Travel Blog by Kopal Jain
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I realised how blatant my contention with time had become. “I want to do this (and that) before I turn 30,” I would tell myself. And then the course of ticking the box began. Collecting experiences after experiences and memories after memories. You see, the ‘live fast and live more’ fad grew on me too, until a few days ago, when I released, contentment shouldn’t be ephemeral, it shouldn’t be rushed into my life. It has to be an enduring attribute, that takes its time to arrive, stay and leave, just like the seasons I love. The yearning would kill me, I know, but so will the sweet indulgence. ✨ . . . . #traversedlands #nepal #travel #indianphotographyhub #love #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #bookstagram #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #_soi #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe #muktinath
When I left Yak Kharka for Thorong Phedi, I saw a little tea shop on the other side of the river. We had to cross the bridge anyway so I decided to sip on some ginger tea while waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. As Dai (brother) crushed ginger on a stone, he said, “Thorong Phedi is just an hour from here. Go slow”. I smiled and nodded in agreement. I assumed he just wanted me to take it easy considering I was a bit ahead of my group. “Do you have earphones?”, he asked. “Nahi, Dai. I am not carrying any”, I responded with a puzzled expression. “Good. From this point to the Phedi is a landslide prone area” he said while handing me the cup, “rocks and stones roll down the mountains and injure trekkers. Most people listen to the music on their headphones instead of paying attention to the sounds of the nature and miss the warnings and alarms” Listening to him, I almost forgot about the tea in my hands. He pointed towards the cup to remind me to drink it before it gets cold and continued, “5 mins from here, you’ll see a landslide warning sign, from there onwards, instead of looking down on the trail, look up at the mountain on your side. Keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention to the sounds you hear. Stop when you see stones rolling down the mountain and only resume walking if you don’t see any movement for 3-4 minutes.” I nodded again, this time, with a little concern on my face, which he immediately read. “Don’t worry”, he smiled, “nature isn’t ruthless. She warns. People just don’t pay any heed” ... . . . #traversedlands #annapurnacircuit #nepal #travel #trekking #annapurnacircuit #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #himalayas #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #everest #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #trekkinginnepal #adventuretravel #nepaltravel
Thorong La Pass | 5416m (17,769 ft.) I broke down. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. When I woke up at 4 am to leave from High Camp (4850m) to get to Thorong La Pass, I realised that it had snowed all night. I could feel a hole in my stomach and no, it wasn’t hunger even though I had skipped dinner. I closed my eyes and told myself, “you have crossed villages, meadows, bridges and forests for 9 days, you don’t get to give up now” . I was supposed to load up on carbs before leaving, instead, I had 4-5 spoons of garlic soup & 2 biscuits before the final ascend began. When everyone asked me to eat more, I just shook my head and with a nervous smile, I told them, “4 am is too early for breakfast”. BIGGEST MISTAKE! . About 30 mins before I reached the pass, I started showing a few symptoms of AMS like panting, high heart rate and blinding headache. After walking for another 15 mins, I cupped my head and dropped on the snow with tears rolling down my eyes because I legit thought I could sense my eyes losing the sight. Kamal Dai, our guide and the most humble man I met in Nepal, took my hand and said, “you didn’t stop in the last 9 days. You can’t stop now. Walk with me for 10 more steps. As soon as we reach the pass, we will start descending immediately. It will restore oxygen in your brain and you’ll be able to see again.” . I took his hand and started to follow him with my eyes closed. As soon as I reached the pass, I sat on a rock, Kamal Dai made me lean forward and asked me to breathe as hard as I could. It took me 10 mins to calm down and then I opened my eyes. I remember @vivi_erlinaa hugged me and whispered in my ears, “we made it, Kopal”. I also remember smiling and crying at the same time because I was so glad to be able to see what I had accomplished even when every nerve in my body urged me to give up. . I am still trying to process what happened in those 20 mins. A lot of moments are blurry, most are completely missing. @sisca_sisi has been trying to show me pictures and videos in an attempt to retrieve my memory. And I? I keep thinking about how, for a few blurry moments, my body gave up on me but my mind didn’t. 😊 . #traversedlands #annapurnacircuit
