Independence Day celebration at Fiinovation

Independence Day celebration at Fiinovation

Awake and Alive

The most amazing thing i felt when I was in Purola was that it made me feel as if i was wide awake, the freshness in the air early morning gave a true feeling of being alive. The amount of smoke and dust we take in, it becomes necessary to refresh our breathing engines. I woke up a little late in the morning though, saw Pia clicking pics of the natural surroundings, hills, trees, people etc. I know i have been speaking a lot about me in this updates but the only reason being its hard to understand whats going on in the minds of a avid traveler or explorer like her.

She started showing me some beautiful sites around as we walked along the roof terrace of our hotel. She has an keen eye when it comes to spotting things. You can understand that through her photography and writings. I call them weirdly artistic to make her angry but when I am alone in my room and start reading her updates in facebook or looking at the pics she clicked, I do tend to become lost in the depth of her imagination.

Truly and madly in love with her sometimes the passion is so high that separation makes us feel week and sick. I asked her if she wants to be with me inside a Iglu ? She said your mad. I still dint figure out what she meant should i do it or not ? Will she be with me inside it ? Or she just puts the idea in the dustbin as a crap. I tell you girls so sophisticated. They just cant say straight "NO".

I told her to lets get ready, have breakfast and go on exploring the green valleys of purola, I can say that much its better if Yash raj would have shot here instead of Switzerland, may be Incredible India would have been promoted instead of Switzerland Tourism. Quickly we got ready and went downstairs after having breakfast. A mile of walk led us out of the town into the fields where terrace farming can be seen. Beautiful lush green fields, covering the huge valley between small hills of the Himalayas. We ran here and there, touched the dew filled tips of the wild grass. It was so fresh and amazing. I was unable to understand if I was in love with the location or the girl I was with. I though of coming out of this dilemma by asking her for an answer.

Guess what she said... She said " Thanks ".

The Adventure of Purola

Later that evening after the landslide we reached Purola. We got down from the bus to a small town surrounded by green hills from all sides. The view would have been much better I thought if there were no houses in the valley. But its was okay as we will set off for the sightseeing and adventure from the next day to explore the hidden parts of the valley.

We booked a room in a hotel there with a view from top so that we can see the landscape of the valley properly. We both were tired so decided to regain our energy for the rest of the journey. After that tiring bus drive all I wanted was a nice bed to lie down. Pia freshened up and ordered some snacks while was flipping through the channels in the Tv.

I have always mentioned that its all about the Journey and not the destination but I was getting new meanings of the statement, revelation of the soul, questions that was hard to be understood forget about the solutions. Love, Pain, Adventure, Truth, Reality and wants all these things were getting new dimensions. I ordered a beer and started glaring at the view outside and nearly forgot about Pia. Sometimes you become selfish just to take time out for urself, to think what you want, what makes you happy. There is always a reason to live, finding that and believing in that is the tough choice that you have to make. You always want the best seats in a theatre but only once in a while you get the seats numbered A1, A2. I was afraid as I dint want a paradigm shift in my thoughts. I wanted to be myself. Looking at the landscape, green hills, one after the other, some look blue, some dark grey, some rocky ones, some with trees, the vast sky over you, the wet leaves, the dripping water, the sound of the wind, the sound of peace and tranquility this is reality. The truth that you want to believe is far away from what you know. You believe that your lost in the valley, away from everyone, you are into the deep wild places where no one can find you. Not a soul can see you, keep an watch on you or contact you, but the very next moment you realise what you think is not the truth. You are not alone.

This is you. The new found you, the one that you have searching, you want to be lost but you found by yourself. The wild welcomes you with open arms and let you explore your inner self rather than what you think you wanna explore. Looking at small ant you realise that you have to carry your burden and it can be way heavier than you imagine. Your soul start taking a new dimension altogether, the giving back, the taking away of purity. Now you look at things at a different perspective. A journey is complete when you find a new you, else you dont fit to travel.

Moments of The Land Slide

I saw an array of vehicles ahead of the bus we were in. Tourist vehicles, private cars, buses etc. were all waiting for the road to be remade. I went down the bus while Pia was sleeping there itself on the seat. I asked someone in the crowd, how far is the jam to which he replied its more than a km. I hated it but what to do nature keeps reminding you that don't overload me with human craps and over population. I started taking snaps of the breath taking beauty in front of my eyes. It was good to feel the fresh chilly air that was blowing. I was afraid that we will be late what if we don't get a place to rest at night?

Thoughts kept coming to my mind as I sat down over a rock and clicked. What if the landslide doesn't get over? If we cant cross to the other side to a village or town where we will stay for the night. Caves or mountain tops which one to choose to stay for the night, like the locals who get stuck. I thought this will be an exciting experience but was worried about Pia. I have always wanted staying in a cave, exploring it till we find a dead end. Meghalaya has a lot of unexplored caves may be someday I can explore them. Exploration is fun, the thrill, suspense, risk, darkness, slippery tracks, low ceilings, fear of snakes and other insects etc. Caves are formation takes million years, just imagine you explore one and it becomes World heritage site or a huge tourist destination, everybody will remember your contribution.

All I wished was spending a night with Pia safe, that what my mind was saying but my heart wanted me to stay in a cave and leave in the morning. Make a bonfire inside the cave, take out some stuff from your bag roll a cigarette, lie down and smoke it as if today is the last day. Think about what you wanna do in life, or write something, get lost in the wild, things to do before you die. Life cant be more fun that this. I mean everyday you wake up in your bed the same way with half sleepy eyes, and slangs in your mind. Hate to go work or college, spend the rest of the day the same boring way. Yeah all this is good but lets not make life monotonous, there more things than what you do or have done. You got to explore the wild. Its always Man VS Wild.

