mandvi – TRAVELTRUNK.NET

February 21, 2024February 24, 2024

Discovering Dibang Valley, the Last Frontier

Loud woops suddenly rend the air as we climb towards Mayodia pass. As I jump from the vehicle with the camera the driver, as excited as me, says ‘van manush’, literally tree man or ape. A Hoolock gibbon! Through the thick greenery I spy a black shape swing adeptly on the vines draped across the trees. The call is returned from above the road. In the end though, all I get is a blurry shot of a black face and the unmistakable white brows! (soon enough there was an opportunity to be within touching distance of one…another story for another time) We are off to a good start into the folds of Arunachal again.

Read-Along the Lohit on the Long Road to Walong

Gateway to Heaven

Anini, deep inside the Dibang Valley, home to the Idu Mishmis, has been on the itinerary for months but the year and the season are coming to a close when we cross the Dhola Sadiya bridge over bleached sandbanks of a drying Lohit. Past mustard fields a mellow yellow green and silver tinged bullrushes.

In Roing, the Christmas stars are off the shop shelves and on the neat houses lining the road. We climb an invisible road to Mayodia pass, the go-to-place in winter for snow for the Assamese around. It is well camouflaged by the thick foliage as it snakes up the mountain. On one hand of the pass the Lohit, Dibang and Siang merge in the hazy horizon to form the mighty Brahmaputra and on the other extend snow capped ranges and deep valleys like crumpled paper till Andra La on the northern border with Tibet and somewhere in Upper Dibang lies the lost Pemako, the ‘promised land’ of the Tibetans. Into this remote fecund land we descend after a perfunctory stop to take in the clouds flowing down like water over densely forested ranges.

The village of Hunli is visible at the bottom on a shoulder seemingly in a face-off with drawing book mountain rising from the depths with its arms outstretched, every inch covered in thick forest. At Hunli we nearly take off towards Hayuliang on a shiny new road since there is almost no signage pointing towards Anini. It is a long drive into the crumpled ranges along the Dibang. By the time we reach Anini, Orion the Hunter is rising and has one boot on a peak and his belt looks like a three star tower. So close to the clear heavens!

Tall Mountains and Towering Falls

Anini sits on a plateau at the confluence of two rivers draining two valleys. Dri, the picturesque Angrim valley and Mathun, a narrower namesake. It is a small town and a district headquarter. After a night in near freezing temperature, it is an early start into the Angrim Valley under a slightly dour sky. A sparkling Dri keeps company, mostly skipping and rushing over boulders, at places resting calmly in crystal-clear emerald pools cradling sunken logs and fish.

Another river tale is- Barot And the Serendipitous Catch in the Uhl River

The valley rises gently and after Acheso village it widens into a rolling meadow of copper ferns. One can only imagine the greenscape it would be post monsoon. Soon we are deep inside the Dibang Wildlife sanctuary. Waterfalls dot the mountains as the valley narrows and we reach the Insta famous Chigu resort on a massive sandbar. A healthy respect for rivers in the mountains and the need to keep them at a distance is so ingrained that being on a river bed is a little disconcerting. After the customary photographs (it is quite a picture with the wooden and red roofed alpine huts on wooden platforms with the towering Chigu Falls and snow peaks as backdrop) we head for the Mawu Aando Falls.

The short walk to it is a teaser of what hiking in these parts would be like. Walking on fallen mossy logs, climbing root steps takes us to a waterfall where the mountain looks like it has been chiselled precisely and at perfect angles by a machine. A thoughtfully made wooden platform and a low bench faces the water flying of the rockface. A place to meditate! Back on the road the drive ends abruptly a little beyond Brueni. There is only a wild forest of towering pines and boulders but soon it will give way to man and his machines.

Dream Ride along the Dre

Our plan is to cycle back from Brueni to the Dree-Afra campsite. I test out the brakes (the only things that matter!) before we roll down. Off we go in the bracing cold which makes my eyes water. It is an exhilarating dream run on an excellent yet nearly deserted road. Down a narrow valley enclosed by snow-capped, thickly forested steep ranges.

Ride through- Cycling in Dehradun – The Best Routes for Leisure Rides

The thirty five odd kilometers end much too soon. I try to take in the fleeting scenery but one needs to keep an eye (watering and wandering!) on the road. A Mithun moves ruminatingly on a golden slope as we turn for the resort with it’s white beach for a late lunch. Still waters mirror the mountains and clouds. Redstarts quiver around on the boulders. With the light fading the cold returns with vengeance.

Holy Night

Back in Anini, from the heights above it, in the descending dusk, we watch a falcon hunt it’s supper before a silver full moon rising above the pink snow peaks leaves us starstruck. Being Christmas eve, we are treated to carol singing by a group of locals who with their innate musical talent and joyful fervour have us singing along soon enough albeit with a limited repertoire. Silent Night is the only suggestion I can give when asked! But what we lack in substance we make up in enthusiasm.

For more carol stories read- 3 Churches in Mhow: Discovering Obscure History and Outstanding Carols

Women of the Valley

Next day while heading to Matu Fall we cross a small village of barely a dozen houses. Orange trees laden with the tiny, deliciously sweet and juicy fruit and drying vines of Kiwi plantations dot the area. The houses are a colourful lot on low stilts. We walk past a kitchen garden which looks like a miniature edible jungle, wild and organic. The path ends at a house with an open gate.

A woman is chopping a banana trunk. Breakfast for the pigs we are told by the grandson of the owners. The lady of the house is supervising and given the language barrier the grandson who studies in Anini and speaks fluent hindi translates. Her weathered smiling face begs to be photographed but she isn’t dressed up, translates the grandson. (haha..I understand!)Mithun horns line the ledge of a small traditional structure outside another house. Ahead in a steep field an old lady painstakingly clears the shrubbery. A smile is a language that needs no interpretation.

Also read- At the Darwaza of a Road Less Travelled

At Matu Falls a mini dam and a resort is being constructed and beyond, a new road is being cleaved from the mountain. It is a graveyard of massive massacred trees, hacked and strewn. Somewhere up in the higher reaches is the famous Seven Lake trek of Arunachal. Glacial beauties right now only accessible to the few tough and brave enough to venture into this last frontier. Somewhere I hope it stays a ‘Pemako’, famed but lost to man.

Fact File-

Getting There-Dibrugarh(376 km) is the nearest airhead. Tinsukia(326km) the nearest railhead. Then a taxi.

Staying– Dree Afra Campsite offers tents. There are a few simple homestays and hotels in Anini. The Chigu Camp is not operational.

Best Season- October to April.

December 31, 2023December 31, 2023

4 Different Experiences at 4 Bali Beaches

‘Do you want magic mushrooms?’, the taxi driver asks the man on the first day. Taken aback, he takes time to say no. In the back the child and I are rolling with laughter. Does he look like he has them or does he look like he needs to have them? Bali is a destination to unwind but we intend to get our highs diving into Bali’s waters and beaches.

But, researching for a holiday can either be as exciting as the trip itself or exasperatingly exhausting. Like, how does one shortlist which beach to hit and which to skip when visiting an island? Bali, ‘the Island of Gods’, and among the most researched destinations by Indians this year, naturally has them all- miles of broad golden beaches, dramatic cliffs hiding pristine patches of sand, volcanic black sand beaches, white coarse coral ones. So, how to shorten that list? Each beach offers something exclusive, from swimming, surfing, snorkelling to water sports and secluded idling. Three varied ones made it to our list and we added another smaller island near Bali for good measure.

Explore-Disconnecting with the World on a Mountain Isle at Shaama

Kuta’s Cool Quotient

Giant kites flutter in the air above the lines of colourful umbrellas when we hit the beach. Earlier, during the morning walk we had encountered walkers & joggers on the pavement by the beach and surfers catching the high tide. The man tied up for an hour of surfing lesson for later at one of the shacks. So while he tired himself out trying to keep up with the waves and on the board, we sprawled on the bean bags under the umbrellas. Watching the surfers paddle out, wait patiently for ‘the one’, ride in and repeat it till the sun burnt them a burnished brown was no Baywatch moment! Of the completely commercial and tourist trap beaches we chose Kuta. Adjoining Seminyak and Canggu are trendier but more crowded. The wide public beach is lined by a boulevard, hotels, restaurants. Though the shacks at the beach provide some drinks and food and wandering hawkers stop by, we chose to hop across the road to a convenience store for chilled Bintang and hot ramen.

