Mental Excursions

Ball of Fire amidst greenery The sight that greeted us as we started our climb. How did the driver achieve this? After leaving the hotel at Bhalukpong, our first stop was the Tippi Orchid Research Centre at Sessa on the west bank of Kameng river. This 10-hectare tropical forest-like area has a garden, a glass house, a tissue culture laboratory and orchidaria. Perhaps it was not the season, so very few plants had flowers on them. The orchidarium with its potted orchids was, however, a lesson in the varieties grown in that region. This short break in the cold clou dy morning was warming us up about our first day in the state when we noticed that visibility was getting poorer as we drove up the hills. We stopped at the famous Nepichu falls to enjoy this treat of nature. But that was not to be. Only streaks of water were visible through the clouds. We were not alone. There were many other vehicles parked there. Scores of tourists crowded the place, clambering down to where the waters fell ...

The wish that came true! Visiting Tawang in the north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh was something we had been contemplating for the last one decade. It felt like the lush green-covered mountains, the waterfalls, the serene lakes and the ancient  Buddhist monasteries were calling us. But w hat kept putting us off was the more than 450 km or nearly 14-hr travel on the mountainous roads from Guwahati to Tawang. Thanks to our dear friends (from the Leh-trip), the visit became a reality last week and an easy, super-enjoyable one at that. Tawang is too close to China border and history is proof that China is not our friendly neighbour. Besides, the weather is mostly unpredictable. The roads are winding and nature though beautiful, sometimes unleashes its temper.  For those smirking at this,   you cannot cover the distance in a day, nor can you be directly airdropped there unless you are a political bigwig or perhaps an army general and in either case you would not be...