Hotel Long Island

Hotel Long Island is not far from Hotel Tower View, another popular backpacker's place which is mentioned in Lonely Planet. The facilities are not much different from Hotel Tower View, but its best feature is that they serve Korean food.
I'm not a person who cannot live without Kimchi or rice for even one day; I never took Gochujang(Hot pepper paste) or any kind of Korean food with me whenever I was on my way abroad, and I can manage without Korean food for months. But there's no reason to refuse, either, if you have any chance.

The hotel owner is Nepalese, and his wife can cook some Korean food like Kimchi Fried rice, Kimchi pot stew, and even Cheong guk jang(Soup prepared with fermented soybeans). The food is tasty, and it would be almost perfect if the portion is a little bit more generous^^;;
Room rates are about 80~100rupees for a single. The best choice is probably the twin room on the second floor- clean, spacious, and cosy, much better than the single room I got two doors next to it.

The way to the hotel is somewhat steep, but it could have been very nice to see the view from the roof top if the weather were clear. Unfortunately, it was either rainy or too cloudy, so I couldn't get the slightest view from the Himalayas. All I could see was these clouds you see on the photo.

Hot shower is available - but only for ten minutes. So I had to hurry up before the owner turns off the boiler. Song and Choi, the two Busan boys said that it's possible to plead for one or two more minutes... I didn't, though. I was always 'punctual'.
A senior told me that he had to take a shower in three minutes when he was in the army. Everything must have been done in three minutes, he said. Taking shower, eating meal, be ready in the military uniform, etc.
"I never knew that three minutes are so precious before I went to the army."
Oh yes, I think I can understand what he meant. I never knew that ten minutes could be such a precious moment to grab a quick shower.
Travelling in remote areas always teaches you that all the convenience you take for granted is actually a luxury that many people in the world can't afford. (The most extreme experience I had was probably in Tibet, while trekking in Mt. Kailash. Can you imagine your life without washing your hands for days like the Tibetan there? You may think Tibetan are dirty and lazy, but if you see the harshness of their living conditions, or just stay a few days in that freezing cold place, I'm sure you'd rather avoid touching water too.)

Here on the photo is the owner's little son. A cute boy, who liked playing with Choi. But it seems that he doesn't like being photographed--;;
I don't know the detailed background how the owner came in touch with Korean travellers, but there are lots of Korean books in the restaurant. Most of them are travel guides, but all out of date. So I guess that this hotel has been visited by Korean travellers for quite a long time, probably more than just a few years.

Here you can see me in the restaurant.
I got sick after visiting Tiger Hill. (And the cold I caught that time lasted for two more weeks.)
It's awful to be sick while travelling, but it's even more awful when you have to stay in a ice-cold room with no heat and all you can do is to wrap yourself with clothes. So miserable... (I didn't even have a good sleeping bag or warm clothes.)
There was a Western guy in the next room, playing guitar. Sick, alone, away from home, and listening to a touching song played by an 'anonymous' guitarist... Miserable miserable miserable...


@More photos from Darjeeling@
People playing(or gambling?) on the street #1 #2