When we got invited for free food - TTTT 4

This was during one of our recent treks. We were along the coastal side, very close to Honnavara at a place called Gundabagal. So there is this temple of Goddess Lakshmi Devi where we were visiting. There was a wedding happening at the temple courtyard. So preparations for a huge dinner was on the way. May be for even an evening snacks.

We had completed our trek and had cooked an afternoon lunch. Seeing this mega dinner preparation opened our eyes. I exclaimed to one of my friend, only if someone would invite us for this feast. My friend was also of the same opinion.

Two of our team members were from the coastal region only. So there was this place behind the temple where Yaksha Gana was being performed every night. They went to inquire about the same. In the process they started to speak in Tulu and were guided to the exact place where Yaksha Gana happened.

While me and my friend were happening to be seated at the entrance of the temple, this person with whom my friend's had spoken in Tulu spoke to us too. Apparently, he was the uncle of the girl who was getting married. So after a round of introductions and some more insight into the happenings of Yaksha Gana, guess what happened?

He invited us for having some snacks and then leave for Bangalore. It came out of nowhere, our wish had turned into reality. Since we were so far from Bangalore around 440 kilometers and had to reach Bangalore by 5 am, we turned down the offer, considering snacks would be served a bit late.

Cheers,

When a tadpole turned out in drinking water - TTTT 3

It was one other trek with a different group. The year was 2013, month was November. It was a beach trek. We had started the trek from Kumta to Gokarana. It was walking along the beach stretch.

It was mid afternoon we had run out of water and we could locate a fisherman's house opposite to the beach. We went there and asked for water. There was a fresh water well from which water was drawn manually.

Then we started to fill our bottles. And there you go, I got my bottle filled up too with water. When I looked inside it for mud or dirt, I found out there was a live tadpole within it. (Atleast that was what I thought of the live creature)

And what did you think I did, I just dropped few quantity of water back into the well and started drinking the water!

Cheers,

When I was left behind in a trek - TTTT 2

I was never good at physical activity, well that was pre 2014, at-least. I was pathetic on all counts. I could not run for a distance, could not perform physical tasks at one stretch.

I had already spent years working, years sitting in front of the computer, trying to work myself up on the corporate ladder (rather craporate ladder), now all of a sudden I realized, I was getting older, life was just running by, and I felt I was doing nothing.

So this idea of doing treks came to my mind. I was fit mentally but physically it was a long way away. But never mind I tried my hand at treks.

One such thing happened during one of the treks. This was the year 2013 July. Well years back. I was a part of this team which was about to trek Mullayangiri and BabaBudangiri. We had managed to climb Mullayangiri and all of a sudden weather turned worse. It started to pour on the hill plus heavy winds.

So as we were about to commence the second half of the journey namely BabaBudangiri, the trek organizer, felt only those guys who were quick should attempt the second half of the trek. Unfortunately, I wasn't, I was left behind. I pleaded I would manage the same, but it went to deaf years.

I felt very awkward, very bad for myself, but I had to accept the fact that I was slow. This was very de-motivating, now when I look back at this and few more insulting incidents, I feel like laughing at myself!

These kind of insults sure led me to making a comeback, a serious comeback, which I can attribute to my teacher,parents and God. Now when I look back at the last year and half, I feel, I have lived a dream!

Cheers,

PS - Its been quite a long time, I have met that organizer, life has just  moved on. I no more trek with that group not because of the incident, but because of expense and I have made other friends who themselves organize treks, so no need for me to join this group again!

When a stranger spoke to me in McLeodGanj - TTTT 1

We had completed our trek and we had two more days to spare in Himachal Pradesh and chose to stay at McLeodGanj. So it was there we got to visit the Dalai Lama temple.

While at the temple one woman came and struck a conversation with me. It was all of a sudden. She asked me where me and my friend were from. We told about Bangalore/Karnataka.

She seemed little surprised. The reason being, she was born and raised in Bylakuppe, Madikeri. She had married a person living in McLeodGanj and had started living here. Infact she told me, she was due to travel for Mysore in couple of weeks.

It felt very nice, since she spoke in Kannada, co-incidences do happen. She spoke about couple of good things about people of Karnataka over Himachal people. She also told about how she had got to meet His Highness Dalai Lama.

So all in all, a good day!

Cheers,

Tales from trek tours and travels (TTTT)

I have still not completed writing about our office shuttle drivers (to completion), I got a thought about writing on some other topic.

I have been travelling/trekking/touring actively since last 2-3 years, that I have got or rather encountered quite a bit of fascinating people their tales and stories which have happened during these times. So thinking like blogging about them too.

What is the point in simply remembering them, recollecting them or telling them to everyone, eventually to be forgotten after few months.

So here goes another attempt to recollect them and relive them for years!

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 16

Landed in Delhi in morning.

