Inside the Wettest City on the Planet (Rains Every Day)

This town gets more rainfall than any place on earth.

>> Welcome to Sora, a small town in northeast India which receives more showers in

one month than London or Seattle gets in an entire year.

The people here must adapt to always being wet.

From washing laundry and waterfalls to wearing turtle shell umbrellas.

>> Oh my god, how am I going to cross this?

Main roads get washed away in landslides

and residents can get stuck for months.

So why do people choose to stay here?

And what other struggles do they face from getting nearly 500 inches of rain per year?

Just arrived in Sofra

and this is the town.

It is obviously pouring rain right now, so I'm going to duck for some cover.

Everyone's got an umbrella except for me. Hello. How are you?

Can I have an umbrella, please? >> Dubai or you? >> Hi. Bye. >> Everyday rain. >> No, every day. >> Every day.

>> So, you get a lot of business for >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Welcome. >> now we good. Thank you.

Rainy season in SRA is no joke.

Got a little bit of umbrella traffic here when you walk past people.

Got to go up like this.

And she goes down.

In this town, it's not just rainy.

I can barely see 10 ft in front of me.

It's hard to believe how people live like this.

So, I'm eager to chat with some locals and observe their lifestyle. It's so cool.

There's these little shops.

You can just dot the highway.

Stopping over here and getting some chai.

That's my favorite thing about India.

All over this country, no matter where you are, north, south, east, west, you can

find hot milk tea. I love it. Thank you.

Oh, just what I need in the morning

on the side of the road.

We just see people walking with these like shells.

It looks like a little turtle and that's just the cover that they use for the rain. Who makes this?

>> You made that yourself?

How long did it take to make this?

>> What is it like to actually live here when it's raining every day?

What jobs do exist in the rain?

I've only been here for about 2 hours, but everyone has been so friendly,

so smiley, and so genuine.

I I really feel that people here are really kind.

Thank Have a nice day. Go Yankees.

>> I'm on my way to meet up with my local friend, Tenny, who I

randomly found on Instagram.

He's going to be helping me navigate and translate my way around the world's wetest place. >> Welcome to Sara. >> Thank you, bro.

>> And it's good that you're welcome by the rain.

I've been in rain a lot of times in my life.

I always see rain.

But the fact that you guys live with this every single day, that's crazy.

I remember my grandma told me there would be rains of uh 40 days

and 40 nights non-stop.

When people are used to rain, if it stop rain, then everyone will get

sick because the rain here is a blessing for us.

It's not a curse.

Without the rain, there wouldn't be life here at all.

That's how the people flow here with the rain, with its rhythm. >> The rhythm. >> Yeah. They don't complain. They don't fight.

They just go and float

>> like fish in the water.

>> They swim like fish in the water.

>> Tenny is taking me to a local restaurant for breakfast.

And I hear the food here is nothing like elsewhere in India.

>> Oh, this is cool.

>> Smells good in here. >> All right.

This is a really colorful plate, man.

This is a local dish. >> Yes.

Yes, it is a local dish. It's called jad.

>> I'm seeing like every color of the rainbow on this plate.

>> Those are beef meatball.

>> So, this is beef.

Another reason that it doesn't feel like I'm in India right now is because

they eat beef here. >> Yes. Yes. >> Different world, man. >> It is.

>> I couldn't find beef anywhere in the mainland.

I'm going to call it the >> M.

Really good yellow rice.

And there's this beef flavor that's like soaking on the rice. Wow.

>> You're dressed in a poncho >> every day. You wear that? >> Yeah. Yeah.

It rains every day. >> Is it stressful? Sometimes he is.

>> Whenever they go around town just to carry anything like phone charger or whatever,

you just got to have plastic all the time.

Do you want to say anything about SA to the camera? >> I appreciate that. That was awesome.

>> As we roam around town and drive through the heavy fog, I spot a

fisherman on the side of the road and I want to see if he

can answer more of my burning questions.

you fish here every day?

>> No, only Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Is it stressful to live here when it's always raining?

>> It's difficult for us when it's raining to live here. >> Because no sun.

>> How does rain influence the life here?

>> When it's raining also is not difficult for us.

We can't go anywhere.

We have to stay at home.

We don't get any work problem for us.

>> Have you ever thought about living somewhere else? >> No. Hello.

>> Nice to meet you.

>> My hand is dirty. >> See you later. >> Good luck. >> Safe journey. >> Thank you.

