2025- The year of travels and expriences

2025 is a year, I get to realize I am travelling too much. 

1. Year started with a marriage in Krishnagar, West Bengal. I initially thought to attend the marriage and return home. One of my colleague from Abu dhabi said "I will also attend the marriage and will stay 2 more days if you stay back, let me see India, its my first time". I thought since its Saturday Sunday let me overstay and will take him to Sudarbans. One month before travel, his country visa was revoked and they cant travel anywhere. I had my non refundable tickets so I planned for Ganga Sagar and asked my parents if they are interested they can join me in Calcutta on Saturday morning. -- Ganga Sagar 25-26 Jan

2. 15th Jan- My daughter asked a question casually, what is Mahakumbh, While narrating the story, I realized I can visit myself. Hence checked the dates and tickets.. I only got tickets to Varanasi and return from Allahabad. My friend whose family is from Allahabad also joined me in Varanasi. I only planned to take a dip in Ganga and roam here and there in the city. My friend has connections in CRPF, on our return after taking the bath,, she called her relative if there is a chance to get vip darshan in Kashi Vishwanath. 2 hours later we were getting out of Kashi Vishwanath. Then next day we went for Allahabad, took bath one day before Basant panchami. On the day of Vasant panchami, I had return flight, so I thought to go for a final darshan of Sangam and return, due to some wrong info I got delayed and ended up on the other side of Kumbh. While crossing the river, I realized the subh muhurat has arrived and I somehow ended up being there at Kumbh 10am looking over Sangma. --- Kashi and Prayagraj 31Jan -1 Feb

3. My husband hates crowded places. He didn't join me for Kumbh, but he wanted to take a dip in Ganga.. So he asked me to check leaves and lets go for Haridwar and Rishikesh. I had Eid leaves in March and my daughters school was also closed. Hence we picked that long weekend. We arrived at Haridwar, stayed at Har ki pauri, attended morning and evening arti and only then realized its the first day of Navratri, visited Chandrika devi and Mansa devi... Haridwar Rishikesh March 27-30

4. My old colleague from Reliance is a trekker,  he plans a trek every year, In December last year I decided to join a trek with him this year. We had to meet at Chandigarh on May 5th Monday. I tried getting flights, cant get reasonably prized direct flight, So thought to go to Delhi and then train to Chandigarh. While looking at the map I realized, I will be flying above MP. lets visit Omkareshwar and visit Gudiya di and then fly to Delhi. I got perfect flights with reasonable rates. We had a amazing trip. Beas kund is the origin of Beas river between glaciers. This is also the place where all Vyas meditate and attain the title of Vyas, the rishi in Kalyug will also come here for enlightment. Anjaneya temple in Solang was cherry on the top. I visited Indore, traveled to Omkareshwar and then reached Bhopal at night. Stayed with di and Jiju overnight, spent half day roaming in Bhopal with  di. Came to know that Jiju got posting in Kargil and will soon leave. Jiju casually said, I expect you to come and visit me there while I am posted. His posting is for 2 years. I planned with di to visit him next year  -- Omkareshwar Template and Beas Kund May 3-11

5. Our childhood friend and school mate Swati was asking me to join for Hong kong or Europe trip. Her husband wanted to go to Kedarnath and the condition was we all 4 will go. I was asked to make the plan because I was the only one who had visited Kedarnath in past. So I looked up my leaves and I had Arafat day leaves on 5-6 June. So I told them, we can go to Kedarnath from 5-8 June. Everyone agreed and we were at Kedarnath temple on 6th evening. Had a great darshan, weather was also fine.  --- Dhara devi and Kedarnath 5-8 June

6. So after so many travel, I told my husband that I will be at home for sometime, because projects deadlines are approaching, On 23rd June, I got an email stating that 27th June is holiday company wide. I checked in calender it was Friday and below that on the calender it was written "Jagannath Yatra". I asked my husband if he has any plans for the upcoming weekend, as usual he didnt. Next I was in Sakkhi gopal temple on 27th and later joined the Rath yatra by evening in Puri. I returned the next day --- Jagannath Puri 27-28 June

