They were told that the lock would be removed in the morning after we had returned from our first activity of the day--a hike up to a viewpoint, so off we went.
There was a long road up to the top of a mountain where the views were fantastic. We all set off about 7:30 and began the walk. We saw some very interesting homes, and a number of children sitting outside of them or playing in the yard. It was Sunday and we saw a number of cars heading in the other direction, carrying people obviously on their way to church.
We passed Doctor Graham’s School, which was started in the early 20th century.
It was initially started by him so that orphaned children of tea plantation workers and other orphans could receive an education. It is primarily a residential school, but some people from Kalimpong go there as well. Ganesh, his son (Honey’s husband) went there, and Honey’s two girls so there as well.
It was pretty far up the road, and Jo and I were wilting a little under the heat.
We kept going for about another 30 minutes and then decided to head back. Jim and David continued on for what turned out to be at least another hour hike (going much faster than they could have with us).
Some photos from their hike:
Jo and I went back to the Orchid Retreat to check on the lock. Not good. The handyman could not get the lock off with his tools. He went back and got a crowbar. Nope. He then got a hammer. Nope. Finally he got a hacksaw, and started…and continued…and continued. By this time, Jo was getting pretty despondent. Finally he got it off, and Jo was able to get into their cabin.
Now off to breakfast to wait for Jim and David. There was one other guest whose name was Martin. He was from approximately 30 miles outside of London. He was travelling alone, and this was his third time to the Orchid Retreat. He asked where we were from and I told him from Delaware, a state in the East of the USA. He said he had worked in Delaware. I said we lived in Old New Castle –and he said he had stayed in New Castle. No kidding. It turned out his company made software for bridge ticketing and he had worked at the Delaware Memorial Bridge and at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. And we were in India; this was truly unbelievable.
David interjects: apparently he also had an interaction with Jo that went like this, read it in a heavy British accent
Martin: "Does your husband frequently play that banjo?" (referring to my 2 hours of practicing the day before)
Jo: "Why yes, he does"
Martin: "Oh dear God..."
(yes Martin, may God take pity on your soul {no, in all seriousness the banjo retreated until I figured out that my Croc strap functions as an excellent mute!})
Jim and David returned, and after breakfast, we sat on our porches, relaxed (which I don’t do very well!) , and David and Jo went off for a rest. After they got up, we decided to take a taxi into Kalimpong to check out the markets and get some fruit and snacks for our trip back to Delhi. The market was incredibly crowded, and there was yet another opportunity for a hair-raising adventure in a taxi cab. Once we got there, David and Jim proceeded to have a truly unique experience – a shave and a haircut. Part of the haircut includes some “cupping motion” of the scalp, followed by a head massage! Jo and I found a fruit store and got some mangos, chocolate, and Nutella and then Jo and David got ice cream bars to finish out our exciting adventure! Back to the Orchid Retreat for dinner and bed – this time David and Jo could actually get in their room.
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