Michela Del Bianco

30 years have passed since the release of the film ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, which features the adventurous life of the naturalist Dian Fossey, in Rwanda, dedicated to the study of mountain gorillas, and their defense against poaching attacks. For  her commitment to the safeguard of gorillas she was killed, but the Karisoke Research Center, which she founded, still continues her mission.

I have traveled several times to Nepal, a country that I love due to the spectacular mountains and the mildness of its population, dedicating myself to intense days of trekking amidst natural scenery still carved out as my most cherished memories. This time, however, I needed to rest and detox myself from the small anxieties of every day life without renouncing to satisfy my cultural interests. 
 

I took the opportunity to discover the area known throughout the world for its excellent tea. The journey takes its time but it's worth it. Take a flight to Bagdogra, and after about 3 hours drive on mountain roads, you reach the small town of Darjeeling, whose name is the combination of the Tibetan word Dorje, lightning, and ling (place).

Getting to Calcutta means coming across a metropolis (17 million inhabitants, including the suburbs!) which has remained as India dated back 30/40 years ago. Thousands of yellow old ambassador cars (like Italian old Fiat 1100) used as taxi, the shops on the sidewalks that sell everything and cook food filling the air with spices and fumes, the chaotic traffic, the perennial noise of the horns, but also markets, richness of colours, the many British-style cricket clubs.