No Internet? Still you can navigate with this app

Amidst the turmoil going on in our country, we are facing problem in some places where internet connectivity has been shutdown. What we can predict in future is our golden era of free access to information through search engine will soon be history. As per the optimistic point of view there will be something alternative to Internet for communication around the world & outside in future.

Without going further into space & future, let's go to Triund in Himachal Pradesh. I went for a quick visit from Delhi during the first week of December 2019. I didn't have any fix plan to go there but luckily I started my trekking with Triund. It was an experience that I enjoyed throughout that can be expressed through the following pics that I clicked while doing 10 km trek.

Halfway View

I started walking early in the morning at around 9 a.m. from Macleodgunj where my net connection helped me to locate the way using GPS till Gallu Devi temple. After reaching the temple (starting point) there's a straight trek of 6 kms where there's no connectivity of mobile tower. After showing my Government id I started going up towards the peak following other travelers on the way. I came across travelers mostly from Europe & Israel. Some travelers are exploring places for more than 8-9 months or even a year.

While trekking anywhere, a continuous conversation with someone (friend, stranger, traveler) can help anyone keep going without getting exhausted. If you are traveling solo or with friends it can distract the mind from getting tired and will help to complete the path easily. Triund trek can be done in one day if one starts early in the morning. I completed it in one day as I had to return to Delhi. Those who wants to see the sunrise from the top, they have to book the tent online in advance to stay at night. You can book here : https://www.booking.com/hotel/in/mcleodganj-camping-resort.en-gb.html

Trekking route

Top view of Triund

Fortunately I came across some travelers on the way who had the same plan to complete on the same day. When I was almost 1 km below the final destination, the view was getting better with frozen ice on the path & the hour long conversation in Portuguese language with an European traveler made the journey more interesting. I noticed that she was constantly looking at her mobile phone to track the location. I asked her " Você tem cobertura ou internet?" She replied "Não" My response was "What's the point of looking at the GPS if you don't have internet connection!" & then I was introduced to this app called "Maps.me" where internet is not required after installation and you can navigate & see the location.

Download this app on Google Play or Apple Store

It's not a very new app. You can download by clicking here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro&referrer=mt_click_id%3Dmt-xuhg85-1577005389-679605027

Those who don't know they can find it very useful especially during traveling & network connectivity problem.


Finally we could enjoy at the top & finished the trek before sunset. There's a sunset cafe where you can enjoy this colorful skyline after Triund trek.

It's near the starting point of trek roughly 15-20 mins by walk through forest.

Sunset cafe - Chillax zone

After sunset if your mobile ph is out of battery then returning from this place can be difficult or adventurous. Make sure you have power bank or follow other travelers because it's completely dark out there in the forest apart from sound of animals & ... 


          

Darjeeling Jomjomat

If I visit Darjeeling for 1000 times & any1 says "Hey let's go 2 Darjeeling"-- My response would always be "Yes". That's what my view on  "THE QUEEN OF HILLS".

This was my second visit to Darjeeling without any plan. Initially we thought of visiting Sikkim & come back to Kolkata. But travelling has no fixed plan and that's how it should be. So I decided on the way having momo @ Gangtok that we are travelling to Darjeeling before going back to Kolkata.

Those who have read my blog on Sikkim can continue reading below or else I recommend you to read my previous blogs on Sikkim because there is a mystery connected there that I am going to narrate while having hot chocolate @ Keventer's.

Keventer's is one of the popular restaurant with an open rooftop & beautiful views of the Himalayas. It is one of the place where Satyajit Ray used to visit frequently and bring solutions to the mysterious puzzles through our favorite detective character FELUDA. This is the place where I feel like sitting I don't know for how long & may be write or enjoy the nature.

Well I was talking about a Mumbai guy right? Who was travelling with us @ North Sikkim? Who was trying to act like a mysterious guy? What happened to him finally?

He was suppose to come back to Gangtok with us before we headed here. But he didn't. He chose to get down from the car while coming back.

Now coming back to Darjeeling it can be sometimes tiring to walk if we compare with Sikkim because Darjeeling is situated on the slopes of the mountain. So the roads are stiff and for the city people it's like mini trekking. But I enjoy walking around here watching the beautiful buildings, Mall, Tourists etc. One thing I haven't mentioned yet that when people come across the view of Kanchenjunga for the first time in the morning, it really takes one's breath away. WOW. Let's have a look @ it...

Sunrise @Tiger Hill where almost everyday Kanchenjunga appears with golden reflection

One never forgets his/her first encounter with KANCHENJUNGA

Who is She??...

So stay tuned for my next blog to have the flavor of best Darjeeling tea &  untold mysteries surrounding this trip .....

Frozen MYSTERY at North Sikkim

Before we go on a trip 2 one of the highest lake in Asia, let me share 1 short story that reminds me of Danny Boyle's movie "Trainspotting". There was a Mumbai guy of our age in 20's who was traveling with us from Gangtok 2 North Sikkim for this 2 nights journey. He seemed 2 be a cool guy & was traveling solo. After attending the local party with the Sikkimese people, when we were at our room chatting, this guy suddenly asked "Do you know why I am traveling alone?". I said "May be U njoy ur own company"... The guy replied "No. I am running away from Mumbai"...