>> You may have noticed that people here look more Southeast Asian than Indian.

And it's because their ancestors came from Myanmar and Cambodia,

two of my favorite places on Earth.

Also, look where we are on the map.

It's such an undiscovered

part of the world.

The tribe here is called Kasi, and the Kasi people follow a rare matrinal

system where women inherit their family's property and carry their last name.

And much to my surprise,

almost everyone here speaks English.

>> Nice to meet you.

>> You'd think people here would stay indoors to stay dry, but it's actually the opposite.

The outdoors in Soha is somehow charming and unlike anywhere else on Earth. It's crazy.

Just getting ready to get outside.

I got my poncho on.

I'm getting my umbrella.

It is pouring right now.

As they say, when it rains, it pours.

We are now heading to a

living tree root bridge,

which is one of the spectacles to see here.

I don't know much about it other than it's like a bridge made out

of a tree root.

I have now removed my gym shoes because they're soaking wet.

So, I now have sandals on.

We've made it to the Living Root Bridge, which is literally tree branches

made into a bridge, but it's over this treacherous waterfall.

We're one step and we're dead.

We're going to walk across it. Let's go. >> Let's go. Holy crap.

It's a huge waterfall right here. Woo! Oh my god.

How am I going to cross this?

Mother nature is calling.

This is so cool.

Every step below my feet is a freaking

branch of a tree.

And look at the falls. Woo!

Northeast India is freaking awesome. Don't forget that.

Oh my god, dude. That was exhausting.

The power of mother nature is insane out here.

That was like the craziest adrenaline rush to walk over that

>> There's a saying that if you walk on this bridge,

if you walk barefoot, that means you are grounding to the ground. You're right.

But that's what uh the feeling.

It give you the sensation that you are connected with the tree.

It's like the example of that avatar

a you know that tree of life something like that.

So here the living root bridge is the tree of life in our place.

I found out that the guy who built the living tree root bridge 60

years ago is still alive and lives right up the hill.

We are here in the middle of the jungle with a massive waterfall and

a tree root bridge.

How come you decided to live here all alone?

What is it like to live in a place that's raining

all day every day?

If you had the choice between living in

sunny blue skies and warm weather every day or

weather like this, cloudy,

rainy, thunderstorm, which one would you >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Bye-bye.

>> We're heading to a cave here.

Feel like I'm always stepping in puddles here.

This is a good viewpoint,

but all you can see is foggy now.

>> This is the viewpoint.

I come from a very hot desert.

This is so different from my hometown.

Bro, what do you think about that?

>> What do I think about it, >> bro?

You live in the rainiest place on earth.

How does that make you feel?

>> It's normal for us.

Sometimes it's uh like we used to complain about it, but what can we do?

>> Are you happy that you come from a rainy

>> The rain is a blessing for us.

And if there's no rain, it feels like

going to fall sick.

>> Where I come from, my mom would always say, "You're going to get sick when it rains."

And you're saying the exact

>> We've just made it to Ottawa Cave, a very significant place in Megallaya.

And why is that?

>> Because like all of Megallaya

Plateau was under the sea long time back.

So this cave proof which was once under the sea taken up when the

urisen plate collided with the Indian plate.

So mostly you'll see here are sea creature fossils in the cretaceious period.

So the significance about this is a limestone cave.

So what was left in the seabed

at that time was moved up here and slowly carved by

rain water and the water that carve what you see.

>> So because of so much rain this cave is

>> And you can hear the loud sound there.

There's water like rushing through here. >> Yes.

We actually we are under a mountain right now.

So on top of us there's a mountain

right of that's how the cave is formed.

See, these are one of the fossil like the gastropot fossils.

Here you could see.

>> I'm not the biggest cave dweller, but hearing the ancient history of Sora is pretty neat.

And it was nice to take shelter for a few minutes because now we're

back into the heavy rain and fog. Just pulled over.

We've been driving for hours in these roads and you can't see anything.

It is just completely pouring rain.

I mean, like how

it's crazy that people like live here. Hello.

>> Where are you going?

I'm going to wash these things. >> What is this?

>> This is the corn. >> Nice.

And what is this?

>> The the in the distance, I spot some kids waiting for the bus.

And after they tell me they're going to school, I become curious as to

what it's like to study in this harsh environment.

We've just entered a school here.

It's so loud from just the sound of the rain hitting the roof of this school.

Just like this crazy echo in here.

Let's just say my elementary school did not look or feel anything like this one.

