Gaumukh Tapovan Trek!

Beginning of this year, a holy man looked at my birth chart and told me, 'You have life threat from Mountains'. I smiled, and said, 'You shouldn't have said that in front of my mom' ;-)

In my head, I thought, we all have to die one day and for me what can be better than mountains.

Today, sitting here, in the second last month of this year, I would like to admit it's not as rosy as it sounds, the whole ‘Dying in Mountains’ idea.  I have seen it very close, twice, this year.  It’s not that I am terrified or something, but I am not very excited about it, anymore.

To summarise my trekking trips this year, I have done quite a few treks in Bali for waterfalls, volcano, and rice fields.  Coming to the mountains, specifically, I have done 3 treks.

Nag Tibba in January, Everest Base Camp in April and Gaumukh Tapovan in the month of October.

I have mentioned briefly about the first 2 in my earlier post and had no intention of writing about Gaumukh Tapovan.

Last week, I was generally talking to my mom and out of the blue, she asked me, ‘Have you blogged about your recent trek?’

 It was surprising for me because she never ever asked about my blog.

I was a bit reluctant, I said, 'No, I didn't write about any of the mountain treks this year. They were not my best.' On which she replied, 'You should, good or bad, it's your journey and experience and it's your blog. It's all about learning'.

I told her about my blog, I think some 7-8 years ago. She is not very tech savvy but to my surprise, she remembered it. Though now she is a pro in online shopping on Myntra, Amazon, Big basket and other apps, this was unexpected.

So, I would like to give all the credit of this post to her. And I am going to skip the bad experience part for the post.

Coming back to my recent trek, Gaumukh Tapovan, it was an unplanned trip which I thought of sitting on Mount Batur in Bali and booked 4 days before the departure.

I didn’t intentionally plan Gaumukh Tapovan, it happened.

I don’t know where to begin.

It was an 8 day long trip with 4 days of trekking itinerary. 2 days for to and fro from Dehradun to Gangotri and vice-versa, 1 additional day at Gangotri and 1 at Bhojwasa Campsite.

Though, I changed my plan a bit and decided to descend alone a day before the trek officially ended.

The trip started from my favorite Dehradun, so much I am in love this place now and it’s like my second home.

As always, I reached Dehradun a day in advance.  This time I met an old friend who shifted to Dehradun sometime back. We went out for dinner and a movie before my trip started.

Day 1- Dehradun to Gangotri drive

After a long day on the road, we reached Gangotri at 7 pm. Had our dinner and slept.

Day 2- Relaxing day at Gangotri

This was an extra day at Gangotri. We roamed around, visited temples and attended Ganga Aarti at Gangotri temple in the evening. Blissful experience it was. The place was damn cold which gave me a fair idea of cold in upcoming days.

Day 3- Gangotri to Chirbassa- 9kms

It was an easy walk. We started around 9 am and reached our 1^st campsite by 3.30pm. The views were mesmerizing and the campsite was good and clean. I discovered a beautiful white sand Ganga beach in the evening and spent an amazing time there.

Day 4- Chirbassa to Bhojwasa- 5kms

A short and not so sweet walk. This day I felt blisters on my feet and the pain was terrible.

In the evening, I covered them with surgical tape but it was of no good. It was in really bad shape.

Plus in the afternoon, I saw some people from other camps were playing cricket so I couldn’t stop myself and joined them and we played till it was dark, for almost 4 hours. At that moment, I absolutely forgot about my blisters though it was paining, but, I was alright.

Day 5- Bhojwasa to Gaumukh to Bhojwasa- 10 kms

It was a long day and a bit tiring as well. For me, it was additionally painful because of my growing blisters. This day we had to cross three ice-cold rivers and my blisters made it worse for me. I am in pain even when I am writing about it, right now.

For the first time, I felt I am losing conscious while crossing the river.

In the ice-cold water, the blisters were hurting like someone was cutting my toes inside the water with a sharp knife, and the tape was all wet and washed off. After crossing the second river, tears started flowing and after crossing the 3^rd one I refused to walk. I just sat down on a big rock and cried for I don’t know how long.

I honestly felt I am going to die and will never be able to walk again in my life.

