Memory 1
I always wonder, how come I start walking alone and it end ups walking in the herd? Every journey I think of starting alone becomes a part of many interesting people. Some times I know who are coming with me, some times I don't have any clue whom I am walking with. But ultimately, they become a part of my journey, hence my life.
A thought of visiting Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh was an inspiration. I shared this thought with my dear friend Vidisha. Reason was attending Typography day. Eventually, that become secondary and Tawang was a main destination. With hand in hand we started planning for the trip. But its so true that early plan never successes. So did we unplanned our trip. We were so clear that whatever happens we are going to visit Tawang.This results to three new members joining us. Swapnil and Rohit are Vidisha's Friends but she never travelled with them before. Yuvraj is my junior in masters who is a silent fella with no demands, and you feel comfortable travelling with him. Together we started from Guwahati.
Memory 2
Leaving there and proceeding towards east, we reached Majuli, a river island with many Satras, tribes and ponds, All beauties of north east were already familier to me. But special quality of this river island for the outsider who arrives there on a march evening, when the days were shorter and crossing the river became longer. I could see a still water cutting by the boat. I could hear the local voices... "hoy, hoy hoay...hoaay." The first Majuli night started with the shivratri drums and diyas in that pitch dark
landscape.
Memory 3
After staying in the gray jungle of cities, my eyes were already overwhelmed with the greenery of Majuli. That added more humbleness when we met M. Chandra Goswami, the head of Performing Arts Satra. With his cuddling smile he showed us the art of Mask making and performing Mythology stories. We were lost in their life time work of Mask making.
Next, Satra of performing art, Music and Dance made us dwelling in Bramhaputra. It was such an amazing choreography which actually portrays the constant flow of the river Bramhaputra. Even the rice beer which had has its own taste and colour. it was perfect for that atmosphere. The aura of Majuli actually made me jump into the Bramhaputra river and experience the Lahe Lahe flow. Majuli, therefor, for me is the island of slow movements with constant flow.
Memory 4
Nothing is permanent and that evidences the travel through North East. Heading towards Tezpur, a gateway to Arunachal, we suddenly encountered the heavy, sharp and extremely windy rains. Before our driver could have stopped and manage to cover our luggage on the top the car, we were already drained with rain. bearing in mind that we have to travel more 300 km, we could not afford our luggage which has all our cloths, camera and laptops drained open in the rain. After struggling for half and hour with that bright blue plastic sheet and our flowing bodies, we manage to cover the luggage. This surprise struggle made us starving with hunger but we had compromise our lunch with tea and 2/3 Gooday packets.
Memory 5
Now, we were heading straight to North, 90' accurate angle. After exact 20 km. we realised what we were up-to. There were all rough roads, or roads. Through those roads crossing all the military trucks and tankers, soon we came to the checkpoint of Arunachal Pradesh. Although being Indian you must have permit to visit one of the beautiful state of India. This permit is to allow you to see your own state where liqueur is tax free but an Indian needs to pay for the permit. Never-minded, as it was all taken care by our macho monk driver Dipanka. After crossing the border we took our first holt besides the beautiful Kameng River. The valley was gracefully holding the tall mountain and the cold water passing through it calmly. My feet was frozen but I could feel the river fish kissing my toes. For some time, I had no clue where was Vidisha, Swapnil and Rohit? What were they doing? I guess they were also lost in the valley. Our strings were loosen. Soon, we realised, Bhalukpong was the first step up to Twang and we had to cross high staircase.
Memory 6
Bhalukpong, in the freezing cold night, we entered the hotel Native Inn, not so luxuries from out side but extremely clean and neat from inside. After the pain taking travel, we were suppose to crash landed on the bed, but our high enthusiasm dragged us out side. We were out for night walk. Actually, it was a search for Jacket which can protect Rohit who had a asthma. So on the way, we asked some shadows where we can get one. There were no lights, everywhere long mountain staircases. We were only walking down step by step. No idea where it will end? Finally we got one shop which manage to provide us some protection from that cold.
As we came back to hotel room, our table was served with Thupka n momos. I will never forget the importance of that hot and spicy Thupka which I had with my hand gloves on. That night ended in the heater light and cozy blanket with back to back movie screening, Thanks to Swapnil.
Memory 7
After the cozy break to our damaged bumps and backs, we were all set for next torture. Tawang route is famous for its land sliding. So our driver had all the tricks on us to start the journey early but we had lazy bones. Of course, what do you expect? We came to have our own time there. But the good thing was our driver used to take us to the best food places. Like we had our lunch at Hotel Padma which was hanging on the cliff of the moutain. And its balcony seating...it was so amazing. It was like you are no more belongs to earth or even sky. Its just in between. Also the food served there was something heavenly.
But the Buddha was calling us ahead, so we had to suffer more to reach to him. The journey were tasting our pesions and deep valley were increasing our fear. When we crossed the Sela Pass it was snow white landscape. As we opened the rear doors, cold winds were roaring as if they were chanting in the Tawang valley.
Memory 8
Tawang, known for its monastery and the birthplace of 6th Dalai lama is situated on the borders of North East India. There was no particular reason but only the inner call to visit Tawang. That morning we were completely relaxed. The burden of that hectic journey merged out with those scenic views. The reason for those little smiles on my face was only satisfaction to reach Tawang. i was repetitively picking my nose out from hotel window. Down there, locals had started there day. The young girl in the restaurant we met had a fancy hair style but she was so polite and sweet. The man in the Dragen restaurant had magic in his hands. He served the taste of Tawang. The lama Sonam with his unique ascent for story telling introduced us the history of Buddhist culture. The Thanka Paintings on the huge walls strongly narrating their believes. Those decorative elements in the museum meditating like a monk. All the small little smiles were wrapped the warm red cloths. We could experience the holiness of the buddha in that whole environment. Even the prayer flags were chanting in patterns. That night we were just mesmerized.
Memory 9
Like all other great experiences, this also had end. It was hard to except but we had to return. That morning, without any call we all got up early. Our actions were slow. We had no intention to seat back on that car. We were trying hard to escape but somehow it didn't happened. No one was saying anything.
Our driver was on full swing. We had to cross 320Km in one stretch. Now this sounds like no big deal but remember the roads? It was quite a task for him. And he was zapped. Till the dark we almost covered 250km. It was middle of the ghats and it was peach black out side. The driver was more tensed as that area was naxalite affected area in Arunachal. The pressure was on. But we were so tired that we didn't cared. We were in a half sleep. Suddenly, we heard big sound and jerk. I was terrified with broken sleep and could not see anything although my eyes were straight open. Our bolero were slanted on the left front side and stopped in the middle of the road. I could hardly see the roads both the ends. Still I could figure out that one side of the road was a deep valley. I could hear the sound of running water from the deep down river. We immediately came out of the jeep and we were shocked seeing that one wheel of the jeep was out. Our jeep just stopped near the deep valley. Everyone was awaken.
Memory 10
The next morning we just had fluxes of last night. Broken wheel, dark night, hefty truck drivers, rash road, crazy tempo ride, rain, luggage, single room, 2 a.m., hotel shutter, less money, umbrella, nut-bolt, no network,candle light, zapped driver, lonely Rohit, angry Swapnil, tired Vidisha, silent Yuvraj and lost me. And flight to catch. We were not talking anything to anyone. But silently we were communicating after all this we are safe and we had experience of the life time. We were knotted in that whole flashes of memories.
