My India (521 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.26 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Beano (View user info) at 2006-09-15 08:58:13 EDT
North India is an area of serene and heart rendering beauty, peace and wonders that could easily pass a Westerners eye un-noticed.
Vaneet was the main English speaking guide for our party - I bonded with him quickly due to our mutual appreciation of nature, and the fact that we both suffer with that incurable disease of being boy's stuck in frames made for men.
Some local Flora caught my eye, my suspicions were then quickly confirmed - Untold amounts of Cannabis plants grow wild and free in this area of the world. I had to quickly pull my most innocent looking face when asked if I had smoked any before. I then found out that Shiva, one of the three main Hindi gods, is also known to smoke the herb.
I am not one to push back the sands of fate, so not only would I have to carry myself halfway up to heaven, but I would also have to do it a bit blurry eyed and half lunged.
It was a fantastic walk, although hard work at times. Six customers would require six ponies, three pony attendants, three guides and one all important chef. I was keen to know what my body was capable of at altitude, so I opted to carry most of my own gear rather than asking one of my four legged friends for assistance.
We covered the 50km track in five days, and it proved to be one of the best walks I have completed. Raw untouched beauty, the way Mother Nature intended.
I didn't want the walk to end, so once we had crossed the organized finish line I opted to stay in the dramatically beautiful Spiti valley whilst my contemporary's were whisked back along another nature defying road towards modern civilization. The Nepalese chef Mohan asked if he could stay with me, so together we did a spot of village hopping around the four thousand meter mark.
For all of Mohan's smiling, and generally happy demeanour - His eagerness to please and uncanny gift to lead us in the wrong direction despite using his ability with the native dialect was wearing a bit thin. So after a couple of days, he set of east and I headed west, courtesy of the local government bus network.
Without a permit tourists are not permitted to travel any further West than the sweet village of Tabo; Home of the UNESCO World Heritage Protected Tabo Gompa (an old Buddhist temple).The Architecture was some of the most unique I have seen, and energy that would challenge Uluru of Australia. That night I lie in bed less than a hundred meters from a one thousand and ten year old temple, thirty four kilometres from the Tibetan boarder.
I then had to walk 12 kilometres, which again was through some drop dead gorgeously rugged scenery. Everything was going to plan, my only set back being the bourbon cream dinner I knew I was going to have to contend with that night.
The crystal clear kilometre long, 4270m high lake is just stunning with snow capped peaks reaching over five thousand meters circling to protect her. After an early intrusion from some typically noisy Australians who had made use of a 4WD dirt track to get here, I eventually had the place to myself.
As darkness fell my eyes eagerly took the option to follow suit, l had given little though to the coldness that was to follow.......
I must have awoken just after midnight. Despite wearing everything I owned the crappy sleeping bag I had was providing scant protection. I also found it near impossible to jog on the spot whilst cramped inside a two man tent.
It is a slow and painful suffering. I lasted about an hour before I decided that my only option was to make use of the natural light that the threatening full moon would provide.
On exiting the tent I disturbed a heavy frost that had quickly but devastatingly engulfed my shelter - I have never packed so quickly in my life.
The Four hours it took me to walk back up to the road will go down as some of my finest walking to date.
Sure it was cold, but I naturally generate heavy rations of heat when I am in motion. I never thought I'd find myself walking alone four thousand meters up along snow-capped mountains with the moon providing a gentle candle light ambience to some stunning scenery.
User Reviews
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2008-07-26 12:58:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
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Submitted by myshit (user info) at 2008-07-24 04:46:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Mr_T (user info) at 2008-07-23 20:26:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I don't hate you...
but I pity the foo'!
Submitted by maf54 (user info) at 2008-05-14 05:14:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Just to counter what that idiot Director did to you.
Submitted by Director (user info) at 2008-05-13 17:41:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-09-16 16:58:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
India is on my list of places to go...
someday.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2006-09-16 03:40:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2006-09-15 18:52:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
*jealous* I wanna go.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-09-15 18:50:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
that's why you need to get a -0-degrees rated sleeping bag
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-09-15 15:26:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
3rd raise this year....WOOT WOOT!
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-09-15 15:13:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Years ago, I spent a week in Kathmandu.
Sure it's not India, but this reminded me of it just the same. So thanks for that.
Submitted by GetNakeddd (user info) at 2006-09-15 14:34:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-09-15 14:26:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by ballsonurchin (user info) at 2006-09-15 14:21:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
hey skid mark. not bad for a gay guy.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-09-15 12:30:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
farking awesome picture dude love.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-09-15 11:33:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Cool.
Submitted by DudeThatsBOSH (user info) at 2006-09-15 11:20:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cannonball!!!
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2006-09-15 11:15:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Durae (user info) at 2006-09-15 11:09:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome. I love reading other people's travel stories.
Submitted by Wicked (user info) at 2006-09-15 10:59:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for it not taking place in America.
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2006-09-15 10:54:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd love to go there one day
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2006-09-15 09:07:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-09-15 09:04:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
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