Entries about cable car

Day 4 Kalimpong > Gangtok

The long and winding road downwards from Kalimpong to the Teesta River for the 46 km journey north to Gangtok. Being on the left hand side of the bus, I had marvellous views of the river and hillside scenery with the 9am / 09:00 morning light streaming in from the right. Pity about all the trees and power poles.

Wonder how much protection from the cold water those doing the river rafting got besides their life jackets. Local Indians are venturing into the adventure activities having read about it recently.

Breakfast stop at Hotel Phalguney and the view of the slow moving glacial Teesta River which is the border between West Bengal and Sikkim with a couple of rocks and their reflections was great.

My breakfast was certainly cheap. Just 100 rupees / NZ$2.10 / US$1.60 for Aloo Parotha and the best thing was they came around and topped up my plate again for no extra charge. So that was breakfast and lunch washed down by a cup of milk tea for 20 rupees / NZ$0.40 / US$0.30.

After breakfast time to head off again.

Had a stop at Rangpo police check post so that JD can complete our entry formalities into Sikkim. Yes, got another stamp in my passport.

Arriving in Gangtok at 1pm / 13:00 meant we had to wait an hour before the ropeway / cable car ticket office opened after their lunch break. Just 110 rupees / NZ$2.30 / US$1.70 for the short 10 minute ride to the uphill station for the 6 who wanted to go on it. Robyn and Tova opted not to. Yes, we wanted to get off for a walk around. Look at the bottom right hand NOTICE = Didn’t read the last sentence that was even in UPPER CASE when it said you have to pay for another ticket if you got off. The first sentence did say it was a round trip ticket. Do you think we read ALL of the notices before buying our tickets?

While we waited went for a short walk around town

So after a brief walk about, we decided to walk back to town and at least it was all downhill! Somehow Hans got a lift by someone passing.

Maplewood Resort was one of many buildings seemingly perched on the side of the hill. As we drove in Gangtok the city certainly reminded me of my time in Quito, La Paz, Valparaiso, all in South America. Hate to be here if an earthquake struck.

Orientation Walk can wait till tomorrow as it was off at 5pm / 17:00 to see Tiger Zinda Hai a Bollywood Movie starting at 5.30pm / 17:30. 300 rupees / NZ$6.30 / US$4.65 for the ticket and of course you can not forget a tub of popcorn for 30 rupee / NZ$0.60 / US$0.50.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePO5M5DE01I

A woman on a mission. Watch Zoya unleash the tigress in her, in the song ‘Tera Noor’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGNulc5qhDk

Tiger Zinda Hai (lit.: Tiger is alive), also known as TZH, is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language spy thriller film, directed and co-written by Ali Abbas Zafar. The film stars Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Sajjad Delfrooz in leading roles, with Angad Bedi, Kumud Mishra, Nawab Shah, Girish Karnad and Paresh Rawal in supporting roles. The film is the sequel to the 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger and the second installment of the Tiger film series, and is based on the 2014 abduction of Indian nurses by ISIL.

The first look of the poster was revealed by Salman Khan through his official Twitter account on 18 October 2017 on the occasion of Diwali. The official trailer was released on 7 November. The film was released on 22 December 2017. With a budget of ₹1.5 billion (US$23 million), it is the one of the most expensive Hindi films and one of the most expensive Indian films of all time. It has grossed more than ₹5.5 billion (US$84 million) at the box office, becoming a major commercial success and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time. At the 63rd Filmfare Awards, Tom Struthers won the Filmfare Award for Best Action. Thanks Mr Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Zinda_Hai

Here are some images from Dr “Google”:

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=tiger+zinda+hai&rlz=1C1GGRV_enNZ751NZ751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwje-IPFkv3ZAhWJu7wKHXohDsQQ_AUIDSgE&biw=1536&bih=734&dpr=1.25

Sitting upstairs in the comfort of our well-padded seats instead of being downstairs where the locals were yelling and clapping when their local hero came on screen. Perhaps it would have been better if we were sitting with them.

It was nearly 10pm / 22:00 when we had a late dinner. From the resort kitchen came an Egg Biryani 220 rupees / NZ$4.60 / US$3.40 with a cup of hot chocolate to warm one up 80 rupees / NZ$1.50 / US$1.10.

Another heater but this time it was 150 rupees / NZ$3.20 / US$2.30 per night and we are here for 2 nights. However while I had asked for one when we arrived, come bed time we didn’t get one – didn’t have enough. Naturally I was not impressed at all. (Next night they found one.)