The most challenging trip so far in various sense - emotional, health, group tour, temperament. There is always a learning when things are tough. There is a saying "when going gets tough, the tough gets going" and that's what we learned and stuck to.
1) The first tough thing emotional - Our beloved grand mother was hospitalized with doctors given up hope 2 days before our trip. We all loved her very much as she was the most modern granny of these times (yes, she can discuss cricket and politics both if you had like ;)) One of the things I will remember is the food, if she made anything that had to be delicious, even if she only added salt to a thing. Because of the intention she had that everyone should enjoy what she made. (I do take pride in it too, anything I cook turns out good, but I hardly cook). The truth of the moment was that nobody was able to decide and everyone was waiting for each other some of them wanting to go and some of them wanting to cancel. Eventually, most of us agreed that we should go and she had told each of us when we met while she was alright but hospitalized was "take care of each other on the trip". Well, that showed her true spirit. So we decided 2 of them staying back to take care of rituals and rest of us to take the train to Delhi. I believe it was the right thing to do. I learned when something is known and inevitable, accept it very gracefully and pray for the highest and best.
2) The 2nd milestone - After a tough call to leave for the trip, the next road block was right ahead of us. The train to Jammu from Delhi was full of unreserved people in reserved compartment, so much so that we cannot even board the train. And I created a blunder by not boarding from the side I was supposed which had only ladies. On our end, we managed to throw in the luggage. On other end, ladies managed to throw the luggage near the toilet. I must admit we created one more blunder (the ladies side of it), the ladies lost their cool on the crowd which was already irritated but still trying to help considering they were all ladies. The story on our end was different, we stayed cool but the irritated crowd pounced on us for the amount of luggage we were carrying in the train. Slowly things started to settle, we removed people who where on our seats. Some were nice to tell us that let the next station come otherwise we won't be able to get in our luggage. We listened to them and they listened to us. Things settled more but I still saw some of us were shouting instead of requesting on the first go itself. My view is that when things go wrong one thing to understand is that even if other person is wrong he is equally frustated, so request him first before shouting. If he does not budge you should go up to police too, but always start politely as your first thought should be that he will agree as you are right. After almost 1-2 hrs of all the fight and everything, we got to sleep.
I learned "this too will pass, learn to smile on bad circumstances". One practical learning is research your travel well before booking.
3) This one is actually humorous - One of us stamped on someone's foot and said sorry. That lady literally went mad. Her husband told her very coolely - "I will take you to a doctor as soon as we got down, shouting is not going to reduce your pain". But in the end we were conversing with them so felt good about it. I learned you can improve the situation, choice is yours.
4) Now the roads are blocked - The roads to srinagar were blocked due to weather and amarnath yatra. There are some practical learnings here. Find out about any public events on your route and take a quick decision to change your route. We spend entire day in Jammu and lost a day in such a crucial trip.
5) We are on our way to Manali - After a lot of waiting at 3:00am we started off at around 7:00 for Manali. Again a lot of time wasted just making decision and fights among drivers. Excitement was ON again at least for me as we will be soon at our first destination. The route was long and tiring and we reached at around 10:00pm or later. The hotel was decent. I learned that it helps to be patient or life will frustate you easily and many times ;)
6) The fun begins - So the trip to Solang valley was fun for everyone. Paragliding for the first time from a hill top was very good experience of shedding your fears. I did it on purpose as I was afraid. If you are afraid, do it, till when will you live in that fear? But it turned out dar ke age jeet hain, once up in the air, it felt amazing. It's an experience so word will fall short of describing it.
7) Food is frustating for everyone now - I think for me this was one of the bad things of the trip. The food had so many highs and lows that it was depressing at times. If I had to change one thing in the trip, this would be the one thing I would change. The cook and the guide had no ideas of our expectation from the food. I learned you need to plan better and have your daily items ready in excel sheet emailed to the provider before hand and ensure he has each and every ingredient required for it. Though in hills only 70% of your planning will work but still huge scope of improvement here.
