What promised to be a adventurous trip had an even thrilling start to it. We all started from IIT KGP. Due to the different schedules of our labs we had to split into two groups of 5 and 2 with shanu and daewoo arriving a bit later. We decided to meet up in the sealdah station from where we were supposed to catch a train to NJP. Unfortunately that was holi eve and the traffic near howrah station had taken a toll.

But unaware of this we took our time in having snacks packing dinner in howrah station. By this time, shanu and daewoo got down a one station before and took a traffic free road and reached sealdah before us. When we left for sealdah from howrah.. we were pretty sure that we are going to miss the train ..even though we were just 20 mins away. Then the driver suggested we take an alternate route which was longer , but by which we might just get there in time. The train was at 7.05 pm.

Every coming minute was super tense, as we rushed through the kolkata traffic. Squeezing our way amidst buses, cabs and trams we reached sealdah at 7.02. We had a lot of luggage and the train was supposed to depart form the furthest platform making the things even worse. It took some heroics from debochak (kashi's wing-mate whom we coincidently met) and of course sprinting which made us catch our train. As soon as we boarded, the wheels started turning and we could finally catch a breath. The first day of our trip had just begun

We reached NJP in the morning. The starting point of our trek was Manebhanjung which is 4-5 hours from NJP. we hired a Cab for this particular stretch. Singing throughout the way we reached manebhanjung by lunch. We purchased a few needful there, found us a guide and were all set to begin our ascent. Our guide, Samir was a very cheerful local guy and would accompany us throughout the trail. It is impossible to be on this trek without a proper guide.

The first stretch Manebhanjung-tumling was an 8 km long one. Tumling was a sleepy little hamlet in Nepal. So on our way , we would cross india-nepal border on foot. But just as we took of, I felt really bad and started vomiting. We had to call a four wheel drive jeep to take us to our destination as I was not good to go. Tumling was the last point in this trek, where vehicles could go in that season.

We reached tumling after dark, It was very misty and we could hardly see anything. It usually got misty at that hour everyday wait till you get up, that is what the guide said. The arrangement that we had for the night in tumling was superb. A very cozy room in a small wooden hut .Hot and Delicious homemade food was just what we needed to feel alright. After retiring, we talked and sang a lot, took a lot of random photographs.We couldn't wait to go ahead.We had no idea where we were and how was the panorama around us, The only thing we knew was that it was very very COLD.

We were about to get really surprised next morning.