Camp :

We were soon registered by a women (who by the way looked strikingly similar to Indira Gandhi) and were given a tent. One for just 6 of us and Eesha was allotted a women’s tent. With nothing to do as it was only the reporting day, we simply roamed here and there in camp. We were told all the rules which we were bound to break in future. We were told that we cant go anywhere around the girl’s tent which was hard as you cant really expect a group of iitians to control themselves when exposed to these kind of luxuries (read girls). We were not allowed to leave the camp without notifying anybody. Also we were always accompanied by one of their over friendly dogs whenever we did (yo Sunny!!) We were required to be over cautious of the major population of Israelis in this town. And ya - lights out at 10’o clock!! (lame?) We were also instructed to keep it down as we might disturb the sleeping birds!!!

Let me tell you something about the camp. A beautiful setting amid the forests on one side and a river on other. Overlooking was our Lakshya – snow topped peaks of Himalayas. The climate was always superb. There were about 20 tents out of which about 5 were girl’s. The central arena had some open space and a dining area which was used to conduct camp fire. In the back, there was a river flowing with ice cold water and a dangerously looking rapid.

Till noon most of the group was there and everybody was mixing up. The camp was alive like anything and it was awesome. Most of us were thinking of ditching the trek and be there for 11 days. Well you can blame this on our “busy” schedule at iits which made us lazy. My group was SP 20 (Sarpass 20th may). There were 50 members in the group and most of them were either form Maharashtra or Gujarat.

At about 2 in the afternoon after the lunch (which was great by the way..) we were called by the camp commander (i immediately day dreamed about a guy in shorts with a gun – shikari shambhu :P) Everybody was to give their introduction and then this wise looking man started his speech. Nah, he was really straightforward and pleasant. He told us the program, schedule and everything we needed to know. We chose our camp leader – Sheru from Bangalore. An IT guy with a soccer player’s physique was a good choice according to the janta. As a matter of fact he was a great and sincere leader .We were also told that every group organizes a small camp fire on its second day.

After this we were officially lukkha for rest of the day. We were opening up to our real selves and the other dwellers were confounded seeing the ‘cream of nation’ at their most hyped state of excitement. We played with the dogs a lot. There was a really cute puppy who was a strong competitor when it came to gaining girls’ attention. Amit drew a nice sketch of the camp on the sand we were sitting on, which later we erased using Amit’s body (imagine b’day bumps position) as we didn’t wanted it to be disregarded by someone’s holy feet. :P (god bless us) At that moment everything and everyone stopped in the camp to see us doing that in fully bollywood style. We were sure we were being kicked out of the camp.

We debated about going to a nearby town called Manikaran or to a hot water spring nearby in the same town. We decided to go to the nearer spring as everybody was a little tired. Again a friendly looking dog accompanied us for the trip. It was a b’ful and quite town infested (literally) by Israelis. They come for vacation (read booze and drugs). Saw some gay couples too (aargh). The town was full of shacks which served booze, drugs and god knows what to them. Hebrew was second language of this town!!

I still didn't knew who told us the way and nobody asked. We were busy enjoying the views and Sunny was busy enjoying the Momo’s he discovered at a small thela. They were pathetic so we never tried them again. Sunny on the other hand ate them 4-6 times a day. We crossed the river through a old and rickety bridge which had missing planks in the middle and railings on only some parts. It shook like anything when walked upon. Eesha ran through it shouting plz don’t shake it :P

The whole town looked breathtaking. Calm with only sound being that of river, friends and a cute dog. Did i needed anything else?? We hiked to a point which had a small hot water spring. It was just besides the river. So, frozen water and near about boiling water side by side. The spring had sulphur and sodium salts in it which have a healing effect on muscles. We enjoyed it for some time, the frozen water was more fun We enjoyed the evening a lot till the dog left us for a female one :( even they are luckier than us yaar..