8)
The highlight of the trip "trip to Sarchu and the stay" - This was by far the most difficult part of our entire trip. We got stuck at rohtang for 4-5 hrs due to mud slide. I learned one thing on the way "Learn to live along - Independent". In such circumstances, you support others come what may. You need to be very strong for the same. And you need to be to gather. That is exactly what we did.
Then came Zing zing bar - This is a tough one for both vehicle and you to cross. But it was fun, first the vehicles crossed. We clapped as one after other our vehicles crossed the difficult path with flowing water at good force. Then it was our turn. This was probably the first time I did not look back, something took over me and I went without help with Swati, crossed it fearlessly. It was unlike me, but I learned circumstances can make you strong too and that don't think but act ;)
I loved when 2 of the younger brothers prepared Electral powder in warm water and served everyone in spite of severe cold. I think we again made one mistake of stretching our dinner to late night. Many of us paid a heavy price for the same next day I guess. I had my past learnings and used good trick of drinking 1 litre+ warm water and get rid of all acid through vomitting by choice and I was all well then. As we left from Sarchu, things started to look better. I learned "Be tough and don't give up".
9) The food got better at pang - We all enjoyed the food at bang with garam rotis being served to us. Some of us chose to rest as well (A well deserved one).
11) The goodness of Leh Begins - The Plains at such a height is a sight in itself. From sand dunes to colorful mountains, the road has everything you can or cannot imagine. This probably was the closest literal to "Joy is in the journey and not the destination".
12) Leh tour of 2 days - The leh tour is very simple and charming. With very good places to see and just be. Some of us went for rafting which is fun. As I had done it again and wanted to take rest, I skipped it. The market was not much fun other then t-shirts. The hotel in Leh was dissappointing to say the least. A better strategy in future would be to pay more, bargain less but take the best.
13) 3 idiots school but Aamir khan was missing - Time to visit the awesome school the next day. Lot of open spaces and some useful quotes, I am sure the students are lucky. Leh has its own charm. The drivers changed from aggressive to silent as our journey too became more silent.
14) The first sight of pangong lake - Journey was awesome and we were used to the heights now (but this too will pass ;)). The first sight of pangong lake amongst the sandy mountains was amazing view, I almost jumped in the scorpio with 3 others ;)
15) This too will pass- The good time was over. The tent which we had supposedly booked were booked by others before us and there were no tents left. We were on beg, borrow, steal mode now. Convinced the guy to give us 3 tents instead of 6 and he also had one room with 2 beds. It was great, he put extra beds. we all sat and chatted after a long time. The love among the family was over flowing, I could have cried but I decided to fart as that is more fun for everyone ;)
16) The morning visit to pangong and meet the buddhist monk - This guy was amazing, he asked for our introduction, spoke to us himself. I respect him for his simplicity and being so down to earth with everyone. Did some good photography around the lake and was time to go back to Leh and get ready for Nubra.
17) Highest Motorable road here we come - Khardung la and it snowed, cannot get better. We played in the snow although for a brief moment but amazing moment. The hugs felt great to me.
18) Ask thrice before you commit to travel - We wasted atleast 3 hrs going to a place which was not worth it. So always verify before travelling to cover good distance to reach a place.
19) Nubra and Camels here we come - Well this was too much fun, first the camel ride and then sand dunes rolling.
20) Leh to Jammu via Kargil Memorial - Kargil memorial was totally worth it. The length of journey hit us again as 2 days of hard journey. And yes unforgettable zojilla pass which was more scary then paragliding as the road was gliding and there was no parachute ;)
One more practical learning was cover the most distance on previous day and leave minimum to the last day especially in hills.
We chilled out on the way back in the train, enjoyed playing UNO and sleeping.
I loved the trip. It taught me many things, top among those were "this too will pass", "loving unconditionally" and "Being tough"
I would end with one of my favourite quotes "Life is not for waiting for the storm to pass but for dancing in the rain".
Maa - We all love you!
