THE HIMALAYAN EXPERIENCE

Himalayas are the youngest and the highest range in the world. To live in the Himalayas, as a part of them is an experience in itself. Himalayas are the most perfect mountain range, that the Indian subcontinent has ever had. The terrain is full of large boulders, flora and fauna and lots of snow and streams in the summer from the melted snow. Nature is in perfect balance. Even though there is hot blazing sun at 12 noon, water in the Beas is freezing cold. The shade of the young trees, are so perfectly cool enough to have an afternoon siesta, to have lunch, to read a book or to write. One gets to learn so many things apart from the physical aspect of the Himalayas. Himalayas come to us, in the way we want them to. Whether we like them or not, they are always calming down our breath rate and the heart rate. Each and every scenery, we feel like, one can stare till eternity and thats how I meditate in the lap of the Himalayas. The sun bird and cuckoo singing, the lily opening its eyes, the sun saying wishing me the best morning and the moon wishes a great day ahead from the day I reached the base camp, during the trekking and till the last day at the base camp. Everyday, without any burden, I feel like to get up early and see the sunrise in the valley and on the snow clad mountains. Looking at the view, many birds sing a nice good morning to me and here I am sipping a huge mug of steaming tea with my friends. Thats a perfect morning, that gives a feeling of the perfect heaven created for some moments and allows to overcome all the sorrow of the life to melt away in the streams of happiness. And with so much strength from within, that as if, am overcoming every difficulty with ease. We are a group of 9 trekkers, who reach Babeli the base camp, a day later than the stipulated day for the trekk. As we are completing the formalities, there is group of people, coming back after completing the Saurkuditrekk. The happiness on their face is so pure and so childish that no words could express. After that, we all have our lunch. After refreshing ourselves, we all go for the acclimatization walk under Mr. Munish. I am utterly exhausted by the journey. On the way, we discover a flour mill run by water. Well an antiquity now and the perfect shelter housing it!!! I did do the walk to a point away from the temple. This temple is a bit higher than where I am sitting. But then all of a sudden, Mr. Munish gave a little push and here I am in front of the temple. The beauty of the temple is that the
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architecture is really simple made of stone and wooden through beams and the normal slated roof on top. But the real beauty was inside, so calm, cool, peaceful and serene environment as if making me pray, from my inner soul with sincerity and fervour. Something that the ambience makes me do in any of the temples. Yes, a North Indian temple. The exact opposite of a South Indian temple which has all the traditional elements taking us slowly at our own pace from our material world to the world within us. But the serenity is commendable of all the temples in India is commendable. This is the beauty of the most lofty mountain rage which houses the basic necessities in life in a very simple, elegant, and in an architectural way and blending perfectly with the Nature too!!!! The point to be thought here is every man on this earth has been given a gift to find his own survival. Despite of having such a long and tiring day atlast was blessed with campfire after dinnertime. At the campfire, I am the second one to get up and sing a semi classical song from an old movie- KuchDil Ne kaha. And I really enjoy singing it after a very long period of time. And the appraisal that I got from the audience filled me with an unknown joy, this night will be the night to remember. After that time, there was no second thought and all of a sudden I made this iron willed decision to go ahead and enjoy each and every smallest moment of joy during the trek making the best of it as I want to remember and write about it. Thats what exactly happened the very next day. And finally I am blessed with a blissful sleep to call it a day. Next morning early at 5 am, we get the tea and we have to submit or sleeping bag and blanket and also to get ready for the Saurkundi trekking experience. At 7.30 am, we are ready after taking the packed lunch from the base camp. To my surprise, there is a group of people wishing me all the best and to keep singing. Wow, such a beautiful sendoff, something that made that particular moment so perfect for me to enjoy and yet am humbled by the gesture. As usual, I am by the window seat, and the rest of the seat is empty. There comes a couple of friends sharing the seat. As usual, I start my usual thingtalking. Then, after half an hour or so, we had to start trekking. We start the climb at around 9 am with Rajeev Uncle leading us. The trek has its own way of pleasing me. The fresh air that fills the lungs, the terrain to be observed around and the road leading our group ahead is an experience in itself.

I think of the scenery around with pin drop silence and it is like meditation. The only difference is that one is trekking and observing the Nature around and finding his own happiness in his own way. At every step that I take ahead towards the Saurkundi Pass, I found tremendous freshness within myself. The main reason being is that I am in the midst of highest, lofty mountain range. This is the way the Himalayas want me to explore them. To feel the warmth of my body and mind on them, walking with firm steps and also talking to them on a heart to heart basis. As if they are eagerly waiting for me to talk to them. They warm hearted welcome with open arms is the love that I have never experienced before. The scene before me is something worth to be enjoyed there. In the blazing sun, there are snow clad mountains photo framed by two large lush green mountains on either side. As the snow shines in the gleaming sunlight, I feel that Love is Nature and Nature is Love. The sunbeams are in love with snow peaks, the lush green mountains, the river flowing in the heart of the Himalayas. Alongwith that, comes the love of the wind - playing with the majestic and high chinnars and deodars and apple trees giving relief from the harsh sun in the whole of the environment. Added with that is the natural singing of the different birds, singing the raga of Love for Mother Nature. During the trek, I came across the love of my life wooden and stone buildings, large roses and rosy kids, enhancing the beauty of the Himalayas. Many a times, I feel that, the local people are better architects than me despite of having a qualified certificate from a well-known university. The way, they work on their structural system, using wood and stone, the minute details that are taken care of at the junction of a wooden post and beam, making a wooden frame for the roof and then laying of the slates or using wood and stone together as the building material. If we want to learn the vernacular architecture, then making one building on site with the help of local people and using local materials will teach us a lot more than the formal education taken in any university in the world. At one, we have lunch break in an apple orchard. After lunch, I start to write some self-empowering words to mentally prepare for all the physical hardships that I have to face and it worked magically with me. While watching and walking all the experiences, we all come to our first higher camp- Segli. The campsite is a bit difficult due to the blisters in my feet but I made it. At each and every step, my will power grows from fragility to as lofty and hard as the iron willed as the mighty Himalayas. At each and every step I found a new and a much better way to love myself and push myself
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towards a perfection that the Himalayas wanted me to have. A new perfected myself is what I gained at each higher base camp. The base camp is located at a place where Beas is very beautifully meandering its way in the heart of the Himalayas. Besides the routine, we all enjoyed playing antakshri and then it is soon souptime. After sometime, we have dinner and then we all start the campfire and we all sing our lives out. And we are all thankful for a huge mug of hot bournvita. At about 10 pm we were all blissfully asleep in our tent. Next day, at about 9 am, we start for the higher base camp-Horathatch. Today is the bright day, ahead. Everyones asking about my decision whether to continue the trek or to return back. But there is no looking back for me, once decided to head forward. And I advance towards the Horathatch with full zest and zeal and full of vigour talking to Mandar. The last person, Manish asked to take 40 steps in a stretch and then stop for a break. And that really helped me in building the stamina. The tempo with which I climbed the heights with great comforts from the Segli camp is the real me that I always love to preserve. On the way, the snow clad mountains accompany me to eternity. On the way there are young streams running swiftly as if a child doubles his running speed at the sight of his mother. Many streams eagerly merge in the Beas forming her and playing around as if they all missed being with each other. I wash my face on the way in such streams. Surprisingly, not only did the water take away all the tiredness but gave such positivity and filled the jovial side of me in a moment I never realized. The water coming from the Himalayas is so rich of minerals, is crystal clear yet so soft to digest and perfectly chilled. Yes people often say that this water cures a lot of skin diseases. There is no need of purification tablets because this Himalayan water, have passed the test of our ancestors. Yes old fashioned but its the truth. On the way, as I am talking to Mandar all of a sudden I find the local houses made of wood and stone are also very eager to greet us in their own way. These houses blended so well with the terrain and yet had all the basic facilities that is required for the living. Well on the way, that same Mandar personally appreciated my iron will to sing a song despite of temporary negativity around on my first day at Babeli base camp.
