Feb. 7 Nongtalong and Bangladesh border

We stayed a second night in a guesthouse in Padu village’s town, Amlarem, then drove on to Nongtalang overlooking Bangladesh. The blue is not sky, but the valley floor beyond the border river, in morning mist. This is the top of a steeply dropping path to Bangladesh, very old, one of two in town. We settled in with a branch of the Lyngdoh family. Biron Lyngdoh, who works for the UUNEI setting up micro loan co-ops (SHG's – Self Help Groups), showed us around. Children gathered by the water treatment plant for photo thrill.


Then we toured towns along the Bangladesh border, including Dawki and Sohkha.


Here at Umsyiem (King's bathing place) we got a fantastic view of the Bangladesh cement works that operates only in winter at low water in an oxbow of the border river.

In Sohka, we paid our respects to the family of Pliebok Lyngdoh (uncle of Biron and Enial) the minister and founder of the Sohka Unitarian Church who had died the previous week. Biron takes Gail's picture at the church.


In Dawki, we visited the first Hindu temple in Meghalaya, dating to before the Raj. Back in Nongtalang, we saw the ancient stone meeting grounds, huge stones set by a single chief. Right next to it is the community college, where Biron had planted thriving aloes when it was a middle school and he a student.



Enial Lyngdoh, minister of the Nongtalang church, has joined us as we return, here showing us his wife's store.


The Nongtalang Unitarian School, K-8. Like a lot of Indian buildings we have seen, it seems to be perpetually under construction.


The church – most have the motto 'Wei Blei', 'One God', as well as the 'To Nongroi' Note the nice little bell tower to the left.

Gail taught an impromptu workshop on leadership development, put together by Enial as Biron escorted us around the area. It was attended by a substantial part of the congregation, and nearly all of the youth, who demonstrated a true thirst for leadership training – Gail told Enial, 'this is your gold'. Biron translated for those whose English wasn't as good, and really acted as co-facilitator.