Within no time I was at what would be my home for the next two months. Lets say it was not in a very good condition, however I have plans to clean up the place over the next few days.

I had my lunch at one of the Narsee Munjee mess. Slept a while in my friends dorm. And then it was time to go for the test drive of Mumbai.

Ville Parle would be my first stop. The autowalla was very particular about the ride costing e exactly 14 bucks. A ticket to Byculla and back costs only Rs12. I was told a lot about the trains in Mumbai. This was going to be my first experience in the dreaded locals of Mumbai.

I thought, it was a Sunday afternoon it should not be as bad as I had heard about. But I was about to be proved wrong. The train came to a stop. I took a step to board the train, only to be drowned by a sea of passengers trying to get off. And then seconds later pushed by another wave trying to board the train. It was pretty smooth except that for a few seconds I thought I would be crushed to death.

I just had enough space to keep my feet on the floor and some how I managed to stretch an arm to reach the bar. Getting off at Dadar was a similar experience but I did survive. Now i had to change and catch a train to Byculla. This was a different experience altogether. I had to wait for 10 minutes for the local to arrive, and when it finally did i was pretty amazed to find it nearly empty. I sat like a king for the rest of the journey to Byculla.

At Byculla, I had to get the guest house cancelled. He threatened to black list me if I did not check in. Somehow a friend of mine who has been staying there for some time managed to convince him otherwise.

My next destination was Bandra to meet an angel. Mc Donalds Mc Spicy burger was high on both our agendas. Somehow after yet another gruelsome train journey I did manage to reach Bandra. After a satisfying meal and a little bit of shopping it was time to bid adieu and head back home.

This was just a trailer of what was coming up for me. The city has a lot of potential. There are many secrets that will take me time to discover. I am still trying to find out is it a city that i would love to hate or would I hate to love it.

Test Drive was over now the real match is on.

My exam got over around 12 and by 2 I was at the station waiting for the train to arrive. Just a few minutes before the train arrived we realized our E-ticket did not have the seat numbers on them. The train was there right before our eyes, but we did not know which coach to board. We took our chances and boarded one of the coaches. We are very grateful of Mrs S, with whom I had to share my login Id and password to enable us to get to know our seat number. Now 4 coaches and 600 humans separated us from our seats. We started our trek. Step by step we pushed through the jungle of human beings. At one point there seemed there was no way forward, but we still pushed on. We had “our small little Nathula Crossing”.We soon reached our check point.

HUL Lime was begin conducted at College. Mr V, who came to conduct HUL, Lime was sitting next to us in the general compartment. It was pretty impressive when he correctly guessed from which city I am and also came very close to the colony I belong to. He shared his life’s story with us and we with him while Miss D was playing and reading story book to a little sweet kid. I am not sure if we convinced or influenced Mr. V to pay a visit to his parents at Siliguri . But then he was scolded by someone special for changing his plans at the last minute. Before we even knew we had reached Howrah. After meeting a few parents that could not be avoided due to unavoidable circumstances. Soon after dinner at comsum we boarded the train to jalpaiguri. Ms. D got some very nice “jhal muri”. We finished it off in seconds. She got off to get another packet. KK suddenly noticed the train was moving and there was no sign of Ms. D or Curly. I and Chinti ran to the door and were shouting “D… D…o” but could not see her. Raw-Man had his finger on the chain waiting to pull it. Others were in the corridor waiting to the signal to Raw-Man. Fortunately they had managed to board the train. It was nearly 12, every one was fast asleep. We on the other hand were chatting loudly. It was getting a little cold too so the beer and vodka bottles came out. Before we could even open the 1st bottle the patrol came and caught one of us. He asks “ Is he with you” we reply “yes”. He says arrest him. RawMan was getting rid of some of the bottles. He saw Raw Man throwing the bottles out of the window. His immediate reaction was arrest all of them. He did a head count. We were “supposed” to de- board the train at the next station and “supposedly” to be taken to prison. But Mr Malik and Sangwan came to the rescue. They considered to be the “elders” and the “guardians” of the group by the police. So the negotiations began. It started from Rs1000 per person and negotiations ended at Rs 30 per person. 10 of us meant around 300 bucks. Oh! We had to give them a bottle of beer too. A few memorable one liners were – “Sir, It doesn’t matter, we will not have lunch tomorrow. We will manage some how ( now that our common pool was down by Rs. 300)” Mr Malik goes “Aap to mere pitah Jaise Hai.” And a little more Gas. The thulla(police) was no less. He replies “ Nai Nai Mai to tumhare Badde Bhai jaissa hu”. Mr Malik looks too impressed by him and tries to touch his feet and then gives him a big hug. Now that the negotiations were over, we got “official” permission to drink in the train till 2AM. We had our drinks and were off to sleep.

