First Day

How do I start? Where do I start?

People in my life usually ask me this question, “What is the best thing that happened to you in your life? What is that memory which you want to hold on to?”

I guess, now I have the answer. Nothing in my life happened so significantly that I could point out my finger to. Of course, there were many events before, that changed my life, but those warm memories that people look back to, and those beautiful happy moments which you want to hold on to forever, those things have happened in these 15 days.

I’m so glad I took this trip. I think a better part of mine has changed completely after this. Let’s see how much I can talk about these days on my blog.

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First day:

I said goodbye to my roomies, I was sure as hell that I will be missing them as soon as I step out of the hostel cuz they were all the company I got in this world 24/7, when I needed them the most and even when I didn’t need them at all. :P

That was my first time wearing a backpack. Wildcraft karakoram, 60L. Friend suggested that I buy that one because this is going to be a long trip.

I felt so glad that we were going to travel in a car just after wearing the backpack cuz I was walking like a drunkard with a big load on my back. I underestimated it to be 5-6 kilos, and when my friend saw it, he told it weighs at least 15-17 kilos.

OH MY GOD. I felt like Karnam Malleswari. :P

My friend started in his car from Ahmedabad 2 days back and spent a night in Pune at his friend’s house. I knew he would look like one of those people who are sucked out of life after a long drive from Pune to Gulbarga. And yes, he looked the exact replica of what I imagined him to be. Sucked out of life, scraggy, hair and beard seemed like he didn’t comb for 10 days, sleep deprived. I was happy to see him although I couldn’t express my emotions as always because I got so better at hiding them that it feels like am faking my happiness if I ever tried to show it. I asked whether he slept properly or not in these 2-3 days of journey and he stated as a matter of fact “No. I didn’t.” I felt so sorry. We started from Gulbarga right away and didn’t talk much for good 10-15 minutes. I was overwhelmed at the thoughts running in my mind, about how much could change in these 15 days, how many different people I am going to meet, what all different conversations I am going to get myself involved in, how long I can hold a conversation with another person, how am going to live in a place where no one knows my name, my face, my religion, my past. Every thought was running in my mind with light speed and all I could do was breathe slowly. Thank god, my friend finally started talking.

We reached this unknown village just about time for sunset. There were so many beautiful hills around and all I could do was gaze and appreciate how perfect the nature is. We decided to climb a small rocky hill to have a better view of sunset. So we asked the villager if we could climb the hill or not and as we don’t know kannada, we managed to agree that we actually could climb the “gadda” (“hill” in kannada).

That was my first time climbing any kind of rocky hill of that high! It was not easy. I was panting heavily and almost out of breath as we reached half way of the hill. I even wanted to turn back but my OCD stopped me. I wanted to finish what I started and everything was worth it.

The sunset was SO beautiful that day! It’s been so long that I am surrounded by so much beauty around me. The whole village and the fields were spread as far as my eye could see. I was like, “How lucky are these people who live here and could enjoy the serenity of nature, away from city noise.”

Before we started retreating, I saw this smooth path down the hill that we didn’t know about while climbing up the hill. How could we miss it? Well, I guess that’s what the life is about. We see things more clearly once we reach our goal, the top. We would analyse, “oh wish I took this path…it was more or less easier than the way I took”. But, would it be worth? Would we appreciate the journey after reaching the top if we took any other path than the one we were destined to take? I guess, it’s a no.

Do you know what’s the hardest part of climbing a hill is? It is climbing down the hill without slipping on any rock. And yeah, I had a pretty nasty scar on my left hand cuz I slipped down. First, I thought it was nothing cuz it was SO small that it didn’t hurt at all but it grew on me like this thorn stuck in my left hand that even a little strong wind blowing through my left hand could hurt like hell. It lasted almost my whole trip! 15 days!

It was almost dark by the time we made it to our car. On the way, we waved to this group of women in that village and they waved back with all the sweet giggles! That was one of the happiest moment which is going to be stuck at the back of my mind.

We started to Hampi and I saw one of the clearest skies ever after SO long time that I could see all the constellations I wanted to see like ever! Without the city lights around us, I was totally in bliss looking at the sky, looking at the Orion belt, looking at the Jupiter! It was a beautiful long drive I ever experienced!

We reached to Hampi at exactly 12 in the midnight. We were worried about getting a room cuz it was too late by the time we reached. But, as we entered Hampi, two guys approached us asking “Room chahiye madam? Room chahiye Sir?” Well, I was relieved hearing that cuz I started to worry about safety late at night.

We finally entered to one guest house and the guy asked us to pay 1300/- for a night! Wtf? What for? The room was not even that big and we only need some space to sleep cuz we wouldn’t even stay in the room since we will be out roaming. We finally agreed up on 800/- per night. Even that seemed a lot to me. If only we made it to Hampi by 6pm or so.

Well, that was my first day. I did something which I never imagined I would do. I saw something so beautiful after so long. All I could think of was “Life is beautiful”. :)