In Pursuit Of Pure Oxygen

"What happens in a certain place can stain your feelings for that location, just as ink can stain a white sheet." ~ Lemony Snicket

June 2018 finally happened to be a family trip to Meghalaya for a week and trust me when I say this guys if you haven’t explored this beauty then you are definitely missing out so much in your life.

Meghalaya, one of the seven sisters of East India, is a place worth visiting and once you do, it's definitely worth revisiting. The depths of nature remind you that you're still an infant in the protective hands of nature. Indeed Meghalaya has stored some of nature's best gifts like Mawphlang Sacred Forest, Umiam lake, Seven Sister Falls, Nohkalikai falls and many more, countless on hand.In Sanskrit, Meghalaya translates into ‘abode of clouds’ and it is rightfully called so.The rich and thick vegetation makes you wonder how nature provides remedies to every problem we have in our life. Can’t get over by the beautifully structured houses in Shillong.

Unlike the urban city's slothful and busy people living a monotonous life and surviving somehow in pollution (‘cause they are used to living in conditions they created for themselves. It is us who polluted our city), people here are super cool and enjoy every breath of their life. As far as the sites are concerned, Mawphlang Sacred Forest is a treat to eyes which is guarded by one strict rule – ‘NOTHING is allowed to be taken out of this Sacred Grove. Not even a leaf, stone or a dead log’. Failing to comply may lead to death.There are some of these plants in the forest which possess medicinal properties, including the ability to cure TB and cancer. In addition, there are monoliths inside the forest that are considered to be the spot for sacrifices. The local tribal people sacrifice animals here to make their wishes come true.This forest comes alive, especially during the three-day monolith festival held here that showcases the tribal heritage and culture. The local tribal people are very protective about their culture and practices and thus never fail to protect their sacred forest and culture. They believe that it is the nature that provides a solution to every problem and thus should be protected and preserved as it our home and mother.

The bunch of people I met at Mawphlang Sacred Forest, who run a sustainable society for the forest's protection, made me realize how life is so short to worry about making mistakes. Watching them together, eating while singing melodiously in their small residence made me wonder how we, city people, lack behind in building bonds. Just a simple livelihood with no lines of tensions and worries on their forehead and simply enjoying their lives is what makes them live the most luxurious life.

Certain places do teach you certain lessons of life and give you endless memories of the places you visited and the people you met in that small beautiful journey.

Strangers with some beautiful memories