sikkim- virtual tour

I have been to sikkim some 8 yrs ago and have fond memories of the place. It was our last family tour (apparently we became busy after that) and i still relive those memories whenever i see the pics. recently rahul, my batchmate at IIFM, told me that he was in sikkim. so i asked him about the place and he had many things to say...so i suggested him to write something about the place so that i can put it in my blog.....u can also check rahul's blog at http://www.roby2kin.blogspot.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

To start with the food habit of the people of Sikkim I must start with one things :- Sikkim is a very cold place situated in the foothills of Himalayas. People here mostly prefer Hot drinks and mostly love to drinks alcohol (either home made/ those availables in shops). As there is no tax on alcohols here the cost is way too less which motivates people to consume more of it and the cold adds up to the reason. The side dish that goes parallel with alcohol is Momos ( dumplings) Whether its chicken dumplings or mutton or pork dumplings or beef dumplings its kind of national food /snacks for the people of sikkim. I personally tasted all variety and loved it. People who really eat dumplings in morning as break fast or lunch or afternoon snacks. No one really needs a reason to eat these and each and every local food joint or resturant serves dumplings. Another stuff that really comes as a compliment with the dumpling is a chilli sauce which is locally made. You find these sauce every where though it compliments the dumplings in a great way but people here also uses these chilly sauces with various other food and even with chapatis :) There is a local drink alcohole which is made from fermented rice in house holds. People usually enjoy this drink in any of these local fuctions or household functions. Though I heard this one is really strong and nasty :) People here have more or less liking to chinese foods and chowmin is one of their fav...actually no one here like to have hakka noodles and most of them like to take grave noodles with pork, beef or mutton.. Chicken is least in the priority of the non veg food and pork is quite cheap in this place....The chilli pork is one of the most popular snacks which goes complimentarily with drinks. Though all these are quite natural but people here have a weird habit of eating dried monkey meat when they have malaria. Its a common belif that eating dried monkey meat in thier soups will help the body to recover in malaria....weird but i donno if it really works or not..... Though for someone who is comming to sikkim he or she must tastes the dumpplings and the chilli pork and if one dosenot have any problem in drinking then go ahead and booze as much as you can coz its really cheap here

-----------------------------------------------------------------

so how about a tour to this heavenly place???????