The Start of a Most Exciting Introduction to North-Eastern India

14 Nov, Thu:

Bombay-Guwahati-Shillong

The Start of a Most Exciting Introduction to North-Eastern IndiaThe Start of a Most Exciting Introduction to North-Eastern India

Our trip to North-Eastern India (a first time for both of us) had occurred very suddenly and unexpectedly when a friend in my yoga class, Fran, asked me if I was interested in joining her on a trip to Kashmir that she would be taking in less than a week! Her son, her intended companion, had suddenly dropped out and she needed company. And so it was that I became introduced to Savio D’Costa of Savio Tours whose ads I had been seeing for quite a long while in ‘The Examiner’—a Catholic weekly newspaper for which I always write an article in the annual Christmas issue.

I told Fran that she had given me too short a notice for the Kashmir trip, but I did end up chatting on the phone to Savio (for the first time) who then informed me about his imminent trip to Assam and Meghalaya which would be leaving in ten day’s time. I found Savio to be polite, very well-informed and very accommodating and decided it would make sense to travel with him. Quite literally, on impulse, I put the idea across to Llew and, next thing you know, we were looking at airfares (as Savio’s outfit does not book air or train tickets) and finding them quite within our reach, decided to take the trip.With our airfares booked, our trip was a done deal. We were off to visit North-Eastern India which we had heard was quite beautiful indeed.

Flight from Bombay to Guwahati:

Our Indigo flight out of Bombay to Guwahati was scheduled to leave at 8.40 am. This meant that we’d need to be at the airport at 6.40 (2 hours in advance for domestic flights, 3 for international ones, is the rule of thumb we follow). Indigo uses Bombay’s International Terminal (T2)—which means we had more time to bargain for the journey to the airport than if we were going to the Domestic airport (T1). We left our flat at 6.00 am, were really lucky to find a passing rickshaw at 6.10 am and off we went along traffic-less roads to the highway that dropped us to the airport at 6.40 am.

The line at the Indigo counters was lengthy and Llew and I decided to play a little game—to try to spot our fellow-tour companions as we knew that two other couples would be on the same flight with us. However, the crowd was great, the line snaking and there was little chance that we would find our targets. Not even as we were boarding our flight could we recognize them. However, we had been rather amused by a couple whose humorous exchange had caught my ear—we did not recognize them as our tour-companions then; but they would turn out to be Sunil and Nisreen who were indeed in our tour group (and turned out to be the most fun folks of the group and the ones to whom we were instantly attracted). Needless to say, a package tour (as we know from experience, having taken such tours in Costa Rica and Morocco) always throws up some folks to whom you will take a liking and become friends and some folks whom you will prefer to avoid like the plague because you simply do not get along or have absolutely nothing in common with them. This trip would prove to be the same. Sunil and Nisreen are definitely friends with whom we would like to nurture a closer friendship.

Our flight was pleasant enough. We’d bought breakfast from McDonald’s (breakfast burgers and coffee) before boarding as we are well aware that airline meals need to be purchased, are heavily overpriced and not of one’s liking. Hence, with our tummies full, we could sit back and doze during the flight or spend some time on our phones (as Llew did) or read (as I did). I had begun reading ‘A Nautical Adventure’ by Emile Joshi before leaving Bombay and I continued reading it on the flights back and forth (and finished it). A fascinating read indeed.

Arrival at Guwahati Airport:

Savio and his wife, Anita, who would be accompanying us on the tour, were supposed to meet us as soon as we exited the airport. Accordingly, we looked for them and then found them soon enough. It was not long before we found the rest of our tour companions, including Sunil and Nisreen (whom I recognized immediately as the couple who had exchanged amusing banter between themselves at Bombay airport) and Raul and Alifya, Savio’s son and daughter-in-law, who were also joining the group.