Starting the toughest and also the last part of ACT tomorrow from Yak Kharka to Muktinath. It has been a challenging week and I have no idea how I feel about it ending in 3 days. I honestly didn’t think I’d make it to day 2, but here I am, typing this as I pack for the final ascend. It will be a no network zone, so I’ll see you guys in a few days, bringing you new stories and landscapes to obsess over! 😊 . . . #traversedlands . . #nepal #travel #trekking #annapurnacircuit #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #himalayas #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe #adventuretravel #passionpassport
You stand a chance to win a Myntra voucher worth Rs. 10,000, simply by taking part in #Myntra10in10 contest. All you have to do is upload a video mentioning 10 brands and their products that you love, within 10 seconds. Make sure to add #Myntra10in10 @traversedlands and @myntra in the caption. Also, keep your profile public till 19th June so that I can share my favourite entries in my stories. The final winners will be selected by Myntra team. Good luck! ♥️ . . . #traversedlands #myntra . . . #nepal #travel #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #bookstagram #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #_soi #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe
Oh Chame! 🌸 If I were to pick a place to make an abode for the rest of my life, it would be this magnificent village. As soon as you enter, you see little kids smiling, saying ‘namaste’, men and women subtly bow their heads with the kindest eyes to tell you that they are happy to see you and the prayer flags all around the village dance with the winds, as if they were just waiting for your arrival. What a beautiful, magical world! ✨ . . . #traversedlands . . #nepal #travel #trekking #annapurnacircuit #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #himalayas #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe #adventuretravel #chame
I can’t even begin to explain the views I have been served by Annapurna Conservation Area. The tiny villages, the trails that connect them, the suspension bridges, the farmlands, the waterfalls, the landscape here changes after every village. I am in awe of this beautiful place and can’t wait for the experience I am about to embark upon in the coming week! . . . . #traversedlands . . #nepal #travel #trekking #annapurnacircuit #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #himalayas #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe #adventuretravel #adventuresports
Last day in Pokhara 🌸 I am travelling with @vayaindia Drynk as my refillable water bottle/tumbler to avoid buying the single-use plastic bottles till I reach Besisahar tomorrow. Drynk has been so useful here in Nepal, from Kathmandu’s chilly weather to Pokhara’s bright and sunny days, this insulated bottle has kept the water temperature intact! I’d have to part ways with it in Besishahar as I would need a bigger container to store water but if you are looking forward to replacing single-use plastic bottles, I’d highly recommend Drynk by @vayaindia ✨ . #traversedlands . 📷 @desigirltraveller . . . #traversedlands #vayaindia #vayadrynk #insulatedwaterbottle . . . #nepal #travel #indianphotographyhub #annapurna #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #pokhara #breakfastofchampions #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #bookstagram #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #_soi #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe
I wasn’t really sure about what to expect when I arrived in Kathmandu. I had received all sorts of opinions and advices - carry a dust mask, there is nothing left to see after the earthquake, it’s slow and dull, yada yada! I guess they forgot to tell me about the spirit of this city, about how people recovered from their worst nightmare, about how they open their doors to strangers like me and welcome them with an open heart, about how progressive the society is. . Well, I still have a couple of days to spare before I start with Annapurna Circuit Trek on 11th, and I am glad I decided to spend that time here, exploring some more of Kathmandu and Pokhara. ✨ . . Dress : @aksbynidhi . . . #traversedlands . . . #traversedlands #Annapurna #annapurnacircuit #nepaltourism #india_clicks #dslrofficial #indiapictures #ootd #sportswear #photography #travelblogger #indiantravelblogger #photographersofindia #sheisnotlost #ifoundawesome #storiesofindia #safari #mypixeldiary #yourshot_india #indiapictures #IAMNikon #everydayindia #solotravel #shetravels #iiframe #coloursofindia #indiansafari #kathmandu #nepal
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