A Trekking Event

Lately I had been to a trekking event. It was a Saturday, 19^th December, 2009. I was planning to write about it from quite some time, but today only it could materialize. So here it goes: :)

We embarked on to this short trip at 0630 hrs, in the chilly morning, when Celsius scale was pushing itself below -15 degrees. We all were fully covered with number of layers of warm clothes with barely allowing eyes, the exposure of outside atmosphere.

We were six people, all office colleagues with two of them more than 40 years in age. Truly commendable spirit they were in! In fact, these two people had trekked this mountain numerous times before also, but they were equally excited to go for it once again.

Initial few minutes of trekking are seldom an aberration and it’s those few minutes after which you start realizing that you are in a different ambience altogether and totally engulfed by the elements of Mother Nature.

On our way, very soon we started witnessing the beautiful recital of Nature- the instant when atmospheric refraction causes the sun to be seen while it is still below the horizon! Yes, the optical illusion, the inception of a beautiful morning when we all were ready to welcome Sun god, originating from the backdrops of the mountains. The beauty exemplified- the beautiful Sunrise. And Sarah, a good friend and one of the companions in this trekking event, captured it nicely. Take a look:

           Just before Sunrise

Going with a single objective in mind; Telling anecdotes and passing amusing remarks, spending some time while sharing and empathizing with each other, it was very enjoyable. That’s probably the cheapest form of happiness one can ask for and indeed I was feeling it!

Koreans, in general are very kind and shy. They are not very talkative and verbose in the first few meetings. But as you spend a little time with them and try to give them that comfortable space to share and converse, it goes very smoothly thereafter.

The way to mountain top, even though it was just 6.5 kilometers in distance was adventurous, specially the last couple of kilometers, which demands that little extra perseverance and tenacity! The situation when you have no more strength to walk and you still try to push yourself to walk those extra steps, is embracing in its own way and enthralling when you enjoy those tiny achievements. Obviously, it has a lot to do with your physical stamina and sustainability, but more so with your state of mind as well.


0905 hrs:
So finally we were at the apex of the mountain! It’s named as Kwang-Gyo, literally means teaching of the light, in English. Few pics for your visual treat :)

                                          We, at the top of the mountain :)

Audrey and Sarah, Two biggest artiste, or entertainers, or whatever synonyms you wish to use! But the truth is they really rock while being together! Two beauties in their usual amusing act! :)

 Audrey with light sword: A glimpse of photography talent of Sarah :)        

In that scorching cold and windy weather, I felt as though my brain has started vibrating at some strange frequency! And I must say after coming here only, I have realized that there exists something so cold, that can even blow in the form of air! But despite all those not so usual facts, I was enjoying it and so much so as I requested others to stay there for few more minutes! We shared few eatables, fruits and in particular, the special home-made Honey Tea, that Sarah got! And soon we all started marching back.


1011 hrs:
We all came down within just little more than one hour. We went to a restaurant to have lunch and were quickly headed to our respective homes.
Sense of togetherness really works wonders and thankfully there were few nice people along so it was definitely a very pleasing experience. And really if you are fortunate enough to have such lovely hearts and minds to accompany you, the journey turns out quite entertaining no matter how many struggles you see through! Although this thought is pertaining to our short trekking journey, but can indeed be extrapolated to the journey of life as well.

Intrigued Fear of being what you are!

This time New Year day was very different! Perhaps This thoughtful state of mind turning everything different nowadays! And this time, all those thoughts were dwelling around the fact that Time is fleeting. It really waits for no one. It keeps you on your toes and lets you realize what you are, with every experience you go through, every moment you live! Imparting enough opportunities to learn, to grow as a professional, as a brother, as a son, as a friend, as an individual! New learning’s and you are getting ready for new experiences which Time is ready to give! 

There are many things you practice in this journey of life, but there is a fear deep within for being human even about the positive aspects, those which also get along with a Fear!

For your parents, you are precocious; but you understand that this precociousness comes with a lot of responsibility, so Fear if sometime you couldn’t empathize what your parents wanted or desired! 

For your sisters, you are the bundle of solutions for every existing problem in the world! But Fear if they get into a problem which you couldn’t have a solution of! 

In your work fraternity, you are professionally good; But Fear lest you get entrapped in complacency sometime because you want to make sure you are not thinking about something to be easy for you know yourself the best. You are just audacious enough, who’s trying to learn the extent of your own limits, thus to remain conscious, to remind yourself about your extents, about your capabilities, about your strengths and weaknesses and keep them in the right proportion to make things work! 

For your friends, you are cogent, you think good, you have an approach towards life; a life with number of very normal things, which they find unique and special; but seldom you live with a Fear of an intuition that you have to be at your best throughout, to retain your friends else you may lose them even if they are among the best ones! 

Indeed, there is auspiciousness about all such thoughts, but just restrained and self-possessed with uncertainty!

So you turn to Almighty to ask for strength, to keep performing in all aspects, to remain not only philosophical but pragmatic too, to practice everything what you have learnt from your own continuous introspections, reflections and repercussions of the people and to retain this temperament which helps to obviate such fears. And perhaps you realize you feel elderly enough to be ready for greater responsibilities, with the dawn of 2010!