Transformational twists & turns in Ladakh – thanks to Journeys with Meaning

“What have you discovered about life in the last month, Nats?”, gushed Bogi, as she saw me on Wassap after I broke my digital fasting! In today’s age and times, the soul needs digital fasting just as our body needs physical fasting – except we do not have a cultural ritual of that, yet. So, I decided to experiment with one, while I traveled back to visit Home and visit Ladakh, land for the soul seekers as I call it in the ‘land of high passes’.  (Words create worlds: After calling it the land for the soul seekers, I wondered if souls stay only in high altitudes as I seem to be more conscious of it there. Or, perhaps one gets clarity of life and death and meaning in those heights with lesser oxygen to interfere with the mind!)

Ever so grateful for my experiences to Journeys with Meaning; Vinod, Homi, Rajat who organised it and the other eight rainbow warriors I met along the way through incredible discoveries that I intend to nurture, even after returning to the island. As Elita, my new found friend and soul sister asks, ‘What is that special something you bring back?’ When I reflected on that, I blushed on the abundance and am keen to share it.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Answering the primary arc question, ‘to go or not to go?’

when it hits the ever present high altitude obstacles in the minds

of family, of friends, of self – doubts. The trek begins

Choice powering the first step. The journey began in Sri Nagar.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Intention to throw the One Ring that rules

precious but limiting beliefs, stuck beings seeking relief.

If only Peter Jackson & team knew of the beauty of these mountains,

might parts of LOTR been shot here, is one of my first thoughts!

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Sipping Kahwah on Dal Lake in a houseboat

immersed in introductory conversations with strangers

that soon taketh depth, form, and shape, birthing of our relationships (Jumana, you inspired this)

‘Why is one experience more valid than another?’, ‘What is your concept of time and space?’ as amazing Avi asks,

Or as others ask of Kashmir, people, perspectives, places – we could have written a book of questions then and there!

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Waking up at 4:00 in the morning for a Shikara ride

to experience the local floating market and eating lotus seeds (my marihuana!)

amidst the rhythm of the waves, chirp of the birds and chatter

akin to sound meditation in the breaking dawn bright.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Seeing the roads find the real, hidden, you

snaking across increasingly balding & barren mountains that whisper hoarse

‘Ground yourself girl, as we do’

‘Yes, even in the face of elements working against you, for they shall pass.’

What matters is what remains?

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Shivering in vain with friends in Drass,

admiring the history and presence of Kargil, Tiger Hill and high mountains pass

tasting our first Gur Gur chai (served with buttercream)

that pulls on my facial muscles! (because it reminds me of spinach!!!)

 

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Wondering on ‘what is your purpose in life?’

Marvelling at that what flows goes through even if tough terrains nag,

Meditating on what is to come, as predicted by the Future Buddha

Or, is he Shiva? Be what may, may your purpose touch the four corners of the world, blessed the prayer flags.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

To see God’s own construction site. What is the plan?

Contrast the ‘normal’ green mountains with brown buildings in the valleys

to rocky, rich in minerals ranges nurturing  budding greens and communities in its centre.

Lesson learnt: You can make routes even through the toughest trials and terrains.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Mountains, Monasteries, Mysteries

punctuated by friends deep conversations, jokes, dances and songs

(Rajat, Neha, Sandeep – you laid the foundation well)

Lamayuru, Hemis & stupas are safe to visit – please don’t be adventurous from the start

As we acclimatise to the low oxygen, getting along.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Working on life’s real fears

Primary for me, to be anywhere near a dog

Thanks Abhay for the trust and the healing, and I experienced the feeling

Nervous smile and shivers to decreasing distance and increasing confidence and compassion to even pat one.

 What maketh a journey meaningful?

Staying in home stay, understanding local people, problems and choices,

meeting organisations as Snow Leopard Foundation, SECMOL and amazing women

crossing streams, choosing flexibility,

becoming friends with nature, both without and within.

‘What would be an animal spirit that you identify with?’

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Have seen beach volley-ball, never valley volley-ball,

experiencing a day in the life of a SECMOL student

braiding culture, cuisine and conversations

that lasts way long past under the starry night.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Finally, the trek begins

‘Walk the land to really experience it’, says Vinod

Experience the high altitude desert

A far cry from the vehicular ride (Sailaja, your determination you owned)

Message: What does slowing your life bring you?

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Trucking my way to the destination for first time in my life,

 Tent-ing up under the sky, over music, dance and chai,

Gokul, Sriram, you rocked!

Tunnelling to the essence of global warming, carbon footprint, sustainability and globalisation,

Why do our Ladakhi friends serve exquisite fruits when we are happy with the local produce?

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Real conversations and grandfather’s tales by Nyamgalji from Hemis Shukpachan,

The rich, middle and poor man respectively have 8, 6 and 3 years of grains in storage

Every farmer would have agricultural land both in the high and low lands

Where neighbours would attend to it so incase of failure, one does not succumb to hunger’s rage.

Small windows to keep the snow leopard out

Host guests with a kitchen abundant and sprout

The true riches are relations, connections and humanity

Learn from the 2500 years old Mother Juniper tree.

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Humbled by Chumathang Hot Spring,

healing the very soul,

Is this the place to release the One Ring?

Perhaps for I began to feel whole.

 What maketh a journey meaningful?

Silence, Solitude, Simplicity & Sacredness

of Being amidst elements of the world

Tsomoriri Lake, where the angels reside

Blessing your thoughts, actions and words.

‘What would be the one element of nature that you resonate with?’

What maketh a journey meaningful?

Watching friends bike down Khardung La, world’s highest motorable road

Namgyal, you gave ‘senorita’ new meaning for me.

Flowing with the terrain, the curves, the turns,

as life invites us to be bold

Rafting, running, reaching for our highest selves

Playing with snow balls, thoughts in my head, breath in my hair

Beginning to say bye to this paradise as the sun sets gold.

Back to city life, the journey goes on

what remains are memories, relationships, a transformed self

To be nurtured and to nurture

meaning in the journey of life, in inner and outer worlds, in moments present and gone.

Jamming in my head or is the heart –

“I am an old soul

Coming to this world whole

Wondering what next is on my way?”

…

The song then says

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