We have been home barely a month.The first few days were spent appreciating the joy of being home,my room which has a lot of space and overlooks the oppositte hills.I sleep with stars and the lights from the hills for company.
Jonathan was with us for a few days over from Oddanchattram.
When I was doing my postgraduation,Jonathan was the youngest kid in the campus,I remember him as a chubby little kid running around the campus ,a darling of everyone around.Dr Latha and Dr Paul used to take us for impromptu weekend retreats to the Panchalur hills and we used to love it there.
With Jonathan we could make two main trips.
We went into the Dzongu hills,boated across the Mantam lake,which is a naturally formed reservoir as a result of a huge chunk of the oppositte hill falling into the river.At it's virgin state when I visited it it looked ferocious,now it looks tame but it continues to wash away the bridges built over it ,making commuting difficult for the faint-hearted.
Once we crossed the Mantam Lake we were driven to a homestay in the village of Tingbong,which I had heard of, but never seen.It was a modest four room place but the hosts seem to be well acquainted with having guests.We were well looked after with overdose of non-veg meals three times a day.
Once we had lunched we made our way on a hiking trail to conquer the landslide.It was around a four hours walk up the hill which could have been shorter but for Annie and I, as we crawled on our fours ,bitten by the leaches through sheer drops and beautiful jungle flora and birds much of which was lost on the two of as we tried to get one limb on front of the other.
Our guide ,the host, went ahead clearing the path and leading us gently.
The view from the top was beautiful.Not only was there the joy of conquering a landmark we often look at from our side of the hill with a story behind it,it also gave us a pretty view of the valley below,the ravine, the river and a direct view of Mangan where we could see our house.We took a lot of snaps there.
Descending down was easier but I found myself flat on my back short of hitting my head much to Jonathan's dscpmfort.He seems to be an excellent walker.
Our brother took us through this beautiful village with lovely wooden cottages and progressive farming where the farmers had widely used various methods to keep the weeds at bay.There was vegetable farming and aesthetic gardens,impressive to say the least in a place where anything in the name of commerce was hard to come by.
We reached the homestay by around six in the evening bathed in mud,blood and sweat.We had to take turns using the shower.After a delicious dinner of fish and rice we called it a day.
The next morning we took a shared taxi to Lingdong water falls where the youngsters took some time appreciating the immense water body falling from a great height and delicious to drink and took photographs after which we started our hike towards the hots-spring.
We crossed a footbridge over the river to the otherside.Annie and I both have agorophobia so it was quite nerve-wracking especially when the bridge starts moving but it is anyday better then the footbridge in Ashford where you have cars speeding below you and you start wondering what would happen to you if you survived the bridge giving way under your feet.
We climbed the hill for a bit and followed a beautiful footpath till we reached a dead-end ,a sheer drop on the rock and saw a stone cutter working on that rock from below.They were literally cutting out a road.
They were kind enough to put up the arm of the rock-cutter on the rock for us to walk on and then slowly descend onto the mud below and walk our way to the other half of the road to the hot-spring. For all of us ,it was a first.
Our walk to the hotspring was smooth after that.Jonathan and Agya Pemzang took a dip in the hotspring whereas Annie and I were happy to dip our feet in the cold running water of the stream.
Once done, we walked towards Passingdang even as we waited for Roshan daju to pick us up.Enroute we came across 'Rambo's' house where we were offerd tea and cold juice but we refused.
One would wonder how he would have got the name.During his hey days he apparently got into the wrong side of the law so was brought to the local police thana where he is supposed to have single-handedly thrown helter-skelter five policemen.
In a small town like Mangan,the name is stuck and so we get to hear the story still.
We walked on from there ,a beautiful walk along the road,barked at by the dogs,stared at by the kids,farmers at work,enjoying nature and spots of civilisation to the other side of the Mantam Lake where Roshan daju picked us up and drove us home.
Tired to the bones we reached home for home-cooked meal and made plans for the next day.
Jonathan made some sandwhiches for the next day before we called it a day.
