Travelling
experience in Border roads
Travelling
is a great experience for all of us. A reason why travelling is must means
there is learning on life, culture and traditions, at the same time it is a big
fun. But all the time travelling experience doesn’t become a worthy of
remembrance.
If you happen to travel from Samdruo Jonkhar
crossing two boarders of Assam and Bengal to reach Phuntsholing or vice versa,
it’s going to be different experiences for you.
The moment you enter the Samdrup Jonkhar exit gate to
Phuntsholing entrance gate, the fears Will
struck you down to enjoy the various beautiful scenes and living pictures of
sub Indian ways; if you are not with an experienced traveller or the driver.
Being from the far flung village of east, there is
no excuse for person like me to avoid the border journey.
Ask few people, they have got lot more stories to
share the story of being raided or met accident in foreign land. There is no ways
than to risk the life. Many lost and sacrifice lives and properties.
Speed is a problem. But can’t leave it away from it,
despite the fact a traveller has to cover a longer distance. Many scenes like
scattering of the stray hens stay dogs, stray goats, and stray villagers or
blowing away of the bicycle are common sight in the Indian high way express. At
least one accident scene is never missed along the meandering roads.
Who knows you may be the next in list to happen, if
you were not aware of it?
I remember travelling once in a taxi from Samdrup Jongkhar
to Phuntshpling. I woke up from my bed early as my alarm could ring. I prepared
for the next six to seven hours journey. At the back of mind, I had the weird
thought that I may not meet the accident on the way. So I did the morning chants
and the prayer to keep such wild thoughts at ease. We started the journey
around 5; 30 am. It was a drowsy drive, because of the late sleep after
watching the various programs on geography channel inside the room. My driver
was driving recklessly at few points. He never stopped for a while to give way
to the cyclist or encountering oxen cart trying to cross the road.
On that day weather doesn’t favored us because it
was raining heavily and all the foggy distance added our struggle.
Unfortunately, the fog light was running out of conditions. Reaching somewhere
in the heart of the Assam, my driver hit another car while losing control in
slowing down the car to cross the speed breaker. I was sitting in a front seat
and my knee had sandwiched the desk port of the car. My head hit the front
glass and broken into few pieces and it was looking like the spider web in the
front mirror.
Looking at my condition I was fine but the condition
of the vehicle was horrible. To my driver’s surprise, colleen box was damaged
badly and car failed to run smoothly. After sometimes, it stopped running. So,
my poor driver got out and opened the bonnet, he checked the internal apart of
the vehicle and spotted the lineage.
It was a bad luck for me and my friend because we
are forced to pay some amounts in one of the car workshop on driver’s name.
On the other hand, one who was the victim of my driver
was so furious and shouted to us “Are you trying to kill us” but my driver was
speechless. Finally they settled the case and luckily their vehicle was running
in good conditions.
After the accident,
I had many turbulent emotions overpowering me time and again; I regretted
siting up in the front seat. On that day there was no charm in taking up the
front seat. Countless vehicles coming from distance clicked my adrenaline
awake.
Our journey took a sudden turn when my driver had
taken a wrong route to reach P/ling. Another fearful story started to pick up
when we have taken the road leading to Gomtu. We covered 15 km away from the
main route when few Bhutanese truckers could direct us back to the main route.
Finally, I could make to Phuntsholing but it wasn’t
a journey worth travelling. Any way thanks driver for safely reaching us to
Phuntsholing entrance gate.
To all Assami and Bengali people, Thanks for letting us to travel:
Thanks for the
Indo Bhutanese’s friendship!
Note:
If there were large number of travellers in the areas, aforementioned incidents
are likely to happen. If you were not conscious of the time, travellers,
vehicles and the driver, the way Indian treat the traveller will be different
for all the time, you may get leftover foods that were served to the fellow travellers
in restaurant, or become the complete victim of the angered Villagers. Please
keep yourself in full awareness when you travel in border areas! May be this
article will serve as a constant reminder to you.
Nima kuendrel zangpo
From lock and key diaries
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