iNsIgNiFiCaNcE

A World beyond this one. An almost believable alternate reality. Just when the mind had come to terms with the many postcards and nat-geo wallpapers, I happened to come across Leh. Ladakh, as known to many a people (ignorant, like me, of the actual relationship between Leh and Ladakh), is but a subtle and powerful smack at all the insignificant "important" things that constitute our lives. Oh and it is a fantastic place to get all misconceptions about one's self put to rest for good. A place so full of irony. At once it has one of the most spectacular landscapes to offer to a visitor and at the same time, there are a whole set of physical and environmental adversities to come to terms with.


I had the good (great) fortune of taking in all of this trip with the bunch of friends I have had a significant part of my life shared with. Oh it was amazing, the mountains, the dried-up as well as the gushing rivers, the screams of sheer delight and the curses of pure physical hardships. Not only were we absorbing as much of the natural beauty as possibly, but also we were slowly getting the drift of the rifts or possible rifts that are going to surface soon enough. I guess it has but always been an inevitability from which we all were relentlessly seeking an escape. It was about time a bit of all that caught up. But then, I believe it is best we carry forward the favourable impressions we've carried of each other. The memories and resolve that made us be. I just fear we don't end up forgetting about each other. The mighty mountains brought us together and I wish it would happen again.

This trip surely taught me a hell lot of things. But then, come to think of it, I seem to take a hell lot from so many things. Nevermind that, what's important is I am yet to come to terms with the life in the plains. A life amongst concrete structures. A life driven for some intellectual satisfaction which mysteriously doesn't dawn upon me. In short, I contemplate again about the trade off between lots of money and not-so lots of money. Just about enough to discover places like Ladakh. Sigh, but who decides on "enough"? Gahh, I'll just let it be for now and go stare at the sky for some time!

To the spirit of Ladakh, to the spirit within, I salute!