The trip to the top of the world

"A trip of a lifetime", aptly captures this trip to the top of the world. Me and my wife, armed with little knowledge (courtesy Google) and a lot of spirit, undertook this journey, and came out shaken AND stirred. We would not have missed it for anything and, though not perfect, hold nothing against the twelve days of adventure that turned up on our door unannounced.

Going to Leh has always been a hot topic after a few drinks and no one I have met at innumerable parties has ever refuted the idea. Everyone wanted to join in and by the last drink of the night, ready to write out the check for the estimated damages. Who would have thought, that in the end, just me and my wife would make the trip. The only regret I have is not having done this sooner, or maybe a year later. The timing was not perfect, but for a trip like this, it would be true to say that it never will be perfect.

I wanted to do an adventure trip, and see the India I remembered seeing in the past. I wanted to show this to my wife, who, being born abroad, had never seen much of this country. So, we decided to do it the snail's way, and by that I mean by train, and road, instead of flying everywhere. This was by far the best decision on this trip, especially when we met the Delhi gang in Leh.

Leg 1: Bangalore to Delhi

Mostly an uneventful train journey from Bangalore City to Hazrat Nizamuddin, in second AC with soup and food and ice cream. I was excited about the journey, brimming with nostalgia from the innumerable train journeys I had been part of when Dad was in the Army. The landscape outside the window changed slowly but surely from the greenery of south India, to the aridness of Andhra, to the vast open lands of MP, and finally the thorny bushes around Delhi.

We reached early morning at the station, and were presented with the issue of finding a clean bathroom. Hazrat Nizamuddin is a dirty little station, crowded with people and a small Cumsum restaurant. My wife would have never stepped into a place like this but for me, and I am sorry for it, but what else could I do. We managed to eat something at the restaurant and after contemplating the next step for about an hour, we got out of the station at 8 am. We had had enough of train stations for some time.

Thankfully, the policeman helped us get a pre-paid auto, and we reached Delhi Haat without getting ripped off. Things were starting to look better with the almost flawless roads of New Delhi. We found a clean public toilet near Delhi Haat and managed to freshen up. Unfortunately, the Haat was to open only at 10:30, and we had a lot of time till then. We decided to move on, and accidentally discovered the INA station of the Delhi Metro. What a lucky break it turned out to be.

We thought we might see Kutub Minar and got down at the station with the same name. We took a bus and were about to enter the Kutub Minar complex, when we saw the purple "HO-HO" bus. The HO-HO turned out to be an abbreviation of Hop in-Hop out, which was a circular bus service around Delhi. At 300 bucks, the ticket was steep, but the pleasure of seeing Delhi sitting in an AC bus, was worth every paisa. The heat outside was searing, so we decided to ride the bus and visited a few places.

We visited the house of former Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, and then saw her father's house (Teen Murti Bhavan) from the gate. The heat was driving us mad and we chose to be inside the bus rather than outside. Then we visited the National Museum, which turned out to be a nice place with artifacts from all across the country. I felt proud in some measure to belong to this land. For the rest of the journey, we chose to stay within the confines of the air conditioned environs. We did see the India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, among other sites before we got down at the Haat once again.

By now, we were dangerously close to missing out connecting bus to Manali, so we chucked the idea of visiting the Haat and made a bee-line for the metro and got down at Vishwavidhyalaya station and took an auto to Majnu ka tila. The bus came an hour earlier than expected and surprisingly, left an hour earlier than mentioned on the ticket. Anyway, we were glad to be on the bus.

Leg 2: Delhi to Manali

The bus journey from Delhi to Manali was mostly uneventful, except for the heated discussion between me and my wife. The discussion lasted quite some time, before sleep took over and our heads were bobbing to the rhythm of a long road trip. We stopped for dinner and got the first taste of being ripped off. Instead of stopping at a good hotel, the bus driver stopped in a non-descript dabha in the middle of nowhere. We were hungry, after all it was almost 10 in the night, and we had missed our lunch due to the early departure of the bus from Delhi.

Anyway, we were hungry, and without looking for the menu (I doubt they even had one), we ordered for four rotis and one butter chicken. I have to agree that the food was tasty, but it might simply have been a factor of our growling stomachs. My wife complained that the loo was the absolute worst, and I realized that this was a planned rip off of passengers. The meal cost me an unbelievable 680 bucks, and I paid up because everyone was paying up. 600 bucks for the chicken officially makes it the costliest chicken I have eaten in my life.

