Zanskar trail - a seekers seek
Calling the ride on a two wheeler to Zanskar valley as adventurous is a mere small statement. Expressions fall short to describe what you go through as a first timer.
The basic principle of riding on gravel and loose sand is to look ahead instead of looking down on what you are riding on. It's like focus on your destination not on the tribulations that you are going through. For the destination is achievable only when you surpass your trials and tribulations by vanquishing them. This is the first lesson that this trail taught me. To look ahead, never look down and looking backwards is fatal like committing a grievous crime.
The road, if you can call it so, to Zanskar is filled with mesmerising beautiful views of the mountains with snow on its peak and rivers flowing with strong current against the rocks. The sound that emerges relaxes and settles you down. As they say what you seek is what you get. The moment you start enjoying the views on your left or right you will find that your bike turns to the same side. This wavering can lead to your downfall. A approx. few 100 meters downfall into the valley where the river flows in its glory. You have a path laid out and you have distractions or mesmerising traps on the sides. What's required of you is to keep your bike handle straight, your throttle steady and your gaze on the destination. No temptations. No lures. Your desire to absorb all the beauty around must be overcome so that you keep a steady ride on what ever is available to you to ride on.
To absorb all the beauty around you need to show respect by slowing down and making a stop. Get out of your bike and look around. Absorb the beauty and then hop on and ride. You are not allowed to have a fleeting gaze while riding.
By the time you reach the last stretch of the tarmac road that takes you to your destination Zanskar Valley. You are covered with sand and dust. Like you are soaked in with the happiness that you survived all that was thrown at you. Riding on the final stretch of tarmac is pure ecstasy. The view is stunning, the ride is amazing. You feel like you are floating in the clouds.
Given all the luxury that you can afford why to take up a journey which is filled with discomfort, fear of falling on sharp cut gravel stones, falling and getting drenched in the ice cold waters while riding through the river crossings or worst plunging into the valley that is few hundred meters deep?
Why to reach the renowned monasteries where great souls got enlightenment you have to walk through toughest mountain terrains?
Thoughts are like threads interleaved and entangled. You keep adding more and more such threads with each passing day. Gradually this collection reaches to a point when the need to entangle and remove the unnecessary threads becomes most urgent. Entangling them, getting rid of of the unnecessary ones is a long process - an arduous one. One has to do it for it's well being and progression in life.
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