Ladakh- An experience of a lifetime
A solo trip. A solo bike trip. In Ladakh. For nine days. At 19 years. It is something I did not fathom until I landed in Ladakh. When my flight tickets were booked (a few months before the plan), I wondered if this was happening. There is no way…Now, here I am, carrying an exhilarating, unforgettable, unreal journey in my mind while trying to bring to paper(in this case, a laptop) at least a fraction of my experience, thoughts, learnings and insights. Here we go :)
The Why And The How?
I always had Ladakh on my bucket list — a dream. I was inspired by my Dad, who made a road trip with his friends, and after looking at the cover page of a book he wrote on his trip, which said “Heaven on Earth”, I was captivated. I fell in love. I wanted to go to this place which looked so beautiful. How can nature be so captivating? I didn’t read the book because I wanted to experience the journey first without spoilers ( this is a lie; reading was too much work). When I was younger, I did go to Ladakh with my family and relatives. Still, most of what I remember from the trip was vague, and what I did remember was needing oxygen, sleeping a lot, not being able to handle the cold, puking, and the mesmerising frozen Pangong Lake, which I still remember walking on. But the dormant feeling and magic of what I once experienced but forgot called me back.
“The mountains called me”
I love travelling. I love an adventure. I love trying something new. After discovering I had many holidays, I wanted to do something extravagant and exciting. I didn’t want to sit at home and waste my time playing video games or watching some show ( I wasn’t going to study, so that was not worth thinking about). So I started brainstorming what to do- it had to be travelling somewhere. The timeline is February 2023. My first semester is over, and I want a break(but no holidays at the moment ). I know a break will be there in July(after the second semester), and I want to travel. I think of a few places. I saw an Instagram ad for a trip to Japan that was happening, and I asked my mother if she could send me to Japan in July. This was a joke, but also, like, take a shot. You might get lucky. The other place was Ladakh, but I would wait to bring this up with my mom. So I waited a bit for a good opportunity.
Before VIT started for me(September 2022), I had an opportunity to do something like sailing in Rameshwaram (at Dad’s suggestion ) when I asked for a place to travel to. At this point, too, Ladakh was in my mind(not sailing). I was learning how to ride a bike, so both interests combined made me understand how bike and Ladakh are a symphony(Ladakh being a haven for motorcyclists). From only going to Ladakh, one of my dreams became riding a bike. So when my family and I went to a resort with my Dad’s college friends and their children, I brought this up with my Dad (a well-timed scenario where everyone’s in a good mood). He didn’t reject it entirely but briefly explained how it’s dangerous and going alone here is too early. Soon after the resort, I went back home, and a new fantastic video game(Elden Ring)that I was excited for released. I ended up playing it during my complete vacation, and the laziness of going out set in, and thoughts of travelling were overshadowed by this love for the game. I regretted it a bit after going to VIT, but I don’t anymore because I got what I wanted in the end.
“Everything happens for a reason.”
It is 16th April 2023, and I’m in Bangalore(free weekend, so I go home). I have to be in Vellore the next day for college. There is a birthday party in Chennai (my uncle’s mothers’) that my Dad was planning to attend, so he said he’d drop me in Vellore after the party, to which I gladly said yes, mainly because it was driving, and I enjoyed driving and my Dad’s company. This drive was a perfect chance for me to ask what I wanted. My mom also reminded me that I confirm with Dad about vacation dates and plan to block them if necessary. She thinks it’s somewhere like Pondicherry (I have yet to tell her my plan). I told my Dad I had a magnificent idea to ride a bike in the mountains, and he liked it. At least most of it. He said no to bike because it’s too risky, but Ladakh is okay; get permission from Amma and do it fast. I was happy because Ladakh was also something I was surprised to get approval for. I was excited because this was unreal. I get planning, and my Dad helps me too; he knows and has connections on most stuff the world has and sends me these wonderful-looking cycling trails or trekking trails. I started looking to decide what to do while slyly hinting at why the bike was better because, looking at some treks he sent me, it seemed like it would be a big challenge and a lot of work. Also, the price was around 3–5 times what a bike trip would cost. Plus, I did want to relax and indulge in biking; for some reason, I fell in love with biking after learning to ride. I used to rent a bike occasionally in Bangalore and go places.