Freshened up at NDLS metro station, put luggage in cloak room.
Took metro to some station then went to Purani Qila
Then to Connaught place for breakfast.
Then we went to some place for sweets Bangla sweet shop.
Then went to Karim's near Red Fort where few of my friends had lunch. I did not, I had a huge mug of Lassi which bloated my stomach.

Came back to NDLS railway station. Took our belongings and started towards T3 terminal.

My Flight was at 6 40pm and there you go I came to Bangalore at around 9 20 pm.

Cheers, Trip has come to an end!!

Thanks for God, my parents and my teachers, Cheers once again!

Himachal Journey - Day 15

Morning breakfast - Something in Kunga cafe dont remember

Morning visit to St John's Church. Sat near McLeodGanj circle doing nothing for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. Then went for lunch. Started reading a book at Kunga cafe.

Evening strolled around Dalai Lama temple had 2 cups of tea.

Late evening time for our bus to Delhi.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 14

Breakfast - Roadside momos, bun sold at road side. Tibetian kinda breakfast at Kunga Cafe.

Events -

Morning - Visit to Bhagusa Nag temple, did some shopping. came back, went for a shave. Then moved ahead for Dalai Lama temple.

Afternoon / Evening - Moved ahead to Dharamsala, stood in queue for free food. Visited Kangra museum. Then started towards Palampur Baijnath temple. Full evening spent in Baijnath. Came back to McleodGanj around 9 45pm.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 13 Part 2

Second half of the day, was more of travelling. Travelled from Bir to Billing, then hired another taxi to take us from Billing to McLeodGanj.

The route went through Palampur, saw Baijnath Temple, did not visit though.
Even saw Chamunda Devi temple as well.

This drive felt awesome, knowing that we had completed the trek and then were free birds. Sometimes its so much fun wandering like a mad dog, no responsibilities, I wish life was simple.

Reached McLeodGanj around 7 pm and started lookout for rooms. Found a room refreshed, came out for dinner and then day got to close.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 13 Part 1

Final day, finally we were done with the trek.

Day started casually, ended casually. Reached Bir by afternoon. Preparations were on for world paragliding championship over there, so enjoyed few moments there, then it was a taxi ride to Billing where our team members who paraglided just would have landed.

We said goodbye to our guide and horsemen at Bir and then it was our team, thats it.
Trek was over. We had reached civilization, 12 days of wilderness was done!

Wow, as I recollect while I write this, it was an out of earth experience.
Wish I could do the same trek again and again!

Cheers,

Breakfast - Chole Bhature + egg.
Lunch - Apple + 5 star + froot=

Route was pretty straight forward, walking along side a mountain trail all the way to Bir.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 12

Today was one more epic day.
- We were about to reach Rajgunta.
- We were about to get mobile signal after 11 days.
- We were on the last but one day of completing our memorable trek.
- We would meet civilization.

The whole day was wrecked with bad weather.
We had trekked in rain, but never trekked in hail storms. Today was that day to meet our friend hailstorm.

It hit right on our face. We were drenched. Our shoes were wet, gone, saggy dripping, but we had no option but to continue in the rain rather hail storm.

Finally after 2.5 hours of walking in the rain reached a shelter where we could escape rain. Put a fire started drying ourselves, though we were shivering.

Finally after 1 hour of waiting we were ready to go again. Meanwhile finished dinner over there too.

Then in the late evening,weather turned out to be extremely fine, we reached Rajgunta and then it was evening. Got an accomdation instead of staying in tent because we had reached civilization. Tomorrow we would be completing the trek, 12 day of wilderness thus coming to a close.

We got mobile coverage and called up homes got data as well checked stuffs.

Cheers,

Breakfast - Poha + Egg Burji + Omlette + black tea

Lunch - Chapati wrapped with vegetables + frooti + apple + egg + 5 star.

Evening  - Tea + chocolate cream biscuits

Dinner - chowmen + fried rice + pasta + cake - success party.

Himachal Journey - Day 11

We had to cross Thamsar pass today. Early morning few people who had started from BaraBhangal yesterday came around the kitchen tent too. They were fed and given tea breakfast and then they proceeded with their journey.

We had other company around 30 horses carrying ration from Barabhangal to Bir. So today we were not alone after all.

Breakfast - Porridge + Pancake + Black Tea

Lunch - Egg + Kichdi + Frooti + diary milk + Apple.

We continued on the rocky trail and somewhere we met the villagers of BaraBhangal. We finished the rocky trail and then reached snow. Pass crossing was slow and around 12 30 we were at top of Thamsar pass.

Descended the pass and finished lunch near a lake.

Finally with more walk we reached around campsite around 5pm. It was getting late, foggy and managed to reach the campsite before dark.

