Sikkim

During the tshechu holidays me and my family went to Sikkim. We traveled all the way from Thimphu to Sikkim. Sikkim is a landlocked country which lost its independence to India in the year 1975. We went to Sikkim to visit the great master Dondrup rinpoche.  It was a very thrilling experience.
We reached Phuentsholing and after that we ordered some dinner and brushed and slept. The next day our taxi came so we all went to Sikkim it was a very long ride. The Indian plain was so plain only the trees and buildings stood out there were so many tea plantations with so many farmers working in it.
When we reached the coronation bridge it was surprised to see how tall it was. Even the river Teesta was so vast we also saw some college students river rafting. It also actually happened to be their festival Dassain. Every body was wearing bright colourful clothes. Mom told us now from river Teesta the winding path starts and it is a 3 hour journey. We followed the river upstream until we finally reached Gangtok.
 We stayed at a place called Shumbuk homes. It was a nice hotel and it is not very expensive with a lot of services the workers and manager were very friendly there was free wifi. We then went to the Goenpa where the rinpoche dwelled. We met many of our neighbours and friends. We prayed to the wish fulfilling chorten.
Then we went to mg road. And as it was Dassain everybody was enjoying themselves there were music shows and all the streets were beautifully illuminated and everbody was dressed in their best. We went to Dominos got some pizza and went back to the hotel. We ate the pizza showered and slept.
The next day we woke up early brushed and got dressed to visit the rinpoche. We also visited the monasteries nearby after that we all assembled in the hall and waited for rinpoche. It was a 2 hour wait as the rinpoche was 92 years old. And after that he gave us a short sermon of about 5 minutes but everybody felt very blessed and there we could see the power of the rinpoche. We all ate lunch and rushed back to our driver. We put in our luggage and got ready for the return journey.
We all returned to our hotel to pay the bill and it was another long journey back to Phuentsholing. When we reached Hasimara we tried contacting our hotel to confirm our room because if we don’t then even if we booked it first they give away our room. My balance was zero and when we called through mom’s phone they said they had already given away the room. Dad was furious and we all found ourselves another place.
That place was awfully cramped and the next day we went back to Thimphu. We reached home by 6:30pm but I did have a very awesome and thrilling experience but still we all gotta keep one thing in mind ‘there is no place like home’.