The WiFi Kids
Shillong’s childhood is changing fast. Not long ago, kids could be seen playing marbles on dusty lanes, making mud cakes, climbing trees, and running around freely. Their laughter echoed through neighborhoods as they enjoyed simple outdoor games.
Today, the scene is very different. Children are increasingly glued to screens; swiping on tablets and phones instead of spinning tops or chasing marbles. Outdoor games like hopscotch have become unfamiliar to man. Social media reels have taken over playtime, and fingers are being trained for swipes, not tosses.
Parents often find solace in knowing their kids are safe inside, but they are literally inside ‘electronic devices.’
As digital devices replace playgrounds, Shillong’s kids are growing up in a new kind of world, one where childhood innocence seems to be buffering. The playground, once full of laughter and dirt-stained clothes, has shrunk to the size of a phone screen. The innocence and magic of childhood seems to be buffering, waiting to load again, if at all.
Kong’s Kitchen Vs Café Culture
Shillong is changing, and so is its food scene. Cafés are popping up everywhere, as fast as mushrooms after a heavy rain. Every corner has a new ‘aesthetic’ spot with leafy green walls, fancy lights, and coffee cup that costs more than an entire coffee bottle. They serve new dishes with strange names and drinks topped with foam mainly to serve the instagram aesthetic.
But amid all this newness, the corner Kong’s Kitchen has been staying true to its roots. No fancy tables but almost everything when it comes to food, red tea, and hearty rice plates that taste like home. It might not have marble countertops or baristas in aprons, but Kong’s kitchen has warmth in every bite, and a plethora of options to choose from, as if a buffet has been laid out.