Day one- A few days ago, we arrived early for our 28 hour train, only to discover that it was delayed for 13 FREAKING HOURS!!!!! So we sat/(I slept on the stations floor like a hobo, because all the nearby hotels were booked out), at the railway for what felt like a lifetime, before taking off for Assam at 5a.m............. Upon arriving (TIRED, HUNGRY, READY TO BUST HEADS OPEN....p/s, if i had a penny for the number of times i've muttered, "idiot, primitive fool, and ignorant", I'DE BE RICH) in Guartee,Assam, we discover that all THE hostels in the nearby area are booked out,,,, so at 4a.m, we take another 5 hour bus to Shilong, Assam.....TOTALING 41 HOURS OF "TRAVEL TIME"....F-YOU INDIA! On the train, we splurged on 1rst class/ air conditioned tickets, which were expensive. The "4 person compartment", sounded like a lovely, spacious way to see the Eastern Himalayas, and we were pumped. "PUMPED", UNTIL WE REALIZED that all the "janky-ass locals do is either pay off the "janky- ass security" to upgrade their 3rd class tickets (hence you are suddenly sharing your once vacant bench with three other bobbling headed Indians, one who is breast feeding), OR, the "ballers" who splurged on "first class" , have invited their "lower class" friends to join them for the duration the ride (SO YOUR "SPACIOUS "4 SEATER, NOW HOLDS 9 PEOPLE", AND SECURITY WON;T DO DICK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PAID OFF) ...... I woke up to a toothless man dropping his entire paan (chewing tobacco) spit cup on our floor, near my backpack, and LOST MY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SEETHING, AND JOE AND I WENT OFF ON ABOUT TEN PEOPLE......INDIA IS TURNING ME INTO A MEAN INDIVIDUAL, I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD REaD BIBLE VERSES OR SOMETHING...... SIDE NOTE- the "street smarts" on some of the "borderline homeless/ probably raising themselves, but working their asses off to make a buck" children AMAZE ME, AND BREAK MY HEART!!!!! I met A little boy (maybe 9 years old), who each day drags his body across the FILTHY train floor, sweeping up with his hands for coins. He was barefoot, and when he came into our cabin, i noticed he kept looking at my "travel magazine". After i immediately handed the booklet over to him, he pointed at the (before mentioned) spittoon cup on the floor, looked up at me and sarcastically grinned in disgust at the , "rest of our party". Anyways, I loved his sense of humor, and Joe and I instantly emptied our pockets....(feeling blessed, and fortunate to not only have been born into our fateful circumstances in life, but also to have actually traveled to the places in the travel Magazine, which this little boy will only "look" at later.....its overwhelming, and i'm thankful)
Day two- Just cooked 2 boxes of Velvetta (thanks joes mom) on a gas stove, for a semi small village of "shells & cheese virgins". Our "dinner party" was initially meant for 4, (according to the boxes appropriate serving size) but i guess word got out, and at 7p.m., I found that I was cooking for 10 curious onlookers. Dishing out tiny spoonful servings, the experience felt like, "3rd world wine tasting". Lucia, is a 75 yr old woman who lent me her kitchen, exclaimed that she much preferred Velvetta cheese to her former convent's white cheese; which she grew accustomed to as an orphan growing up. Lucia's lovely mouth holds two bettle-nut stained teeth, which she bashfully tries to hide from Joe and I. MY FAVORITE memory OF THE NIGHT WAS WATCHING the moments when the unadulterated joy which was obviously drawn from Lucia's family, defeated this "useless shyness", and her genuine smile was briefly revealed. Her eldest daughter hung on Lucia's every word in a touching way that made me want to weep, as she discussed how kind the Canadian and Australian nuns treated her. Such a great night.....loving it .....(sorry for the cheeeeeeeeeeeeesy post).
day three- taught all day (for the last 3days) , soooo tired...... side note- the village i'm in is Matriarchal, and im adoring the sense of power all the women around town have....... they all own their own houses, the area has 100percent literacy rate, is christian,doesn't believe in a caste system/ or arranged marriages, (when the men are lucky enough to marry these ladies, they are required to move into these bitches houses), and if they cheat, or do anything unbecoming. THEY ARE OUT ON THEIR ASSES/ homeless!, i.e.: the men are not allowed to technically own ANY property in this area.... keep those dogs on a short leash!!!!!! I LOVE IT HERE!!!!!!!
day four- Nagriat is the only place in the world, which has built "living root bridges". In recent times, the village has gained popularity for its "double decker living root bridge"..... They take between 80--120 years to build, and the foundation is created from the roots of a single tree (seen on the right). By initially taking bamboo rods, locals intertwine the roots, only to later remove the bamboo (40 years later). The bridge is a functional necessity of village life, and was the most beautiful thing we have ever seen!
