Shaggy Goes To The Mountains

After a lot of pleading and begging, my parents finally agreed to let me go on a solo trip to The Himalayas. The best birthday gift. I was off to heavens and was as happy as the pig in the shit.

I decided not to go to the common tourist destinations rather chose a less crowded place, where you actually get to feel the presence of the mighty monstrous mountain beside you. I had heard so much about the Himalayan highways. I decided to travel on one. The Leh Manali Highway. I wanted to hitchhike, but it would’ve been tiresome and risky so I dropped this idea. Boarded the early morning bus.  Now, I don’t even know how to describe the beauty, the amazement, the genius. Simply fascinating. There’s no better philosophy teacher than the window seat of the bus. I vomited 3 times before we finally stopped to eat at a small eatery, high altitude and low pressure takes its toll on urban people. There was a river flowing below and we were contemplating it sipping our hot tea. I wanted to go down and touch the river water. My rational mind laughed at the idea. Some other day. But a thought came to me with the winds; what good this trip would be if I chose to do things some other day when I can do it right now. And I waved goodbye to the bus; I remember the conductor warning me that I won’t get another. But I dint care to be honest. That stubborn reckless guy I’ve always been. I went to the river, collected the pebbles, clicked pictures and thanked God. I thought if I walked along the river I will surely find civilization. Didn’t find civilization but surely found peace, happiness, beautiful pictures, joy and things I can’t describe in words. After walking for around three and half hours, I finally admitted that I am lost. When you’re at some place like this, even getting lost is fun. But the dusk had started to fall and I needed to find a shelter. I didn’t want to get eaten by a bear or wolf or worse cannibals. So I started climbing upwards, 2 hours of climb and I still couldn’t find any human, that moment was scary, urban people can’t withstand the solitude, it was a scary solitude though, we are so used to of having someone near that when left alone we start getting scared of our own existence, our own heart beat scares us, our own shadow frightens us. And here I was; lost in some hilly jungles of Himachal Pradesh , they wouldn’t even find my corpse if I died here I thought. But I didn’t die. ( a little suspense is good, to be continued)