The Spiti Story-2

If you have not got the generic story of  the Gyan Summary of our trip, you better read this first!

If you are not privileged to listen to my long blabbers, you might as well test your patience by reading this story further. For others, you have no choice guys! Friendship, remember?

It was the moment of 'Non-Conformance' when my Sister-In-Law warned me saying 'Somethings can go for a toss if I join a well planned trip'.I being a very punctual person, ridiculed the statement thinking I would manage to push every one and every thing on time and stick to the plan. I was wrong. Let me start from 'The Starting'.

The random question to me by my bro buddy about visiting Spiti this year was answered by a big 'NO' around one and a half months back. This was followed by 'Why NO?, Let us go yaar' by my Sister in Law. One by one names were clubbed together to form a group of people visiting the valley with their complex demographics and different personality traits! The planning was done by Nomad and the co-ordination was done by Bro-buddy and Mr.ISB. ( If you think MBA and Operations together can create that 'Perfect Plan' you are wrong here!! *Spoiler*!)

Now we were Seven! 

1. Yours truly

2. Mr.ISB : Who seems to be more popular than yours truly thanks to his powerful silence and sixers

3. Sister-In-Law: Who by law is a sister, otherwise an in house friend

4. Bro-Buddy: The one encouraged many kids to go for higher studies and get married without implementing any of those acts

5. Friend N: A significant contributor to Wisdom collected in the trip

6. Friend K: Sister of N by balancing her open expressions by her very own introvert nature

7. Aunty: Mother of N & K who believed in her fitness more than any of us! 

Days passed and tickets were booked. Funds were transferred and leaves got approved using several methods from 'Saam Daam Dand Bhed' techniques. The only thing left in me was the consciousness that screamed out loud - 'I am really going to be on Himalayas after more than a decade',which appeared at 5 pm on the day before the trip. I am precise when I say 5 pm because it is the time when I re-look at my to-do list in the  office!! Any how I managed to finish the list partially and create a list of tasks to finish before leaving for the airport, the next day. Things were in full control till I entered my room to pack the bag,after returning from the office. I saw a big black mouse jumping on the table (!) which postponed the bag packing activity to the next morning! It called for my super efficient packing skill developed by my history of relocation within/out of the city.We (me and SIL) had kept some more tasks for the last hour as well. A serious problem occurred when we failed to book a cab for the airport drop due to the taxi driver's strike. I recalled 'The warning by SIL' the very moment. 

With the help of mom & dad we both reached Mumbai airport from where we were suppose to fly to Delhi. We killed more time than a couple of hours there doing nothing, thanks to the Air Traffic Control who managed to delay the departure of the flight by 1.5 hours. By the time we started from Mumbai, I guess Mr.ISB was already waiting for us on the Delhi Airport. Other members from Delhi reached the bus station from where we had to board a bus to Manali. The so called practical 'Planning' of both guys could not manage to bring us to the bus station on time & so friends, we missed the bus while others started off with the journey! After pulling luggage like a real sport, rushing in all the directions a person can find, changing Metros - we three (Me, SIL and Mr.ISB) found ourselves on the last row of that heavily engineered bus which did nothing but raised my doubts about the design of the Suspension it had after a few hours.

When the universe wants you to sit on the other row than the last, you get a helpful bus conductor. So while Mr.ISB decided to accompany the foreigner neighbor as a translator and keep the conductor sane, I accompanied my Sister In Law who was more than ready to sleep for twelve hours in that scary bus. Talk about dreams. God played the dice and we were tortured by the movie 'All Is Well' for three hours which did not let us sleep at all. I do not blame Abhishek Bachchan as he could make one uncle in the bus snore so loud that the jealousy surfaced out from every one around him - or I would like to  believe so, to console myself that I was not alone!

With some sleepy chatting sessions and a lot of confusion regarding the name of the station where we had to get down ( Pretty cool confusion - Patharcool, Pattharikundi or Patharikulh) our bus we managed to over take the bus with our friends on board. (A note for Bro-Buddy!) It was my first time in Manali and the only thing I could feel cool breeze, smell of fresh fruits and observe a monk in smarty sneakers! Poof! 