Then, after a few days, he sent me a bike itinerary and said Take Amma and go. I was shocked and happy, now my riding bike is on the table. But there was a slight problem: I wanted to go by myself(mom’s company is excellent too, but that’s different). After a few rational exchanges with my Dad, he said okay, no problem, convince Amma. This is the hardest part. My mom was open to me going to Ladakh and was very excited, too. It took little convincing for that(very surprising), but biking there is a step higher, which I knew would be challenging to convince. After hours and hours of talking and rationalising, she said give me a few days. I gave her one day. Maybe two. She said Yes!!! , I was overjoyed; I was exhilarated. But I knew I had to close this deal because she might change her mind if I took too much time. So, we looked at a few bike groups, and I did extensive research to find the best. I did get a little help from my Dad and Mom. On 22nd April, I went to the balcony in my hostel and shouted excitedly because my flight tickets to Leh Ladakh were booked. This is a feeling I won’t forget because I know what lies ahead for me in the coming months. After a few days, the excitement settled down because I had my exams coming up, and my mom kept reminding me to focus on my studies and not waste time researching or getting distracted ( she knew me well enough to advise this but not well enough to know it’s pointless I could not wait). But I did promise myself and my parents that I would stay focused, and I studied. I studied more than I did my first semester, a deal I made. But what kept reminding me to stay on track was one of my Dad’s famous statements.
“We’ll cross the bridge when we get to it.”
Well, the bridge came, and until the very end, my mom was not convinced. She said you do one bike ride with me, and then we’ll decide. This was fair. We went to Mysore, and the ride was really nice and enjoyable. She was convinced I’d manage, but now she wanted to accompany me to Ladakh. Next time, I said. I felt bad, but I had to experience this by myself. I wanted to do this trip(travel) unaccompanied. I find myself being freer and looking at the world around me better by myself, and for a place like Ladakh, this was much more of a criterion.
I was right. It was Amazing.
Ladakh
I left to visit the mountains. The only thing I could feel was euphoria. I was not scared, but the only thing scary was how excited I was. I was still in a state of disbelief that this was happening. My restlessness from excitement and shock that this was happening disappeared the second I saw the white clouds make for the fascinating mountains that stood before me. The flight titled a bit like it was bowing to the magnificent sight before me. Everything in my head cleared up, and I just smiled. It was stunning. “This is where I’m going to be for nine days”. “This is where I’m going to ride a bike” — the beautiful snowcapped mountains in the background, the dry sandy mountains close by, a little green. Pictures, Descriptions and even Paintings Can’t explain what my eyes saw and heart felt.
The calming nature of the place, the stunning view, and the kind people all around me made me question if a sight such as this was real. Every single second I spent here was memorable. The experience was surreal.
I can’t explain every second; therefore, I will share some of my favourite moments with a small paragraph for each day. While typing about this trip, my hands seem to fly or not move. I’m conflicted about whether I should go detailed or remain mysterious. I have decided to do whatever I feel like. I had experienced so much, yet so little that can be put into words.
Day 1- 11/07/2023
I was understanding myself. Why am I so peaceful? My hotel room was beautiful. I had a nice view. I like trying something new always, so I had this delicious Kashmiri pulao, slept for a bit, and headed out for a walk to Leh market to get a sim card. The weather was new. It had a sharp chill to it, but it wasn’t cold. The market was bustling and had a lot going on; the lady who put a new sim for me was extremely sweet. On the way back, I went to this lovely restaurant and ordered Thukpa, a dish I was eager to taste, as it’s noodles and soup, it’s like ramen, my favourite, but then again, it’s Thukpa. It quickly turned into one of my favourite dishes ever. Walking back after that, I felt terrific. Then, I saw the clouds merge with the sunset; it was the beautiful dark orange rays of the sun mixing with the bright white colour of the clouds over the stunning mountains. I felt like I was in a movie.
With constant happiness that lingered in my heart throughout the day and eagerness to live this adventure, I slept with a smile.
