The Five Hilarious Travel Photo Contest

When I stumbled upon 'The Five Hilarious Travel Photo Contest' I said "why not!" So here I go.

The photo below was taken when we were doing a little bit of shopping in Leh (Ladakh, India). Till date we are clueless what does the sign Useless Wali (Useless One) means. Googling doesn't help much either.

The second photo was taken again in the main market of Leh (Ladakh, India). I was asking these mild looking ladies (in Hindi) if I could take a photograph of them. My husband has a practice of standing 10 feet away from me on such occasions. To my surprise, the third lady from the left almost shouted her "NO" at me. There were two other gentlemen on the scene and they too looked a bit taken aback, though being foreigners to India they could only have guessed what was going on. Crestfallen, I started walking away. Then she called me back again and asked if I wanted to photograph her alone or the entire group? When I said the entire group, she smiled and said I could take one.

The two gentlemen sensing a change in the mood asked me if they too could take a photograph. I acted the interpreter and the ladies said yes to them too. One of them ran and sat next to the ladies. And here is the picture I got after a little bit of scolding. But the best part is after putting it at my blog (earlier) I got a comment form a person saying he knows the second person from the left in the picture. It is a small world.

The third photo was taken on our journey to Bharmour (Himachal Pradesh, India). We had these two goats as our fellow passengers in the bus. I will have to add, they were very well behaved even if a little bit smelly.

In this fourth picture my husband strikes a pose with a buffalo (I guess so) skull that he found on the Kuari Pass trek (Uttranchal, India). What wonders does spending time with nature does to people!

And here we are in Sikkim (India) when our jeep skidded a bit on the snow. There were only two women passengers including myself and the menfolk decided that they could push the jeep out on their own. I was happy to get the opportunity to take the picture.

White is the Theme for Today

Manali-Leh Highway

From a Trip to Best Western Resort in Manesar

Nanda Devi: Kuari Pass Trek

From the Strees of Bangalore

PS. Life is quite hectic till 27th April. Should be getting more time after that.

Green is the Theme

I was going through my pictures saved at the laptop (it is working now but no luck with the camera yet). Once again, the picture that seemed ordinary when looked closer to the trip now feel regal to these eyes watching concrete day in and day out. So, I have picked up some of my greenest photos for this post. All the pictures are from the Kuari Pass trek (updated on Kamla's suggestion, this pass is located in Uttranchal. I am adding the link because Apu wanted it).

I loved the flowers and tried to nearer to get a better shot. But the way was far too slippery. So, had to be satisfied with this shot only.

Looks like heaven, isn't it?

Lots of green, no concrete

A little, a little white and a bit of flowers, what more can I wish for?

Full of Stones or so it Seems Sometimes!

We encountered this stone filled track on the Kuari Pass trek. Why does it seem to resemble life at certain point? I know, I know, I have no right to crib. But just felt like it.

Another Tale from Kuari Pass Trek, Uttranchal Himalayas, India

A View from Kuari Pass Base

We met three fabulous people on the trek through Kuari Pass in Uttranchal Himalayas (India) this June. Sonu was our guide for the trek and Vikrant and Virendra owned the horses that carried our luggage. I have talked about our conversations in a post before.

This tale belongs to Sonu and he told it to us when we asked how he became a trekking guide? I am writing it from memory and in English, although our conversation happened in Hindi.

“I started as a porter on one of the treks that go beyond Badrinath. The first time around I had no idea what it involved. It was cold and I was not adequately dressed for the weather. On top of it, I was wearing thin-soled Tennis shoes. Every porter is supposed to carry 25 kg. of weight and I was not prepared for that either. Half way through, my shoes wore out and I gave up. I returned and they didn’t even pay me the full amount for the number of the days I worked. But after that, I was better prepared. I worked as a porter for a few years and when I learnt the routes well enough, I started working as a guide. Now, I only freelance and do not get tied with any one agency.”

All this was told with such good humor, without any trace of bitterness or malice toward anyone. It was only when I sat down later and talked to Sesha, we realized how tough it must have been for him initially. Otherwise, Sonu made it sound almost like fun!

My Kuari Pass Article on Gonomad

I Do Not Tire Sharing My Kuari Pass Trek Photos!

But this is to share with you that my Kuari Pass Trek article got published at Gonomad under the title 'Hiking India's Kuari Pass.' This is my third story with them (the other two were on Ladakh and Goa) and it still gives me a thrill to see my story published.