While waiting for our friends, we met our super matured and helpful driver for the tour - Let's call him Mr.T. Two awesome Aloo Paratha and a failed attempt to feel fresh, our friends arrived and now we were a gang which started for the guest house to dress up/freshen up to look like humans before our embark to Spiti. I would also like to mention that while reaching the guest house, I managed to start our conversation with a lot of bashing designed for Bro buddy and Mr.ISB who had planned the super tight schedule which failed to accommodate any buffer resulted by traffic situations at the Mumbai Airport and Delhi Metro.

The Manali guest house which was owned by Nomadic, where we met him for the first time, provided all basic necessities to fill our stomach and freshen up along with a beautiful view from the lovely terrace garden. Just when warnings by SIL had started to fade away in my mind, we got to know that there was a strike (one more!) which can make us come back from the Rohtang Pass itself. Then we can only dream about going to the next destination 'Sisu'! Phew. We decided to take the plunge!

Discussing about the strike situations and a bit of nervousness for the second longest travel track for the journey, we started off for Spiti! 

I know the above photo is not that great, especially if you are talking about 'Spiti' let me hop to the moment when we had yummy 'Maggie' (?!?!!?!?), Rajma Chawal, Kadhi and Momos on the way! Talk about tasty yet simple local food ( Some people did not like it, but I did it!) and cozy Dhabas. This was just a starting!

We crossed 'Rohtang Pass' which is 3978 mt above sea level and one of the highest passes in India, without suffering any bottlenecks resulted from the strike. This pass gave us some hints about what was in store for us in Spiti! 

The above photo is of Beas Kund which is a small temple with a small shallow well full of Sulfuric water, a cure for most of the skin problems. Not for people like me who are allergic to Sulfa!

After going down hill after passing Rohtang pass, we climbed to Kunzum Pass which is 4590 ft above sea level!

In case of Spiti, it is true, " The journey to the goal in life is more beautiful than the goal itself!"

After hogging on some Uncle Chips, Dairy milk Silks and biscuits, trying to make the Aux port work so that our journey can be musical and chatting with our driver Mr.T for six more hours, we reached our first ever destination Sisu. 

Snow laden mountain peaks peeping from the balcony of the sky and bone shivering wind hugging all around- The first feel of Spiti it was!

By the time we reached our guest house, we were shaken off by the intensity of  the wind. Super warm blankets in the room obviously were welcomed with open arms! The love for blanket which actually created silly idea of sewing a gown out of the same wool for the dinner,  made it a bit difficult for me to step out for the dinner. Too many of such 'lovely' thoughts provoked a headache which led us to go the 'Boys room' and settle there once again inside the blanket to watch TV while boys decided to do some random stuff.

The 'Papi Pet' finally won over all random acts and we attacked on the most yummiest Aloo sabji, tandoori roti, Paneer sabji with tangy achar. Some of us decided to digest food with a session of walk in the cold while some like me decided to hug that same blanket again dreaming fearing the head-bath I was to take next morning. 

Next day,the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE to live in Spiti was waiting for us! Stay tuned, if you have stayed till this line! :D

The Spiti Story-1

This post was published on Spicy Saturday by BlogAdda on 12th September! 

I have been bubbling with eagerness to paint my memories and some after effects of the trip on the blog. From the moment my Bro-Buddy asked told me to blog about the trip, I have been pondering over ways to collect all those tiny moments we lived together in Himalays and decorate them on a blog page. The pondering mind slowly gave up and the heart took over which asked me to start with the generic post about the trip to start with, just to be followed by detailed& S report. I promise.

Let me tell you something about Spiti. This valley which is now a part of the district called 'Lahaul & Spiti' in Himachal Pradesh is still in its ancient shape. As ancient as Himalayas, I felt. Contrary to the usual belief, this valley is not made by rivers flowing near by. It is the valley created by the ancient sea Tyths when Himalaya was created. Fossil exploration is very interestingly taken by researchers here, which proves the marine life in http://blog.blogadda.com/2015/09/12/spicy-saturday-picks-september-12-2015this region before the Himalayan era. This story we discovered later on, while reading the material we found in one of the very cozy home stay at Kaza.

We friends, who collectively held calendars of 'friends of friends' and 'family members of the friends' together to draft a plan for this trip. The gang included an Amdavadi from Mumbai, A Mumbaikar from Mumbai, a Mumbaiakr from Pune, a Mumbaikar from Delhi and three Delhites from Delhi.If you think we are done with the complex demographics, let me tell you a member whom we lovingly call Aunty (A mother of two friends!) single handedly brought up the average age of the group. (Of course Aunty never stopped us from doing anything - including late night chatting which caused severe fatigue and zombie like symptoms in some of us.)

