What does it mean to be on Cloud no.9? As the name of Meghalaya goes, Laitlum did not disappoint us with the clouds gushing towards us as we entered Laitlum Canyon. There was hardly anyone there when we reached. So we had some quick breakfast and started walking towards the start of the trekking point. Most people who come to Laitlum just visit the top, get mesmerised by seeing the clouds cover the entire place within a few seconds, and they head back. But we had decided that we will do the trek down and way up.
Laitlum trek goes down probably around 2500 stones (steps) into a village that is accessible only by the trek. The villagers use a rope way to transport groceries but the cart cannot carry humans. So, if they have any work in the outside world, they just climb up – as simple as that!
We started the trek down. Initially my daughter was a little scared by seeing down when nothing much can be seen due to the clouds and the stones being huge, it was scary for her. But she had no other choice than to trek down.
As we started the trek, we saw two people walking up with fire woods. One of them was in his pre-teens (see the video) and on top of that they were doing it without any footwear! We could see women, women with infants, walking up as we usually climb one or two storied places.
The whole way down is majestic. Filled with clouds in seconds and seconds later they are gone giving us a short glimpse of the village below…a place where people are probably oblivious of the outside world! The way down is not easy for non-trekkers. There is no hand rail for protection. However, if one is sensible and knows how far to go and not to, then it’s not a risky one. We took a lot of stops to enjoy the beauty around and sometimes to decide where to stop and turn back because the hike up wasn’t cake walk.
We climbed down a little more than 1100 steps and decided to rest there. My daughter was now a bit settled and after an hour of trek down, we decided to trek up. Trek up was a cake walk for kids and challenging for us adults (watch videos).
All the enthusiastic ones had to face it – my body doesn’t not listen to my mind and vice versa. Whenever I feel completely exhausted or am on the way of giving up, I just think of some verse like Nirvana Shatkam to motivate myself with the quote – I am not the body nor am I the mind. So don’t listen to both of them when they say they are tired. Because if you listen, you won’t be able to do a lot of things. But do listen to them when it asks for a rest.
We paced up very slow with enough rests and I was just amazed by how our 6.5 year old daughter walked up in full vigour without holding anyone’s hand. It is then you realise, how much one can underestimate one’s kids.
Walking up was both knee and backbreaking with moderate bearable pain for me. For others also it was a similar experience. But amidst the small treks I had done, this one definitely earns the top position for the food it provides to our eyes while doing the trek. At the end of it, when you reach the top, a big green plateau awaits you to stretch your back on it. We adults lied down on the grass while the ever energetic children ran and played on the plateau.
By all means, this is a place not to be missed out if one wants to experience ‘trekking through the clouds’.
Vinay R.Nair's Blog 