After the setback of the costliest dinner I wish I had never had, the bus drove into the night as if nothing was amiss. Well, the next morning almost washed my regrets. My sleepy eyes were greeted with the crystal clear waters of Beas and the winding roads in the belly of the mountains. The snow capped mountains at the distance reflecting the bright rays of the rising sun got me excited. We were finally getting close to the mountains.

We got down at the bus stand and walked to the hotel. The stupid telescopic handle of the suitcase had stopped working and this led to some inconvenience. Nonetheless, we reached the hotel, and were pleasantly surprised to find a cozy hotel snuggled amidst the concrete jungle of hotels calling out to the steady stream tourists. We were a little early than the check in time and were offered breakfast by the warm staff while we waited.

Once in the room, we managed to have a proper bath in three days. After the refreshing bath we left the room and enquired at the reception about hiring a bike. The manager gave us a contact, where we reached and negotiated for a Pulsar 150, at 500 bucks for 8 hours. We then went to meet Mohinder of Planet Himalaya to arrange for the transport for the next leg to Keylong. The market was getting crowded with all the tourists and the mid-day approaching. We managed to find a cobbler and thankfully got my wife's shoes fixed which I would have regretted for a long time otherwise.

The bike ride to the Solang valley was pleasant and eased us into the adventurous spirit of riding in the mountains. There was a long traffic jam for a few kilometers before the turn to Solang, but luckily, we got through pretty fast as we were on two wheels. Someone said that we were lucky, and I knew he was right. We even saw a set of parents carrying the pram with their little one, in order to get past the stranded traffic. Here we got our first taste of mountain driving and how slim the margins to maintain all four wheels on the ground really are.

Solang valley was a crowded place with options for Para-sailing, driving a mountain bike, rolling down in an air filled ball. We instead chose to take the cable car and headed to the top of the valley. A small cafe there was serving hot tea and small eats. The aloo paratha was definitely the show stealer. I sat at a table kept a little way off the cafe, and ate my parathas, letting the 360 degree view of snowy peaks at misty distances seep in. I have not felt that kind of calm for a long time and I could have stayed there for hours, but the sun was sinking and we had to get back before the roads became dark.

On the way back, we went to the Hadimba temple. I remembered coming here almost ten years ago, and how little the feel of the place had changed. Thankfully it was still bright and we managed to get a few photographs wearing traditional Himachali dresses and also managed a couple with my wife sitting on a Yak. The Ankora rabbit that we had to pay ten bucks to hold was so soft and unlike a normal rabbit, didn't stink at all. By the time we left the temple, darkness had crept over the mountain ridges and had engulfed the valley.

On the way back to the hotel, we had to cross the now heavily crowded Mall road. I never realized that the proximity to cities like Chandigarh, Delhi, etc, must be putting Manali on everyone’s list of quick vacation spots. Even the hotel manager complained that the town was too crowded with people from Delhi driving big SUVs that caused unending traffic jams in a town with one road. I witnessed these jams and I have to say, I am so glad I was not staying in Manali for the vacation.

We managed to repack our bags and catch the quick dinner at the hotel, before dropping into the bed for a couple of hours of fitful sleep. At around midnight, someone knocked at the door of the hotel and since our room was the closest to the door, and I was unable to sleep, I investigated to find a thinly bearded gentleman asking for the couple who wanted to be dropped to Keylong. I walked out and said that I was the one who had asked for the drop, and he informed me that the driver they had asked to drop us had slept off and switched off his phone.

"What do I do now?", I asked wondering how professionalism is an unknown word in this corner of the world.

"Don't worry, sir", said the man, "You come to the bus stop and call me. I will put you in a different vehicle."

Not knowing if I can trust him or not, I called Mohinder to verify and it turned out to be all right. A half hour later, we were at the bus stop, seated in a brand new Tata Sumo, waiting for four gullible passengers to ride the side seats in the dickey. At around three in the morning, we finally bade good bye to the bus stand at Manali and started towards Keylong, our next halt.

Leg 3: Manali to Keylong

Since we started pretty early in the morning, we were able to cross Rohtang pass, without much of a traffic jam. We were over the most visited pass by around nine in the morning. The snow at Rohtang had turned black with mud, with all the tourist traffic. Rohtang turns out to be the furthest that most tourists travel to. Very few travel beyond till Leh, and that made our trip even more special. We were now part of an elite group of people who had crossed Rohtang and gunned for Leh.