I am leaving the details of the trip to the next post, but the summary is I got more from this trip then I had thought of!

They say, " Make Peace With Yourself In Spiti"! We found wisdom too.

What do you expect when a gang with complex demographics goes to the Himalayan lonely highland which is largely unexplored. So much that at the end of the trip, Manali looked disturbingly crowded! Each of us had traveled, studied and worked in different places. Each of us was going through different stages of life - Denial for the wedding, finding grooms/brides, already married but still in the Boyfriend-Girlfriend phase etc. When we talked about life, we started noting down some conclusions whom we call 'Wisdom Points' with pride. '

***

Wisdom Number #1 : "When you are suffering, compare your pain with even worst sufferings in the world."

This was concluded by the Sister-In-Law when our bones were screaming due to the cold wind while going out for the dinner form the bus and also when the suspension of the bus cried with each of those billions of bumps hurt punched them, and us. We also immediately found an application of the wisdom which of course made my plump self a bit more confident!! ;-)

Wisdom Number #101: Do not expect anything from any one!

Being in the land of Spiti which has many Buddhist followers I believe, this is the message or the Brahmgyan by Buddha himself. Our friend N who concluded this is just the messenger, I suppose! On a serious note, not implementing this wisdom itself is the root cause of all complexities in our lives. I think "Karmanye-vadhika Raste Mafaleshu Kadachan" has to be the second part of this saying, which means "Do your work without expecting any results"!

Wisdom Number # 501: Duniya mein sabse bada Rog, Mere bare mein kya kahenge Log! In English: " The biggest sickness in the world is the craving for the approval from the society"

A master stroke for me. The friend N again proved herself while we discussed our own struggles and stories. It is the root cause of each of my worries and actions since long. I pondered over it that night. Digesting it,was almost like throwing a big heavy bag from my shoulder which has its handle still in my hand. Some day I would throw the handle as well from my hand. I understand my problem better than ever now!

Wisdom Number # 1001: Guys have a box called 'Nothingness' in their mind, which they tend to use the most.

Friend N, described the video she had seen before, in that small warm room where I along with Bro-buddy and Sister-In-Law were ready to take the knowledge! This wisdom brought a clouser to my doubt which said the same about Mr.ISB and my dad. The state of nothingness is a fictitious state for a female but I always doubted that it existed in some of the guys. Bro-buddy and Mr.ISB approved of the fact as well, and with that this wisdom became 'the biggest truth of life ever found for my Sister-In-Law!'

Wisdom Number # 007: "Jinki Gadi lagi hoti hai unko kabhi nind nahi ati!"

Directly from the bus driver. Yes. While coming back to Delhi from Manali , a truck driver whom we doubt was drunk could not apply the hand break or even change the gear on the slope which crashed the driver glass of our bus. He was caught with all papers of the truck and made to sit in our bus which took him to the police station  on the way. Unlike normal physical fights, our bus driver took it to his heart to put some sense in the young truck driver's mind. He asked him to call the truck owner, which was not picked. Our bus driver now believed that the owner knew that this truck driver was a lost cause and so he was not picking up the phone. The truck driver tried to convince him that the owner would have been asleep as it was 12 am already. This was the moment when the wisdom was delivered by our bus driver, approved by four supply chain officers in our gang including yours truly.

When a logistic company owner hires a driver and puts the truck with goods on the road he can not sleep properly till the truck reaches the destination. The floating possession which gives him bread and butter holds the risk of being stolen, meeting with an accident and many more. This is true for any dream-chaser or a risk taker. Once you are in the water, you can not sleep. You have to swim.

***

While making peace, we derived some wisdom. Does that happen to you too?

A woman of habit

Yes, I am. Only if the society becomes a bit less sexist and includes it in the phrase "A Man of Habit."

I like to plan my day, a night before. Mentally I calculate tasks and time line. I try to stick to it and I feel sad if I can not. I am so punctual that I never start meetings/calls on time, I get ready well before the decided time. I call it the 'Buffer time' which is also added in my original mental plan every single time.

