A couple of days ago, Rob Marton and I climbed aboard an Air China 777, bound for Bejing. 24 hours (plus 2 transfers and a short nap in the hotel in the Delhi airport) later, we found ourselves at the Bagdogra Airport, just outside Siliguri, India.
We were picked up by our Indian brothers, Avishek and Bharat-a very good welcome! The drive into Siliguri was both familiar and new.
As you can see from the photo, the national highway is being upgraded and in the future this drive will be elevated, and the view will be different.
We’re not staying at our usual Siliguri dwelling on this trip. Instead of the Appolo, we are staying at a hotel called the Montana Vista. It’s newer than the Appolo, more modern in design as well, and more importantly, it’s much closer to where we will be going on this trip (potentially saving 1-1.5 hours of driving time each day.)
The Montana Cafe is billed as ’24-hour’ and while its true we’ve been able to sit and order something to drink or a limited selection of appetizers, dinner is not served until 7:30pm and breakfast can’t be ordered until 7:30am.
The food is good and reasonably priced, though the selections are not always familiar. The Montana Vista is nestled away in a residential area and much more quiet than the hustle and bustle of the Appolo. Another difference between the hotels is that we always saw other westerners at the Appolo and were able to chat which them in English in the lobby and restaurant. I haven’t seen any other westerners here yet. And the wait staff here don’t seem as English savvy. I’m not complaining-just observing.
Breakfast is eaten and I have about half an hour till Bharat comes to pick us up. It’s Sunday morning here. I’m speaking in Bharat’s church this morning and Rob is preaching in it tonight (they have 3 services each Sunday, in a church of about 100 if everyone came at once).
We covet your prayers. I guess I better go figure out what I want to say in church this morning!
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