6th February Down but not Out

We are a pair of invalids today as R's cough and sore throat have returned with a vengeance and D is having tummy troubles. Perhaps the fried pies weren't such a good idea after all. Today's provisional plan had been for an outing by car to the big Buddhist monastery at Rumtek, about 90 minutes away by taxi. Neither of us feels up to this so we content ourselves with a local walk on which D disgraces himself by getting lost. We end up in a part of town where they are laboriously scraping the surface off the street,  a very dusty process. 

We take refuge in the not so big Big Bazaar which probably has the best views of any branch on the chain. We feel the need for tea so we walk back through the stoor and along MG Road to the Golden Tips tearoom. We order a pot of Darjeeling Orange Pekoe. When it arrives it is huge and accompanied by a plate of biscuits. We are in no hurry,  and linger over our tea, watching Gangtok pass by on the street below. Today appears to be chair moving day, as we see several porters laden with great stacks of plastic garden chairs. There are queues of a dozen or more at every cash machine. Neither of us feels much like climbing the hill on foot so we take a taxi ride back to Mintokling. 

If we have to be under the weather somewhere this is not a bad place for it. Not too much noise, comfy beds and room service if we need tea. We realise that it doesn't make for riveting reading but we do plan to get back in the groove asap. By mid afternoon the birdsong outside our window has become irresistible and we spend an hour wating bulbuls, green backed tits, rufous sibias and others feeding in the trees and bushes. Eventually it becomes a bit chilly for open windows. Time to sort ourselves out for the evening. This place has a proper shower that really works and makes a nice change from jug and bucket showers. We have decided to try a reader's recommendation tonight (thank you Lindie). 

The Tangerine restaurant is only halfway down the hill which we consider a plus in our debilitated condition.  This advantage is somewhat eroded by the four flights of stairs that we have to descend from the entrance. The decor is much classier than anywhere else we have seen in Gangtok with subdued lighting and solid furniture. The chap behind the counter seems a little surprised to see us but bids us welcome and tells us that we can sit anywhere. We are the only customers.  After a couple of frantic sounding phone calls a rather breathless waiter arrives. D is still not 100% and does not want anything too rich or spicey so orders veg pakoras and chips. R is black affronted. "You are not in Glasgow now". Her Jalfreizi takes a while to arrive but is very good.