You can have a look at their writer's guidelines here.

I sent the link to entire gallery of Kuari Pass Trek and let Steve pick up the photos he liked best. Well, in the first photo (of the article) I am sulking so badly because it has been taken shortly after I had woken up and I have never been a morning girl.

Moving On: View from the Base of Kuari Pass, Uttranchal Himalayas

Some images of the mountain flowers at my photoblog.

More Pictures from the Kuari Pass Trek, Uttranchal Himalayas

"I say, if you want to find out where the road goes, get in the fast lane and hit the gas." Calvin and Hobbes

I wish I could do it like Calvin at least some of the time but we end up walking on all of our holidays, no matter what. And at least for this trip to Kuari Pass I would have it no other way.

Glimpses from Kuari Pass Trek, Uttranchal Himalayas

"Here's harmony!" said she; "here's repose! Here's what may leave all painting and all music behind, and what poetry only can attempt to describe! Here's what may tranqillise every care, and lift the heart to rapture! When I look out on such a night (scene)* as this, I feel as if there could be neither wickedness nor sorrow in the world; and there certainly would be less of both if the sublimity of Nature were more attended to, and people were carried more out of themselves by contemplating such a scene."

From Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, p:105

* Parenthesis mine.

Not My Daily Conversation

We were having dinner sitting on a flat rock near a fire on the first night of Kuari Pass trek. I wish I could say there were a million stars in the sky but almost every day by afternoon, clouds would come, cover everything and would not lift till sunrise again. Still, we were a merry lot, Sesha and I, our guide, Sonu and two teenage kids, Vikrant and Virendra. The horses that carried our tent and food belonged to Vikrant and Virendra.

The conversation that night had the awkwardness of people not knowing each-other well. Dinner over, the kids and Sonu vanished for a while. The fire started going down and Sesha took it on him to rekindle it. After many futile attempts we concluded maybe, it has gone too low. Vikrant came back after a while and gave it merest of wiffs and it started crackling again.

Three nights later, we were in Pana and after a nine hour walk my knees protested loudly even at the slightest movement. At dinner a fire was roaring again courtesy Virendra and Vikrant and food ready to be devoured. Suddenly, large drops start falling without any warning. I struggle to get up from the stone I have been occupying and we run inside the other tent. It starts pouring hard, our tent is watertight from below too but the other one is not. We offer that everyone move in our tent, they tell us they would only if absolutely necessary. Virendra gets busy with a knife, digging a nali (small drainage) all around the tent so that the water will flow out and not enter the tent. 15 minutes later the nali has ample water flowing through it. It rained for a couple of hours but the other tent remained dry too.

At Jhingi, after walking on stones, once again my knees are sore. I start looking through the photographs on my camera display and yearn for the tea that Sonu is making. The horses have been left to roam and they start munching happily through a potato field. Vikrant starts running after them full stride. Don’t they ever get tired?

Vikrant and Virendra are almost my elder nephew’s age. After two-three days it is easier to talk to them thanks to the rapport build by washing vessels with them twice. After two days they would just shoo me away declaring “Aap bahut thak gaye hain, iske koe jarurat nahin hai, hum kar lenge (You are very tired, no need to wash vessels, we will do it).

One of them has given their 12^th exam as a private candidate. They tell me in the summer, they move with their heard of goats as far as Tibet boarder. But in cities, they have never been farther than Joshimath and Ghat.

I frame my next question carefully (somehow it has a very hollow ring to it out there). “Tum dono karna kya chahte ho?” (What do the two of you aspire for?) The younger one says, “Abhi aur sochna padega, hum khali nahin baith sakte, bakri bahut hai aur kaam bhi bahut hai. Kabhi khali baith doo din TV dekhna ho to pareshan ho jte hain” (Will have to think about it more, we have a big heard of goats and a lot of work to do, we can’t sit idle and watch TV even for two days). Further inquiry yielded that they get the Doorshan DTH (National TV, direct to home) channels in their village.

Last day of camping and Sonu wants a mirror; he wants to shave before he reaches home. To their surprise, I am not carrying one. They manage to get it from the village. Shaving done, he shouts if someone has cold crème. I was loitering nearby and I offer to fetch one, but Vikrant gets it out of his bag. Sonu cries out loud “Fair and Handsome!” Sesha laughs, Virendra says it belongs to Vikrant, he has got nothing to do with it and I tell them they anyway are so handsome they don’t need it.

