Archive for the 'Sikkim' Category

North Sikkim

Published
by
Rinchen
on April 24, 2008
in Sikkim
. 6 Comments

I had promised the photographer that I would steal these photos and put it on my blog ages back. These are glimpses of North Sikkim on a cold November month. Although normally, sane people venture to this really, really cold place in Spring or preferrably Summer most of the time.

I like this picture because the water gushing through the stream looks freezing cold. And the huge rocks in the middle sure give it ample company! Mandakini, the yesteryear’s actress once visited Sikkim and took a bath in a waterfall somewhere near Gangtok for a film. Good thing she wasnt made to take a bath in this stream…

See, you normally dont see this type of blue sky in a polluted, over populated city like the one I live in. The snow capped mountains adorn the skyline to a perfect T, needless to say.

This is my favourite picture of them all. I have never seen a golden mountain in real life, thats why. This picture was taken on the way to Lachung, North Sikkim at the crack of dawn. The sun’s rays glisten like gold and its a truly amazing sight (in all probability in real life)

Ah, yaks. Very polite animals. One of my dear friend and I had gone for a trip to Changu Lake, near Gangtok where we took a yak ride up the snow beaten path. As she dismounted her yak, she had this to say: I cant believe that was a yak between my legs. Haha. It sounded funnier then. And a lot more decent, for sure.

Lake Gurudongmar. What a fabulous sight! I’ve never been there so I cant describe the feeling but it sure looks like one hell of a place! Its supposed to be this cold desert with the lake at the end. And if you were me, the first thing you’d also think of is: What the hell’s a cold desert doing in North Sikkim? I dont know till now.

What preparation?

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 31, 2008
in Sikkim and hopes and dreams
. 10 Comments

I might as well tell what I’ve been upto.

The state government of Sikkim has finally (as in finally finally) declared the examination dates for the post of Under Secretary. Unfailingly, this always reminds me of Dolores Umbridge in the Potter books. Also I can safely say that about four or five thousand applicants are anxiously studying with all they got for 40 posts. Thats right, forty - F as in forty, O as in orty, R as in rty, T as in ty and Y as in - you bet the chances are slim, allright.

There’s the English and General Knowledge paper on 12th of April. Then I have additional subjects of Physics and Electrical Engineering whose syllabus looks more & more tougher day by day. Yes, my being an Electronics lecturer will help tremendously but it remains to be seen if it will finally save the day.

Almost all of my other colleagues have opted for their own engineering subject and Sociology as the additional subject. Apparently the syllabus for Sociology was only one paragraph so everyone thought they could nail it with minimum effort. I, on the other hand was either very wise or very stupid to opt for Physics, since I thought I could not risk going along with an entirely new subject.

Lets see how it goes. Oh, and also if I dont talk about this anymore in the months to come - cause thats how long it takes to get the result - I probably didnt make it and we’ll leave it at that.

International Florishow, Gangtok

Published
by
Rinchen
on March 24, 2008
in Sikkim
. 15 Comments

The International Florishow was held on 14th to 16th March 2008 at Saramsa Gardens, Gangtok. It was inaugurated by the chief guest, Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of National Planning Commission.

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Exhibition stalls in sync with the environment

Several high profile guests included star footballer and Sikkim’s own national football team captain, Bhaichung Bhutia as well as the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Dr Pawan Chamling accompanied by his cabinet ministers, MLA’s and senior officials from the state administration.

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My favourite red

The theme of the event was  “Sikkim: nature’s own garden”. Accordingly, Saramsa Garden was decked up with over 50,000 varieties of flowers like Cineraria, Petunia, Pansy, Aster, Primula etc other than orchids. Apart from the Flower Exhibition cum competition, the three day event also hosted an Internal Conference, Buyer-Seller Meet and various cultural Programmes.

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Sikkim: Nature’s own garden

Hundreds of coordinators and equally numerous volunteers, including students contributed to make the Florishow a success. Paintings of students from their respective schools adorned the walls of the 7-acre garden.

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Classic orchids

Four Wi-Fi systems were placed in four different corners of the garden and internet facilities were provided free of cost to all media persons. Sound systems were camouflaged in all corners of the garden that played soothing music for the entertainment for the general public.

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Amazing yellow

Internationally acclaimed flutist Shri Hari Prasad Chaurasia performed an enthralling rendition on the final day much to the delight of the audience present who were left spell bound by what was indeed an experience of a lifetime.

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 Dont know whats it called but look at the thorns!

