Mike decides not to drink and drive, but ends up in a fix anyway.
Our early motorcycle safaris through the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal were traditionally run through the festive season of Christmas and New Year.
On our fleet of Royal Enfields, we typically started the tour with a few days in West Bengal in India, spending Christmas Day in the charming, high ‘hillstation’ of Darjeeling. We’d visit the local zoo, which is also the world breeding centre for the endangered snow leopard, and sample some local teas, for which of course Darjeeling is world famous. Then, in our preferred digs, the ever-so-splendid Elgin Hotel, we would be treated to a rendition of popular Christmas carols by enthusiastic young choristers from the local St. Joseph’s Convent School. It was a real novelty in what was otherwise a predominantly Hindu and Buddhist culture.