My far East..

Two years ago, I had the most wonderful opportunity to go and holiday in the North East of India for two weeks. Today, as I sat cleaning my computer I found pictures and wished I could go back. One of the ways I could is right here. 
As an "army brat", I have been fortunate and have seen places that some Indians don't even know exist like 'Rajouri' (Not the West Delhi one!), 'Harchura' and so on. It has been spectacular!

I was only a couple of years old when my father was posted in the North East and I had heard about how beautiful it was, how green and how peaceful. I had no Idea what they were talking about. A few faded photographs don't do much. 

So, we started out on the 28 hour train journey from New Delhi, and cynical mini me kept saying 'I've seen Jammu and Kashmir, NOTHING beats that! Come on!". But nevertheless, I was jumping off the ground because I had just procured my first ever DSLR, the "photographer camera". (I would sleep with it next to me fearing someone would steal it. Yes, I have done that.)

So, there I was in the train with my truck load of books, the DSLR of course and cynical state of mind...And then things just changed...
 We were cutting across three states to get to our destination and each state showed me the diversity and yet the unity of this nation called India. What lay ahead of me was much more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. 

What I found was that a lot can happen for a person with a camera and two weeks of holiday!

A Sadhu at the Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati, Assam

The Bramhaputra River as seen in Guwahati, Assam

NathuLa,  India-China Border.

Enroute Shillong, Meghalaya

 The food. Oh my God, this coming from a vegetarian. Unlike the "dhaba culture" all across these days, the Eastern half of India caters to all the Punjabi's and South Indian food maniacs, but what good is it if you don't try the local cuisine. 

It is spectacular to see little eateries with good music and an even amazing array of food. The Tibetan influence is very much there, but the culture fuses so well that you don't really question what you are being served and the history of it. 

Shillong, I must say, had one of the best bakeries I have come across. Sweet people serving up some delish cookies and cakes. 

But, Gangtok requires a special mention. The cobbled streets and no pollution made me want to live there forever. The food was great! And the women dressed up traditionally in their Bakhus. What a delight!

If you are EVER in Darjeeling, visit this place. It is a must.

She made my trip worth it with just a smile.

We could walk on and on..

Kachenjunga as seen from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling.

This last image of the Great Himalayan Trail, Kanchenjunga has made me bow my head and praise the Lord. Nothing is more awe inspiring and beautiful than the Himalayan Range. 

These were just a few of the many hundred photographs I took while out in the East. But trust me when I say this, no camera can capture the feeling of being there. No instrument, no gadget, nothing. 

It is you and the nature. And most importantly, the people. Sweetest lot I have EVER seen and boy, what a fashion sense! I loved it ALL. 

I fell in love with my far East and I have just seen three states of the Seven Sisters! The cynic in me is no more. Yay!

All I can say is that there are two heavens in India not just one. 

This country is no less than Europe or America or Australia, all you need to do is step out and just keep on going. 

Next holiday destination, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

That's it folks.

Peace Out.

xoxo

The vastness envelopes your worries and petty problems only to make you shed a few tears and smile like a goof. All at the same time. 

Sniff Sniff..

I am not a wonder dog writing a blog. Or a dog owner who has a blog for his dog. Ah, yeah so, okay. 

This blog post is about something very serious and I thought I should put it out there in the universe. 

I sniff my food before I eat it. 

There, I said it. Everybody thinks that I am a bit of a wonky doodle do but I just can not eat my meals until I have sniffed it. And its not even the, "Oh, let me take in the aroma." Nooooo.. Its more like "Sniff sniff..Sniff some more". 

I believe, I was a dog in my past life. Or that I am a dog trapped in a human body. 

No, I am not crazy. I really think that way. 

Now, the biggest bane for someone like me is having a sore throat and a cold. I can NOT sniff anymore! You know how brutal that is? *hangs head*

Being sick then brings out the whole antibiotic guns. Blazing! So, today, I am sending out a little hate to all these drug companies who could not come up with medicines tasting like gummy bears. 

What is technology if you can't achieve that?!

Grumpy little sniffing girl signing off on that note. Here's hoping that the medicines do there work for all the sick people out there as grumpy as me. And that all you fellow food sniffers feel liberated! 

Peace out. 

xoxo