Everest Base Camp - trek to the brutal beauty

I have always had a penchant for travelling to mountains. it has the serenity and peace which i need in life from time to time. My first solo trek to Ladakh made this feeling permanent. It would be very cliched to say that I was exploring myself. I wanted to fall back in love with myself.

This mixed love for mountains and myself took me to Everest Base Camp. 15 days of non-stop walking, surviving on minimal amenities, not taking bath for days (trust me that is a big deal for me), meeting new people, eating the basic staple rice and daal (daal-bhaat power, 24 hour) and the brutal beauty around, only made me realise that this is me. I have been trying to explore what makes me happy and i had always found the answer in the bed of gorgeous mountains. But this trip made me realise more than this.

I started my journey, along with my team, from Kathmandu, took a flight to Lukla – the first point of our trek. Lukla is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. 

We began our trek after taking rest for a day. All we had to do was walk, walk and walk more. We used to walk for 12-13 hours every day, of course with breaks in between. It was tiresome but amazing. The food was so simple yet delicious. Our guide was very helpful with local knowledge. We crossed Monjo, Namchebazaar, Tengboche, Dangboche to name a few. My team and I were very happy to finally reach the final stop - Gorakshep. Everest Base Camp was few hours away from there. Our group was divided on whether we should go to base camp or scale Kala Pathar (a mountain made of black rocks which provides most accessible point to view Mt. Everest). We finally decided to go to base camp the next day.

Everything was perfect and was going as planned, until the unfortunate day when I was trekking to Everest Base Camp. 25th April, 2015 - my life changed forever. I was at the base camp when the earthquake and the avalanche happened and shook me. I couldn’t do anything but freeze in my place and feel the ground beneath me shake vigorously. I held on to a huge rock beside me, praying that it should not fall and take me with it. Before I could overcome the emotions after the earthquake, I saw the snow topple over from Mt. Everest, Mt. Luptse, Mt. Nuptse and Mt. Pumori. The snow started coming down on us from all the four sides, with a speed only god knows. I sat against the rock in a baby pose and within seconds I was covered with white all-over. The gale made it impossible for me to even get up. This went on for 10 minutes.

I saw destruction around me. All the colourful tents buried under white; never thought that peace could come at a price. That moment I realised, I am nothing! People say humans are the most powerful being on this planet, but that moment I was the most vulnerable person. The pathway was cracked, rocks tumbling from Pumori Mountain beside me; it was nature's fury at the best. From being stuck in the snow to walking continuously for 24 hours, from braving the aftershocks to being rescued by the Indian Air Force - I experienced a lot in those 72 hours. But amongst the destruction, I saw life as well. I saw a couple getting married, which only proved one thing to me – all you need is love and will to live.

This doesn’t mean that I am stopping here. All this has made my passion of trekking even clearer and stronger for me. It has brought me closer to mountains, telling me that's where I belong and I look forward to exploring much more. Amen! 

P.S - Abhijit, the trip would have not been so awesome without you and your camera and our Jab We Met sessions. Milan and Harshit, we had a great time together. Anushka and Raabi, you two are the most adorable yet strong girls. Bhushan and Amit, you guys are awesome team leaders, always guiding us. PP and Prasad, you guys have got heart of gold. Don't ever change. And the rest of team, I am so glad to meet all of you. 

Wanderlust..Forever

Have you ever felt that you belong somewhere when you visit that place? Does your whole existence become a big question to you? Do you struggle to settle back in your mundane life? If yes, then join the club. This recently happened to me and I started questioning every thing in my life - my life till now, my job etc. etc. As Seth Godin said,  "If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try"  So I decided to take the risk.

Recently I went on a solo trip to Leh- Ladakh and was bitten by the travel bug - big time. I am now suffering from a deadly disease called WANDERLUST. I mean really, what was I doing for so long! I always loved travelling and have almost covered most of the North region of my country, but that was different. I never felt the way I am feeling now. Maybe because I went with my family and was not allowed to explore things my way. But this time, I don't know what but something happened for sure to me. Not able to put a finger on it but I am sure Kuch to hua hai...kuch ho gaya hai. 

I was in need for a break from this running around and was in dire need to find myself. I was feeling so lost and caught up in this materialistic world. I wanted to run away from every thing and never come back. I know it sounds very selfish, but this time I just wanted to think about myself. I wanted to do something for me. I was tired of pleasing everyone and trying to make them happy. I am a very optimistic and positive person, so it is very tough to bring me down. But my last relationship took away the energy from my body and soul and left me gasping. So yes I was hurt and I cried till there was no energy left to even do that. I felt like a drapetomaniac; all I wanted to do was run away and never come back. And it was always in my head - that if I have to run and go some place, where no one can reach me or contact me, it had to be Leh. And that was it. I had promised myself as a New Year resolution that no matter what, I would travel. Even if I have to die hungry. And also, I wanted to explore Leh on my own (before I get married to some chomu).

