White Mountains, the sacred country, goodbye

For: Juan Ignacio Sánchez (text and photos)
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When I start this writing has been five months since my arrival in Madrid. A time when I had to adapt again to a life of comfort and reach compromises that have almost forgotten, and I tried to think little in the long Asian tour, to let the grounds staying quietly in the background of all of my understanding and begin to tell me what has served, what has changed me, how I notice everything that has happened.

The last two months of travel have been, probably, the most intense. Nepal and its beautiful mountains sacred revealed a pleasure in my nature to know. Top hundred yards without stopping up every day, pointing to an uncertain fate Snow, cold, and the best cards in the world, I generated a mixture of insecurity and joy hard to describe.

I went to the Annapurna base camp. With Ro and Goretti. I got, and began a journey even longer, The Annapurna Circuit, a circular route which surround, always watching closely, listening to the groans of his wild storms, large snowy giants.
There I had to squeeze every last ounce of energy in my body to crown, a 22 I will never forget April, the highest mountain pass of land for hiking enthusiasts. I came, without oxygen and without strength, after two days of insomnia for altitude sickness, the Torung La Pass, 5.416 meters powerful nature.

I did, also, after having found a great group of locals, most firefighters, with those who came across by chance, as in the big matches, and those who decided to turn a few days of challenge on the mountain in a lasting friendship. I do not know what would have happened without Gustavo nostro, Alberto, Java, Quique, Sara and Mari. I do not know, in earnest, What would have done without your attention, without their care, without your laughter.

If the two teachers of journalism who write travel to the past as well have, I'd love to tell you more extensively the mountain route, and give them names and even daring with some advice and a recommendation. Mojo me beforehand: The Himalayas are one of those places you have to come, if you can, sometime in life.

A crazed capital

When he finally returned to the world of capital more mad that I walked in life, Khatmandu, another surprise waiting for us: a general strike that kept us from the exit to India. I can not express in words the shock I supposed to see the city taken by the pickets, closed shops, brutal traffic muted.

Never fear we, but there was no way out of there, so we went back to the mountains. One last touch before leaving, finally, towards the final destination of the journey: the mysterious India.

How to explain what it means to be in the holy city, Varanasi, overlooking the River Ganges as thousands of Indians cremate their dead and revere the miraculous waters with dancing and burning incense?

This also write longer. But I have no illusions: How feelings can be summed up in the soul leaving the vast amount of acres and acres devoted to growing the best will in the world, that of Darjeleem? How to explain what it means to be in the holy city, Varanasi, overlooking the River Ganges as thousands of Indians cremate their dead and revere the miraculous waters with dancing and burning incense? How to count the marks left by the marble Taj Mahal in the open hands of curious traveler? What words could describe the harassment of 50 degrees prior to the arrival of monsoon in intolerably crowded New Delhi?

If I can, I also speak of Calcutta, impossible to place in the amazing living with pacifism, under the indelible memory of Mother Teresa, the major avenues and colonial palaces of time of Queen Victoria with the unbearable tide of alleys that make up the ruin and misery of Indian poverty.

I'll try, course. Try to put those feelings into words, although accurate awareness of the failure. But it will be anywhere else, out because of this blog has given me so much joy, and from which I felt so proud to participate in the birth of VOD, an essential site for anyone wanting to know what lies beyond the walls of your house.

And you do not miss. Board the train and Javier Ricardo illusion. The journey that I offer is full of magic. There are not many places like. Friends, has been a pleasure. Hasta siempre.

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Comments (3)

  • Xavier

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    Thanks for giving us a trip

    Answer

  • ricardo

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    You know what else I envy your trip is hiking on the Annapurnas. I think something I had to do and I'm glad a lot to awaken in you a love for the mountains. I would urge that the next summer we go up together the Monte Perdido (total 3.300 meters of nothing) But not jogging! Fantastico de tu blog (At the risk of this is over becoming an open bar compliments) I can only tell you: THANKS, THANKS, THANKS. It was a real pleasure reading your chronic Asia.

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  • Adrian

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    What a thrill, Juancho, read into words what we experienced one days: Lejano or seek? depends on how it evokes.
    Roll up on me, that's what I do and use and abuse of my blog, just say that I'm glad to have shared a bit of that with you, with Ro, with Tango, and all those smiles Indian and Nepalese; and I'm glad to know you're alive, and at least, still preserves some fingers, pq strip does not know about you.
    A kiss from Borneo, right track!

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