Well I have returned safe and sound...what an experience! I met some fantastic people, who I sincerely hope to stay in touch with. The scenery was awesome, like nothing I've ever seen (I am only 24!) and I thoroughly enjoyed India - the culture, the people, the crazy manoeuvres they call driving! I found myself being constantly amazed, impressed, bemused, shocked, inspired by things I saw or heard. In fact, something that stuck in my mind was a conversation I had with one of the girls at the Save the Children project in Kolcata - I told her that I really liked the culture in India and she was really suprised (I think she thought I was humouring her!), she said "why? it is so simple!" and I said that was why it was so good, it's uncomplicated and true. She really couldn't believe that I would prefer that way of life to the one back home!
Anyway, I will talk more about my experiences over the next couple of weeks. I wrote a journal whilst I was away and will share that with you on here...although I filled 2 books so it could take a while and I think I will have to cut it down considerably!
So...
Here is the schedule of what we did:
Friday 5th October
I arrive! Sightseeing tour of Delhi.
Saturday 6th October
9am - meet and go to India Gate for a group photo.
9.45 - Trek briefing with Gideon and Julian.
10.15 - Save the Children briefing.
11.15 - Global Challenge welcome lunch hosted be Chander Sethi (press attendance too!)
3pm - Sightseeing trip to Red Fort and Silver Market. Dinner in local restaurant and transfer to Old Delhi Station (Shyama Prasad, Mukherji Marg.)
9.30pm - Overnight sleeper train departs to Pathankot (arrive at 7.30am Sunday 7th)
Sunday 7th October (Pathankot to Dharamsala)
Arrive for lunch and check in to hotel.
Visit to H.H.Dalai Lama residence and monastery.
Dinner and pack for trek.
Monday 8th October (Mcleod Ganj - Mareri Village 2050m 14km)
Pass Tibetan Children's village and on to Satobari village. Steep descent to Ghera village. Ascent to Kareri village, overnight camp outside village.
Tuesday 9th October (Kareri - Bahl Village 2300m 12km)
Descent to Rawa village. Steep ascent for 3hrs through mixed forest of oak, rhodedendron and pine trees. Overnight camp by small river near Bahl Village.
Wednesday 10th October (Bahl - Triund 2975m 12km)
Steep ascent through mixed forest. Triund is an alpine meadow on top of a ridge with good views of peaks of Dhaula Dhar on one side and Kangra valley on the other side. Overnight camping.
Thursday 11th October (Triund - Laka 3500m 10km)
Gradual ascent to Laka Got (the site of a temporary Shepherd summer camp, situated at the snout of a small glacier). Weather permitting walk over Glacier to Lahes cave - an overnight shelter for shepherds going over the mountain. Return to Triund for overnight camping.
Friday 12th October (Triund - Mcleod Ganj (Dharamsala) via Laheta 12km
Trek over grassy ridge (4km) - view of valley and snowy peaks. Steep descent through Laheta village to Bhagsu village. 15 min drive to hotel just outside Mcleod Ganj. Evening celebratory meal with local folk music.
Saturday 13th October
Shop and explore. Lunch then transfer to Pathankot. Overnight train to Delhi departs 6.40pm.
Sunday 14th October
Transfer to Kolcata departing Delhi at 1.15pm. Arrive in Kolcata and transfer to hotel. Briefing by Save the Children India on project visits. Group dinner.
Monday 15th October and Tuesday 16th October
Project visits/sightseeing depending on groups
Tuesday evening start of departures. I leave for flight at 8pm.
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