once told us at the campsite “after that the clouds come back in and cover the views”. So I guess we were lucky to be getting the view today. The hotel staff confirmed this feeling as for the last 15 days, Kanchenjunga had not peeked out from behind the clouds. There is a painting of the mastiff in the lobby, with all the peaks marked out, so we are going in and out to try and figure out which peaks we are seeing “Which one of this is Kanchenjunga?”… Finally Ron loses his patience, and brings the painting outside. We prop it on a bench in front of the ranges and finally we are able to find a shape around which we can anchor our understanding and the one in the middle is ‘Kanchenjunga’. Whoa !! We have seen it now. From the campsite we could see the rest of the range, a little farther, but not the biggest peak in India. Now the biggest peak was right there in front of us. Best birthday gift for Minoti. Cameras. Photographs J For the next hour. Sip tea under the mountains… read a book under it… whatever… get it in.

Is that Mt. Ratong creeping through the clouds?

Mt. Kanchenjunga makes its first appearance

Happy Birthday Minoti :-)

The Kanchenjunga Mastiff with the Valley below

Mt. Kanchenjunga spotting confirmed, to the 'slight left' of Ron's head... see reference map below ranges :-)

We wash up and come down for Yoga under Kanchenjunga. Today Mukund also joins Viji, Ron and I, while Mona decides to trek down the road. The European tourists are looking at us quizzically while we are deep into Warrior 2 in the shadows of the Kanchenjunga… Anu’s Yoga retreat is slowly forming J We end with deep Oms and head for shower and breakfast. Lunch plans for the day are unclear, so we are stuffing extra omelettes down (like we needed an excuse). As we head out, we submit our ILPs to the reception and ask the most important question “What if we did not have the ILPs ?” “Well, sir, you would have had to go down to the checkpost to get” I am shaking hands with this guy… at least someone cares for this ILP that we worked so hard to get. We can now frame the ILP back home.

Yoga under Mt. Kanchenjunga

4-Star Breakfast as our guide Dava watches on

Today we go visit the sacred Kechiperi wishing lake. Minoti stays back with the kids, while the rest of us head out. The lake is in the shape of a human footprint (roughly)… we can tell that from photographs at the curio store outside the lake. Legend has it that it is the footprint of Goddess Tara. Sacred lake. Lots of flags tied all over the path to and at the lake. Yellow-Soil, Red – fire, Blue- water, White –Air and Green – Nature, repeat over and over again on the path.  We light candles at the place where you wish. Walk up to the lake. There is a guard there to prevent people from throwing stuff into the lake. We look into the dark lake to see that the lake is teeming with catfish !! Ron is thinking… I wish this were Fishing Lake instead of Wishing Lake J 





Lake Kechiperi Tourist Area and Monastery



Lake Kechiperi - Wishing Lake

Fishing Lake? - Teeming with Fish

Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Flags everywhere - One set for Los Gatos?



The Elements (Periodic Table) - Blue - Water, White - Air, Red - Fire, Green - Nature, Yellow - Soild

Lighting Lamps

At the curio store we buy a bunch of things and figure out that we are going to eat traditional soup lunch at this place near our hotel. Anu and Mukund are clearly excited by the idea. Piran tells us it is a full meal and the restaurant is run by one of the drivers. Ok. We order some veg and chicken soup over the phone and get to the restaurant. Good thing we ordered ahead as at the restaurant all the staff were busy watching TV (torture techniques on Discovery channel !!). Minoti and the kids arrive from the hotel. The soups arrive. No local soup, this is small bowls of clear soup. Anu goes “This is lunch ?” Soon we are ordering large portions of Chowmein and Thenduk (which was the soup we originally wanted). We want to do some shopping after, but its starting to drizzle, so Viji, Mona and I get back to the hotel, while the others join us later. When everyone shows up, we have a feedback session as requested by Piran. Everyone was super-happy with the trip, but gave some additional constructive tips to Piran. Anuja wants to do a Yoga retreat with Piran, while Ron wants to do ‘Kaala Pathar’ with him.

Drinks in Ron’s room J More Pakoras, More Masala Peanuts and Masala Papads. But now we also have cake, for Minoti’s birthday.

Stuffed, we head down for dinner. Finally, Viji and I give up and skip the meal. But not the others J We will not be defeated. Its our last dinner together, and we have to get up early and leave tomorrow, so we get back to our rooms and crash for the night.

Happy Birthday Minoti