ChaloHoppo with MuzArt to an Emerald & a Musical Village December 13 - 18 Music and Art Therapy sessions in the Emerald Meghalaya Travel and art have always been the best of pals! Travel to the emerald waters of Meghalaya, through the Double-Decker Living Root Bridge and a whistling village. Heal yourself, with live Music and Art Therapy sessions. A special hand-picked trip for the lovers of art and music. A hanging bridge on the trek to Nongriat village in Cherrapunjee Travelling, Music and Art -The universal healers. If you also believe in the same and would love these three meet up, this especially crafted trip is for you! Join us with MuzArt, two trained therapists from Mumbai helping you dive into the ocean of relaxation through music and art. Every day comes with a theme-based session, conducted to make peace with stress, expression and self-awareness. Meditate to the sound of music and the strokes of paint in the secluded natural spots. This winter let music and art be your guide. The brief Itinerary

5 nights and 6 days Day 1 The magic in everyone

Your trip starts at Guwahati airport at 8:30 am. Travel from the plains of Assam to the hills of Meghalaya. Make your way straight to the Liatlum Canyons. Capture the clouds settling in the surreal valley. You will then head to Shillong. Post lunch and settling in your abode, make your way to Dylan's Cafe. The first session here will be about simple games and activities involving dry art media and instruments. This will create an experience which will lead to the realisation that being on the lookout for ‘magic’ in the people we meet can help form a deep connection right from the word go, as well as flick the mental switch from complaining and fault-finding to learning and growing. Return to your abode and hit the cosy bed.

Total drive time from Guwahati to Shillong will be 3 hours. Day 2 H’s (Head, Heart and Hand) as a way of life

Post early breakfast leave for the musical village of Wahkhen. Reach Wahkhen by 10 am and meet the people responsible for keeping the Khasi music alive. Participate in a session where the teachers and kids will teach you how to play Khasi instruments. There will be various instruments you can try your hands on. Post this interact with the kids and teachers. Leave for a short trek to go to the natural pools down the village. Swim and relax with the view on offer and have an authentic lunch by the pools. Have your session of the day, involving music and art. You will explore 3 H’s at a personal level and understand the benefits of complete alignment of the 3 H’s: Increased vitality, living a well-designed life, reduced overthinking and minimized analysis paralysis and dissonance. Post the session trek up and bid farewell to this musical village. Reach Langkawet to your cosy resort. Have dinner around the bonfire and get some rest. Overnight stay at Langkawet Resort. Day 3 Clarity of character and self-awareness

Head towards Shnongpdeng, this time you camp by the riverside and enjoy water-based activities such as cliff jumping, snorkelling, kayaking, etc. Crash in your tents with the million stars above you and a bonfire keeping you company.

Have your session post-lunch by the river. This will include art media and instruments for you to take a deep look at oneself. You will experience what it means to identify feelings, focus on fleeting thoughts, and reflect on actions, all of which to build a clear image of oneself. This awareness is the all-important first step towards clearly viewing the world and life around us - leading to internal peace and well-being.

Total drive time to Shnongpdeng will be 5 hours. Day 4 Being grounded by finding equanimity

Post breakfast, start your journey to the Tyrna village (in Cherrapunjee) which acts as the base point for the double-decker trek. This trek is nothing like a typical trek as you need to climb down 3000 steps(you can count it as you go down). Your knees will start to give in and you will be drenched in your sweat but you will recover every drop of that sweat when you reach your destination - the double-decker living root bridges. Have your session by the living root bridge to find your sense of balance by experiencing the concept of impermanence in action, by building the habit of searching for the elusive silver lining in every undesirable situation, and by realizing that everything is either in our control or beyond it - and it’s important to know which is which. Please carry a small backpack for the 2 days that we will be staying in Nongriat. Specific instruction regarding the same will be given once you sign up for the trip. Day 5 Internal rhythms for productivity

Wake up early in the morning and after breakfast trek in the jungle. The morning air won’t get you tired as you cross many more living root bridges and a few hanging bridges to reach rainbow falls. The trekking time one way is approximately 2 hours. If you are a good swimmer then you can swim near the waterfalls or chill out in the smaller pools. Let’s talk about the butterflies now as they will mesmerise you while you are down in Nongriat. Your session will be conducted in the evening using inspiration from mother nature as well as our creative set of tools, break down the concept of productivity (AKA “getting shit done”). You will soon jump back into your regular lives will discover practical steps for enhancing the way they spend time, which is one of the greatest factors contributing to well-being.