In the evening we ate lunch at 7 !! and then shitty SP –19 had their camp night. It was boring and we weren't allowed to hoot and boo. Even than we managed to get “inqalab zindabaad” and “simons go back”. The funniest part – there was no actual camp fire as we were nature friendly..instead there was Christmas lights on a small tree and we were supposed to chant “fire fire camp fire” when the commander lighted it (i didn’t). Still the best part was the felicitation of ones who returned on that day after completing the trek. They shared their experiences and joys. It got the adrenaline pumping and we were feeling it.

The night ended with a much appreciated drink – MILO !! Everybody gathered around and we started to mix up and all…We saw flying squirrels which are scary. Imagine a 2 foot thing flying from one tree to another.

Back in the tent which was a mess by the way, we all slept a sound gearing up for the next day..It was one of the best days of my life.

So we left Kullu for our Base Camp Kasol via Bhuntar. Later we came to know that Bhuntar had the highest domestic airport in India. The way to Bhuntar was very b’ful. We were told by the conductor to hold ourselves in the seats till Bhuntar and then he will let us ride on the top!!

So waiting to experience the Himalayas the way it should be.we reached Bhuntar, jumped out of the bus even before it stopped. We climbed quickly to save the seats With all the luggage and seven of us, there was not much space for anyone (we made that sure) so we were on our own

Our shana mulga along with Joshi even had the first experience of touching alcohol there in a small wine shop. 

The journey was simply superb. Starting with a close race along the airstrip with a small JACKSON AIRLINES twin propeller. They won by the way but it was close . We were in awe of the terrain and its beauty. Mountains, Rivers, Old style bridges, Resorts, Cattle herds, lots and lots of sheeps. Later we found what we didnt signed for - dangerous curves, overhead power cables and trees.

Although everyone else was a litlle scared or was enjoying the beauty, Sunny was busy hanging banana skins all over the power cables of Bhuntar..(some may be stilll there :P)

The scene was just picturesque. A verticle cliff on one side and a dagerous looking valey on the other. Sitting on that edge was just fun.

Eesha was constantly reminding “ki yaar maine itna mast kaam aaj tak nhi kiya”, praths that if our mummys get hold of these pics – we are dead and Saurabh bhaiya was trying to perform unnecessory stunts and failing again and again.

Soon we were out of the city and started to climb. This part was really fantastic. Once or twice we had to cross a bus/jeep. The roads were single lane but somehow the drivers managed. Dont ask us how we were praying with our eyes closed.

 

We were told by our conductor bhaiya that the base camp is on way so he will stop right at the entry.. Soon a river started to flow alongside the road..We were just enjoying the view when the bus stopped and we saw a board – welcome to the National Himalayan Trekking Expedition..

 

Camp : in next post ;)

We left Amit’s home for ISBT. A bus journey….even the thought was giving me unbearable pains in my knees…Thanks to my 6 foot and more than 1 inch frame i just cant fit into any bus. But the thought of travelling with my long lost friends for about 18 hours was soothing. So we reached ISBT and took supplies (read about 10 bottles of water and Sunny took too much to eat). I forgot to mention our Sunny has an unbelievable stomach. He needs food more frequently than an infant in huge quantities. After a long waiting finally the bus came filled with weird looking foreigners. I mean they were not the type of “aliens” who looked out of the place thanks to their classy clothing and gadgets. They were normal looking chep who just weren’t Indians.

We boarded the bus and my luck we had some front seats with more leg rooms. So the wheels got rolling and we were chatting. Just catching up on old times. There were 7 of us that means one has to sit alone. But again the policy – leave no man behind. 3 cramped in a seat of 2 and the other 2 in front perched on the front seat like eagles facing the other 4 people.

We started pulling about the buried ghosts, we talked about girlfriends, friends we wanted to be girlfriends, boyfriends (cuz Eesha will feel left out :P), how our pointers were plunging, how Praths got a 10 pointer in first sem (die you boy, die) everything and nothing. By night we were feeling the old enigma again. Of being with each other, sharing everything, literally living in each others life. That bus journey was a lifetime for me and ironically my legs didn't hurt that much.

We stopped in Kurukshetra for the dinner. It was a small Dhaba with good food. We (- Sunny) ate and Sunny ATE. We clicked some pics there and there was a bewda who offered with full confidence that he can click for us. We proceeded and it was around 10’o clock.

