Nongjrong Village: Where Clouds romance with the Hills

The Midnight journey to the village:

Being a late night owl, I was excited for the trip and did not sleep. We moved out at 2 am in the pre morning dark hour from Shillong to Nongjrong Village. It was the end of December a day before Christmas eve, the hour was dark and the weather cold. We started off from our meeting point and off we went through dark silent roads. The journey was full of excitement and a little bit bumpy as some portion of the road enroute to our destination was being constructed and still shabby. Talks and laughter on the way and two hours later we are at our destination. The village was still asleep and we were the first one there. It was as quite as a mouse and as we moved out of the vehicle, the cold wind struck our faces. In order to warm us up we brought tea in thermos flask and some biscuits. The villagers started waking up as we can see some of them with torches in their hand and basket on their back going down the hillock to the valley to fetch the day drinking water. We followed them and reach the view point. The view was mesmerizing as we can see the vast sea of clouds under the starry sky.

The predawn period:

As we waited for the sun to rise at the view point the place became more and more lively. More vehicles started arriving and a wave of morning early riser or midnight owls started flocking at the view point as some head down to one of the hillocks for a proper view. The wind smell of fresh air and the horizon starts breaking towards dawn.

The Sunrise:

The horizon started changing colors and the streak of light could be seen peeking out of the hills. The sun has risen and it starts to feel warm again. It was a little bit crowded at the top so I decided to trek down to the other hillock at the base.

The sea of Clouds:

Reaching the base hillock I could see the clouds could be seen as a vast stretch of white sea flowing endlessly among the green hills and valley. At the horizon I could see a group of young men having a cup of tea and basking in the warm risen sun with the sea of clouds at the backdrop. A view worth capturing. I venture into the corner of the hillock to get a closer view of the clouds and I wasn't disappointed. The view was awe inspiring and being alone with no one on sight I just sat down, took a deep breath and lavish my eyes on the true beauty of nature.

Life is hard in the village but they're happy:

The women folks of Nongjrong village are hardy, strong and athletic lots. They would walk down the path with a bamboo woven basket tucked behind them with a load of dirty laundry inside it. They would hurriedly trod down the stone paved path towards the vast valley going beneath the sea of clouds to reach the ever flowing umngot river where they would wash their clothes and dry it in the afternoon sun before coming back to the village with clean laundry...Mind it...it's a long way down and they never complain...

The Men folks of Nongjrong Village also have their own responsibilities especially towards their families. They would wake up before the break of dawn with a torch in their hand and head down the valley either with a bamboo basket with empty jugs inside of them or wooden carrier with empty tin containers on either side. They would march down the hillock through stone paved path to collect drinking water from natural spring at the foothill. They would come back to the village with heavy loads of fresh drinking water on their back making it on time for morning tea. Life is tough and hard but they happily greet us on their way home...

Until next time:

The visit to the village was a great experience and I also shared some of my concerned with the village people especially Mr. Misonwell Rangtong and some elders regarding taking some precautions with respect to the inflow of tourists and maintenance requirement thereof. I was happy to know that they have initiated some activities and I hope that the village will benefit in the long run.

Wishing To go back again..."Until Next Time"