Snippet from the Hills

While news of flood and devastation reaches us from Kashmir, it seems our friends at the other end of the Himalayan range are caught in ferocious thunderstorm and torrential rain.

Hari Singh Shekhawat

It was their last day at Gangtok today and upon reaching Darjeeling in the afternoon, the second half of their six-day tour would begin. Reports indicate it is raining yaks and mules there also.
When the group of 25 reached Gangtok on March 28, the weather was fairly pleasant with occasional bursts of sunshine. Barring Tabassum and Bhaswati Bose’s bouts of puking and a medical scare by Zarina Khan, everything worked like clockwork and Hari Singh Shekhawat celebrated his arrival at the 'Switzerland of India' by pouring himself a Patiala peg.
He was still in high spirits when he called up early next morning from the “Bakhthang Jharna” (read Falls) while taking playful digs at his colleagues.

Yusuf Rassiwala

Nature was still kind as the group covered the usual touristy spots on the itinerary -- Rumtek Monastery, Santi View Point, Dodurl Chorten, Orchid House Flower Show and so on. Some even squeezed a trip to MG Marg Mall, the premier shopping district for tourists in Gangtok.
Suddenly the weather changed yesterday and when the group reached the Tsongo Lake on the Sino-India border, the skies darkened and it began to rain.

A kind lady distributed guavas in the Garden today

Still, in the biting cold, many played around in the snow. Some people could not take it though. Being a high altitude area (12,400 ft) they complained of restlessness and Shekhawat’s tummy started to bloat miraculously. He did not take any chances and simply took off in one car with a few others, leaving the rest behind. Once in the hotel, he was fit and fine – back to his jovial self and making phone calls. But Monthi Serrao insists he has become a "confused man".
Meanwhile, Yusuf Rassiwala led a trek up to the Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir – famous for ghost sightings of a soldier killed in the 1962-65 war with China. It was more than an hour’s climb, a near impossible feat for the ladies who contained themselves to gamboling in the snow at Tsongo Lake. We salute the courage and tenacity of this man and of all those in the “goods train” (Shekhawat’s words) who accompanied him.
Bihari Milwani:
Slow and steady wins the race. Yusuf Bhai's 'goods train' had overtaken Shekhawat's superfast mail train.
Jagmohan Papneja:
We should learn from Shekhawat-ji that life is to be enjoyed and not just endured.
Renu Babani:
Come rain or snow, the show must go on. As a group, I am sure everyone will make the most of their trip. Mother Nature shall be kind to all of you. Just take care of each other and the trip will be fun.