The night was one which i feared the most.- sleeping in that cramped space with my legs all folded. It was going to be hell. But there was something to flash bonus in this hell. It started raining heavily and it got COLD. And with a flash a realization came to me that all our bags are on the top!! No warm clothes or nothing with us!! We asked the conductor to stop and he told that even if he did there was no way he will open the covering on luggage in this weather. The savior was one bag inside with us – a sweater, a bed sheet, one shawl. That’s it!!

So two people got in one sheet, the single guy took the sheet, 2 in eesha’s shawl and other two in second one..cuddled to fight the worst nights ever. It was raining like machine gun ricocheting off the window with winds that may have been the reason of swinging of bus. Finally it all stopped after some time and the dawn broke off. It was b’ful.

We were supposed to reach Kullu by 10o; clock in the morning. Everything was going just fine but the bus stopped at a pump. I mean it stopped exactly in he style it’ll if it wants the oil. But to our luck..it was actually broken down due to heavy swinging in night and the axel broke down. In fact there was a motor garage perched on a hill by the side. Coincidence!!

The surroundings were b’ful. Mountains one one side and a valley full of colorful flowers on the other. We trekked a little there and then came back to our lazy iitian selves. Prathmesh and Eesha proposed and teached us Bluff and then lost in it after some time (what can i say i am a chameleon).

The bus finally got running by 12o’ clock. Nothing eaten and frustration scaling - we finally reached Kullu by 3’o clock. A guy in bus helped us getting locations for nice rooms.

Me and Joshi (beings the Papa’s) went to see the rooms of 2-3 hotels and picked one.

It was a really b’ful small cottage type of hotel. The first thing on everyone's mind -

Shower?? Nah we are iitians. That's the last thing…food man foood…

With not much hope of getting good food in this small hotel we ordered half heartedly but no one had a enthu of scavenging it. Well when it came it was the typical – ghar ka khana with sadi daal and all. We stuffed us to the full and Sunny stuffed himself to death as he always do.

We decided to rest a little as we had to get rest of the items in our list (Gloves, Caps, Socks and all..) which we ditched in Delhi. We shaved as it was supposed to be the last shave we will get in next 11 days. At the evening we took off for the market. It was nothing like a market – a steep (you just cant walk on it with ease) descent with shops on both side. I got my biggest surprise – it was not the season of warm clothes..are you kidding me!!!

Somehow we managed to get these at an awful rate at one shop. You can’t blame the shopkeeper. We dragged him to the shop and made him open the shutter and all his maal came falling out. It took 15 minutes just to open it :P We saw a snow dog which lengthwise was bigger than me!!

On the way back our own junkyard engg. Sunny bought some eggs. We had no clue why but no one thought much about it. Sunny was weirdo – it was an axiom for us. While in the hotel he was working really really hard with scissors, a plastic and eggs.

Ta Da!! We got egg bombs in our shoes which will burst but will not render our shoes useless cuz of the lamination will contain everything (Ask Sunny for the blueprints..its not that simple) But much to his dismay we found it and gave him back. Not that we didn’t had faith in him that it’ll not spill just because we didn't wanted to do it. Sunny planted them at last in our rooms – for future visitors. One behind the sink and he rigged both the toilet seats so that you cant see the egg but it’ll explode like anything as soon as you use the toilet.

We called it a day, bought some good old Amul Cool and sipped it talking sitting on the window. It was memorable…

Next stop – Kasol The Base Camp!!!

I will first introduce the cast of this madness…

We are the proud dwellers of the Yaar di Galli in Kota (in cyclic order)

Me – You all know me. If you don’t…to hell with you.

Praths – Prathmesh Prabhu. One word for this guy – phodu. He is a simply one of those genius guys who have some extra reserve grey areas in their brains and a NOS button in their hand to use when required. This guy had 14th rank in IIT and is studying Computer Science in IIT Bombay. He is a little abnormal in that sense - as for that much brain he must be the coolest guy in this world. He is a cultural kidaf guy and can pass for a Hindi poet on the first look.