Day 2- 12/07/2023
I had a dream. It was Ladakh. In Ladakh, I had another dream. It was about Ladakh. So I decided to live it. I didn’t want to wait another day to go biking with a group, so I got up early and rented a bike after a wonderful breakfast and this delicious seabuckthorn juice. I headed out on an adventure. I decided to go to Hemis monastery as it wasn’t part of the main itinerary — one of the best decisions ever, empty free roads, the chorus of the engine. Throughout the ride, I laughed because it was literally out of this world. Beautiful scenery throughout. It was quiet. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. Where am I? What is this feeling? Why is it so calming? I reach Hemis, and there is something beautiful about the monasteries. The knowledge, along with the view. The rules they had, along with an eerie but power bell sound. I sat there in silence for a while. Absorbing and coming to terms with where I am.
Going to Hemis was just a long stretch of road with only me. There were no cars, people, houses, or noise; nothing I saw made sense. The clouds were beautiful. Snow was on some of the mountains; others were just dry mountains, and some were green. Fascinatingly, every mountain, even though so close and from the same place, was distinct. They were easy to tell apart, and every time my eyes looked around, I saw something different. It was as though every mountain had a story to tell. I gave them my ears.
On the way back, I wanted more, so I took a random left that looked interesting. I reached Stok palace, too. The view was so intriguing. The roads were shaped in a way where, after a curve, there was something beautiful waiting.
I was back and had Veg Bagleb and Chinese tea at the Tibetan kitchen, which was interesting. I made up my mind to try a new dish every instance I could. I went back to the hotel and took a rest for a bit. Then, I headed to the Leh market to do some small but essential things for college. I found an internet cafe and finished it quickly. I decided to roam some more around the central city as things will get busier from tomorrow, and I’ll have a group of people. I stumbled upon a fancy-looking place called the Lehvanda Cafe, and had hot chocolate and garlic bread. It was twilight, and the market looked pretty. It suddenly looked like a city. It’s a city under the mountains, haha.
I lay on my bed, thinking this day was worth everything. I was grateful to everyone in my life, especially my family. That night, I felt a little more peaceful as a whole. I end up sleeping early.
Then, at night, I got a call from the hotel saying your mom was calling me. What followed was normal mother and son stuff, but only this time did I truly understand how much my being here was also such a risk and how much trust was put in me. Thank You, Amma. I didn’t say it then clearly. But you’re reading it now :)
Day 3– 13/07/2023
It was time to depart from my first hotel, with excellent, kind staff and terrific food. I was supposed to shift to The Horpo, where I’d meet the group I planned the rest of Leh with. I paid and decided to walk to the hotel with my luggage. As I said, why not let’s get some air and do some light trekking ( it was uphill) After a minute of walking, a car stopped beside me. It was one of the receptionists, and he said Hop in; I’ll drop you where you want to go. Why didn’t you ask us for a drop? I said I’m going near Leh market. It’s okay, he’s like, even if I’m going there, it’s no problem. It was incredibly generous of him, and he didn’t ask for anything. In all honesty, that walk would have been extremely tiring. I don’t remember his name, but his face is engraved, and I’m grateful. I’ve only met accommodating, kind and gentle people throughout this trip. It added to my already heightened state of joy.
Today, I met my wonderful roommates and some of the group travelling. We spoke about a lot of stuff for a while. We exchanged Stories. I mostly listened because I was the youngest, and there was much to learn and understand. The best part was that it was so exciting and new; I had questions and asked them. Everyone truly has their own story to tell. How can 8 billion books be read? Well, I’ll just read how much I can. I had two roommates, Tharun and Sibin (usually, I would call them sir, but it doesn’t come naturally because of the circumstances we met. I think of them as my friends now). We went to eat lunch together. I took them to Leh market as I was there for two days and knew the place. But I took them in the wrong direction. All of us had momos, and I had butter tea. This was alright. It won’t hinder my experimentation. “sometimes good, sometimes shit”.
We later went back and met two other people, Somesh and Niharika, and this decided the primary group of people I’d be with for the rest of the trip. Most of the stuff we did was together. It was enjoyable, and what brought us all together was mainly our love for travelling for our reasons. This united us. Today was only a rest day, and I also decided to take it easy. We all slept after a briefing and dinner.