7. My grand mother "Dadi" is in her last days for quite sometime. When I returned from Jagannath Puri, my mom said, you can go anywhere but cannot come here to meet Dadi. I really felt bad because everyone knew she is about to pass away and I planned to visit her on the 13th day of her death. But when mom complained why I went to Puri rath yatra I felt that this will continue and my mood will be off. So I planned to visit Lucknow on 5th July. one day trip to visit Dadi and other kids that were born since I last visited Lucknow. I gave the flag I got from Puri to Mom and Dad, and gave the cloth I got from Kedarnath to Mahima bua. Also took prasad from both the places to Lucknow and asked mom and dad to share whom so ever they want. My grand mother passed on 7th July, --- Lucknow 5th July

7. My college friend Gaurav wanted to travel but as usual wasn't getting any company. We were always in touch in Whatsapp but never used to talk.. just see each other updates. He noticed I keep travelling so last year he asked me how to plan for Amarnath. I told him the details and also informed him that he should get medical and registration the day it opens. All of a sudden this year in April he pinged me and said Registration for Amarnath is open. Shall WE go.. We was a shock to me. I checked my travel plans and said I can only go in August before the cave closes. He readily agreed and said he will ask other college mates if some one is interested. I told him to get medical certificate first and other things can be booked at the last moment. I went ahead got my medical and forgot about it. On July 3rd when the Cave opened, I check the registration dates, called him for confirmation. his family didn't even allowed him to go for medical because of the Pahalgam incident. I was left with a approved medical certificate. So I thought will join the Chadi yatra on 9th August. I registered and booked my flight.

On 10th July while doing my Kalari class I got injured for the first time in last 1.5 years. I twisted my left pinky toe. Doc said its just muscle injury and heal in 2 weeks. but I ended up in taking a decision to cancel my Amarnath trek on 3rd August. On the same day, by evening we heard the news that Cave is closed due to heavy rains and both routes are blocked. I was staring at my tickets and leave confirmation email.

I told my husband that I am going, will visit some other place during that duration. I dialed my travel planner Gauri.. she suggested "Kargil- Dras". and I messaged Jiju that I am visiting him on Rakhi .

Kargil war memorial visit accompanied by a Colonel gave a different level of experience. Next day visited Post 43, an experience I cannot write here.  If one gets a chance they should visit this place. Civilians need prior approval from army to visit. The short en route visit to Lemayuru was another unexpected stop over. I am gonna return back to visit monastries for sure. Shopping at Leh and shanti stupa, History of Leh weaved in Leh palace was eye opening. Visit to Gurudwara Pather Sahib with amazing langer is a feast to remember for a very long time. Dras, Kargil, Kumbathang, Leh 7-10 August

8. Kailash Mansarovar is a place I wanted to visit for sometime. I had been trying to get any planner / group and eventually this year yatra opened for Indians. I registered through Isha as soon as they open the dates. I was in Kathmandu on 30th August. My experience with Isha was not something I cherish, even though I did met some good people. The trip was amazing and full of experience that's hard to forget. The first glimpse of Man Sarovar itself was calming. Even though I didn't feel the need or urge to meditate or very spiritual or energy flow, it was just simple peaceful, calm, a place where you forget yourself without even realizing it, truly speaking I can just sit there and watch it endlessly without the need to think or speak or do anything.

 Kailash north face stay at Dirupek was another chapter. People do talk about spiritual awakening, I might sound stupid or lack spiritual intelligence, but for me Kailash is a place that's home to a family who travels a lot :). Its just a mountain that is different, that stands out, it felt like it is something that cannot be seen from naked eyes, can not be described in words, cannot be felt with emotions. Its a physical embodiment of something that is beyond human comprehension of 5 senses. Its a sight to behold, you look at it and forget to breathe, when you blink your eyes Kailash is looking at you,, the feeling is there that you are in presence of something that you cannot describe.. thats Kailash for me...