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And at about 12 noon, we are at lunch point. This is a huge clearing with gentle slope and surrounded by deodars and chinnars. And I am so thankful for lunch after a bit stannous trek. After lunch, there is a herd of sheep grazing, so I sit to watch and they are so peacefully munching the fresh grass. After writing a few lines in the diary,I take a a nap for some time. Then I join the group singing South Indian filmi songs. Music makes me medidate anywhere and at anytime on this place. Music is always fun for me something that always brings out the best in me and the best way to love myself. To appreciate any kind of music, the language is not that important. But the emotions and the expressions brought out during singing is how I enjoyed their songs. At that time there was a strange silence as if the Nature around us, the deodars, the chinnars, the grazing sheep, the lush green grass were all listening the songs and were also enjoying them. This is the power of Music, because it is all about Love both of which we are gifted from the day we open our eyes in this world. Music brings lives, cultures, people together inunison no matter what religion, caste, creed different people belong to. Anyways, as the lunch break is over, we move ahead towards Horathatch. And within no time we are at Horathatch which has the most beautiful campsite. The routine starts with tea and snacks. And within no time, half of the group is off to play cricket. And I make myself comfortable in the tent for sometimes. And after sometimes I join the group of friends like Nina, Priyanka, Gauri, Manish, Mandar, Arjun and Poornima. Before the campfire the big gujarati group play garba. Then we have the campfire which is always a treat and best part of the trekking. There are so many things to enjoy during the campfire. Here is where again I take a chance to sing. Palak and Renu do a dance. And an uncle sings a Tamil version of Surmaiankhiyonmei. And then after sometimes it is soup time and dinner time. Everyones happy with themselves and enjoying the environment and the dinner ofcourse. And then it is time to call it a night early. So we all play antakshri in the tent which for me is welcome anytime anywhere. And then after an hour or so we call it a night. The night in Horathatch is so peaceful, an experience in itself to sleep so peacefully. As correctly said by the people that when the surrounding is so calm and quiet all of a sudden a man goes into his inner soul consciously or unconsciously. Thats exactly what happens with me often and suddenly the brightest smile crosses my face and thats what the real trance is. All the jovial
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memories suddenly cross my mind. Also the excitement of the next day fills the night with so much fun that without sleeping I am so fresh in the morning to take up the hike. The following day we all wake up really early to see the surroundings all over n to be with Nature. We are told to leave the campsite at 11 am from Horathatch to Maylee thatch. This trek is a bit challenging because rather than the actual kilometers traveled, the gradient starts to get steep from here. The gradient is almost 45-60 degrees because the shoes kept saying enough and I want to move ahead. Though there are friends behind like Gauri, Manish, PragnyaDidi and a friend behind. What I liked about this group of people, they always encouraged me that they all put me in such a way that boosts my morale to overcome and enjoy the physical difficulties too. At that particular moment, the thought that crossed my mind is that well when Nature puts us in a difficult situation, the path to come out of it is also designed at the same time. The only difference is that Nature leaves it to us how we take it. I take it positively because I found out the best in me the moment I took that physical challenge positively. And the biggest thing is that I am still talking to the friend of mine. The moment I stopped talking, and observed everything around gave me much more empowerment for a lifetime. The point is that, this being the first trek, so far have put my best up till now and will continue to do so till the last day of the trek. The reason of the ultimate happiness hugging me again and again is, that the Himalayas have a very natural of healing me in person. They have the ability to heal anyone and in such a way that we are unaware of. After that only one can go into meditation while trekking and even trance. And moments after other group mates are encouraging me to move ahead with full zest and zeal, am newly born every time and can reach any height with the same enthusiasm. I would be smiling and laughing and the child is once again loved by me and the Himalayas around. Thats what Himalayas wants us to learn that not to lose our childish side because thats where we draw our true happiness from. The most shocking thing is that even my body, soul and mind worked so much in a positive direction healing holistically, to prepare for the higher altitudes in a much healthier way and this happened in a very subtle way, I never realized when, where and exactly in how much time the surroundings poured in such a lot of positivity. I kept feeling lighter in body, mind and soul. And the amazing live motion picture going on with the deodars around, the snow clad mountains walking the actual trek alongside and giving a warm
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hug the moment I need the encouragement to take the next step and to keep up the tempo. And we reach the lunch point. And I am once again in the group rejoicing again. Although, unwell, in front of me there is this perfect picture frame formed by a snow clad mountain and a couple of deodars on either side. Somewhere near the top a cloud is coming towards it and within moments, the cloud and the mountain are hugging each other in a way that can be enjoyed on the spot. As if the mountain is complaining to the cloud of the harsh sun burning its skin, the big boulders piercing its heart and the cloud showers all the love on the mountain and they are in love once again. If one looks at the character of a cloud, mountain, deodar, birds, rivers, wind, sky and animals, all of them have a different language to speak, understand, and know. But the main thing is unfortunately not observed in the human nature. No matter how harsh the sun is, no matter whether the sunbird gets his food, no matter almost all the topmost branches of the deodars are burnt by sun, a sunbird will always sing lovingly, deodar will always provide enough shade for the animals and people to rest under them. As if all the above mentioned creations of Mother Nature just know the expression of Love. So the saying goes that Love is in the air, we humans should be at that level to feel that love. And the biggest thing is whether they complain, crib or get angry not of it gets converted into the harshness over the human beings. This is the biggest lesson that the Himalayan region teaches us. Thats why a lot of people shifted from the cities are so much healthier. Himalayas truly heals us in a very simple and elegant way-with Love. After the luch break, within an hour or so we reach the Mayleethatch. The camp leader, Mr. Manish Modi, gives a warm welcome by being there where the YHAI Mayleethatch flag is fluttering. He gives me a hand to help but then Rajeev Uncle just encourages that she will do it on her own. That particular simple gesture is so full of energy enough to boost ones morale and felt so assured that I am going to complete this trek on my own. Majority of the people completing a trek like this, have 50% their will power, 45% their physical strength and 5% encouragement from the peers. Once again , the campsite of Mayleethatch is really beautiful. We all settle in our tents for sometime and then we are all out in the common gathering space to watch the scenary around. The view ahead is mesmerizing. Behind me Nina is singing, ye haseenvaadiyaan, the most perfect song to be sung at that particular time and place. And once again I get lost in my own world and that is worth mesmerizing into.

