Tata- Bongaigaon, for NERM 2024 - part 1

3^rd Morning of Dec a week short since I broke my hand am back on my motorbike and headed out to Tura Meghalaya, map says will be 900+ km each way and I presume there will an additional 200- 300 km as we wander in Meghalaya so maybe 1200 km each way 

The event is NERM, the event of Bullet owners of the Seven sisters and 1 brothers + riders from Nepal, Bengal+Mumbai+Bihar+Gujrat +Madras, to name a few.

 

This would be my 4^th trip to Northeast for NERM, and boy were we excited felt good to be in the saddle again, This is a BYOT event aka Bring your own tent, and all other stuff one might need to sleep

 

 

The same bike I crashed with The Himalayan will be my steed on this trip.

 

We set off at 0600 hours on 3^rd Dec; we were set to traverse 600km approx. to Islampur, in West Bengal on the first leg of the journey.

 

 

We took out 1^st break after having crossed 250 km approx., where we met with another rider who was also headed to NERM

 

 

Living on coffee and ½ full tummy we were doing well, maintaining average of 80kmph, and well within the speed limit set, as we made our way.

 

 

We regrouped after 450 km; we were 150 km short of Islampur our night halt destination.  The roads were good expect 50 km after Dalkhola.

 

 

At ISlampur we met some friends who were also headed to NERM from Patna, now we 5 would be riding together the next day.

 

 

As we rode on, we stopped at a Tea estate to take in the sight and smell the fresh tea leaves, also to chew on some of the leaves before we were on our way again.

 

 

Today our destination was Bongaigaon in Assam; we chose to take a longer route and not the shortest as we rode, road conditions once again excellent for most part of the way 

 

 

We stopped for a late Brunch and whiled away almost 2 hrs chit chatting, we had crossed 3 states by now

 

 

 

We were at a Punjabi Dhaba and being winter we were happy to have bajra da roti and Sarson Da saag.

 

we were back on our bikes by 1300 hours and headed off towards Bongaingaon once again, 

 

Approx at 1740 hours darkness set in and we made friends with 3 lovely girls who are preparing for there 10th Standard exams.

 

 

WE decided to look u up Google and get our self a hotel nearby, with an enclosure for security of our bikes, and just so we did not have to unload our bags for the night , Hotel Lucky was what we went with near the station, very basic hotel at Rs 1000/ room.

 We called it a day here , having completed 1000km odd till now and we would be going another 150 km to the venue at Tura.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter and birds start to come over

 

Sykes warbler, is an old world warbler, found in  Arabia to Turkestan, China to Afghanistan,  in winter it migrates to India, Sri lanka

White wagtail, national bird of Latvia

 

One images a day series - Day 1712, since lockdown, Dec 1st    2024

Winter is creeping in, and here is a white wagtail hanging by my house.

In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies.

The white wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas, it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and human-made structures

It is the national bird of Latvia and has featured on the stamps of several countries

© Rajat Ghosh, stock footage / pictures available for licensing      

#Portrait#soft#motorbiketrip#backtonewnormalseries#editorialphotography#biketaleswithrajat#travelphotography#environmentalportraits#stockimage#canon#discovery#rajatghoshphotograph#storytellingimage#conceptualimage#Creative#instagood#roadtrip#wildlifephotographer#jharkhand#natgoe#discovery#amazingworld#whitewagtail

Shorts 2024

 

“ Shorts”  the film festival in Jamshedpur, where One of my film was screened, opportunity to meet other directors and friend.

 

Prof Dr Mala, of Graduate College, Jamshedpur who has influenced countless students and an avid NGO worker

A healthy turnout for the films makes one feel good

 

 

 

Images of a few more directors who also presented their films.

 

 

Splattering of organizers of the film fest and other early birds.

 

 

 Ballu  n Lakshmi and Me on 2^nd day of the film festival, enjoying work of other directors

 

 

 

 

Birds in Flight

  The Asian Green Bee eater  in flight is a mesmerizing sight as it darts through the air  

 

 

 

Coppersmith Barbet in flight along with Green Bee eater and Bulbul, all on a morning conference ,,,

Kali Puja 2024 at Aminpir, the village where my dad grew up.

 

Come Oct end we were off to visit Ma Matia kali, an form of Ma kali to be followed by deepawali, in the village of Aminpur where my dad was born, we celebrate Ma Matia kali, with an idol being made on the day of the puja, which is further decorated with real ornaments and then after the puja, is immersed in water.

 

 

 

On 31^st Morning we were on our way to the village house by local transport and kali Puja was to begin at night, time passes by fast in the village as we watch the transformation of MA kali from Idol to painted idol to be ready for the grand event.

 

 

As we wait some fill there time having multiple cups of tea, or making pictures of their partner. Or visiting the local market and strolling amongst fresh vegetables (things we do in a village) 

 

 

The Ma kali area is getting a festive look as preparations are on in full swing 

 

 

Animal sacrifice still happens here and people of the village and folks from near and far come to appease the goddess having attained what they desired. Such is faith,

there is a strong belief if one wishes here mother goddess helps one get there wish

 

 

Houses are decorated as the Puja time approaches.

 

 

Kali Puja is a whole night affair and quiet dramatic an affair once the lady is on her “bedi” for worship, one has to be there to witness the affair of Puja.

 

 

 

A film will follow shortly to see the whole Puja, do watch out this space

 

 

 

Stranded at 2000 feet, a small creature with bold spirit helps us

 

November was a good start with another small trip to Dalma range of mountains, and it called for a stay at the Makulakocha, we had a small room with NON attached bathroom, (essential luxury of life) but then when you are in the jungle you are in the jungle,

 

 

Early morning we went for a walk and was pleasantly surprised to see another acquaintance driving by, he is a bird watcher too, and well we piled into his car and off we went to look for birds, after all when watching birds it helps to have extra pair of eyes helps in better spotting ( as I have learned)

We drove up to approx. 2000 feet height; it was a good 6 – 7 km from Mackulokocha. In my friends fancy huge car.

 

  We were merrily birding away and trying to recognize calls of birds and try to photograph the tiny ones, before we realized it was 0900 hours and our ride had no intention to returning before 10- 1030, we had to check out by 1000 hours,

 

 

It was not likely we would reach back the 7 km on hills by 1000, but we had to try n

Then lady luck spotted us, there was a gentleman, Mr. Mahato who was headed to work on his bike, On requesting he was happy to give is both, yes there was two of us) a ride back to our place of stay, what a gem of a person, on a 125cc bike he agreed to give a ride to two strangers on a muddy, slip sliding road. THANK YOU Mr. Mahto for having such a big heart and being a good human, 

 

 

 

Along the road I saw this board, which so aptly exemplified what it said and how our new friend showcased a quality of humanity that is so easily overlooked in the quest for ME 1^st and ME all the way

 

This gentleman with his bike is worth his weight on Gold I say,  any day a BIKER is a better person to have next to u in crisis  that’s been my experience, What about you ?

 

All’s well that ends well and here are a few more pleasant memories from Dalma, Makulakocha