I couldn’t move because of blister-pain, my legs which were wet in icy water till upper thighs got froze and I was unable to feel any sensation in them for almost an hour. I failed to stand up, multiple times. Gosh! It was damn crazy.

Day 6- Bhojwasa to Gangotri

This day was supposed to be our Bhojwasa to Tapovan trek, but, I decided to descend back for 2 reasons- my blisters and the cold. I was dying to be in warm weather.

I descended alone and lost my way in between, but luckily, I found my way back and reached Gangotri around 5pm.

I was feeling blessed, I found a room and booked it. And for the next day, I decided to go back to Dehradun.

Day 7- Gangotri to Dehradun

I checked for the available mode of transport and boarded a local bus to Uttarkashi and from there I took a shared cab till Dehradun. Pheww!

By 7pm, I was in Dehradun, and I was very happy. It was perfectly warm weather.

Once again, I met my friend in Dehradun and since I had one extra day we celebrated my birthday in advance with another movie and lunch and dinner at an exotic place. And also, I stayed at her place for the extra day for which I never booked anything.

Though I love all weathers, this trip made me realize I can’t bear the excess cold.

For my last day, that was 20^th October, I had booked a nice place for myself and there I got a surprise upgrade so I had an amazing birthday celebration. :)

Overall, I loved my experience. There were certain bad elements I am not willing to talk about.

No, no, the blisters were not the bad part. They were for learning. :)

And yes, no more mountain trips this year. At least, for right now, I think so.  ;-)

Dear God, I love you. Take care of my people. Muuah. :)

Pictures from the trek-

Books & Me!

Reading a good book is like living in awe of it till the time it's over, 
and then, thinking about it for few days with a heavy heart.

My only resolution of 2017 was reading 25 pages every night before going to sleep and as usual I successfully failed at it. 

I have a decent history of failing at keeping my resolutions and somehow, I have accepted it. But anyhow I still try! Stubborn me.

Recent Sunday, I decided to revive my resolution and read at least few books in this year, though, I have finished 3 in 9 months, on Sunday, I bought 5 books and decided to give it a serious try to finish them by this Christmas.

The first one I started was 'Veronica decides to die' by Paulo Coelho which I finished in 2 days, I intentionally started with the thinnest one to regain my faith that I can do it.

And it gave me an assurance that I can think of finishing 4 more in the decided timeline.

I somehow believe deactivating my social accounts is proving to be fruitful. (No, I can't do things in moderation, if want to reduce something, I need an absolute cut-off). 

Lately, I have started carrying my book with me, to meetings, to office and try to read whenever I get a chance, whether I am waiting for a meeting or in my minuscule free time when no one is around, which I find crazily exciting. Much better than scrolling Facebook or Instagram in my free time. And strange thing is I wait to open it and read few pages every time I get a chance. It rules my head all the time and I think about it when I am not reading it.

"Veronica decides to die" was a good read, I didn't expect anything from it though, but still, it was better than what I thought. With every story I read, about every character, I was reassured I am Mad :P 

Though, the addiction thing always happens whenever I start reading a book, but, this time it was more intense. I used to look forward to get a chance to grab it and read. This usually never happens. This time it replaced my morning-evening's YouTube hour, occupied my coffee time, I reduced time I dedicated to other important things. And I loved it. :)

I am feeling good, and now, I am going to start another one. Yayy :)

Dear God, I love you, please take care of my people. No! I don't want anything. Muuaah

Slow Life.

I want a slow Life in a small town!

So much changes with time, at one point of time, all I wanted was a successful career, money, luxury, comfort, of course, along with my people. Ten years back, my dreams were different from what they are today. My dream house used to be  a lavish one in a metro city with every comfort inside and even the comforts were different from what they are now. And, I have always believed I will earn it. 

And today, the only thing similar from my previous dream is my people, everything else changed. I no more want a huge amount of money or a super career or a luxurious lifestyle or a very big house in a crowded city. All I need is a peace of mind, a slow life in a small city, peaceful evenings with my loved ones and good food on the table. 

