A first train drops us off at Kalka before hopping on the Himalaya Queen, a mountain train that rolls at 20 km/h and goes through 103 tunnels ; 5 hours to reach Shimla. A bequest from the former British occupier. A journey through the forest which cheers us up after this first hours spent in the Indian capital city.
Shimla is a holidays destination for the honeymooners and rich Indians. The town seems to be built on a landslide. Steep stairs connect the thoroughfares of the city. The houses don the British colonial architecture of the 19th century. Hanging from the electric wires, climbing gutters or scaning around from the rooftops, colonies of monkeys invade the town.
The Jakhu temple at the top of the town is dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey God. And its associates swarm around the temple. Their aggression keeps us at a distance.
We walk down to the pedestrian way of the Mall where we book a 10-day trip combining jeep + trek in the east of the Himachal Pradesh. We didn't really decided our route yet but the desire to go out of Delhi. We entrust a part of our trip to this small travel agency. No precise information about the journey, and no desire to know more for today. From tomorrow onwards, the pleasure of the discovery. The genuine one.
Keyword - resting -
Tuesday 18 September 2007
The mountain train towards Shimla
By dorian on Tuesday 18 September 2007, 19:08 - RTW-India
Friday 24 August 2007
The summer palace at the northeast of Beijing
By dorian on Friday 24 August 2007, 12:56 - RTW-China
This time for sure, our last journey into the Chinese trains will be in first class. The night train gets to the capital from Shanghai in a little less than 12 hours and the service is equal to the price of the ticket: high. As we arrived in Beijing, we go back to the hutongs district, south from the Tiananmen square, in order to put down our backpacks. Then, we plunge into the metro station heading towards the silk market (Yongan'li station).
Several floors mix traditional souvenirs, clothes, shoes, sunglasses, jewelery and other accessories - The last stronghold of fake products in Beijing. Rayban sunglasses, Montblanc pen, Breitling watch, Diesel trousers, Ralf Lauren polo and genuine Chinese Goretex jacket; for less than 50€ and a fierce bargaining you can leave with the complete outfit. French customs will perhaps like less.
The next day, direction to the Great Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai, for the second time but in the sun this time. (Look at the pictures in the following post clicking here).
The next day, we hop on the bus n°726 at the south of the Tiananmen square. Its terminus is located at the summer palace, a little more than one hour from here. The emperor came to look for somewhere cool beside the lake during the summer hot days. We step on a pedestrian way that surrounds the lake. Several humpbacked bridges brighten the stroll up while trees lines on both sides of the path assure a relative coolness to us in the shade of the summer oppressive heat. Our walk leads us to the Emperor's palace and to a temple on the hilltop offering us a panoramic view over the lake. Pedal boats and small electric-powered boats sail onto the peaceful waterways.
At the end of the afternoon, and on the way back, a wandering travel agent gives us the opportunity to discover a vegetation-invaded part of the Great Wall, at 2 hours from Beijing. Here is an interesting excursion before leaving China. Rendez-vous is taken for tomorrow morning. We finally go back to our hutong we already have our habits and our favorite restaurant in.
Monday 20 August 2007
Among gardens and canals in the Venice of the East
By dorian on Monday 20 August 2007, 21:08 - RTW-China
To escape from the stickiness and the madness of the Shanghai subway, the excursion to Suzhou turns out to be a particularly interesting destination. Buses leave from Shanghai at regular intervals and the journey lasts about 1h30.
The discovery of the different gardens and alleyways must be done on foot. We begin with the northernmost garden which has a beautiful wooden pagoda. The zen atmosphere, provided by the big Buddha at the entrance of the garden, relaxes us and clears the images of the morning crush in the shanghaian subway out of our minds. Turtles and wildly over fed red fish swim into the tiny lake at the bottom of the garden. They vainly hope someone throws a few biscuit crumbs which won't come because it's a diet day today!
A few minutes later, we embark on a wooden junk in order to enjoy the canals the city is renowned for. We glide over the water and we infiltrate into the narrow canals. The boatman beats time. Weeping willows line the banks before we cross some rickety houses bathed by the canal water.
We walk on southward. We visit the historical center of the town and another peaceful garden. A relaxing and enriching day before taking a return bus to reimmerse ourselves in the Shanghai excitement.
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