Trek time - 2 hours. Day 6 Reflections

After breakfast climb back up and proceed to Cherrapunjee. After reaching choose to relax or explore.

Your session will be around the time when the sunsets. Reflect on your entire journey to experience how reflection techniques can be incorporated into their daily life along with its importance. Closing reflections also helps etch memories from the journey into our minds for times to come.

There will be a local Khasi band performing in the evening.

Drive Time- 1 hour 30 minutes. Trek time- 3 hours. Day 7 ‘Khublei’

Take your own sweet time to wake up and have some delicious breakfast in the most pristine setting overlooking the endless rolling hills of . If you have the energy go for a walk to the nearby stream and witness the stark blue tint in the water. The luxury of waking up lazily depends on the time you book your flight. Preferably book the last flight.

Drive time from Cherrapunjee to Guwahati airport will be 4.5 hours. Tenny performs! The Band profile

Tonight you will be joined by the amazing talent of Tenny Gregory and Banpynshai Thabah. Tenny and Boi as we call them came into our lives on 31st December 2016, when we were welcoming the new year in Cherrapunji. A night of relentless jamming with these boys made us realise the dedication these folks have towards music. All they know is Music. Tenny and Boi aren't well to do, in fact Tenny is a mason laying bricks and works in a construction site of sorts, but if you speak to him, you will find him no less intriguing than a learned philosopher. Boi is quite and the only language he speaks is music. Some of our guests have already met them, interacted with them and lauded their skills. They don't like to be paid for music, but if people willingly give tips, then they use it to invest in small things like mics, guitars etc. In 2017, it was the first time ever they ever stepped out of Cherrapunji, and first time on a train when we took them along to be our camp band at the Ziro festival of music.

Please note a few things:

1. They are not comfortable taking requests and no they can't sing hindi songs.

2. The music they cover mostly are from the 1970s to 1980s .

3. They smoke and drink while they play. FAQs about the sessions?

What exactly happens in the creative wellbeing sessions? Participants actively engage in the creative process of making music and art by immersing themselves in a variety of musical instruments, and art materials brought into the workshop. Every session has a specific desired outcome such as: ● Self-awareness ● Relaxation & stress management ● Unleashing creativity ● Self-expression ● Coping with change ● Communication ● Emotional regulation, etc.

Every session contains research-based activities that create an experiential journey taking participants toward the outcome through a blend of instruments and art material Is this therapy? Although we are trained therapists, our sessions in a non-medical setup are catered to the general public to increase the overall well being of an individual. We use the facets of music and art to allow people to feel connected, safe and improve their quality of life through fun, engaging and creative activities!

Why should this be a part of my trip? Creative arts like music and art add a different dimension to travel. It adds colour, meaning and makes the journey more holistic. It allows you to experience a place in a deeper, fuller way, and express yourself, your thoughts, and feelings. This act of expression and creation adds magic in the current moment, while also serving as a gateway to memories later on of the journey and how you felt then.

What is the role of music and art in improving well being? Research demonstrates that engaging in musical and art activities (whether playing instruments, creating art, or simply listening to music) improves mental and physical quality of life. Creative arts address a person’s cognitive, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual needs. Do participants need to be trained in music and art? Not at all. Prior training in music or art is not required to participate in music and art therapy. The process of human development prepares everyone to be a music-art maker and music-art lover–at a basic level. Each person is born with the potential to sing, create and express through art, play simple instruments, move to music, react to the elements of music, perceive relationships between sounds, remember music, and ascribe meaning to a musical and art experience. But I’m horrible at music and art! The musical instruments are extremely simple to play, and it would take you at most a couple of minutes to get familiar with them. However, it’s not at all important how well you create, but just that you are creating. The process of creation is what we focus on, rather than the final finished product. As facilitators, we’ve worked with hundreds of people and our primary job is to make the workshop safe and non-judgmental.