I am back to square one, where, I again want a small house on the green hills with a small river flowing around, with everything I need to survive, clean air, clean water, clean food and a fireplace to keep me warm in winters. Less noise, more smiles and no mobiles.

I crave for stress free weekends at home, sipping my coffee in peace, reading a book, cooking in my free time for my people. Sleeping till late, playing a sport, listening to old music, doing something creative with calmness around. Travelling often.

A place away from maddening crowd. 

I don't want a social life where I have 500 friends on Facebook, 300 followers on Instagram and hollowness inside. Wishing festivals to hundreds of people on WhatsApp and not feeling anything! 

I want to be with few people I truly care about.

Aah I was watching 'DDLJ' the other day, what a life it was without mobile phones, when everything was real. Emotions were real, people used to make effort to meet, talk and see each other. So complicated yet so sorted!

Irony is, by default I belong to that Era, I have seen that life and I can compare it. And I know I can't go back there, even when I know it was so much better.

Mobile phones with internet are a curse, I feel I am never free. I am always followed, entangled in chains everywhere. On every damn social media if you are online, you are visible to everybody and you are bound to reply. I hate being rude and ignorant and I don't want to be there. 

Sometimes, I really wish to run away from it. 

Dear God, I won't ask for anything from you! Just take care of my people. And I Love You.

Oh no! I missed my Flight!

This nightmare is haunting me since the day I missed my flight for Chennai in Dec 2014, and to add on to it... I reached just 2 mins before the boarding gate closure for my Kolkata flight in March 2017. So, I know my brain is not at fault. It’s me. :(

It’s 5am… a beautiful Saturday morning and here I am… up with my eyes wide open, sipping coffee and waiting to leave for airport for a flight which is at 10am.

And… I need no alarm. My brain is strong enough. :P

So, last night I decided to sleep early… thinking I have to travel tomorrow so I’ll get up late by 8 or so and quickly rush to the airport. But no, my brain had some other plans... I couldn’t sleep before 12. :P

Then a beautiful dream started where I saw, I was playing cricket and missed my flight. I was up again at 1 am. :P

Ah! it was just 1, I slept again just to see another similar dream and was up at 4 am.

My my! My brain is so good and hyper active all the time during weekends. I am loving it. :P

On weekdays, I set 6 alarms to get up early... just to miserably fail at first 5 and push myself out of bed on 6^th and on weekends it’s absolutely a different story altogether. I crave to sleep till late but up at 5 or 6 am without any alarm and that too after sleeping late, sometimes very late.

I wanted to be in deep sleep at this hour where I am sitting on my bed and typing this as I sip my coffee... Anyway, that’s how may be my Saturday was supposed to begin.

Let’s see what’s in store for me today... By the way, I am too excited to travel to this new city.. yayy :D

Ahh and my eyes are hurting :P

Dear God, I LOVE YOU… Please take care of my people and please think over granting my wish we discussed this Thursday and wait… yesterday as well… Muuaah :*

10 things I learned in my 1 year @Mirchi

Today, on 11^th September I completed my first one year in this office. This is not the first office where I completed my 1 year but this one year was great in terms of learning. I learnt things which no book or work experience can teach ever.

I learnt practical things about life and people and I am glad I stayed here after all the storms and troubles.

So, beginning with my list of lessons-

1.      There can be a life with a background music

O yes, I clearly remember the day when I walked into this office for the first time, there was a music in background all the time. For a girl like me who loves music, office couldn’t be better. The only thing I prayed was to be a part of this organisation and as you can see, I am completing my 1 year here. :D

So , when something bad happens to me here I think about the music and cheer myself up instantly.

Learning- Music truly lightens up mood and makes life beautiful.

2.      Life is Filmy

I am a Disney princess and my life is always filmy, and here I feel I am living a movie in real... where i have paintings of bollywood actors all around me, music in background. Freedom to think and do what I like. Just WOW!

Learning- At times, Dream jobs are for real! :)

3.      You need to be your own HERO

Yes Sweetheart, you need to fight for yourself and stand up for what is right, even if it means standing all alone. But, trust me its all worth fighting for, it’ll only make you a stronger and a better person. So, when bad time hits badly, just hold on and fight. NEVER GIVE UP. In future it’ll help wherever you’ll go.