My usual time to get up is 6:30 am. Fourty minutes after getting up is 'my  time' where I hopefully work out. Generally when I am running out of time in the morning I compromise on this. Not good but no option too. I take/make tea with my parents in law. I start cooking with mom being there in the kitchen. Four hands in the kitchen and two hours to wrap up the act with packed lunch boxes is not even a joke, I am the one who is the last to take bath and leave for the office. I have kind of made peace with the fact that optimizing my productivity at office is better than doing chores faster than a super man can.

I prefer walking down to the train station which takes around fifteen minutes. I take a train and the journey gets over in flat three minutes. Walking down to the office takes another fifteen minutes. This route burns my calories and saves my time - pocket both. Yes, in Mumbai taking a cab at this hour makes you cut a hole in the purse and makes the watch ticking faster than ever. I kind of feel 'Singaporish' when I use such elaborated routes. It also gives me some time to think about life. And world peace ;)

My office building is one of the tallest buildings of Mumbai and I sit on 9th floor. Which gives me another opportunity to work out by avoiding lifts. When I enter,my team makes fun of my flexible mood which follows theory of 'Reaching office late but still before time of meeting'. Yes, they are scared of my wrath if any one is late for any discussions - including partners of the company!

We are deprived of personal desks in the startup but I have conveniently picked up a nice warm corner away from AirCon. My laptop stays there permanently with a mug beside it. The routine is to take or do calls while walking in the lobby. I try to leave at the same time almost every day. Again, being in call with my mom or Mr.ISB while I walk to the station is my daily ritual. Observing lives around for half and hour more and I am home.

Home is where our mother waits eagerly for us. We all help mom to finish her cooking and wrap up the dinner. It is the family time which attracts discussions about films, news and religions. A little bit of reading and then a very good night.

This long description of my daily ritual is some how getting affected now a days. I have to rush for every single thing I described. Multiple emotions grab me every now and then if any time is left for me at all. A disturbed cup of tea and a disturbed walk to home - both are not very good signs.

A woman of habit should go back to the basic, before she slips out of sane state of mind.

The Musical Night

I love languages, even when I am not an expert of many but Gujarati. Gujarati is my mother tongue and studying the same as the first language in my 14 years of schooling has made me quite an expert. Love for literature comes to me naturally, runs in the family in fact. So when it was "The world Gujarati language day" yesterday, amidst sneezing attacks every now and then- I decided to attend the Only Gujarati Musical Night with my family sans Mr.ISB.

The whole music troop was brilliant. They made me feel home, in fact many of them were from my town and my own community. Singers,Tabals, Dhol, Octopad, Khanjari, Keyboard,Guitar and meaningful beautiful Gujarati songs. What else do you need.

Listening to my favorite songs made me so nostalgic. I hardly get a suitable atmosphere here which can accommodate the after smell of such Gujarati songs being played in leisure, so it was a welcome change for me. I missed my dad every moment as many of the songs were of his choice. I could not stop myself from asking him to attend the same if he gets the chance.

The cherry on the cake was Raag, "Megh Malhar" with the attached historical face narrated by the host. This song was sung by two "Nagar" sisters named 'Taana' and 'Riri' when the great singer 'Tansen' was searching for the perfect "Megh Malhar" to be sung as a cure to the body heat produced by 'Dipak' Raag, It is said if a singer sings this Raag with a pure heart and the perfect 'Sur', it rains. I know this is just a belief but when I got up in the morning I saw Mumbai sky drizzling!

And I was still cherishing the Musical Night!

Urdu and I # 1

As an Indian  (even when I am a non Muslim by faith) , knowingly or unknowingly I had been exposed to this beautiful language. Ghazals and Hindi songs were the only sources of Urdu for us here. Having been friends with many Muslims did not improve the situation as well. I kept on browsing  meanings of different songs on internet and I do it even today.

I have watched many many Pakistani telefilms and serials on 'Zindagi' and to my surprise I love almost all of them, if I ignore points like cousins getting married which is just not acceptable in our community. I was so glad to see roads and houses like India, family culture like India , people like India and above all graceful and meaningful title songs like what we used to hear in Pre-Ekta era. For a person like me, who distastes border politics from both countries and Pakistan's back stabbing every now and then - it was a shock, a pleasant one. While I try to balance the hate-love content in my heart for Pakistan, I make it a point to listen to all beautiful songs composed, sung and written by Pakistanis. Just to have the feel of Urdu.

