A difficult journey for a spectacular view

So this is what we walk, sweated and staggered for 3 to 4 hours for.... no not the half naked guy on the right, but the magic view of the mountains, which we saw for approximately 2 minutes before it disappeared behind the clouds. This flat bit of ground between and couple of mountains is known as Triund and stands at 2975m - the highest I've ever been!

And the clouds come in fast at around 11:30 - 12. So, we left Tushita at 7:30 in order to beat the mist. The journey is broken by a few stops at chai shops on the way up, and many other stops to 'look at the view' aka catch my breath. The photo below is taken at Triund. I couldn't take another step once I arrived but Rob continued up this hill. He is the tiny speck in the middle of two trees with prayer flags strung between them.

Rob chillin at the chai shop half way up. Zip off shorts are now big in McLeod Ganj thanks to Robs trend setting........ yeeeaa!

Here are a few fellow trekkers at the top. The dog was not with us but was obviously a mountain dog as it perched itself on top of a rock like it was the most comfortable place in the world to be.

He is Rob checking out the view.

Some of us ate banana and peanut butter sandwiches and some of us ate Vegemite and Laughing Cow cheese sandwiches...... and those were fellow Aussies of course! Funny how you all come together when you travel.

I slid down here on a piece of cardboard. It was so much fun!!!!!

People actually live in these stones houses half way up the mountain. These people were farmers but there are also many meditators that live up here in isolation for months and years at a time. The conditions are very basic and freezing in winter. At least if your trying to meditate you won't be disturbed because conditions are so harsh up here. No running water, electricity etc.... Great place to find peace!!

Some of the views on the way up and down.

At the first chai shop - see the sky is clear early on. Free (left) and Corey (right) both Aussies...

The journey ended with pizza and and good sleep!!

P.S.

While I was writing this blog in a small internet cafe in the small town of Dharmkot, I was surrounded by young Indian boys (about 12 years old). There was about 15 of them. Actually, they were mostly crowded about the computer next to me but spilled over to my computer too. They were curious to see pictures of their local hinking spot Triund. The reason they were crowded around the computer was because it was the end of the school year and they were checking out their results online. I was having a little peek as I was 'blogging''. Some of them did quite well and some poor little tikes found out they failed in front of all their friends..... aaawah! However, I really love the sense of community in these small villages, where everything is shared.