Terror alert in capital

which I'm sure has nothing to do with my return! but it did stuff up my night out which didn't happen.
So, what's been happening? Well I made I made it safely to Guwahati, and the boys got back there in remarkably good time. The funniest thing from that day was the tale told by James, when he and Pema shared a room at the hotel in Guwahati, and Pema went to have first shower. After he finished, James went to have a wash and discovered that the floor was about an inch deep in water - everywhere. He asked Pema why he didn't use the shower curtain, Pema said it didn't reach. James was very confused, until Pema showed him the 'shower' - it was the toilet squirt thingy!!! I'm still laughing about that.
Mystic Meg here was unaware that Robin was annoyed about a lot of things that went not according to plan on the trip to Arunachal, so when he discovered that we were off to Kolkata he was not at all happy. He had wanted to go to Darjeeling, but didn't tell me.... my goodness what an interesting 24 hours that was. As luck would have it though, the concierge at the Taj in Kolkata was very helpful and efficient and managed to get us a very good deal on the Windamere in Darjeeling which pretty well cut our losses. And I am never organising a treat for sir again! Ever.
So we enjoyed the cool weather in Darjeeling - I had to buy a cardie and a shawl (luckily I decided I could live without a bobbly beanie) although of course there was no view of the mountains. We went to the zoo and saw snow leopards and red pandas and drank endless cups of tea. I got bored walking up and down hills in my borrowed shoes and socks.  Robin bought lots of books which contributed in no small way to my excess luggage bill yesterday.
Yesterday morning I sent him off in a car from Assam to Bhutan, and last I heard he was near the border at lunchtime yesterday. I then took the Jet Airways Sky Chunder service from Guwahati to Delhi - the plane bounced around so much I thought I would lose the lunch I didn't have!
I have another 2 weeks in Delhi before I am supposed to fly back to Kathmandu - but now I hear that the Maoists are calling strikes starting today so I will wait and see - if it is going to be a nuisance I just won't bother.
Despite the terror alert warnings from the embassy I am determined to get out today before I go stir crazy - might hit a bar tonight after walking up to the local shops to get something to eat as it is the staff day off, and everyone is out of the house.

Sadly the cafe wasn't open when we went there..

Consider yourself warned!!!

and then it got hotter

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside, it got hotter and the desert wind picked up and you got - hot and sticky and covered in fine sand! Lovely! Sitting in an alley way on a busted chair eating what was, undeniably, a very hot and spicy chicken tikka roll while melting in the 'breeze' was quite something, especially as I was losing the food fight with myself. 
There are some cars parked around here that got so covered in dust they look like they have been parked since the time of Akbar the Great.
In Guwahati, where I am flying tomorrow, they have a different problem. Since Monday they have had 80 cm, (that's right centimetres!!!!) of rain and the town is flooded. I do hope Jet Airways has invested in a couple of seaplanes and one is on the Assam route.... stay tuned.
Righto, Robin is in Bomdilla visiting the big Rimpoche today with some people from a UN (I think) programme - he is hoping to get a blessing for his Bhutan trip. He will then head off early tomorrow to drive down through Tezpur then change cars to meet me (assuming I make it) in Guwahati. I hope he is coming in a boat!
The first final of the IPL is on tonight between the Mumbai Indians (Sachin Tendulkar) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (Anil Kumble) - I can't decide which team to go for. I'll be watching it in Harry's karaoke palace tonight with Manish - I don't expect there will be too many people out and about this evening.
The IPL scandal is getting lots of coverage over here, naturally, and so now some politicians are suggesting that the government makes gambling legal in India. That would certainly solve some of the problems currently being faced.
If I make it to Assam tomorrow, I will be out of technology range for a few days, so you won't hear from me for a while. So, enjoy Anzac Day and be nice to a service person. It's thanks to them we have so many things we take for granted.
Remember the story we learnt at school about Simpson and his donkey carrying wounded soldiers in Gallipolli? Well I don't have a picture of that so here is the donkey rank in Jomsom, Nepal. Cheers!