I really wish I had warm words of an awesome stay over in Darjeeling but it would be a lie if I did.  I had high expectations for it, as I seen the movie “Darjeeling Limited” and loved that movie but I quickly found out the movie is in no way like the reality of place.

Darjeeling is a mountain town close to the border of Tibet.  To be honest you actually feel like you’re in Tibet because you see more Asian/Tibet people there than Indians.  It also reminded me of Ecuador and Peru in a lot of ways.  This was ok for me but there was a trade off for the uniqueness, as you got the coldness of the people, like they were mad to be in India.  Made me wonder if a bunch of Indians were living on the Tibetan side of the border?

People to me are what make a place good or bad in my book.  I hardly got a smile from anyone, except for one time two girls said hello to us on a back alley.  They were young and greeted us with a big smile with their hands collapsed together in front of them.  I took a photo of them, as they were so genuine and wanted to at least have one photo of someone happy.  I can’t say everyone walked around with a pissed off look but it was a strong contrast from the people we met in other Indian cities, like Dwarka for example.  It wasn’t just the cold stares we got either but the overcharging at most places.  I just felt like a mark here and maybe didn’t have a good experience like others would.  Sometimes it happens; as every place you visit can’t be better then the last all the time.

The two girls that said hello to us on a back alley

So to keep this post from turning into a bitch session I’ll tell you about my one really good moment here:

The night before we were all scheduled to leave Darjeeling we decided to meet up at 8pm at a Tibetan restaurant.  We should have known that was too late, as things in Darjeeling closed early every night and by 10pm the town is a ghost town.

We all meet up and we knew we would need to find a new place to eat, so Lauren and I walked across the street to inquire if other restaurants would be open for us to eat.  We found one place and they said it wouldn’t be a problem.  So we went back and got the group of 9 people and went to the new location.

When the 12 year-old boy walked up to our table to take our order we should have known something was a little off.  You could tell he didn’t want to work because he was listing to the cricket match on his headphones and put off the vibe that we were intruding on his game.  We all tried to make our food order and when I made mine, the kid just laughed, as to say “No one eats the sweet and sour chicken!”  It was strange enough that others at the table noticed his laugh at me but I just chalked it up as nothing.

We finally got our orders in and we were all talking about what we did that day.  The boy comes back out and says they don’t have the dish I ordered.  Ok, so I tried to order something else and he said they didn’t have that.  Then I tried to ask him a question as to what they did have and he just kept saying some other dish.  I got a little flustered and just said I wasn’t eating and handed the menu back.  He leaves and comes back out again 2min later and tells Drew they don’t have what he ordered and this is when I finally said I was just going to leave.  Others in the group wanted to too because the place just had a bad vibe and the kid was being rude but since they started cooking some of the dishes they didn’t want to walk out…. so I left alone.

No big deal as I knew another place that was much nicer and about the same price, so I walked there.  Got to the new restaurant and asked if they were still serving (it was 8:30pm by this time) and they guy said yes.  Sat down and after 15min of waiting the guy walks up to me to tell me they only have noodles and something else.  Ok, I like noodles but asked him what kind of noodles they had.  His response was “Noodles” and I said I got that but what kind of noodles, fried noodles, chop suey exc?  He just said “Noodles!” again and gave me a “What are you dumb or something?” look.  WTF, how hard is it to get any food in this town without being yelled at or laughed at?  It should be noted this restaurant was one of the nicer ones in town catered towards tourists only and the man spoke perfect English.  He was just being a prick for some reason and I finally just said screw it and got up and walked out.

Man, I can go without a meal but I just wanted something to eat without it being a hassle.  So I finally said I would just walk and find a bag of chips for the night.  It’s about 9pm now and I walk past everyone at the first restaurant and see the group all happy eating their food… “Errr” I think!  Not more then 50ft down the street I see a restaurant with its lights on and a table of people eating in it.  Ok, well what is the worst they can do to me tonight they I haven’t heard already?

I walk in and ask if they are serving and they man says happily “Yes, no problem, come in, sit Sir.”  So I get a table and look at the menu and my mouth starts to drool.  Finally a place with food and they’re not jacking with me about it.  The waiter asks me what I want to drink and I decided it’s time for a beer.  He comes back with a glass with a liter beer and as he is pouring me my drink I am asking him what is what on the menu.  He explains the noodles and all my questions to which I finally decided on a noodle dish he recommended, egg rolls and some Tibetan fried bread (which is to die for).

It took a little bit of time before they served the food but I was cool with it because I was actually getting food!  Finally the waiter comes out and starts dropping dishes onto my table.  It was then I realized I over ordered and in no way was I going to be able to finish it all.  I knew Drew was going to be hungry, as they didn’t have the food he wanted at the first restaurant.  So thought if they could pack up ½ the meal I would take it back to Drew later.  The waiter knew exactly what I wanted when I put half the food onto a plate and came back with it all boxed up.  I eat up and ask for the check and also if he had put a plastic fork into the bag.  He said no, so I asked if he could, to which he explained they didn’t have plastic forks.  Humm, ok, so I ask him “How many Rupees for this metal fork?” He didn’t understand what I meant, so I repeated it.  His response with a grave face was “This is not possible my friend.”  “Ahh come on man, everything can be bought for the right amount of Rupees my friend, right?”  He shakes his head and walks off.

I need the fork because how is Drew going to eat with without it but I wondered why he just walked off.  So far he had been so cool with me and friendly, I hope I hadn’t pissed him off.  About this time he walks back up to the table and lays a fork wrapped in a napkin and tells me “You can use this fork but it’s not for sale.  You can use it and bring it back tomorrow, ok?”  I was a little shocked, to say the least.  Here I am offering to pay money and he refuses the money and treats me like a good friend instead.

Reason #137 why I am falling in love with India.

Reason #1 why I will give Darjeeling a second chance next time.

Street food being cooked next to a local market, veggies and stir fried noodles.

Random photo taken from the Jeep we were in going to Darjeeling.  I love the light in this photo!

The Himalayan Mountains, as seen from the town.  On a good morning you can see Mt. Everest.

Kids protesting because they want Gorkhaland to be a separate state.  Notice how they are all in school uniforms.  Think it’s sad when kids are protesting about subject they really don’t fully understand and are only doing it because they are told to do it.

Typical view of Darjeeling, with houses stacked up along the hill side

A women lets me take her photo at her stand.  I was thrilled when I asked and she nodded yes, as they light from the gas bottle just lite the stand up perfectly

Something you won’t find much in India is meat hanging from hooks

Baskets of fresh vegetables in a local market.  Makes you just want to load up on them when there displayed like this

… and I found “Hooker Road” but it’s not what you think it is.  Some back street named after a famous Nobel man from England that no one knows who he was except one guy in the group.  Guess he was a plant biologist and came to Darjeeling to find new species of plants.  Anyways, I only know this because I asked some of the British guys in the group if they knew who Sir Hooker was and one guy started off on this long speech about the above mentioned.  I thought he was full of it until I actually Googled it and seen he was correct.  Guess it goes to show you that there is always one in the group who knows more!

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