Discover solitude in- Batalik – A Tribute to the Human Spirit

Gili Trawangan is a Gem

First off- skip the Gili islands nearby unless you plan to spend atleast two nights there. Though the fast boats are just that but the wait at the pier seems to stretch and along with the cushion time for chaotic traffic, you end up spending almost half a day travelling. Having said that, we chose Gili Trawangan for the snorkelling. It is a tiny picturesque island of white beaches and azure waters, with no vehicles! Only horse-carts that clip-clop while they ferry people and their mounds of luggage to and fro from the pier to their accommodation and bicycles ply on a shaded road that lines the beach. It is popular for diving and snorkelling like the other two adjoining Gili islands. The diving boats head out early in the morning and then bob around just offshore for the rest of the day. While snorkelling the man and child lucked out when they spotted a Green-back turtle along with schools of small fish. Sadly the corals I saw had not survived the hordes of trampling feet. The rocks just off the beach take revenge on everyone’s feet for the corals in low tide!

The island has a bustling vibe all day and is a known party place. Brightly lit restaurants line the road in the night and on the beach strings of lights provide a canopy to chairs and tables full of youngsters but all the roads lead to the night market. A crowded, noisy affair lined with open stalls selling the choicest of the day’s catch and generous sides for a reasonable amount. One can pick and choose from an array of enticing grilled and fried seafood. In the middle there are rows of tables and chairs full of eager eaters.

Discover- Pangong Tso – The Gems in the Crown

Nusa Dua is a Snooty Do

Trying to find the place for watersports we drove through a massive Candi bentar (the traditional Balinese gate) into an immaculately landscaped haven. The BTDC (Bali Tourism Development Complex) area is like an exclusive enclave where the major names in hospitality are discreetly tucked away behind walls of artful greenery. A short walk got us to a small cove during low tide with an azure lagoon. Rows of loungers and beach umbrellas lining the small quiet beach had people reading, snoozing and soaking up the vitamins. What we were looking for was further ahead, known as the Tanjung Benoa Beach (The name does not pop up until you really zoom in on the map!) with its line of big shops for those seeking thrills on and under the waters. Think sea walk, parasailing, flying fish (Yes, you can be one too!), jet ski etal.

Find high jinks in- Part One- On the Wild Side of Outstanding Orchha

Jamboree at Jimbaran

A must visit for seafood lovers, Jimbaran beach comes into its own near sundown. Walk through the entrance of any of the restaurants lining the beach, select your choice from the day’s catch from the tubs and tanks, find a candlelit table on the festooned beach, be serenaded by a group of motley singers as your barbequed dinner fetches up while in the background the surf crashes on the sandy shore.

Discover a food trail in- A Handy Guide on How to do the Hornbill Festival

Bali is truly on an island of plenty. All you need is your swimwear and dollops of sunscreen!

So, apart from the beaches that made it to the short list, the long-listed contenders were-

Amed beach- With Mt Agung in the background and USS Liberty under the water off shore, the black sand beach is considered one of the best diving sites in Bali.

Nusa Lembongan island- Just half an hour by fast boat from Sanur in Bali, it offers a sampling of all kinds of beaches.

Fact File

Kuta-

A half an hour surfing lesson costs IDR 180,000/- approx.

Gili Trawangan-

Padangbai is where the boats for the Gili islands leave from. Getting there by fast boat including a pick up by the fast boat company itself costs IDR 2,100,000/-.(Harbour tax is additional).

Snorkelling- Hiring the gear costs IDR 50,000 for a day.

Tanjung Benoa

Watersport packages vary depending on the number of activities but a lot of bargaining is required to fix the cost.

October 6, 2023October 10, 2023

7 Cultural Must Do’s of Bali

‘So, when she gets married who will take care of you?” The question has been posed by the taxi driver during the long journey to Ubud from the Ngurah Rai airport. ‘She’ sitting next to me rolls her eyes. I laugh. It is not exactly the kind of cultural exchange I had envisaged, especially within hours of landing in Bali but the question sounds heartfelt, as if we have not thought life through and need to have more children! At some point the conversation veers to caste. He mentions his matter of factly, like the entire caste hierarchy is an academic exercise. Perhaps in Bali it is. Hinduism along with Buddhism came almost a thousand years back via Java to this island. But despite having its roots in India and certain affinities, Bali’s cultural identity has blossomed differently and distinctly.

Bali, in a sense, is in a time warp. Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are still the ruling cine gods. Temples outnumber people and are everywhere- inside and outside houses, each family has its own cluster in the village and then there are the temples of yore and of Instagram worshipers. But in this ‘Isle of the Gods’ where, unlike back in India, I want to visit the temples, (which the man ribs me about) one needs to choose or the trip would be just a temple run. Apart from homing on to cultural performances and local attractions we shortlist three temples and they do not include the most photographed ones!

Explore other temples in – Part Two – The Old Gold in Outstanding Orchha

Ubud- Eat, Pray, Love!

After a hearty breakfast of delicious banana and coconut pancakes and a platter of colourful fruits we make our way through streets lined with shops opening for the day to the Ubud Palace. Small leaf baskets with flowers dot the pavements, doorways and the thrones of pillared stone temples outside the houses in the morning. Offerings for a propitious day. The Palace is a small two courtyard affair with delicate, raised wooden pavilions and stunning brickwork. A part is still the residence of the royal family and we all cannot resist peeking into their private courtyard dotted with the most beautiful vases.

The nearby Saraswati temple’s entrance is squeezed between an eatery and Starbucks. We get a full rig of mandatory purple and white headgear, shirt and sarong to wear.

A path lined with lotus ponds leads to ornate chairs placed before a resolutely shut doorway which is guarded by moss covered fierce creatures adorned with fresh red hibiscus. Inner sanctums are not open to any outsider in any of the temples we discover.

After a sumptuous lunch at Sun Sun warung where the setting and food are a visual delight, we amble through a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with traditional houses hidden behind orange walls, inviting arched doorways and courtyards with frangipani trees in bloom. A half ajar door in one reveals a massive impassive blue Ganesha.

Intricate Penjors swaying in the breeze next to the doors announce the ten-day Galgulan festival, to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. We cross a workshop where an artist skilfully chisels away at an elaborately carved doorway that would be a connoisseur’s pride.

Discover doorways in- Part Two- What Not to Miss on a Weekend Vacation in Shekhawati

In the evening after browsing through the Ubud Art Market we head to the Palace for the dance performance in, what we think is, good time. The courtyard is full and we barely manage chairs on a platform at the rear. Against the backdrop of a lit doorway, the show begins with the tinning instruments of the Gamelan orchestra and the Legong dancers keep us spell bound with their expressive eyes, elegant fingers and delicate movements.

The second performance is a Barong dance drama with a benign beast and fierce looking but equally evocative performers. Outside, on the road little troupes of boys in black who have been busy all day, can be heard from afar as they make their way through the streets with their instruments and energetic Barong, stopping to perform every now and then. The air is full of music and merriment.

Luwak Kopi for the Road

The next day we zip past a line of workshops on the outskirts of Ubud producing the most stunning artefacts from cane and wood. (If I had known about them my trip for the day would have ended there itself!) At an ‘Agro farm’ we are given a tour with an introduction to a variety of teas and coffees, including Bali’s (in)famous Kopi Luwak and its traditional process. The process instead of foraging, now involves feeding caged Palm Civet cats coffee beans, which once pooped are cleaned, roasted and ground. (Not everyone’s cuppa!) So, the ethics of the production are questionable.

