Date with the stars

Existential and quarter-life crisis is not something uncommon amongst the millennials., it’s just that most of us fail to understand what’s going through our head. I find myself lucky enough to call my passion as my profession and still I am no different from all of us, though with time I found that the antidote to my restlessness revolves around music and travelling.

February 2017 was one such time when I felt things were not right in my head. I went through a heartbreak and I was finding it difficult to re collect myself. Right after the month end event at office I left for a solo trip to Triund, uncertain about the adventures that awaited ahead but sure that they were calling. After an overnight bus journey, I reached McLeodganj around 5 am in the morning. Change in temperature and air was evident. Almost everyone from the bus rushed to their booked hotels. Since I did not book any, I was in no hurry. I found a nice elevated rock near bus stop and I took my seat on it and waited for the Sunrise. One rule of thumb that I follow is never miss the sunrise and sunset while travelling. After soaking in the view of rising sun, I started my stroll to explore the natural beauty around. After 5 hours I had almost covered all of McLeodganj and made friends with few locals and couple of dogs.

Then I moved to Dharamkot which is actually just 1km from McLeodganj but the steep makes it feel more than that. I reached the Adventure Nation base camp in dharamkot around 11AM and started for the trek to Triund. After an hour or so when I was done with my share of silence I started talking. There was a college couple, a group of three friends and a solo travelling girl whom I made my acquaintances with. After finishing the trek in about 5 hours, we moved further towards the Dhauladhaar range and crossed the snow line. For the first time in my life I saw blocks of ice larger than a two storied building, flowing like water.

We returned to Triund hill and courtesy of a musician group I got a guitar and it made my night easier in the freezing minus 6-degree temperature, we spent the whole night singing, smiling and shivering. After 2 in the morning it was unbearable to stay outside the tent because of the snow fall and wind, but I stayed out to witness the galaxy line which is said to be visible from Triund around 3 am, to my disappointment it was not visible because of new moon and some planetary rearrangement but what followed next is going to stay with me forever. The sky was full of stars and then I saw a shower of shooting stars, visible from horizon to horizon, I laid down on a freezing layer of grass and snow, and kept watching awestruck. I welcomed the Sun early morning with my eyes and mind wide open.

I started the descend with my newly made friends and explored the Buddhism way of life for the rest of the day down in McLeodganj. I still had an evening to spend as I was boarding the last bus at night. Everyone left by the evening, and me and my friend from Nepal were the only two solo travellers left. We had almost half day remaining and we started our exploration down the narrow lanes of McLeodganj. We had random snacks and kept moving before settling down at a sunset point, where 2 people were already sitting and creating music. Soon at the Sunset point we were 7 people from 7 different countries. Spain, Iran, Germany, Russia,Italy, Nepal(my friend from the trek) and India (Yours truly). I learnt to play the Ukulele and hanging drums from them, and bid adieu to the setting sun while making music with them.

Next day, Monday, I reached Delhi at 5 in the morning, I walked for almost an hour from Kashmere Gate ISBT to Rajiv Chowk, I kept walking because my mind was not ready to come back to the crowd and chaos. I finally boarded a metro from Rajiv Chowk and reached my home at 8 in the morning, took a hot shower and reached office at 9 am. I had not slept for 3 nights straight but it was the awakening I needed.

As its beautifully said, Travel far enough un till you find yourself and do things that scare you.

So I leave you all with a question I always ask myself,

When was the last time, you did something for the first time?