"Everyday" Terrain in Sikkim/West Bengal?

tacita

it's been fun reading some of the more engaging threads, but lest i lose my way, here, and forget i have a trip to india to plan for, i'm forcing myself back to pragmatics.

i'm having trouble visualizing the terrain i'll encounter daily in sikkim and west bengal. by terrain i mean that which i'm likely to encounter making my way to and from plane, jeep, helicopter, train, hotel, sanctuary lodge, elephant back, monastery, sidewalk (are there any?) and the odd tea plantation or ropeway. this is not a trekking excursion and i'd really rather not be wedded to hiking boots for the duration. i will be on some trails, yes, but a few hours at best. (i presume i can wear sandals in kolkata in late february?) given the terrain and the cold, will i manage in merrell waterproof, insulated vibram-soled, leather slip-ons? or do i need to go higher on the ruggedness scale? i wouldn't peak-bag or rock scramble in these, but probably just about anything else, and i don't have to feel in town like i'm tromping around in search of a summit. or are gangtok and darjeeling so far afield from my concept of a town/city that trying to be relatively...um..."neat" is a waste of time?

same, re: clothes...<sigh> it's always so hard to leave the simplicity of the new yorker's all-black uniform and black leather jacket! (actually, we're accused of not knowing that life exists outside manhattan, much less what people wear.) can i avoid hard-core trail clothes and the no-cotton rule and just wear jeans and long under-silks? shall i be prepared for squall-quality, down parka-type cold? or just fleece-and-shell quality cold? wool mittens or fleece gloves? you get the point. i wish just looking at the temps would solve this, but i've been checking and i'm still uncertain...

as for transporting the great weight of my world, i've recently given away my pack, hopefully, not to my regret. (i'm not sure if this is the same thing as what's been referred to on this site as a "rucksack.") can i manage with a (wheeled) suitcase or duffel? (actually, that latter, i think, would be too fat to fit under the train seats, according to one of steven's recent posts. )

seeking the benefit of your experience - thanks.

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machadinha

From what I read here people do go wheely but honestly I can't imagine how given India's roads. Probably handy if all your movements are by pre-arranged taxi or so.

A backpack is obviously handy for any serious walking. I prefer the shoulder bag (your duffel bag I think) as it's easier to manage getting on and off of transport etc. and it minimizes the risk of you knocking people over all the time. This is entirely personal however, and many people will beg to disagree. It's also arguably a b*tch having to walk any further than you had planned -- and you often do.

But the wheely thing, or even a suitcase, for the trip you have in mind? Bad idea I think. Take a backpack or duffel bag and consider the average 20 Kgs airplane allowance a blessing since you can't carry much more anyway.

While I have no sizes to share with you, I find what I consider a "normal-sized" pack will usually fit just about anywhere. The advantage of the shoulder bag again being you can bang it into shape more easily than you might a backpack, which tends to be pretty fixed in its dimensions. Keeping it way under those 20 K's no matter what you do you'll be doing yourself a favor anyway, I aim for around 10 these days and still find it a pain.

A good idea is to take a couple of walks with your fully-packed bag for some distance where you live. You'll soon find out what may be superfluous.

On the clothes thing and knowing your itinerary, bring stuff to wear in layers, ranging from the breezy to the very cold. Do not understock on warm stuff. But this will be helpful in keeping you warm where you need to be and airy in other places, and it can limit any excessive taking of heavy jackets and stuff.

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tacita

oy...should have kept my backpacking gear, i guess. next i just know i'm gonna wish for my tent back.... i was so sure i was too old for that stuff.

machadinha

Haha! Camping is another subject that's easily (or not-so) covered by some searches (bottom line: it ain't easy).

This is just my take on it. There are plenty wheely suitcasers on the board. I just don't know how they do it. But they do it seems.

Borrow that pack back

tacita

thanks for all that, mach. i think my bengali books for samir alone weigh close to that.

where's a porter when i need one?

machadinha

Well books we've covered before. Hey I might be on hire

What happened to the baseball team's outfit?

tacita

hmmmmm...maybe we can work something out.

i have to leave the cricket stuff behind to make room for all the art supplies, remember? the village art gallery?

jyotirmoy

Kolkata wont be cold in Feb. Very pleasant.
Go for a boat ride in the Ganga & watch the sunset while in Kolkata.
Visit Temi in Sikkim, the only tea plantation in Sikkim. The plant supervisor will gladly show you how tea is processed. There is a Raj style bungalow at Temi, a night halt in peaceful surrounding here is recommended.
Don't bring too many heavy wollens. In case you desparately need one you can buy one locally at a much cheaper price.
if wild life & elephant ride you are looking for check the jungle safari at Jaldapara in Assam, home to Indian rhinos.

wp7713

For my last trip (4 months) I used a wheeled duffel. It fitted under every train seat ( occasionally, a poke and a prod was needed). It was manouevrable, and I was on the move a lot. I also had a separate shoulder bag for cameras and equipment.

Some people think I'm silly, but I always pack a pair of slippers. They are a great comfort after walking a lot during the day.

wp7713

Yes, I second that. Take one of the frequent ferries from Howrah ( or other wharves); it's a different perspective on Kolkata. The contrasting skyline is a real treat. I think I'll upload my first photo!

tacita

temi and jaldapara are on my itinerary. i have but a brief stay in kolkata (arriving 2/25, 6:00 a.m, departing 2/27, late afternoon/eve). not much more time than for the 2/25 IM meet-up (for which i think only somnath is certain), and a visit to see my sponsored child the next day. i'd like to observe court proceedings, and you gave some suggestions for contemporary art. won't have time for much else, i fear. (but a good reason to go back.)

tacita

gave it to some guy on craig's list. (i love craig's list! - is it active in yorp?)

jyotirmoy

Request Somnath to take you to K.C.Das's sweet shop in Kolkata or Ganguram. Do try the fabulous sweets of Bengal. If the meet up is around lunch time Somnath will surely take you to Aminia unless you are a vegetarian.

tacita

tragically, i can't have sugar! and with all those famous bengal sweets!

jyotirmoy

If you are diabetic don't worry K.C.Das makes special sweets for diabetic persons.