Sunny – Another genius but a lazy one. The rules of science doesn’t apply on him…this guy got a AIR 33 without studying!! He also is with Prathmesh in IITB. He will just see the opportunity and hit it hard. (read sleep)

Amit – For the record he is my cousin – a not so far one. One of the best heart i have ever met filled with positivity. This guy literally should have an aura around his head. He is currently in Batti department of IIT Kanpur. He is a social worker, painter and member of counseling team in IITK.

Saurabh – He’s from Hathras…that's it. Hathras as described by Saurabh is a village near Agra. By his descriptions and fights for proclaiming every right an Agra-ite might relish we gathered that its so near…that if you pee standing on Saurabh’s roof it’ll land up in Agra. :P He is with me in IIT Roorkee.

Arpit Joshi – The josh machine. This is my closest friend. We lived in the same apartment in Kota. He is a ladies’ man and one of the whitest personalities i have ever met. This guy is an adventure lover and a perfect example of the Peter Pan syndrome. He is in BITS Pilani.

Eesha – That’s my cute little sister Eesha. She belongs to those bio people community and is making plans of doing an MS in Biotech from the UK. She is the crafty one with a good voice and all….

So back to the story….

So we were ready for the trek. Base camp – Amit’s home in Delhi which is going to be filled with 7 of the weirdest creatures Aunty will ever let in her house. (I think she remembered the day when she cooked for us in Kota and all the food supplies were exhausted and we demanded more :P Well that’s a diff story….)So with butterflies i climbed the stairs to his apartment in Patpadganj…I forgot to count the floors and there were no markings..But there was something guiding me..something divine..the sound of those friends filled my ears (probably because they were the only ones shouting unnecessarily in this upstate kindaf building).

The door to heaven opened when i was climbing the next set of stairs and there was light...I blame this daydreaming on the Happydent ad. Amit, Eesha, Praths, Sunny, Joshi, Arora were there smiling at me with full battisi. I was soaked in sweat cuz of the train journey in a general compartment but these guys had no problem in hugging me right away, that too in a manner that should be illegal in most the countries. Don’t blame them – we were seeing each other after an year after living with each other for 3 years. I was pulled inside the house…amid, Kaku(Amit’s Mummy) looked me top to bottom and sent me straight away to the shower…

We decided to control our emotional dam (read cut down the bakar) and went straight down to business..Eat and Sleep today, we have lots to do tomorrow…(tomorrow we have to eat more and sleep more) We ate with each other in our style after an year. And that to kaku’s expertise.. I remember the menu – Pav Bhaji and Dahi Bade. She should get an Padamshri for this courageous act to feed seven of us – all hungry after an year of shitty mess food. We played our good old UNO once more which is like a ritual we have to do every time we meet…and decided to sleep. But….

Someone who i don’t remember #@#$#%@$ asked me- abey tune kya kya laya hai?? And they opened the Pandora’s box. It was supposed to be a fun reunion. Ganda wala mazak kiya tha Praths ne hamare saath.

I will tell you what we needed for the trek -

A Rucksack.

Clothes – 4 pairs including some good jeans.

A winter gear – a jacket or jerkin which will protect you in Arctic.

A sunglasses cuz the atmosphere at top is so thin that ultraviolet radiations are strong and it can render you blind..(gulp)

A alternative to sunglasses as we cant have prescription glasses made in less than a day and almost all were chashmish

A rain sheet – the one like Rikshawalas do have with them. To protect you from rain, hailstorm, heavy snow or if your tent blows away :P

Sunscreen Lotion – the skin will burn down if you don’t have one at the top again thanks to UV.

Gloves, Monkey Caps and whatever you can use to protect you from winter.

First Aid kits.

Hunter Shoes

Toilet Paper and soaps and all.

Tiffin Box and Glass.

This is when we realized what we are getting into. We are going on a serious trek!! Only Prathmesh had all the items in the list (don’t blame him he’s Praths) and Eesha too had almost everything (including the bright colored Tupperware canteens which she didn’t used once in the trek ;P ). So at 2’o clock in the night we were out there in the living room talking down how to get the supplies. And ya i didn’t had even one item on that list except clothes – i was coming straight from the college. We decided to start early shop the next day and divided two groups to be more efficient.