Day 4- 14/07/2023
One for the books. Highlight was everything. But the highlight of the highlights was bungee jumping over the Zanskar River between two humongous mountains. Hall of Fame, Magnetic Hills Shanti Stupa, and Gurudhwar were brilliant. My favourite for today was the ride after Sangam Valley View, Point, where the river and the roads were phenomenal. Today was only local sightseeing, so only 5 of us went along with a very sweet Tour Marshall Timet. He was slightly older than me ( 2 years), which was terrific. We did have a common interest in cars. While doing the main itinerary for today towards Gurudhwar, Somesh and I saw this billboard of Bunjee jumping and, at the same time, while riding, shouted we have to do this. We asked the marshall, and he said okay. The roads were straight and well-kept. We could zoom past traffic, and it was incredibly thrilling. The terrain and the view were phenomenal, completely different to what I saw for Hemis.
A few of us decided to do bungee jumping, and the fall was something I would not forget. At no point was I scared. For some reason, the excitement of doing something like this overshadowed all emotion. Being in Ladakh, too, was something unreal, and this was something else. There was no network connectivity, so there was no point in seeking permission or consulting my parents. I had to decide if I was doing this, and there was no doubt in my mind. It was over instantly, but the fall and the rush I felt was everlasting. It was exhilarating, and with my friends cheering me, it was a moment I cannot forget.
It was time to head back and have lunch, the ride back was alot of fun took a few photos and headed out to have some lunch. This time I had spicy thukpa which looked phenomenal and tasted absolutley delicious. This was a local resturant ( inside info kinda place). On the way back we took this really amazing road with very light brown sand and glaring mountains. It was extremely hot but the route was amazing this was kind of like a shortcut. The thing about this route was it had alot of stones and rocks But i loved it and I was full excited, after a bit suddenly we had to stop because there was a puncture. Event though the temperature was 16 degrees celsius it was extremely hot. We found a nice little spot with shade while Somesh went like 6 rounds to fix the puncture overall, since this was only a local expedition there was no backup mechanic.
We went to Shanti Stupa and saw the sunset. It was beautiful; Leh at night was mesmerising. After that, we split. Some returned to their rooms and others watched the light show at the Hall Of Fame. I wanted to ride as much as possible, so I went to the show. It was night, and it was freezing. But it was lovely.
This is where things turn interesting. On the way back, we stopped at Leh Market. I sit on my bike, waiting for them as they want to buy some stuff. I ended up using my phone to see what was up. I must have forgotten to zip my pockets, or the zip was faulty; my phone had fallen on the way back to the hotel from Leh Market. I panicked slightly as this was a preeminent issue. I reached the hotel and told this to the first person I saw, which was Sibin. He offered to accompany me to find it, and luckily, I found it face down on the ground with the case outside and glass pieces around it. I take it, and it’s completely shattered. There’s no panic now, as at least I have the device. I called my Dad to inform him about the situation. Before this, during the Hall of Fame light show, I got a call from the hotel saying my Dad called me. This was the same scenario I dealt with Mom. But this time, more than anger, it was shock. I never expected my Dad to be this worried, too, so I was on my phone during the light show. I explained how there was no net for a while and why I couldn’t message. I was a little sad at the moment, but I understood how my being here was a risk yet again. Thank You, Appa.
The phone situation was handled calmly. I was instructed to get a new phone but didn’t want to. Somesh offered to help me find someone who would fix it, which was extremely sweet. We searched around, and I found this guy who had no doubt he could fix it in 2 days; he gave me a spare phone and put my old SIM in it for the time being. The problem was I would only be back here after four days. Because from tomorrow was the big guns. I asked him if it was okay. I’ll take it when I’m back. I thought to myself, it’s unfortunate to have lost my phone. But except for the cost of repairing it, I didn’t feel bad. I thought of it as a good thing because it was slightly distracting for various reasons, mainly wanting to take pictures of everything. The mountains warned me during my trip to Hemis, and even then, my phone fell, but I figured it out sooner and could find it quickly, and it was safe. A car had gone over it this time, and there was no way it would work. This was the mountain’s way of telling me to live in the moment. Thank you, mountains, for this incident, which undoubtedly heightened my experiences the following days. I bow down to you.
Day 5–15/07/2023
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Somehow, every day was filled with more emotion than the other. It was compounding every day. Today was to Nubra, passing the mighty Khardung La, a long and arduous ride with roads and views that spoke to me. It was picturesque. The hardest part of this ride was not the ride but I was concentrating on riding; all I could do was turn around and look at what was around me. If I’m not wrong, there were about 17 bikes, all taken by some of the most amazing people I have met, each with radiant smiles and different stories. All out here for an adventure. On the way up to these magnificent hills, I was turning my GoPro a lot, trying to capture at least a glimpse of what I saw, and near the top, it slipped. This was a final warning, and I took it. That was the last time I decided to use it. I suddenly felt freer. No go pro, no phone. Just me and my Soul. (From here on, most of the photos are either what I took from a friend’s phone or their phone). I felt the curves that much more and saw so much more.