Does anyone speak English?

>> You all speak English?

>> What grade are you in? >> 10th grade. >> 10th grade.

Can you play the flute? >> 1 2 3. >> That was amazing. Thank you. I'm from America. >> Arizona.

Have you heard of Arizona?

You've heard of it?

>> How do you feel living here?

Is it like difficult to live in a rain? >> We enjoy. >> You enjoy it.

So, it means you have to carry an umbrella everywhere you go.

>> And have like a poncho. >> Say bye.

Everybody has a different color umbrella and it's so cute.

Before they go into class, they just put it on the side

and when you come out it's ready for you. It's so loud.

Like the sound of the rain hitting the roof.

I can barely even hear myself thinking right now.

Everyone's looking at me like, "Why is there a white dude standing in my school?"

Hi, how are you?

So, what's your name? >> Riyaki.

And how old are you? >> I'm 14. >> 14.

Tell me about what it's like to live in Sora. >> It's good.

I mean, the rain, we're tired of the rain.

I mean, obviously there's a lot of rain.

And it's also good cuz there's nature around us, not full of concrete buildings, you know.

>> You say you're tired of the rain. >> We're not tired.

Like sometimes when it rains too much,

we're tired of the rain.

>> You speak perfect English.

>> Uh, I think so.

I don't think >> everyone here study English.

>> What do you want to be when you grow up?

>> I want to be a professor.

>> Professor at this school? >> No. No. No.

Not this >> in in your university or something >> in Megalaya.

>> You have a slight British accent? >> Yeah.

A bit, I guess.

>> Oh, you can do it.

>> Uh, a little bit. Yeah. >> Nice.

Anything else you want to say about life in Soda? >> Life in Soda? Like it's good.

Like there's a lot of waterfalls

and full of places like there's hills,

not like places in

Delhi or something, you know, full of buildings and all. Yes. Like it's good.

We get a lot of fresh air

and it's somehow like we find peace here.

>> Everybody here is really happy.

Like they're all smiling.

>> Like in my hometown when the weather's like this, everyone is depressed and sad

and they want to like stay home, but you guys are just happy. >> Yeah.

Even now also we want to practice but sir said it's too rainy now.

Like it's too heavy

so we might get sick. >> You're so kind. Thank you. >> Thank you.

>> Very sweet of you.

It's hard to explain

how I feel like this is not India.

Like everywhere else in southern and central and northern India is so different from

this part of India.

And on the map you can see like we're so close to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

It honestly feels more like the Philippines here than anything else.

The way the people look,

the way they act, they're giggly.

They all speak English.

They're friendly, outgoing, smiley. This is school.

Actually, this was after when the Welsh missionary came here after Thomas Jordan was built here.

So this is more than 100 years old school.

Why are they going to school on

>> Mainly Saturday because this school actually it's not like other schools.

There are some Christian schools here that's

uh till Friday but Rama Christian mission

uh does till Saturday

and today is they are practicing for independence. They are practice.

You could see those drums there.

Welcome to my home.

This is my humble home which I've lived,

you know, since ancestral time. >> Awesome. Hello. >> My sister.

>> Nice to meet you. I'm Drew.

Can we come >> He's my mom.

>> Nice to meet you.

Oh, this is cool.

Smells good in here.

>> This a little guy.

>> This is the main room. Mhm.

>> And this part here is the kitchen. >> Wa.

This is so cool.

>> We have to hang the wet clothes like this because it's it's all wet

and we have to dry it.

>> They can't dry the clothes outside cuz it rains all day long.

So, they have to dry inside.

>> So, we have this.

>> So, when you walk to the kitchen, your head levels on the clothes.

>> So, this is the dryer for the clothes.

We put a, you know, a chola in the center which you with charcoal

and then we cover the wet clothes all over this.

>> So, you make a fire. >> Yeah. See? >> So cool, man. >> Yes. See? See?

Then we keep the charcoal inside there.

>> And then we'll cover this with it.

And then we'll dry the clothes

on this >> Does this roof leak when it rains really >> Yes. Yes.

You can see it's all leaking and it's all broken because of the rain.

>> So when it leaks, you just put a bucket under it.

>> What are you making over here? What is it?

It looks really delicious. And French fries.

This reminds me of Vietnam.

These tiny tiny chairs.

I mean, they're almost like they're like

3 in above the ground.

This is how you sit.

And when this is the table when you eat. >> Oh my god.

>> We call them linkut.

