Today we began with a drive up into the hills to Tindharia. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Society and the Cindrella Hotel in Siliguri (where we stayed) had provided the wherewithal to build a school and we were to take part in an opening/inauguration ceremony. It was unbelievable, we were treated like visiting royalty. The school is for children 3-5 years old, however, the welcoming party comprised just about everyone in the village. We were officially greeted and sung to (twinkle twinkle little star and eensy weensy spider in Hindi), danced for, listened to speeches, given tea and snacks and it was just wonderful. The impact that a small 1 room school, will make to the community and the joy and gratitude of the villagers was absolutely humbling.
I taught the kids how to say Kia Ora which went down well and after much persuading Janet & I danced with the kids. Well… actually we just bopped about trying to emulate their traditional dance. The kids thought it was hilarious and just loved it.
After that we drove to the Tindharia station to pick up the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway chartered steam train which was to take us to Darjeeling.
So I have learned what “train chasing” is all about. Basically those who want to, go on the train and those who want to take pictures of the train chase it in the car, stopping at strategic places to take photos and then rush ahead of it again. Most people were on the train, or jumped on and off. I was warned that train chasing is tiring but I preferred going in the car as it gave me the opportunity to take non train photos and on firm ground. It took us over 6 hours to get to Darjeeling and I was photographing for whole time, leaping in and out of the car with my mind racing to get the shot I wanted… as you do.
You have to be a bit of a mountain goat to live in Tindharia and it just got steeper from there. Amazing scenery but very hazy. Couldn't see the Himalayas at all. The higher we got the murkier it became until just before Ghum it was a real pea souper. It was quite daunting as Indians do like to drive without lights (to save the battery) and the train also didn’t have any lights on; the fog was so thick you could barely see in front of you and the train crosses the road all the time. The cars coming towards it would have no idea it was coming. How there was no accident I don’t know but I was told that collisions happen pretty frequently. Ghum is the top of the climb at 2258m/7407ft, then it was a slow & carefully braked descent down into Darjeeling. I gave in at Ghum and got on the train... totally shattered.
I taught the kids how to say Kia Ora which went down well and after much persuading Janet & I danced with the kids. Well… actually we just bopped about trying to emulate their traditional dance. The kids thought it was hilarious and just loved it.
After that we drove to the Tindharia station to pick up the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway chartered steam train which was to take us to Darjeeling.
So I have learned what “train chasing” is all about. Basically those who want to, go on the train and those who want to take pictures of the train chase it in the car, stopping at strategic places to take photos and then rush ahead of it again. Most people were on the train, or jumped on and off. I was warned that train chasing is tiring but I preferred going in the car as it gave me the opportunity to take non train photos and on firm ground. It took us over 6 hours to get to Darjeeling and I was photographing for whole time, leaping in and out of the car with my mind racing to get the shot I wanted… as you do.
You have to be a bit of a mountain goat to live in Tindharia and it just got steeper from there. Amazing scenery but very hazy. Couldn't see the Himalayas at all. The higher we got the murkier it became until just before Ghum it was a real pea souper. It was quite daunting as Indians do like to drive without lights (to save the battery) and the train also didn’t have any lights on; the fog was so thick you could barely see in front of you and the train crosses the road all the time. The cars coming towards it would have no idea it was coming. How there was no accident I don’t know but I was told that collisions happen pretty frequently. Ghum is the top of the climb at 2258m/7407ft, then it was a slow & carefully braked descent down into Darjeeling. I gave in at Ghum and got on the train... totally shattered.
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