Day 112, Yumthang Valley [Sunday 23rd March 2008]
Previous day: Day 111, Chopta Valley, Sikkim [Saturday 22nd March 2008]
Next day: Day 113, Gangtok [Monday 24th March 2008]
We drive up to the Yumthang Valley. It's huge, surrounded by impressive mountains, the Teesta running through the centre, dwarfed by its surroundings. Snow and ice is piled up where the road has been cleared. There are dozens of jeeps here, lined up along the sides of the road and spilling Indian tourists. We spend an hour walking around the valley, the cold stones below and the hot sun above. There's bright blue sky and we sit for a while next to the icy river water running down from the mountains that encircle us. On the other side of those mountains is Nepal, Tibet and China.
We get a cup of tea-coffee (it's hot and wet but recognisable as neither) from one of the tents selling snacks, and walk dow nto see the hot springs. They're enclosed by a shed. I look round the door and see a few Indian men cavorting in the dark, splashing around.
It's a stunning location, and luckily the wide angle on my camera manages to cram most of the view in. It does feel like we're at the edge of India here — somewhat barren, like the county just ran out. It has a patrolled border feel.
We make the long drive back to Lachung, stopping often to admire each new frozen valley. We spend the rest of the afternoon reading books because it pours down with rain for the rest of the day!
We have soup, plain momos (no filling), rice and noodles for dinner, followed by a pot of tongba. We talk to Sanchai about the Darjeeling music scene. He's a drummer. Apparently the Indian Idol winner came from Darjeeling. He asks about music festivals in England.
Next day: Day 113, Gangtok [Monday 24th March 2008]
Previous day: Day 111, Chopta Valley, Sikkim [Saturday 22nd March 2008]