Monday 21st April 2025

Day two of travel, this time to the foothills to a birding paradise, of which more later.

Due to the long drive, wheels was to be at half six, though that was but back an hour so we could have breakfast in the hotel, and say a final farewell to those leaving us.

We had an overnight bag, so no packing, just up and dressed, down to reception where our cases were looked after, and we went for breakfast: cereal, toast, pastries and proper coffee!

I felt almost human again.

So, in the foyer we hugged and there were more tears, as our bags were carried out, and we climbed onto the bus, a small eight seater for us for the rest of the week.

And off we went, into the madness that is Delhi in rush hour, a hundred million horns blaring, kids going to schools, tuk-tucks, ancient trucks, overloaded buses and we forcing our way through.

After half an hour we were on the motorway heading north, traffic thinned, and we made good time.

We stopped at ten for a comfort break and more coffee. And a pack of bourbon creams I found in the service station shop!

Fed and watered, we set off, soon coming to Mother Ganges, where there was the opportunity to get out and wander down to the shore, through the crowds of beggars.

It was over forty degrees, and it didn't fee right to me, so I stayed on the bus, and when the other returned, the beggars almost followed them on too.

We left, having to do a 180 degree turn across three lanes of motorway. Thankfully, not much coming, and we were back on our way, with me snapping us crossing the river, while a train crossed in the opposite direction.

And then we turned off and headed for the hills.

Through countless towns, where the motorway just ended, and traffic had to fight its way along clogged streets, among tuk-tuks and cyclists, then usually to a roundabout where everyone seems to have right of way, and back on the smooth road.

Out of the smog, shapes of tall hills began to loom, and after one more comfort break, the road began to climb. And twist. And turn.

Diving on this dangerous road was no different: tooting of horns, overtaking on blind corners but this came with the added bonus of a sheer from of hundreds of feet to one side for whom got it wrong.

On bends, shops and restaurants had been built on stilts to serve the passing traffic, quite a feat, really.

And still the road climbed.

And climbed.

In fact the road climbs much higher than Sat Tal, where we reverse up the drive to the hotel, but on for many more tens of miles, until the snow capped peaks of the highest mountains on our planet can be seen.

That view was for another day.

Into the hotel, up two floors to reception where we were given our keys, and it was here that we found that the birdwatching hides where we were going to spend the next two days had been closed by the rangers as they disapproved of the use of seed to entice the birds.

Up three more floors in a lift, the hotel is part built into the side of the valley, to our rooms, which have grand views out over the artificial lake with fills the valley here.

Changes to plans are under way, but I'll leave you with us having lunch overlooking the lake, and the hilltops beyond, the sides filled with pastel coloured houses.

In the afternoon, Jools went with the others, birding. Truth is I have not been well, and an afternoon of kipping and relaxing was called for.

So they left and I had a shower, then messed around online: wrote, posted shots and so on.

The afternoon faded, and outside was the sound of Bangrah beats and exotic spices being mixed for dinners. Dusk fell, and the wind dropped to nothing, leaving perfect reflections on the lake, mirroring the mountains and forests above.

Thing is, before the holiday, if I were told that we would be have two curries a day, every day. I'd have thought that great. But truth is, we miss some familiar foods, so the hotel cooked us up fried chicken and chips for dinner.

Not exciting or exotic, but did us fine. Service was wonderful, even down to the forced smile as the fried chicken were placed before us.