One Sky Voyage Travel

It was a beautiful afternoon with sun spreading its wings at the temperature of 36 degrees… and i received a lovely call while i was rushing to complete a chore !

Kajal, an old batchmate (since class 5th) from school, and me had shared a common platform at being the sub-editor of school magazine. We are the “Before Google, Before internet” people. and had the 2 apps to keep in touch – Orkut and then Facebook. Sandhya had called to spread happiness in my mundane eat-pray-love-work routine. She had called to LEH me!

This was first trip for which i said a YES without thinking twice, like in Bollywood movies the owner of crores of property signs the ‘Will’ looking at the face of the other person. I had to leave 3 days later which also required me to take leave of half a week from newly joined corporate life. My brain horses started competing. My work had to go for printing after 2 days, so office wasnt prepared to let go of me, my smart boss had all plans for me for the next week. Only you experience the adrenaline rush at that moment and all energies sync to get the good quality work done in half the time that you usually take. I managed to deliver all my work, enough to elate him to the depths of satisfaction. Hence, office leaves approved.

I am a Delhi girl ! I went to Mumbai for an internship, But since the time I shifted back from Mumbai, Delhi seemed lonely and lame to me, for most of my close pals are married and settled elsewhere. The purpose of this trip was ideally to make a visit to much talked about place and obviously have the break from my thoughts. On the D-Day, I left the office an hour early to spend little time with another departing mate leaving Delhi forever, at my fav place where music and people rock the place ‘Blues’ at CP, to again remember the goofies we did togther and sip in Pina Colada!

I had enough mixed feelings of saying goodbye’s to my sister who was leaving for london and to my another best pal who was leaving delhi forever, that while packing clothes for Leh i ended up taking all Blue coloured clothes, something that i realized on the trip.

I am an Early bird, and little organized. This was the first time when i couldn’t pack the clothes till 1am while i had to leave in morning at 6am. With all the mixed feelings i packed and waited for the night to pass, to see a shower ridden green and clean Delhi before i leave. Finally i picked Kajal on the way to airport, and the sinking feelings had begun to evade. I began to get a little positive and realized I still have lot many close people whom i call friends, left in Delhi :))

Finally i was on the flight to Leh and experience the landscape most talked about, where Greens and browns seem different and all shades can be seen, to see the glaciers ridden mountains, touch few highest roads ‘Chang La or Khardung La’, feel the love of few animals – donkeys & dogs, meet new souls and make some friends, be with myself and on top of all attend the Ladakh Festival!

I loved the place and the colours, the locals and their traditions! My appeal to all tourists, not to be rude, not to throw plastic bottles and love the people more than place, for their courage to survive at such heights and make it a hospitable place.

As we promise the place while leaving, I did my part too and promised ‘Leh’ that i would return.
To all out there, everytime u dont have to post at what happened in Leh, there is before and after too!!