>> When I'm here, I feel like I'm in Southeast Asia.

Even your language, it sounds like it's so different than

>> it has that K. >> Kamar.

When you say Kam.

No, >> Kamar is Cambodia. >> Yeah.

We don't have C in our letter. We have K.

So that's why Thomas Jones give us the alphabet

because we don't have that C letter.

So in the pronunciation

of C, he put the K.

You keep mentioning Thomas Jones.

I just want to really understand quickly who is this guy.

>> So he's a Welch missionary

that came here before the British.

So when he came here,

he started a school here.

Then he started that school and it was like, you know, like the first

church and first school was built here at the time.

Shillong was a little village. >> Yes.

Shalong was a little village.

>> Now it's a big town. >> Yeah.

Actually when the British came here, they

were making this the c they made this the capital of Megallaya

in the 1836 to 1866 something like that. Interesting.

And why why did the capital move to Shillong?

>> Because of the rain.

They have to shift this capital to Shillong because due to heavy rainfall.

>> This is Tenny's room right here. >> Cool, man. You know what?

Like my childhood home where I grew up was just like this.

I had stuff all over the ceiling.

I had a guitar.

>> Just like similar vibe to how I grew up. >> Oh, nice.

>> And what kind of music do you play?

>> I play basically like classic rock and you know like these oldies Goldies

>> like Led Zeppelin stuff. Beat. Uh, Beatles. Yes. Beatles. Yes.

>> You know, I'm going to ask you at some point to play for me, right? >> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Can you >> play a song? >> Yeah. Yeah. Why not?

>> You may say I'm a dream

and the world is one.

>> That was so good.

>> I always >> That was like spiritual for me.

>> That was really cool, man. Thank you. Thank you.

>> You got some talent, bro.

>> It just came from the heart.

>> Tenny is not taking me to the local market. Oop, umbrella's up.

Oh, still pouring rain outside.

So far, it has not stopped raining for a second since we've been here.

>> This is the beetlenut, and that's the beetle leaf,

which we used to have is the main kasi.

>> What's the reason that people chew it?

Is it for like enjoyment or is it for getting high?

>> It's not like in Papa New Guinea where they eat to get high.

Here the beetlenut first of all this is the fermented one.

You know that live bitter nut which they used to put this under the

water for 2 and 1/2 months and they take it out of the water

so that potency is a little gone.

So it become a little more yummy.

And why they eat here?

Because it's a little cold.

So Nepal and here they eat a lot of bitterlut because it's a little cold.

It warms your body up.

The craziest thing about this market is like it feels like it's an emergency

situation with all these tarps and all these puddles.

Like look at this.

Like everywhere in the market there's just water

leaking into a bucket.

But for these people it's just everyday normal life.

That's the most shocking thing.

I think people just learn how to adapt to their environment.

>> Oh man, >> my shoes are completely wet.

>> You're all wet actually.

Just your >> Yeah, I'm all wet, but just wet socks.

>> First of all, Tenny, where are we right

>> We are at >> Okay, we're in the countryside.

And this lovely lady. Hello. >> we call May. May means mother.

>> she just give me this pure local chicken egg which is from her farm.

It's a pure local chicken, not farm.

>> So, what do you do with it? You eat it?

Uh we drink it.

I mean like you can drink it raw.

You can take it raw.

It's very rich and very healthy.

>> Oh, it's literally liquid.

You're literally drinking liquid yolk. >> Yeah.

You want to drink it?

>> It actually doesn't have much of a >> that was interesting. The raw egg.

And he loving it.

Look at this guy over here just taking it down. >> Good job, Tenny. Hi. Everyone's chewing beetlenut.

It's just it's just a thing.

It looks like they got blood in their mouth, but it's just beetlenut. That's all.

>> What makes you happy in life?

>> What she's saying is like

when you are healthy, you are happy.

When you are unhealthy,

when you are not well, basically you are sad. She's healthy. >> You're very healthy.

>> I hope to live as long as you.

Oh, >> she's below 70. >> 70. You look great.

You have a very young face.

This is the back room.

I think it's She sleeps in here. There's a bed. There's a kitchen.

This has to be her where she lives.

And then she just has a shop on the outside.

This is fermented rice beer. >> Rice beer. >> Rice beer. It's very sour.

Very sour and very >> Here you go. Thank you.

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And let's head back into the

We're driving along here and you can see a fresh landslide just happened.

Scary like at any given moment the rocks could come down again.

