First, identify the place/area to go. Then zoom into Google Maps to see the homestays, hostels, and hotels around. Shortlist a few and check for their websites and reviews, if any. This has been our way of finding stay options for a while.
David Scott Trail trek was a key item in our Meghalaya itinerary. And we scoured the Google Maps to find a stay option in and around Mawphlang as it’s the starting point for the trek. Thus MaplePine Farm Stay happened to be our stay for two days in our week-long Meghalaya trip. James, the owner of MaplePine, was kind enough to suggest plans for the two days so that we use it optimally.
Not the run-of-the-mill home/farm stay, MaplePine is located at about 5 km by road from the Sacred Forest in Mawphlang, in the valley of Lyngkein village, by the stream is MaplePine—where James built his home and cabins, one by one, on his own, in the last one decade, starting with a tent where he and family stayed first. Handmade homes is just one part of what makes the experience special.
MaplePine’s website and the notes kept in the cabins say everything about what you should expect.
“We are are small family run Bed and Breakfast, we consider ourselves ‘off grid’ in more ways than one. Not only are we off grid with our power source – Solar and Wind, we also are off grid from the regular, available, stays. We are a getaway, quiet, tranquil place. Your expectations for a place to stay have to change once you have decided to stay with us..
Each day in many of our lives, we are busy, running around, we are here to help you relax a little. We do not claim to be something we are not nor do we wish to make people to come to something they do not want to come to. We are here as we are, if you like it tell others, if you don’t: you likely came to the wrong place.”
Because it is true home food, cooked by the family, one needs to order in advance. We thoroughly enjoyed the simple but delicious breakfasts and dinners, and the hot coffees we ordered in between.
While clean and comfy cabins and good food make the stay wonderful, moving around the place and having informal conversations take it up another notch—be it with James, Valerie, and their ever-smiling youngest son, or other like-minded guests. Dinner time is the best to get some time with James and family. We managed to do that only in the second night, listening to James’s stories of adventure, explorations, finding his life partner, buying the land, making of the farm, and so on. Our only regret is that we couldn’t get enough of those conversations.
MaplePine is not for everyone. Everyone is not for MaplePine. All we can say is that MaplePine was our most memorable stay in our Meghalaya trip.
Also read :
Our stay with Steve Lall & Family at Jilling Estate in Uttarkhand,
Our stay with Anil & Family at Kuflon Basics, Uttarakhand.
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