Unfortunately, due to the impatience of the people in the cab, most of whom must have done this stretch a thousand times, we did not stop at Rohtang. We reached Keylong, passing many more breath taking views, and a quick lunch break at Khoksar, at noon. The Himachal Pradesh tourism hotel, Chander Bhaga that we had booked rooms in, turned out better than expected. Of course, the rooms were plain and simple, just like any other government guest house would be, but the people manning the reception and the restaurant, were very warm and forth coming.

We slept for a while and then wandered out as the sun was setting. The hotel staff was kind enough to give us two glasses of piping hot (and that was a good thing) green tea, and a plate full of pakodas. I can safely say that sitting in the chilly breeze, with the evening sun sharing its last rays of warmth with us as we sat on the porch sipping on the tea and crunched on the pakodas, was the highlight of the trip till then. Of course, we saw more as the journey progressed, but after Keylong, with the rising altitude, the mind became fuzzy due to the lack of oxygen. So it would be accurate to say that the last crystal clear first hand memory of the trip was at Chander Bhaga.

After finishing with the snacks we took a long and circuitous walk to the Keylong village below. We even crossed a small stream formed at the bend of the road, barefoot, and believe me, it was freezing cold, and equally fun to have done that. Once in the village, we walked around lazily till we found a reasonable looking hotel and settled for hot soup and salad. Behind us were a couple of guys taking in their daily quota of beer, and talking loudly on their phones. Turns out, these guys were from the Airtel support center and were addressing customer issues, sitting in a pub.

We left the restaurant as the sun was dipping behind the mountain ridges and made a quick beeline to the hotel. We even managed to walk across a field of flowers to the bus stop and then took a shortcut as the darkness filled the valley. The heart was beating fast, being in an alien place, with limited mobile connectivity, but the spirit of adventure was taking hold in both of us and we were surely not backing away from some adrenalin filled fun. Still, as most real life stories, the adventure was merely in the head and we reached the safety of the hotel gates shortly. We sat outside for some time watching the dark silhouettes of the mountain ranges all around us peppered with artificial lights of far away farms.

We had an early dinner and slept early since the connecting transport from Keylong to Leh was to pick us up at 6 in the morning. We struggled to get up the next morning as the cold outside the quilt was prohibitive. Finally, with some coaxing and sheer will power, we managed to get ready and reached the reception. The tempo traveler turned up an hour late and we took our seats. It turned out to be a good decision to request seats in a tempo traveler, because the stretch from Keylong to Leh was 14 hours long and if we had done it in a Suma stuffed with 11+driver, we would surely have had a more uncomfortable ride. The temp traveler had individual seats and this at least gave us enough room to keep readjusting our bodies to keep the fatigue at bay, at least as much as possible.

Leg 4: Keylong to Leh

Leaving Keylong was a sad affair for me at least. It is the kind of place I always wanted to settle down in. I am not sure if I would ever be able to gather the courage to go to such a remote place, but the thought is romantic. A green valley surrounded by snow capped mountains, and a simple life with the one you love by your side. What else could one ask for? In retrospect, it turns out that leaving Keylong was the start of the true adventure called Leh, the reason for the vacation.

First stop was at Darcha for breakfast. A few more small mountains and lots of dusty half made roads later, we reached Baralach La, a pass higher than Rohtang and filled with pristine snow. A frozen lake surrounded by endless valleys covered in snow was a sight to behold. We got down from the traveler and played with the snow. This was the first time that my wife has ever touched snow, and I was proud to have enabled that. Later, we took a few pictures with the snow filled landscapes in the background.

"Don't play in the snow too long. Your hands will get spoilt", warned the driver as we were going berserk like a couple of kids in a sand box.

The next stop was Sarchu for some paperwork. We did not get out of the vehicle but were impressed with the flat plains covered in greenery all around us. There were many tents scattered across the plains, and these served as the second night halts for bikers on the way to Leh (Keylong / Jispa being the first). I couldn't help wonder how it would feel to sleep at over 4000 meter above sea level in a tent. In retrospect, I think it was a good idea that I didn't try it.

By the time we had crossed Baralach La, the mind had started getting a little fuzzy. I didn't realize it at that time, but it was the high altitude air and the lack of oxygen that had started its work on the brain. I would continue to be fuzzy for the rest of the trip, though I am not sure how my wife managed. The next time I would be in a straight frame of mind, I would already be in Bangalore trying to question the trip in the whole.

