As we inch in the direction of Intercontinental Women’s Day, there couldn’t have been a more fortuitous time for me to pen my the latest working experience of keeping at Bella Tikhak Namshum’s homestay in Arunachal’s Miao. It’s heading to be one particular of my most cherished travel recollections for a extensive time. Becoming Bella’s guest was a single of people encounters that solace trying to get and bash-loving travellers like me yearn for.
There have been the hills, there had been those people chilly winds and, most importantly, there were some genuinely amazing individuals.
The initial a person to greet us as we arrived was the youthful and vivacious Shareen Tikhak, Bella’s daughter. She led us inside her palatial home wherever Bella was waiting around to welcome us with some delicious apple pie that her son Sinnong experienced designed. That was all we required soon after a very long generate from Namsai. For a twelve year old, Sinnong’s culinary expertise could give primary bakers a operate for their funds.
We loved the pie and I didn’t hesitate to ask for them for a different serving. Immediately after demolishing my next pie and some hot masala tea, we went off to our place. Bella was variety ample to accompany us to the area and make absolutely sure we felt at household. Staying from Rajasthan, I selected the bed which had a Rajasthani mirror work bedspread. This was also the suitable time for our official introduction. The room was a gorgeous mix of modern and traditional and there was more than enough house for me and Sandipan. In fact, we could have conveniently accommodated a person additional individual in there.
By the time we experienced freshened up, dusk experienced currently set in and there was a unexpected nip in the air. I was essentially delighted about it as the chilly temperature termed for a bonfire. Bella’s homestay has a properly-manicured lawn surrounded by large trees. We sat there with our guide and companion Sukiyo to chalk out our program for the journey ahead.
Miao serves as a gateway to the popular Namdapha Nationwide Park and also houses the Namdapha Zoo and Wildlife Museum. Shareen joined us with her household help, who established up a bonfire for us. Interestingly, she is executing her masters in entomology given that bugs have constantly fascinated her. She has even found some unusual kinds all around her home.
Soon Bella arrived with wine and home made rice beer. An array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian treats was served. The evening was only likely to get superior from below on. We ended up joined by Shareen’s close friends Chocha, Ronong and Ongche, who live following door. A masters in agriculture, Chocha uncovered her genuine calling in baking and operates a preferred bakery startup in Miao. Ronong, on the other hand, is studying animation from Bengaluru. I have stayed in the backyard city for some time and I understood I’d have a large amount to speak with him as the evening progressed. Then there was Ongche, who according to Sukiyo, is an incredibly social dude, and possibly a future leader of Miao. We all shared a chuckle and the celebration was on.
Chocha included zing to the social gathering, participating in some neat and hip Arunachali hits on Shareen’s massive speakers. We appreciated Chorum Mugli’s kala kala music and experienced some amazing cross cultural conversations in in between bites of roasted hen and fried fish. Mugli is a massive trend in Arunachal and I’d say just about every music lover who feels that tunes is aware of no language, need to check out out his operate on YouTube. Upcoming up in the playlist ended up a handful of music by Tan Mansai and Taba Chake’s Shayad, which I certainly beloved. Shareen even showed me its video, which gave me key videography targets.
Their housecat also came and couldn’t stop meowing. Sandipan joked that she was welcoming us to Miao. Sinnong informed us that her identify was “small p”, which led me to asking him the this means of his title. Sinnong, in the area language, stands for the next son. Bella’s initial son is a specific kid and we wished we could have achieved him. But then, there’s usually a up coming time, ideal?
Sinnong excitedly confirmed me his Instagram take care of that Shareen had designed for him to showcase his baking prowess. I was legit jaw-dropped following viewing the minimal one’s unbelievable talent.
Just when Shareen was telling me that they experienced not long ago hosted actress Radhika Madan, Phupla Singpho, who runs the Namdapha Jungle Camp, joined the party. As I chatted with him, I realised that I had study about him in Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent’s Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains. He confirmed it and I was so thrilled that I promised him that we’ll be paying our future night in Miao at his jungle camp.
And then, there was time for meal. I was a tad much too sloshed to remember the names of all the dishes, but enjoyed every single chunk of that meal. I remember there was fish, there was rooster, there was rice, there was bamboo shoots curry, and there were being some crispy chapatis way too just for my north Indian desi palate. (I couldn’t have asked for extra Bella!)
We woke up to the loud audio of swaying trees and a gorgeously clear blue sky the up coming early morning. At the dining desk, Bella’s sister-in-legislation Pinna Kitnal joined us for breakfast. We had omelette, sausages, and new fruits. And as if, this was not enough, Bella also served piping very hot puris with the evergreen alu-tamatar ki sabzi. I could have simply shed a tear or two out of sheer joy at that instant. I asked for her to get it packed for our journey forward, and Bella fortunately obliged. In truth, she packed a bunch of fresh bananas from her farm and property-made chilly pickle and garlic chutney much too.
Apart from operating a successful travel firm and homestay, Bella also manufactures pickles, jams and a whole lot far more. She is as entrepreneurial as they occur. Even soon after getting rid of her spouse 8 several years ago, Bella has been a legitimate fighter and a tigress of a mom to her young ones. She has built guaranteed that they get the ideal of anything in this globe. She sent Shareen to Dehradun for school and Sinnong reports at a boarding faculty in Darjeeling.
Getting the son of a productive businesswoman myself and obtaining missing my father at a pretty young age, I could easily relate to Bella’s incredible tale. This is what I certainly adore about females. They are the nicest and also the strongest species on the face of this earth. Bella has impressed a lot of women of all ages in not only Miao but across Arunachal to get started their possess little businesses and homestays. Even Pinna has registered for a homestay.
Travel is not only about ticking off touristy places from your long checklist of points to do and sharing an troublesome selection of Insta tales. It’s also about meeting excellent men and women like Bella and her little ones. It is folks like them that make our journeys so specific. I could go on and on about my working experience at Bella’s homestay but I would conclude by expressing that this was not the final time that I will be being at Bella’s. I am guaranteed there will be lots of much more great visits to Miao in my life and I hope Bella and her amazing family is a part of each individual of them.
Thanks for the heat and extraordinary hospitality, Bella. Here’s wishing you a pretty happy Women’s Working day!
The Details
Exactly where: Tikhak Homestay, Miao
Tariff: Rs 5,000 for every home for two persons (Supper: Rs 1,000 for each individual)
Facilities: Excellent web (even though, you will not really feel like using your cellular phone listed here substantially), perfectly-sanitised air conditioned rooms, incredibly hot running h2o, great meals and substantially far more
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: +91-9862988007