The Travel Connection

What caught my attention other than the birds of kolkata, was the array of transport systems across the city. The journey into the world of automobile started with the antique ambassador at the airport. The mighty old ambi is very much a survivor in the city as much as everything else. The fresh coat of yellow paint for a minute misleads you into believing that the ride would be comfortable but as you become a part of good old car, you are taken aback on your seat and you can only hope that you reach the destination safely.   As a tourist, the ride in and around is made interesting by the driver who takes you through the heart of city with its narrow roads and bustling life around those who call these roads their home. Almost all the cab drivers refused to go with the meter and chose to take the shortest and maybe the slowest routes to the destinations. But it gave us a chance to experience Kolkata like we never imagined.   The mode of transport that i wa...

They say it is all in the journey and not the destination. I totally agree with it. The planning for a holiday is as exciting as being on one. The journey to my destination though a very long one, was mix of sights, smells, dust, excitement and some surprises. Within the first 15 minutes after arrival at Bagdogra, we were pleasantly surprised by this wonderful mall " city center" at Siliguri where we stopped for lunch. We were informed that Siliguri 's proximity to Nepal and Bhutan border made it a shopping hotstop. Interestingly Siliguri has about 7-8 malls. Pardon my  ignorance, i had not even heard of Siliguri before i started planning this trip. To see this small town/city have this architecturally well designed mall with all the brand names impressed me! Though the closest airport to Gangtok is only 124 kms away, the drive from Bagdogra to Gangtok was about 4 hours long. River Teesta kept us company all the way meandering through the mountains. Though s...