And suddenly from the West, a ray of sunlight decides to kiss the lower snow clad mountain. Wow that is worth a watch. Showing my friends the same phenomenon around, I get a completely different feeling- a feeling of freedomas free as the birds flying high in the sky. The birds that are profoundly found isa cute sunbird, the crow and the eagle. And then we have the campfire, a local guide, Jagdish sings 3 to 4 songs in his mother tongue. And at that time the whole surrounding is worth an experience to live it king size. We play a couple of games in the group. Even At this point of time, I would rather call all my groupmates as Indians may they be from any part of India. Yes the name Indian is more suited to us. Probably thats one of the other major lesson that we have to learn from the Himalayas. Arjun performs break-dance and couple of other girls performing dance. And then the campfire is wound up with a large of people playing garba. Then it is time for soup and after sometime dinner is served. Somehow ever since, I am trekking, there is a big change in the apetite, the loss of apetite. After dinnertime, we all played antakshri. Well antakshri has always been my favourite game, as many of the old songs that I want to show my talent, I get a chance to do so. And I sing YaraSiliSili, one of my favourite songs, sung by LataMageshkar from the film Lekin starring VinodKhanna and Dimple Kapadia. Fortunately, today is the full moon day and we watch the moon rise and come to its full form as the antakshri is going on. At that particular time, one feels so calm and serene, as if all the natural beings around us are listening to our music and dancing. And not to forget a huge mug of bournvita is there to warm us all. Then after antakshri I joinManish, Gauri, Priyanka, Nina and Mandar. After sometime we all decide to calm down ourselves. And I am in a mess. All I can think of a person but actually, is miles away in reality and in person. Just wondering, that, how uncertain is everyones life when, we have to relate from a human to a human looking for a real relationship, whereas this kind of uncertainty is not found in Nature. A baby monkey in danger is saved by some other female who is not his mother. A lonely bird is found instantly singing and playing merely with the flock of birds having fun besides him and go home at last happily that they had a great day at work and made lots of new friends. And then the period of thoughtlessness comes to me ultimately giving me so much of happiness.
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And then we all call it a day and time to say to say goodnight to the night in Maylee thatch. The next day again begins with full of zest and zeal. The sun has already risen and we are all enjoying the morning tea in the waking sun. Today is the day we move to Dourathatch. This is the last higher campsite after which we have a trek 12km long wherein we actually pass the Saurkundimountain. After breakfast and taking packed lunch, we all assemble for group photo session. At 9 am, we all begin our trek towards Dourathatch. Yes, the gradient is a challenge but somehow now I am much more comfortable from within myself that ultimately puts me in a much comfortable state to do the trek the way I want to do it. From here the trekking is on open cleared mountainous side provided an all around scenario of the Himalayas surrounding us and also many of the snow peaks. The amazing thing is that the meandering Beas also walks along and a lot of new mountainous scenary keeps on adding as I move ahead. Well at this height there is no sound except that made by the group mates. The sun is in the full swing and so is the wind. The miraculous thing is that the intensity with which the sun hits the mountains, with the same intensity and coolness the wind sucks away the heat from the mountains relieving them. And thats why, the weather here is also friendlier than in the plains. The wind is full of oxygen and easy to inhale- because of pollution free environment. When we come from home, we, are pleased with the Himalayas but are unable to enjoy them, they way they present themselves. We are not used to the cleanliness of the environment and the freshness of the trees, wind, sunlight, water, sky and clouds. As if we have so many layers on our body full of stress, strain, panic, anger, jealousy, guilt, the compeititivity, overburdened with responsibility at home, workplace and the list goes on. So the first sign of actually being in the Himalayas is that all our body is tired to the numbness of our lifestyle to such an extent, that we forget to enjoy and except the freshness of the surroundings and the purity of the souls with which we are born. Each and every step, towards the Saurkundimountain, unfolds, all these layers superimposed on us. At every unfolded layer of stress from our body we experience the purity of body, mind and soul. Many of group mates walking alongside with me cannot even express the exact reason of being so extraordinarily happy within themselves. All they can do is smile so much times better and feel the purity of their souls within themselves and be thankful to the Himalayas.
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As the time passes by, it is time for us to take a lunchbreak. This place is really interesting in itself. There is a huge clearing on this mountain with groups of deodars forming the shady places around to have lunch in. We all sit for lunch. After lunchtime, I move in the clearing side of the mountain within deodars shade. And the view all around is amazing. There are so many mountains in front forming a scenary and in between I can still see the whole Beas from where she is coming. On theright hand side, the snow clad mountains with snow white clouds and the blue sky. Occasionally, the cows grazing the pastures, the wind in its own light and friendly mood and of course the harsh afternoon sun all form the perfect scenario which takes me miles away from all the tensions and worries. My mind at this point is so light, that I am wondering in peaceful wilderness just like the free flying crow that has caught my attention. Yes today my mind is observing a crow. The crow stretches his wings and just makes himself light, so he can fly in the breeze coming gently towards him and then ready, steady and gone in the wind. So full of energy, confidence and comfort from within himself that he feels much lighter than his body weight. Now he steadies his wings and looks down and is just singing whatever could come to his mind. And this is how a crow meditates. And he is the happiest soul that I have ever met, happier than myself. Somehow at one point of time, I could feel exactly what the crow is feeling. Complete quietness, serenity, confidence, full of vigour, zest, zeal and passion and last but not the least very witty, clever and intelligent. Thats why I guess the crow is considered to be the most intelligent of the birds around. He does not merely pick up the food as a scavenger by being near us but also learns the ultimate way of being happy from within himself. He is so proud of himself to be born and brought up in the Himalayas. He is flying alone but look at the variety of the natural living things talking to him. The wind is a companion ever since he learns flying. When he needs shade, he sits on the deodar or the chinnar and pecking at their fruits. When he decides to be on the ground, then enjoys the sun bath and the wind cooling him at the same time. When he wants to clean himself, merely by standing on the rock in the Beas just gives him too many showers by the river herself playful and full of childishness playing around with the stones, boulders, and the sun and the wind playing their own parts and many people rafting on her or maybe river crossing or maybe just sitting and watching the scernario around. After an hour or so the trek is resumed again. Initially the trek is through the small forest of the deodars and then once again we are in the cleared side of the mountains. Climbing these mountains higher and higher, makes me feel so lighter from within as if the Himalayas have unfolded one more layer of stress and strain so close to my soul that giving it up after a long time seemed a big