Dinner - Rice + Roti + Black Tea + Plain Dal

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 10

- Today we were starting from BaraBhangal village.
- Our dream of spending one idle day doing nothing at BaraBhangal was not possible.
- We had a tough path ahead today and the day was long.

Breakfast - Methi Parota + corn flakes + tea

We said bye to all of the villagers and then started. Crossed a bridge and boy then there was one huge climb all the way parallel to the waterfall. It was a tough day. Sun was hitting very hard. Meanwhile the food and other rations had come down and one of the horseman was riding on the horse instead of walking.

Lunch was alongside a waterfall consisting of,

Salted Potato + apple + 5 star + frooti + Egg.

We started again along the rocky path. It was a tough climb. Completely exposed to sunlight along a quarry of stones we made our way thorough it.

Finally reached evening campsite around 4pm.

This was another day to remember,

- We stole wood stocked up by the shepard and lit a campfire. First one at 13k Feet.
- Guide and horseman were very happy since weather god's had permitted us to come this far.

Dinner - Masoor dal + Rice + roti + tuna fish + vegatables (Potato+ cauliflower+ carrot)
Sweet- custard.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 9 Part b

BaraBhangal village was an awesome place. The moment we entered, we were greeted by a farmer, who was cultivating Rajma. After 8 days, what a fun in meeting people civilization.

- BaraBhangal is a village closed for 6 months of the year, due to the too much of snowfall it recieves.
- People stay and grow crops during 6 months and next move to Bir/Billing.
- The school too functions 6 months over here, 6 months in Bir.
- We had a chance to roam around the village.
- Pluck apples, Yes we were in Himachal Pradesh after all :)-

Once we reached our campsite, we were greeted by a gentleman who turned out to be a government doctor stationed for this village. Since half the team had not yet reached, me and horsemen got up to pitch the tents

Almost after 1 hour rest of the guys who had lost their way arrived. We had freshened up then, quickly it turned dark. Few people had gone to make a telephone call home since there was a satellite phone available. But that was operating on a solar battery which too out of charge!

Then it was dinner time. Next morning I got to take a walk around BaraBhangal, the temple over there, small shops over there etc etc. Then it was time to packup. Big day ahead of us, since we had to start since weather was getting bad, villagers had advised us, not to stay a day more!

Cheers,

A video which I took in BaraBhangal village. 

Himachal Journey - Day 9 Part a

I remember this day way too well. It was an epic day. The reasons being,

- We were reaching BaraBhangal village
- After 8 days of wandering all alone in the hills we would hit civilization.
- Team members felt they could get hot water for bath.
- Guide thought we could refill our supplies of potato + korn + rajma for next leg of the trek.
- Meet people greet people wander around Barabhangal
- Satellite phone.
- Possible bear sightings.
- A day where lots happened.
- Our planned stay at BaraBhangal was cut short by our utilizing the spare day in betwen, now we had no option but to move ahead.

Breakfast - Carrot + Meti parota + omlette + oat meal porridge + black tea.

Day started with a great hope and ended in a brilliant way. Somewhere in the middle we reached a water fall for lunch and then our team decided to split, one team which would go fast and reach the village quick and the other one, would go slow at their own pace.

Lunch at the waterfall - Mashed potato + egg + apple + frooti + diary milk.

The guide told the quicker team to follow the horses, instead they ran ahead in front of the horses and lost their path. Where they had to climb they descended into the valley.

And as a result, we reached Barabhangal village before the quicker team which lost their way. In the middle the horsmen had a sighting of bear and believe me, we four guys of the team were all alone. Luckily we did not sight any bear over there.

Reached BaraBhangal village and there you go, 65% of the trek done!

On reaching campsite we had Tea + Parle G biscuits

Dinner - Rice + Dal + vegetables + roti + jamoon + Soya Chunks

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 8

This day I remember very well, at the end of this day, we reached an awesome campsite and it is where our chef cooked rotis in the open making around 45 rotis in 30 minutes without oil. mind you!

Breakfast - Corn Flakes + aloo Parotha + corn flakes + omlette

Day started with a walk around rocky zone plus a climb. the it was few rock fall zones. We could see the forest cover now, 2 days of snow rock was over, we had a huge climb in front of us.

In between a climb found sometime to finish lunch.

Packed lunch was - Mexican wrap with vegetables + egg + frooti + apple + diary milk!

Finally through a series of inclines we managed to cross a waterfall where we refilled, then it was all out climb to our campsite. One of the bestest campsite during all of our treks.

Dinner - Roti + Rice + moong channa dal + black tea + vegetables (potato + tomato).

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 7

Day 7 appears to be vague in my memory. I do not recollect the events visually. I do not remember how the campsite looks like. I wonder how come that happened.

But I do remember by the pictures and the food prepared.

So I gotta write about only few things!

Cheers,

Breakfast - Poha + custard + egg burgi + tea

Lunch - Boiled potato + apple + frooti + diary milk

Dinner - Rice + Roti + Vegetables (potato/tomato/cauliflower) + rajma dal.

