Sleeping Buddha

This 16 km trek [Sabargram-Phalut-Sabagram] starting from the early morning sunrise was refreshing. Witnessing the unique moment of sunrise on the top of the Himalayas together with Trekmates can be fun.The sleeping Buddha appeared in the morning for a while before it went behind the blankets of cloud. The route stretched along the border of Nepal where you can see both India & Nepal on opposite sides of the trail. Since the trekkers were given Eco Bags to collect recyclable wastes from the track, one of our members found a gambling card. It showed that Nepal is on the way to start the game of LIFE. 

 

This route was one of my best experiences to witness the scenic surroundings full of Valleys, Mountains, Greenery, Flowers etc. The view from the top of Phalut was amazing but the sky was not so kind to us that day to make the visuals even more iconic. The Himalayan mountain range can surpass many things even behind the clouds. I came across many wild flowers, plants on the way which I'm not aware of & there are so much to learn about their habits of survival over centuries especially Pine trees. With frequent changes of the harsh weather on the top, these species have adapted with the climatic condition of the planet to prove their strong survival nature. Climate change is real & can be felt both at the top of the mountain with the melting of glacier & underwater sea with the bleaching of Corals. 

 

With trekmates

                                               

                                                

 

 

Sleeping Buddha

The trek to Sandakphu is not only a physical challenge but a spiritual experience, as trekkers pass through lush forests, charming villages, and experience the unique cultural heritage of the Sherpa and Bhotia people. We got a small luck to witness Mt. Everest for few minutes on our way to Phalut & Arjun the trek leader gave us an info about an app called PEAKFinder which can be helpful to identify the peaks like Kanchanjunga, Lhotse & others.

 

Though I survived without a padded jacket by layering up with clothes that I was carrying, one thing helped me on the way. "Churpi" which is hard Yak Cheese. Initially one needs to keep it in the mouth for an hour so that the saliva can make it little soft by detaching the outer layer & the size keeps reducing. It's very healthy but don't expect it to be very tasty & strong like the chewing gum that we are used to. It is very mild in taste which keeps your mouth wet all the time. With altitude gain our mouth tends to become dry. "Churpi" is good for heart & joint. While trekking everyone feels the joint pain which can be distracting at some point to enjoy the trip. Hence "Churpi" supports Joint health, strengthens Jaw muscle & is a good source of Vitamin B12 for maintaining healthy nerves & blood cells.

It was very foggy after sunset & it is highly recommended to carry good head lamps as visibility can be a challenge at night. Extra fog lights can be helpful.

Key points I learned from the trek:

• Breaking Self Imaginary Limit
• Clarity
• Close 2 Nature
• Overcoming Challenges

 

Though I didn't carry Padded Jacket (Note: Everyone should carry even though the weather updates might play tricks on you), I didn't forget to carry Patta (cards) ;p. All well that ends well & on our last day at Gurdum where we ended up bluffing each other by playing games. I was happy that whatever I carried came into play in some way :)