We are just bouncing around from shop to shop meeting all these lovely old

ladies and they're just serving us tea.

What a >> what's your name? >> Vanita.

My name is Drew. >> Miss Drew.

>> This lovely lady here is going to show us her village which is just nearby.

She's going to come in our car with us. Okay. Yay. >> Back here. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

>> If there's one thing I've learned about this place is that everyone is extremely friendly. everyone.

>> I can't see anything here that

>> we're in the clouds. >> Wow.

This is like proper village life.

>> This is your house. >> Okay, cool.

>> This is so awesome.

We've made it inside of Bonita's house.

Bonita, >> thank you for inviting us over.

You can see it's very very

like rustic in here.

That's the word I'm looking for.

I just feel like this house has been the same for like 50 years.

>> You know, >> it is.

>> This is like village life. >> Yes.

And that's what she's mentioning here like the earning is not that much, you

know, because like uh you could see

if the rain also is there.

She have to go to work and

where she's selling something in the shop there.

What's the average amount of money that you can make in one day at your shop? >> 2,000 rupees.

>> And that also they have to you see we have come from that shop

by the car all the way here is little far.

She walk >> in rainy season. >> Yes.

Now >> you walk all the way that's like several >> Yes.

1 hour walking from here to that

>> So in rainy season now she walks one hour just to go to work.

She makes around10 US dollars a day.

That's that's hard life, man.

>> She's just laughing all the time.

>> Yes, she's always like that.

>> Have you traveled to other parts of >> she hasn't.

>> Even Shalong also just

once in a while or once in a >> Oh, so she she like really

never leaves this place.

She's like really >> She's proper >> deeply rooted here. >> Yes.

With the rain, do you feel

like it's a blessing

or are you just annoyed

like it's raining again?

>> With the rain, it's a blessing.

And if it don't, we'll get sick and fall ill.

>> And when it rain, it bring us it it makes us healthy

>> cuz she likes the rain.

Let's have a tour of the rest of the house.

This is another room here.

They got potatoes growing. Here's the laundry.

Always inside because outside it will get wet.

This is what the language looks like.

Said it's a phonetic alphabet.

These are the words here.

Got some egg carton collections over here.

And then back here is where they sleep.

Beautiful smell in here.

It's like this aroma.

Maybe it's cuz there's flowers on the wall. Yeah.

This is the bedroom.

You can see on the ceiling right here there's leak.

There's just water coming down and when it plops down

just goes right here.

I mean, just imagine your bed is literally right here

and just right here. There's leaks.

There's one more room here.

Let's see what's up back

This is like the lumber yard area.

You got a lot of wood.

This is as traditional as it gets. Very cool.

Yeah, they used to shoot some squirrels and birds like you know most probably

the invasive species types of creature

and why it's not surprising thing because before

we live like on hunting

that's how we live in the jungle and we hunt from

you know from deer to monkey to bears to tigers

>> this part of India is so different than the rest of India when you

travel around do you feel like a disconnect

culturally >> I feel homesick kind of thing you know because like uh what I

see here is not there

only in some of these neighboring states like Arunachal

or Nagalan >> not the seven sisters the >> not the seven oh yeah it will

be because I've never I' I've never wanting to travel outside because of that

you know I don't have that heart but in travel in the seven sister

I feel comfortable >> but most of the world like in America when you talk

about India they're only talking about the main part not not the seven sisters

>> how does that make you feel >> now it doesn't make me I mean like

feel anything about because like I'm in here like I I'm just

so much connected in this nature.

It doesn't occur to me or it doesn't uh you know like hit me

when somebody talk ill or you know like or

don't talk about it or also because

this place has its own beauty has its own vibe.

You always lost into it.

It's like you are swimming into it.

>> I truly actually feel that what you're saying it has its own vibe.

It has its own feel

and it's like you just can't explain it.

It's different and it's so unknown to the world.

The people watching my video are like living in other countries and when they

think about India they don't think about this >> Yes. Exactly.

Most probably when they come like that's the main part like what people see

as India is like dirty and with plastics and this and that and here

that's what we are having

facing a lot of problem when the

main in people come like tourists and all they litter the place they throw

a lot of garbage in there and they

some of them would try to bully also like which I've seen. Yeah.

Like some of them have come from like you know

big backgrounds or some of them belong to

army people and all and they you know they would show their

you know their super superiority.

