between tungnath and chandrashila

image via: Google Earth, photo by: Swati J Sharma

the views on google earth are pretty awesome when seen on the laptop,

but they are like at least 1250 times less exciting as the real deal.

there is no hail while you climb,

there is no relief felt from the hot tea sipped inside a hut,

you don't need to wear 'make do' raincoats, or feel the chill,

you don't get to the highest shiva temple in the world,

and it doesn't start to snow, the first of the season...

you don't start climbing further to chandrashila peak,

hoping to get a glimpse of mountains clad in snow,

there is no vista that's more than large enough,

there is no air purer than that you breath,

and the mind, cant be moving and at peace, both together...

there is no new path discovered to go downhill,

one where you will trek alone, a promise of new,

you don't trudge up and up and up,

you don't estimate the downhill trek time required,

before the sun sets...

you don't walk the face of the mountain,

and turn a ridge to see new paths afar,

you don't wait, hoping for the clouds to dissipate,

so that their motion reveals new peaks afar,

and just when you are about to trek back to base,
slowly the mountains clad in snow are revealed...

you don't feel excited that you got this far,

in spite of the doubts that crept up in between, 

your breathing doesn't stop still and so doesn't time,

there is no grandeur that is not explicable,

you don't feel as one with the earth...

the views on google earth are pretty awesome when seen on the laptop,
but, lets rephrase, they are like at least 12050 times less exciting as the real deal.

if i ever get back to this place, plan to see the peaks at sunrise...
nature will always amaze...

photo by: Swati J Sharma

hope to blog about the down hill trek,

it was, if possible, even more freakin awesome.