They say that life happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. Something very similar happened to me over four years ago, that transformed me as an individual and helped me gain much needed perspective on travelling and life at an early age.
In the summer of 2015, when I was just sixteen years old, I enthusiastically agreed to accompany my siblings and cousins to climb mountains in Sanasar, Jammu & Kashmir. I had no idea then, of the enormous ways in which my life was going to transform over the course of the next few days. There was something so palpably beautiful about that age and time that words somehow feel inadequate to garner the warmth of that feeling.
Named after native lakes, Sana and Sar are two villages located close to Patnitop at an altitude of about 6,730 ft. An hour into our journey, we reached the base camp from where we had to begin our trek the following day. It was the first time I had laid eyes on actual camps nestled close to each other in the enormous valley engulfing us. And, no points for guessing, I was astounded! There was beauty to be found everywhere I looked.
A couple of hours later, we, along with 20-30 other odd people, gathered for dinner at another camp that stood nearby and bonded over shared food and laughters. Post dinner, a bonfire was lit that made the night even more indelible. I began to feel a little under the weather and so made myself comfortable in a sleeping bag to recover and take the next day head on. The next morning, we woke up at around 5.00 am to watch the sun rising– an experience I had casually undermined when our camp guide had mentioned it to us. What I experienced on that early, frosty Kashmiri morning, was simply divine and unearthly. So much so, that I could sense a sudden fervour in my body. Clearly, it was my body telling me that standing there on the ledge of a cliff and witnessing (what I believe has been) the most bewitching sunrise of my entire life, was beyond my wildest imagination. There’s simply no other way to describe it.
While I was still soaking in the vitality that every nook and corner had in store, we were called for breakfast, following which, we were to set off on our trek. After about an hour, with food in our stomachs and thrill in our hearts, we began the trek with our guide in the lead. The trek, with a trail of about 10 km, was a relatively easier one. It offered majestic views that were inviting enough to lure adrenaline junkies from the length and breadth of the country. We must have covered a little less than half the length of the trek when I sensed an excruciating pain in my feet. I quickly realised that my shoes were quite inappropriate for trekking. I decided best to halt my journey after covering about 5 km. My siblings decided to stay back with me, while my cousins went on to cover the remainder of the trek. We sat down in the lush green meadows that stretched as far as the eye could see. While we were still relishing the picturesque beauty that adorned the trail, we spotted three kids sitting next to a basket of wild berries nearby. We bought a few wild berries from them and learned a little about their lives. The simple and stunning landscape made me think of how much we undermine the simple pleasures of life, amidst the chaotic city milieu.
After about an hour or two of having soaked in the invigorating Himalyan sun and casually lazing on the sweeping green meadow, we observed everyone descending in our direction. It was time for us to bid adieu to both the majestic views and delightful chirpy kids, and so we did, beginning our journey downhill. In no time, we reached the base camp and boarded a return train to Delhi.
It has been over four years since . It’s not like I hadn’t travelled to many places before, but from then on every journey felt more personal and indelible. Looking back, I now realise, there were some important lessons that I learnt along that journey.
1. Be grateful for what you have and make-do with what you get.
Travelling is an experience that throws numerous curveballs in one’s journey to test adaptability. These are bound to accost us, not just on our travels but also in different seasons of our lives. To cite an example, on one of our days during the journey, we travelled from one place to another on the floor of a fully occupied bus, loaded with our backpacks, and travelling on a bumpy road. It was something I had not done before, even in my own city, let alone in another. It was a very humbling experience as it taught me that we must try to make-do with what we get. More often than not, we become oblivious to all that we have, that we only realise its true worth only when we are stripped bare of those things.
2. Everyone is trying to make a living, learn to empathise with them and respect them.
Having met those kids on the hilltop, it occurred to me that as a city kid belonging to a fairly well-off family, I had my own set of privileges whether or not I accepted them. Seeing them work to earn a living at such a young age, it dawned on me that many others strive each day to make their ends meet. And so it is of utmost importance that we instill in our kids empathy and respect towards one another..
3. It is vital to make your kids well-travelled, especially when they are young.
There’s an old adage, “Old habits don't die hard”, especially when they are formed young. Allowing kids to travel (with parents) introduces them to various cultures and worldly practices and is an invaluable way of teaching them some of life’s most important lessons. Lessons learnt at an early age are not easily forgotten and are vital for one’s continuous growth.
4. Life, like trekking, will not be easy. Keep walking!
Trekking is an innately strenuous activity and one which demands you to put a cap on your needs. It will introduce you to bumpy, rocky and sometimes even unwalkable paths but will also offer the most majestic and picturesque natural views, almost like a trade-off. And our lives are quite similar. Without the gloomy clouds , we would never be able to appreciate the radiance that joyous moments bring. So, we must learn to flow with the waters.
5. Don’t forget to create a life while creating a living.
One of my greatest learnings from the trek has been that, very often, we tend to get so engrossed in merely existing that we forget to truly live and enjoy our experiences. My journey has taught me that, sometimes, in order to find balance in life, it’s inevitable to let loose, to take a detour and sign up for experiences you wouldn’t normally sign up for. They could be as simple as picking up the habit of bicycling again or as huge as skydiving in Hawaii. The underlying idea is to create some beautiful memories for yourself and those around you, which you can perhaps look back upon and cherish this gift of life that we all have been given.
Some experiences leave indelible imprints on your heart, and more often than not, only in hindsight. Looking back now, I realise that it isn’t just the fact that it was my first trek that makes it terribly impossible to not cling onto even after so many years, but more so because of each and every indispensable experience that I lived and breathed during those days which nourished my soul. I urge you to take a trip to the mountains at least once, for I promise, you will be changed forever.
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