We slept like logs, after our long climbing adventure. The next step in our journey was to head to a river, and camp on the riverside and enjoy some water sports. The place  to do this was Pioneer Adventure Tour, run by friends of Reena’s friend from Shillong.

After bidding adieu to the adorable Pyriam cottage, our home for 2 days at Sa-I-Mika, we jumped into the cramped quarters of Bith’s car and zipped off to Dawki.

On the topic of Bith, it must be said, he is a stellar man! Amazing driver. Amazing sense of music. And just all-round sweet guy. He’s a Sohra native, is here in town with his family for Christmas vacations, and is taking people around while here. Most of the time, he lives in Shillong, which is a big city and not as sweet for him, as his hometown is.

Dawki is this place that’s between Shillong and Sohra. By rights, people say, we should’ve done Dawki on the way to Sohra. From Shillong, you sort of go left for Dawki and further ahead and right for Sohra. The plan was a day with Pioneer Adventures, run by the friend of a friend of Reena’s. A riverside campsite on the river Wah Umngot, with kayaking, ziplining and jumping off a rock… into the river.

We stopped to stretch..
And when the road was too beautiful to zip past at Mawkdok…. we just stopped to gawk.

We went really close to the Bangladesh border… that’s us looking at the Bangladeshis frolicking in the water

Past Trumpland

And into middle earth again.
We went past a charming little village, onto the sandy riverbed, and a dashing young boatman called Bob (with a hat at a rakish angle perched upon his head) ferried us over to the campsite.

Adrian was the person in charge of the campsite. We said hello, learnt that this national squad Cricketer man and family just left that morning (we did see a Beemer, going in the opposite direction, as we were headed in).

The boat went past rocks and bridges hewn into rockface, that reminded me of Argonath on the river Anduin. I suppose I carry middle earth inside my heart, given that I can see it here, and have seen it in Bhutan, in Goa and in Kodaikanal.

We promptly kayaked and ziplined. Tomorrow is probably jumping off a cliff.

Night fell with yum food, hours of campfire, and conversations. We heard about more unusual names like Forceful (the guy who lit our bonfire), Becareful and Spineless (“we call him spine”). And Bob. Everybody loves Bob.

We spoke of life in the villages, what people do for a living(betelnut farming), fishing etc.
Ath made these Cairns or zen stones. Arvind said how it means you are on the right path.

I am not lost.

I am not lost.

Breathe out.