Visiting Pashupatinath, Gynushwari shaktipeeth at Kathmandu was experience that worth mentioning. Meeting hard working Sherpas Rajendra, Jeevan, Dilli made this trip even more memorable. Before my return to Kathmandu, Nepal was burning due to Gen Z riots.. Thankfully by the time we returned to Kathmandu everything was under Army control and safe for tourists. Kathmandu, Neyalam, Saga, Darchen, Dirupek 30 Aug -12 Sept

9. Every year I try to visit Pune for Ganpati, this year I spent the time in Kailash, hence thought to visit Pune for Kumkum archana during Navratri. 

Pune 28 Sept

I just go with the flow. Enjoy the moment . and Experience ..

Maha Khumbh ,,, a celestial positioning or something else

 Crores of people have visited MahaKumbh 2025 being held at Prayagaraj. I had not even thought about visiting or taking a dip until 20th Jan.

My daughter always up for listening to stories asked me randomly, Mom tell me stories about Khumbh and Maha Khumbh. Its then I opened internet to realize the magnitude of Maha Khumbh preparations.

The Mahakhumbh stories starts when the Devtas were looking for more resources but cant find it enough. So they decided to churn the ocean to get hold of the powerful and one of a kind resources. But the problem was how to churn it.

They collided with Rakshasha , seek help from Meru parvat, Vasuki nag as the rope and still the base of the churn was missing, hence Lord Vishnu took his second avatar in the form of a Kachap ( toutoise) to hold the Meru parvat on its back while it churns.

Including all the valuables, the most sort after was Amrit- The nector of immortality. It is said while Vishnu took another form of Mohini to ensure most of the Amrit is distributed with in the Devatas, 4 drops of the divine fluid spilled from the pot and fell on earth. The earth was not able to absorb these, hence the places it fell became unstable,, the drops were hence engulfed in earthen space and during specific celestial positioning it is expected that the earthen space will be exposed to human realm. Hence the ritual came to existence to take dip in the water where the earthen space comes very close to the human realm. These celestial positioning is alignment of Sun - The source of knowledge, Moon - The source of emotions, Jupitar - The Guru which guides us from darkness to light,, the light of knowledge. 

While I was narrating the story of the Khumbh to my daughter, I get the feel of the calling to visit Khumbh. Next day I checked my project status, leaves and tickets.. and by the time my daughter returned from her school, My tickets were booked for the weekend of 31st Jan

I got my tickets for Varanasi and then Khumbh. On 25-26th I visited the place from where the drama started to bring Ganga down to earth - Ganga Sagar and the karma bhoomi of great sage Kapil Muni who propagated the tark shahtra,,," There should be a logical reasoning for every statement and action explained every time required.  He emphasized that the job of a learned person is to convince other to perform any task by their logical reasoning, there is nothing like an order or I have said so you have to do it" The basis of Hindu philosophy...

Ganga sagar is the place where Ganga meets the ocean.. So without any plan I took a dip at the place where Ganga unites with Sagar, leaving her name and herself behind. As per the Purans, the 60k children of Raja Sagar were turned into ash by Kapil Muni because they were causing rukus at the Ashram at Ganga Sagar. When Raja Sagar came to know about it, he pleaded Kapil muni and asked for the salvation of his sons. Kapil muni mentioned, there will be a King+sage in your dynasty who with his karma will bring the celestial river Ganga on earth. The path of the ganga will be such that who so ever ash is flown with it, their soul will be free from the rebirth cycle. King Sagar went back and centuries later Bhagirath was born who played a crucial role in bringing Ganga to earth, Being a Lord Shiva fan and unable to part with him, She split herself into 8 parts. One of them through the matted hairs of Shiva came to Gangorti and made it way to all the places where Shiva resides to end in Ganga Sagar. 

 This laid back island town is fondly mentioned as  सारे तीरथ बार-बार, गंगा सागर एक बार 

Well fast forward one week later I was standing on cross road of Lohrabeer in Varanasi.. In my whole life I have not seen so much crowd. I realised not just thousands but the count goes in Lakhs of visitors per day in Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chikrakoot belt because of Mahakhumbh. I took a dip in Ganga again,, a place where our beloved Shankar resides with his partner Parvati. Looking at the line in front of Kashi vishwanth, i almost dropped the idea of visiting there. And turn of events was such that I ended up visiting Maha Mrityunjay mandir nearby collecting the amrut water as fondly said by many. And somehow Lor Vishwanath also gave darshan. The Varanasi trip was a unplanned, and surprising one.

