Sillery Gaon,Makhim,Zuluk in December

contrary to our expectation there was no snow in Juluk

After finishing our lunch while we were taking rest in our room Gopalji called me outside to see the sunset.

sunset

In the evening while I was talking with Gopalji to my surprise I found that he was fully aware about what people were writing about him in net. He particularly mentioned the recent adverse comments made against him and his resort. Gopalji has three children. The eldest Suraj studied in kolkata. His daughter studies in ninth standard in Gangtok. The youngest son who is in fourth standard studies in Jawhar Lal Nehru school some where in Sikkim.Most probably Suraj or his sister follow discussions about them in net and give feedback to their father.

In severe wind and biting cold I miserably failed to capture the view of sunrise.But see the change of color.

Since I had read so much about him in different threads and travelogues related to silk route I was keen to understand this man. Though time was very short I tried to gauze the mood of Juluk.
The main Juluk is basically like a basti(slum).The people there are still not so confident and easy like Sillery Gaon to interact with outsiders. At Sillery we didn’t feel like outsider. In juluk every one was polite but we might feel a bit insecure without Gopalji. Though Gopalji admitted that he was illiterate but I didn’t feel he was an uneducated person . He was capable of interact with outsiders and had ability to understand implication of the situation fully. But what I felt that even he had some blockade in his mind. While talking with me he was repeatedly saying “Atithi Deva Bhavo” (Guest is God). He also gave explanation a number of times why he was taking money from us. It created a feeling in my mind that he was uneasy with a situation of catering tourists in exchange of money. Many people of different background and culture are coming to his place and he might be finding it hard to cope with this situation. The behavior of Suraj also confirmed my feelings. I was keen to discuss cost of my changed program and requesting Suraj to come in my room. But he was neither coming in my room nor sitting with me in the dining room to discuss the matter. Most of the time he was hiding behind the wall of the kitchen. At last in the night, after dinner, on my insistence he handed over me the bill. I had not been charged any extra amount for the day I didn’t spend in Juluk and for the car. So the matter settled very amicably for me.

The condition of Dil Maya resort was exactly what was mentioned in other threads. It was made off plywood and there were gaps between the joints. But with room heater and hot water bag my wife and daughter remained fully comfortable. However I noticed a candle stand in the room. I realized that load shedding was not absent from there. The room, linens and bathrooms were clean.
It is true that the condition of Dil Maya resort is not very ideal for staying in extreme weather in Juluk. But I will not blame Gopalji entirely. The Peoples in good numbers have started to visit in Julik. The options for Gopalji, other than what he has done, are either refusing them accommodations or making substantial investment to build good rooms. Generation of competition only can correct this situation.
Luckily, on that day we were the only guest of Gopalji. He admitted that the day before there were fifty guests in his resort and it was not possible for him to give adequate attention to each of them. I also noticed that Gopalji was a very busy person.The day we stayed there he was very busy with his herbal garden there.He also looks after hundred days work in juluk. It is easy to understand that with so much work in hand it may not be always possible for him to take care of tourists personally.
However, on that day we got almost flawless service except one incident. I fixed my program for sunrise trip next day morning. I asked the boy who came to our room to serve tea about the timing. He told me that I need to wake up at 4 am. When I asked Gopalji he assured me that they would call me at right time with tea. I didn’t take any risk and set alarm in my mobile. I woke up at 4 am next morning and continued to wait till 5.15 am when Dawa came and knocked at the door of my room and told me that we were already late for sunrise.

We left Dil Maya resort at 9 am next morning. There are excellent description of the route beyond Juluk in other threads.So,I think there is no use of repeating this.

silk route

Snow!

Chinese post

Tukla Valley

Jelep La Pass

Kupup Lake

Menmecho Lake