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exercise. But once the surroundings took it away, I am in front of a huge slope having a small patch of snow. Wow!!!! The snow!!!! One more love of my life. Within moments of reaching the snow, I am playing in it. It is as if after a long time in my life have I got to play in the snow. The surprising thing is that at that point, all the physical difficulties are soon forgotten and that childish, playful and adventurous side of me is instilled even before the conscience is aware of. Playing in the snow is so close to my heart. It is a dream coming true after a long time and wish never to end. It is an experience that is so much welcome that I want to live every moment of my life in that same way. Some of the groupmates are playing snowball and some of them are doing the snow slides. Playing in the snow, is what most of the group enjoyed the most. Some of them, had the feel of the snow for the first time in their life. And that was worth a watch watching them play around and fool around with themselves. And then hardly we walk for fifteen to twenty minutes and we are in Dourathatch. And then we relax a bit, And then we are out again in the surroundings enjoying ourselves in the midst of the unique experience that Himalayas have to offer at this height. At this point of time, I think that our activities are so much simple as that of the birds and the animals around us. Our routine is so simple that we get up early at 5.30 see the sunrise, and have tea, then get ready, have breakfast and then we go trekking higher. At luch point, we take a break and then resume to trek till the next base camp where we are invited with tea and snacks and then after a couple of hours its souptime and dinnertime. Before saying goodnight we all have a huge mug of bournvita singing our brains out and having fun and atlast wind up in our tents blissfully asleep and thankful for the day and thankful for the sleep we are about to go into. Life is that simple, no internet, no mobile phones, no television, no vehicles, no pollution. Work, yes the most difficult is to trek in these regions. When our lives become so simple, our joys and sorrows are bound to be so simple. Our innermost soul, comes into being when such simple is the life. And once again we return to that place from where we started our day one in this life. Full of childish zest, zeal and vigour, full of energy talking to everyone irrespective of how, what, where does that person comes from ad we all have fun. We find the joy the moment we find a different flower, plant, tree, shrub as if it is our greatest discovery till now and everyone around us is so happy and we all encourage each other in some way or the other. This is how we all ought to live life. But as said by Lewis Caroll,What is this life full of care, no time to stand and stare.This is what the life we are living in our own cities like the frog
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in his own well and is so happy because this whole well is his and the moment he is put outside the well he loses his own happiness. The very reason being, that he has been born and brought up in the same well and told by others that the moment he leaves it, he will be unhappy. But the case is exactly opposite when we all join hands and decide to complete this trek. Rather we start the trek as people from different parts of India but the aura of Himalayas makes us all come together and complete the trek as Indians. While trekking we find that the basic need of every human being is same, unconditional acceptance of the way he is.We all share our common interests of music, dance and watching the Nature in silence and enjoy playing pranks on each other too. Afterwe reach there, we freshen up, have snacks. And just wander around carelessly and enjoying the natural beauty around. And as all these thoughts come across our mind, suddenly after an hour or so the temperature starts falling down. Suddenly the blizzard starts at a horrendous speed accompanied by the chilled rain. And I stand in this blizzard and rain as if it is refreshing me and at the same time, freezing the bones out and drenching me in the rain. But the experience is worth living it. Thats all I can say, whenever that incidence crosses my mind. And at about 6 pm, it is souptime followed by the dinner. The dinner is special because we have gulabjamuns today. We all enjoy our dinner and then finally we retire to our tents early because the weather is not that enjoyable to have a campfire. Finally when the tent is packed, we are already to say goodnight, thats the time the rain gets harder. For me the night has fallen but dont know why, cant sleep peacefully. All I hear is the rain and people talking in the other tents. It feels as if I have just closed my eyes and it is time to wake up. And same thing followed, suddenly Manish is asking everyone to come out of our tents and view the scenario around. And I am so glad that I did so. Thanks to Manish. I am seeing the most memorable scene of my life. In the West, the moon is in the full boom. Beneath it, is a snow clad mountain shimmering lightly in the moonlight and on the either side are the deodar gathering spaces. After teatime, I look up again and still see in the far West and the snowy peaks bathing joyfully in it. And the same mountain peak is shimmering with the touch of the freshly awakened by the Sun, slowly opening his eyes form last nights long and peaceful sleep. The beauty of the scene is so much perfect to be observed and to be absorbed in that no poetry or no prose
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can describe it. Wow, the Sun and the moon sharing the same blue sky and looking very peaceful and beautiful in their own ways and the clouds are also seen with them. And it is so real and the closest to my heart. A scene so perfect and yet out of words, to express the joy of getting absorbed in such a perfect scenary - Nature at its best. Everything is so perfect in Nature. The crows crowing, wind in her won mood playing with the grass, trees, mountainous terrain boulders. Everyone would have loved to stare this wonderful art of Nature till eternity. But as usual the time is up, and at 6:45 am, we head for our long awaited, the SaurkundiMoutain Pass. This trek being 12 km long, we start early in the morning. We are reaching today at our last but one base campLongathach. The reason for starting so early is that the majority of the trek is covered before its time for the weather to change its mood and start raining, likely around say 3 pm. The climb up is as interesting as descending down. This particular trek is the most interesting and full of surprises. At first, the climb is on the grass covered mountain having quiet a gradient. After reaching the top, we walk on the ridge of the mountain. Wow!!! That is an experience in itself. As I am walking ahead, I keep looking at the scene. By now the moon is slowly fading away and snow peaks are rising from a deep slumber. And as I walk on the rigde, there is a totally new being born in me with new thoughts, dreams, feelings, a totally new body, soul and mind. Perhaps one more layer of stress and strain is what I have come out of. Thats why the freshness, zest and zeal of that particular mind, body and soul are unknown. Well all of a sudden, the ridge gets a bit challenging. With huge boulders to cross, suddenly makes me come out of the trance. Suddenly my confidence is stumbling down, and then a friend comes by. Somehow, the body language carried by this person makes me just go through all the challenges with a broad smile. My body language changes instantly. Even I decide to make it on my own. But I needed help due to the terrain and my physical health. And everytime, I would take any help, it crushes me to an extent that maybe I am standing high on the rock but inside I become so small not liking to take the help. But the actual thing that friends like him make me realize that being my first trek, as far as this point is concerned, I have done so well and if in future sometimes take help without the feeling of guilt within. This is something very difficult to overcome. But the real thing is that I keep reacting to the situation and thinking beyond a point wherein all I need to do is to just take a hand and put my leg ahead for the step ahead. And the moment, it is over I am so relieved, confident, energetic and comfortable within myself. And I did boost my own confidence by smiling broadly at the groupmate.