Next day I took dip in Sangam and later in the evening went for a stroll in the mela. Went for darshan of the sangam at night. Next morning again I visited sangam in the mela area. Just wanted to see it and thank which ever power made me stand there. I came to know that the holy time of Basant panchami was to start at 10. I was planning to be out of mela region by 9-9.30 as I have a flight to catch. Somehow one of the person misguided me and I ended up in the other corner of mela. Only to realize that i have to walk back the whole route inside mela . Without wasting time, I turned around and started walking back. At 10 I was crossing the ponton bridge in front of Sangam. I could only smile on the realization of what just happened...

So here is my take of Khumbh

1. Crores gather to take a dip in water

2. People come, bathe, change clothes and go away

3. No pandit or rules and regulations or any discrimination

4. Nothing right and nothing wrong

5. There is no line, no one is coming first or last, no one shouts, no one complains, no one shy away, no one cares about anything or anyone

6.  Few come for cleaning away their wrong doings, for salvation, for insta posts, for dharmic points, for experience, for learning, for satisfaction, for competing their bucketlist... and many more..

Today when I opened this to write I was thinking why I went there? and then it struck me hard,, I didnt went there.. I was supposed to be there at that moment and no where else.. I am meant to do something in this life, I am a catalyst for something , My presence there was meant to complete some tasks maybe very small but one thing is sure,, At Mahakhumbh "I felt Calm in Chaos" maybe its the presence of divine nector in our realm and i was so close to it.. that unknown to me,, it guided me to the path of knowledge

To summarize, I started to believe - The essence of Khumbh is in the Gayatri mantra 

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्व: तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् 

Reme weds Manish..Bengali wedding

23rd 24th Jan 2025...I here am attending Reme and Manish wedding at Krishnanagar West Bengal. I met Reme once prior to wedding and Manish for the first time here during wedding. My being here was not something I can fanthom in my dreams. Instead of questioning my presence, I am here witnessing something for the first time. 

The trend of marriage is now changing in recent years .. for instance traditions are important but capturing memories take the lead.

Bengali marriage is beautiful or it's just this one, I am not sure... The small beautiful traditions make it beautiful. Alta has been replaced with proper bollywood mehndi function .. but without the red liquid on bride it's not complete. The blend of bollywood trends and original traditions in a harmonious way. 

Parents are now taking back seat in arrangements and trying to enjoy in their kids wedding. It's not a burden for family but they also seem to be dancing on the beats..

 

The day of marriage began with brides pooja.. the mukut, pola chura placement. The girl of the house becomes ready to be given.

All the ladies walk with music and dance to the Ganga river, brides mother pray with diya and invite Ganga for the wedding with proper sweets... The water is brought back home

The haldi ceremony starts with all music , everyone applying haldi on both.starting with both mothers. Taking pictures, and everyone applying haldi to bride and groom togeather.. and then the chaos kicksin when friends finally arrive. They allow the funky photoshoot and then starts the shocking holi with haldi and water.. What a mess,, have never witnessed it anywhere.. it was cold, everyone was wearing nice cloths.. in a matter of seconds the whole venue turned upside down with yellow water splashing everywhere. Groom was dumped in water multiple times, and bride was also yellowish or  drenched,, not sure.. I just ran to the back of the venue to spare me from getting a part of this mess.

It feels the wedding ceremony is more dominated and driven by the women of the house. Even though I came from Remes side, I joined the baratis and danced all the way to the venue. Full on dancing of the bollywood, Odissi, and Bengali tune on the Krishnagar streets was a thought I never had untill I was doing it. Cemermony was short and sweet, technically the same as any standard Hindu wedding. Vows and blessings in front of sacred fire, in presence of elders and priests. Food was amazing, I initally thought i would have to manage with fish, but the spread though very limited was freshly made, served hot on seat, comprise of Bengali delicacies both veg and non veg. and some sweet toother like me, the wedding desert was a feast. 

