In the village of Kongthong in India's north-eastern Meghalaya state, 24-year-old tour guide Ambila Kongjee has drawn up plans to provide homestays for tourists.
He says this will enhance the rural experience for visitors, who come to enjoy Kongthong's main attraction its unique tradition of Jingrwai lawbei, melodies sung in honour of the ancestress.
Villagers here have names that are tunes created by their mothers, apart from their formal names that they use to interact with the outside world.
"Coo coo tu coo," a mother hums as she calls out to her child on the main street in the village. She then tells the child in Khasi - the local language to come home.
In 2021, a villager even composed a melody name for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is part of the coalition government that rules Meghalaya state.
This unique tradition has helped to draw tourists to the small village of 700 people nestled in the East Khasi Hills, accessible by a threehour car journey from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya.
In 2021, the Ministry of Tourism nominated Kongthong for the World Tourism Organisation's Best Tourism Villages initiative, which highlights villages that preserve cultures, traditions and biodiversity.
Locals say there are on average at least half a dozen tourists every day, some staying at traditional guest houses built by the community in a corner of the village.
"Due to the number of tourists, there is a shortage of rooms. So I wanted to set up the homestay to earn a living and help our fellow villagers," said Mr Kongjee, one of at least three villagers with such a plan.
As a tour guide, he takes tourists on day-long treks to visit bridges formed by tree roots coaxed into structures for crossing.
He has applied under a government scheme to set up homestays, which will give him an extra income of up to 700,000 rupees (S$11,150).
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 04, 2024-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
VERDY'S APPROACH AN EYE-OPENER
Former Lions turned coaches Alam Shah and Isa inspired by stint with Japanese club
Lions' morale-boosting win comes at a price
The Lions got a much-needed morale booster ahead of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship as they beat Tokyo Verdy 2-1 on Oct 11 in the second of three friendlies against J1 League opponents in their Japan training tour.
Conditions to blame for 'ugly' draw, says Messi
Argentina were held to a 1-1 draw by Venezuela on Lionel Messi's return, as Brazil got their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Chile on Oct 10.
Belgium punish Italy at set pieces in 2-2 draw
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti blamed bad luck, as Belgium bounced back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with his 10-man side in Rome on Oct 10 to boost their hopes of reaching the Nations League quarter-finals.
CARSLEY'S MIDFIELD OVERLOAD BACKFIRES
England temp boss dismayed by mistakes as Three Lions lose to Greece for first time
Player strike in England unlikely: Sports law expert
The chorus of frustrated players and managers speaking out against football's gruelling fixture schedule continues to grow, with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate the latest to say he would support players' right to strike.
SOCCEROOS HAVE NO FEAR
They head to Japan with confidence despite never having beaten the Samurai Blue there
Toyota back in F1 with Haas tie-up
The United States-owned Haas Formula One team and Toyota announced a multi-year technical partnership on Oct 11, in a move bringing Japan's biggest carmaker back to grand prix racing for the first time since 2009.
SABALENKA TO STICK TO HER BRAVE PLAN
World No. 2 will be aggressive in Wuhan semi against Gauff; Fritz takes on Djokovic
Nadal's beauty lay in his purity as a competitor
To appreciate the retiring Rafael Nadal we can flip through record books, hunt down Uncle Toni, sift the clay for archaeological clues, speak to Roger Federer's therapist, delve into the physics of spin, but really it's best if we start with a dictionary.