The Start
Day 1
March 15 2008
Apoorv called me at 6.00 AM from Bangalore airport to let me know that he has started!
As usual, Prem came early to my place... and finished my biscuit packet!
First time in the history of Gokul, he too was on time!
Prem at my place.
We three started to the IGI airport by 7:15 AM and Rahul joined us after half an hr. After our luggage had been checked in, we waited for the announcement of our flight, which came on time! We took off at 10:15 am and so we too have officially started the North East trip!
Till then, we all had a small fear about what lies ahead! The previous day, one of our "well wishers" had forwarded news about kidnappings in Assam. Luckily, none of us talked anything about it! Even though there was tension, none of us showed it. For this, I am thankful to my friends. After all the efforts in obtaining the ILP, booking the tickets, numerous calls to various hotels and travel agents in north east, if someone had backed off in the last moment…
Anyways, by God's grace, everything went smooth we are actually flying to Guwahati! I said a silent prayer and thanked him for everything.
The Take Off and some sky shots
Green Guwahati from air
We landed in Guwahati Airport on time and waited for Apoorv. The Airport was almost empty that day. I went to the Tourist information counter for Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh and collected some brochures. There I came to know that it was a BANDH in Assam that day and we will not be able to travel till 6.00 PM!!!
Ohhhh God! Not today!!! Of all the days... Why today? Why us?
Rahul, myself and Gokul
As soon as Apoorv came, we went to the prepaid taxi counter and asked about our options.
From what he said, we could either go to the main city (Paltan Bazzar, 18 km, 300/-) and take a bus or we can hire a taxi to Tezpur directly which will make us Rs 2500/- poorer!
We did a mental calculation and decided we'll go for the cheaper option, even though it was risky. We got into the cab and started towards the Paltan bazar.
Every 100 m, Army men with fully loaded riffles were standing on either side of the road. We came to know from our driver brother, that they have bandh in Assam for each every thing. Today’s bandh was called for the death of some MP/MLA’s son. We could do nothing else other than agreeing with him on the effects on the Bandh on common people.
He dropped us in Paltan Bazaar and luckily there was a bus departing to Tezpur (181 km, Rs 90/seat). The driver and conductor of the bus convinced us that there wont be any problem on the way since they are taking a different route. Since we wanted to go away from Guwahati as soon as possible, we boarded the bus. Soon more and more passengers started coming and we started on 3:30 PM.
After 1 hr it started getting dark and by 4:45 it looked as if its 8 PM. We had heard that the day starts early and ends early in the North East. But this was the first time we are seeing it
ourselves!
Apoorv enjoying the sights
We reached Tezpur around 8:30 PM and the place was almost deserted. It was just 8:30 but it looked as if it was 12:00 / 1:00 AM. Other than a bunch of cycle rickshaw-waalas and buses, there was no one to be seen. Soon the rickshaw-waalas surrounded us.
"Sir, come with me, hotel rooms available.. Room with TV available.. Rooms available.. Sir come here..."
But first we wanted to decide about our journey to Tawang and back. We wanted to leave this land of ‘sudden bandhs’ as soon as possible + we wanted to find a suitable travel agent. Only if we find one tonight, we will be able to start our journey to Tawang early next morning.
So we took 3 rickshaws and told them to take us to the Sumo stand. They took us to a sumo counter in the Tezpur bus stand. The guy in the counter said sumos are available and the rate would be 1500 per day (including the driver daily allowance of 200/day) + fuel.
We knew that the normal rate would be 1100-1200 per day + fuel. (Thanks to the numerous STD calls I made from Delhi!) So we bargained with the manager and fixed the price on 1350 (i.e., 1150 + 200 per day + fuel)
We could have brought down the price even lower, since there is no shortage of Sumo counters in Tezpur. However, we were OK with the 1350 + fuel. So we agreed with him.
Note: Don’t hesitate to bargain until you feel the price is ok with you.
The manager's name was Mr. Meeraj and he promised us that the trip to Tawang would be a great experience. He went on to describe the beauty of Arunachal Pradesh and the various tourist spots on the way. He also promised that we will have no issues with the vehicle and the driver and we will be one of his happiest customers ever!
We told him our schedule and after hearing the whole plan, he said..
“I think doing the Tezpur to Tawang in one single day will be too hectic for you. Also you will not be able to see the places on the way leisurely. So my advice is to
1. Halt in Bomdila on the first day, Do a bit of sightseeing in Bomdila
2. Early next morning, start to Tawang, reach Tawang in late afternoon, do a bit of sightseeing and take rest.
3. Third day also do sightseeing in Tawang
4. Early on the 4th morning start from Tawang and reach Tezpur in the evening.”
Again he started describing the beauty of Bomdila and the various tourist spots around Bomdila. We were happy that we got someone who knows the place and is willing to show the beauty of his state to any one who comes to him! We believed him and gave him the whole amount without any thought!
God.. if only you had given us a signal!
Meeraj told us to take a room in Hotel Amber and he said the Sumo would be there at 8 AM. Since the first halt was in Bomdila, there is no need to start early. We all could get ready on time. Thinking that we went to Hotel Amber and got a triple bed waala room for
Rs 650/-
All of us were very tired after the bus journey and we ate our dinner in the hotel’s restaurant and soon fell asleep!