Loved it, every minute of it. Joining a wedding without knowing anyone, I made friends that lasted for 2 days, shared smiles, dance moves, made memories that will probably last a life time!!!

a

My life my analysis

As a kid, one of my fav passtimes was to identify shapes and creatures in clouds. As i grew up and joined a team where data is the most important thing.

Call it an occupational hazard, i tend to see pattern in unrelated things. I believe in fate, i do believe in the power of something big dont know if I could call that energy as God or not. I still miss the FAITH, maybe my definition of faith is highly adulterated by the thought process of people around me while i was growing up. So, let me skip the FAITH part. I also believe that if we do something for someone without the intention of getting back anything thing. It definetly get back, good faith rebounds back super naturally fast.

I had also believed that my life is extra ordinary blessed. Everything that any one want in their lives is present in just the perfect quantity in mine. and maybe thats the reason why people do envy me. ENVY.. / Jealousy are the words that dont effect me directly but i know it comes to me as the good will .. the negative and the positive energy has been clashing in front of my eyes for a very long time. I understand when ever I miss a terrible danger that its the clash of the negative and the positive energy and the positive has won. I dont know how long it will continue but it doesnt seem to stop anytime sooner. Accidents, deaths, sufferings that has brushed my shoulder and have gone to someone else. People call me LUCKY, but i know the pattern!!!

I have friends, i have foes, i have everything in small or big quantities... I have a life which no one wants but desires a part of it. its a package deal, the patch one sees is greaner in the portion they see and neglect the other portions. Look at the beauties in your life and enjoy...why do you see the other side and feel sad. I cherish what i have the best.

I grew up in the environment where things are planned for years,, i got that as a childhood training. But as i moved out of the house and starting to see the world, i realize there is nothing that is in my control. I cant even control a breath of air, a movement of eye lid, a stare, a step.. The only thing i can imagine to control is how i feel, even thats out of control, but our mind says that yes i can control it and in this staggered jumbled up world I could like to hold on to a thought that atleast something i CAN..

So eventually I came to a conclusion, smile more doesnt matter if it hurts emotionally or physically. No one cares about your tears or pain, they cant control their emotions thats it.. if they are emotional they will react to you and if they arent they wont. More over SMILE in itself never hurts. It always distracts not only you but others too. So why not smile and look beautiful.

I stopped planning for my future in words long back after taking my second pension policy. i realized, i dont need a pension policy to secure, i need a happy present, a satisfied present to be happy and satisfied in future. There is nothing bigger than satisfaction. If i wish to have some thing materialized, i just get it today rather than thinking about future. Once you have fullfilled your material desires you move to another level. I am blessed to earn enough to fullfill my desires....

I stopped listening to compliments and remarks, dont care what others think about me. Neither give importance to how i should and shouldnot behave. If I think I want to I do, else I dont. But what really helped me being me today is stopping having any expectations. I dont expect from anyone, i dont expect my hubby to pamper me give me gifts, i pamper myself whenever i want to. i dont expect my daughter to be perfect, her imperfections is better than perfections, let her live her own life. I dont expect myself to be perfect, i am good in being imperfect.. Lower your expectations from your own self and have no expectations from others is what i learnt as the basis of happiness.

That doesnt mean I am careless, i dont keep my kitchen perfectly clean at night, I leave dirty dishes. My TV rack is mostly covered with dust, i ignore it. I dont cook every meal, i order or ask my maid to prepare. That in few eyes mean a careless reckless useless women, but in my eyes, i dont give importance to things that are not so important to me. My dishes are dirty but i never wear a single dress to office without ironing neither my daughter nor my husband. I dont have time to cook dinner but i never let my daughter sit at home in her play time. My house is often messy but my projects arent. I dont put a dia and dhoop i my home temple, but my small terrace garden is full of flowers and is always green. So give importance to things that you feel are important not that are defined by others.

