Anumol, who has acted in several notable Malayalam films, is an avid traveller too. She has the habit of sharing her travel experiences through the blog 'Anuyatra'.
It was the love to visit interesting places that spurred Anu to launch her video blog, which has elaborate descriptions of the destinations she toured.
Among Anu’s trips, the one to Meghalaya stands apart. Diverse cultures and lifestyles exist around the world which can be experienced not only by travelling to the places but also interacting with the people. “Only by familiarizing yourself with the local people can any journey be complete,” says the actress.
She relates the events during such a trip in her blog.
The whistling village
An evergreen plateau, Meghalaya is rich in natural wonders. Meghalaya translates as the 'abode of clouds' and lures visitors with pleasant weather and eye-catching scenery. Most parts of Meghalaya witness tourist arrivals but Kongthong village is yet to enter the tourist radar.
Kongthong, also known as whistling village, is an isolated place that lies 22 km off the road to Cherrapunji. Negotiating the route to Kongthong is a big challenge but the effort is worth it. The sights, customs and lifestyle at the village are unique.
The residents of Kongthong are a section of the Khasi tribe who make a living by hunting, farming, broom-making and building with bamboo and wood.
Whistling names
The names of the people living in the village are difficult to pronounce even for the local people themselves. To make things easy, the residents resort to a shortcut. Instead of addressing another person with the latter’s name, the villagers utter a cry that resembles whistling. Each villager has a unique whistle which sounds very sweet.
There are different tunes to address your own child and others. Each person recognizes the whistling sound meant for him or her.
Director Joshi Joseph accompanied Anu on the trip. “The programme was arranged as part of the Guwahati international film festival. We learnt about the whistling village thanks to a friend of Joshi Sir,” says Anu.
Travellers heading to Cherrapunji to enjoy the scenery should now experience the village life at Kongthong to make the trip complete.
