No one knew where Malbasey was!

Its the most popular school, people knew about it in Darjeeling but funny-ly no one knew where it was! Don Bosco Schools are well known all over and so was Don Bosco, Malbasey but nobody seemed to know where Malbasey was. Relying heavily on our taxi driver to take us there, me and my colleague got up at 5 in the morning to leave for this school situated in the West Sikkim. Dear Kunchenjunga had also decided to show itself that day. So I was hoping it to be a lovely early morning drive, up and down the hills and catch the rising sun on the way. I didn't wanna sleep even for a second and our taxi driver made sure we didn't. Tarzan Daju (substitute for 'bhaiya' in Nepali) was full of tales. He was a talker and I was in full mood to listen to all his tales. From preparation of local food to brewing of local liquor we heard it all. He also told about his life before and after marriage with so much humor and a hint of sarcasm which left my colleague rolling with laughter.

By this time, we had climbed quite a height and could see the beautiful snow-clad  Kunchenjunga with sprawling gardens of tea beneath it. It was a sight to behold and we did capture it in our cameras as we stopped by for a cup of tea.

Kunchenjunga and the Tea Gardens

Tista River en route Malbasey

Tarun with Tarzan Daju

The school was quite uphill and remote. One couldn't even see the building until one reached the main gate. But it was a peaceful and a serene place to study in. With a loving Father as their Principal and a clean, green, peaceful campus, it provided an absolutely conducive environment for learning and growing up. The Father told me that being in such a remote location, the school doesn't have many visitors. And it indeed seem like a close-knit big family. They welcomed us with their traditional 'Gamocha' and an extremely sweet pahadi chai.

The drive back seemed like a long stretch of forest with wild plantations and river Tista on our sides. It will be a journey I'll remember for a very long time.
GR