The ride to Khardung La was anticipation and a test of patience. We knew that there was something phenomenal that lay ahead for us. I was mainly at the front of the group, so seeing a lot of bikes in my mirror with a background of snow-capped mountains made me feel incredibly cool. Towards the top, there were quite a few roadblocks and some tests of patience as clearances had to be done because of avalanches or many rocks on the road, and the traffic got higher. I loved the road to Khardung La more than Khardung La itself. I thought it was too crowded up there, and I got a slight headache because of the high altitude. I didn’t push myself. I immediately told the marshall(Kesar, a new one from yesterday, much more experienced and strict) I’d be heading down. This was when I was surprised after a few km down; it felt like a different world, just white mountains, a sight 100 times more beautiful than anything I’ve seen. I just found a place to sit, absorbing what was in front of my eyes. Even now, it stays vivid, the white mountains creating a symphony that can be heard and seen. It was a sight I hadn’t dreamt of.
Going down was extremely fun, and I was ecstatic after seeing what I saw. What else awaited me? How much more surprised can I get?
Before going to Nubra, we stopped to do some activities. Some did an ATV ride, and some drank tea. Tharun and I decided to race in go-karting. I was sure I’d win because I was always ahead on the bike (it wasn’t a competition, but that’s my thought process), and I did go-kart occasionally in Bangalore. But once again, I was surprised. It was an enjoyable race where I got close in the straights but lost to curves. I lost, and I was given tips on aerodynamically manoeuvring through the track after the race. This is when I realised I was facing a professional. The loss seemed bearable. But I hate losing, so I challenged, saying one day I shall visit Australia and win, haha.
After this was Diskit Monastery, which had a phenomenal view of Nubra and a vibrant ride to Diskit. There was a lot of dust hindering visibility for a while, and suddenly, a bunch of flowers and leaves and mountains covered them. This short but memorable stretch led to a beautiful, calming place a few kilometres up. Three different terrains were visible from this place: sand dunes in one part, greenery in one, and snow on the horizon. It was beautiful.
The Nubra camps were beautiful and much better than I expected; after dinner was a campfire, which was extremely fun. Music playing.Some dancing. Some talking. Some sleeping. I usually don’t dance, but after some positive encouragement, I did, and it was different.
On the other hand, the marshall and vice marshall were extremely good at dancing; it was lovely. My roommates had already slept, And as the night went on and it got later, I looked up. There it lay in all its beauty, a sky full of stars with a terrifying shadow of mountains. My head did not turn. The sky was beautiful. I was in awe. The stars were extremely comforting, and the mountains struck fear. Such a contrast was poetic. I could not have been more baffled. With a sky like that, I didn’t want to sleep. But the exhaustion got to me.
Day 6–16/07/2023
The ride to Turtuk was incredibly fun; it was long, straight roads where you could zoom past blind curves, which enhanced the thrill. Few of us who loved adrenaline went extremely fast. It was intense. Some mountains had these beautiful red colour rocks which looked stunning. There was very little to no traffic throughout the ride. The weather, too, was amazing; it had a calming chill to it and no sun. The view was mesmerising; these long empty roads gave way for eyes to witness the beauty of low altitude, and the journey to the last village of India was fascinating.
By distance, today was the lengthiest ride. But it got over quickly. On the way to Turtuk, we stopped by the Shyok War Memorial, which was insightful and had lunch at Thang. The food took an extremely long time to come, but it was something I’d never heard about. The food was delicious. I had this Ladakhi pink salt tea, and it was weird.
The ride back was even better because it started drizzling, which complemented the ride. I love the rain. I love the feeling and the smell of rain. Today was the best weather out of all days. After that, we saw the Hunder sand dunes in Nubra and rode the famous double-humped camel. Haha, it was fun mainly because Niharika was extremely scared, and Somesh and I kept out the warning, which was, “We are not responsible for animal’s uncontrolled behaviour.”