Different Moods

Street Food

You might have noticed, I rarely post pictures of the people I meet on our travels. That is because I rarely can muster up enough courage to ask them for their pictures. It is easy to click things that do not talk back, like the stuff in the picture above, so colorful, easy to shoot, and no chance of offending anyone by mistake too.

For a pleasent change, the stall owners demanded that I take their picture too and not just the food stuff they had and I gladly obliged. Their grins incresed when they saw the image on the display of my camera. Sesha (my husband) was as usual standing far away from me, and watching the scene.

Almost in Tears

We met this kid standing quite alone with her school bag and all, quite tearful. When Sesha inquired what was the problem, she said "Nani chali gaye hai udhar, mugjhe daar lag raha hai" (Granny has gone that side and I am afraid). To amuse her we took her photograph and showed it back to her. It distracted her just a little bit. And soon enough, other people came and told her to come with them, as her Nani was visiting someone and she would be late.

The good thing in this trek was that even the remotest of the villages that were not connected by road or had a doctor, still had school. I am not sure about the quality of education, but places like Jhinji that are really small maybe not more than 40-50 household too had school. The sad part is people often ask for common medicine like crocin and combiflam (sir dard aur bukhar ke liye) as it is not easily available in the villages.

Smile and Hesitation

The Brat Pack (No points for guessing who is the gang leader in this one)

And here is a picture I am really fond of. The women and the kid saw us passing by from a distance. I gave her a tentative but big smile. She came near to me leaving her work just like that and I mustered up enough courage to ask her if I could take a picture? She nodded her head and sat down (while standing she is quite tall and so slim). I clicked the photograph and showed it to her. She made her eyes very wide and smiled at me again. I moved on, just a few words exchanged but it was wonderful taking her and the kid's picture.

Kuari Pass Trek, Uttranchal Himalayas, India

We decided to trek through Kuari Pass, in Uttranchal Himalayas and the journey started from New Delhi. It was raining for the most of the journey and when we reached Rishikesh at 12 midnight, it was still raining. I was quite disappointed and I started bugging my husband that maybe we will not be able to trek at all if it rained like this. He too got confused for a while and we considered alternatives but he pacified me, saying if it would rain too much we would trek through Valley of Flowers instead.

So we checked into Gaurav Hotel, which is just in front of the bus stand and it is nothing to write home about. The only saving grace: no carpet that would stink and relatively clean washroom.

Next morning, we started for Joshimath on this Khatara (uncomfortable) bus. Our journey for the Kuari Pass Tek had finally started. It was full of pilgrims intending to visit Badrinath, which is quite close to Joshimath. Both of us have motion sickness and have no option but to get zonked on Avomine.

The Journey Begins in Earnest: Two of Our Fellow Passengers on the way to Joshimath

The journey was the usual bus journey with lovely view of the river Ganga, stops at Dhabas for lunch and tea, the aching limbs and the fervent wish that we may reach soon. Most of the time, because of taking Avomine, we both fall asleep and miss the view.

This bus had particularly sharp edge (I kept my tracksuit top on it) where I rested my hands on the window and I hit my head on the seat in front so bad a few times that I had small bumps (blame it on Avomine induced sleep) till two days after.

We Liked their Philosophy: Our Trekking Agency for the Kuari Pass Trek

When we travel, we never book a hotel in advance (don’t ask me why, ask H) or decide on a trekking agency we would use. While we were walking to a hotel with huge rucksacks (and shoes tied to them), a young guy asked us if we were here to trek? He pointed out Grand Adventures to us and we were sold on their punch line 'Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going!' We liked their philosophy and decided to give them a try. They gave us good rates and ultimately we trekked with them. Our guide's name is Sohan Singh Bisht (Sonu and I recommend him highly as a guide) and not only he is an excellent guide but an excellent cook too, a much appreciated quality by both of us! He along with our two horsemen (young lads really, of 18-19 years of age) told us so many fascinating stories. And by the time we reached Joshimath, the rains had completely disappeared. We really had a sunny trek this time.

Ropeway To Auli from Joshimath

The starting point of our trek was Auli, and one can take a jeep to Auli from Joshimath, but that would have meant Avomine and being zonked again. So, we decided to take the ropeway along with Sonu. We were quite scared that the state government authorities would not let us take so much of luggage on the ropeway but they were really nice and helpful. I have high praise for them for treating us with a lot of consideration. Our horses were waiting for us in Auli. We started quite late on the first day but it really did not matter, as we covered a very short distance.