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Yet, one more way to love myself the way I am and to unconditionally accept myself the way I am. This acceptance is very rarely achieved by very few people in their lives and they are the ones who are really happy whether inside out or outside in. Yes we hear many times in our lives that if we are able to accept ourselves the way we are being created, giving ourselves the unconditional acceptance and merely loving ourselves to eternity every time we are successful in a very small way, then only we can have a positive attitude and spread the positivity around. And positivity is in our nature and then success comes to us and we do not have to go and hunt for it. The trek is through the snow sometimes. Yes, I wanted to run and be first in the trek. I am really at the verge of my life where am satisfied with the success that has come to me. I decide to walk at my own pace and feel every coming and going thought as my own creation. Neither judging, nor becoming so possessive about the positivity thats springing from within and also accepting all the negativity, hardships and sadness too. Once again my mind is like that crow who is just flying weightlessly, aimlessly in the clear wind in the midst of the Himalayas, sometimes flying as high as ever and sometimes flying as fast as possible with utter acceptance of my mind, body and soul. And I am meditation again. And after sometime, I at the verge of my first snow slide. This slide is the most interesting because the mountain is 90 as soon as we start sliding down. Well all I decide is to allow all the people to go ahead, because, this is it. I love snow slides and will enjoy every moment of it come what may. There are many ways of doing this slide. Firstly let all the people go by. Meanwhile calm down and relax as if it is a slide I am going to do in garden. Then as I am sitting down, dont say anything nor ask anything and the most important is that not to look at the slides path and just smile and say yipppeeee!!!!!!!! Following all the norms like sitting on a normal slide having the elbows closed and leaning back, I start the slide as the guide gives me a push. Wow!!!!! Thats it!!!! I am yelling at the top of my voice. The reason being is that I throw away all the fear in shouting and fill in the excitement of sliding without brakes in the snow!!!! I enjoyed it to the fullest and had the most exciting and speediest way to come down the slide. Yes as usual I did boink into Amrita Aunty. But at the end of the slide I was back to myself the same adventurous side of me coming so alive and making me so happy about it. Yes of course , my whole back did go numb but then the experience is worth living it.
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Before even realizing it, people are congratulating me for the most excited snow slide. And this is the time when I remember my days in Canada. I used to do tubing. Well its a tube that we sit into and then a person pushes us down. This tube is attached by a cable so that once we are done through the tubing, the person at the top of the slide can have the tubes again. And there are about 6 to 7 tubes working on one channel. Even doing that was great fun with all of my dearest friends from different parts of the world. And then we resume the trek, towards the Saurkundimountain. At that point of timeI felt that my life is getting complete because all the lovely friends are around my physically and in my mind and even that person who is dearest to me. The walk is slow because of the fast blowing wind and the gradient of the terrain. The scenery to be observed around is something out of ones imagination. And atlast at about 12 noon we reach the point from where we can see the Saurkundi mountain. We are at the height of 12,800 ft. At this point, I decide to have lunch on my own. Just to be with myself, something that I like to do when am surrounded by such beautiful Himalayas and the Saurkundi mountain at my back. Somehow, I am not alone is what I always feel when people around ask me to join them. Because I miss talking lovingly to myself, enjoying the love within, and childishly looking at myself for the love of my life is uptill now just me and myself- a lesson well learnt from the Himalayas. Having lunch by myself, is something that I always look forward to. Suddenly, a crow lands at some distance from me. We are watching each other with so much joy and yet awe stricken as if the crow is reading my mind and is my lover and loves me the way I am. After sometime we resume the trek. This walk is also through the snow. All of a sudden, Manish comes from behind to congratulate Priyanka and myself for successfully trekking till this pointthe Saurkundi Pass. After about half an hour of walking, we come to our second slide. Now this slide is much easier, the slope is gentle and perhaps the longest distance - almost 1 km. This slide is also as interesting as the first one. Except, there was traffic jam, on the way. But hey everything is part and parcel of the slide. Even we all enjoyed the traffic jam and then resumed the sliding at the full swing. But anyways at the end of the slide we all had great fun. Though for sometime, we had to take rest due to the numbing of our body but from the bottom of our hearts we all enjoyed to the maximum limits, we could.
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Now we have already resumed the trek, and its through the mountainous terrain not in the snow. This is a bit tricky due to the reason that now it is climbing down and everyone feels the gradient going down and walking on the same a bit tactful. And we walk some distance ahead and then we take a break for sometimes. And all of a sudden, Devendra Sir points out Manali, in the shape of the Indian map. Wow!!! NO wonder the birds eye view of Manali is so beautiful. And all around us, the everlasting and meditative beauty of the Himalayas. Here am capturing this beautiful moment of this trekking in a camera. But as usual, no time to stand and stare. After sometimes, we decide to walk again to a point where we are sliding for the last time. This slide is the most interesting of all the slides. Yes, the imagination of going for a snow slide, is much soothing after long walks, a rest to the body. Glinding down in the snow is an experience where I felt the actual acceptance of the snow, and the gradient of the Himalayas deciding to take me from top of the cliff to its bottom with least physical effort. Here too, I am the last one. And here I begin the journey downhill. Wow!!!! The joy that that I can experience in this slide is something that makes me happy to a point wherein I dont know the exact source of happiness and yet am happy till eternity. As said by the guide, I follow every instruction. But on the way as I am yelling my brains out, I get so excited that the speed suddenly increases stupendously and the elbows are up in the air to make the most exciting and at the end it is the scariest of all. All I can hear is people shouting at me to break the speed by using elbows but that ambience in my mind is such that all I can hear is myself and my joyful voice. As the slide ended, my brains got knocked out. Priyanka is trying to get up and I boink into her sending her a few steps ahead. Cheez we are scared but thanks to Mandar, who is so adamant to stop us and he is successful. I dont know where my mind wandered at that time not listening to people but still so happy from inside. Everyones had a lifetime experience so far in their own way so once again we resume the walking for an hour approximately in the snow. Anyways, the angle at which we see the snow peaks is about 15-20 degrees. Somehow, I am still in the state of the actually doing the slide. Wonder why I want to live that experience, once again. Because yet the closest layer of stress and strain were all taken away by the Himalayas and made me feel no