I woke up at three thirty the next morning to make some Aloo puri and we left for the border towns of Lachung and Yumthang early next morning with Rivaj from the Elim church in a small car.The drive up the hill was smooth enough with a short stop at Chungthang where we fuelled ourselves with some food and tea.We crossed the town of Lachung,once much scenic but now highly commercialised and made it five kilometers beyond it playing hide and seek with clouds,rain and the sun which Jonathan had prayed for.
The dodgy roads beyond that point would not allow the car to proceed.The big taxis going through had seats for one or two and I could not risk not taking the youngsters with me so I was happy to see a truck ,on it's way to Yumthang to load sand, winding it's way slowly through the patch.We asked for a lift.They only had space at the back and inspite of the slight drizzle we climbed onto the back much to the delight of the youngsters ,our altitude sickness gone for a sixer.
While the youngsters stood holding onto anything they could find I sat on the cold floor,happy to find somewhere to rest inspite of the mud on the floor.The drive was a pleasant one with a young kid,a chain smoker, who kept the conversation flowing.He was educated in the public school in my hometown and then had been in SUM in Kalimpong,a christian school belonging to a senior of mine after which he had done two years of commerce and then had quit.Now he was collecting sand from Yumthang for the foundation of his house being built in Lachung.He had a wide range of questions for me,ranging from my family tree to the world cup match .At the end of the journey I think he concluded I was one of them so waved away any form of payment.
Yumthong valley was bidding farewell to the spring so there were faint patches of primulas on the floor,the river was flowing staidly and the mountains loomed bare.By God's grace the mist cleared so we could see the paraphenalia although I have seen it better many more times.
Johny and Annie took photographs and we took time to just to catch our breath and enjoy the creation.
By mid-day the mists started coming on ,we did not have a vehicle in hand ,so we hitchhiked on a vehicle with a bengali family much to their dismay and our relief.Rivaz met us where we had left him and drove us down the hill to Mangan.
Monda,my cousin had offered to make momos for us .So after a short respite at home we were off to my uncle's for dinner after which bhai and Urmilla drove us back home.
Early next morning Drs Paul and Lata's precious little boy left Mangan for his onward journey whereas rest of us got into our holiday routine of washing,cleaning, baking,reading,teaching,and most importantly just soaking in the richness of being home with parents.
Jonathan was with us for a few days over from Oddanchattram.
When I was doing my postgraduation,Jonathan was the youngest kid in the campus,I remember him as a chubby little kid running around the campus ,a darling of everyone around.Dr Latha and Dr Paul used to take us for impromptu weekend retreats to the Panchalur hills and we used to love it there.
With Jonathan we could make two main trips.
We went into the Dzongu hills,boated across the Mantam lake,which is a naturally formed reservoir as a result of a huge chunk of the oppositte hill falling into the river.At it's virgin state when I visited it it looked ferocious,now it looks tame but it continues to wash away the bridges built over it ,making commuting difficult for the faint-hearted.
Once we crossed the Mantam Lake we were driven to a homestay in the village of Tingbong,which I had heard of, but never seen.It was a modest four room place but the hosts seem to be well acquainted with having guests.We were well looked after with overdose of non-veg meals three times a day.
Once we had lunched we made our way on a hiking trail to conquer the landslide.It was around a four hours walk up the hill which could have been shorter but for Annie and I, as we crawled on our fours ,bitten by the leaches through sheer drops and beautiful jungle flora and birds much of which was lost on the two of as we tried to get one limb on front of the other.
Our guide ,the host, went ahead clearing the path and leading us gently.
The view from the top was beautiful.Not only was there the joy of conquering a landmark we often look at from our side of the hill with a story behind it,it also gave us a pretty view of the valley below,the ravine, the river and a direct view of Mangan where we could see our house.We took a lot of snaps there.
Descending down was easier but I found myself flat on my back short of hitting my head much to Jonathan's dscpmfort.He seems to be an excellent walker.
Our brother took us through this beautiful village with lovely wooden cottages and progressive farming where the farmers had widely used various methods to keep the weeds at bay.There was vegetable farming and aesthetic gardens,impressive to say the least in a place where anything in the name of commerce was hard to come by.
We reached the homestay by around six in the evening bathed in mud,blood and sweat.We had to take turns using the shower.After a delicious dinner of fish and rice we called it a day.