>> It's not cool if people come here and they

disrespect the land and the people >> and the people. >> Is this tobacco? >> Oh yeah. Oh my god. look at this.

>> Dude, this is so good. >> Oh, man.

That's like a pack of cigarettes in one

>> How they make also?

Because see that that there's a tobacco they have to mix with charcoal.

But charcoal that they

it depends on the tree that they burn.

So supposedly it's an orange tree

>> and the from that charcoal they will mix and it will become a little sweeter.

So it depends on which tree.

>> Doesn't that give you a strong buzz?

>> Yeah, it does actually.

I kind of feel high about it. >> Damn. Ripping it. I love it.

>> There's such an abundance of water here.

The water's flowing everywhere.

So, it makes it really easy to just do your laundry or wash your hands. So cool, man.

I've just entered a nearby village called Kong.

And this is known as a whistling village because everyone at birth is given

a name in the tune of a

And that's how they communicate with each other when they call names. It's a whistle.

Let's go meet some people >> They're very small.

>> Yeah, they're very small. Right.

This is a village of little people.

They're tiny, tiny, tiny. Hi. >> Bye. Bye. >> So cool.

We're just in this place.

>> I'm here with Panchai, a local. Great guy.

The rain is starting to come again.

So, we're going to put our things on,

our shells, and we're going to walk. >> Okay, then.

Let's go over there.

>> Let's go to someone else.

>> You're born and raised here?

>> Yes, I was born and brought up here only.

Whenever one person is born, they're given a whistle as a name. >> A tune. >> A tune. >> What's your tune? >> That's my tune.

>> So when you say that, everyone knows the >> Yeah.

You know in Kang

if they need to call me,

they don't call me by my name.

They call me by my tune.

>> Do you know everyone in this village's >> Almost.

Not all of them, but especially friends, relative.

I know almost all of >> What's your father's name? >> Like that.

>> And your mother's in. >> That's your mother. >> Let's go. Oh, there. >> Oh, this way. Okay, cool.

I never expected to find this here. A whistling village.

Let's put our shells down.

It actually does protect better than an >> You can come.

>> You can sit over there.

You can sit over

>> This is really a village of little people.

Look at these tiny tiny.

This is literally 2

and 1/2 in tall. Okay.

>> Is she your grandma? >> Uh yes.

>> If she have four children,

>> that means she composed four different unique tune.

This song or this tune, it is composed

by a mother for the newborn baby.

It come from the mother's deep part.

Suppose if the mother they have six children

that mean they have to compose

six different unique tune.

Long tune and a short tune.

Long version and short version.

We use this this tune in two way.

When we go to the field to the farm, we use by a long version.

>> But when we are inside the village, we use by a short version.

>> Is that because when you're in the field, they're so far away,

you need to like scream like >> scream. Yeah.

From one hill to another

>> So you told me the long version of your name.

What's the short version?

>> That is my short version.

Uh and then my long version.

That's my long version.

I will ask her to sing because mostly the ladies.

>> She can sing it.

Mercy the ladies because

they are the composer.

The voice also is a little bit sweet than us man. >> What's your name?

>> And what's your whistle name?

That's so so amazing.

It's almost like she's singing a song, but it's just her name. That's really cool. Wow.

>> How important is it for you to continue this tradition?

Because nowadays everyone has phones and they're like they're becoming disconnected from society.

So do you think it's important to continue this? >> Yes.

You know we still practice

till now if we call someone by

off name or by name we feel rude.

We feel c if somebody call by

this tune it's like we feel >> What's your name? Coo go. >> Thank you. What's your name? >> Bye-bye. Lucky.

>> This is actually better than an umbrella because you don't have to hold anything.

So, you still have two hands.

You know, that's the issue I have with an umbrella.

You can't do anything else.

It's just echoey when the rain hits it.

It's just like right in your ear. Okay.

Punch here is going to call someone by their name and see if they

come out and and respond. Go ahead. She responded. Let's go. >> She's responding. >> She's there. >> She's here.

>> What's your whistle name?

That is so incredibly

beautiful that that's her name.

I can't even explain it.

And there's a shorter one.

>> Yeah, we should cut by the way. >> That's it. >> that's it. >> What's his name?

When you have a kid, do you have you thought about the the whistle

name you want to give them?

she said no right now. No.

But when she give birth for newborn baby and then after that

that that mean that

the tune will come to her

heart or her mind. >> Thank you.

I just discovered that in Nallayia

it's a metrineal society which means women have a lot more benefits

compared to women around the world.