The next day we woke up late!! But we managed to get everything we needed except gloves, caps. We decided to not waste time on them and buy them in Kullu. Also we took as much basic supplies from Amit’s home and left at 4’o clock for the bus.

The first Destination – Kullu !!!

Wait for the next blog…

Hey you all…

I am back and this will be the first one my travel blogs i will eventually write..

So SP – 20 is obviously shaking their heads and saying under their breath “ye sala aisai tha - tubelight”..I don’t blame them. Its been two years since we completed this trek and now of all the times i am down to write this blog.

Let me introduce you to this adventure…

And for that we go back 3 years back (no its not bollywood). Me, Praths, Amit, Joshi, Sunny, Piyush, Saurabh, Dheeraj – the selected ones. The chosen ones :P With a feeling in our hearts that you can only have when you are an Indian and you listen about IITs all your life. And this day, we were among the 1% of the applicants and our lives are changed…(i know now its a chep, but bask in the glory boys..)

So we are celebrating our selection by doing what no one even had guts to do for 3 years we lived in Kota – partying in Umed Bhawan Palace (its just too costly and we saved it for this).

As the lunch comes to an end, I started to feel something in my unworldly bottomless pit these biology people call stomach. No it wasn’t the food, it was a nauseated feeling of leaving all these friends behind. I lived with these guys for 3 years. And now i am supposed to start a new life – however exciting and be waited it was, still i won’t be with these guys. Everybody saw that on my face and knew something is eating me out (they know Bende ka pet kharab hone wali cheez nahi hai). We came to know that everyone is feeling the same.

We decide to meet somewhere as frequently as possible. Well the first venue – Praths had an idea for that (can you blame him – he was AIR 14 :P) It was decided that we will trek the Himalayas with Youth Hostel group.

In it was all forgotten of..until one day our own Praths had one of his own attacks in which he quickly wakes up in filmy style in the middle of the day (refer:iit) remembering something and starts frantically working for it. So he started working in mid October.

Its Praths so we didn’t have to do anything besides saying yes….He chose the trek, he took care of the plan, the reservations and all…

What we didn’t knew was that we are going to have so much more than just a reunion…What i got out of this supposed to be an adventure trip - freinds, a maa who calls me every week to check if i am ok, a cute sister who ill adore more than anything, memories and memories to look upon and above all experience.

A 78 year old trekker who already completed the trek when we reached the base camp told me – “You never are the same person after returning from the Himalayas.”

And its true….

Wait for the next blogs in chronological order…..

”Hey did you read my blog” they use to say..and i was always mesmerized by the extent of free time people have to waste it on writing their crazy and absurd thoughts on the most idiotic and random place in the world – internet.

Don’t get me wrong..i am a complete geek and can challenge most of you when it comes to using the internet..but i never in my life thought that someday i will start writing a blog.

So here i am..why i started it has no explanations…maybe because i downloaded Windows Write to test it and its looking great..or may be just cuz of curiosity.

Enough blabbering..i will introduce myself.

I am Nakul Bende.

I think i am a pretty simple (read wild) guy who loves to wander this earth aimlessly and taking it all in..I am an amateur photographer trying my best to get professional :P. I am a professional designer and have designed some websites, banners, flexes, v-cards n all…I have recently learnt Advanced Photoshop and so enjoy my hobby of Nature Photography..

I am a compu freak and spend most of the time on it..doing i don’t know what….i live in a MATRIX maybe.

I love to trek and have done some in Himalayas. Its awesome out there. I love to travel and travel like a student – no plans no money no reservations….it has to be spontaneous… that’s where all the fun lies..lucky for me i am blessed with equally lukkha friends who just look for an idea to trip.

And ya..In the REAL world i am a chemical engg. I am in 6th sem of M. Tech. Integrated Polymer Science and Technology at IIT Roorkee. Academically my research interests include Polymer Composites and Conducting Polymers. I am working on a project to synthesize a conducting ink for printing innovative goods.

a kaleidoscope personified??

that’s all for now…i have a mid term exam tomorrow

later…