Day 11

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 Day 11: The adventure-meter hit its peak today! Morning began with refreshing tea and K’s amazing Maggie noodle creation , plus a veggie-stuffed sandwich featuring the undisputed king  - potatoes (an inside joke we’ll leave to the legends). Cathy popped by to say hello, and we handed over some dry fruit ladoos crafted by our resident super chef (you know who).


By 9 am, we set off for Sohra, aka Cherapunji, the land of rain and wonders. Our first stop featured fresh pineapple juice served by an adorable local kid’s mother



- a sweet start to a day filled with mesmerizing views that words (and camera) can hardly capture. We ventured into the Garden of Caves, snapping loads of photos and enjoying the mystery of multiple beautiful caves.










Sandwiches were devoured en route to Arwah Caves, a dark, long cavern where S  took the first "head bump" of the day (rookie moves indeed !).









The real thrill began on the rugged route back, as S , knowing K  and V’s fondness for trekking, agreed to the challenge despite obvious risks. Having missed K’s warning note while busy tying shoelaces, S managed a dramatic fall ("Bang!") but was heroically aided by V and K through the challenging path full of ups, downs, and uneven patches. Teamwork and patience prevailed as we pushed through to the end.

Post-trek, we indulged in fabulous coffee  - four cups shared between three people, thanks largely to a couple of coffee spills -  tribute to ‘Bhai lagta hain’ traditions ( if one spills the other does too) . S enjoyed nibbling a second sandwich while shopping at Nohkalikai Sohra viewpoint (maybe to recover from the few knocks ) , picking up some local lakadom haldi. We then visited Seven Sister Falls (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nohsngithiang_Falls) , which was totally dry with just the marks of the waterfalls visible , but the highlight !! Catching a glimpse of Bangladesh from the border - made up for it. 








We wrapped the day at Betzer Homestay, where a basic kitchen led us to skip cooking and settle for theplas, tomatoes, and ginger tea. The day ended with the familiar ritual of scrolling through mobile phones  - proving that some habits travel as well as we do. A perfect close to one of the most epic days of the Meghalaya leg!

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