Last weekend mom and I went off to northeast India to discover the living root bridges for ourselves. A four day trip that may quite possibly be the highlight of my year. In the rainiest area of the world, you have some unique challenges - including how to cross rivers when any supplies you need must be carried in a bag, strap resting on your forehead, as you head down thousands of rock stairs. Needless to say, it is not an easy task. The locals have culitvated a tradition of guiding the roots of certain trees to form bridges; a task that can take several generations to accomplish, but which will last for centuries. This living architecture is what we went to see. In addition to hiking down slick, moss coated rock steps for hours amist the rain forest, an unusual experience for me in India, there were the bridges themselves to amaze me. Up to 95 feet long, each one seemed to have its own unique character. One village has even cultivated a doubledecker bridge. Another is the world's longest. This one, sees to sit in the middle of nowhere, but as we rest at the base we see 5-6 people crossing it on their commute to collect beetle nut or work their fields. The living root bridges really are a unique vision.
Check out this video if you want a bit more information.
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