The world’s most expensive coffee served in style tastes robust with a lingering sweet aftertaste. The place overlooks some rice fields and has a couple of the ‘Bali Swings’. I spy a flying red dress accompanied by, I cannot decipher, screams of delight or ‘what all I have to endure for that Insta high!” The much-photographed Tegalalang rice fields, not on the original itinerary, are the next stop since they are enroute to the temples but we don’t linger. The fields are dry and the crop is sparse. Perhaps in another season they would be more appealing.

Savour- Nasirabad’s Kachora: More than a Savoury Story

Pura Pilgrims

Winding through quaint village roads lined with towering penjors and flooded terraced fields reflecting a majestic Mt Agung we reach Pura Tirtha Empul, the sacred water temple, made in 926 AD. A stone throne with a deity (the only one I saw in Bali) stands under a sprawling tree with branches holding massive ferns. A complex of ponds and temples lies beyond.

It is a green sarong here and the first pond is crowded with people waiting in line to take a purifying dip under the spouts bringing water from the inner pond where grey ash mushrooms from springs and mixes with water filled with reeds. Thoughtful statues pour water into the last Koi Pond full of overfed golden fish.

Lunch is at a restaurant on the edge of a ridge where the main course is the view. It overlooks a bowl of rice fields, ringed by forests coming down the slopes of a Mt Agung hiding behind the clouds. Then we head to Pura Agung Besakih on the slopes of the volcano. The ‘Mother temple’ complex dates back almost a thousand year. The temples rising in steps are dedicated to the Hindu Trinity. One towering stone structure sitting back in a line of thatched pagoda style roofs in odd numbers alludes to the shikharas of South Indian temples.

The main complex, Pura Penataran Agung, is dedicated to Shiva. The temples of the other gods and minor shrines dot the slopes and ridges around. Our guide, a chatty fellow who quotes scriptures being the son of a senior priest of a nearby village, lets us into the gate of the main courtyard. Three urns representing a god each of the Trinity sit on a wall under small umbrellas. A priest in white sits in a wooden platform conducting a ceremony for a family while a child runs around oblivious to the solemnity of the occasion.

Discover- Mystic Maheshwar : At the Center of the Universe

All creatures are welcome in God’s home.

This is as far as we can go… and somehow it is enough. As we return to the towering Balinese style gate at the entrance, the clouds finally part to reveal the picture perfect peak of Mt Agung.

Uluwatu’s Ultimate Show-

Our last evening in Bali and we hurry to Uluwatu temple where it is just an orange sash that we are given to wear. The sprawling green complex has a small shrine on the edge of a cliff with a stone wall running along the precipice lined with profusely flowering bougainvillea and people!

All here to catch the sunset as much as the Kecak dance. The fiery sun setting over dulcet waves that break violently at the base of the cliffs is as much a show as the ‘Fire Dance’. The Ramayana inspired dance drama starts with the chorus of ‘Kecak’ by a group of men who keep it up, with hand movements, throughout the performance. Who says it is easy being part of the background!

The star, and he is a rockstar in it!… jumping, mingling, posing for selfies, taking out imaginary lice, all the while without missing a beat in his part of the story, including setting the stage on fire, is Hanuman. It is a glorious goodbye from this Isle of the Gods.

Find gods in- An Ode to Ancient Life in Stone- The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ajanta and Ellora

Fact File-

Temples– All have tickets starting from Rs 320. The cost includes the mandatory sarong and at Besakih, a guide and one way travelling by an electric cart.

Ubud Palace-There are different dance performances every evening and the tickets cost Rs 650 approx.

Uluwatu-The Kecak show tickets can be purchased online. The 6 pm show gets sold out fast.

Luwak Kopi Tasting– The tour is free and the Luwak tasting costs Rs500.

Tegalalang Rice Fields– Entry ticket is Rs 160 appox.

September 8, 2023September 9, 2023

ABC’s of a Bali Itinerary

August, surprisingly, is not the best month to travel in many parts of the world. Europe is burning, South East Asia is rained out as is all of India. Central Asia looks inviting…someday! We armchair travelled across two continents and many countries to settle onto a Bali holiday. It was not on our first bucket list. Perhaps not even first on our second list…

Yet Bali is the whole bouquet! If exotic orient with top notes of touristy kitsch, full bodied middle notes of rich culture swirling atop notes of towering volcanoes, wild cliffs and aquamarine waters sounds divine, then Bali should be on your wish list. Atleast ten days are needed for a leisurely sampling of all that this island in the Indonesian archipelago offers. We had a week there and I am ready for seconds and this time I know what to repeat and what to skip….and August is High season in Bali!

Top Notes

1. Accommodation should be central so you can walk and explore.

2.Traffic can be a nightmare! Factor in time and distances while planning activities and visits across the island. Use scooter taxis to get around town and for across the island, use cars. You can hire a two-wheeler also.

3.There are more temples than people in Bali. Pick and choose which ones to visit. The inner sanctums are not open to outsiders in any temple.

4.Eat at the warungs to get authentic local cuisine and nice ambience at a more reasonable rate.

5.For shopping, brush up your maths (the zeros are mind boggling) and your haggling skills. (it is expected!)

6.Pick up a local SIM so you have data.

7.We divided our time between Ubud, Gili Trawangan, Kuta and Nusa Dua.

Middle Notes

Unparalleled Ubud

Day 1

After a hearty breakfast at the guesthouse/hotel walk to the Ubud Palace. Soak in the atmosphere, the morning flower offerings dotting the pavements, the quirky shops enroute. The palace is a small affair. Pick up the tickets for the evening dance programme from there.

Walk to the Saraswati Temple. Take pictures of the lotus pond and the intricate doorways.

Browse through the Art Market, a street market adjoining the Saraswati temple.

Grab lunch and a Bintang at a warung.

Depending on your capacity for shopping head to the Ubud Art Market in front of the palace or head back to your room for a short post beer nap.

Attend the dance performance at the palace.

Enjoy dinner at a warung or a restaurant nearby.

Pro Tip- To grab a ‘good seat’ for the performance reach the palace early.

Day 2-

Start early for Pura Tirtha Empul and Besakih temples.

Stop enroute to sample Luwak coffee, varieties of local teas and coffees. Experience the famous Bali Swing.

Visit the Tegallalang Terrace Rice Fields. (They also have some tea tasting and swings but it is not the same experience.)

Carry on to Tirtha Empul Temple. If you want to take a ‘purifying’ dip keep an hour extra. There is a long line.

Lunch at La Montagne Coffee with a stunning view of Mt Agung.

Visit Besakih at the base of Mt Agung.

Have dinner and get a foot massage back in Ubud.

Pro Tip-

Skip Tegallalang and stop enroute at the amazing workshops making cane and wood artefacts.

Islands Ahoy!

Day 4

Check out after an early breakfast and head to Padangbai.

Catch a fast boat to Gili Trawangan. It takes an hour and a half but the waiting at the pier can be just as long!

Reach Gili T by lunch. Check in and change into your beachwear.

Hire snorkelling equipment and head into the water or just relax on the beach.

Evening dinner has to be at the Night Market!

Pro tip- If you are interested in diving stay for an additional day. If you don’t have time, Nusa Lembongan might be a better option.

Beach Yourself

Day 5

Head back to Bali on a fast boat. It island hops and returns via Gili Meno and Lombok so it takes 3 hours.

It takes two hours from Padangbai to Kuta.

After checking into your place, head for the beach to catch the sunset and then hit the nightspots.

Day 6

Take a morning walk on the beach and watch the early surfers.

Book a surfing lesson or just lounge under a beach umbrella with a book and a beer. Grab a takeaway from one of the marts and have lunch on the beach OR head to one of the beach clubs. Finns and Potato Head are some good options.

In the evening head to Krishna Bali or Agung Bali for souvenir and trinket shopping.

The back lanes are also lined with shops and massage parlours.

Fancy Finish

Day 7

After a morning run on the beachfront followed by a cooling dip in the hotel pool and hearty breakfast check out and head to a nice villa with a pool.

