The Inner Voice

Always scrolling down these beautiful Himalayan pics, there always was this huge craving in the heart that "mera number kab ayega". But somewhere form the inner core of my heart I knew one day I definitely will go for these beautiful Himalayan adventure and snow trekking. It was around September month, when the fire in me got ignited and was well determined that I have to go this year for a Himalayan trek. Plenty of names evolved around. The best part was every trek in pics always seems to be luring and fascinating and way too easy. Once, when I was in Bangalore I met Pavan . We talked and that was the first time when I came with this particular trek name, cause one of her friend had been here the last season. And she did described everything beautifully. After deciding everything, the challenge came by to pick a particular date and the organizer and I always knew having a great organizer is the main key to a happy and beautiful journey. So couldn't risk with just going randomly with anyone just by looking the price. So again, it took about another 15-20 days to decide on whether to go with IndiaHikes or TrekTheHimalaya. Did lot of research and read hundreds of reviews and got to learn that both of them are equally good and reputed in terms of their service with little pros and cons. So, it was decided TrekTheHimalayas. Booked and paid dated 23rd October.

Story time line begins from here. Was overwhelmed with the thought of snow trekking itself. Started sending pics from Instagram pages to all my friends, so if anyone could join me, but no one did. I am glad to this part, cause got to meet new people and knowing them was a great immense pleasure in itself. So mentally, preparation for the trek started from this date onwards, but only mentally, physically nothing I did, wondering it's an easy to moderate trek, so I knew I can do it easily without much stress. But in reality, when I was there it was nothing similar to what I thought would have been the circumstance (come to this part latter in brief). So preparation started. Started buying things I would be needing for the trek. Already knew there should be no compromise in gears, cause it could have been worse, specially to me. So when the list came for the gears what we should have, while reading the list there were sets of name I have never heard before, nor I knew the meaning of them and even it was hard for me to pronounce some of them. The first reaction was itna saara saman lena hai.Thanks to god, we have Decathlon. Everything under one roof, With vivid range and number of varieties and options to choose from. All my shopping, mostly was done in a day except few. which I thought to opt out like gaiters (glitters), Balaclava and Fleece. which I went on to buy the very last day. One of the best part about the trek was shopping. It was such a joy knowing new names and things and buying them and using them and now that I knew all those things, advice and knowledge could be parted on to the next friend of mine who ever will be going. So everything was done and set and I had everything, all of them, knowing of that itself made me happy that "ab maja ayega, aaram se kr lunga" I already had the idea it would be cold there so, going directly on the very same day will make things tougher for me, cause I would not get much time for my body to adjust to the new climate. 100% different from the type I was currently living in. I took direct flight to Dehradun from Ahmedabad, 2 days ahead of my trek, so could go and relax to some bit and adjust to the change in climate. And it helped me to some extent. The moment I came out of my flight in Dehradun I was dumb stuck by the cold. I could see steam/smoke coming out even from my nose breathing, that was the first time I said fuck shit, what is this, how am I going to survive. I could remember the exact line my mother quoted "Dukh paane ke liye kaun pese karcha krta hai" So without doing much delay, took cab for Dehradun, reached hotel went outside, saw the market to little, then had amazing food at uss the dhaba and came back to the hotel.Trying to imagine how trek would be, how it would be there, what all things will I be taking along with me, I slept. Next day we(I and pavan) went to Mussorie with a rented bullet, had lil fun and came back to Dehradun after the day hunt.Next early morning new chapter begins. Trekking adventure started, with the ride from Dehradun to sankri. Driver was good and smart and jolly. He guided us with all the landmark and point of interest while driving. Kudos to him, but unfortunately couldn't meet with him on my way back. The air was soothing, pleasant, clear, fresh & lil cold, it had different aroma and fragrance, different from what we inhale on daily basis, mostly pure and chemical free. Roads were not too wide, exactly enough for just two vehicle to pass by. The path to sankri was filled with ups and downs with some good roads, some bad ones, some