Learning- God keep on testing all of us, just have faith and carry on.

4.      Don’t believe what others think of you

 I know myself the best. Period.

Those who don’t even know me are no one to judge me or tell me who I am. I am introvert, silent, aggressive, mean blah blah blah. To hell with the opinions. I spent 27 years with me, so, I know the best. And in 27 years I met more than 27000 people to judge me. I don’t care anymore. Peace.

Learning- Believe in YOURSELF. That’s what matters in long run.

5.      Eating alone

Yes, I was always reluctant to eat alone in public, not because I lack courage, it’s because I love eating with people. In my all previous workplaces we used to eat food together always. But, here I learnt to eat my food alone. Though, I really hated it. I even stop carrying lunch to office for sometime, but, then I gradually adapted. If that’s how it is... LET IT BE, why should I suffer?

Learning- If it’s necessary for you do it, even if it means doing it alone.

6.      No, you cannot find friends everywhere

This reminds me of Ranbir Kapoor’s answer for an interview question (In office context though), he said “ there are times when I pick my fone and scroll down contacts list but out of more than 1000, I can’t find one to call and share my heart out”. Believe me, initially used to think with time I’ll make friends, I was sure as I think I am a good friend. But, it doesnt matter how nice you are, you can't always find friends. So, instead I have learnt to work without them. Though even if I believe it’s great to have friends, I can do without having any in office.

Learning- I am now very comfortable being alone in office. People you need to impress can never be your friends.

7.      Everything happens for a reason

Yeah, though I need answers for many things happened. I need to know the reason behind :P

Just kidding, everything happens for a reason for sure and I always got my reverts from God. I believe in supreme power and I am sure anyone can be unfair to me but God can never be. I am his favourite Kid and I have blind faith. This one is for you, God- Muuuaaah ;-)

Learning- Trust the power above when you are restless.

8.      You cannot change everything

Though I know it’s obvious, I am no God. But, at times I really want to change certain things and it’s the only point where sometimes I feel really upset. But, as they say life is not always a bed of roses. Disney princess will have to fight a few villains anyways :P

Learning- Problems really makes us feel alive.

9.      People will judge you anyway

Yo, it’s very true. No matter what you say or do, good or bad, right or wrong, people will judge you. So, really do whatever you like, in a way you are comfortable with. At least please yourself because it’s really worth it.

Initially I used to attend all office parties thinking that they are my office people I should know them and I never enjoyed it for 1 good reason I never had friends here. And if they are not my friends it doesn’t matter what they think. So, if you want to skip a few parties you don’t enjoy go ahead and do it, anyways it doesn’t matter as long as you are happy doing it.

Learning- Do things for your people and please yourself, not everybody.

10.  There are happy workplaces in REAL!

Yes Yes there are and mine is one. So, it doesn’t really matter if I have friends or not, or I eat alone, I like working here. I am happy when I enter my office with background music, happy faces, colourful walls, creative and independent work culture. I am in love with it!

Whether I talk to people or not I find myself attached to them automatically I dunno how, its the culture bond we share. So many happy people around and it all seems like blessing to me.

Learning- Second time I am in love with my workplace. First was my first Job!

Dear God, I would like to thank you for everything. Be there with me always. And bless my people. I love you :)) muaah

I miss being a Kid!

Though I genuinely believe I am still a kid! :P

Sometimes, I feel... how much we change with time... We grow and learn and turn into somebody so different...

Although, It all happens for some or the other reason... but, at times I miss the kid version of me... The naughtiest & adventurous kid ever :P

I seriously miss how little things used to make me feel on the top of this world....

A packet of Cadbury gems by dad used to make my day, an Amul chocolate used to be a jackpot, a pack of fun flips was a packet of joy.... How excited I used to be for a trip to India gate with family... And then spending the rest of our evening playing with balloons & bubbles.... Wow! :D

Life was so simplified, easy... So stress free & peaceful... Only stress used to be the Home work...

Only I know how badly I miss my Summer Vacations... Chutti Chutti on DD2, playing cricket all day long in sun without worrying about the tanning... followed by cycling in evening with brothers for till the time mom used to call us back... Nostalgia!