Photograph courtesy: Tenzing Dorjee Pradhan, ATTC

Wanderlust

Published
by
Rinchen
on November 22, 2007
in Sikkim and Wanderlust
. 8 Comments

This road leads to my grandma’s home and I used to love travelling along the pine trees when I was a little girl.  It had been a while since I’d gone that way so when I finally did, I made sure that I took a pic this time to preserve it in memory.

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The road that we travelled makes these winding, binding turns that go on and on forever. Considering how narrow our hill roads are, I still find it incredible to see six lane highways in metro cities. Yeah, till now.

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 I like these pink(?) trees. I dont know what it is called though. Wanted to take its picture but stopped the car too close to the tree itself. Took the pic from underneath it which actually looks nice, to say the least.

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We visited this school in Pelling which lies bang in the middle of all the beautiful landscape. No doubt the students were having a hard time concentrating on boring studies while being nested in the laps of breath taking scenery. Probably thats why they found it necessary to cover up the bottom of the windows? :)

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Destination West Sikkim

Published
by
Rinchen
on November 13, 2007
in Sikkim and Wanderlust
. 2 Comments

Got back yesterday from a trip to West Sikkim which apparently is on the verge of superceding Gangtok from the itinerary of the visiting tourist. And after my trip, I can see why. We reached Pelling in the afternoon and took a short hike to Rabdentse, the ancient capital of Sikkim. The stone palace lay in ruins with the blue sky making a contrasting back drop to it. 

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In the evenings, we used to be offered Tongba, a millet based alcoholic beverage sipped through a bamboo straw. A very interesting drink which is available only in the old homes and which wont be listed on a bar unfortunately. Since we were staying at a friend’s place, his family made our stay most endearing by laying out a red carpet treatment with the most ethnic of cusines. Our favourite however was the Tongba, hands down.

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A trip to Khechoperi Lake, which is worshipped by the locals and is also an entirely natural lake was next on the agenda. Prayer flags adorned the sides of the lake as tourists thronged to turn the prayer wheels placed along the pier of the lake.

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We could not venture out to Yuksom but we did make a long journey to reach Singshore Bridge, the second highest suspension bridge in Asia. Looking down from the middle of such a high bridge is probably the bravest thing I have done in my entire life. I loved the Bridge itself and I felt it was worth travelling all the way till there just to be able to see it.

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And to think I had been wondering just last week about how long it had been since I’d last travelled anywhere. I should have such thoughts often.

Football frenzy

Published
by
Rinchen
on November 1, 2007
in Sikkim
. 2 Comments

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Once a year during the months of October - November, my state (of Sikkim) hosts a football tournament to the delight of thousands of fans sitting in the galleries of the Paljor Stadium. The tournament sees the participation of a host of local teams as well as football teams of Nepal and even Nigeria, who were specially invited all the way last year.

Sikkim may be one of the few states of India where football, not cricket is the more popular sport where kids aspire to be the next Bhaichung Bhutia, even as Tendulkar continues to remain god to others. Even the government offices and schools close in the afternoons so that people can watch the games. The Governor’s Gold Cup remains to be the only topic of discussion during this time of the year in Gangtok.

Sometimes it so happens that a sore loser team gets so pissed with a winner team that they go and pick a fight with them and appallingly, bash them right in the middle of the football field. About two years back, one team got beaten up and sadly havent returned to the tournament till date.

I still remember last year’s final match. I got separated from my group due to the thronging crowd all over the place. After buying a really expensive ticket - read: best seats in the stadium - I ended up sitting on the stairs alone, next to the best seats which were all occupied yet went on to enjoy the game on my own as well as the rest of the screaming crowd.

Long awaited Indian Idol finale

Published
by
Rinchen
on September 24, 2007
in Sikkim
. 2 Comments

… was a major yawn event stretching all the way past midnight. The remaining Indian Idol contenders and sundry performed in their sunday best except for Anu Mallik who had a silver lining to his jacket that shone and shimmered as much as a hyper active disco ball.

More irritating were the ads that kept popping up in between the finale stretching it like a magical rubber band. After three hours of waiting game, John Abraham finally raised Prashant Tamang’s hand in victory. Finally, being the operative word while we, back home already knew the result as early as 6:30 pm that evening!

I’m glad that Prashant won. Amit Paul is a fantastic singer and deserves the SX-4 too, lucky chap! Sikkim and the rest of West Bengal can finally go back to a normal life after all the frenzied SMSing and overwhelming campaigning for Prashant. I dont know if the winner knows that even in the remotest of all villages, people sold their cows & chicken and donated the money in his support.

Now what we’re all looking forward to is for Prashant Tamang to come to Sikkim and hold one of his concert here. I’m sure that’ll be an event much, much more view-worthy than yesterday’s yawn fest :P