too narrow and some too bumpy. Passing by we crossed mussorie, kempty falls, purola, naogaon, tons river, govind sanctuary etc. etc. After 8 hours of journey we finally reached sankri. Destination from where our trek would originate. As we reached sankri, we were first welcomed by heard of sheep, covering us by all the side and our Traveller couldn't move any inch. It was fun watching. The moment we stepped out of our Traveller, I was again stuck by the cold windy gush. It was cold, the max I have had ever experienced. We settled and was called for dinner and brief pre trek session of guidance and explanation. Do's and don'ts by our trek leader. That was the first time, we met everyone and everyone introduced themselves. After having dinner everyone went on to complete their missing gears. And I went on to buy Harry Potter cap which I have been yearning to buy since long time. We all went to our respective rooms and stated packing for the next day what all stuffs we needed to take and what all we needed to leave by, So that in morning we don't get delayed due to this. We slept early hoping to wake up early. It was dam cold. Everything seems to Be freezing cold. But we slept comfortably amidst all. I shared my room with ayush-saurabh-gaurab-sumit-pavan-me. All of them were good, soft spoken and friendly, didn't encounter any problem with anyone. So, trek started, by around 9 in the morning, unfortunately I was among the late ones but few more were late than me, Mumbai people, aaaha. We started lil late and reached lil late, so we missed our acclimatize walk. Basic Rule "Climb High and sleep low". We reached juda ka talab, it will beautiful. As seen in the pictures, even more. Everything was frozen and we were surrounded by snow 360.We stretched ourselves, did some exercise rishab made us to do. So that our muscle get relaxed. Out tents were on the snow. We took our tent as first come better served basis. I took the most middle one thinking, I will be in middle and will be less prone to windy gush. But nothing seems to be working, eventually it was cold enough. There were two rows of tents, one row occupied by us, Team A, and the front row Team B. That was the first day we came to see all the Team B people. Unlikely other group we were properly divided with team of 20/20. With different local guide and different trek leader. Well managed. Everything would be same but with a slight change in time. Like 30 minutes up or down. As a result chaos didn't happen. Everything was well maintained in a systematic guided way. From morning tea to breakfast, evening tea to dinner. Properly and systematically managed even in that cold and high altitude. Kudos to all of them. We had our evening tea and then started taking pics and went near to the frozen juda ka talab, by the time it got darker and it was time for dinner. We had our first dinner it was way more better than what I expected it to be. Warn severed. We than while having dinner, rishab asks us kesa raha sabka and guided about everything and told us the time for next day. Took our reading in which luckily I had good perfect normal reading, I Was happy, that I am Normal. That was the first night we had to sleep in our tents with snow 360 and beneath. It really was cold.Someone like me who barely have experience cold, it's too much. But I knew I can do it and survive myself out. Rishab(trek leader) already told it will happen that you might think you didn't sleep and you are wake up. Still your sleep will be completed and would feel fresh. The same happened with me. I woke up at around 12:30 and was wondering how would I survive my night would out sleeping and the next time I woke up was 4 in the morning, when I woke up in the morning and went out to pee, I could imagine myself in a script of game of thrones. As we were surrounded by big pine trees and there were white walkers all behind the trees waiting for us. ❄❄❄❄ Woke up & started listening to songs and looking around people and feeling the new ambience just by sitting inside the tent. Everything there was just so beautiful pleasant and calm. Unlike the cities life we live in. This was the much needed break. Away from all life's pleasure, pressure, work life and people around. Break from all the life's amenities. And it proven to be good. We had tea then got ready and had breakfast and set all ready to leave for the next destination base camp. Firstly the road wear slippery and muddy, after walking for some time it changed. It was cold and huge pile of snow all around us. The ambience around us has now changed. Journey to base camp was short but too stiffy.We walked in a particular line without overtaking each other. The best part was whenever mules used to come from front rishav would say team-A mules ahead mountain side. So we kind of learned that and started to mimic that whenever that happened. We reached base camp, the view was spectacular, one of the best.. Far away Himalayan