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pain physically nor mentally. And everytime a layer of stress and strain were unwrapped from my soul, the Himalayas join me in my long lost joy of the life and cradle all my playfulness, childishness better than any person in this world and encourages to go ahead with the same spirit and making me learn how serious my life is in a way no one has explained yet. By now, we surpass the snowy region and we descend down. All of us wished that had the mountain been still covered with the snow, we could have snow slides and not climb down. Climbing down in such a terrain is much more difficult than climbing up the mountain. The snow has recently melted from the mountain which we are descending down, so some of the parts are slippery and a bit wet. From the bottom of our hearts, we all wished to have a campsite in the midst of the snow at this height. To spend a night in the snow, is also an experience. Wish that could be a reality but well so far so good. Everyones happy to be finally starting to descend the Himalayas. As I descend down the mountains, all I can think of is that whatever I desired to achieve, through this trek, I have already achieved. Probably much more than I ever realized once I have an iron will to do this trek, the way I wanted. This achievement is means a lot to me, feels like a raodie from inside. Well I muist say, everyone is a raodie in his own life whether he is a part of this trekking or not. As we descend down, Arjun finds a small snow patch to have a nice little snow slide. And he did that along with other groupmates. And what made me happy that whatever came to their minds, people did it mayit be anything in life- some things we always long to do in our normal lives but are unable to do so. After sometime as we are descending down some people have a bad fall due to loss of balance. Some are seriously hurt. And when I ask people about their condition they say they are fine. Well thats all I wanted to assure. After sometime we are descending, the last cliff, at the base of which is the last but one campsite-Longathatch. As we are descending the cliff, the guide tells us that had we been in the sixth or seventh batch of the trek, we would have slid down to almost the campsite. But anyways we are always having fun and the most important thing is everyone is in the best of his each day and ready to move ahead with the team spirit. Descending down, made my heart go heavy, because after two days the
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trek is going to end. But o well I made the best of it at each and every moment of it, that is the spirit, I filled inside and is still on till date. And after sometime we reach Longathatch. The tent, in which we are, is the best of all. In front we have a very panoramic view of the Himalayas. Well we all settle down for sometimes and then we have snacks and tea. And for the first time in this whole trek I had snacks to my fill to an extent that I couldnt have dinner nor bournvita. After snacks, we are all gathered in the clearing and are all so tired and happy that atlast the trek is going to end after two days. We do have a campfire at the end of the day, but really small one. Most of the groupmates decided to call it a night early and I am at the campfire. It is fun but much quieter. Well I loved it. And then it is time to call it a night. Once fast asleep, I realized I am sliding down. O well it didnt matter much as long as I am in the tent. But atlast decided to enjoy that experience to. Atleast, I am warm enough in a sleeping bag and cotton lining and thankfully inside a tent. I tthink of all the wonderful memories that I lived in this trek, after a reallylong time and thats how I am fast asleep. Next morning, I am awake at about 5.30 and then as usual watch the Himalayas around and talking to Devendra Sir. And after sometime, I watch a beautiful sunrise from behind the snowy Himalayas. This is the most enjoyable part with sun slowly rising from a good night sleep. The suns rays touch the Himalayas and as if waking them up in a way a mother wakes up her child with so much fondness and love for child in a way that after sometime, the child and the mother are happily plying with each other and welcoming the one great morning in their lives. While having breakfast, we all get a chance to see the famous Rohthang Pass. This pass is through the snow and to the extreme left had side of our campsite. Well sometimes watching such places, gives us a satisfaction that atleast seeing the beautiful Rohthang Pass is a jewel to be treasured for in our memories. There comes a moment of utter grievance that II have to leave all this here and start the routine life back home. And the grievance did take a toll. But suddenly I realized that maybe I am not taking anything from here, but the experience that I have had throughout the trekking expedition is all I add into the treasure of the golden memories like my favourite gold earring.

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Soon, it is time for breakfast. And at about 9 am a group of people decide to go to Manikaran instead of Lekhni. And soon after they leave, we all bid goodbye to Longathatch. And now we are off to Lekhni- the last base camp, wherein we will be spending the night in a wooden house. Wow!!! A wooden house to own mayit be for a night in the midst of the Himalayas. Well we are all happily heading towards Lekhni. The experience goes on in the Himalayas , changing their way of expression of Love for me. The love of the Himalayas makes my heavy heart , lighter and still wander in the large deodar and chinnar forests. As if each branch of the deodar, is giving me a slight push to reach its topmost branch, to see the view around and fly around the in the sky as a carefree bird. And here comes the wind surrounding the crow of my mind, and lifting me weightlessly as if lifting a beautiful feather in the sky for it to have a wonderful view of the Himalayas. At each and every confident descending step down, the higher and lighter is the flight of the crow of my mind flying from deodar to chinar to river in the valley or at the topmost rock on the mountain. I am still having that heavenly experience. And at the same time I am talking to friends around. Then my mind joins the group of the Himalayan crows, welcoming , me not only in their gang but also in their humble home and making me a part of them before I even gain my senses. Well thats exactly what happens when 50 people from different parts of India are on a trekking expedition for 15 days, they are bound to be one as Indians. The meaning of being Indian is so deep and so honorable that I have no words to describe it. Being an Indian is totally different from being a Brahmin, kshtriya or a Baniya, a Muslim or Christian. And after sometimes, we all take a lunch break. As this is the last time, we are having a lunch break in the Himalayas, I have lunch with Devendra Sir and Siddharth. Waiting for my omlette, my mind is unhurt so peaceful as if the Ganges flowing in the plains. Letting everything happen with full conscience, and enjoying the pain and joy together forming this trekking expedition a memorable one is all that I have to learn to be happy in the routine life. Once done with lunch, I sit back and start writing the diary so as to be happier then what I am. But all of a sudden, a smile spreads on my face as I look up straight at the crow hovering over the deodar. I felt that experience itself is so complete and made me so happy once again untying yet another layer of stress and strain from my soul and making me a new born soul full of positive energy.
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All of a sudden I spot Mandar at the top of huge boulder with his cowboy hat. Thats idealy is his own way of enjoying the view that he is seeing. Just like the crow on the rock. And after sometime, we resume the trek again. The journey to eternity still continues. Its a journey within myself from the day that I started this trek to the day till I finish the trek and leave the Himalayas. I have opened my soul to that love within myself that I havent experienced in ages before. While descending down, the blsiters have become too sensitive despite of the dressing done so a guide helps me out. Everytime I fell down and lost my balance he asked me, to carry my bag but nothing more than an iron will and a tired body, I am determined to finish the trek on my own. Thats very generous of him to ask but my thoughts were continuously encouraging me to complete the trek on my own. The only thought that crossed my mind is that when 80% of the trek, I have done it on my own this 20%, I want to do it on my own so that I get a complete experience. A lot of the unsaid wishes and desires got fulfilled in the trek. And still am iron willed to complete this trek on my own. The meaning of this trek is look all around yopurself. Breath in the sweet nectar of the flowers, sing with the birds and the rivulets flowing by and walk at our own pace, making each and every step in this trek a memorable one. The bestest of all. This is about learning to talk to the Himalayas in their own way which is our own way too following the simplest of the lifestyles. Everyone is dead silent and descending down. On the way, suddenly the temperature drops down and the wind picks up the speed. Within no time, it is raining and for some seconds, little snowballs fall from the sky. Thats an experience we all wished to have. And then it is fulfilled by the Nature. Well thanks to the Himalayan weather today that they didnt pour rains heavily. On the way to Lekhni, we have delicious lassi. Wow enjoying a panoramic view of the Himalayas and having lassing at a slow pace is also an experience in itself. I mean its an experience in totality thats what I want to emphasize. And as time passes by I am nearer to Lekhni-campsite. Suddenly Manish decides to take my back pack and reack the campsite. Reluctantly I hand him the bag, the reason being that my bag is a bit imbalanced to carry making me heavy on the left side.

