Still not feeling all that well, so I stayed in bed later than I should. By the time I arose, Val had disappeared, but I eventually dragged myself to a nearby café for breakfast, + happened to spot Val as she was walking by. She had been doing some window-shopping as well as hotel-hunting – we had decided to move out of the hostel if a reasonably-priced alternative could be found. And in this latter respect she had done well, discovering a triple room for R35, which Annabel was happy to share with us. It was right next to D + S – they had been the ones to put us on to it – + really it was a super room. It was light + airy, had a balcony, its own bathroom, hot water provided in the morning in buckets, + had loads of room, with one double-bed + one single. It was also clean, + the staff were cheerful, helpful, + friendly.
Annabel had disappeared somewhere around town, but we left a note for her at the hostel, + moved our bags down. (Another advantage – we avoided that hill!) We went out for a short stroll – Darjeeling invites such things, for the weather is cool, the streets picturesque, in some cases almost English, + altho’ there are quite a lot of Indian tourists, there is none of the Indian chaotic bedlam. I did not feel well enough to walk all that far however, + after a short time I left Val + returned to the hotel – she continued on down to the Tibetan Refugee Craft Centre – good, she said.
Come evening, we went to the Himalayan Café again, where we ate much the same food + met much the same people as last night. Feeling a certain need, C, D, Anna, Val + I went on to a bar for just the one drink, + some social chat. I enjoyed all the company. Back at the hotel, we slipped next door for a game of cards. It wasn’t a pre-arranged visit, + I had been worried we were too late. We weren’t – darkness comes early nowadays, + the evenings last forever.
A relaxed day, more like tourists than travellers
