First trek continued...

Amruta

So we awoke to do, well you've guessed it - some more trekking! We were currently situated in the valley next to the river, which was pretty cold. Not suprising anyway because it was glacial water. We were pretty high up the moutain at this point but we were aiming to go higher. Thankfully we only were carrying essentials with us - camera's, suncream, water and a few other bits. This meant I was probably going to enjoy myself a little more than the previous day.

Mountain Man - Suri

The walk up to the top was pretty steep and I guess it was the altitude was effecting me. My heart was beating fast and shortness of breath (unfit much?!) it was quite an interesting feeling to be honest! It made it more of a challenge not just for myself but the others as well - ok maye not the local guide and our mountain man - Suri. This would be quite challenging for a group due to the steepness of the trek however it is possible - if I managed it then I'm sure a group could manage! 

Ben

It was worth it though - even if it was challenging! The view was amazing! There was a heart shaped lake at the top and a temple. 

Me

After a meeting with one of the local farmers and some food with a local family which we were given some bread and lassi - a yoghurt drink, we headed back down the mountain. A dip in the fresh river water I felt cleaner and cooler and we made plans for the next day. 

Making Roti

Attempt at milking a cow

I learnt how to make some roti - Indian bread and also got the chance to milk a cow - which was an experience. We paid the guide 600 rupees to go down to the shop where we stopped on the way up to buy us a chicken. When he came back with the chicken it was still alive - I quickly befriended him and named him ginger. Something I probably shouldn't have done as he soon was to be slaughtered, plucked, cooked and eaten. I didn't witness the killing - it's not my thing. There was some debate about being prepared to kill an animal if you are going to eat it however I'm not going to discuss that further at the moment. It was probably the freshest chicken I've ever eaten and the only chicken I've held before it's died to provide me food. I didn't enjoy the meal as much as I would have if I hadn't known the animal before hand. After the meal it was time for some rest. A point to note here the stars were amazing there was millions out and with no light pollution it was incredible to be where we were. 

Ginger :(

Ginger Curry...

The next day we trekked to the top of the other side of the valley. The trekking was getting easier - apart from breathing and we climbed higher and higher up to the top. The view at really top again was stunning. There was a bigger temple at the top with a statue of shiva inside and a shelter which could sleep quite a few people if wanted - although we were going to return to our base camp. It would have been like we were sleeping at the top of the world! If we had stayed there would have been the option to trek up to the ridge. There was a bigger lake at the top here which looked stunning. 

Taking a rest

Temple at the very top of the mountain

Shiva Statue

The next days trek we headed further up the valley. It was an easier trek as we weren't heading up the sides of the mountain. Although it provided more complications than the previous days. Amruta was suffering from some chest pains and I had a headache and got a nose bleed which didn't want to stop. We put it down the the altitude. So the boys headed to the top and us girls although we reached most the way there decided to call it a day and head back to camp 

Wow...

There was some discussions between myself and Ben and as always we had differences in opinions which isn't anything new! It was quite interesting really and I guess we shall see how things develop between us but both of us realise that we are not necessarily going to agree on a lot of things which I think will make it easier that we know this and I think we will be able to challenge each other's viewpoints reasonably. After one more sleep it was time to head back to the base camp.

Enjoying the View

Heading back down the valley was exciting as we had achieved what we had needed to be done. We could run programs here and we had several options for treks for various challenge levels which gave us options. It was the start of a new journey and challenge for us. Traveling back to shivpuri. 

Party on the Bus

Before heading back though we spent some time near McLeod ganj. We stayed with suri's cousin and his friend who are training to be artists. They are both really talented. 

Hand Painted - Incredible!

We also had chance to visit a Tibetan monestry which was stunning! Suri is full of knowledge of lots of things which he was eager to tell us and we were eager to listen. 