But memories of the empty road where I could zoom with no worries through the mountains kept returning to me. The mountains showed me what it is to be free whilst having overwhelming strength. I was excited for tomorrow as the warning was it would be the most strenuous ride of the trip and mainly only offroad. With memories of Turtuk and eagerness for tomorrow, under the starry sky in Nubra camps, I once again fell asleep. Not knowing what actually awaits me tomorrow.
Day 7–17/07/2023
The Odyssey. Ninety per cent of the journey was off-road (140 km), pebbles flying every alternate second, ground rumbling, bike trembling, and smoke covering our vision. It was wonderful. My absolute favourite ride of the trip was today. It was a challenge I endured. Water crossings with strong downstream; one slip and the bike could topple — unending offroad where one big pebble could mean losing balance. One had to pay 100 per cent attention at all times. It was genuinely thrilling. My back was paining. My hands were hurting. I was exhausted. But the mountains kept me going. Every second was so much fun. I could still zoom past these rocks as I had found my grip. I was comfortable. Me and the bike were one. It was joyous. I did lose my balance once or twice, but I did regain it quickly. We left early at around 8 a.m. Nubra to Pangong was everything I wanted. It was something I didn’t know was possible by nature or me, but it lay in front of my eyes. I understood what enjoying the journey meant, what it meant to be riding a bike, and what it takes.
Ten hours of riding through sand, water rocks, stones, mud, curves, and slopes. Waiting near rivers, stopping for a break. I’m having lunch with my body hurting constantly. We came across a slope. This was the exact moment I understood what 10 hours of riding was for. The beautiful Pangong Lake has a dark blue hue and a background of the most majestic mountains I have ever seen. It was the cleanest water I’ve ever laid eyes upon. All the exhaustion, tiredness, and pain faded away at this moment, and there was a moment of bliss. It was indeed a sight to behold. Pangong Lake.
The main Pangong Lake was slightly populated, so a few of us were told to follow a marshall, and we went to this other sight with our bikes; there was no road there. We just drove where we thought the bike could go, and what lay before was complete serenity. Somesh’s birthday was on the 18th, so there was a campfire. During this, we all had a chance to exchange names, stories and reasons for being here. This was the first time on the trip that we could collectively share some of the reasons why we were here. It was wonderful. Being the youngest was a nice feeling. I could look up and learn more from the stories they had to share and get insight into my future. Pangong was freezing at night, but sitting around the campfire with such warm people, the cold didn’t seem too cold. It was peaceful there, just laughter and stories. The camps at night looked frightening, and the lake was magnificent. The stars here were phenomenal, too. A painter would find it hard to do justice to the view before our eyes. A photo could barely capture the essence of what was witnessed. Words would feel meaningless to describe an experience such as this. But I tried.
Day 8 and Day 9–18/07/2023 and 19/07/2023
After a beautiful night and fond memories, it was time to head back to Leh. I was a little sad that this amazing trip was near its end. I thought that returning to an everyday life would be boring after such an adventure. I was wrong; such an experience can only be experienced thoroughly if one initially has something normal. I embraced the normality and decided to lead a life of adventure.
We passed through Chang La Pass, and this was where the most curves were. It was enjoyable. There were around 30 army trucks that we went past, which was scary but exciting; I saluted every chance I got. It was a nice feeling. I had tea on top of Chang La, and from there, we headed to Thiksey Monastery for a picture. Thiksey looked beautiful, but it was closed.
After Thiksey was Rancho school, it was from 3 Idiots, and it brought back memories from one of my favourite Hindi movies. Going back to Leh felt warm; it felt like a familiar place, a place I’d lived in for years.
I go to the Leh market to try and get my phone back. To my surprise, it wasn’t there. My replacement screen was stuck in the airport, and he said he would get it tomorrow. I told him my flight was tomorrow, and he assured me he’d fix it.
So we went back to the hotel. Chat a bit and pack for our departures. My roommates Sibin and Tharun were taking the early morning flight. Somesh and Niharika took the morning flight, and I, part of the Mototour group, and a few other Bangaloreans took the afternoon.