The next beautiful place we crossed was the Nakee La pass. This pass is completely devoid of snow or greenery. Simply rocks lying around that passing people have stacked one over the other to form rudimentary forms of stupas. The colorful flags strung to the central post added a sense of life and mystery to this place. Who stacked these stones? Why are the flags here? The landscape on this pass is almost barren enough to resemble the NASA photographs of Mars. Thank God for the stacked stones that look alive in a stoic land.

After a short drive from Nakee La (mind you even a short drive is a tough drive in these lands), we crossed the Lachunglang La pass. I don't even remember crossing it, until someone in the vehicle asked the driver if we had crossed it and he said yes. Was it the fuzziness of the mind or the pass was lost in the magnificence of the surrounding landscapes. By this time, the mountains around us were bigger than ever before and we were feeling like ants in an ever changing alien terrain. At some places, the mountains were rocky; at other places they were sandy. Some mountains had archways created by the eroding winds, while others had Minar like structures jutting out of their sides. One mountain I saw looked like someone placed layers of multicolored rocks and then toppled the whole thing. It almost looked like the capsized space craft from the planet of the apes.

At Pang, we broke for lunch. My wife was feeling the symptoms of high altitude sickness, with an inexplicable headache. While she slept in one of the temporary beds in the tent, I gorged on a plate of noodles. She later joined me with roti and eggs. The funny part about this journey is that we ate the most normal food, like Maggi, Momos, Thukpa, Stuffed roti, etc, and we never felt that we were missing anything. I guess it was the immense surroundings and the sensory overload of vast sceneries that made normal human worries seem trivial. We were seeing something very few people see. How could we fret about trivial things like variety of food? Just before we reached Pang, we saw a crew of people including a scantily clad model, shooting with the megaliths in the background. It was a reminder that these were some of the most beautiful and hard to reach places in the world.

From Pang, it was a long drive across the Moore plains at over 4700 meters above sea level, then up the side of the mountains to reach the second highest pass in the world, Tanglang La. I think this is where I fell sick. It was windy on the top and I was dressed in a sleeveless sweater without cotton in my ears. I am sure the cold winds at these places do things to the brain and the entire ENT cavity. Although I got through the pass without too much of a headache, and managing not to open the Diamox strip (thanks to my wife), I think this was the turning point in the trip for my health.

After Tanglang La, the roads turned downhill and the roads became marginally better. A few hours later we crossed Upshi and then on to the flat stretch to Leh. We finally managed to reach Leh by around nine in the night, and the tour operator, Delex, was good enough to pick us up from the bus stand and drop us to the hotel. He enquired about our journey so far and was surprised that we thought that the worst part of the journey, the road from Manali to Leh, was behind us.

"We don't want to scare tourists", he said matter of factly, "But Leh is not a place to be taken lightly."

Leg 5: Leh (Day 1)

Delex had told us that since we had reached late last night, we could sleep in late and then call the cab when we were ready to leave the hotel. We finally managed to get up by noon and then after the second shower through the trip, we left the hotel by two in the afternoon. The driver of our cab, Takesh, was a simple man, with a stammering problem. He was also to be our guide for the next three days. At the end of the three days, we really liked him and his simple jovial nature. God bless him.

The first place we visited after the late breakfast was the Shey Palace, the old and abandoned palace of the royal family of Leh. It did have a functional temple complete with an impressive statue of the Buddha, but the rest of the palace was merely a shell of what it must have been in the days of its glory. These kinds of places give me a mixed feeling. I am happy at seeing the eroded glamour of bygone times still struggling against the forces to share glimpses of the past, and at the same time I am sad at the loss of memories and lives that must have lived there. Ruins are the best teachers that life must go on (Ross Island in Andaman is another that gives me goose bumps).

After the old palace, we went to Thiksey monastery, which is a pretty impressive monastery. The best thing about these monasteries is their colorful facade and peaceful interiors. We walked through the painted rooms; saw the adorned statues, the cloistered courtyards, and finally the depiction of peace on the statue of Buddha. I know I could look that peaceful if I tried, but I just hope I can feel that peace, some day, inside me. We then caught lunch at the small hotel at the entrance of the Thiksey monastery and my wife topped off the food with a delicious looking chocolate pancake (Dosa with liquid chocolate poured over it).

