Up early, good night. Hotel KRC was great excluding the recurring door buzzer work past 9pm last night. Nice that they were concerned about us and whether we had had dinner or not, but it reaches a point where some personal space is good, and you have no desire to catch up with the hotel staff again, at least until checkout. Drive across the city to the Bus station where we grab breakfast at an established road side cart that the guys frequent. Great breakfast served by a clean cut looking guy in dark blue business pants, white singlet and thongs. We are both glistening with sweat and it is not yet 8am. A couple of older ladies begging. One very persistent who even comes to the car window and taps. Unfortunately we forgot that we had mangoes, one of which we could have given.
Drive out of town past one of the three army headquarters based in Tezpur and a couple of columns of army trucks. Through larger towns and consistently good tar on NH52. Huge amount of activity going on, around Darang many many carts, cycled and pushed on the way to markets which turn out to be large commercial ones. Commercial in size but totally rural india in style.
Make the outskirts of Guwahati, and the traffic begins early. Niron does his best to skirt it, regardless of edge or oncoming traffic. Pass a large yellow stadium and follow the rail line toward the bridge across the Brahmaputra that we cycled across nearly a month ago. Niron still struggling through a hangover as he beeps and swerves through the traffic which is still as heavy as it has been for the past 100km. Drop the bags at the Lodge before heading out for lunch at Parampara above Paradise restaurant where we have Assamese Thali and Chicken cooked in Bamboo. Very very tasty.
Back to the Jungle Tours India office and say goodbye to the guys before dropping by the Train station to confirm checkin requirements for the bikes tomorrow. Groan when they amend the recommendation from two to three hours before departure making it 2.55am tomorrow morning. Ahhh.
Last coffees in Guwahati at Cafe Coffee Day before Naga pork at Delight. Back to the hotel for prep before early morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment