In the lap of Nature !!!

This post is on special demand of my Paa. Yes my Dad has recently started reading my blog and was very critical of my last post. He didn’t like it at all. Specific reason he didn’t tell me but what I guessed was, that the topic was not to his liking. He didn’t like me talking about seclusion, living alone and all the other crap (according to him) which I filled my last post with. So this post is on a topic which excites both of us. Excursion, adventure, exploring new areas specially those remote hilly regions the beauty and simplicity of which is still untapped and undisturbed, ergo the raw natural freshness is very much intact. Like me, my Dad is also a travel enthusiast but unlike me he has been on many trips and adventures during his college and early service days which I can only dream of. But still thanks mostly to him I also have my share of such expeditions and one such occasion presented itself during this diwali holidays when I was back in my abode.

As it was my bhabhi’s first diwali so we decided to celebrate it differently. My Paa decided to take us all to a place which I am pretty sure not many of you would have heard before. Munshyari. Yes. And it is not about any poet’s imaginary fairyland, as the name might suggest but it is a place high up in the hills of kumaon in Uttarakhand. It is so close to Himalayan range that it seems one can touch those pointed peaks with outstretched hands. Magical. Seriously I was never more close to Himalayas and this statement comes from a person who has spent his entire life wandering in those twisty undulated terrains. Even my college was in Shimla, though the hills of H.P. never appealed to me as I found everything there very artificial and commercialized. Hills of Uttarakhand like the people of this Hilly state are still very simple and unadulterated which makes them more and more inviting and obviously beautiful.

So moving directly to my trip. We reached Almora on 22^nd of October and the very next day we left for Munshyari. As I had mentioned, in one of my earlier posts also that for me any trip is not only about reaching that specific destination but it’s about living through that entire journey. The places you pass through, those amazing landscapes that just goes unnoticed and that wonderful time you have when everyone is confined to that one place be it car, train whatever and enjoys each other’s company. Though, I like to travel alone but with family the level of enjoyment scale new heights. The Road to Munshyari was quite treacherous. It was narrow and in some areas due to landslides there was actually no road at all. As this mountain range is very unstable so generally during rainy season it not only rain in droplets, hails or snow but is also brings along stones, pebbles, boulders and sometimes entire mountain along with it. We also passed through one such point where this natural calamity struck a few months back and coz of which entire village was destroyed. Few miles ahead there was a beautiful big natural spring, sorry cant recollect the name but after Massourie’s campty fall it was the biggest fall I had came across and right at its foot Government’s TRC was situated. So we had our lunch in the lap of nature under clear blue canopy, in midst of lot of monkeys :P.. and the special effect of falling water’s surround sound. We also took a little detour to get a feel of that cool clear spring water. Majestic. After witnessing many such marvels of nature finally in the evening we reached Munshyari. Frist of all we went to PWD inspection house as arrangement for our stay was made there and while just roaming around in the gardens there, I was just staring far in the empty space when I saw something which my eyes were not ready to believe. Right in front of me from the blanket of clouds and fog the peak of Panchachuli was staring back at me. It was simply extraordinary. I knew that I was going close to Himalayas but when I actually encountered that fact, my senses were not ready to accept what was there in front of me. It was so daunting and awesome view and to some extend a little terrifying also as that peak was right there in front of me but was hanging in the sky as all its surroundings was filled with clouds and fog and in the fading light it was a monstrous white beast. Totally filmy scene. The night was cold and refreshing specially after coming from Pune and Delhi that cool breeze felt so revitalizing and soothing. We had a little stroll in the dark and as night comes a little too early for people of hills and everybody gets inside as soon as the sun sets so it was quite dark and quiet and obviously so very peaceful. I didn’t want to return to our hotel but as I had to see the first ray of the morning sun bouncing off those snow peaks, so I had to give in. Next morning came very early for me. 5:30, yes that is the time when I got up in that cold chilly morning and that too without any effort. I was so very excited that I didn’t even put my alarm on snooze and just jumped off my bed, throwing my quilt to one side and was out there in a flash with my camera. I was roaming in the balcony waiting for sun to wake up but he kept me waiting for more than half an hour in that bone chilling morning breeze. Watching me pacing from one corner to other in the balcony my Dad also came out of his room. Mind you normally he never leaves the warmth of his bed before 8, yes many of you might be surprised as normally in most homes Father is the first person up in the morning but my Dad is King and he lives like one. Leisurely, easy paced and hassle free morning is what is his style. But being a nature enthusiast he was also as excited as me. One thing I forgot to mention about Munshyari and why we chose it as the place for our sojourn is coz this place is very close to my Dad’s heart. This is the place from where he started his education and spent his childhood playing in those lush green hills. As for everyone of us the place where we spent most of our childhood is special so naturally my Dad was also as excited as any, to see his old house, that old market, what changes time had brought along with it and to top it all on 24^th we celebrated his Birthday along with his childhood memories in those majestic surroundings. So it was a nostalgic experience for him and watching him relive all those old memories was special. So finally at around 6 – 6:15 sun decided to make his most anticipated entry. As many of you might have read many poems in your school days about sun and his grandeur. I witnessed all that in its full glory. Sun God on his chariot slowly made his way to touch down on those bouncy terrains. Morning rays are not that bright but they are soothing. With a tinge of orange, and flickering, making its way through those floating clouds when it struck the highest peak a steam bellowed from those humungous beasts, as if they were angry on being disturbed from their slumber. I can’t describe the entire scene in words, even the pics I have taken doesn’t do justice to that Godly experience. I was staring ghastly and was working fervently on my camera hoping the next pic could do justice to that entire scenario. In front of me were the peaks of Panchachuli (named after 5 pandavas) along with Nanda devi, India’s second highest peak, and to my left peeking from between two hills was Milam glacier. Snow covered and unlike other peaks, it was smooth and quite gradual in gradient, like the one you see on TV where snow sports are organized. At that very moment I told my Dad, please make arrangement for me, I want to go for trekking on one of those. Don’t know if ever I would be able to realize this dream but surely I’ll make an effort. After that I went for a walk in early morning mist with my Dad, to see his old house and do a round of Munshyari, the Him Nagri. We clicked many pics from all possible angles and came back after an hours refreshing walk. But when we returned, other members were up and I had to go for another saunter with my Bhabhi. This time I went even further where there were no roads, just the narrow hill path and the view we encountered was, as if I was watching a Hollywood period movie. LOTR type. We turned one corner and we came to this huge open green field where many horses were grazing and were soaking the warmth of morning sun. Lush green fields with white snow laden peaks for background… wow…But we didn’t stop there, & went further deep into the hills and down those narrow zig-zag paths where we met some locals and had a nice conversation with them. After an hour or two of this masti we returned back but amazingly I wasn’t tired at all. Later in the day we went to see the local points and a museum. This museum was established and maintained by one Mr. Pangti. An elderly person, who without any help from Government or any NGO is trying from his own side to preserve old traditions of Hills. A great and commendable effort to preserve age old practices, which in this wild race of modernization are getting lost and forgotten. When we went to see the museum my Dad had a strike from the past, suddenly he stopped Mr. Pangti in between his explanation of different artifacts and enquired about his past and as it turned out he was my Father’s primary school teacher and principal. I was surprised, Seriously. I can’t even remember my college mates and here my father is able to recognize his teacher who taught him in one of the classes almost 40 -50 years back. Astonishing, and after that bond of teacher student was established we were given a privileged tour by the master himself. I also bought a book about holy Kailash Yatra written by Mr. Pangti himself about his adventurous trip to Adi Kailash. Finishing our tour of museum we decided to head back to Chaukaudi and have our night halt there. It is again a wonderful place with tea gardens and providing even clearer view of Himalayan range. People come here just to see the sunrise as the view is again breath taking. Trishul was another peak which was clearly visible from here. Though I can write further 2-3 pages describing Chaukaudi and my return trip which included my visit to Bageshwar, Kausani etc etc. but I can understand your plight after reading this big post and even I am tired now.

So like many of my expeditions this was also some experience. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute every sec of my stay in each and every moment. Yes, I stayed and lived in every moment, trying to preserve so many amazing memories which I fear might get lost in this daily monotonous sopor. As enriching and refreshing this experience was and being in the company of the most special people made this trip one of those permanently etched on the memory, an everlasting experience. I have made a promise to myself, to explore even deeper reaches of Uttarakhand and Himalayas.

Gliding my way through those mystical peaks, As if sliding my way through heaven steeps, Having the company of my DemiGods with no worries or care for the world, I lived a dream, fogginess of which still lingers on and images of which are etched on………….

Cheers

RJ

Main Aur Meri Tanhai !!!

Living in seclusion. Those who know me are very much aware of this dream of mine. How much I love spending time with myself, sitting there all alone with no one to bother you, chatting with yourself and just that feeling of being in peace and quiet. I really hate crowd and all the commotion and clamour which comes along the package. I think this is also some kind of a phobia but really whatever it is I can’t handle such stuffs for too long. But call it irony or whatever, God always makes you do things, you kind of hate the most. Maybe it is for our own good that we find ourselves in such adverse conditions and in turn devise some mechanism to survive in unpropitious scenarios. I also managed to find some means to get along this problem and my solution were my earphones and my ipod. Whenever I am out there, almost all the time I am hooked on to my beloved earphones. That’s my way of blocking out outer world from my precious, unadulterated inner garden.


Now whenever I try to sit down and analyze this situation of mine, that why I like being alone so much? Almost every second person finds it amazing and strange that how am I managing living all alone in my flat and not only that but at the same time loving it as well. For those who are not aware of my present living situation, yes I am all alone in my home here in Pune as my dear brother betrayed me and shifted to Delhi :P … Man is a social animal and he needs people around him, to support him, to laugh with him, cry with him and to share life with him. Yes I agree with all these stuff, but for me all these things are a bit overrated. Try something before you completely reject it. What I feel, hold most of us back whenever we think of doing something of our own, is that fear of what if, I require something from someone and that doubt on one’s ability. Living alone and blocking people out of your life is also not easy and again the reason which I feel is, human selfishness. We always have those ifs and buts in the back of our mind. It’s a general behavior that if you block out someone from your life, you won’t find the importance in theirs also, and then that selfish self creeps his head up that what if I need him/her in the future, obviously that person will be more than willing to reciprocate the hospitality you conveyed in the first place and then you find yourself wanting. I ask why in the first place you want help of somebody you rendered unimportant in your life in the first place. They say keep your friends close but enemies closer but I say keep your dear ones close, be it family or those special bunch of friends not close but in your heart and rest should be invisible to you. Keep the people who matters to you happy and be the reason of their happiness.


Now coming back to my own situation here. My parents specially, were quite worried and they still are that I am living here all by myself. What will happen if I fall sick or face any other such problem are the major point of concern for them. To be honest, I also found it strange when I started this new chapter in my life. When my brother left, for a day or two it felt strange. Don’t know what that feeling was. Was it sadness or the fact that I was like a ghost roaming around in empty rooms with no one whom I can disturb or irritate. I accept that for a day or two I felt real bad, I didn’t know that something which I always wanted to do will be so tough to start off with. Though in college also I had single room but that was something different as my friends were just next to me but this time I was really alone. But after 2-3 days things changed, I started enjoying that calm and quiet I talked about. By this I don’t mean that my bro was a chatter box or any kind of a disturbance, that thing apply to me actually, but being alone brought me more closer to Rishabh Joshi. I started interacting more with him, which ofcourse allowed me to know him better and really what an awesome guy… :P.. jokes apart but seriously I started thinking more and talking more with myself. It gave me time to reflect on certain things, my days work, my approach to different situations, my relations, everything. Living alone, I think has also helped me become more responsible. Yeah I know it may sound completely opposite, coz you might be thinking what responsibilities a person living alone can have. But for me, taking care of myself only was a daunting task. I didn’t realize earlier but I was quite free from any major worries till the time my bro was here. Rent, bills or for the fact bringing breakfast all was taken care by him. But now all has to be done by this tiny soul… uff sara kaam mujhe hi karna padta hai … safai bhi, shopping bhi .. and its not only about 1 kilo namak. But again its nice and exciting but yeah, a little expansive. But all this is necessary. I go on telling people about my plans for future and how I long for those secluded far reaches, those beautiful shreds of heaven on earth and if I seriously want to pursue that, these stuffs are not necessary but compulsory. I don’t know whether I really would be able to do all that, yes I know it will be tough and extremely challenging and will require sacrifices of all sorts but I think all that will be worth doing. All that we’ll see in future, what turn life takes who knows. You always find yourself in situations you expect least to happen with you, at least for me planning is of no use. So expect nothing, live frugally on surprises and don’t be afraid if you have to be alone, give it a shot coz in seclusion lies the closeness of one’s soul.

Cheers
RJ