The next morning we took a shared taxi to Lingdong water falls where the youngsters took some time appreciating the immense water body falling from a great height and delicious to drink and took photographs after which we started our hike towards the hots-spring.
We crossed a footbridge over the river to the otherside.Annie and I both have agorophobia so it was quite nerve-wracking especially when the bridge starts moving but it is anyday better then the footbridge in Ashford where you have cars speeding below you and you start wondering what would happen to you if you survived the bridge giving way under your feet.
We climbed the hill for a bit and followed a beautiful footpath till we reached a dead-end ,a sheer drop on the rock and saw a stone cutter working on that rock from below.They were literally cutting out a road.
They were kind enough to put up the arm of the rock-cutter on the rock for us to walk on and then slowly descend onto the mud below and walk our way to the other half of the road to the hot-spring. For all of us ,it was a first.
Our walk to the hotspring was smooth after that.Jonathan and Agya Pemzang took a dip in the hotspring whereas Annie and I were happy to dip our feet in the cold running water of the stream.
Once done, we walked towards Passingdang even as we waited for Roshan daju to pick us up.Enroute we came across 'Rambo's' house where we were offerd tea and cold juice but we refused.
One would wonder how he would have got the name.During his hey days he apparently got into the wrong side of the law so was brought to the local police thana where he is supposed to have single-handedly thrown helter-skelter five policemen.
In a small town like Mangan,the name is stuck and so we get to hear the story still.
We walked on from there ,a beautiful walk along the road,barked at by the dogs,stared at by the kids,farmers at work,enjoying nature and spots of civilisation to the other side of the Mantam Lake where Roshan daju picked us up and drove us home.
Tired to the bones we reached home for home-cooked meal and made plans for the next day.
Jonathan made some sandwhiches for the next day before we called it a day.
I woke up at three thirty the next morning to make some Aloo puri and we left for the border towns of Lachung and Yumthang early next morning with Rivaj from the Elim church in a small car.The drive up the hill was smooth enough with a short stop at Chungthang where we fuelled ourselves with some food and tea.We crossed the town of Lachung,once much scenic but now highly commercialised and made it five kilometers beyond it playing hide and seek with clouds,rain and the sun which Jonathan had prayed for.
The dodgy roads beyond that point would not allow the car to proceed.The big taxis going through had seats for one or two and I could not risk not taking the youngsters with me so I was happy to see a truck ,on it's way to Yumthang to load sand, winding it's way slowly through the patch.We asked for a lift.They only had space at the back and inspite of the slight drizzle we climbed onto the back much to the delight of the youngsters ,our altitude sickness gone for a sixer.
While the youngsters stood holding onto anything they could find I sat on the cold floor,happy to find somewhere to rest inspite of the mud on the floor.The drive was a pleasant one with a young kid,a chain smoker, who kept the conversation flowing.He was educated in the public school in my hometown and then had been in SUM in Kalimpong,a christian school belonging to a senior of mine after which he had done two years of commerce and then had quit.Now he was collecting sand from Yumthang for the foundation of his house being built in Lachung.He had a wide range of questions for me,ranging from my family tree to the world cup match .At the end of the journey I think he concluded I was one of them so waved away any form of payment.
Yumthong valley was bidding farewell to the spring so there were faint patches of primulas on the floor,the river was flowing staidly and the mountains loomed bare.By God's grace the mist cleared so we could see the paraphenalia although I have seen it better many more times.
Johny and Annie took photographs and we took time to just to catch our breath and enjoy the creation.
By mid-day the mists started coming on ,we did not have a vehicle in hand ,so we hitchhiked on a vehicle with a bengali family much to their dismay and our relief.Rivaz met us where we had left him and drove us down the hill to Mangan.
Monda,my cousin had offered to make momos for us .So after a short respite at home we were off to my uncle's for dinner after which bhai and Urmilla drove us back home.
Early next morning Drs Paul and Lata's precious little boy left Mangan for his onward journey whereas rest of us got into our holiday routine of washing,cleaning, baking,reading,teaching,and most importantly just soaking in the richness of being home with parents.
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