Part 121 - Paro to Gorena and onward toward Pyimitangka amid heavy rain

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SUMMARY:
On 21 August the diarist left Paro in heavy rain, reached Gorena, met repeatedly with Tasho, the Tongsa Zimpon, other Zimpons, and a Lama Delegate, dealt with a bath mix-up, and recovered delayed mail, sending Betty’s letters by express to Kalimpong before her trip to Calcutta. They noted no specimens of Paeonia suffruticosa from Gorena down, suspecting loss to fires or cultivation at Gorena Monastery. On 22 August at Pyimitangka, Tasho joined an early breakfast that proved poor due to a new cook, with weather still wet and misty.

CONTENT:
21 August. Paro. A dreadful day of rain again. We left in heavy rain at 6.0; it continued heavy till 12.0 when we reached Gorena. At 1.0 we got in, to be met by Tasho. Last night after I had been in bed for over 2 hours, the Tongsa Zimpon was announced. We had a cheerful talk for an hour before he left. I thought that politeness itself on both our parts, and said goodbye to him. But just as I was ready, at 5.15 next morning, to start off, the 2 Zimpons and Lama Delegate rolled up, and again we talked for an hour. In Paro, I stayed in the same place, and this time was again offered a bath. I said, knowing the house before, that I would not have one, and sat down to tea. Half an hour later the Ha Zimpon said, "I'll leave you now to have your bath." Water had been in all the time. Nothing else exciting happened until it was dark, when the mails which had been lost came in. Tasho said he was sending an 'express man' to Kalimpong who would be there in 4 days. So I hurriedly packed up Betty's letters and sent them off. She will get them before going to Calcutta. It was all an awful rush in Paro. I had ample time there, but I was not left alone for more than 10 minutes till Tasho left at 7.45 pm. Otherwise I could have gone through Betty's letters to see if anything needed an answer or not. Got nothing special on the way, and could see no sign of Paeonia suffruticosa which B.S. asked for from Gorena down. Either it has gone due to fires, or it was grown at Gorena Monastery—cultivated—or something like that.

22nd August. Pyimitangka. Again wet and misty, but not so bad. Tasho came to breakfast at 5.15, and her new cook did not excel. He produced an omelette each in a plate each and a spoon each. Nothing else at all. Gradually salt and other things materialised. No milk or sugar. Rather a failure. We left just...