Check in and just chill OR for some water sports head to Nusa Dua.

Select your activities and book a package. Think flyfishing, banana boat ride, parasailing etc.

In the evening head to Uluwatu temple to catch the sunset and the Kecak dance performance.

End the evening with a grilled seafood feast on the Jimbaran beach while being serenaded by musicians.

Pro Tip- Book the tickets in advance for the sunset Kecak show as they get sold out and reach the temple early to grab good seats. One might get last minute tickets for the 7o’clock show.

Day 8

Spend a few leisurely hours in your fancy Airbnb till it is time to check out and head to the airport for your flight. Say bye bye to Bali with a heavy heart.

Pro Tip-

Stock up on breakfast beforehand if your Airbnb does not provide it. There might not be a mart nearby.

Bottom Notes

Accommodation

One is spoilt for choice of hotels, guest houses to independent villas to choose from in Bali. We got good deals on Agoda. Stay close to your areas of interest or you will be spending more time in a taxi than anywhere else.

Places to Eat

Ubud- Sun Sun Warung for authentic local cuisine in a traditional setting is a must try.

Gili T- The Night Market cannot be missed!

Kuta- The pulled pork burger at Crumbs & Coaster was delicious!

Jimbaran- Choose your seafood at any of the restaurants lining the beach and it gets served with a basket of rice and vegetables, if you want.

Shopping

Essentials- Indomart, Alphamart, are all over. Make your own tea, coffee, instant noodles, grab ready to eat meals etc and find chilled Bintang in K Mart.

Souvenirs- Krishna and Agung Bali are big shops with very reasonable prices.

Getting Around

Taxi- Grab and Gojeck are local taxi apps. You can hire taxis for 8 hours for about Rs4000. We had Mr Putu driving us around and he doubled as a guide too. Phone no-6287861755884

Ferry- We booked a fast boat roundtrip through Adi Gili online for Rs13500 for 3 people which included a private pick up and drop. The waiting at the pier seems to takes forever and there is a nominal port tax.

Activities-

Temples- All have an entrance fee which includes the mandatory sarong. At Besakih the ticket includes a ride up from the entrance to the temple complex in a golf cart and a guide.

Coffee Tasting-Uma Pakel Agro Tourism. The entry is free but the Luwak coffee tasting costs Rs500 approx.

Snorkelling- Hire snorkelling gear in Gili T for about Rs300 per day.

Surfing Lesson- An hour will cost Rs1000 approx.

Water Sports- Price depends on the package of different activities but one must haggle. For Flyfish and Parasailing we spent about Rs8,500 for 3 people.

With this itinerary you are all set for a week of sun, sand, sarong tripping to temples and shopping!

July 28, 2023July 29, 2023

7 Things on My Mind about Maldives

It was blue all around. Till an aqua ring popped up below and then some more…like Loktak’s phumdis. Only these were shallow reefs. An atoll followed, with slivers of islands guarded by a long reef where the ocean broke into white surf. Finally, the flattest piece of land, barely above the water. The airport took up an entire island. Outside, across the airport’s porch, speedboats bobbed up and down, waiting to whisk guests to islands nearby and for longer hauls, on the other side, the sea planes.

Here we were for a long weekend in the island paradise of Maldives. ‘Mala dweep, the garland of islands’. Cannot vouch for the veracity of that interpretation as one of the origins of the name but it seems apt. The archipelago nation spread over a vast area of water and barely any land, lies close to the equator in the Indian Ocean. An idyllic destination of water in every shade of beautiful blue alive with coral gardens teeming with sea life, and islands of green ringed with blindingly white sand of bleached ground coral. Where coconut trees pose, leaning just so, over a translucent shoreline, to give that perfect postcard picture. Our dream getaway was a smooth run thanks to our very own master planner but if you have to do it yourself what would you need to keep in mind?

IMUGA Form

Being a visa free country for Indians means all you need are your hotel booking details, ticket, beachwear, and your passport to hop onto a flight…and the IMUGA (Maldives Immigration) form submitted online. At Delhi airport the airline guys asked me if I had filled it. I had not because the site said I could do it ‘within 96 hours of arrival/departure’. They then gave me a heart attack by informing me that not filling it would make me incur a penalty of couple of lakhs! They tried to make me fill it right then and there, delaying security clearance which nearly gave me another heart attack! I filled and sent it while boarding and waiting to take off. At Maldives’ airport nobody asked. I filled up the one to exit at the hotel. Much as I had fallen in love with place I doubt I would have enjoyed the hospitality that might have followed if I hadn’t.

Footloose and Sandal Free

It does not really matter whether it is a days or a ten day trip when it comes to women and footwear. It is all about the possibilities. So even though I had carried cabin baggage only, I had catered. (even bought fancy flats!) Our boat docked at the resort’s wooden jetty and we walked into pristine white sand. More sand carpeted the reception, no flooring. Discovered that apart from the dining area, the bar and the cottage and its veranda, there was no flooring, no paths on the tiny island.

The shoes came off outside the room and that’s where they stayed till I left for the airport. Since I had carried no beach slippers I was barefoot everywhere, curling my toes into the divine sand. Bliss! Best to check the pics of the island and resort where you are heading. Otherwise leave the heels to cool off at home.

Stash the Sunscreen but Ditch the Liquor

Duh! The first evening was slightly cloudy with a flaming Sambuca sunset. The following days were pleasantly clear with a balmy breeze and inviting calm cool waters. Perfect to put on the snorkelling gear to explore the reefs surrounding the island all day long. So, our faces got saved but the backs went from touchy red to sullen brown. We came back branded with tan lines and burnt skin that soaked in the sunburn cream. Pack a good aloe vera based one for good measure.

Liquor is prohibited in Maldives since it is a Muslim country so don’t even think of carrying that hip flask, let alone a bottle. At the airport they flashed half a dozen things they don’t appreciate you bringing along and liquor topped the list. Having said that, it is served in the resorts. But the need for a sundowner is not always factored in the resort package for a perfect holiday. You might need to pay extra for an all-inclusive.

So Near Yet So Far

Maldives is an archipelago of atolls strung north to south like a turquoise necklace. Male and the Velana airport are on adjoining islands connected by a bridge. After landing, unless you are staying in Male, getting from there to your resort will involve a speedboat, a seaplane or another plane ride and then a speed boat. Besides adding to the cost, the seaplanes do not fly after 3:30 PM or so. If you land late, it will involve an overnight stay at Male or Hulhumale.

The Seas Steal the Show

If you dream of lolling around on a sunbed with a tall cool drink and that book you’ve been meaning to read, while the rhythm of waves gently lapping the shore is all the music your ears need, then at Maldives you’ve hit the jackpot. Ditto for those diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. On our island there was a reef just off a beach portion where we had to float flat out to avoid scrapping ourselves on the corals. A coral garden teemed with the most colourful life imaginable in front of our cottage. We floated over blue-tipped and pink corals. Sighted translucent fish just beneath the surface.

Swam with polka dotted, stripped, shaded and patterned fish and clams keeping time with the waves. Chanced upon frisky clown fish in the dancing arms of sea anemones and reef sharks going about their business. Oh, ah-ed over squadrons of Manta Rays gliding in front of the bar deck! Land looks bland in comparison. Only.. do not touch anything, it just might be poisonous. Life is as fragile as it is beautiful there and we saw swathes of bleached coral graveyards too. Check out the activity packages offered by your resort to max the wonders at hand.

Souvenir Squirrel’s need for Retail Therapy-

You are rejuvenated albeit a little charred but FOMO will not let you board a plane home without some retail therapy? For a shopaholic and souvenir squirrel for whom no holiday is complete without the proverbial acorn, Male is your best bet. Head to Majeedhee Magu or Chaandanee Magu, the two main streets lined with shops. Inhabited islands have their few shops too. The resorts have their souvenir shops and some stock exclusive things so do check them out but the variety would be limited and the prices exorbitant. In the airport after you clear immigration, opposite the perfumes and cosmetic section there is a shop for those last-minute token gifts.

