The Wettest Place on Earth

How do YOU spell relief?  We spell it M-E-G-A-L-A-Y-A, the northeastern state of India, where we’re currently visiting. We arrived Wednesday in Shillong, the capital city, where I’ll be doing another workshop next week. As we walked around the market place and strolled through the park on the lake, we noticed the faces of the 3 ethnic groups that dominate the area, neither heard nor saw any Hindi, and smelled the street food like momos (from Nepal), grilled corn. and stir fry noodles.  Sometimes we didn’t feel like we were in India at all, but we knew we were in a border area. We also knew it by the fact that we have very infrequent or no Internet connection, but the unscheduled break is fine.... until it isn't.

Seven Sisters Falls, Cherrapunji, Megalaya

Mouth of Waterfall, Bangladesh flood plains in distance

We’re now in the area of Cherripunji, which has the distinction of being the wettest place on Earth. The weather is such a relief from the relentless heat of Jaipur, we don’t even mind the wetness.  The lushness is reminiscent of Olympia National Park in Washington with its verdant, tall forests, but also reminiscent of the Queen Mother’s Home, Doi Tung, in Northern Thailand, where you could stand and let the clouds move over you. The views are gorgeous.  Directly behind our hotel you can see the Seven Sisters Water Falls emptying into a large gorge, and if you look to the right you can see the flat floodplains of Bangladesh, the recipient of all that moisture. It’s very striking to see the division between India and Bangladesh, with green hills abruptly giving way to flat, brown flooded plains. There are stunning butterflies of all colors of the rainbow, but none would slow down for a pic, and wildflowers that we call annuals in Iowa and pay a premium for.  See photos @... I'll have to upload when I get back to reliable internet.  For now, enjoy the 2 it took me a few minutes to upload!

Tomorrow we’re going on a jungle trek with a guide over a gorge on a bridge made of tree roots, and it sounds intense but should be incredible scenery.  We took a walk at dusk and were treated to a chorus of frogs or insects clicking loudly like they were in a castanet choir. Finally, we both enjoyed the sound of rain falling, which we’ve not really heard since we left the Midwest.  We’re not in the desert anymore! 

Postscript:  Trek cancelled because of heavy

 rain:  it figures!