Shillong in 2001

It was my first trip to the North-East section of India. And frankly, I didnt know what to expect..Though I have been allover India, courtsey my dad, it was a part of India i had never been to.
I know it might sound very unfair, but whenever anyone who has grown up in Western parts thinks of India, somehow these north-eastern states never come to mind. And the funny thing is that these have some of the most stunning views you'll see anywhere in the world..
Situated in the Himalayas, I always wanted to visit the north-east. I used to hear stories from my dad, of his visit to Assam in the 70s'.
I finally got the opportunity in 2001. I had to travel from Mumbai to Shillong. I could have taken a train till Guwahati, but that would take 4 days!!..Flying out was a necessity rather than an option :-)..So spending an entire months salary, I flew out to Calcutta and then onwards to Guwahati...My first reaction was that I had landed at a bus stop in a village.!!!
The airport is really small and situated amongst fields [I think rice...I'm not sure..]..It was really humid, even compare to Mumbai..but WOW...amazingly beautiful...I visited the Kamakhya temple...Then took a helicopter to Shillong !!! [Its cheaper than taking a taxi..]
The helipad in shillong happened to be near our house in Upper Shillong [Long Nyer..]..
I was thrilled to be there..The house [a bungalow] was at the top of a hill...and a really beautiful campus to boot.
Everymorning, my mom used to wake me up to see the clouds rolling through the house!!
We went to visit Gangtok and Darjeeling..[but thats for another day..right!!]

It was the best 2 weeks I have spent on vacation anywhere...I will definitely pack in another visit...

The return to Mumbai was a an rude awakening...back to the concrete jungle ...