Reaching campsite - Tea + Biscuits.

Himachal Journey - Day 6

Yesterday had a big impact on our mindset.
- We had lost couple of team members owing to altitude sickness.
- We had climbed most part of the hill and were 45 minutes away from crossing the pass, yet we came back.
- Our spare day, which was  reserved for spending in BaraBhangal was exhausted and we now were seeing 12 continuous days of trek instead.
- Once we crossed this pass, there was a point of no return.

But we were quite  optimistic. With God's grace we were planning to cross through.

Breakfast - Corn Flakes with Musli + onion parotha + black tea

The day was long, we started the day with the climb and reached the top where it was ice ice and more ice. Another 2 hours we were almost near the pass crossing.

And then it happened, we reached the top of Kaliheni pass. Our second pass crossing in a 12 day trek, this one too at 14750 feet. Now we had a snow field, lake, a glacier which we had to cross, then we had to make way along the quarry full of stones.

In between took pictures next to the lake and then sat opposite to the lake finished lunch and then started again.

Lunch was - vegetable roll + boiled egg + munch + apple + frooti

Final part of the journey was very very tough. Full of descent on rocks and the campsite was way too long. We made it, it was around 4 45 pm. A very long day.

It would have been worrisome if we had tried this yesterday, because, seriously it was very long.

Dinner - Chowmen + fried rice + pasta + custard sweet + tea

Soup was tomato + garlic soup.

Heavy dinner owing to the success in crossing the pass, though at a second attempt.

Cheers,

Himachal Journey - Day 5

Today we had to cross Kaliheni pass. It was another high altitude pass and believe me it would be tough. We had a path laid out with stones on top of that, we had a lot of distance to cover. So it would be one of the tough tough days.

Breakfast was oat meal porridge + pancake + black tea

Once we start on the rocky path we reach a mountain trail where in we start the climb. Each one of us was walking at our own speed and me and few others were almost through to the top. We were only around 45 minutes from crossing the peak.

Few others were behind and all of a sudden we had a signal from the guide telling us to stop. We had crossed much distance in the tough tough mountain climb and here we were asked to stop.

After around 20 minutes time of waiting guide asked us to come back. We were camping on the mountain itself an inclined place. The reason being, one of the trekkers was having altitude sickness and as a result, we would not be crossing the pass today instead camping.

So today's climb was mostly 2.5 hours only. And then came back to the place where guide was and started helping him pitch the tents. This day we encountered a fresh snowfall. We were kind of upset that the other team member was not well. The views were fantastic.

Time was 12 30 and we had a long day to cover. Sitting here and there seeing mountains is what we all did on this day. And all of a sudden in the evening, the team member felt even more worse. So that person along with one more team member and a guide withdrew from the trek and returned back to Manali leaving us with only 9 team members. We felt sad, but at high altitude, we cannot take chances

Packed lunch was Biryani rice + banana + egg + frooti + dairy milk.

We were served soup 2 times, once garlic soup with noodles and other time corn soup.

Dinner - Roti + Soya Bean + vegetable + tomato + potato + dal + rice.

Cheers,

Pictures include.

Himachal Journey - Day 4

With one high altitude pass crossing done and two more pending, we were looking for more. The trek was getting better each day and we were having the time of our lives.

Woke up early around 6:30 am, were served tea at our tents itself. Before we reached campsite yesterday, we had descended quite a bit and today we had to make ascends yet again.

We were surrounded by multiple small streams of water and as a result, had no time in finding water, for freshening up. As usual no chance to take bath.

Breakfast was bread + egg omlette + corn flakes + milk powder tea
Packed lunch was - Potato + vegetable curry + cheese + apple + 5 star chocolate + frooti energy drink.

Started around 9 30 am. Passed through many shepard tents who had a stock of over 200-300 sheep along with them and few dogs also. Found couple of streams on the way to refill water as well.

Finally we had to cross one more stream and then it was ascend into a mountain. It was again a day of terrific climb, with around 2 hours spent climbing. Found first glacier on the way, where in we had few snacks and refreshments of our packed lunch. Then one more climb came and we were fully exhausted climbing.

Finally got to walk on a ridge where the horses and horsemen caught up with us and crossed us. Finished the lunch sitting on the ridge and then it was one more climb on to a different mountain altogether.

One done with climbing we got to move around flat terrain finally. Meanwhile the horsemen had reached campsite and pitched tents, so we too quickly made way to our campsite. The view from the campsite was nothing short of heaven.

Few pictures from the day

Snacks were fried pakoda comprising of onion and potato at (14k feet)
Prior to dinner mushroom soup,
Dinner comprising of kheer with dry fruits + roti + dal + rice + vegetables sabji + black tea.

Cheers,