Arrived in Gangtok

Mazong House in Gangtok where Miss Scott began the Palgor Namgyal Girls High School at which Cathy's great aunt Grace was principal from 1949 to 1961. The school moved to other premises shortly after. Grace visited this house in 1931.


The morning we left Darjeeling the cloud and mist finally lifted to reveal the majesty of Kanchendzonga, the 3rd highest mountain in the world. We passed by and crossed the Teesta river and photographed the old bridge there that auntie Grace had photographed many years ago. We took a jeep taxi (not shared so we could spend some time at the border getting the necessary permits) and it pulled in to a taxi stand at a multi level car park, after I had written in the previous blog that I hadn't seen one in India. In fact there are several here. Gangtok is well organised; there are also footpaths with rails (less pedestrians on the roads means less horns tooting - well, a little less anyway), and most noticably in the main mall in town each shop has a small rubbish bin outside for litter, so it is the ONLY place in India which isn't covered by rubbish. That is the subject for another blog.
This morning we set about finding places that Grace had photographed (and copies of which we have with us). First we needed a map and were advised to go to a certain bookshop. After walking some time we never found the bookshop but I thought to grab a newspaper from a small shop. I bought a "Sikkim Mail" with a view to finding the journalists there and maybe have them print some of our photos etc. By "coincidence" I happened to be standing next to the editor! He called to his father who owned the shop and he knew Grace and said she was the first person in Gangtok to drive a jeep (so that's who started it!!). We also showed him a copy of an old letter from the Maharaja to Grace 20 years after she left here, telling the story of the death of his son (in a car accident) - it turned out the old man we were talking to was the son's close friend and was supposed to be in the vehicle that morning that went over the edge and killed him. He also told us the old cemetery photo we have is in Kalimpong.
We then walked up to an old stone house dated 1931 and a couple of our photos were taken there - one is entitled "From Miss Scott's garden". It was in fact Miss Scott's house, and Miss Scott started the school aunt Grace taught at. We were given biscuits and coffee by the owners who were most interested in our photo collection.
We then set off for the school and found it without much trouble. The principal and others were most interested in our archival material and recognised some of the people in the photographs - former students and teachers. They plan to contact them and get together next week.
I have just lost connection here so will try and save this.