So we're learning about it right now.

So my friend can you please tell me a little bit about what these

benefits look like for women >> in our society

you know we get a surname from the mother site.

We the man when we get married we have to move up to the lady's house.

Especially you know the land

the land the property only the the girls they can inherit it.

Mostly the youngest daughter they will get more property more land than the other

daughter because they have to take care for the parent when they are.

>> Are you the youngest daughter of the >> You are.

>> So that means that you get to keep that >> That's great.

What an awesome thing.

So the reason why we follow the matinearial

system here is because during our ancestor

time the men would go off to war with

different tribes you know.

So it is the woman who is the sole take care of the house and the children.

Our ancestor during that time they wanted to honor the woman you know.

So they honored them by deciding that the property

should go to the youngest

>> Are you the youngest daughter? >> No I'm not.

>> So you don't get those benefits?

>> And what if the family only has boys?

So it will go to the next girl in line suppose the cousins or the niece. >> That's really cool.

>> I like how women are put forward in >> Thank you.

>> We made it to a church

in town which might sound shocking because we are in India

and the majority of this country is Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist.

>> So you have Christians here.

>> Tell me more about that.

And it was the first church ever in Megalia and all of Megalia itself.

Like >> so before Thomas Jones came here, what was their religion?

>> Kasi had their own religion.

>> After eight trips to India, I've realized that no country on earth is more

diverse, spiritual, and religious than this one.

>> And right now, I feel grateful to explore such a unique part of it.

But I can't stop thinking about the students I met at school, especially the

one who spoke great English.

I want to know more about her life here in Sora.

So, I got her number from the school principal, asked permission from her father,

picked her and her little sister up at home, and we are now on

the way to find their mother's tea shop.

There's a lot of tea stalls. There's one there. >> Yeah.

This one is my mom's sister. >> Yeah.

So, you're the family business of tea shops? >> Yeah. Even my grandma?

>> Even my mom's older sister.

>> Is that what you want to do?

Are you You're going to break the chain of tea

>> I feel like the rain's going to come >> Yeah, it might.

>> I don't have an umbrella. Do you? No.

>> So, you just going to run home if it

>> Yeah, maybe just walk. It's normal.

>> Have you traveled to other places aside from Megallaya? >> Uh, no.

But, uh, some of my dad's family

uh, they live in Bangladesh.

>> Oh, they live in Bangladesh.

The border is just nearby. >> Yeah, it's nearby.

>> Have you been there?

>> Yeah, I've been there. >> You have?

>> What's it like over there?

>> Uh, it's nice like

but it's also very

>> Culturally, does it feel like the same as here? Like the people?

No, >> no, we're not.

>> Is this the shop?

>> Yeah, this is >> Okay, cool. >> Thanks.

This looks like coconut.

>> Yeah, that that is coconut.

Yeah, it's rice cake. >> That looks good.

And what is this one?

>> It's called >> Is it just like a fried donut?

>> No, not a donut.

It's like it's made from

kind of like a flour or something. >> And this?

>> That's I don't that's so cool.

This is rice cake with meat inside. >> Very good.

It tastes like a giant piece of rice. The flavor.

Like there's no I'm trying to think of the flavor.

If you just enlarged one grain this big.

>> That was a quick grab.

>> Thank you so much.

Wow, this looks really, really, really tasty.

This is just like straight up local cuisine.

When you told me that your family has a tea shop, I didn't realize

it's like a restaurant, too. >> This is great. What is kasi?

Kasi is like the local tribe. >> Yeah. Yeah, tribe. There's garu.

>> You have your own language.

>> We have our own.

>> Do you do you speak Hindi? >> No, I don't.

I mean, I only know how to >> How to write?

>> I mean, only a bit. >> It's so interesting. We're in India.

Hindi is the most commonly spoken language, but she doesn't speak Hindi.

But her English is perfect.

>> She understand us, >> She understands. >> Uh, a bit. She's in kindergarten.

>> She's offended by it when you say a bit.

>> She understands more than a bit. >> Yeah, I guess.

>> How was your day today?

>> Yeah, she got it.

What did you do?

>> I should play with my friends

and in home I should

I should do my homework

and I finish then

I study and I just watch TV. She understands everything.

What do you want to be when you grow up? >> Uh a YouTuber.

>> A YouTuber >> and a Roblox player. Like a pro.

>> You want to be a pro Roblox player? >> Yes.

