Day 10

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Day 10: We kicked off our day with another shot at K's legendary poha and a refreshing cup of adrak tea brewed by V  - the perfect fuel for what lay ahead. Our gracious host Cathy guided us on the day’s itinerary. First stop was the peaceful and breathtaking Laitlum canyon in Smit, just a short drive from Shillong. The serenity was profound and while S  and Vaidy  were made the most of it , K was multi-tasking with his office calls. Vaidy managed his mandatory tea ritual here too, this time opting for lemon tea.





Next up was Shillong Peak, but as fate would have it, the peak was closed on this Wednesday, despite Rajesh’s insider tip. No worries  - Rajesh improvised by taking us to the Airforce Museum, an unexpected detour that filled us with pride as we learned about the valiant efforts of India’s defense forces. Chance to get selfies with the fabulous models and of course Rafale Frig magnets. In a funny turn of events we also managed some very City style shopping at very reasonable rates at the specially erected stall for  Defense personnel. Special mention of the absolutely 'knock your shoes off' tea at the canteen which was a Superr bonus. 





Then we ventured into the mystical Mawphlang sacred forest, where our guide "Yo" wowed us not only with his photography skills but with fascinating insights into Meghalaya’s culture and forest ecology  - like the significance of Rudraksha trees and the quirky fact that the youngest daughter inherits family property. He also enlightened us with insights about the matriarchal Society prevalent among the tribes at Meghalaya . When he also regaled us with facts of how the 'chosen' boy is invited to the girl's house and offered so many drinks that he eventually confesses his assent to the wedding with her, we were not sure what to make of it . . .humour or reality or humorous reality ? ?  After the forest tour, K bought a Rudraksha bead for a friend  - a souvenir with meaning. And of course S had loads of fun trying out all the photography tricks learnt from Yo.





Our next stop, Elephant Falls, was a scenic spot where Vaidy took charge as the official photo coach, encouraging all sorts of creative poses. We nearly succumbed to the lure of a pure vegetarian pani puri but standing loyal to K’s cooking, we skipped it, albeit with a wee bit of remorse .





















Finally, we roamed Wards Lake and took a shopping stroll through Police Bazaar. K ended the day with some orchids as a keepsake and covering some shopping for folks back home . We skipped coffee at CCD (too late) and escaped the notorious Shillong traffic maze to get home. Dinner was a sumptuous affair of theplas and pav bhaji bhaji, followed by sandwiches generously sprinkled with chaat masala  - because . . . .  spice is life. And so closed yet another day packed with culture, nature, and fun.




Click here to continue to Day 11

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