I heard people say the jam was over and the bus was about to start, so I climbed into the bus and sat at my seat again, waking Pia. She said what happend and I told that there was landslide and now its over, we are on our way to Purola.

Towards Hidden Valley Part III

Wow, that was the feeling when we were glancing towards few tracks which can be crossed by trekking. Through the window we can see locals take their belongings and walk up to their homes, crossing streams, hills, rocks. For them nothing is difficult. Sometimes I think what motivates them to do so much hardship. Days after days climbing up and down mountains, getting stuck in landslides, living in caves or place where they can hide themselves for the night. They dont have the word tired in their dictionary. Is living in the hills a boon or a curse? Life is so easy and comfortable in the plains still frown in the forehead never goes away. Smiles are the rarest expression that one has to offer to others. But cities have man- made beauty, old cultures which are fading away with the generation x.

Where as in hills life is quiet, life is slow, life is tough. One has reasons of his own to love hills. Some love because of the natural beauty that it has to offer, some for the relaxation, some for the adventure, some for the chillness in the wind, some for the freshness that it provides. I love it because I feel I belong here. I maybe was born to travel, discover, to serve the rural communities, to help them in what so ever possible, sometimes just being guests in their home stays. When I go back I dont forget to promote them. People are unaware about the power of tourism, they need to understand how travel change the people's mind. Make them thoughful, its not always about being on a tour for fun its about discovering something. This is what I feel, This is what I am.

Pia on the other hand is more curious traveller, she just wants to see more and more unique places before she dies. She also wants to travel just because she needs fresh air and days off from the crowded lanes of Delhi. And off course romance is always beautiful in a lonely place than in Delhi.

Thoughts kept coming to my mind until we reached a place where the bus stopped for lunch. We got down and ordered two Thalis. The restaurant or shall I call it Dhaba was not much expensive one. We both stuffed as much we can because we dint knew when will the bus stop again. We did buy some chips and water for the rest of the journey. The weather was becoming cloudy and the wind became colder. I asked Pia if she was feeling cold. She said yes I am feeling a bit cold, it might rain. I said casually it happens we are climbing uphill. I dont think to which she was much convinced as I always try and show I know more than her. Must be annoying when someone try and show he is intelligent or knowledgeable more than you in all spheres. Though I havnt seen her complaining about this. I felt I should stop doing this and listen to her more than usual. This is one habit I havnt developed yet. May be this trip will bond us more. The bus was about to start when I clicked a few shots of the amazing beauty of the Garwal Himalayas. Lonely green hills with stream flowing by amazing twists and turns, cloudy weather hills one after the other lined up as if they are natural walls protecting the wild from the destructive mankind.

Places to hide, caves, slopes, curves,bends are few features of the hills. Nomads, trekkers, and other travelers love staying in these places. The locals who stay there since are ones who have spent the most time in these places, they are original habitats of the these places, they belong here. How difficult they feel migrating to the city leaving all the beauty of nature. They have certain qualities which its hard for city people to have. They have an amazing stamina, speed, energy which you cant even match. They have been born in difficult conditions, survived the hardships. People of the hills are also simple as compared to the ones in cities. Cheers to them.

Pia said to me that she was sleepy now and wants to sleep. I told her to keep her head on my shoulders and sleep. She asked by how much time we will reach, I said we will reach by 3 hours time. Told her that I will wake her up when we will reach Purola. And made her sleep caressing her forehead.

But this dint happen, after a while we reached a point where there was a long line of vehicles waiting because of a land slide.

Towards Hidden Valley Part II

Vagabondish, thats the word, we were turning into something. The stage was set for an ultimate adventure. Hills were calling, the serenity, the peace, the untouched nature. Living in the mountains is tough in terms of standard of living but if one can stay there for a while thats the best thing to do. The romance is so passionate and deep, so deep, so intense, that no matter how unromantic you are the poet in you comes out. In mountains everyday is valentines day. Love thy Nature and Nature will love you back. Try not to leave you Foot prints.

We crossed Dehradoon and started going uphill, our time was passing by with the scintillating view of the Garhwal mountains. Pia loves looking out of the window most of the time she is seen doing that only, enjoying the God's creations. I asked Pia if she had heard about the Five mile gap story? She replied I am watching Tv. Yes I forgot to mention she calls the window, laptop or anything in which we can view something as Tv. But thats how she is passionate about travel, places, people, adventures. The Five Mile Gap is a place deep in the remote region of Tibet, the mighty Tsangpo River, which flows onto the Indian subcontinent as the Brahmaputra, churns around a great bend. The river then disappears from sight, lost in an inaccessible canyon flanked by sheer cliffs. This "Five Mile Gap" had never been explored and was believed to boast the highest waterfall in Asia -- the "Hidden Falls of the Brahmaputra." Behind those cascades, Tibetan texts claimed, lay the door to Yangsang, the ultimate hidden land of immortality, reachable only by those with purified hearts and minds. I sometime thought will grab a beer there but thats just me grabbing beer in remote areas is what I loved to do. But I always need a good company to travel with. I havn't felt bad travelling with Pia and I am quite sure that the same feeling she has. Sometimes I wonder how much we both will travel and till how long. Is there any limit to travel ? I don't think we both can get bored of travelling.

Crossing one hill after another the bus was moving at quite a good speed. Though the driver was a little slow in the hair pin bends which allowed me to take few photographs of the queen of hills Mussorie. The View was breathtaking. Small water falls, rocky mountains fresh cool wind. No wonder they say this place as God's own land. Its a love at first site for every traveller. And if its not then there must some manufacturing defect in that person. This place is just awesome. I said to Pia that next time we need to come on a bike and enjoy the roller coaster ride. When you are in your own vehicle u can stop anywhere and just stare at the view for hours. And I bet you blink an eye. Its Incredible India.