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Kalinchok and the road not taken



 Someone high above wanted it not to happen, I guess. Otherwise, I would surely have made it to the goddess' abode after journeying miles and miles and miles along the rough and tumble road. 

 Not that the journey was not beautiful. It was indeed one of the most beautiful and memorable journeys I have embarked on recently. Rhododendron blooms of various hues like red, pink, white and yellow were unforgettable and so were glimpses of majestic peaks from lush-green forests, though the sight of the Everest Brown Haze made me a bit sad. Even travelling on the back of a roaring, groaning jeep along treacherous stretches by holding one hand firmly on the steel railing and capturing the panorama of the Himalayas, the pastures and the far-off mountains with the other was an unforgettable experience. 


The very muddy stretch of Deurali did not seem to be an ordeal for a travel buff. 
And who can forget the last loop that lands you right at the heart of Kuri, teeming with look-alike resorts glowing in evening lights? I humbly request you to not compare Nepal with any other country in terms of natural beauty. 

The evening party that went till late into the night to welcome the new year 2076 BS will remain fresh in my mind for years and so will the circumstances that kept me off Kalinchok that is literally a stone's throw away from Kuri. 

Perhaps the constant exposure to the Himalayan wind on the back of the jeep was to blame for the ill health that kept me off Kalinchok. May be mountain sickness or partying without concern for health was the cause. Or who knows if all of these factors played their part in keeping me away from the ultimate destination?

The potatoes of Mude were delicious and so was the Churpi (the Himalayan chew). I was also expecting to see Chauri Gai – the Yak and the Naak -- along the way. But when none appeared, I inquired and the driver told me: The Chauri can survive only in snow. He added: In highlands, snow covers their bodies and they breathe by adjusting their nostrils in a way that lets them breathe. This effectively ended my search for Yak, at least for the time being.

Nonetheless, my striving to land at Kalinchok will continue. Life is full of limitless possibilities and I may land there one fine day, on foot or via the cable car. I imagine an attendant to the goddess calling my name and me saying 'present’ teacher, like a student, on a roll-call there. 


For now, I beg my leave with this Robert Frost poem: 



The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep.
Devendra Gautam

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