We're here! We've arrived! Finally! It was uncertain that we'd get here right up to the last minute. Our flight leaving Vancouver was delayed by two hours, thus cutting what was supposed to be a 2.5hr layover in Hong Kong into a very tight 30 minutes. We were afraid it was suddenly going to be Christmas in Hong Kong, but many thanks to the Hong Kong airport staff, who had someone to (literally) run us through security and to our next departure gate. I don't think I've ever been so pleased to be on a plane before! Air Jet (our airline to Delhi) gets full points for style, by the way. Not only did we have a delicious meal, but it was served with real (i.e. not plastic) cutlery and a real glass!
We had barely 12 hours in Delhi, I think. Our flight got in at about 11:30pm, but the staff at our hotel greeted us with "good morning" by the time we arrived! Then we were up again at 5 to get ready to go back to the airport to fly out to Bagdogra airport (the closest airport to Darjeeling).
We had barely 12 hours in Delhi, I think. Our flight got in at about 11:30pm, but the staff at our hotel greeted us with "good morning" by the time we arrived! Then we were up again at 5 to get ready to go back to the airport to fly out to Bagdogra airport (the closest airport to Darjeeling).
After endless hours (days? I don't even know) we finally made it here to Darjeeling. I am so happy (and relieved) to be here - we all are. I'm so excited to be able to show my family around to all my favourite places here. It's such a weird feeling being here with them (in a good way). I often thought about the day when I would come back and show them Darjeeling, and now I am! And so much sooner than I'd expected. I had an enormous grin on my face the entire drive up, I was so excited.
Darjeeling is perhaps even more beautiful than I remember. Pictures soon, I promise - I'm not sure our internet cafe is set up for that, and it's going to take me awhile to remember how to upload pictures! Our hotel is lovely - the couple who run it are so sweet, and our rooms are lovely too. They're huge as well! Each "room" is actually a suite with a sitting room, bedroom and bathroom. As Darjeeling gets pretty chilly this time of year, especially at night, they lit up the fireplaces for us, which made things lovely and cozy.
Our plan for today is to wander around Darjeeling, and maybe go to the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre this afternoon. We booked a flight for a "joy-ride" on the steam train tomorrow morning, can't wait!
Much love to everyone!
Famiglia di Norris
Fantastic news. We were tracking you online and saw that it would be close.
ReplyDeleteIts Christmas Eve here and all the dinner prep is done: veggies peeled, stuffing ingredients sussed, table laid, prezzies wrapped and have time for a nap before all-you-can-eat-Tortiere.
We splashed out on a mennonite bird from Stongs which is squished into the fridge. Will it be better than Superstore freezer burnt, wing missing, utility with the greeny purple irridescence? Will let you know.
Have a great rest of trip soaking up the whole experience