I started my journey via train with Thrill blazers as an instructor. The train chuk chuk noise made my whole experience of knowing that I am going far away from my usual. Every second of my train journey was superbly inspired to move ahead in life as I am moving with the speed of the train.

 I carried my luggage thinking I am carrying my dreams. The twenty – four hours journey from Vadodara to Jalandhar never felt as I am alone with all strangers. We had ten instructors around and two hundred people with Thrill Blazers. Everyone was so friendly and generously built with their passion.

The morning of Jalandhar seemed aspiring, Sun rose behind the train station. I walked towards the hotel silently thinking how fascinating this journey would be. Cold morning turned up into a noisy hot road with exhausted people in traffic. We were about to reach Haveli – a five-star restaurant, I mesmerized it as my best lunch. Heavenly delicious veg thali with a good amount of quantity provided.

Mid afternoon we went ahead in a tempo traveller with round bumpy roads until we reached Manali finally. I saw wooden hut cottages in a small town named Palchan.

The next morning we left for Jogini waterfall trek with great enthusiasm. We started climbing through a snowy lane that took almost one and a half hours to reach the waterfall. The waterfall was snowfall. The snow was all over the mountain and I was able to see huge snowy mountains passing by the Beas river. It was evening when we were about to visit the local markets- the mall road of Manali. Travelers from different places were exploring the uniqueness of style, food, and culture.

Back at the hotel had a delicious dinner adding soup, salad, starter, the main course. Even though there was a sweet dish. We were all seated in a circle near the campfire. It was -14 °C, The night was cold but our hopes heated the place, everyone with us was talking, some teasing, some listening to music, ultimately stargazing.

The next morning started with a cup of tea and again 4 types of breakfast including Maggie, Sandwich, Sprouts Salad, Chole kulcha. We went ahead towards Solang Valley, Ajani Mahadev, filled with snow. People were playing with snow, making snowballs, and throwing on each other, which seemed blissful. There was a Shivalinga in the Shape of snow made from the drops of water. In the evening we visited the Hidimba temple and acknowledged the great history behind the beliefs.

Another day, We reached Negi’s Nest in Kasol. The beauty of the environment followed our way to Malana Village, an ancient village with a great history of farming weed and hash, believed that no man, woman, children can touch their body otherwise they will take fine also believe they won’t need any interaction with the outer world. Positivity comes within the sand of the Malana. It was an almost a half-day trek and hanging out on hills with hot spicy Maggie made it better. It increased my curiosity about knowing my surroundings so I started communicating with locals. We were back at the hotel and enjoyed the generous surprise of 31st December DJ party night by Thrill Blazers. The night was loaded with food, music, and dance.

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurudwara: Also referred to as Manikaran Gurudwara, situated 41 Km away from the hill station of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. It is among the most popular Sikh pilgrimage where people of different religious faith come in search of that ‘something’ which seems to always elude. It is said that Guru Nanak had given sermons in the area. We got peace as a gift from that place.

Last day in Kullu seemed adventurous in terms of activities, Paragliding became the realization of my tiny living being of this huge world. The height of the hill made me fly and mountains were cheering up for my courage. The blowing wind was holding my breath and the other second I fell for this madness. River rafting made me feel like I was drowning in dreams with floating water with a big smile of my happiness. I was in the boat drop by drop felt water on my face as if those were the sensitive moments I awaited.

Heart full of happiness amazed by the beauty of nature and experience became a remarkable presence of memories.

STORY OF THE EXPLORER SOUL

– BY HARDI PATEL