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"