Jhoom cultivation <\/a>and tiny villages are the only breaks in the green foliage. As I move ahead, the hills gain height slowly and their tops are soon covered by wispy cotton like clouds. The confluence of any two hills are marked by a river rushing, frothing its way in an unseemly hurry to marry up with the Brahmaputra. Dozens of waterfall dot the ridge line. Some were so high I just couldn\u2019t see any cascade reaching the bottom, only what seemed to me as a heavenly cooling mist.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSeldom are words spoken while flying through this area, this was especially true for me, as I try to soak up every little thing I can see. In my mind the silence is also for several dear friends who have perished near this place. The forest quickly overgrows the areas of impact, but the hurt in our heart\u2019s is forever. Far in the distance, my crew and I can see snow capped peaks. More clouds allow me to play peek a boo with the mountain tops. When I look down no concrete can be seen any where, all houses are made the traditional way, using locally available produce. When I say all houses I mean a cluster of three or four every 20-30 miles as a crow flies\u2026 Talk about space!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All houses are beautifully handcrafted, built with love they are without doubt both Traditional and Eco friendly\u2026\u2026. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nOne of the larger settlements enroute to Mechuka <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I lost my train of thought, as I frequently do in such breathtakingly beautiful places, forgive me\u2026 My crew and I gradually reach the snow topped mountains\u2026 the slopes are covered by beautiful snow laden coniferous trees. These slopes would rival even the most sought after places in the world\u2026.Ahead in the distance I can see a beautiful green bowl surrounded by scraggly peaks, beautiful patch work terraced fields of various shades of green with a small clumps of houses in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The approach area, time to get airborne, weather is packing up.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nAs I set my trusty An-32 down with a mild thud & a lion\u2019s roar, absolutely no one complains\u2026. after all who would complain of a mild thud while reaching heaven.. would you? <\/em><\/strong>🙂<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe first thing which strikes a visitor to this small piece of heaven on earth is the cold bracing breeze which welcomes one and all. The air is so crisp, so clean, that I began to wonder how in the world had I survived in the real world outside till date? The only sounds I remember hear was the soft pleasant but persistent gurgling of the stream close by, persistent because it is making an attempt to remind one not to miss the stream. The river in the village I remember, was about 30 odd feet wide, it had a beautiful, swaying road bridge and inspite of it being just four odd feet deep (when not flooded) the rocks lining the river bed are clearly visible. The water fed by melting snows, is of course, mind numbingly cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first thing all crew do after an arrival here, is get a refreshing cup of distinctive chai. It\u2019s hot, to warm ones hands, strong, to help one get refreshed and has light fragrance of kerosene (so distinctively true on any ALG<\/em>). Oh how I miss that Chai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018All along the river are small wooden sloping roof houses, with fields all around. Fields are filled with tall stalks of corn ready to be harvested. This corn is from personal experience, the tastiest, most tender and organic corn anyone could ever taste\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember walking into the compound of house which had no gates whatsoever with a slight amount trepidation and hesitantly asking if I could buy corn. It was for home, neighbours, my friends and colleagues, the list was long, a total of 18 cobs of corn were required. The family of four were seated on the floor dehusking the corn & removing its kernels. (They make beer, flour with it. It\u2019s their staple), They looked up at me questioningly, I asked, with my hands folded in greetings \u2018Mujhe Bhutta chahiye\u2019 <\/strong>the man responded, \u2018peeche jaa ke lelo\u2019. <\/strong>I said \u2018Kitne Ka hai, kyuki mujhe 18 chahiye<\/strong>\u2019, by then he had resumed working. So he stopped and looked at me & smiled, \u2018jitna bhi chahiye lejao<\/strong>\u2019 (he meant just go back and pluck them, as many as you need). When I insisted on paying, he told me that there was only one man in the village who sold stuff. He could be found six houses down. Such is the openness in our little paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was not at all unusual to see a warrior clad in traditional finery carrying a finely crafted Dao<\/strong> (deadly long knife) in a leather case, strapped on his back, lugging a 12 Bore rifle, heading out to the forest for a spot of hunting if you please!! In fact one of the bigger shops in this village, was selling weapons and ammunition!! Hunting continues to be one of the commonest professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is a breathtakingly beautiful place where trust is easily gained by flashing a happy smile. Where friends are quickly made merely by a jovial wave of the hand. No Internet, no mobile phones, hardly any cars, the favoured way to travel is walking, No hurry, no rushing\u2026 We have utopia within our reach\u2026. I can reach this place simply by closing my eyes and allowing my mind to drift\u2026. Once you visit this place you\u2019ll know why\u2026 <\/em><\/strong>🙂<\/p>\n\n\n\nI don\u2019t need my An-32 any more.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPost courtesy: https:\/\/scepticnow.wordpress.com<\/h3>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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