This particular song called "Zindagi Khak na thi"is very close to my heart. Translation does not show the exact meaning but shows more of what I have interpreted.

***

Zindagi khaak na thi khaak udatay guzri,
Tujh say kya kehtay teray pass jo aatay guzri.

Life is not all about ashes, but was almost spent doing nothing special in a way.
What should I tell you when I felt it (Life) was/is more meaningful, when you are/were around.

Din jo guzra toh kisi yaad ki roh main guzra
Shaam aayi toh koi khuwaab dikhatay guzri

The day is spent dwelling in the story which is made up of your memories,
The evening comes and shows some (of your) dreams as well.

Raat kya aayi kay tanhaai ki sarghoshi main
Hoo ka aalam tha magar suntay sunatay guzri

The night arrives with whispers of loneliness,
It was a dessert but still I was talking to you.

Zindagi khaak na thi khaak uratay guzri,
Tujh say kya kehtay teray pass jo aatay guzri.

Life is not all about ashes, but was almost spent doing nothing special in a way.
What should I tell you when I felt it (Life) was/is more meaningful, when you are/were around.

***

In case you are interested in listening to this touching song,

Just like that!

The constantly itching left eye and leaky nose tried really hard to make me feel dull today. With my team at office,it is tough to feel dull or numb for more than an hour. In one of those laughter attacks crafted specially for me, suddenly I thought about what can be wrong with me,

I have become less grateful. I am too sensitive these days. I am constantly ill. I keep on catching cold and headaches. I can not sleep on time. I wake up being grumpy but do not show. I get tired before I reach office. Even when I want to finish work faster, I slog. I slog even when I love what I do. This disturbs me even more.

Either I am horribly falling into some health disorder. May be I am just being pushed in to the well of negativity. I am controlling the will over my life.

So today, while I am writing this before leaving my office for the day. I want to decide on something.

I am going to enjoy each and every moment, come what may. I would try to respond and try not react. I am going to take control over what I do in my life. I would learn to say "No". I am going to read a lot but I am not going to suffer from the pressure created by 'Information Over load'. I am going to invest in human relationship but not too much.

I am going to hog chocolate milk every single day as soon as I find the perfect brand of chocolate powder. ( I miss you, Tim Hortins!)

Just like that :D

aPOINTment # 6

I have so so so many things to say but my hands tie themselves up when I start writing about all of them. Today I am hell bent on blogging!

• I am rarely ritualistic and the belief in the Supreme power who can not be named, does not stop me from feeling spiritual on this holy day of first 'Shravan Somvar'. May be memories, May be 'Sholokas' I was taught or even Criticism for wastage of milk on Lingas I used to hear from my grandparents make this month special. Today, when my marriage is inter-faith, I am observing the only fruit-milk fast which  makes me feel home, where my childhood memories were created.
• I have decided to avoid conflicts in my life. I have decided to do what I believe in. I have decided to manage things smartly and without hurting people where it is possible. I was glad when an uncle at the near by temple willingly bought a bottle of milk from the vendor nearby and gave to the child sleeping on the street. When I smiled and appreciated other two people came forward to do the same. Religions are suppose to be live documents and not dead wisdom books. There must be a way to make people realize this without arguing with them.
• I met my cutest niece who is now fourteen days old. The cutest ever bundle of joy I have seen. She is so small that I was scared to even touch her. I am a proud masi now, I need to learn to handle her now!
• I had the most surreal Chocolate Hazelnut milk shake this weekend. For a foodie like me, it is important to note down the date and the venue. Many more such experiences are awaited.
• I have been struggling to get up early due to the constant dose of Anti-Histamine I am taking since a week. The cold vanishes just to come back in a few hours. I am not going to do things like 'Putting milk drops in Nose' or even 'Drink X Y Z herbs' as I know I need an immediate relief. No more Ayurveda stuff. I want to get up early. I want to go out for jogging. I want to reach office very much on time. Well, but my nosy nose!
• I am missing my own people even when I know they are a phone call or a mail away. This is how we learn to live alone. May be.
• I miss cooking. For some reasons I have lost the spark which made me feel like cooking something really different every single day. I don't have my oven here in Mumbai and that means my will to cook something is halved. Rest of the will has also vanished without much ado. 

How is your life going on?