Just like the sunshine
Bright and beautiful and warm,
There is a passion in your eyes
For a love that just won’t subside,
Every time I look at them,
I just want to drown in them.

Your eyes are but a way for me into your soul,
Your eyes are but a reflection of my love,
Your eyes are but a way for forgetting the world.
In your eyes I find my love,
In your eyes I find my love.
Open your eyes and look at me
I am just here waiting for you.. just for you

When you are full of grace,

A beautiful smile fills your heart,

When you are about to make a fresh start,

A beautiful smile fills your soul,

When you are on the roll,

A beautiful smile fills your eyes,

When you are filled with surprise,

A beautiful smile fills your mood,

When you are trying to be wooed,

A beautiful smile fills your time,

When your are just trying to rhyme,

A beautiful fills your world,

When you are completely unfurled,

Your smile…

Your smile…

No one can make me smile unless its your smile…

Pseudo Rappelling

Swiss in India

Tricky River Crossing

The camp Bhandak Thatch location was on a huge plain with snowy peaks in the back. I think now i am really running out of words to describe the surroundings.

Camping Ground

Next morning we left around 9 it was a very long walk. The trail was still slippery from the yesterday’s rain. We hadn’t seen a brick building for days. Now we were passing through a village. Then there was a dam that was under construction. And we immediately knew we had moved back to the concrete jungles. From Barseni we caught a bus back to kasol. We had to leave the by the evening bus. We had to rush up with our clearance at the base camp. Within a few hours we were on the bus heading back to Delhi.

It was a fantastic trip. Some told me it was stupid of me to go out on such a trip. Others supported me. I made a few great friends. I relaxed a lot. I had a time of my life. I saw some wonderful landscapes. For the first time trekked on snow. Now it is time for me to start my college life all over again.   Spent some relaxing and having a time of my life before i head back to college.

Sun Rise

Sarpass

By 5AM we were ready to move. We had to walk around 9 kms today. Before we even knew we were walking in the snow. The sun was still hidden behind the mountains but sky was already lighted up. And then the first rays of the sun pierced the mountains. I had only dreamt of such beauty. But today it was right in front of me.

A porter

The snow is pure white. The glare from the snow is so much that we had to wear shades all the time. At times the snow was so hard that we didn’t even leave any footprints at other points we had to walk through knee deep snow. It was fun. At points we were walking with snowy plains on either side. At other times a single slip up would and you would end up sliding down the glacier.

Our lunch point was just below the peak at sarpass. After lunch the walk just got tougher. The snow was softer now. A few among us slipped and fell a few feet on the glacier. In the end everyone survived the walk.

the slide

Once we crossed Sarpass we had to slide down a glacier to get off. The Slide begins at around 60 degree inclination, giving a huge initial acceleration before flattening out. There were 2 slides the 1^st one was smooth the second one had a few bumps that hurt. It was downhill all the way now. Now that the snow was behind us the meadows were filled with flowers. There were 2 route to Biskeri Thatch. One just looked like a diversion. A few of us ventured into the unknown route, Others went on the regular trail. The one i took was hardly a trail. However, the view and the trail were indeed very beautiful. Most of the time I was walking alone on the trail this made the experience even better.

An isolated trail

At Biskeri Thatch we played some ‘fire in the mountain’ followed by a lots of Mafia.

