The Circuit house at Jenging, Upper Siang is no less than a 'Holiday Inn'. More than once I have reached this place late in the night in freezing cold. Another time I reached the place after riding for 70 km on a bike which gave me not too much trouble; just that the back tyre got punctured, the kicker broke, petrol got over and the engine wouldn't just start a couple times. Every time I reach the Circuit house in Jenging, a hot water bath, a superb meal with rotis and often pork, a warm bed, electricity to charge batteries and network to make phone calls await me. The person in-charge is a sweet Nepali person, who seems to know each time I overeat that I haven't eaten too well in the last week.
So, this time too when I reached the place after riding in rain for 140 km over six hours, I was in heaven, with a few pegs of whiskey to go with of course! High on good spirits, I wrote an ode...after many years...served with few photographs for flavour...
'Sweet memories of Jenging
Early morning, sunlight lazily pierces through the valley to cause a delayed dawn
and birds eagerly pick up their early worms and ripe fruits
The streams tirelessly produce their perennial soothing sound
I meet an occasional villager collecting interesting shoots and certain roots
In the night, the giant mountains morph into silent silhouetted ghosts
and the night sky ushers in a gazillion stars
A distant frog is muttering sweet little turrings to his potential mate
and the night as usual in my memory leaves permanent pleasant scars
Three hills away I see a bike spiralling down a winding road
An occasional owl calls a high-pitched teewoo
As I get back to my warm bed, content after a sumptous meal
Here is another place in the north-east Indian mountains I won't forget soon too'
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