Roy: - The Auto Rickshaws of North Bengal are quite different. In these autos, at least 10 people can sit easily. It has seats on its two sides. These autos are basically like trekkers only.
Debrup: - We have reached Siliguri. Now, we need to find a lodge. Accha, bhai, is there any good lodge here?
Auto Driver: - You can go to the Dragon Lodge.
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Lodge Manager: - Oh! You people want to stay for tonight only. Then, it’s better for you people to book one double bed room only.
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Sain: - Let us freshen up and take a nice bath. Then, we will go for our dinner.
Debarjun: - Accha, we need to go to the other side of the Siliguri town. We need to book a car for tomorrow to reach Jaldapara forest.
Roy: - Ok, ok, now it’s only 6.50 PM. We have enough time to do all those things.
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Ayandeep: - What is the name of this river flowing under this bridge?
Debrup: - Maybe, it is Mahananda River. I am not sure about that. Uff, look at the two sides of this river. There are so many slums. All these slum dwellers are polluting the waters of this river. No one is taking initiative or special care to clean the waters of this river.
Debarjun: - Have you noticed one thing? The lodge, where we are staying is on that side of the bridge. That side is the residential area of Siliguri. On this side of the bridge, it is the market area. All government offices, bus stands, travel agencies, big restaurants and markets are on this side of the bridge. Silguri is a planned city but now it has become a den of anti-socials.
Roy: - Siliguri is the main dumping center of Chinese products in India. If we get time, after our Jaldapara tour, we will try to visit the China market of Siliguri. You will get many electronics goods from there at a very cheap price. The only thing is that you have to spend some time to choose the quality electronics goods.
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Sain: - There are no cabs or jeeps available in any of the travel agencies, which will take us to Jaldapara forest. Actually, they are saying that for them Jaldapara is an odd route. Basically, all their cars are for Gangtok, Darjeeling or Kalimpong route.
Ayandeep: - Then, we will request our lodge manager to help us in this regard.
Debarjun: - Yeah, we can surely do that. Accha, there is one thing, we should be concerned about. We have not got the return ticket to Kolkata in any train. So, I have asked 2-3 travel agencies regarding the Volvo buses to Kolkata. The rate for A/C Volvo seat to Kolkata is 792 bucks per head and for Non A/C Volvo it is 510 bucks.
Roy: - Arrey, that we will book on the returning day only. Don’t worry about that. Boss, I am feeling very hungry now. We should have our dinner now. I can see the Dragon Bar & Restaurant from here. I think that we should go and eat there. Maybe, we can drink also.
Sain: - These three people don’t drink. Maybe, both of us can enjoy Strong Kingfisher beer.
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Ayandeep: - The Mixed chowmein of this Dragon Restaurant is really tasty and the Chicken curry is good too.
Roy: - Yeah, and it becomes tastier, if you drink Kingfisher beer with it. But, one thing you have to appreciate that in this part of the country, you will get the real Chinese noodles. These noodles are very thin, smooth and tasty, unlike the fat local noodles that we eat in the food stalls of Kolkata.
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