With a full stomach, we crossed the Leh valley and headed for the opposite mountains and reached the new palace of the royal family. The driver told us that the present king lives in part of the palace that is not allowed to the public. The palace was filled with small rooms, a few of which we were allowed to enter. Each of these rooms displayed some artifacts from the royal but humble past of the Ladakhi people. The head dress of the queen, the thigh bone flute, the skull cup, the kitchen counter, and many other glimpses into the past made the palace a far more living place than the Shey palace. A thought kept returning to me that though these were the kings and queens of this land, their palace was not opulent or overflowing with luxury. This definitely was a place of hardship, where even the king and queen had to suffer their share.

Finally, we reached Shanti Stupa, with just about enough light remaining for a few quick snaps. The Shanti Stupa is impressive in its simplicity and its contrasting smoothness against the rugged surroundings. The Stupa was crowded with enough people and vehicles, but it was peaceful nonetheless. The monastery in the compound depicted the story of the Buddha in a wall hanging that took us almost fifteen minutes to read. It is interesting to know what drove these men to have faith in the face of such natural hardships.

Leg 6: Leh (Day 2)

The next day, we had to get up early, at five in the morning and leave the hotel by six. We ate our breakfast at the on an unearthly hour and left with the packed lunch under our arms. The driver then drove us on an exciting but unending road towards Nubra valley. As we stopped at Khardung La pass, I got down for a hot cup of green tea. The winds were very cold and blowing with a vengeance. I was ill dressed and could not stand it anymore. I started coughing badly and then gave up and retired inside the car.

By the time we reached the Mystic Meadows campsite, where we were to halt for the night, I had a fever and was unable to go on. I crashed into the bed and slept for a short while. The campsite was a small enclosure with cabbages (the guy at the camp said we were too early for the flowers that came out in July) flowering in the center and a row of white tents all around. The tents themselves were very comfortable with two beds each and attached toilets. This is the first time I have seen tents with attached toilets, and I am impressed.

After an hour, we left the campsite again, this time headed for some smalltime sightseeing. We saw the hot water springs at Panamik which was not quite worth the effort. I have seen hot water springs in Manali and Manikaran before and did not care for visiting Panamik which, like all places in Leh, was a long hard drive away. After the hot water springs, we headed to the Samstanling monastery. By this time, I couldn't see the point of visiting different monasteries, and coupled with my health, I merely went through the motions. We returned pretty early to the camp and I hit the bed and slept to recoup.

A little later I heard some local drums beating at a distance and would have loved to see the villagers dancing around the fire or whatever they were doing, but I just couldn't get out of bed. My wife was worried for my health and didn't disturb me either. I finally got up for dinner and managed to sit through the simple yet tasty food, especially considering the distance all the food must have had to travel in order to end up in my stomach. The night was troubled sleep, but I managed, somehow.

Leg 7: Leh (Day 3)

We left the camp the next day after breakfast at around seven, and headed for the famed sand dunes of Nubra valley. I could not imagine what sand dunes were doing in a place like this. I had seen all kinds of geographical features till then, but sand dunes still seemed farfetched. I assumed that it was an exaggeration to reel in tourists. The reality, when we reached the dunes, was far from it. There it was, miles of sand dunes, complete with pretty double humped camels, surrounded by greenery and even a shallow stream of clear water. This was too confusing for my senses where desserts and water and mountains just don't mix that well.

My wife went for fifteen minute ride on one of the camels and loved it. I am glad, but I did not join her as the fever was still troubling me. The sun was just as hot as it should have been in a desert, and we couldn't stay there was very long. We left the dunes behind and headed for the old Diskit monastery. This monastery is very old and I could feel the bygone ages as I stood on the aged wooden flooring and was mesmerized by the statues with covered faces. One of the monks spoke to us and was happy to know that we had visited the Namdroling monastery in Coorg. It is nice to talk to people who look at life in such simple measures.

Very close to the Diskit monastery is the 35 meter high Maitreya Buddha statue that I was trying to photograph from the vehicle. I did not know that we were going to visit this place as it was given on the itinerary. The driver was good enough to take us there. After all, who will come all the way here to see the statue again? The statue stands in the midst of a barren and stark landscape, proud with bright colors. I cannot imagine what kind of people go through unimaginable hardships to create such symbols of hope. This land definitely needs the hope, but all I would like to know is the source of hope for the people who built it. I need that source to send me some hope too.