Maldives is a bang worth every buck whether you are a laidback luxury lover or a water baby. You’ll come back dreaming of it and the sandbar would have been set high for any beach holiday to follow.

Fact File-

Getting There-

Velana International Airport is very well connected.
From there you can take a taxi, bus or ferry to Male.
Your resort could be domestic flight, seaplane or speedboat away. There are no local ferries to the resorts. It is best to tie up the transfer to your accommodation beforehand.
Local ferries connect Male to nearby atolls. Within the atoll ferries connect the islands.

Staying-

It depends on what you want to do. For a laidback holiday there is a plethora of resorts to choose from which go from chic to the uber luxurious. For budget travellers or those focused on diving, Male and other inhabited islands have hotels, guest houses and perhaps a few Airbnbs which are more reasonable.

We stayed at the Embudu Village Resort.

Best Time-

With its tropical climate it is a year-round destination. The high season runs from December to April. Monsoon season is not a bad time either. We went June end.

May 6, 2023May 7, 2023

Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh Must be the Last Shangrila

‘It was golden brown? You should see it in the summer when it is green or in winter when it is white.’ We are told upon our return from Mechukha, making it sound like a seasonal chameleon. It took us almost two days of being on the road.. Correction.. one day on a road and thereafter a dirt track that went from bad to backbreaking to enter the traditional Tibetan style gate at the beginning of Mechukha. Chameleon or not, what Men-chu-kha or ‘medicinal snow of water’ (As the name means in the Memba language) at 6000 feet was, was tonic. The cold wind blew all the tiredness away and the sight of bare moulded hills, golden in the afternoon light with a gentle grey Yargyup Chhu was a vision of timeless tranquillity. What else was it?

Technicoloured Mechukha

We enter the town‘s wide main street lined with shops, their windows displaying colourful wares but everything makes its way up, like us, and adds to the cost. The gaily painted stilted wooden houses sit surrounded by barren kitchen gardens and trees in bloom. Most have colourful Tibetan prayer flags. The river is a smoky grey thread skirting the low range with sagging bridges connecting the far bank.

After a quick late lunch, we make a run for Dorjeeling village tucked behind the range which has Hollywood inspired Mechukha written on top. A great day hike, I think. The village spreads out in the shallow moorland. Scattered houses in technicolour, accompanied by prayer flags and flowering trees are a recurring sight.

We make our way to a low walking bridge hanging over a stream but some planks are missing as are bits of the side steel mesh. Having explored the land of swinging bridges a bit, I have yet to cross one but this is still not The one. Dinner is a warming bowl of thukpa and ubiquitous chowmein at one of small eateries in the Mechukha market.

Snow Show

I am woken up early and dragged out of a super cozy bed. One look at all the snow and the cold ironically ceases to matter. The clouds, like stage curtains, have risen to reveal the day’s show and though a wide V in the immediate range the towering forested range is visible. Its crest and trees covered with fresh powdery snow. All around, the dark blue mountains have a white mantle.

The tiny yellow red monastery on the hillock guarding one end, makes a dramatic picture against the descending clouds and deodar covered mountains. Across the river the prayer flags have yet not been woken by the breeze but the ponies chomp around a Chorten.

We are on the road soon, climbing into a narrowing valley. Blooming white and pink rhododendrons dot the deodar forest. We reach the ITBP camp above the confluence of the Yargyup Chhu and Lemang Chhu on the only flat ground for miles. A permit is needed to go beyond but couple of scooters whiz past. We cross a churned-up dirt patch beyond the camp, swerving and tipping crazily. I close my eyes and curse my choices and pray. (Again!) We make our way up to rocky, snow bound Lemang, the last post on the Indian side where civilians are permitted, crossing a small bailey bridge and chorten looking gay and festive with prayer flags below a gigantic rocky massif.

Milky waterfalls, twinning with the rhododendrons, disappear into the depths of the gorge. I am gifted pink ones by the man. (Later I read about a genus discovered recently that is found only in that area) We enjoy the fresh snow against a backdrop of grey clouds shrouding the bowl of whitened rock and trees that is Lemang. While returning we hear a crackle, then a rumble and see a mini avalanche on the heights above. Nature is magnificently raw here.

Many coloured Monasteries

While returning, the rain gods hold on and don’t rain on our parade, too hard. We stop to see Hanuman’s face on the rock face. Nature has hewn a face alright with heavy brows and a wry look. But Hanuman?… At the confluence of the Yargyup Chhu and a pretty stream brightened by white rhododendrons and colourful flags, a Gurudwara made by the army is a pit stop for most visitors. I think the langar is the main magnet because the legendary rock is tucked away across the road. A narrow path marked by prayer flags brings us to a bright red temple abutting a boulder.

This place, claimed by two religions, has a rock with deep indentions made supposedly by Guru Nanak or Guru Padmasambhav meditating under it, depending on whose story appeals more. Another legend takes us down a slippery wooden staircase to a cracked boulder which only the ‘pure’ can pass through. I look through the crack and feel my claustrophobia hold my adventurous spirit’s hand and nudge it towards the stairway to the stream below. I tamely follow to the stone bank below. Small piled up stones are reminders of the faithful and we hunt for the fabled wishing pool. In a rock we find a milky bowl with a never-ending supply of water and pebbles. I hesitate and with que sera sera shrug gamely fish out the three pebbles that will portend our luck. With a mixed bag deposited into the adjoining pool we make our way to the next monastery- the five hundred year old Samten Yangchag.

Gods thankfully have insight. (Pic Credits-ASR)

It sits on a hill with a commanding view of the valley, which the gods inside cannot see anymore thanks to the massive new chorten with a base of white bathroom tiles. The double storied simple wooden structure on low stilts has brightly coloured eaves and multicoloured windows. It is being repainted inside and the deities look scattered but still dwarf everything inside. The caretaker’s wife and impish little son, Dorje show us around. He scampers around laughing happily but baulks at being photographed. Outside the wind has whiplashed a peachy tree nearby into a permanent stoop.

Low-hanging Fruit

After a late lunch we walk along the river to a hanging bridge. It is low over the shallow and silent river. To do or not to do? Lets just do it! I realise if it doesn’t sway I’ll be fine but that means traversing it alone.

Also, there is no other way to walk to those picture postcard houses across the river. I do it! Haha..I hope I can repeat the feat, else it’ll be a looong walk in the dark. In the fading light a lady chasing her duck out from under her green house while a little boy peers out of the brightly lit kitchen window. We exchange greetings and she poses for a photo, asking how does she look. She looks like a warm sight on a cold evening.

Early next morning after a night of heavy rain, the deodars and the crests of the higher horse-shoe ranges cradling this golden valley are liberally dusted with white. On the road I turn back to see the peaks being swallowed up by the clouds. The show is over for the day. I’ll be back. I’m ready for an encore, in any colour.

Fact File-

Getting there-

Rail– Take a train to Dibrugarh, Guwahati or Naharlagun and then a taxi to Mechukha.

Road– Mechukha is a two day journey with a night halt at Aalo.

Air-Pawan Hans helicopters connect Naharlagun (Itanagar) via, Pasighat and Aalo to Mechukha on Mondays and Saturday. But they are weather dependent.

Staying– Aalo has simple budget hotels and homestays.

Mechukha has mostly homestays and one or two small hotels.

Best time to visit– September to May. But carry your raincoat and the water bottle!

Avoid plastics or carry them back .

March 31, 2023July 28, 2023

Loktak, Keibul Lamjao and Ima Market- The 3 Must Dos in Manipur

The mountains ranges below are like endless green waves pushed into crests and then just as suddenly they give way to a vast valley with a lake on one end. Welcome to Manipur! With just three days to spare for this trip our destination is essentially the Loktak lake of the phumdi fame. But first the shopping bug has to be dealt with and not anywhere but at the iconic Ima market! As we drive towards town the traffic is sparse and the shutters mostly down. We reach the market but the priestess at the market’s temple (also shuttered…Gods are also only that available on an off day) informs that the one day in the month that the shops shut i.e, on Ekadasi is today. She smiles and beckons me closer to put tikka. I say a prayer and take it as a propitious sign, closed market notwithstanding. The language is different as are the Gods, old rulers of the realm- Sanamahi, are the presiding deities in the temple here. We make haste for Moirang and Loktak…driving past step-fields lying fallow at the foot of the hills ringing the valley.

