An expedition turned into a trip in isolation!

by Heena Raheja (India)

Making a local connection India

August 2016, I was supposed to go to Ladakh on a Solar Electrification Project by Global Himalayan Expedition, and just 2 days before my flight to Leh, I had an accident. (Just to give you the details, I was on a trek and slipped into a running stream while trekking down. Thanks to my co-travelers, damn! they saved my life). Coming back to the Ladakh Solar Electrification Project, I just couldn't afford to miss that trip. After all, I did a good crowdfunding project to collect money for that trip. Moreover, Ladakh was always a dream location. I went there with high fever, bruises in knees and elbows. And guess what, we were supposed to do a trek there and reach to that remote village, where the electrification had to be done. Ours was a team of 8 including one tour leader. We went to this small village called Tsogsti from where trek was supposed to start. After being asked continuously that would I be able to trek, I said Yes, that's what I was there for. But I gave up after reaching that village (Tsogsti). Breathing itself was such a task in Ladakh, forget about the trek, that too for someone who was already in a high fever. I decided to stay back at the village, while everyone else went ahead for a trek. Let me tell you a bit about the village Tsogsti. It had only 4 houses and 20 people, out of those, 8-10 used to stay at Leh for work or studies. It's a beautiful small village surrounded by rocky terrains, apricot gardens, a waterfall, and some amazingly sweet people. Not to miss, one could see the milky way from there, every single day! That was going to be my home for 3 days. While others went ahead for electrification, I stayed back at one of the houses at Tsogsti, without any cell phone, electricity, surrounded by people who couldn't even speak my language. My room had a huge window, and I could see the blue sky, mountains, and milky way. I was served Ladakhi Chai and Flatbread every day for breakfast, along with the freshly plucked apricots. The village girls gave me the whole village tour. We used to click a lot of photographs, and record videos. I was able to maintain that local connection with the people out there, through their smiles, their gestures. Though we couldn't communicate but yes, we tried using sign language. We could read each other's faces, the expressions, the smiles! I learned their hardships, their joys, their daily routine, their dreams, their lifestyle, and their aspirations. I learned, living like a local is the best way to travel. That's the real essence of travel. That one experience of it's kind. Like, living like this in tranquility. Those 3 days were the longest. That time I realized I should re-consider my dream of shifting to the mountains (lol, pun intended) That's the beauty of travel. It makes you understand that all your desires and problems are so small and insignificant. It makes you more thoughtful, observing and expands your horizons.