A leisurely rise and then packing before breakfast and a film advertising the other holidays provided by the company. A number of us fancy some time in the Rajasthan desert and possibly a cruise in Kerala!

The ship’s crew lined up as we drove away from the quayside an£ it did feel sad leaving our fabulous home for the past 6 days. We drove towards Johart airport, but pulled off the road to a tea plantation. There we were given a talk about Assam tea and the correct way to make tea. The plantation house looked like an ex-colonial bungalow with a wide verandah and was set in idyllic gardens with hibiscus, lilies and amaryllis growing in profusion. Beyond the garden were the tea gardens and the workers’ village. It was very beautiful and peaceful. Our hostess was a charming lady who suffers from MS. She made us very welcome and then joined us in the garden later on.

I wandered around taking pictures of the abundant wildlife. P.K. spotted a red billed kingfisher and I managed to get some half decent shots before it got away! Lunch was served in the grounds and then we were packed up in the cars and taken to the local airport.

Johart airport is small and charming. Security however is strict and I was held up for sometime as my India guidebook seemed to set off alarms. Once located it still gave concern until it had been examined page by page by a security guard. We walked out to the plane through rubble and puddles and climbed the steps to the cabin. We discovered that the seats in front of us had more legroom and so moved into them just before the flight took off.

We were no sooner up than down and then it was into cars for a return visit to the Cygnett Repose Inn in Guhawati. A different room this time, with no smell of smoke. We relaxed, had drinks and dinner and then an early night. A 5.00 call tomorrow as the train for Siligur leaves at 7.00.