Loktak is more than a Lake

We have just an hour of daylight left and the new jetty at Sendra, all spruced up thanks to G20, with it’s hastily planted carpet lawn, instant flowers, colourful flags and giant dredgers lined up, closes at 5. We head into the lake like eager beavers and make straight for a phumdi. The floating biomass looks solid enough and we get down from the wooden jetty where we have docked. It bobs a bit but holds. A few pictures and it is time to head back.

We cross lone figures on their lean long boats heading home in the falling dusk. In the night solitary lights twinkle in the dark waters. Loktak gets its name from ‘Lok’ meaning stream and ‘Tak’ meaning the end. It is Asia’s second largest fresh water lake but it’s the floating phumdis– floating greenbergs of soil and grass, a few solid enough to be inhabited, with their own cyclic regeneration which is now threatened, that are the star attraction here. The circular photogenic ones though, are manmade and are essentially like fishing ponds.

The next day the sky is clearer as is our agenda. After an early morning date with the Sangai, followed by a local cuisine lunch which includes the tasty eromba and divine black sticky rice pudding, we head for a fisherman’s hut on a phumdi for a tea picnic. We are told that the government has recently cracked down on the motley lot of homestays which had sprouted on them. Not to be deterred, it is ‘self-help tea in a thermos’ that we carry along! We skim over reeds barely underwater, past fishing poles strung out on the water and make a whole raft of coots and ducks take flight reluctantly to make way for us.

We nose onto a phumdi with a tiny hut, a log boat parked in front, a banana tree growing beside the hut, and balled up nets to catch the fast drowning sun. We walk on the wooden planks to the adjoining one with another hut. There isn’t a soul around other than a mewling hungry cat. The boatman pulls out a few sprigs of some plant and offers me one. The stems have a strong flavour. A lot of the island is edible it seems! Sitting in the log boat we drink in the silence with sights of huts on tiny floating islands around, along with our tea. The hills are silhouetted against an orange sky as we reluctantly leave this oasis of green huts on greener grass.

The Dancing Deer of Keibul Lamjao

Its an early start for the world’s only floating sanctuary which is home to the endemic and endangered Sangai. The deer is an integral part of the Meitei culture and is considered one of the rarest species in the world, yet it’s home is just a forty square km national park, threatened by a reservoir created to feed the Loktak Hydel Power Project. The stags have four antlers with two seeming to sprout from it’s brow.

We head up to the viewing point and the ground in front is a bowl of drab yellow brown grass covered by a lid of haze. What feels like a long futile wait ends when out of the tall reeds a brown bit steps out. It is a female Sangai. Soon another emerges, this time with a fawn.

Then in the far distance in the fire line a stag or two appear. Their antlers dipping as they feed. The forest guide is a young, chatty fellow. He is the only one left out of the couple who were trained since there is no pay (how does that even work??!) He offers to take us into a narrow channel below in his canoe. A running commentary on Meitei culture ensues while he steers us towards a clearing. This is where he got Rocky (of Highway on My Plate fame) we are told. The phumdi’s black soil is still churned up as we gingerly get down. As the soft carpet of soil and grass sinks under us and undulates with each step, I tell myself it has taken on weightier things. No wonder the deer look like they are dancing! The boat feels so stable and solid in comparison.

As we reach back another fellow in a smaller boat is stripping bits of the tall reed. Food here is sourced from things that grow naturally. Imagine not cultivating and yet never running out of food!

Moirang’s Moment of Glory–

Moirang near Loktak is a small town with a big place in Indian history. The Moirang king was the most powerful of the various clans in Manipur and it was here that the tricolour was first hoisted by the Indian National Army on India’s mainland in 1944. There is a small museum dedicated to it. The vibrant innaphi (stole)and phanek (wraparound skirt) worn by the women in the quaint market are too much of a temptation and I end up buying a phanek which is stitched up in a jiffy behind the shop and the owner indulgently shows me how to wear it. The fresh market has women selling giant cabbages and string beans amongst other greens and buckets of snails. A woman churns what smells like fermenting fish in a giant earthen pot.

Imphal’s Iconic Ima Market

One cannot leave Imphal without a visit to the iconic Ima Keithal or Mother’s Market. The nearby Kangla Fort will have to wait for another trip. The nearly 500-year-old market run and managed exclusively by married women is housed in three adjoining buildings. The buildings are an airy, spacious and clean affair with open stalls on elevated platforms. The extra stuff gets stored into giant trunks below as we see in the other two portions where brightly coloured local textiles vie for attention.

The fresh produce section is bustling early in the morning and today the temple at the entrance with its circular paper prayer flags is open. Women stop to pay obeisance and get the traditional long sandalpaste tikka put.

The wares here range from handicrafts, everyday essentials, groceries, local food items to fresh produce and everything else in between. A woman admonishes me like a child for smelling some fresh vegetable, another encourages me to check out the varieties of mushrooms piled up (so tempting!) and one sitting with mounds of varieties of rice being feasted on by bees laughingly chides me for wanting only her picture and not her wares!

The fish in the trays still have pink gills and in a corner we discover food stalls dishing out fresh local cuisine. Its too tempting to pass on so I clamber onto the platform where the proprietress sits in between the low table and bench and doles out copious quantities of rice and portions of fried fish, vegetables and chutneys in bowls. Fermented fish is the staple ingredient in a lot of local dishes and the eromba here is flavoured with it. I am given a mug to wash my hands into and a towel to wipe them. Only a mother would think it through.

Fact File-

Getting there-

Air- Imphal has an International airport and has regular flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.

Rail– The nearest railhead is 200kms away at Dimapur. From there buses and taxis are easily available.

Loktak is approx. 40 kms from Imphal.

Keibul Lamjao National Park is a 20 minute drive from Moirang.

Staying–

At Moirang and Sendra there are a few basic homestays and hotels.

The Sendra Park and Resort offers cottages.

Miscellaneous–

The boat rides start from the new Jetty at Sendra and an hour’s ride cost 2000/-.

The entry fee for Keibul Lamjao is 30/- for Indians and 200/- for foreigners and there are extra charges for cameras.

Language can be a challenge as the locals often do not speak Hindi or English.

Best time to visit is post monsoon November onwards to March.

As always, be a conscious traveller and carry your own water bottle.

February 16, 2023February 17, 2023

Kohima-At the Cultural Crossroads where East meets West

The poinsettias grow wild along the road as we enter Kohima. The red leaves announce Christmas is round the corner. Infact the festive season is evident as we drive out of Dimapur. The traditional gates to the ‘model villages’ are colourfully decorated. Enroute small houses have red stars tied to bamboo poles. A religion from far away has found a home and eco support! Makeshift shops along the way sell potted hybrid red and white poinsettias. So, so tempting!

Then we cross the funereal shops…. Stocked up with a profusion of bouquets, arrangements and wreaths, at first glance I mistake them for flower shops. Then I spy a polished coffin lurking behind cascading artificial flowers….. what ?? When I look for the shop names, I see boards announcing ‘The Final Resting Place, The Last Journey’…okay then…

Night falls by the time we reach Kohima and driving on the dusty, broken road the lights of the capital draped over several hills are visible from a distance. A traffic snarl so typical of a hill station greets us. Most come for the Hornbill Festival but Kohima has lots more to offer than a bed and breakfast for the visitors. What should be on your itinerary while visiting this quaint hill station?