Tibetan Monestry

We also got the chance to go and do some shopping in mcleodganj which was full of lots of shops selling lots of different things. There was a few Tibetan shops which sold these amazing embroidered T shirts for next to nothing! We also visited the buddist monestry which was really big. We also had the oppourtunity to visit one of the monks who have us a prayer necklace and a buddist name. My name means moon. Amruta's meant lotus and Bens meant intelligent. We also sampled some Tibetan food which was delicious and a change from rice, roti and curry! 

Inside the Tibetan Monestry

And then it was time for the long bus journey back to shivpuri. 

Tibetan Monestry

Saatal Recce

Walking Grass

The six hour journeys were to continue. Most of the journeys we took ended up longer than was predicted due to one reason or another. The journey to saatal, which means seven lakes was fairly uneventful however there was a slight glitch. Ravindra was the navagator - I guess the guy with the important job - he was using a combined mix of navagational aids. We were not too far away from the camp and it was getting fairly late and it was dark by then. upon looking up at the sky it was full of sparkling stars. It was magical. you could just about make out the sillouettes of the mountains around us. It was fairly cool and lights could be seen in the distance. Apart from the odd car here and there it felt as if we were completely alone. Things were going pretty well.

The boys being boys!

However, the route which the navagator had chosen for us to go lead us around this small community, down a narrow track to a bridge over the river -although it turned out to be a footbridge! so we were unable to cross with the 4x4 we were in! So it was time to turn around. After the boys getting out to make sure we didn't drive down the bank into the river and some great manouveres of the car by pavane we were off again. Driving back up the road we came down. When we were Trying to leave the community we were greeted by some armed police and after a short conversation in hindi we were back on the main road again. who knows what that was about! Not me anyway! As when we first drove through there was noone to be seen.

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A..!

Eventually we reached the YMCA camp we were staying at. We were shown to our tents which were pretty luxurious for tents - fitted out with two double beds, toilets and a shower! After a few drinks of rum it was time for bed. 

One of the Beautiful Lakes...

The real excitement came in the morning. We awoke and were ready to see what this camp had to offer to us in terms of running outward bound programs there. Everything from food, accomadation and facilities to activities we could run had to be figured out and explored in the limited time that we had there. Leaving the tent and seeing the scenery in the daylight was amazing. There was this beautiful lake surrounded by trees and mountains. The scenery in the Himalayas and India is so contrasting and beautiful although you can find exceptional beauty in nature in most places if you open up your heart and your eyes to it no matter where the location is.

The Crew - Ravindra, Dhruv, Ben & Pavane.

After breakfast we went on a short trek to check out the climbing area - a big boulder where you can do a short climb and abseil which we were happy with. We then carried on exploring the area and took a trek to the waterfall. Along the was Suri - mountain man and one of the facilitators was explaining to me about how the lakes were named and trying to teach me some Hindi - it's where I learnt how to count to ten! Attempting the learn the language was fun and more words were slowly added to my vocabulary throughout my entire trip. 

The Monkey Crew.

After lunch we went up to check out the temple at the top of the mountain. It was quite a steep climb and in the heat it felt like it went on forever but we eventually reached the top the views were spectacular. After ringing the bell to enter the temple and after taking our shoes and socks off we had a look around. There was statues, flowers and incense amoung various other things to look at. I'm not entirely sure what height that this temple was at but I believe it's higher than Ben Nevis - which I'm still yet to climb and although I've been living in Scotland not too far away i haven't hm yet got around to it! Maybe spending all my time on the water doesn't help! 

Look at the waterfall! 

There are plenty of oppourtunities for activites at Saatal which is good as it keeps it interesting. Although as it isn't one of our camps anything that we want to use has to be brought with us - so I guess organisation is key. It seems that they would like the planning details really thought about before the program runs. Which I guess is different to how I've always worked before - mostly on residential centres, having activites placed there and having the freedom to use my skills and knowledge to take oppourtunities as and when they arrive. We shall see what happens here as it's still early days and I haven't seen a program actually run. 

At the Temple at the top of the mountain - Higher than Ben Nevis.

Massive Caterpillar.

Temple Hidden in the trees.