Lunch + snow fight point

At lunch point we got some snow and for about an hour we had a snow fight. Then we pushed on to complete the final climb to Zirmi. We had just crossed the Tree line till now we were in dense forests. Now suddenly all the trees disappeared. There were only colourful shrubs and bushes around.

Close to Zirmi

We reached Zirmi on time. I checked into the tent wid the iitian gang. We were playing cards when s it began to snow outside. Our first snowfall of the trip. Soon after the snowfall the view of the mountains ahead changed the white peaks had a certain glow, It seemed as if I was in wonderland. Zirmi camp was location was just perfect. We could see surpass behind us and an entire snow covered range in the front.

Goats

Next day the views just kept getting better. The medows seemed so green. The flowers were so colourful. Then we passed by a small pond. The water was so clear and still that we could see our reflections in the pond. Our lunch point was not close to any stream today but it was definitely the most scenic of all the lunch points till now. It was a perfect location to get a 360 degree panorama. The shrubs too kept on decreasing as we kept on gaining altitude. The snow around us also kept on increasing.

A view of sarpass from tila lotni

Tila Lotni

If Zirmi was good Tila Lotni was suberb. It is located right at the base of sarpass. One can see snow peaks in almost all directions. There was a small temple next to the camp. The locals create temples by piling up sacred rocks. The entire pile of rocks is then considered to be a holy place. It is supposed to protect the trekker from any mishaps. In the evening we again got some snowfall. After every meal we had to wash our own plates with the cold stream water. Every time i touched the stream water it would feel as if it is cutting off my fingers. At Tila Lotni for drinking we were provided hot water. But Hot water tasted strange. All the cooking is done on wood. While boiling wood ash gets added to the water that gives it a strange taste. We finally had another clear night. With absolute darkness all around we could clearly see the milky way.

As it is said “in Rome behave as the Romans do”. So  in the morning when the pressure builds up what should be done. One should head for the woods with a little bit of toilet paper or a bottle of water. And so I did. I think I went a bit too far to avoid the traffic and got a little lost. I did my thing.  Now I was searching a route back to the camp. Then I heard a bark. I could only hear the dog (I hoped it was a dog). And then suddenly a pure white furry dog came out.  It was big, no it was huge. It came charging towards me. Was it tame or a wild one? Should I run or should I stay put? I was transfixed. I definitely could not outrun him. I stood still. I came close slowed down and started sniffing me and soon I was cuddling with him. He then ran away from me stopped looked back to see if i was following. He wanted me to follow him. Soon he led me back to the camp. Dogs are definitely intelligent. He followed, guided and protected our group for the rest of the day.

Cow Skull

The Trail

We started our trek by 9. Soon our camp leader from guna pani caught up with some. A few people had left their cellphones and wallets behind at the tea stall adjoining the camp. The honesty of the people who lived here impressed me. Here people are still true to their beliefs. I presume it is the rat race which makes us forget our ethics and ideals and these people are still to be consumed by the fast paced capitalist world.

Soon we were crossing over a glacier. It was not a very large one. It didn’t seem to difficult to cross. But the glacier had a few really big crevices. One could easily fall in them and get consumed by the glacier.

Now there was a huge log blocking our trail. Everyone was having trouble crossing over. I took of my backpack and kept it on the ground to cross over, before i even knew it was tumbling down the hill accelerating every second. There was nothing that i could do. Finally it did stop but not before it had travelled 100mts downhill. Fortunately the bag could be recovered and the damage was minimal.

A small waterfall

A Tree

We got delayed while retrieving the bag. And soon were walking on the wrong trail but we did manage to find our way back. Today’s lunch point was again besides a river with a very beautiful overhanging rock.

Soon after lunch another long tough climb began. It was nearly a straight rock face. We had to climb as far as our eyes could see.None the less we had to conquer it.

Soon we reached the camp at Faul Pani. The camp here is set up on a cliff face. The tent floor had a angle of 30 degrees. There were too many of us and too few tents. The camp leader usually has the best tent for him. Soon I and 3 others shifted to the camp leader’s tent.

Faul Pani