I realized people around doesnt like me, they have lots of complaints about me , but the same person envies me for living my life in my terms not others. This is the biggest irony, "People taunt you , dislike you for things you have and they dont have  but is their deepest desires"

Goa

28.12.2019 - Goa

I dont remember clearly how many times I have visited this city for vacation and everytime I knew I will come back because there are multiple places thats on my pending list. This time I came because my daughter choose Goa to celebrate her 6th birthday. Ironically she never celebrates her birthday, it was Goa that she wanted to come. 

I got her a cake post lunch, but she was so upset that she said, I wont cut the cake. My dad then complained about his stomach pain. I immidiately rushed to hospital where he was disgnosed with gall bladder stones. My mother, hubby and daughter came a little late to hospital by evening. At the end of the day, my daughter didnt cut the cake, she even didnt saw the cake, actually no one even cared to open the cake. She and my husband left for Pune the same night as scheduled, and i stayed back with my father and mother at the hospital..Today, my father is recovering post a successful operation at the hospital

In past when ever I visited Goa, we visited Beaches, Churches, Temples, Fort, explored Goa in Hop on Hop off bus, rented car, rented bike. Clicked pictures, updated Whatsapp status, ate lots of icecreams and everything unhealthy and yummy. Didnt cared to check our watch or phone. The memories that went with me were almost same say 5 to 10 % change.

But the last 4 days with Goan people, who are Goan or came here and became Goan by spirit, I realised a new Goa.

I took a cab to a near by hospital 2 kmts and was chaged 300 INR, the hospital said they dont have specialist and referred to Vision + in Mapusa somewhere 12 kmts from the last hospital. I asked the same cab driver, he not only took us, dad vomitted while enroute, he shared his water bottle, didnt even flitch his nose or said anything for the smell and mess his cab was. He charged only 200INR and said "Take care" while we drop off at the hospital. 

At hospital, everyone from Doctor, to Nurse, to insurance lady to canteen guys. In four days they make me feel that I have known them for years. There is a smile on their faces, no matter how many times I disturb them in night. The canteen as a set of menu, but they are always willing to mend it based on the customer requirements. and its not just me, its the same attitude with every other patient here. 

Dad will be discharged on Monday but we have to stay in Goa for atleast 4-5 days for followup. I was searching internet for hotels, villas, apartments near hospital or near market area  but couldnt finalize one. Suddenly on Google I saw a villa Acacia very near to the hospital.I called the owner and the owner said he is full but can give for a couple of days . I walked down to see the apartment, having stayed in hotels I have my own perseption whether or not to go for it. I saw the villa, the first thought came, its a home. I told the owner why I am looking for a room with a kitchen. He showed me a room perfect for me clean homely and he said, when you dad gets discharged, give me a call, "I will come and pick him up. No need to book a cab"

Last time when I was here in Goa with my husband and daughter, we booked a hopon and hop off bus and came to know that the late CM Pariker ceremony was going on so the main Panaji area is closed. The bus driver spoke about the CM like he was his buddy, We met multiple people that day and everyone was working but they didnt forgot to mention to us "Tourist" that the Goa we are seeing today is the hardwork of him. The gratitude a person was receiving from the lower income group made me wonder how wonderfull that politician would be who have touched lives.

I saw people wearing T shirt "I love Goa" . I dont know if I love Goa or not but I love the Bus connectivity, peoples smile, the simplicity, the caring, the passion of doing their job, the sincerity, the open midedness, the helpfull nature, the gratitude..... and many more..

I am sure of only one thing, "I am coming back to GOA again!!! "

Journey from 240/120 to 120/80

Its not long ago when I was denied entry in a refinery due to unhealthly heart. It was the first time, someone called me sick, vulnerable, and UNHEALTHLY. I was always the active one, eating healthy food was not a compulsion but my liking. One thing I never envision was someone calling me UNHEALTHY. It was a shock and more shocking was that I was asked to leave site immediately and consult a cardiologist.

I met one cardiologist in Aditya Birla hospital and he said :You are a perfect candidate of Silent heart attack and if things don't change + 6 months is what you have. I returned back home with "Life saver medicines" and an ecg that was bad.