So with chilling weather outside, this conversation was pouring more adventure, where I had a feeling that we were not there for traveling only but to solve some hidden mysteries buried somewhere in the mountains like our very own popular Bengali detective character "FELUDA"(to b contd... somewhere after).

Let's go to the starting point of our journey 2 Gurudongmar lake at around 3-15 a.m. in the morning or night you can say. I was half asleep & once in da car I was trying to sleep on da way but due to the rough condition of the road, constant jerking kept me half awake. We reached a place called Thangu (altitude 14000 ft.) @ 6 a.m. in da early morning to have some garma garam Maggi noodles. I started shivering with the icy-cold weather of Himalayas & it was almost close to ZERO degree Celsius. I was not carrying any gloves & it was difficult to take pictures from my camera as my fingers were frozen. At last I bought a pair of gloves there.

I was trembling bcoz of da big temperature drop

Garma Garam Maggi

While having Maggi, my friend told me to come out & see the outstanding sight of the mountains that have started appearing slowly under the dawn. At first, after getting out of my drowsiness, I was totally mesmerized what I was watching in front. What my eyes were witnessing, my mind was transmitting different views of the nature. If I have to explain I can say it's a volcano with golden lava erupting from the peak, a mountain full of gold all over its surroundings or the first reflection of our god i.e. Sun. Whatever seems logical, pictures (#copyright) say many things.... 

With our driver

After having breakfast, our journey began towards the higher altitude. After crossing 15000 ft. we saw the river water that were flowing alongside the mountains, were frozen all over and the temperature was dropping with increasing altitudes. There were some military check points & one can see the military people with their green Indian uniform & covered face. This is because the China Border lies only 5 Kms from our destination i.e. Gurudongmar lake. Special permits are required for the Foreigners to visit north Sikkim. All the permits can be collected from the Indian Missions in different countries. It can also be collected from Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai & Mumbai or the Office of the Assistant Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim, Kolkata or the office of the Deputy Director (Tourism), Govt. of Sikkim, New Delhi.   

NESCAFÉ :)

Frozen water from da mountains

Frozen Gurudongmar Lake

5183 meters --Almost equivalent to da Everest Base camp altitude i.e. 5380 meters

First Selfie

My friend became a temporary brand ambassador of HONEY BEE brandy :p

                            

                           

While clicking pictures I was also enjoying the beauty of World's highest mountain ranges with my eyes. May be there are plenty of ways to express the happiness of traveling there. That's why da photos (#copyright) here express their own meanings to the readers.

And da MYSTERY continues.....

GANGTOK A GONDOGOL

Gondogol? Problem? Y not? How pessimistic I am!!! But hey, this title of this blog reminds me of the famous detective story "GANGTOK A GONDOGOL" by Satyajit Ray. 

Well, when we reached Gangtok late in the evening most of the shops were closing down. Only M.G.Marg area was open till 9-30 p.m. We were not lucky to get the permit for the next day to visit East Sikkim (Changu lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula Pass). But we were actually lucky to find a shop half opened at 10 O'Clock in the evening where a guy gave us an option to visit North Sikkim (2 nights) the next day. Ultimately "GANGTOK A GONDOGOL" was becoming reality as the real mystery of Feluda lies on the way to North Sikkim. 

Some photos I clicked on our way to North Sikkim (Between Gangtok & Lachen)....#Copyright

Another Car Tyre was punctured on da way & dis photo shows da coordination among da local drivers 

Our driver repairing da Car Tyre 

Having Tea

Our driver wanted to reach Lachen before getting dark but we reached there a bit late. That's where the feel of adventure started on the way after the sunset when nothing was visible outside except the rough road ahead of us under the reflection of our Car's headlight with sound of river sometimes waving by.

Finally we arrived at Lachen fully exhausted after 6 hours of long bumpy rides as the condition of the road was not good after entering North Sikkim. Some years back (most probably on 2008) there was a massive earthquake that demolished the hill road & landslides are very common here. 

It was too cold. I don't remember how much (probably below 5 degree) on December evening but for social drinkers there is a good news. Alcohol is very cheap in Sikkim. So we bought local Sikkimese rum at Gangtok that helped us to keep our body adaptable with the cold climate of the mountains.

Local Sikkimese Rum

There was a local party going on next door where we were living & I thought there was no point of taking rest while traveling as I remembered one important line my South African guide cum friend Iphrame told me "All rest in heaven". 

After taking a walk around for a while we joined da party. The local people were curious to know about us after hearing that we are from Kolkata. Everyone started shouting dada dada (they mean to say Sourav Ganguly, former Indian Captain) & famous Mithun Chakroborty(Bollywood actor). I am sharing one trending song of this time that goes with the flow of this party ;p;p;p...

                             

Finally we went to sleep @ 2 O'Clock in the midnight & our next destination for Gurudongmar lake was about to start @ 3 a.m. that is an hour later. So imagine what next !!!

Stay tuned for da REAL adventure....