The Rungeet River
The Glenburn Lodge
We gathered in the lodge, appreciating the screened-in open air, yet protected from the occasional drizzle. We started with shandies and fresh-squeezed lemonade. The picnic feast included barbequed pork and chicken, quiche, salad nicoise, chicken salad, foccacia bread, tomatoes, potato salad, and grilled banana for dessert.
The feast
And of course, cups of Darjeeling tea!
The return trip was surreal. The region experienced an earthquake; the epicenter was about 50 miles away in Sikkim. We didn't feel the shaking, as we were in our own quaking 4x4 rides up the mountain. As we entered a small village, we were met with general chaos as water gushed from a broken pipe. Sanjay, the plantation manager, was driving the lead jeep (I was in this). He stopped to assess the situation and learned of the quake. We continued up the mountain (we were almost to the top), so that he could return and help with the water shutoff. A few moments later, Sanjay received a phone call. The 4x4 behind us could not pass the village, a landslide had occurred in the few short moments between our passing and theirs. Sanjay dashed back to retrieve the others and then sped away again to ensure the villages were safe and to check the damages. I was relieved to learn that no one was seriously injured on the plantation.
Safely arrived back to the bungalows, we settled our still-trembling nerves with cups of tea. At dinner that evening, as the generators provided electricity, the guests shared earthquake stories. A bonding experience, a humbling reminder of the power of nature. The quake wasn't giant in California standards (magnitude 6.9), yet it was quite impactful near the epicenter, a remote area with limited access to rescue equipment. I went to bed that night with immense gratitude for our safety and prayers for the hard-hit areas.
Even the china matches the lush green
The return trip was surreal. The region experienced an earthquake; the epicenter was about 50 miles away in Sikkim. We didn't feel the shaking, as we were in our own quaking 4x4 rides up the mountain. As we entered a small village, we were met with general chaos as water gushed from a broken pipe. Sanjay, the plantation manager, was driving the lead jeep (I was in this). He stopped to assess the situation and learned of the quake. We continued up the mountain (we were almost to the top), so that he could return and help with the water shutoff. A few moments later, Sanjay received a phone call. The 4x4 behind us could not pass the village, a landslide had occurred in the few short moments between our passing and theirs. Sanjay dashed back to retrieve the others and then sped away again to ensure the villages were safe and to check the damages. I was relieved to learn that no one was seriously injured on the plantation.
Safely arrived back to the bungalows, we settled our still-trembling nerves with cups of tea. At dinner that evening, as the generators provided electricity, the guests shared earthquake stories. A bonding experience, a humbling reminder of the power of nature. The quake wasn't giant in California standards (magnitude 6.9), yet it was quite impactful near the epicenter, a remote area with limited access to rescue equipment. I went to bed that night with immense gratitude for our safety and prayers for the hard-hit areas.