Room no 602 in Amber Hotel
March 15 2008
Apoorv called me at 6.00 AM from Bangalore airport to let me know that he has started!
As usual, Prem came early to my place... and finished my biscuit packet!
First time in the history of Gokul, he too was on time!
Prem at my place.
We three started to the IGI airport by 7:15 AM and Rahul joined us after half an hr. After our luggage had been checked in, we waited for the announcement of our flight, which came on time! We took off at 10:15 am and so we too have officially started the North East trip!
Till then, we all had a small fear about what lies ahead! The previous day, one of our "well wishers" had forwarded news about kidnappings in Assam. Luckily, none of us talked anything about it! Even though there was tension, none of us showed it. For this, I am thankful to my friends. After all the efforts in obtaining the ILP, booking the tickets, numerous calls to various hotels and travel agents in north east, if someone had backed off in the last moment…
Anyways, by God's grace, everything went smooth we are actually flying to Guwahati! I said a silent prayer and thanked him for everything.
The Take Off and some sky shots
Green Guwahati from air
We landed in Guwahati Airport on time and waited for Apoorv. The Airport was almost empty that day. I went to the Tourist information counter for Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh and collected some brochures. There I came to know that it was a BANDH in Assam that day and we will not be able to travel till 6.00 PM!!!
Ohhhh God! Not today!!! Of all the days... Why today? Why us?
Rahul, myself and Gokul
As soon as Apoorv came, we went to the prepaid taxi counter and asked about our options.
From what he said, we could either go to the main city (Paltan Bazzar, 18 km, 300/-) and take a bus or we can hire a taxi to Tezpur directly which will make us Rs 2500/- poorer!
We did a mental calculation and decided we'll go for the cheaper option, even though it was risky. We got into the cab and started towards the Paltan bazar.
Every 100 m, Army men with fully loaded riffles were standing on either side of the road. We came to know from our driver brother, that they have bandh in Assam for each every thing. Today’s bandh was called for the death of some MP/MLA’s son. We could do nothing else other than agreeing with him on the effects on the Bandh on common people.
He dropped us in Paltan Bazaar and luckily there was a bus departing to Tezpur (181 km, Rs 90/seat). The driver and conductor of the bus convinced us that there wont be any problem on the way since they are taking a different route. Since we wanted to go away from Guwahati as soon as possible, we boarded the bus. Soon more and more passengers started coming and we started on 3:30 PM.
After 1 hr it started getting dark and by 4:45 it looked as if its 8 PM. We had heard that the day starts early and ends early in the North East. But this was the first time we are seeing it
ourselves!
Apoorv enjoying the sights
We reached Tezpur around 8:30 PM and the place was almost deserted. It was just 8:30 but it looked as if it was 12:00 / 1:00 AM. Other than a bunch of cycle rickshaw-waalas and buses, there was no one to be seen. Soon the rickshaw-waalas surrounded us.
"Sir, come with me, hotel rooms available.. Room with TV available.. Rooms available.. Sir come here..."
But first we wanted to decide about our journey to Tawang and back. We wanted to leave this land of ‘sudden bandhs’ as soon as possible + we wanted to find a suitable travel agent. Only if we find one tonight, we will be able to start our journey to Tawang early next morning.
So we took 3 rickshaws and told them to take us to the Sumo stand. They took us to a sumo counter in the Tezpur bus stand. The guy in the counter said sumos are available and the rate would be 1500 per day (including the driver daily allowance of 200/day) + fuel.
We knew that the normal rate would be 1100-1200 per day + fuel. (Thanks to the numerous STD calls I made from Delhi!) So we bargained with the manager and fixed the price on 1350 (i.e., 1150 + 200 per day + fuel)
We could have brought down the price even lower, since there is no shortage of Sumo counters in Tezpur. However, we were OK with the 1350 + fuel. So we agreed with him.
Note: Don’t hesitate to bargain until you feel the price is ok with you.
The manager's name was Mr. Meeraj and he promised us that the trip to Tawang would be a great experience. He went on to describe the beauty of Arunachal Pradesh and the various tourist spots on the way. He also promised that we will have no issues with the vehicle and the driver and we will be one of his happiest customers ever!
We told him our schedule and after hearing the whole plan, he said..
“I think doing the Tezpur to Tawang in one single day will be too hectic for you. Also you will not be able to see the places on the way leisurely. So my advice is to
1. Halt in Bomdila on the first day, Do a bit of sightseeing in Bomdila
2. Early next morning, start to Tawang, reach Tawang in late afternoon, do a bit of sightseeing and take rest.
3. Third day also do sightseeing in Tawang
4. Early on the 4th morning start from Tawang and reach Tezpur in the evening.”
Again he started describing the beauty of Bomdila and the various tourist spots around Bomdila. We were happy that we got someone who knows the place and is willing to show the beauty of his state to any one who comes to him! We believed him and gave him the whole amount without any thought!
God.. if only you had given us a signal!
Meeraj told us to take a room in Hotel Amber and he said the Sumo would be there at 8 AM. Since the first halt was in Bomdila, there is no need to start early. We all could get ready on time. Thinking that we went to Hotel Amber and got a triple bed waala room for
Rs 650/-
All of us were very tired after the bus journey and we ate our dinner in the hotel’s restaurant and soon fell asleep!
Room no 602 in Amber Hotel
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