Engine, Spirit and the Himalayas

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king” – J.R.R. Tolkien

Many people have asked me these questions:
Wow. A trip to Ladakh. But, why on a Bike?
What do you mean when you say that it might be a solo ride? 
Have you really thought through it? Are you aware of the risks?
What’s the point of taking a vacation and expose yourself to hardships? We already have our plates full, don’t you think?

Instead of replying to these questions, I usually ask one back – Do you really know who you are? Honestly, very few people, that I’ve come across, do have an answer to that. An answer, which is devoid of your name, sex, caste, family, education degree and job. The real ‘you’ has been in a limbo for a long time. 

I believe that an open road is a place where you find out who you are. Every decision you make has an immediate and palpable effect. This is not just about finding your way; it's about the decisions that shape the experience in its completeness. How will I overcome this obstacle? What will happen if I accept this invitation? What do these people and places have to teach me? That's what the open road means, and that's why no two journeys on it are ever the same.

A bike trip to Ladakh will not be a tale of heroics and machismo. Rather, it should be a human tale on two wheels, challenging, unpredictable and meandering.  The majority of the route will be wonderfully miserable. It will be tough, as your body and mind get hit by wave after wave of emotions. One shall expect physical hardship and extreme conditions. A ride that will take you to the Eldorado, to places where life will appear so different, to surroundings which will appear so serene and the best part is the feeling of liberation from the chaos of the urban world, no phones, no emails, no meetings, where you only answer the call of the mighty mountains.

For most bikers, riding in Ladakh on the mountain roads which wind their way through the Himalayas is a challenge. Everybody can do it but not everybody does. It takes courage of a different kind to actually set out on this special road trip. The hurdles a motorcycle and its rider face when on these high altitude roads are positively uncountable. Whether you ride solo or you ride with a bunch of people like yourself, I believe, this adventure will affect you as an individual.  Call it philosophy or call it spirituality, either way, you will be a changed person by the time you reach home. Reason is simple. Nothing can ever prepare you for the experience of life on the road: the petty squabbles, the extreme hospitality, the unexpected joys and dangers. 

I’m not going to talk about how one should take this trip. Frankly, I have no right. I am due for one in the next couple of months. Whatever be the scenario, I will take a shot at it. I do not know whether I will make it to the top of the world or hit a roadblock before that. But if I do succeed, I will ensure to stretch right up and touch the sky.