Hello! From Scotland of the East!

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Actually hello from the balcony of my hotel in one of the coldest places in the country today. Right in front of me is the small simple but beautiful town of Shillong spread across a couple of small hills. Yes, focus on the simple part. Even during their biggest festival,  the town is decked up beautifully but the decorations are very simple and jolly. Each house has a star in their balcony or on the Pine tree in their courtyard. All those lights make a delightfully warm view in chilly nights like this. Shillong is a rising star in the tourism front but the people here are so simple, happy and helpful.  Every time they will have a smile on their face. 

As I was climbing up the last slope to my hotel while returning from a solo walk around the town, I could not help but feel the simplicity of the town catching up to me. Here I am roaming around the dark and lonely streets of Shiyap,  Shillong, feeling absolutely amazing, freaking cold and completely safe. I don’t remember the last time I ever saw so many stars and such a clear sky. And to make it even more beautiful, its dark and the road is guarded by tall pine trees and a widely stretched out golf course. Yes pitch black evening at around 8pm with no street lights and hardly people or vehicles on the road.  This is how nights should be,  but it felt strange in the beginning given that I stay in the city which never sleeps and is never dark .. Ever… it felt so refreshing!

Its Christmas eve today and this town is celebrating their biggest festival with such  grace. I had been to a nearby church while I was out, they were all preparing and decorating for the mass of Christmas eve, the choir was rehearsing and nuns were giving finishing touches to the decorations.  The decorations were all but grand but I was in awe of it all.  Like the town,  the church was decorated very simply nothing grand,  but the mass, the choir and the whole ambience was so peaceful,  it filled me with the Christmas spirit and joy! Loved it.  This was my first mass and I loved it. I will cherish this moment always. I was cold to the bone yet I felt warm and touched.

To all the folks partying and to all my friends, wish you all a very Happy Christmas! This one is turning out really beautiful for me,  hope you guys also enjoy it your own way!! 

Cheers!! :) :)

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