Sweet, sour and counting down
Door: Siva
13 November 2008 | Nepal, Pokhara
To the people of the world:
Hi. How's life?
I did something stupid yesterday... On my way back up the mountain I decided to take a short cut and actually climb the side instead of taking a boring goat trail. Little did I know, and this mistake almost cost me dearly. I got stuck in the middle. No easy way up, and no safe way down. I was hanging on to small branches when the rocks stopped, and even onto long grass as soon as the little trees disappeared... There were some defining moments, around 40 meters up, when I realized that I was completely alone, on the side of a mountain, with 15 kgs in a rucksack, no ropes, no hooks, no nothing, and the only way was going to be up. But the further up I went, the more difficult it got to find support. Any mistake I made would result into me crashing down at least 60 meters (40 to the bottom, and another 20 of ricepaddies et al.), probably hitting plenty of things harder than my skull on the way down. I couldn't take my rucksack off because I was afraid of losing my balance, and there were points when I needed to rest my arms, one at a time, because I could no longer make a proper fist. It was the single most scary experience I've ever had, and I'm very glad to have survived to tell the tale.
It's ironic that it should happen exactly 7 days after I almost drowned while kayaking. It has put a lot of things into perspective and has made me more aware of a lot of things. For instance - no part of me wants to ever again be in a situation where there literally is no safe way back and no easy advance. Only a good choice of roads will lead you anywhere, and what seems like a shortcut might be a horrible illusion instead.
Having said this, there have been other changes in my way of thinking, my lifestyle and my plans for the future while I have been here. I can't put them all down here but be sure that if it concerns you in any way, you'll be sure to find out in the near future. It's all for the best.
I'll be skipping tonight's local trance party. A full moon party sounds wierd and wonderful, but I'm in no mood to be surrounded by a hoard of lunatics, howling in the night and mutated in the morning. I'm planning one last trek - up a safe trail this time - to the top of Sarangkot, where I will spend a night and walk back down the next day. No short cuts, just a good solid march against time instead.
More after...
Shanti !
Hi. How's life?
I did something stupid yesterday... On my way back up the mountain I decided to take a short cut and actually climb the side instead of taking a boring goat trail. Little did I know, and this mistake almost cost me dearly. I got stuck in the middle. No easy way up, and no safe way down. I was hanging on to small branches when the rocks stopped, and even onto long grass as soon as the little trees disappeared... There were some defining moments, around 40 meters up, when I realized that I was completely alone, on the side of a mountain, with 15 kgs in a rucksack, no ropes, no hooks, no nothing, and the only way was going to be up. But the further up I went, the more difficult it got to find support. Any mistake I made would result into me crashing down at least 60 meters (40 to the bottom, and another 20 of ricepaddies et al.), probably hitting plenty of things harder than my skull on the way down. I couldn't take my rucksack off because I was afraid of losing my balance, and there were points when I needed to rest my arms, one at a time, because I could no longer make a proper fist. It was the single most scary experience I've ever had, and I'm very glad to have survived to tell the tale.
It's ironic that it should happen exactly 7 days after I almost drowned while kayaking. It has put a lot of things into perspective and has made me more aware of a lot of things. For instance - no part of me wants to ever again be in a situation where there literally is no safe way back and no easy advance. Only a good choice of roads will lead you anywhere, and what seems like a shortcut might be a horrible illusion instead.
Having said this, there have been other changes in my way of thinking, my lifestyle and my plans for the future while I have been here. I can't put them all down here but be sure that if it concerns you in any way, you'll be sure to find out in the near future. It's all for the best.
I'll be skipping tonight's local trance party. A full moon party sounds wierd and wonderful, but I'm in no mood to be surrounded by a hoard of lunatics, howling in the night and mutated in the morning. I'm planning one last trek - up a safe trail this time - to the top of Sarangkot, where I will spend a night and walk back down the next day. No short cuts, just a good solid march against time instead.
More after...
Shanti !
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13 November 2008 - 09:55
Zzvlnka *):
yes ... how adventurous spirit you might have, sometimes being careful saves your life
... as u know ... what doesn't kill u makes u stronger ;) only the aware will learn from it ;) so, well done ;)
ironic indeed, watch out for the next 7th day ;) get back whole (as we say:) not in pieces, all right!!!
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13 November 2008 - 11:33
Pop:
the rules were you cum back safe !!! -
13 November 2008 - 12:51
Giovani:
Sounds good, sometimes we need a good kick in the ass for a revelation, and I imagine thats exactly why you took this trip!
Cheers buddy
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
