I woke up about 7 am, and first thing ran outside to see if our host, Najma, was correct about the skies being clearer. I catch my breath, because there are the Himalayas in all of their glory: jagged, snowcapped peaks towering over the valley. Back to get the camera! Hard to capture, but I do my best.
Breakfast out on the lawn and I stare up at those beauties until its time to depart at 8:30. We start back up the winding road, stopping at the top for more pics, including a panorama of Darjeeling for Michael by Matt.
Pretty soon, it becomes obvious that I am sick, and not from the ride. Long story short, I am dizzy and my stomach feels awful. I request a pullover once, just to get out and breathe, and it’s hard to get back up in the car. It’s a long, windy drive, and even when we get back into the noisy, crowded straighter streets of town I am gripping on the door handle to keep from being jarred (being still is when I feel best, when I move, I feel dizzy and nauseous). We run into a jam on the roads and the driver has to double back and go around. We end up arriving at the airport later than expected and Matt has to handle everything – I can only walk very slowly and done ask me to turn around, I get too dizzy. Check in and board and we take off. I relax on the flight and am starting to feel a little better (and thank goodness the ride is pretty smooth). We have to circle a bit, and then we are on the ground.
Our next segment is a different airlines, so we have to collect our bags, go back up and check in with the new airline. No seats on the plane, so the agent makes calls and we are waiting, waiting, waiting. I am getting nervous about making the flight, because it’s due to take off in about 30 minutes. We get an escort to the plane, and of course, they haven’t started boarding yet. The line forms, and everyone is waiting to board, and then comes the announcement that they have no gas and the plane can’t go. No gas?! Really?! I am smiling that I’m in India now, because the Indian gentlemen crowd around the counter waving their fists and shouting (for like the next hour) persuasive arguments such as “we just came from Delhi, do you think we want to turn around and go back?” or ” who wants to go to Kochi?” and yes, it was by a show of hands. Matt and I were trying to decide what to do (yes, I’m much better now, but still flush and woozy), but it’s evident we can’t get any further than the mad crowd with airline officials, so we sit back and let them do the work. The airline says it is negotiating for gas and offer free tea, coffee and snacks to everyone, which clears the area for the moment. We procure our repast from elsewhere and avoid the super long line.
We play cribbage (yes, I lose again), have some food and watch the comings and goings of semi-officials and resigned passengers. Finally, around 9:00, we board the plane. Yay! We take off a little after 9:30, and land in our destination at 1:40. Then, of ourselves, and hour drive to the hotel, so we are finally crawling into bed around 2:40. Oh, my. I’m going to be a tired puppy tomorrow!