Sowing the seeds of slow travel
My first trip to Leh – Ladakh was accidental. The following year I accompanied my brother, as a support member, during this maiden bike trip. The cold desert has taught me to accept the harsh realities and forge ahead steadfastly in our pursuits. Most importantly accept the unexpected and find solution to the problem.
On my second trip, as we left Leh for Hunder, an oasis in the Nubra Valley, we heard murmurs of a possible Chakka Jaam. The locals were abuzz with a possible strike by the travel union. We reached our boutique hotel after an evening at the Hunder sand dunes. The strike murmurs became official. No vehicles – private or public would be allowed to ply to and fro from Leh. Fellow tourists, the hotel owner and our group was stoked. It was a big dent for all in midst of the busy tourist season.
The Chakka Jaam
Traversing the chilly and hilly region of Leh-Ladakh is challenging, often testing the mental and physical health of a city dweller. Spending an additional day at Hunder meant changing our travel itinerary. Many in our group did not want to miss seeing the spectacular Pangong Tso Lake – neither did me. The climate, topography and the journey did not allow us to take the risk of leaving our hotel and travel towards Leh. We decided to spend our day at the hotel and planned the unthinkable – drive from Hunder to Pangong Tso Lake early next morning!
We woke up late and enjoyed a lazy breakfast. The hotel staff was not in a hurry, no new guests were expected that day. The stream flowing along the hotel lawn lent a beautiful rhythm. The cold water became our cooler. We listened to the sound of birds and enjoyed the calmness. Following a leisurely lunch we strolled exploring the surrounding area. We were anxious and excited to start our travel to Leh at dawn.
The Chakka Jaam forced us to slow down. The Leh-Ladakh trip is a hectic and a precarious journey. The extra day allowed us to take is easy, laze around and just admire the nature’s beauty.
Seeding Slow Travel
For me it sowed the seeds of slow travel. It encouraged me to plan my travel mindfully, to appreciate the experience than just drawing a travel itinerary.
Indians are travelling like never before – be it international vacations, domestic holidays, adventure or weekend trips. We now plan long holidays and short weekend trips in advance. Off-beat destinations, unexplored experiences are attracting travellers. For some ticking off the travel bucket list one of the annual resolution. The true essence of travel is lost somewhere in this process.
On the other hand the busy city lifestyle and an urge to follow one’s passion has fuelled a need for a relaxed travel. There are ample examples of people wanting to take a break, often a solo break, to read, learn some art or even participate in sports events, etc.
Years back I consciously planned my first holiday with my mother without falling in the temptation of covering the entire travel circuit. Sticking to just a couple of destinations helped us to relax and spend time together. Since then we both decided to always plan an individual itinerary and to travel off-season.
A city traveller becomes anxious if he/she is not on the move even when on a holiday. When I first visited Ladakh we had a stopover at Lamayuru on the way to Kargil. A small quint place overlooking a beautiful mountain, initially we were little uneasy not knowing how to spend the entire day. The beauty of a relaxed travel is we start appreciating the place and its surrounding as we spend more time there. Often not willing to leave when it’s time to pack-up.
Lockdown Resetting Our Lifestyle
The Chakka Jaam was much like the lockdown today. Covid-19 has forced us to pause, reflect on our own lives and relationships. We have learnt to appreciate what we have and respect the Mother Nature.
India’s natural beauty was appreciated amass during the lockdown – as our urban lifestyle and chimneys slowed down. From seeing Himalayan ranges from remote distances, blue skies, birds chirping to animals roaming freely, we captured it on social media. Hoping Leh-Ladakh’s fragile bio-diversity burdened under the increased tourism also heals, un-folding it’s natural miracles. Facing another delicate geo-political situation, this region will yet again teach us another lesson of grit and determination, of facing harsh realities and emerging victorious.
Next time I plan a holiday, connecting with the locals and understanding the regional nuances will be my priority. How has travel shaped your thinking? Which travel experience is close to your heart?
Nurture winning thoughts!
Tejal
