Category Archives: India

Last Day in Delhi

Posted on June 6, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Delhi is an overwhelming city. I took an auto-rickshaw ride home from the internet café the other night (an auto-rickshaw is a lot like a motorized tuk tuk in Thailand). The ride in an open vehicle on a hot night … Continue reading →

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The Case of the Maharaja Mac and the Missing Passport

Posted on June 4, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Yeah, you read that right: missing passport. I left for Agra and the Taj Mahal at 5:50 AM, as you know if you read the last post. My driver, Akaz, and I drove for four hours in his Tata sedan … Continue reading →

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Agra at 43 Degrees

Posted on June 4, 2010 by jspencerphotography

That’s Celcius, not latitude; 109.4 Fahrenheit was the recorded high temp during my visit. The day started at 5:50 AM when my new driver, Akaz, arrived to pick me up from the New South Extension in Delhi. There were many … Continue reading →

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Down in Delhi – or, I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends

Posted on June 1, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Yesterday was a travel day, which I have learned here in India, at least, means a tiring day. After an hour’s car ride down from Kurseong, I went through security checkpoints several times and barely managed to keep all my … Continue reading →

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Protests in Darjeeling

Posted on June 1, 2010 by jspencerphotography

It’s a quiet day in Kurseong because nearly everyone in the whole town has gone to Darjeeling for a protest rally. Basically, there are no services today. I’m just glad we still have electricity. I am told the people are … Continue reading →

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Touring Darjeeling

Posted on June 1, 2010 by jspencerphotography

I hired a driver for the day. First stop: the Zoo and the HMI: Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, located on the same piece of land. The zoo was small, but pretty neat. I saw a Royal Bengal Tiger from a few … Continue reading →

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Tea, anyone?

Posted on May 27, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Tonight I am in Darjeeling, having arrived today around 2:30 in a downpour followed by a hailstorm. The drive this time involved three different vehicles. First, from Yuksom, a cousin of Barap’s drove me to the Sikkim border in his … Continue reading →

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The Road to Yuksom: A Religious Experience. Or, Four Wheeling in a MicroBus

Posted on May 26, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Today I left Gangtok, fair capital city of Sikkim. Cars are hard to come by for transport to Yuksom, in part because this is a starting point for many mountain expeditions. It’s climbing time here, so cars are all booked. … Continue reading →

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From Kalimpong to Gangtok

Posted on May 26, 2010 by jspencerphotography

My impressions of Kalimpong are mixed. The monasteries are special, and the location is great, but the main town is pretty dirty. In the main market there’s a lot of honking, diesel fumes, trash and sewage. The vegetable market had … Continue reading →

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Spectacular Sikkim

Posted on May 26, 2010 by jspencerphotography

Sikkim, India, is a pretty special place and you’d have to work at it not to feel welcome here. Gangtok is larger and cleaner than the last town, the food’s good, and the people have a lot of civic pride. … Continue reading →

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