mountain can be seen and snow snow snow everywhere. Now the snow became more soft. We reached took our tents and had lunch and went for acclimatize walk, took pics and came back. By the time we returned back it started getting dark we came had our soup. Than relaxed and changed our outfit for the night. By then it was time for tea and it got darker. The more it was getting darker the more beautiful it was getting to look at the clear sky filled with stars. We than had our pulse reading it got little deteriorated by last day but it was okay, except for summit. He was given some medication. He went little low. By the time it was time for dinner, we had our dinner, rishabh demonstrated out the next day's plan waking up early and assent comfortably and slowly. Without much pressure. I had missed my breakfast that day coz I got late. We started early in the morning when it was still dark and cold outside. The best part was we didn't had to take out backpack as we would be coming back to the base camp for lunch. That was complete relief. After starting early in the morning, when it started getting dawn, the view that we got to see was spectacular, outstanding, mesmerizing and beautiful. That filled my heart with Happiness and all the tiredness was gone. There was a Maggie point on the way to submit, we sat there, I had Maggie and relaxed our self near the fire, as our body got warm we relaxed for 30-45 minutes and then moved again for the summit. It was the most difficult part of the trek, the summit. As it was high and the part was stiffer. So it took all energy and efforts.As and when we reached sumit, it was the moment of happiness and like I have won my battle. I was happy. I already knew we would get jio network as people passing by already told jio ka milega network. I reached the summit asked rishabh network kaha ayega and went and sat at that point and didn't move a bit. I called my mom, sister and neha. Talked to them and got happy and told them I was happy and I am enjoying it and I did it. I missed all of them. I did send them some pics. We than had a group photo at the summit. And clicked some solo pics Posing at the mountains and then it was time to Bye bye. The 360 view from the submit was outstanding. Still I can feel it.

Now the best part comes. We glided our way back to the Basecamp on snow. It was ultimate fun and adventurous. I enjoyed that to the maximum while Sliding down and down on the snow. The thing that I only saw in the videos online, now I was the part of it and could do the same. Though snow got inside my pants and I got wet but I enjoyed it. And walked my way carving through fresh snow, the entire path to the base camp. We reached base camp relaxed, had lunch and then again relaxed, as again we had to move our self for the next camp. By this time we were all frank and close to each other. Everyone in the group was good, open minded and jolly. Next day after the night stay when we reached to sankri, we all were happy. We got fresh and relaxed and while at dinner we all shared our experiences of the trek and what changes it brought into our lives. I was happy that day, I Came to this trek and got to know so many beautiful souls. As came to know how people have different views and opinions and how differently they are living there life. Happy to see different sets of people, doing something different than our surrounding people do. Having different though process, mentally, behavior and a different life than what I do. I learned even having such different lifestyle, doings and different attitude still how they lead their life in happening way. Meeting padma, anu, shree I realized how life can be different even after getting married and having a full family and even after having children. Which I always use to find most horrifying. How they still continue to live there life to the fullest, without looking back and stopping by. And how fit all of them were, way far more fit than I was ever. I always use to have this feeling that this is the time of my life, whatever I can do now I can do then all gone, cause this is what I have been seeing around me throughout my life, be it be my closest people, my mom, my sister. It horrifies me knowing life after getting married is dull as fuck and the end result would be negative. Now I see things with more positive approach. By seeing and knowing you people my thoughts and perception about things have changed to a far extent. That life is what I intend to make it not what society wants it to be, it's my life, my story. I am glad I came across such beautiful souls. I also realized the need to get fit instead of beings lethargic and start exercising and get ready for the next trek. Bigger than this. I realized I need to socialize more with outside people rather sticking with the same group of people have limited thoughts and perception and mindset. World it big and infinite, why live and dream small when we can have infinite of it.