I met a conventional cardiologist who suggested some life style changes and one of them was joining a professional workout place. I was never a GYM person, running on treadmills sucks.. I heard about NXTFIT/ outraw and MMA. Hesitatingly I called Gurpreet and asked if MMA is taught to elderly persons like me who have Blood pressure. He said, please come for the demo class. 

I met Deepak on 11 Sept 2018 at 6.05 am for demo class. After an hour I knew I can try this place for a month, I joined on 15th Sept. After few days I met Anuj and things started to change.Everyday I return home with sore muscles and pain and every single day I woke up to learn something new. It started with 2 pushups which were too hard to 100 burpees, from try skipping to 700 skips. I didnt realised whats changing and to what extent until my medical test a couple of months later, from a bad ecg to no trace of anything bad,,, from BP of 230/140 to a BP of 130/90, from a tentative silent heart attack to 9kmts jogging.. In my cardiologist words, its nothing less than a miracle.. I call this miracle -- ANUJ !!!

Thank you Anuj, You are not only a coach but a life saver.

My thoughts before my first solo TREK in the Himalayas

Today on 6th August, I am waiting for my trekking bag to arrive from Decathlon. I was on a shopping spree for last couple of weeks and my shopping site was Decathlon. I didnt knew which other site or shop to refer when it comes to sport specific items. Trekking... i knew nothing about it. Its my first time, i thought to start slow 1 day trek but couldnt materialize any plans. Everytime I have an opportunity something comes up and I cant go. So this August when I came to know about Valley of Flowers trek.. I jumped at the opportunity. I tried to convince my hubby, but he was sure,, he is not going for trek. I also tried to find a partner in a friend, collegue, gym buddy, neighbour, phone friend, whatapp contacts, but no one came forward. So I decided to go alone, This is my first solo trek with a group I dont know today but will definetly be buddies by the end of trek... or not... I dont know.. Just 4 days to go now!!!

I planned to go to Hem Kund shahib this August. It was on my wishlist since I came to know about this place some 12 years back on my way to Badrinath. I heard about Hem Kund, the lake in midst of snow, a gurudwara where you can only trek and go, no other mode of transport. I also read about Valley of flowers, the place where once stood the Drona parbat,, which Hanuman took it with him to Lanka..

I am all set to visit the place that is considered as a painting by nature, where colours come to life, where the slopes of mountains feels like lines in a canvas, the place which gave birth to the word beauty. I can only imagine, what it will feel like standing in middle of a painting, feeling the 3d canvas with natural beauty all around, rain pouring from the sky on the fertile slopes giving every flower a new shade of life. Where colors dance on the tune of nature, gives meaning to have a sight, a memory of life time or may be more.

At home I switch on my gyser without a second thought when the temperature dips before 21, but here I am planning to take a dip in freezing cold, in a freezed lake at the top of the mountain after a tedious 6 kmts steep mountain trek, to know i have to change and again decent another 6 kmts down in the same freezing chill windy rainy season. This thought make me wonder if I am sane or not? I know what I signed up for, and have been preping mentally for it... but still am I sure Why I am going there?

I am a little bit of religious but not orthodox, but thats not the reason I planned for Hem kund shahib. I never did trekking, so love to conqur a mountain cant be the driving force here. I always went of vacation with family, and enjoyed it, never went alone for a holiday, but has gone to multiple solo business travels. I know I prefer travelling with my family, so that can also not be the driving force.. So why am i looking forward to a vacation that seems to be a physical torture when i can opt to visit goa and relax... I signed up for the trek, paid for the trek, booked tickets, air-train-bus everything... booked hotel , applied leaves, everything i did with this doubt why I am going there.

But today when I started to write this blog I realized I always had this answer with me. I want to know about myself. This is a self realization journey where I am planning to explore my own self, my own boundaries, my own limitations, my own dreams, my own fears and my own strenghts. Venturing into the unknown in extreme climatic conditions, with all strangers can I live up to my own expectations.
I am going to a place, I never have been.
I am going with people I never met or known
I am carrying a camera that I never used
I am wearing a shoes that I never wore
I am going to do something that I have never done

Am I prepared? I have no clue.. But I know I will return with an experience that will make me a better person. I am looking forward to find myself.