The city of Kolkata felt like Mumbai, chaotic and very interesting! We spend a day in Kolkata, we actually had some American food, we had a good pizza at Pizza Hut, don’t know if we enjoyed the food or the air condition the most! =) It’s quite decent prices, 4 US dollars for bread, pizza, icecream and drinks. For two persons. The plan was now to find a train ticket for Darjeeling up in the north east part of India, a mountain city at 2500 meters altitude, most famous for the Darjeeling tea which is exported all over the world. The train tickets were sold out (it’s vacation peak season in India now) so we had to go for the bus instead. We got tickets for an eleven hours sleeping bus with destination Siliguri. This was the worst bus ride in my life! Think yourself riding a bus in 120 km/h at a roadwork, having opposite traffic all the time when doing constant overtakes! Scary! We were laying down on the benches sometimes flying up 10 cm in the air when constantly hitting bumps in the road. Finally we reached Siliguri totally soar in our bodies. It was an easy decision to plan for a flight back to Kolkata later on!

To reach Darjeeling we took a ride with a shared jeep, quite crowded, we were 12 people in the Jeep. The road up to Darjeeling is breath-taking! A winding narrow road that goes together with a small railroad all the way up to the top.

A nice view from Darjeeling

It was really nice to get away from the heat for a while, up here it is only 20 degrees and not at all humid.
We have got in contact with a Australian treeking company called “The treeking company” who focuses on specialized treeking tours all around the world, especially in the Himalayan, Asia, South America and Africa. The very friendly and hospitable Sheila and Mohan Pradhan will support us with treeking close to Himalaya the next coming days and potentially later on in South America. Thanks Mohan and Sheila! Check out their website at www.trekking.com.au !

So we will be back in a couple of days when we have enjoyed the close surroundings of the Himalaya!

Over and out!

Written by Henrik

Posted by: Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
Hi Henrik & Johan!
Sanjeev from Kolkata ATC. Hope u loved India and the Indian Hospitality !!! Sorry if u have any complaints !!! Visit again and u will find most of the bad things gone. India is changing , for the better , very fast. Hope u r enjoying the tour also. Accept my best wishes for ur future expeditions. B safe and enjoy.
Sanjeev

Posted by: Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
Hi ! Henrik & Johan !!!

Sanjeev from Kolkata ATC !!!

Hope u loved India and the Indian Hospitality !!! Sorry if u have any complaints !!! Visit again and u will find most of the bad things gone. India is changing , for the better , very fast.

Hope u r enjoying the tour also. Accept my best wishes for ur future expeditions. B safe and enjoy !!!

Sanjeev

Posted by: Maria Wiklund-Karlsson
En nyfiken moster och tre små kusiner till Johan följer era äventyr med stort intresse. Kram på er och var rädda om er!! Maria

Posted by: Henrik Ejderholm
Hi Aryeh!

The communication (I assume you mean the RT) went quite fine, the only problem is that VHF coverage is bad, at least at FL110. Otherwise we could understand the ATC pretty good, of course they had to repeat a few things. To which address did u send the information?

Regards,

Henrik

Posted by: Jörgen
Gents,
Good to hear that you are safe and hot, as usual. I know a joke about Kolkata, but it is only fun in Swedish. Take care and be nice to the cows.

Posted by: Aryeh Luria.
How was the cummincation in this part of the globe,have fun the rest of the trip and be carefull,remember there are old pilots and bold pilots but not old bold pilots .I sent u some info for New foundland did u receive it? Aryeh

Posted by: Sanjoy
Hello

Nice to hear you got in touch with Mohan and Sheila.. was looking forward to a mention in your updates... especially the web connection in kolkata!! anyway... all the best.