A quick update because I am literally writing this post from the office computer of the hotel we're staying at here. So... that "transport strike" we were told about was actually a GENERAL strike. Bundh means closed. It is the word they used for strikes, but a better translation would be general shutdown.
We rushed here - cutting short out time in Pelling (where we saw Kanchenjanga peaking in the skyline!) - so that our driver could drop us off in Darjeeling and get on to the road back to Gangtok before the strike went into effect.
Turns out we came to a ghost town. Everything is closed: shops, restaurants, local sights ... and the trekking company we scheduled our trek with.....
....
So we THINK we're starting a 5 day trek on Monday... but there have been threats to extend the strike into next week.
....
So maybe not.
We're trying to look on the bright side --- we're seeing things we would never have had a chance to see otherwise. For example, our tire almost fell off on our way from Pelling; we'd never seen the inside of a roadside garage before or watching people reallign a car wheel by hand... I've never seen a Chowk bazaar completely deserted ... but it has given local kids every excuse to start cricket games all over town....
:)
I'm hoping you'll hear from us with good news that we're on our trek and that we're gonna have a great time ... but who knows, maybe not hearing from us is the best sign that we've been swept up to the foot hills of the Himalayas and are having fun trekking....
(shrug)
LOL ... all we can really do is laugh at this.
But I promise to post more fun stories soon.
Wish us luck!
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