Around and about Majuli

It's easy to get settled into Majuli. It's laid back culture is a bit disconcerting at first especially after the demands of the mainland  Give it a day and you will  be sauntering along with a relaxed smile like most of the  locals.

That is until you run  into the 'yes no maybe the tribe. In the morning I arranged to rent a bicycle,  chose the best size from 2 offered, agreed the price, parked it outside my room. Then I took a shower, but when I went to go, the bike was gone. Both bikes in fact. So all day I had to make do with just small walks around the edges of the village because my knee is aching.

The boy manager who is well out of his depth disappears all day. Then turns up at 5pm to take me on an unrequested motorbike ride. And just shrugs off the bicycle incident. 

Must admit the river he took me to was pretty even though I only glimpsed it for 5 minutes before the dark descended. After that I agree to go  to a village for a rice beer but on route he changes his mind and takes me to  his relatives home. Has them cook us a meal of rice and the local delicacy - 'dried fish powder' Not really very nice but I felt I had to smile and say it was OK.

The family a fairly middle class one were very  nice  but probably as bewildered as me as to why I was there.

Turns out the boy wants my help to find him a European wife *sigh*

Now as I sit here next day,  it's almost 8.30am and there is still nobody in the kitchen to make tea or breakfast with no one around to say when it's possible or if a bike is even possible today after yesterdays debacle.

Final solution - call the owner who doesn't live on the island and let him know how bad things are. Doubt it will help though.

Still those other parts I did see on the days before were fantastic, especially the trip to the mask workshop and the tribal village  for a sip of rice beer. Pictures below.