A few feet ahead of us, other members of the group had already assembled, having taken earlier flights or having arrived yesterday. We introduced ourselves to each other and within minutes, I discovered that three alumni of St. Peter’s International School in Panchgani (of which I happen to be a Trustee on the Board of Governors) were going to be in our group (Sunil, Harish and Savio). What a coincidence! As it turns out, Savio is an alumnus of the school and the other two were his batchmates. They are now on a Whatsapp group and decided to join Savio on this tour. We met another couple from Goa, Bevinda and Cipriano, and two other couples from Bombay: Joan and Allan, Davida and Gilroy. We’d be a total of 14 folks on the trip—which, in my opinion, is just the right size.

We were all piled into a large-ish van (after our baggage was stashed in the back) and we were off to Shillong. So, Guwahati was just a dropping-off point for us as it happens to be the closest airport to Meghalaya. The ride was long, really long—a good four plus hours. We were introduced to our driver, Steven, who also happened to be an alumnus of St. Peter’s! He stayed with us throughout our travels and did a fantastic job.

We had welcome relief from the long ride when we broke journey at Excelensia Restaurant where we were served a Chicken Thali. We would eat several Thalis before this trip was through. Non-vegetarians were presented with an extra bowl of chicken; the vegetarians were presented with something that was palatable to them. The food was quite tasty and plentiful and we had no reason to feel anything other than fully satisfied with the meal. I discovered a fondness for papads which we received at almost every meal. We would use the same restaurant on our return to Guwahati airport at the end of our trip. This meal was also a good way to get to know some of our companions and it certainly broke the ice.

Our long ride continued on the second segment of our journey to Shillong. After we left the plains, the temperature dropped a bit. The bits we saw of Guwahati en route to Shillong were far from impressive. We were definitely on the outskirts of the city as we left the airport and there was nothing much to see except a few decrepit buildings, any number of shanties and small make-shift shops serving local necessities.

Entry into Shillong and Settling into Cassiopea Hotel:

Our entry into Shillong was equally unimpressive—but this was probably because darkness had already fallen by the time we arrived at our destination: Laithumkrah, a busy junction whose focus was a roundabout structured around a whole lot of hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. Alighting from the bus, we were told to follow our tour leaders to our hotel which involved a five minute walk uphill along a narrow street to another narrower street and into a third narrow street (narrowest of the lot) until we arrived at ‘Cassiopea’ which was to be our residence for the next five nights. I had been told that we’d be put up at a “home stay” which is Indian-speak for a B&B. I was, therefore, expecting a very homely, casual sort of family residence with a few bedrooms given out to paying guests.

I was quite pleasantly surprised then to discover that our residence would be a proper hotel—albeit a small, very modest one. Llew and I were parked up on the highest floor (the second) and put into a decent, welcoming room with a large double bed, a sofa and a few amenities including a microwave oven and a fridge. We had an en suite bathroom that was spacious and impeccably clean and I thought we’d have nothing to complain about. And then I saw it: a really tiny insect on our spotlessly white bed. It was so tiny that I couldn’t even tell what it was. I suppose when windows are left open in these mountain locales, one can expect creepy crawlies to enter. But I do wish the rooms were more thoroughly fumigated.

First Dinner at the Hotel:

As our tour package provided all meals during our trip, we were told to assemble in the small dining hall for dinner at 8.30 pm. By this time, everyone was tired (it’s amazing how tired you can get simply sitting in a vehicle along bumpy roads) and ready to attack a plate of dinner and get to bed. So we reassembled in the dining room and were happy to find a buffet laid out for us.

Dinner (indeed all of our meals) was adequate. Quantities were enough, food was tasty and there was something to satisfy everyone. There was also rice, dal, vegetable, salad and a non-vegetarian protein (usually chicken). Then came dessert (ice-cream with fresh chopped fruit). People were starting to feel comfortable with their fellow travelers, by this point, and were ready to begin the next day’s exploration.

Not too much later, we said our goodbyes after being informed that we would re-convene for breakfast at 8.00 am. Back in our room, I did a bit of photo-blogging before the two of us fell asleep at the end of a day that was devoted entirely to travel.

Until tomorrow…cheerio.