A Traveler's Memoir

I packed my luggage and rode towards Malana and Kasol. Being a stoner, it was something to cherish, to be there for the New year. With the present climate, I could not start early. I started around 9 in the morning and found a stay by 7 in the evening. On reaching Malana after 2 days, I ended up at a fake party that brought me together with a few boys from Kerala. We just smoked up and lazed. On the 31st we took a bus ride to Manikaran for a natural hot spring bath. My plan was to attend a party as it was the new year but ended up cooking dinner for 5 people.  Happy New year 2020. Yeah, Cheers!  The first day of the year was lazy and I didn't like it. Everything happens for good and good things take time.  The place was a mess. Torn blankets, filthy kitchen, dozens of bottles stocked up, ashes everywhere, with cigarette buds thrown around. Cleaning happened only once a day though. The guy running it, Regish was a lovely soul but in vain. He said he used to work in Dubai ...

After leaving Chalsa, I kept moving towards Tawang. That evening I couldn't find a place before dark to camp and I was tired. I found a petrol pump and asked if I could camp beside it, he said there were sleeping arrangements in the station itself. I went inside to find about 20 freshly painted cots, even had a restaurant nearby but I was already done with my dinner, I went to sleep. The next day was again a long ride, covering about 300 kilometres climbing up and down the mountains. In the evening, I found a lovely place next to a pond. I requested the family nearby if I could camp and they agreed. I pitched my grand tent, washed my stinky clothes, took a bath and rested like a baby. He guided me about the roads and suggested I stay in Rupa next.  It gets dark very early in the North East of India. At 5 pm in the evening, it is as dark as 10 pm in Coorg. With my headlights, I did not want to risk riding after dark and these roads were unknown. Reaching Rupa around 6 30, I found a ...