The trip is done. The bags are unpacked. I left something behind though and that was a good chunk of my heart.
Those twelve days managed to grasp a firm hold on my little pacing heart and insisted that just like I got a token of my travels back here, I leave a token of my presence in those mountains.
I was in Spiti – a cold desert mountain valley in the Trans Himalayan region. To put it in the words of Rudyard Kipling, “A world within a world”. The name “Spiti” means “The Middle Land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India. While I was there, I used to think ofit as Middle Earth – the magical land from the mind of Tolkien. It is arguably one of the sparsely populated parts of the country with some of the villages having a total population of 27 people.
The minute you are in the valley, the altitude ranges from 13000 feet to 16500 feet (provided you are not attempting one of those mountain treks… which then touch even 20000 feet from what I recollect). The days are warm depending on the sun and clouds while the nights are cold depending on the winds and clouds.
It was a journey filled with trekking, volunteering and community living. I was travelling with strangers and interacting with people who I am probably never going to meet again. Yet there was something about the air that made us bond at levels that only travel can bring. Also the fact that we all had to struggle to get the basics like breathing and pooping made us a lot more inhibited. I mean, what role can worldly filters play when you need the human wall in order to pee properly in the wild.
Timing was something that went really went for me while soaking up the culture and traditions of Spiti. It did not work out so well when I stepped out in the night to catch the Milky Way. The floods in Himachal Pradesh ensured almost a consistent cloud cover through the night – it cleared up only a couple of nights. But it was more than enough.
The memories, the internal reflections and external realizations are something I will always cherish. It will probably take a few more posts to cover all the experiences. Right now, I will just leave you with a few photographs. I will catch up on posts and comments over this week 🙂 Thank you so much for all the love and support!!
Sounds like a trip to heaven! Looking forward to reading more about it and seeing more pictures you have clicked too Prajakta! Cheers ☺️👍
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Thanks a lot 🙂
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Good photos.
Looks you are following your mom’ s steps.
If not translated version of your mom,s book, ( which you have not done so far ) will enjoy your writings.
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Thank you so much Mama 🙂 Will try !!
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These photos are breathtaking. I don’t think I’d ever want to leave those mountains.
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The hardest thing was coming back!
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Wowow.. All I can say at each pic. . Wowow..what a beautiful place..
I would love to be there and see it all ..
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Try to make a trip there Bikramjit! The photos don’t do ANY justice to the beauty of the place!
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Wow Prajakta for some experiences, one of my dreams about visiting Tibet and Himalaya. Wonderful photos 🙂
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Do try to make those dreams come true 🙂 Thank you Irene!
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Yes, I do Prajakta. Tibet and Himalaya just need to wait for me, until my life allow me to travel again.
I relocated from Denmark to Spain 4 years ago, which were one dream about living in the sun and less humid weather 🙂
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Beautiful
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Thanks!
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😊
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WOW — what an amazing opportunity! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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It really was the best time ever
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Beautiful photos. Everyday I wake up wishing I was back there… ❤️
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Thanks! Every night I dream of Spiti
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sMiLes.. my Friend.. Prajakta..
welcome back from your
vacation iN ancestral
Lands of HeARt
FeLt iSREAL now..
in old Tibet too..
the first name for
God that Humans
create is Lahmu and
Lahamn for Water and
Earth miXed as SiLT then
and perHaps iF they kepT
God as original Nature before
‘Sin’ of Abstract Written Language..
Collective Intelligence and Complex
Cultures.. NDD or Nature Deficit Disorder
also kNown as GDD.. GoD DaM Disorder
too hehe.. as NatURe OnE whOle too..
hUman.. would not be eating aWay @
eARTh iN footprints
of hUman
tools.. as
space ships
show IS A cancer
of the PlaneT eArth
on re-entry to the air
we breathe FReED.. oh..
the world of NDD.. but what
iF everyone suddenly grew a
SpiRit.. a HeARt.. a SoUL.. a MiNd
and BoDy BaLanCinG way of empathy
and hugs and eYes of Unconditional Love
for each other all around the Globe now like
a Love Virus FReED.. WeLL.. the other thing is
then other folks came along and created a God for
them.. yes.. a tribal one that would expand the human
domination of Nature from Sea to Sea.. the destroyer
of God iF yOu WiLL or they WiLL of course.. from
continents East.. West.. South and North all.. but
perHaps they don’t see as Godzilla clearly
FeeLs aLL innately.. instinctually and
even ‘Blue Oyster Cult’ by
intuition now2.. yes..
sAMe nAMe of
Godzilla too..
Nature and or
God depending on
semantics of the silt
of the day.. is alWayS in control
as Nature lives from subatomic
spiraling flow allone to galaxies
and UniVerses BeYond.. as Free
WiLL DanCe and SinG in moVinG..
ConNecTing InteRdependent CreAtinG
ways.. so.. all the pain and suffering around
uS humans wE do feel and see as iSREAL noW..
is juSt Karma my friEnd.. the action and consequence
of getting out of BaLancE wiTh Nature God samE now..
as alWays Force that seeks Balance over all otHeR opposing
Forces now.. Nature has no nAMe but Balance.. and mosT aLL
oF hUman Suffering and Misery can be attributed to GDD mY FriEnd..
