On The Lap Of The Silky way, Part - 7

On The Lap Of The Silky way,  Part - 7

On The Lap Of The Silky way

There is a big three-storey house next to the police station along the main road to Zuluk. At the entrance is a small grocery store on the street, with a large paved attic in front. It's a big place for three cars to stand together. A girl named Dickey, the owner's aunt, came out of the store and set out to identify specific rooms for us. Two young boys also took our belongings and left them in our rooms on the first and second floors. We quickly washed our hands and ran to the dining room. There was Owner’s residence and kitchen on one side of the third floor. On the other side, the dining hall is quite spacious like a big hall. Our lunch is arranged in the large lovely containers on the long table. Arrange the dishes, spoons, salt, lemon, chili and pickle in separate containers. We picked up the food on the plate and arranged it ourselves and sat down to eat. Rice, pulses, fried potatoes, poppy seeds with potato curry, egg broth and papor. It was quite a pleasure to eat such a hot meal so late.

On The Lap Of The Silky way

Another staircase past the dining room leads straight to the roof. After dinner we went for a walk on the roof. It was a really beautiful surroundings from above. At the bottom left is a beautiful orchid house on the steps of the hill, the only thing that catches the eye is the green hills playing with the waves. Far away on the top of the hill and step by step there is a number of colorful and decorative houses. 

On The Lap Of The Silky way

On the right is a large road, smooth as a long python. At each turn, from front to back, from right to left, as if there is a lively picture painted on a large canvas. Seeing that, our desires are not being met, we are just staring in amazement. On the top of the mountain, sometimes on the upper hills and sometimes on the down, there was the number of torn floating clouds. What an extraordinary affection it is to spread the color of dark white somewhere on the soft green skin of the mountain. The house is facing west, so I came home with my eyes full of the bright red sky of the last afternoon sunset and the red light spread over my head in the direction of the mountains. By then the evening light was on in all the houses.

On The Lap Of The Silky way

The afternoon tea episode was a little late today. Some people are still lying in blankets in all the rooms. Myself along with one of my elder brother who is just like a friend of mine were enjoying the enchanted mid-evening of this intense winter with a cup of smoked tea in our hands on a bench at downstairs.  There are only solar lamp posts in a couple of places on the main road in front, some houses along the road have arranged solar lamp posts somewhere on their own initiative, besides I have not seen any use of street lights in the entire street. There is a similar solar light post in front of the police station on the opposite side of the house. Although I don't know if it is an administrative arrangement, a large halogen lamp has been drawn from inside the house and a bright light like a searchlight has been arranged in front of the check post. Slowly the two of us walked over there. Beyond the outpost, it was dark again as usual, a little further to the right there were two large three-storey houses, a slight line of light coming out of their houses, creating a strange enchanted metaphysical haze. Two dogs came with us wagging their tails so far, they also didn't move after that. We made our way back without seeing a single point of light anywhere which can penetrate this solid dense dark night.

In the sky rolling from the side of the ditch, only countless stars were ready to show the way with their dim lights, but we two very poor children could not rely on such a small arrangement and slowly descended in front of the check post. The place is bathed in a fountain of bright white light. The gentleman guarding the check post came forward on his own to talk with us . His home is in a village in West Sikkim. He never came to Kolkata in his life. He has been transferred to this check post in Padmachen for the last three years. He lives with his family in a rented house in Nimachen. He said there is no official street light anywhere. Where needed, the locals have installed solar lights on their own initiative; I asked if there is any fear of the lights being stolen? Just after asking this stupid question I am ashamed of myself. In our urban mentality we are afraid of such theft, but the hill people are so innocent and honest, they may not even think of such nonsense. The gentleman smiled softly and said who will steal? The thief also needs that light, so all that is never stolen. It seems that they are the only ones who are enlightened; we urban people may still be evil in the dark. I heard from him that it is very cold in winter and sometimes they have to work hard in the snow. While talking, the gentleman led us to our stay. 

The kitchen was very busy then. We went to bed early within nine o’clock at night after finishing the meal. There will be a lot to visit from tomorrow morning. In this way too, many people get illness due to high altitude. We have to reach an altitude of about fifteen and a half thousand feet tomorrow. I do not know when I fell asleep after bowing to the Goddess of Nature with both hands and wishing for the well-being of all and wishing for her infinite grace on the way.

On The Lap Of The Silky way

At six o'clock in the morning, two women woke us up by knocking on our door. They greeted us with sweet smile and said good morning with a cup of hot smoked tea and biscuits. It was informed that snacks would be given at 7.30 am today, because our charioteer had told them to feed everyone by eight o'clock in the morning as they will have to start todays tour by eight o'clock. Today we will go up to Kupup.

I quickly turned on the geyser, washed my hands and face in hot water and finished the tea session. After bathing and eating breakfast, it was half past eight. All the journey from Padmachen today is just climbing and climbing. Beautiful paved road, this road is always busy for the army to travel. 

On The Lap Of The Silky way

The height of Padmachen is about seven and a half thousand feet, Padmachen is also called Lower Zuluk by many. Zuluk is a short distance from Padmachen. When we look down from Zuluk, we see the spiral line of the path we have left at the foot of the mountain. I will remember for a long time the beautiful scenery of this silver line of spiral way surrounded by mountains. This is the famous Zigzag Way.

On The Lap Of The Silky way

After crossing Zuluk, the car climbed again and stopped at Thambi View Point. A bright cloudless sky. The steep hill on the right, I was stunned to see the left side. 

On The Lap Of The Silky way

To see this form of The Himalaya covered in ice for eternity is to run again and again. White Kanchenjunga is present all over the western sky. His whole body is shining like silver in the bright rays of the sun. As long as I can see, I am fascinated by the glimpse of this unforgettable look. After spending some time here, taking many pictures and drinking tea, we started the journey again.

To be continued.........................................................................................................