So I just made up my mind, found out a travel agent and finalised my plan. Packed my rucksack and lied a little to my parents (had to). My mum would have freaked out if she knew that her daughter, who is in the age to bore children but still a child for her, is going all the way to Leh, all ALONE. Sometimes one's got to do what one's got to do. Yeah, so I left my comfort zone, with loads of ideas about travelling alone in my little head and took a leap of faith. And I am glad I did it. If you get to experience something as serene and calm and beautiful and amazing and I don't know what else (falling short of words) as Leh, then I would do this always.

I think I had forgotten who was I. In the process of making  everyone happy, I had lost myself and my happiness. I had forgotten to smile meaninglessly. I had forgotten to love myself while I was trying to find love and love others. I had forgotten that I needed ME time more than anything else in the world. But now I know that girl is still there in me; I just had to bring her out from isolation. I shed all my inhibitions and did what I never thought I could do. Met so many people, made new friends, travelled alone, asked for lift from a total stranger and lived freely, without any tension.

I promise myself that for nothing else in the world I would ever let this girl get lost again. I would only get lost being a wanderer, exploring new destinations, meeting new people and living my life. I cross my heart and hope to die and I promise to be a wanderer forever. "Travel not to find yourself, but to remember who you have been all along" 

My 'Jab We Met' Moment

"Maine ek sapna dekha, bada hi ajeeb tha. Badi bechani ho rahi thi, ais alag raha tha ki mano jaise koi train chuth rahi ho...aur main uske peeche bhaag rahi hoon..." When I saw Jab We Met, I loved every single moment of the movie. Be it Kareena running after Shahid or Shahid driving Kareena to the station so that she could catch the train, every single frame was amazing. But never in my wildest dream did I ever imagine that the same would be happening with me! The dialog which I mentioned in the beginning almost came true for me.

After I got a job in GBM (a Public Relations firm), I had to travel to Delhi for my job training in May. Everything was set - my tickets, my luggage etc. I was very excited and was making plans about what would I do when I reach Delhi, where would I go and eat an so on and so forth. I was not in Mumbai one week prior to my journey, but as everything was already set before hand, I was relaxed. The tension started after I was not able to get a ticket back to Mumbai from Gaya, Bihar. After that nothing was going right for me. Every single day my brother and I used to look for tickets, but only failure came to us. I had a train on 24th of May and till 20th I was in Gaya. I was spending sleepless nights. But finally, somehow my father got the tickets for 21st and I reached Mumbai on 22nd May. I was confident that nothing will go wrong as I had already reached Mumbai. All I had to do was to take my luggage and leave for Delhi. But life can not be so sweet to me.

I had to shift places, so my brother and I were busy shifting luggage from my place to my aunt's place. We could not do it in one day, so we decided we would come early and shift rest of the luggage the next day. And that was the day when I had to travel. We reached our place, got a cab, loaded the stuff and were on the move. As usual, something bad had to happen. We got a lot of traffic on the way and I was running short of time. My brother was yelling at me about how irresponsible I was about not leaving on time and all. I was on the verge of crying because my train was supposed to leave at 5pm and it was already 0445. We were 5 mins away from the station, but the traffic was not letting us move freely.

Somehow we managed to reach the station. I saw my train standing on the platform and it was about to leave. I passed on the luggage to 2 coolies and ran for my life. My whole life was coming infront of my eyes. The moment I stepped on the platform, the train started moving. I shouted at the driver and begged him to stop the train for just 2 mins. Just like Kareena in Jab We Met and Simran in DDLJ, I caught the train running. Behind me came the 2 coolies and they dumped my luggage infront of me. The train was in  motion. I had to pay a whooping price of Rs.500 just for 2 bags to the coolies, but I had no other option. The moment realisation hit me and before I could think or react, tears started flowing from my eyes. I called my brother, mother, cousin, friend and God knows who not possible, and informed them about the incident. and after that I started laughing. I searched for my colleague who was travelling with me and narrated the whole thing to her as well. She got worried first but after two minutes, even she was laughing on this.

This incident might sound filmy, but it will always be a nightmare for me. I could never forget that unfortunate day ever. But I guess whatever happens, happens for a reason. Nevertheless, I reached Delhi safely and as now I sit in my office writing and thinking about it, I smile.