DIBRUGARH, March 5 � Four American youths embarked on a 1300-km �Brahmaputra River to Bay of Bengal� boating expedition from here today to promote cultural exchange between India and the United States, reports PTI.
The team, which had arrived here on January 29, comprised crew members Daniel Summers (23), Sam Bove (22) and Zach Wallen (23), besides New York-based photographer Trevor Thorpe (26). Summers said the group had been preparing for the expedition since their arrival here and constructed the wooden boat at the Amaraguri ghat for the expedition using hammers, chisels, nails and handsaws which they had brought.
The boat constructed by them measures 15 feet in length and 6 feet in width and is fitted with a gas engine, shaft propeller and radar, Bove and Summers said, adding Dibrugarh was chosen for the downstream expedition as it is the highest navigable point of the river.
�We hope to reach the Bay of Bengal in six weeks time. During the course of our journey we will interact with local people and try to know their culture and traditions. Our expedition will help our fellow Americans and the rest of Europe to know better about the mighty Brahmaputra river and how people live in this part of the world,� Summers said before setting off for the expedition.
�We will also have the opportunity to tell the people about our culture and customs,� he added.
The team will carry stocks of fresh water and gasoline apart from bedding camping stoves and life jackets with them.
�After reaching our destination, we�ll take the boat to the Andaman Islands,� Bove said.
In March 2011 the team had embarked on a similar expedition in Mekong River through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Thorpe said the whole expedition starting from the construction of the boat was videographed and would be shown in international film festivals.
