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Woke this morning to the sound of a brick being thrown through our overnight bus window down from the Indian Himalayas to Kolkata. The driver had attempted another one of his hideous overtaking manouvers and had to stand on the break to avoid flattening some locals. They didn\'t take too kindly to this, as you can imagine - hence the brick. The \'bus bloke\' just drew the curtains which amazingly rectified the problem for our onward journey : ) Mountains were great though. Darjeeling was cool, relaxed, beautiful - more Nepali than Indian. Free Gorkhaland was sprawled everywhere (they want a separate state and I can see why - they have very little in common on any level. I half expected Joanna Lumley to jump out from behind a tree brandishing a machete.\' Never say nono to a momo\' has been our motto. We have eaten so may of these dumplings (momos) - fried, steamed, various fillings we really needed the trek (the real reason for our heading up north). Also, never give your washing to someone who smells like a horse. Our washing in Darjeeling came back smelling like they had dried it via horse fart - they dried it in stables. The odour still lingers as I write this email. Emma has been emotionally scarred for life (she takes enormous pride in her washing). Anyway, the trek started from Yuksam in Sikkim (sanwiched between Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan) like a mole on the top NE corner of India. It is a remote and tiny little town with a lake full of goldfish, prayer flags lining the streets and a curfew of 8pm! Never found out the reason for this. I think it was simply boredom as not a lot to do after a you\'ve seen the sites except watch the drizzle. Kitted out we headed off on our 4 day trek up to Dzongri La @ 4500m and a view of Kachenzonga (3rd highest peak in the world). We were fed enormously well (a usual meal consisting of soup then 2 to 3 random main courses like chowmein, potato curry and french bread OR mashed potato, toast and special fried rice. Grandma food you might call it (like living on rations or using up what is in the fridge). No \'bottom issues\' and with the lack of toilets conversation inevitably turned to toilet and related issues - quantity etc. During the night at our highest point, our accommodation was a tent. -5 degrees and an inch of snow overnight (see the piccies). A dog tried to crawl in to escape the cold during the night and scared Emma witless. Also, check out Emmas coat, which was borrowed from the trekking \'people\'. A brown trench coat with fur collar. She looked like a tsarina (so fitted in very well amongst all the goretex and always felt the need to explain herself). Great views the previous day but none on the day we were supposed to see the magnificent panorama of the KC range. Gutted! Anyway good work-out and consoled ourselves with some local brew (millet beer drunk out of a wooden tub). Now in Kolkata and sweating 38 degrees. Kuala Lumpur tomorrow then China by the end of the week. Hope you\'re all well and keep us updated on any news. Haven\'t seen the football results for 2 weeks so going to check now (it\'s all cricket here -sigh).. Ciao for now.
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Chris Just returned from Chamonix. Joe now real mountain God / ski dude. Having trouble keeping up with him! Doing French Bronze Star next year. He and I got caught in blizzard / white out at 3,300m - not pleasant ! Tom having separat lessons and catching up. Will print blog for Boys - they love it !