What is the required age to participate? All individuals, regardless of age or musical and artistic background, have a basic capacity for music and artistic expression/ appreciation at their developmental level.

How long is a session? Sessions are designed to be in sync with the travel itinerary for each day. It could vary from a minimum of 30 mins to a full session of 90 mins, according to where we are and what is happening.

What will I go home with? 1. Artwork created on trip 2. A better understanding of yourself 3. Creative long-term techniques for overall well-being that can be continued as a regular practice once back home. 4. The experience of engaging with instruments in various settings, jamming, and creating music. Trip Inclusions

● Breakfast ● Lunch and Dinner in Nongriat (Day 3 and 4) ● Accommodation in homestays, tents and a resort twin/triple ● Internal Transport starting from the airport/ station (Swift Dzire/Innova) ● Local guide in Nongriat and Shnongpedeng ● ChaloHoppo tour coordinator ● Parking, tolls, driver allowance, driver accommodation ● Bonfires in Nongriat, Shnongpedeng and Cherrapunji(if required) Trip Exclusions

● Airfare charges ● All food & beverages cost apart from the ones mentioned above ● Trekking shoes and clothing (Any personal equipment) ● Any camera fees ● Hotel & driver tips if any, since the locals earn low wages, your tips can show your appreciation) ● Entry ticket fees to Museums, Parks, etc. ● Any activities like kayaking, cliff jumping, boating, scuba diving ● Any personal expenditure (Toiletries, medicines, etc.) ● Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/ stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control. ● Anything not specifically mentioned under the head "Inclusions". Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya Reviews of Emerald Meghalaya FAQ’s

Q. Which airport do we have to come to and fly out from? A: The tour begins from Gopinath Bordoloi International airport in Guwahati.

Q. What time should we land and what time should we book the return flights? A: Ideally you should land by 7 :30 am or earlier and fly out anytime after 5 pm.

Q. Do I need a Visa, inner line permit or any other kind of identity proof to enter northeast ? A: Entry to the states of Meghalaya does not require a permit.

Q.I am a solo traveller, can I come on this trip? A: A most definite yes, as long as you are okay travelling in a mixed group of other solo travellers or small group of friends.

Q.I can’t swim and the itinerary includes treks to natural swimming pools, will it be safe and will it be worth for someone who can’t swim? A: Not all travellers who sign up for a tour with ChaloHoppo are swimmers so the experience doesn’t get hampered due to lack of that skill. It is certainly an advantage for those can swim but life jackets can be rented along with a guide to ensure safety of the travellers. FAQ’s

Q. What type of bag should I carry? A: Ideally a 60 litre backpack with a rain cover should be convenient, but if you don’t have one then even a strolley or any other bag is fine. It is compulsory to carry a separate smaller bag(15 litres to 20 litres) for your trek down to Nongriat village that can fit essential toiletries and change of clothes for 1 night only to reduce the weight on your shoulders and make the trek easier.

Q. I am a vegetarian, I hear that people only consume meat there. How will I manage? A: The cultural diversity of northeast India is so vast that we can’t blame outsiders for not being aware of communities in the region who are purely vegetarians, so much so that they avoid eating onions( they are indigenous to the region, in case you are thinking about communities from mainland India who have settled here). Having said that, we must admit that the region’s food habits especially in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya are predominantly non vegetarian with a whole lot of red meat based preparations. But the states have warmed up to tourists recently and almost every place you visit will provide the Indian staple diet of rice, dal and sabji, even chapatis if you are lucky. Your craving for butter paneer may not be satisfied, but you will do just fine as far as maintaining your health and strength is concerned. Cost of the experience per person

Rs 34,200/- For further details email [email protected] AND EXPECT A PROMPT RESPONSE.

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