Beyond Kohima go- Into a Bamboo Bowl: A Hike to Dzukou Valley

Kohima’s War Cemetery

Standing in the heart of town above the traffic crossing where we got stuck in the night is the stone with the famous epitaph ‘When You Go Home, Tell Them of Us and Say For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.” Set in the War Cemetery’s lowest step in an alcove, these words on the tall obelisk have been oft quoted. Kohima is one of the few places in India where a World War II battle was fought. A battle so fierce and bloody, it laid waste thousands of lives and earning the sobriquet- Stalingrad of the East.

Read about a lost path, a forgotten road in- Discovering Digboi’s 3 Must-Dos

The war cemetery is laid out on the ridge where the Deputy Commissioner’s house stood, with a tennis court on its estate. Nothing remains of the house but the tennis court on a higher step is marked out. A band practises somewhere on the premises as we slowly walk around the terraced lawns with rows upon rows of stone markers with bronze plaques stating names and touching messages, giving glimpses of loved ones lost in honour, names that cut across creeds, cultures and continents. The tunes of ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Rouse’ wafting around make the experience even more poignant. A cherry tree grafted from one that stood here during the battle survives like another memory kept alive.

Read what lies- Along the Lohit on the Long Road to Walong

The Cathedral of Kohima

The religion might have come from another part of the world but the structure of the most important church in Kohima is visibly native. The first church in Nagaland was set up in 1872 but as the church of the Bishop of the diocese of Kohima, Mary Help of Christian’s Cathedral is not only important but its architectural rooting sets it apart. Inspired by the traditional Naga house, it is all soaring angles outside. Its spacious, vaulted interior is held up by steel girders.

Read about the eclectic collection of the- 3 Churches in Mhow: Discovering Obscure History and Outstanding Carols

Painted glass above the altar lets in ample light to show a semi-circular seating and the revolving wooden doors carved with traditional motifs among others open to steps leading to a ground with a view. A wooden crib here has supposedly been made from wood of an olive tree from Bethlehem. Kohima’s story is somehow linked to the Japanese…the funds for the church came from survivors and families of the Japanese soldiers in remembrance of their ones lost here in battle.

Main Street Night Market

I couldn’t find time to visit the famed Mao market on my flying visits to Kohima but I was not going to miss out on the night market on the main market street. During the Hornbill Fest the road closes to the chaotic traffic that plagues it during daytime and the street market keeps time with sunset. It hits the nose and makes me salivate, but I take my time. I walk the length of the festively lit up road lined with makeshift stalls, some with tables to dine, to see the fares and build up an appetite. Meats are being dabbed in oil, grilled, fried, doused in sauces. The pork momos come with a fiery chutney (This is the land of the Raja Mircha!), the sausages and tender grills on thin bamboo skewers, the crickets are fried crisp and I am allowed to sample one but the larvae are too generously packed on a long skewer. I pass.

Read what could not be passed on in –Satiating Nostalgia Under the Winter Rain at Junia

Thukpa is soul food and cannot be passed on, even here. At one stall the chatty young girl serving is from the Sumi tribe and teases the boy wearing a jacket with a bull, manning the counter. A mithun he corrects her, as he is from the Ao tribe. Another boy is wrapped in a Sumi shawl I am told. (By and by one realises it is not just a ‘Naga shawl’! Its everything! From a skirt to a dress to… well, a shawl!)

What else to do on a short holiday?- Part Two- What Not to Miss on a Weekend Vacation in Shekhawati

There are game stalls, stalls selling knick-knacks and souvenirs and ofcourse lots of eateries. At one end a group of men crowd around a table and let up exultant shouts now and then. Gambling for live chickens I discover later. Luck lays out a feast for some and nobody seems to gamble their winnings!

This capital city is a melting pot where influences from far flung lands add a piquant flavour to the local tribal cauldron. The final dish served is worth sampling and savouring.

Fact File-

Getting there–

Dimapur is the nearest railhead and airport.

It is about 70 kms but with the road widening and construction takes a minimum of 2 hours to reach by taxi.

Food–

At the night market the skewers start from 100/- but options for vegetarians are limited and the stalls serve mostly meats.

Miscellaneous-

Entry at the War Cemetery is free. It is shut on Sundays.

Sunday is a day for prayers and rest for the entire state!

January 20, 2023January 22, 2023

A Handy Guide on How to do the Hornbill Festival

It is 9:30 in the morning on day 2 at the Hornbill Festival as I sip the rice beer being offered. It is followed by flavoured roast gram in a tiny bamboo mug hooked to a finger. I am sitting in a sunny spot just below one of the pavilions. As soon as the Chakhesang tribe started filing out of their Morung humming in unison, beer and snacks in hand I scooted behind and grabbed my spot from the previous day on the stone steps. I got lucky that they decided to sit right there. I offer the goodies further to the elderly man from the Kachari tribe sitting on the other side next to me. I get a disapproving shake of the head and a haughty nose is gently turned up and away. I have a lot to learn….But what I did learn was how to maximize the minimum days I had at the festival at the Heritage Village of Kisama.

1. The cultural performances at the main amphitheatre begin by 9:30 am or later, depending on what time the chief guest of the day deigns to arrive.

2.Reach about an hour early and head for the Morungs right behind the arena. Each tribe has it’s own Morung where the participants congregate, get ready, get a pep talk, have their meals and perhaps an early morning tot to limber up! Perfect place to meet people, chat, get a glimpse of the Naga’s traditional life not to mention some great pics as well.

Get a glimpse of traditional life in- A Tale of Two Veiled Valleys: Part I- Shangarh’s Meadows are meant for Musing

On day one as I stood taking pics of the Ao youngsters seated around their painted log, getting a pep talk and then say a prayer, I suddenly found an arm around my shoulder. One of the older guys wanted to be photographed with me!

3.Then head to the arena and find a spot, preferably on the right of the centre on the stone steps. Apart from sitting with a participating tribe probably, it offers apt lighting and stays in the shade. The sun is toasty early on but one can get baked soon enough. Focused photographers favour sitting just inside the fence on the matted grass of the arena.

4.Each tribe present is introduced at the beginning of the day’s programme. They stand, ululate and generally make their presence felt. Their performances, from courting songs, enactments of games and head-hunting scenes are short affairs and often the same tribe perform different facets on different days.

5.Around 11:30 am there is a break and the participants head for the Morungs for lunch and drinks. On the first day I met a youngster at the Chakhesang Morung who happily showed me around, pointing out artefacts like a log used for pounding the grains, baskets used by men and women and offered tobacco being cured by barely there smoke curling up. The next day at the Zeliang Morung it is strips of pork hanging from bamboo rafters being smoked that has us flocking around in fascination.

Read about an obscure town’s claim to fame in-Nasirabad’s Kachora: More than a Savoury Story

6.Pick a tribe whose food you want to sample. The flavours might differ but the basics remain the same- sticky rice, pork smoked or plain spicy, beef, a flavourful green vegetable, a spicy bamboo shoot chutney and perhaps salad. Its self-help once you buy a coupon and only the meat portion is served fresh from the kitchen in a bowl. On both days I had lunch at different Morungs and the chunky pieces of divinely yum smoked pork from the Sumi tribe were generous enough for greedy me to share with two fellow hungry young visitors who agreed that either you love the fat or you don’t! One did, the other didn’t.

The cool rice beer(finally!!) in a tall bamboo mug came from the Chakhesang tribe on both days. Not too potent but since I was neither willing to take a chance to discover otherwise nor willing to let go off the mug, I was reluctantly allowed to wander off with the precious mug with a promise to return it. I did.

7.Afternoon shows are more packed and I think after the beer drinking more entertaining offstage! The elated head-hunters after giving a rather artful performance carried on waving the rather shrunk head on a spike on a side, being cheered on by their tribe members.

8.Apart from the cultural show at the main arena, there is a World War II Museum ground where this year there was a drool worthy collection of vintage Willi jeeps. Another arena had a Naga Masterchef competition on. On a side is an arcade of stalls selling souvenirs, jewellery, shawls, dahs, knives, chopping blocks, pottery etc although many Morung’s have knick-knacks and shawls distinct to their tribe on sale as well.