We talk a bit to the roommates and then go to sleep. I wake up to say bye to Tharun And Sibin, sleep a bit more, Then see Somesh and Niharika off. After which, I headed to Leh market to try and get my phone; I was advised to leave 2 hours before flight departure in Leh, as the security process is lengthy. My flight was around 1 p.m., and he told me I would get my phone at 10. I wait there at 10, trying to reach him, and he doesn’t pick up. Here, even at the very last moment, my adventure continues. He calls at 10:30 and says he’s on his way. It’ll take him 30 minutes, so I wait until 11. He isn’t here. I call him, and he’s like, he’s still on his way; at this point, I’m confused. I called Dad, and he said I don’t miss the flight; you go to the airport. The phone can be parcelled. I wanted my phone. So, I pushed it a little more. I called him and told him I was returning to the hotel. You give it to me fixed or not fixed. He said he’d fix it in 20 minutes. So I ran to the hotel and asked them for a cab immediately. They were quick, and I got in the cab and asked the cab to stop at Leh Market. The cab driver was lovely and helped me stop at a nearby place. I ran to the hotel as my flight departed in 20 minutes. To my surprise, the phone isn’t fixed. He hands me my phone with no screen at all. I had no time to argue, so I got my device and told him I wanted to buy his spare phone immediately. I bargain quickly and get the phone; on the way to the airport, I download the Indigo app and ask my Dad to send me my tickets to gmail. With few minutes to spare and helpful security who told me where to go, knowing that I was late, and people who let me cut the line, I could reach the boarding gate. I catch my breath. And this is where my adventure of a lifetime ends.
Final Thoughts
This article was supposed to be about my trip’s insights and defining moments. When it comes to defining moments, I tried to keep them as brief as possible, but every moment was defining; every moment refined me a bit more. So, I spoke about some of the significant events. It ended up being much longer than I thought, but somehow, there is more, but this more is something that can’t be put into words. A journey filled with emotion, events and ecstasy will forever be a core memory. If there is any situation where I feel down, just thinking about this would lift my spirits, as it’s proof of a dream, and it’s proof of dreams that can happen in the future.
When it comes to insights, there are very few that I can explain, and most are something I should act upon. I learned a little more about the world, others, and myself. I know there is so much the world has to teach and show about itself and myself. For which I’m excited to learn. I will continue travelling and creating memories like this, especially where the mountains reside; it’s my calling. I want to climb mountains, as what better place to see the world than from the top?
After this journey, I have much more to offer everyone and even more to learn from. I have dreams more transparent than yesterday and ambitions closer than what seemed so far.
It was fascinating to hear stories from Tharun(who lived in Australia), who had a lot of experiences in a lot of stuff. I did ask him a lot of questions, too, which were insightful. Late-night conversations were entertaining and sometimes philosophical, too. Along with Sibin(Kerala), we also spoke about movies and had similar tastes. For most of the ride, Sibin let me take some photos from his phone and shared his tales of riding in Kerala and various other places, which were extremely interesting. I asked if I could accompany him some time, and he said sure. I look forward to it.
Somesh was very charismatic and joyful. We had a lot of laughs together. He and I were mainly towards the front of the rider’s group so we could do some basic stunts together. He was a fantastic company with many thrilling adventures to share. Niharika was Somesh’s friend and a lovely person, except that she was very different from Somesh in many ways. That contrast was hilarious. She took many photos of us while we were riding, and was a joy. This was my major group of friends that I made, and I have a lot of fond memories with them. Thank you for being part of my first major journey and helping create such a strong memory.
Thank you, Mototour, for organising such a smooth trip. Thank you, my friends and relatives, for encouraging me. Thank you to everyone I met on this journey for making me learn something new. It has made me a better person and shaped who I will be.
I saved the most important for last- Family.
Patti, thank you for not being too scared but instead being excited for me on this trip. Every night, you’ve told me good night or sent a good night message, even in Ladakh. Thank You, Goloxy, the best. Without this, the day seems incomplete, and I cannot sleep. You are the best in the universe.
Appa and Amma, thank you for the trust and the opportunity you have given to me to create such a memory and keep in mind such a memorable journey. You have done so much for me. I have learned much from you guys and have much more to learn. I hope to make you the proudest parents, for that’s the least I could do for the best parents ever. Thank you for everything.
Nan, you idiot, you’re a wonderful sister. She hyped my trip up entirely and was excited for me throughout. No need for any cheesy lines. It goes without saying, Thank you.
I love all of you.
Amidst the mountains, clarity embraced me. Until the next adventure beckons.
Aditya Zunder.
