Hopefully you'll enjoy the next chapter in our ludicrous journey where we travel from Darjeeling to Purnia.
At the foot of Darjeeling dense traffic we found.
Bikes, rickshaws and taxis swarmed all around.
Siliguri, the town’s name, was loud and intense.
We skated on two wheels – a moment’s suspense.
We found a hotel, then a taxi to take
Us on up to the top, for poor Rita’s sake.
A three-hour trip in a four wheel drive
Was not a journey a tuk could survive.
Yet as we arrived at the famous hill station
Two Rickshaw Run rickshaws caused a standing ovation.
The nutters had driven all the way on their own,
Pushing and shoving when the engine did moan.
As Runners from Britain we sought out the tea
To taste and enjoy and to buy with rupee(s).
In a fantastical shop one hundred years old
Darjeeling Tea by the bagload was sold.
The following morning we woke up at four
To go even higher and see the sun soar
As it rose from beneath us and revealed mountains high:
Himalayas and Everest. Nothing could we espy.
The thick clouds enveloped us and hid the display.
Instead all we saw was black fog turning grey.
Down to Siliguri after mo-mos and chai
We assembled the convoy and with heads still held high
We drove through the tea fields, oh what a sight
Swathes of green plants, pickers dressed in clothes bright.
We set out for Bihar and the town of Purnia.
Siliguri’s bad traffic just came nowhere near
To the carnage we edged through, one inch at a time.
We found a hotel and I announced: “I’m
Taking our rickshaw to the mechanics just there.
Rita’s rattling lots and needs some good care.”
A huge crowd then gathered to watch a man weld
Bits of our rickshaw that hadn’t quite held.
After paying mechanics we went into town.
We’d heard there were barbers of wondrous renown.
We were sat in a chair and a boy of thirteen
Shaved and massaged us and gave us a clean.
We sat in the chair, foam and oils on our face,
A blade at our throats, this was some place.
Before we were finished a large crowd had gathered
To see these two white men being clean shaved and lathered.
With beer and with snacks they befriended us there,
And as the hours passed some great moments were share(d).
We set off for bed, shaking everyone’s hand
The multitude made us feel like a rock band!
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