I feel I had the best of childhood, I have learnt my sportsman spirit by playing cricket & badminton; I have learnt to be a scientist by experimenting with so many things like fixing lights, opening up the music system with screwdriver and closing it back, by cooking food in self made solar cooker and ‘n’ number of things; learnt cooking by helping my mom in kitchen; tasted adventure by running on the roof fences of buildings while playing hide n seek & climbing on trees to steal mangoes :P; learnt farming by working in my kitchen garden... whoa... I truly enjoyed every bit of my life as a kid....

Even after growing up I always loved my life & believe I am God’s favourite girl... Yes, we do argue but that’s because we love each other :))

There are and there were ups & downs in my life but that’s just a part of living an eventful & most happening life... There is no fun in living a dull life... And yes, I am a Disney princess so my life is supposed to be filmy & dramatic... And the traits I possess are very well suited... :D

Life is great in terms of everything, but, really sometimes I want to go back to the time where there were no mobile phones to keep us busy, there was a life which was social in real sense & happiness which had a REAL meaning attached to it... Far beyond materialistic love & fake happiness... I wish!

Love you God, Take care of my people, Good night... muaaah :))

Life! Of course, it’s Beautiful!

Note- This is not my usual cheer up post... So read at your own risk! :-P

From past many days, I was thinking over everything happened in my life in last few years... Though I have things in my memory in bits and pieces... And I don't remember anything precisely but I do remember the time when I started writing Pearl...

I started blog with things which used to make me feel happy or positive... In fact, I truly believe that it was a point in time where everything going on in my life was just superb... Those were my MBA days... I had super awesome friends... Good fitness, cool grades and the best of life... :-)

Life moved on and things kept on changing... I was always so happy about everything around me... Be it my first job or my friends or my body... My attitude towards life... Everything was always a fairy tale... And I was the Princess...

I messed up in my jobs by choosing wrong ones but still my life was great as I had my friends & family to support me in my decisions... And my decisions were mainly ruled by heart... Many times I had done things without practically evaluating the pros & cons of it... And never regretted.... That’s the power of your people and their faith on you.

Moving on in life... I faced some real bad situations and met some disgusting people. Of course, in every fairy tale there is a villain to spoil everything... Things changed drastically and horribly...  I lived a nightmare in real... All the fairy-tale theory came to an end... It took me everything to gather myself back... I so wished to disappear from this earth but as God had others plans and I stayed here... :P But, it all changed something in me...

And as they say “What doesn't kill you, makes you Stronger” :P

I don't wanna recall that depression I went through for more than an year... but, all I know today is I am not the girl who started writing this blog... Those incidents altered me completely.

After all the turmoil... I landed up in a bank as a salesperson... It truly helped me in realising that “working in a bank is not the worst thing that can happen to you..., it can be good too”

I had this phobia in mind since college days that banks are real bad, but trust me... I had good time there and I met some great people.... which helped me in overcoming the depression I was facing... I moved on... I never liked my bank job... but, even today I love the people I met... And it's always about people, unless you are travelling! :P

Finally, the present... I love the organisation I work for but I terribly miss my friends...

I realised why people in college used to say life is not a bed of roses, grow up and be practical! And how I used to tell them it’s always beautiful no matter what... Now, I know they were not wrong :))

They say "har jagah sab kuch nahi milta" which I never agreed in life... I always believed it’s in our mind... It’s all here if we are content... But, first time I realised... No matter what you have and what you do... If you don't have your people with you... It’s all waste...

I never felt this way in my life... Except... once in school when I was shifted to a new section with new kids and I was lost for many days... This is a similar feeling... I somehow feel everything is missing... I have learnt a lot though... It’s a churning experience for me and it was important... 

Today, I am less bothered about people... but, I have realised the value of my people more than ever and I miss them.

As of now... I m in search of the girl I used to be...  I know it’s in me... Somewhere scared... She used to inspire people to follow their heart and live life king size... Today, I am looking for that zeal again...

I need a miracle... I know they happen... God send me your angel... your best angel... I know I am your favorite... :-) Love you.. Please bless my people... Muaah :-*