We ascend the gnarled unpaved roads to a small town in he mountains called Soreng. Driven in a sturdy 4x4 jeep that had bared the burden of this journey on numerous occasions. We arrive at our new home for 2 days. Auxs farm. The landscape was moulded by the magnificent snow capped mountains of the Himalayas, in contrast to the clear blue sky above and the green valleys below that held the brilliantly turquoise river Teesta.
After a delicious Nepalese inspired lunch, we explore our new surroundings, a place where tracks were still fresh from the illusive leopard that roamed and massacred a goat the night before. The village is mainly populated by farmers and their families cultivating and harvesting fruits and vegetables. The staggered fields are coloured by a profusion of Tibetan prayer flags that disburse the words written on them to the world. We visit a 100 year old monastery that, upon entering you can feel, see and taste the history. The antique walls and paintings tell a thousand stories as do the dust laden books that are kept there. The museum holding a cornucopia of ancient Tibetan paraphernalia.

The village had a convivial atmosphere as they were in preparations for a wedding, which we got invited to, and the New Year, (23rd of jan) which, after helping make sweet pastries for the occasion, we also got invited to. That night we make chicken momos, (steamed dim sum dumplings) drink the local rice wine and watch the Indian version of the English big brother, big boss. Even though we couldn't understand a word of it. It felt like our Indian home.

The following morning, (after we went and milked the udders of the cow on the farm) we sat outside our bungalow with a cup of Darjeeling tea, contemplating our onward journey, the view of the mountains to the north and the place astir with birds. Kalimpong is where we decide.