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And after say 15-20 minutes, I am in Lekhni campsite. Suddenly I started crying in pain due to the blisters and due to the fact that Manish had to carry my bag pack. I felt really guilty at that point. But the best part of it is that 90% of the trek is over and this is our last campsite. The reason being so happy that, despite, the guides helping, by holding my hand and making me walk but at last I walked on my two legs, a triumph so important to me, which I have achieved after 28 years. Being an architect by profession, often we would guide the client for choice of the best site for their residence. But Himalayas are one mountain range, where we would have to give up the job as the greatest architect who has made this beautiful mountain range has each and every panoramic residential site. And finally I was glad that I have seen an architecturally simple campsite but yet very beautiful. Yes, tonight, we are going to spend the night in the wooden house. The thought of the wooden house makes me come back to the Nature much more than in the tents. A very well planned campsite is all I find at the end of the trek. And this is what I mean that the local people living in this region make such beautiful homes to reside in without even going through the regular curriculum in a qualified university. The reason being that architecture is creative arts and logic too. The logic of using wood, is totally different from the logic to use concrete or glass. Wood and stone being the local materials in this region, the local people have developed their homes through their limited information but plenty of knowledge and logic learnt by making homes in wood and stone. Being an architect is a holistic experience. Right from the day, we get clients to the inauguration of the clients home, an architect has to try and live the experiences of his client in order to make him a home, a place where he retires at the end of the da, where his family is. He comes to know what the client likes, what his family likes who are in his family what traditional and religious customs, they follow, the cultural background, the way in which he nurtures his family say at breakfast, lunch or dinnertime, his kids hobbies, colour choices, age of the kids. Because according to our Indian tradition, we build a home in a lifetime and lasts many generation of ours. Tears of sheer helplessness, is what I broke into once reaching the campsite, all the groupmates, said that it is very brave of me to take up this challenge and do it with full honesty. Thats it, the extent to which these words pulled me out of the negativity and the height to which I grew beyond my physicality is something that cannot be described in words, when I have to offer goupies around me is
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the most beautiful smile of mine and be with them for the last night in Lekhni. Wow the happiness is more than even reaching Mt. Everest. Once again I am saoring high up in the sky as a carefree crow. Finally every stress and strain of my life is unwrapped with utmost care giving me a feeling of a newly born butterfly ready to fly with full energy and is just out of all the negativities by breaking the cacoon. The campsite has a wooden house. The first floor is taken by the boys and the ground floor by the girls. After sometime I find out that Renu has developed blisters, so I just help her out by applying the powder and then she manages on her own. After sometime, we have soup and dinner. At dinnertime, it is raining outside so we all sit on the ground floor enjoying the dinner indoors. After sometime we have campfire alongwith the huge mug of bournvita. We sing a wide range of songs. As we are all singing our brains out, a wonderful thing happens. The pair of sheep, the mother and the a\lamb just walk asnd stand near the house listening to our music. This is something that I have heard and read in books that animals love music but am seeing in reality just tonight. Yes this is yet one of the most important and a very subtle lesson of the Himalayas, that we are all gifted with music from our birth and so is every animal, bird, insect in this world. We all love music. And wonder what the sheep might be thinking at that point when we are all singing. Perhaps they heard such happy voices after a longtime and also want to be a part of it. But then someone took them away. But still they must have heard us and felt so nice about us too as we do about them. My voice is all gone but as this night is the last night that I would be having fun with all the friends and the last time to free myself of all the worries and shackles of the past so that I have a new and fresh outlook towards my future life. And after sometimes, we call it a night and retire to our own beds. As this house is a small one, there is tent in just one level below and thats where some of the boys slept peacefully. The next day, we are all outside early in the morning to watch the sunrise. And the routine carries on. We have Maggie for breakfast- something different. And then we are all set for our final trekking towards Aloo ground. As, I am leaving- Lekhni, the same adventurous part of me is alive. We all here once again pose for a group photo. This is the last group photo of ours. And after
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sometimes, I am fully aware of the things happening around me but still I gleefully glide into trance. To go into trance is something so naturally coming to me in the Himalyas. All of a sudden, the trance is broken by a groupmate asking me something that I decide not to let him know. After sometime of walking, we all come across this beautiful waterfall. Well my first instinct, is to go to the waterfall. And after a few moments of hesitation, finally I decide to put my bag pack aside and go to the waterfall. And to my surprise within moment I am near the waterfall washing my face and hands. Everyone around me is awestricken too. But then time passes, we climb up the cliff and resume our walk. On the way we have cherries, strawberries, lassi and all. By now I am as if used to the scenaries around and how they make me feel when they walk besides me. And within a couple of hours we reach a point from where we get lost. Thanks to the height of Mr. Harish II that we did not get lost. And we once again we are reconciled with the group. This is the last stretch of our trekking. And for some distance, we walk on the road. At some distance, we are walking on the steps downwards. And at this point, there is one sound coming back to my soul- the sound of the mighty, playful and childish Beas. For the last time, I am once again around the friends that I enjoy to be with. And all I am doing is walking, observing and listening to welcome of the Beas. The welcome of the Beas is also a lot memorable. She responds to me as if I did not wish to talk to her due to the trekking expedition. And now I have successfully completed the trek and she wants to hear each and every experience of mine in a heart to heart talk. Wow, never heard a river asking so much of love and care from me. As soon as the she hears my footsteps, she is already eager to hug me and congratulate on my victory. Well as time passes by, I see tomato garden and a house in concrete. But its compound gate made of red roses. Wow what a luxury to have roses as a part of the compound gate. And them time goes by and at about say ten minutes to eleven, I finally am completing the Saurkundi trek positively. At a couple of paces, Rajeev Uncle congratulates me for the same. And he askes me to look back and see how many people did I lead down. Well leading down this trek is something I have never dreamt of but it did happen. I wait for friends around and after sometime we all pile up in the bus for our blissful journey back to the Babeli base camp. This journey is also along the Beas river and we have lots of fun returning to the base camp.