TrUly sorry you had to go back to work.. but sure.. that IS A way of a world..
that says.. there is enough human beings destroying We rest oF Nature
NOw.. so get back to work you humans and do anything but making
more
children
of misery
and suffering
for the reST of wE
oF NaTuRe noW.. from
STD’s to Mosquito DisEases
to all the rest of God OF Nature
checks and Balances my FriEnd noW
iN Karma’s eYes of NatuRE God SamE..
only the individual can possibly escape now
in tHeir own way of TrUth and liGht iN BaLanCinG Force..
the taste
of your
heARt
in silt
of Mountain
Lake mirror flows view..
as oPen mY friEnd.. a Vacation
worth more than a stones throw oF work..
WiNkS in jUST my opinion of course as
when i re-TiRed work.. somehow i wanted
to go back then if i ever could… noW
oh.. no one
is immune
Vs..
the way
of the World.. mY FriEnd..
so.. so.. hard to E-sCapE noW..:)
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Thank you so much 🙂 As you rightly said, it really was a trip back to where it all started. Unchanging yet ever moving.
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SMiLes FriEnd..
As alWays..
Thanks so
Much for
The inspiration
Of your words here..:)
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OH…MY…GOD!! These pictures cannot be real !!!😍 Gosh…beauty ! 😍 Absolute beauty. Can’t wait to see and hear more of your adventure there Prajakta. And So happy to see you back 😉💗
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Thank you so much Zee 🙂
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WOW, a real adventure and such amazing photos! What an experience, Prajakta!
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It was surreal and incredible Erika! Talking about it actually chokes me up with emotion…
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I know what you mean. Overwhelming and more than words can say!
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Wow! Really looking forward to reading your posts on this trip 🙂
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Where have you been?? Heading over to your blog now… Good to have you back! 🙂
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Heyy! I’m not been around much. Just haven’t had much to talk/write about i guess.. can’t think of any other excuse 😛
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Great pics. Hope these inspire us to keep our lands such that they can inspire others.
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Thanks Ankur… These lands are still pristine and pure. Touch wood!
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What a magical adventure! Your photos are epic! In all those times I’ve watched The Lord of the Rings movies (or read the books) I don’t think I’ve ever thought about them having those basic bodily functions to contend with in the wilderness. You were brave! I look forward to reading more!
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Thank you so much JoAnna… The bodily functions sure make funny stories now 🙂
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Omg, the views are breathtaking 🙂
This is a trip to cherish !
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It really was! 🙂 Thank you!
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How wonderful!
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Thank you!
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Beautiful details & mesmerising images,i had a trip to leh ladakh via exploring tribal belt of Kaza as this part is still untouched by tourists.Looking forward to see more 👍👌
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[…] An Armchair Perfectionist About leaving something behind… […]
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So, so beautiful! This is probably the third time I am reading about Spiti on a fellow WordPress blogger’s blog. That makes me want to go there so much now. Your post just clinched it. 😀
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You have to go there!! Plan a trip ASAP – Let me know for any help!
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Yes, will definitely put forth the idea when planning the next family trip! Thanks. 🙂
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Astonishing photos. The one of the lake is simply marvelous!
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I know! The lake was surreal 🙂
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Beautiful😊
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Thank you 🙂
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Please find and follow my new page Prajakta. I have started fresh as you can maybe tell from the name change, thankyou 😊
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Checked and followed 😀
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It must be one of the most memorable trips of your life! I was just thinking about this solo trip of yours as was talking with some friends on advantages and disadvantages of solo travel. Great to read about your experience. And, the PICTURES…they are just WOW!! 🙂 …
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I hope you manage to take a solo trip as well Mani 🙂 A must experience 🙂
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Pics are breathtaking.. N lovely post
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Thank you!
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The photos look magical, Prajakta. Welcome back from your trip and I hope to read more of your journey soon.
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That looks like a splendid place! Jealous! That must have been an awesome trip! 🙂
P.S. I guess some of my previous comments have been spammed. Kindly check!
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I will check for those comments 🙂 Sorry about that!
Do try to visit Spiti – it is a must experience and still untouched!
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Need not be sorry. It has happened with 3-4 other blogs too. 🙂 and its nothing in your or my control!
Sure. Will definitely keep that in the list.. 🙂
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thanks for sharing nice Photos
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Thanks!
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[…] via From the Land of Lamas — An Armchair Perfectionist […]
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Amazing pictures! Reading your blog made me remember a quote by Ruskin Bond- “It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape”
🙂
Cheers!
Keep ttrekking & blogging!
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Thank you so much for sharing the quote. Strikes home 🙂 Hopefully something comes up in winter.
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Reblogged this on Journal Edge.
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A Bright blogpost … After reading this and seeing those wonderful clicks , my heart does call for visiting Spiti … Do check out my blog too .. ☺️
https://priyamch.wordpress.com
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Spiti always calls the heart ❤ Thank you for stopping by! Will check out your blog soon 🙂
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I could connect with your experiences on a lot of levels….not to mention the photographs do complete justice to the beautiful landscapes you described. Brings back happy memories of my time hitchhiking across the barren landscape of Spiti !! Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience 🙂
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Hitchhiking must have been an awesome experience 🙂 Will be stopping by to read your journals!
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Would be my absolute pleasure!! 🙂
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