Visit to home was great. Well it was cold though. Most of the time was spent at home, chilling out with good home made food. New year was spend in my Uncles house in Sibsagar. On the New year day went to "DisangMuch", that's the river bed of Disang. It was time when all of Mom's flowers were blooming. So clicked some good pictures.. Click on the link below to see it.

My friends in GM were planning for a trekking trip to Charmadi ghat area. I have been quite regular with them for the previous trekking expeditions, and thus I was called up too. Reached majestic railway station at 10 pm on fri night where the bus came to pick us up. We were 12 of them, 2 being of the fairer sex. It was a organized trek, so we had our guides with us, and all the food has been arranged. Reached our trekking destination the next morning. Had our b.fast in the temple priests house, and packed our lunch. The trek started off a bit late. It was then all walk through the lush green hills. It was not very strenuous, the ups not steep enough and lot of walk through the valley. Stopped over for lunch near a stream. About 7 hours after starting the trek, we reached our first camping destination (~20 kms walk). It was sunset time. The night was cold and we decided not to camp outside, so went to the village school after dinner and slept there at night. The next days plan was for another 20 kms trek, but team wasn't ready for another grueling walk. So we decided to just climb a nearby peak and return back to Bangalore, the same day. So went to the peak (we named it thumbs-up peak, pictures will tell why). It was just an hour of trek. The peak was steep, and looked risky. But all were able to climb up. Spent some time there. Was soon back down for lunch. Post lunch, took the return journey to Bangalore. It was a comfortable trekking, but got completely sun burnt..

Planned for this trekking on Friday. It was a plan long due with Pats, my rommie. This is a hill ~ 70 kms from Bangalore (close to Nandi hills). We planned to see the sunrise from the peak. Sunrise happens at ~6:30 in Bangalore at this month of the year. Considering travel time until the base as well as climbing time until the peak, it turned out that we have to leave Bangalore by ~ 3:30 am. So woke up at 3:00 am in the morning. By the time we got freshened up and took b.fast, it was already 4. By the time we reached the base it was 5:30 am. We quickly registered (its paying an entry fee and parking fee for our bike) and started to climb. It was really tiring and reached the peak at 6:45 am. I was really surprised to see more then 100 peoples already on the peak, most of them from the fairer sex. The peak was completely covered with fog, and there was real less probability of seeing the sunrise. We sat there disappointed, like many others. Decided to come down after some quick snaps. On way back also went to Nandi hills. It was a unique experience waking up so early in the morning and going for this trek. By the time we were home, I was dead tired.

Well its going to be a quick trip again to Assam. It was to attend the marriage of Hunmoni, my cousin at Sibsagar. Left Bangalore at 14th night and reached home on 15th morning. Brother came to receive me. Went to SIbsagar in the evening. There was already a gathering from peoples throughout the family, most of who I saw after almost 3 years. In the evening it was "murot tel diya" for the groom. The ladies gathered together around the groom and started pinning on the relatives for money with their songs. The next day was the actual marriage. We left for the brides house at 10 pm. The marriage happened in "Choklong" style, the traditional way for Ahoms. Finally everything was over at 3 pm. I had to catch the morning flight for my return journey, so said good bye to the bride and groom. It was a good get-together for the whole family.