After filling our senses with unbelievable sights, both natural and manmade, we took the long road back to Leh and reached by around six. We took a short nap and then went to the Leh market for some souvenir shopping. Though there were some interesting things to buy, we were confounded at the prices. Also, most of the things would be available in Delhi and Bangalore. So, after a long search, we settled at buying some very basic things at reasonable prices, just so that we would remember this trip. I, though, am unlikely to forget anything on this trip, souvenir or not.

Leg 8: Leh (Day 4)

The next day was an early rise, quick breakfast and get out of the hotel fast routine again. This time we were headed through the Chang La pass to see the Pangong Lake. This lake has risen to meteoric fame following the Aamir Khan movie, "3 idiots". The Chang La pass was a breeze compared to the Khardung La and Tanglang La pass, but I guess we deserved a break. This was the first place I saw frozen toilets and couldn't help photograph them. A nice addition to the "physically demanding trip" catalog.

Pangong Lake was amazing. Crowded, but amazing and peaceful nonetheless. You could stand at the edge of the lake and look at the clear, multi-colored non-stop waters and forget the people around you. Actually, you could as well feel like the only human on the planet. The place has that kind of effect. It does not matter who is with you or who is not. All that matter is that you are there. Pangong Lake was like the cool band aid to settle the rashes that Leh had caused.

On the way back, for the first time through the trip, I slept in the car. I had seen what I had set out to see and I was happy with the results. I was tired and just wanted to get back home, to the familiar confines of my one bedroom house back in Bangalore. With the small terrace supplying all the nature I needed. The trip was over in my mind.

Leg 9: Leh to Delhi

Though the adventure was over in my mind, the guy on top had other plans. We reached the airport just late and managed to miss the flight. I was almost in tears. I was not feeling too well and was panicking. Thanks to my wife for taking the lead and settling the boat. I was dreaming of having to stay in Leh for ever, maybe take up farming or become a tour guide. I still get the jitters when I think of those four hours spent at the Leh airport that day.

The alternative options started floating around. We could get seats the next day, but that would mean missing the connecting train from Delhi and also booking a room for the night. We could go by road, due to the cost, via Kargil, Srinagar and Jammu. That one was shot down without much thought. It would have meant gambling with the chance of getting train tickets at short notice or take costly flight from Delhi. My brain was not working, but my wife was being the pillar of strength without whom I might just have started walking south.

Due to persistence and a high limit on the credit card, we finally managed to get two seats on the last flight out of Leh that day. I cannot explain how relieved I felt the moment I snapped the seat belt in place. I was not going to remove it till I reached Delhi, not even if the captain changed his mind and wanted me out. I am never going to miss another flight, be it by a month or a day or a minute. That was the worst jack in the box moment I have had in a long time.

Leg 10: Delhi to Bangalore

We landed at Delhi a little later than originally intended, but with enough time to catch the connecting train. The words, "Thank God" was bouncing around the insides of my skull like the windows screensaver. The Delhi airport was civilization, after almost a week in comparative wilderness. We took the metro to Rajiv Chowk (CP) and trashed the idea of shopping at Palika Bazaar due to the searing heat. We managed to cool down at the KFC and refuel with some badly made burgers.

By now, we were tired. The suitcase with the faulty handle was becoming too much to handle. I was coughing like a mad man and sweating like one too. My wife was holding me together, but was fed up of this trip too. Though not the 'romantic trip', this trip taught me and my wife more about us and each other than any other 'romantic trip' ever did. This trip turned out to be the 'adventure trip' that I had always complained about not having made.

The journey from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Bangalore was thankfully uneventful and a good phasing back into normal life. By the time I reached home in Bangalore, I couldn't care less for anything else. I just wanted to reach familiar territory. I just wanted to stop thinking. I just wanted to relax. It would not be wrong if I continue the story here, because, a trip to Leh does not end when you leave the place. It stays with you for a couple of weeks more, as you feel your mind regain its snappiness slowly. The memories seem to return in phases, the photographs you took on the trip seem vaguely familiar.

Two weeks later, I sat back to see the pictures taken on the trip. They were familiar now and I began remembering the feelings that I could not register earlier. The trip was totally worth every nose bleed, every body ache, every sore throat, and every extra penny I spent. This trip was special for me, but remember, no words or photographs can prepare you for this trip. No photograph can prepare you for what you would feel when you stand in the middle of mountains that almost touch the heavens. No words can explain the feeling at the only place on earth where you could have sunstroke and frostbite, all at the same time.

Each of us has to make this trip and bring back what the Gods wanted us to have, an appreciation of being alive.

I call this trip, "A trip of my lifetime".