9.There is a separate section for organic produce, a competition for local vegetables (super-sized cabbage anyone or an enticingly luscious red raja mircha?) and humungous floral arrangements you can disappear into. Must try the fresh juicy pineapples and kiwis.

10.A coffee joint with a sitting area next to the main amphitheatre is a big magnet in the morning. There are pay and use loos. Thank God!

11.It gets nippy as soon as the sun dips behind the hill so keep the jacket handy. Attend the evening concert which starts after 5pm. Sounds early? Remember its not really IST here and in winter night falls by that time. There are families sitting around wondering what is going on, youngsters high on music, solitary figures brooding over beer lost in the voices only they can hear. The music genre is mostly EDM and rock. The atmosphere eclectic and electric!

12.If the pulsating music is not your scene try the Morungs. I discovered bonfires, candlelight and trios belting out classics to chock-a-block full tables.

13.Or you can, if you are staying at Kohima attend the night market in the main street. With Christmas round the corner the air is festive and aromatic with live grills.

Read about singing skills in- 3 Churches in Mhow: Discovering Obscure History and Outstanding Carols

14.Various events are held simultaneously across venues scattered across different villages and resorts. Check out the schedule before making your itinerary.

15.As a solo female traveller it was a pleasant revelation. The people are friendly but nobody pays attention to a single female. It was so nice to be ignored!

The elderly French photographer sitting beside me deplored the commercialisation as did some of the regular attendees (yet they still turn up). Be that as it may, the festival is a vibrant smorgasbord showcasing the pomp and pageantry of the Naga’s distinctive tribes.

Fact File-

Kisama Heritage Village is about 12 km from Kohima.
There are many tented camps and a few homestays around Kisama Village.
The festival is from the 1^st to the 10^th of December every year.
The entry fee per day is 50 rupees and there are extra charges for DSLRs.
A meal generally costs Rs300 and a rice beer Rs100.
Remember to be a conscious traveller and always carry your own water bottle!

December 9, 2022December 9, 2022

Into a Bamboo Bowl – A Hike to Dzukou Valley

Thank God the man came along! And thank God for the advice to take a bedsheet. We were like a giant calzone stuffing in the night but at least it was a minty clean wrapping! I had been wanting to do a trek in the north-east but the rains played truant for too long this year and travelling to Walong showed exactly the kind of terrain one might expect- extremely steep slopes and dense jungles mostly. So how was Nagaland’s most popular and doable hike, the Dzukou Valley trek? Steep, yes but also stunning, short, and surprising!

Facts First-

1. Dzukou valley is part of the ancestral territory of the Angami tribe. It is managed by the South Angami Youth Organization. So, all the trekking companies have to go through them to book the tents, rooms and dormitories in the Rest House complex there. There seems to be no other camping ground.

2.Everything is available on hire to stay there from foam mattresses to blankets. How often they get cleaned (if at all!) is a Big question mark. Its probably on a first come first serve basis. The rooms have basic toilets, no running water and no electricity.

3.Food is available at the Rest House in the valley. You can ask for fresh rice, dal and vegetables or have the ubiquitous Maggie and cup noodles.

4.So, don’t spend money going through a trekking company. Just get a good guide. Its probably mandatory.

5.The distance and hours of walking (approx 3 hours) involved don’t warrant a 2-night stay…. Unless you plan to explore the small valley thoroughly or just want to chill.

6.We took a guide to show us the way and carried small backpacks for an overnight trip but with enough food to last many days!

7.Rainy season is the most popular time to do the trek, especially if you want to see the endemic Dzukou lily blooming. We found post monsoon to be the ideal time. (Climbing or walking those paths in the rain isn’t for me.) The sun is strong but the nights are cold.

Jungle Jamboree

After a night of admiring the twinkling lights of Kohima and Chakabama below us we start from Zakhama a little behind schedule. I spend the time waiting for our vehicle, to chase some Green-backed Tits (Some sense of humour the Englishman naming them had – once said a birdwatcher.) preening and flitting around a bottlebrush. A gorgeous yellow orchid in full bloom adds colour to the barely there bottlebrush flowers. Driving on the road to Viswema and then on the track to the starting point we find there isn’t much difference between the two, both are equally rutted only the latter is rocky enough in places to warrant a 4/4 drive. A parking lot and a massive new house mark the jumping off point. Soon the roughly hewn stone steps begin and the path winds its way up through thick oak forest. Sunlight barely filters through and the soil is as moist as the tree trunks throughout. But the gradient ensures we are soon sweating it out. At places the steps are the roots of the trees and I need to scramble up. We have company throughout and the trail is marked unfortunately by plastic discards. A child is piggy-backing down on a guide and I offer him an energizer bar. Wrong person…should have given it to the guy carrying him. A group of youngsters singing on top of their voices follow…they certainly don’t need those bars! The French couple climbing up rue that they won’t be able to sight any bears or monkeys now. I’ve only encountered two kinds of beings on treks- those who must sing or have music playing or those for whom the wilderness’ silence is the music. As we emerge above the forest the path narrows and there is a giant sloping boulder to be crossed to get to the summit. I ask the man to remind me why I do this to myself. He gleefully says he will next time!

There is a crowded view-point on top. The vistas make a pretty picture- a cerulean sky and rolling hills, their greens made darker by forests and shadow throwing low clouds. A gushing stream hides somewhere in the forest, to be heard but not seen. On a side the path disappears between two grassy slopes…

Discover grassy slopes and more in- A Tale of Two Veiled Valleys: Part I- Shangarh’s Meadows are meant for Musing

Bamboo Bowl Beckons

It isn’t grass! Its bamboo that we walk between, on a narrow even path, for the next two hours. Even the larks stick to the path! The light green bamboo covers every inch of the valley. At places it is just waist high but at times it forms a tunnel to walk through. There are crystal clear tiny streams to cross and charred remains of a forest patch. The blackened trunks stand out dramatically. In the strong sun we would be slightly burnt too if it weren’t for the tall bamboo providing some shade.

The green and red roofed rest house is like a homing beacon far away on a ridge. We reach the complex of wooden huts spread on the only flat, open ground. We choose a room from the meagre options, dump our stuff, find two chairs and have our packed lunch in a secluded opening with a bird’s eye view of the valley. It’s a shallow bowl of bamboo covered mounds. Right now, post the rains it is still green but come winter it will be covered with frost. Fall colours tinge the tips of a thick grove of trees lining the sides of a stream on a slope nearby. Across the valley there seem to be caves in the rock faces.

A trek to remember was- Tarsar Marsar : A Trekker’s Take

The strong sun and the climb have me wanting to crawl into bed but the man wants to explore this bowl. I reluctantly follow him across the helipad (apparently used only once to douse out a major fire in the valley) and down the slope to the bottom where a cold stream meanders. A circular stone platform with a menhir on the edge doubles as a church we are told. On a mound across the stream a giant white cross makes an incongruous sight.

The sun is descending quickly and we will need an hour to climb back to the rest house. We make it back just in time to catch the sun set on the rim of the valley, warming ourselves with a cuppa. The clear sky burns a dying amber orange before darkness descends. The milky way is a pale band in the cold starlight night.

Dzukou’s Denizens

I wake up to the sound of someone rummaging through our open backpacks. We have unwanted company in our room in the night and he is hungry! Although we never see him, the rat wakes us up intermittently even after we hurriedly pack everything and chuck the dinner plates outside the door. In the morning when I tell one of the youngsters running the place, he looks troubled and then thoughtfully says they’ll have to shoot it. Huh?!…okay then…the Nagas are hunters all and the guide did mention getting permits to shoot bears and deer. Still, a bit extreme perhaps and I suggest a trap instead. Visions of the room being shot up as the wily rodent scampers around play in my mind!

On the way back since we are the last to leave the campsite, we don’t meet a soul till we reach the view point. Its amazing to have a piece of earth to ourselves for couple of hours. The deep dark oak forest’s silence is broken by a flock of Black-eared Shrike Babblers and scampering on a tree ….a giant mouse-like creature! The Nagas need to up their hunting skills…