I think your English is better than

mine when I was your age.

>> How old are you? >> I am six. >> Six.

I'm not sure I spoke English as well as you when I was six.

>> Do you like the rain? >> Yeah. A little bit. >> A little bit.

>> It doesn't bother you?

>> No, it don't bother me like

it just a little bit.

>> What about when it rains really hard?

I just go to sleep.

>> What if it's raining hard in the

>> I just watch TV and play games on her phone.

>> You're making your debut in a first YouTube video right now.

You said you want to be a YouTuber and right now you're in my YouTube video.

>> How does that make you feel?

>> Like very very happy. That's good.

>> I can only see.

>> Which song do you like the best?

>> Um, I like soda pop.

You're my sod pop.

>> Can you sing it for me? >> Okay, I forgot.

But I can still sing that.

You can ask flowers. >> Okay, go ahead.

>> You can like pretty little baby.

I'm so in love with you. Good job.

>> I like how people just walked in and you didn't even stop.

Like you just Most people would be too shy. Keep singing.

>> Let me pay for the dinner. >> No, no, no. It's fine.

It's >> Let me give a tip for the dinner. >> No, no, no. It's fine.

>> The people here are so nice.

Like, they're not letting me pay. >> Thank you.

These clouds are amazing.

You literally live above the clouds. >> That's so cool.

I've never been to any place that looks like this.

And I've traveled to every country in the world. >> Really? Wow. >> Yeah.

And I've never seen like the clouds are way below us right now.

>> That's normal for you.

>> Yeah, it's normal for us.

>> It's such a quiet place.

>> I could stare at this view for hours.

But we have a new mission and that is finding Pokémon cards for the

little girl because she keeps talking about them.

I'm taking her to a shop to see what kind of new cards she

can add to her collection.

You found your shop. >> Oh, Pokemon cards.

Can we get all of them? You excited? Thank you. >> Thank you.

>> What do you hope to get in there?

>> I got the red one.

>> Which Pokemon did you get?

>> I have the rainbow one.

>> Wait, is that Charizard? Let me see.

Yeah, this is Charizard.

That was my favorite card when I was a kid.

>> I got a rainbow again.

I got a rainbow again.

I got >> Maybe you can give one to your sister. >> Okay. Thank you.

I still need to look for the rainbow one.

I need a rainbow one.

>> I never got a rainbow one. Why? >> Whatever.

I still like it.

>> I'm trying to figure out how your English is so perfect.

Do you watch a lot of movies?

Do you read books?

How do you learn English?

>> Like I see TV and class too. >> Class and TV. >> Yes.

My best friend like they protecting me.

They never they never protecting me.

Like I just like them

like I'm just candy.

Like >> does your sister protect you?

>> Um she's always protecting me but she's only jealous. >> She's only jealous.

Why is she jealous? Are you jealous?

>> No, I'm not jealous. >> Yes, she is.

>> Why is she jealous?

>> Because she don't have any money.

I'm the youngest and she's the oldest

when they have a baby.

No, I will be the middle child.

She is the oldest

and they will be the youngest.

I'm the youngest cuz I got money and you don't have >> Maybe you can

give your friends some Pokémon cards

>> or do you want to keep them for

>> I give them my Pokemon cards.

I get all the glass.

>> I get to my best friend.

One, two, three, four, five, seven, eight.

>> That's very nice of you.

Okay, maybe it's time to go home. Yeah.

>> Can I walk you guys home? >> Yeah. Yeah.

>> I love how family oriented it is here.

Like you live next to your aunts and uncles and grandparents. >> It's so nice.

Where I come from, everyone like

they live so far away.

You have to take an airplane.

>> To reach my family.

I have to fly.

>> That's just It's only kilometers away. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's great. High five. One more. This high.

Can you reach it? Come on. Careful. Jeez. My god.

Thank you for hanging out with me.

>> Maybe I'll see you again next time I come here.

>> Or maybe I see you >> somewhere else.

>> If you could say one message to everybody in the world, what would you tell them?

>> Um, thank you everyone

to for watching this video. Like and subscribe.

>> I have this thought that there are so many incredible

corners of the world, but you simply don't know they exist if you've never been.

I came to SA to see what it's like to live in the world's wetest place.

And I'm leaving with a huge smile knowing that I just met some of

the most humble and hospitable people on Earth.

I hope your day is a little better after hearing about this hidden corner of the world.

Thanks for watching and I'll see you guys in the next video.