Tea plantations just short of Siliguri, northern West Bengal. Duncan Tea.
Forests between Siliguri climbing up to Gangtok, Sikkim
Kosha Mansho (khassi mutton). Very nice. Chetri Hotel, en route to Gangtok.
Leaving Gangtok for Mangan, Lachung, Yumthang, and Zero Point next morning.
Bridge with prayer flags
Wooden lank bridge. Standard in the mountains. the planks can and do take a huge amount of weight. Including 3 ton army trucks.
Typical rock undercut passageway of Sikkim and Spiti. New tunnels and hydroelectric projects being built now that will eventually replace these dicey ones.
Lip smacking chilly pork at Mangan. The orange chutney is yak cottage cheese blended with the fabled Bhoot Jholakia chilly. The spiciest in the world. I took a bite of one thinking it to be a red cherry looking bell pepper .... maa ki!
What a biker's hotel room looks like at night
Water crossing on way up to Lachung
Lachung
Climbing up to Yumthang
Yumthang. Maratha in War is like Angry Lion! My battle-cry here onward.
Climbing up to Zero Point. Only Army trucks and Gypsies and some 4x4s now. Very steep.
Zero Point. Tibet just beyond the ridgeline. Heavy army presence. 17000 feet now. Breathing labored as we've climbed up in less than 2 hours. Take photos, have tea with Maratha LI soldiers, and head down quickly after saluting them (all along the way) for their service and Jai Hinds.