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A Temple (built by ITBP) on the Way to Gurson Baghyal from Auli

We walked barely for 45 minutes when our guide told us we would be camping for the day. Our guide helped us pitch our tent and then took over the kitchen! Very soon we realized we had forgotten to bring sugar. But our guide, with the help of the young lads managed to get it from some village. As I said earlier, Sonu cooked excellent food and we feasted throughout this trek.

Our Home in the Hills: The First Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

Crossing Gurson Baghyal: The Second Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

From the second day we started trekking in earnest, and we camped at the base of Kuari Pass. We decided to sit there idle for one day, as the views were fabulous. Usually, people camp at Chitrakanta but our guide took us further probably to compensate for the little walking we did on day one.

Nandadevi Peak

We got the most wonderful views from Kuari Pass base and I share a few of them below.

The Hathi-Ghori Peak: Views on the Third Day of the Kuari Pass Trek

Chaukhamba Peaks: The Views on the Third day of the Kuari Pass Trek

After sitting for one day we were raring to go and our guide set us a really ambitious target. We had to reach Pana (skipping two campsites along the way), and even he was anxious, as to how long we would take. We started at seven in the morning and crossed Kuari Pass and continued walking on and on and on ... We walked for nine hours that day and even the locals would feel surprised that we managed to cover all that distance in one day. We feasted on Maggi in the evening before dinner and this was the most tiring day of our trek. The day after this was moderate and we camped at, Jhinji.

From Jhinji, we again had a long day, a walk of 8 hours. I thought people would be quite convinced that I can do this walk as I had done the nine hour day without any complaint. But it was not to be.

By now, our rations were really getting light and H kept joking that if I can't walk, then I can sit on a horse and complete the trek! He also kept harping on how playing TT (I play table tennis almost daily) can never keep me fit. The guide also chimed in a few times with H. I decided to teach H a lesson.

Look What We Found: Day Six of the Kuari Pass Trek

When I walk on a trek my head is usually in the trees, flowers, hills and peaks or the stream that is flowing by. But on our walk from Jhinji to Dhuni, I kept it firmly on the path and I started with my former athlete tread and then I do not stop much (a lifetime ago, I could run ten kilometers without too much sweat). We climbed two hills that day to reach our destination and H kept struggling to keep pace.

We took a small break (where H is posing with the buffalo skull above) and after he reached there panting, much later (OK, maybe not that much later, but still after me) I told him he could use the horse if he felt like it. I also asked for his opinion on TT again and it had changed considerably in the short span of time!

Our walk downhill was a really tough one as the road was full of loose stones and believe me, itne pathron per tou mein jindagi mein kabhi nahin chali hun (I have never walked on so many stones in my entire life). Even now my knees hurt.

Please Don't Leave Plastic Behind: Litter on the Kuari Pass Trek Route

Kuari Pass trail is not that littered but in the pictures above you can see the typical haul for a day. Both H and I try to pick up as much plastic as we can from the way but sometimes we are just too tired to bend down one more time or go after a off the track piece. We burn it at the camp later. If you have a better suggestion to deal with the plastic problem, do drop in a comment.

Village Dhuni: The Last Stop on the Kuari Pass Trek

The last stop on our trek was quite close to this village and the kids have a favorite hobby, they hang around the campsite and just sit and stare at you! Quite unnerving if you ask me.

The Bridge that Leads to the Roadhead to Ghat:the End of Walking at the Kuari Pass Trek

The last day's walk was relatively easy and we soon reached the road head and once again back to the reality. Oh! and if you trek through Kuari Pass, the villagers consider you either Ungrez (Foreigner! imagine me, dark and sunburned on top of that, being mistaken for a foreigner) or a bangali (Bengali, which is far from ture but at least West Bengal is in India). For the local people no one else treks!

PS. More pictures of this trek are here and here.

I am Back!

We completed our trek and came back today. Thanks a lot for your comments on my previous posts. I am trying to catch up with my mail and posts and comments. I am still on leave till the weekend and will be visiting my sis. So the regular post will take some time. Here are two pictures I thought I will share quickly from Kuari Pass in Uttranchal Himalayas.

This flower was facing downward so I kept my camera below it and caught a bit of sky too!

Mountains, mountains, I saw a lot. Here is a picture from Gurson, our first stop of the trek. I had a fabulous trek. A detailed post will follow soon.

Travel Time!

I am off to Uttranchal Himalayas now, pray that it won't rain too much for the next 15 days. Will see you all in two weeks time.