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Finally we reach the base camp at about 12 noon and after sometimes we have lunch. After the lunch is over, Nina, Priyanka, the two Harish, Mandar, Sai- they all decide to go for the river rafting session. I decided not to join them and bid fareweill to Rajeev Uncle and Amrita Aunty who are returning to New Delhi. Then back in the base camp, I decide to have a lavish bath and just be in the base camp. As I am fresh, Devendra Sirs group is leaving for Rajkot. So I be with them and enjoy the evening. We all talk so many of the common interests that we share find so much more happiness in doing so rather than the usual chitchat. Anyways after an hour or so, still waiting for the bus, Nina, Priyanka and all others return back from river rafting. They had a blast. They all bid their goodbyes to the Rajkot group and then they are off to the base camp. After getting fresh, they all have their dinner out. For me, alone again, so I just wander in and around the base camp. After sometime, its dinnertime and we all have our dinner peacefully and thankfully. And then we have the campfire. In this campfire, we are given our certificates. This is something to be cherished and remembered lifelong. And we all have a number of photos taken. And then we all call it a night and finally happily sleeping in our tents. O well the Beas is still complaining that I did not share my experiences with her. I promised to do so the first thing in the morning as soon as I bid farewell to all those who are leaving the next day early morning. The very next day, the morning begins at 6 am with bed tea. And after a longtime I get my own private time to laze out. At about 7.30, its breakfast time and we have our last breakfast together. After sometimes, slowly the group of all the friends from South India, take a bus to Manali and so does the Bombay group after sometime. The group coming from Chennai decide to go look into the Kullu valley for a change. And then at about 9.30 am I am making my way towards the Beas. The group of people along whom I came with decided to go for river rafting. Tired and yet happy to be atlast with just myself and my diary, I sit on the rock with my feet in the Beas. All of a sudden, the trance comes again, the absolute conscious happiness from within that has been gifted to us right from the day we are born on this earth comes alive. And enjoying the surroundings, I watch each and every minute detail around and big majestic and loft
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Himalayas and the Beas playing in its lap. Well everything is in unison and yet so perfect. The sun is as harsh as ever but the wind takes away all the harshness. Sitting by the Beas, all of a sudden my mind went back to the poem that I wrote 15 days before the trekking started. And to my utter surprise, each and every word that has been written in that poem is so true!!!! Wow, what unique strength I have developed in all these years that makes me relate to the Himalayan region in the Himalayan way!!!!!! My happiness knows no boundaries today as I am truly satisfied in every way by merely just sitting by the Beas. The moment I put my feet in the Beas, the water is so chilled that it numbs the blisters and gives a cooling effect to the feet. For one moment, I thought Beas is my best friend, listening to all that I have to say about my happiness, the ambitions in life and where I want to go and what I want to be. But the most stunning thing is that Beas just sat in front of me and hugged me like no one has ever hugged me before. Oh! She understands the pain in my life and within moments she frees me of the same pain. For a second I looked at Beas and am sad because there are too many boulders cutting her playful childlike body into small droplets of water. But she quenches the thirst of the boulders, human beings, birds, animals as if no one in this world can take her character away to ease the heat with her cool water. We bathe in her, and do river rafting, but either she complains of her had life, or is joyful for the new stream to join her all we get is the freezing cold water to quench our thirst. She has accepted the way she is with full conscience and has made it a point to love anyone who comes in the way just the way she is loved by the Almighty. Wow!!!! The Nature does talk to us the way we want. All they do is listen to us, know us in a positive way and love us for what we are and what we want to be in future. Tomorrow whatever I aspire to be, the moment I remember Beas and mine long lasting conversation, she will always make me feel that she is my strongest support in life. As time passes by, people slowly flock by the Beas for river rafting and enjoying the view. I enjoy those moments too with those people. And have snacks too. Beas appreciated the best in me that I am atlast dressed up as a traditional Indian girl with salwar kurta and the dupatta.

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Well as more and more people come by and as the sun is getting harsh, I decide to walk back to the base camp. As I enter the base camp, the Chennai group finally leave for Manali. Its lunchtime, by this time and we all have our lunch. As I am the only one left in the tent, quickly I make friends and we are having lunch together again. Well this is the period wherein I guess, I am just happy to be with myself and ready to face the challenges of the world as they come by. The sheer acceptance of myself atlast came in a very beautiful way and I am very happy about it. And then after lunch, I decide to get fresh again, for we have to board the bus at 5 pm. So before going for a bath, Prerna calls in. And I am so much thankful and grateful to hear her voice. The reason being is she gives me so much positivity and encouragement that I have done the impossible- the Saurkundi trek which could not have been possible without her. She is back from Gangtok and am I returning from the Saurkundi trekking expedition. After the bath, we pack our luggage and we wait for the bus to come. An hour goes by nothing happen. Another 15-20 minutes go by nothing happens and then it is almost like 2 hours waiting for the bus but the bus does not show up. Atlast I hear Pragnya Didi calling my name. And that made me so happy that I wanted to run to her and hug her. But I was so much overwhelmed by the joy of seeing her again, that I think that now this experience is a complete one. What I learnt from this trekking is that each and every human being wants this unconditional acceptance from our own environment. Some get from their family, friends, at work, or anywhere else. People around us want to be happy and want to share all the positive experiences that make them feel happy, content and loved unconditionally. Just by helping someone in his routine life in a very meager way, he will be grateful to you for a lifetime. And I have had such an experience before coming for the trekking expedition. We are in Gujarati Samaj, boarding and lodging before our bus takes us to Kullu. I am charging, my cell phone and sitting by the side in the hall. There is this baby boy about 2 to 3 years old who is walking wearing his Dads slippers. And he has a fall and starts crying. Quickly, I run by his side and give him a hand. But the boy insists to pick up in my arms. And I instantly do so. Wow, he is so happy again and stops crying. I just kiss him on his cheek and then tell him that when we learn to walk we are bound to fall down and it happen at all the times, so we should not be afraid of standing up and walking again. Though the baby
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does not know what to say and what to feel, he got the correct message in a loving way and is happily back to his mother. Well his mother, slapped him and he is in pain, he still wanted me to hold him and love him. Well he will remember this as the gift of love of a person who is no one to him and yet means a lot to him at the same time. This is the experience to be learnt in real life. That we all are human beings and are hungry for any kind of relationship from which we get the unconditional acceptance. People who accept their family, friends, peers at work, and many other people coming in their lives, in an unconditional manner, are the ones who are always happy and spread the positivity all around. This lesson is so well taught by the Nature. Everytime we look at the Neem tree, there is a smile on our face. The reason being, it bears the harshness of the sun, the hot wind blowing around it, sometimes people cut its branches, sometimes people sit on its branches, and yes people come in its shade at hot peak hours because only thing that the neem tree is supposed to do is to give cool shade and to purify the air. No matter how harsh we are on any tree, animal, birds, all they do is welcome us into a yet very great day in our life which we are about to start. Same lesson is taught by the Himalayas. People living in the Himalayas are much healthier and friendlier then in the plains. The reason being, that they have to help each other in each others needs and still have a perfect peace of mind due to their environment and at times they are much better people to talk to in life than other people. Thats the reason why well read people like us, knowing a bit of philosophy, spirituality, settle there than they are the best people to make mentors in life or to be friends with. They are always positive, accepting each and every situation as it is and each and every person as he is- Unconditional Love is the biggest lesson that Himalayas teach us. Last but not the least I would like to take this opportunity to thank, the YHAI for organizing such a wonderful trekking expedition like the Saurkundi trek, the field director at Babeli base camp, all the camp leaders at Segli, Horathatch, Maylee Thatch, Dourathatch, Longathatch and Lekhni for having such wonderful campsites. The trekking guides, and last but not the least all the people making the SK_19 and SK_20 group. Guys, we all rock!!!!! Chini mini chini mini dhoom dhadakaa hoo haa hoo haa!!!! Wow, thanks guys for all your encouragement without which I could not have completed the Saurkundi Pass trekking expedition.

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