Me and my friend Yadu travelled from Kochi, the southern part of India to Dharmsala, Himachal pradesh. Himachal Pradesh is gifted with the beauty of the Great Himalayas. We reached Mecclod Gunjj after traveling 3,500+ km. I never been to North India, its a different kind of experience. We spend around 3 weeks in Hill Hacks, which changed my view about life to a great extend.
1. Community Living
Hillhackers are diverse in all their origin, language, gender & personality. I never been to a community with such diversity. I was a little afraid, but it changed from my day one. We reached there in a morning, so most of the people were sleeping. Tink was up there. she welcomed us with a great smile. you wouldn’t forget her, if you talk to her and get to you know her. she took us around, gave us space to help her in arrange with the direction markings and name boards.
Every single day was different. New people kept coming, some went in between . i could say hillhacks was a happening place. There is something interesting happening in there all the time. people are passionate about life, nature and the invisible lines between them. interestingly most of them are from tech background, who believes that technology can bring smile to more faces, like i do.
Everyone happily collaborated in doing everything. From cooking to composting, cleaning the place to decorating,we found joy in the little things in life . I was a kind of guy who found interest in a very few things. after reaching there, i started finding interest in everything around. I made an apple pie from scratch ( yeah we techies like the term from scratch ), you could ask my mom i was never into cooking : P
2. life is beautiful, and its completely under our control
I was confused, like every youngster, Like every newborn engineers. I didn’t have any clue about where my life was going. I chose the less travelled as my path. parents were upset. One of the most important thing i learned from hillhackers is life is simple, do what you love to do, rest of things will fall in place. They showed me that there is absolute possiblity by their life’s.
We actually don’t need a home or specific place to live. i have seen people who are traveling around the world all the time. its kind of a new insight for me.
3. Music, arts and culture
The first thing i remember about hillhacks is Aruna singing karnatik music. words wouldnt describe it , its above all the words i know. it was so intense like life around came to pause. stood still.
We had many guitars and few other instruments with us. Every night, after dinner we used to make camp fire and sit around it. Lochan and some others used to play guitar and sing. i am really missing it.
The night before the ending day, we had this jam session. Lochan, Ted, Ankur prabhu was there sitiing in our made up stage. The devosional song about shiva by ayush made an atmosphere there.
“Jay shiva shankar, jay shiva shankar jay shiva shankar hare…. “
The key thing i have observed is that every one have more than one interest. most of hillhackrs are into tech, at the same time into music, arts and culture. i started learning guitar after coming back from hillhacks, Its interesting. one day i want to express myself with music.
4. Its time to dream a new dream
I had a dream, maybe my most beautiful dream. What i wanted from life after all of this huddles. Sitting in a quiet place, facing all those good souls. i wanted to tell stories for them. Tiny tales of goodness, happiness and kindness. I want to see the light of those good thoughts in every face.
Actually this is what is i wanted to do when I’m old, But hillhacks showed me no dream is big or unattainable. Parvathi, one of the most kind person i met from hillhacks ask me to read something in malayalam ( My mother tongue ). So i read ‘Manju’ ( mist ) by M.T Vasudevan Nayar for them. I look at it as my holy book, its about the loneliness of a woman who stays in naitital, near himalayan vallies. I started reading, Cherry ( who is a malayali, and one of the mind behind the hillhacks concept) translated it to english. Everyone was listening closely, the most interesting thing is that most of them are foreigners. i was so happy at that moment, maybe it was one of the most wonderful moments in my life.
5. Do a trekking, it will be awesome
I don’t like walking too much. 6 hours is too long for anyone, right ? Everyone from hillhacks were telling about trekking. we should do it at-least once in our life. ‘Triyoond’ was the nearer trekking destination, so i started in a fine morning with yadu and three others.
Trekking is not about the destination, its all about the journey. one can easily relate life with trekking. people pass by, nobody remains with us for ever. nature is the constant companion. We stayed in triyund for that night and trekked till snow line next day.
The nature amazed me while walking from triyund to snow-line cafe. I never felt the nature ever before. The breeze, those sounds by infinite different insects and the view. i wish i could have take a book so that i can sit and read from there. Nature have more tales for us than in any book. Maybe because its less polluted, my eyes become HD. The green color around soothed my soul as well. I felt the warm hug of mother earth.
The places I found interesting
- MeccLod Gunjj
MeccLod Gunjj is located above dharmsala. In my observation mecclod is less touristy. Mecclod is a place mostly occupied by tibetans. HH Dalilama is staying in same street. I couldn’t make it to attend his speech. I really loved this place, narrow roads, road side tea shops and awesome food. Tibetan food are so special, especially moms,thukpa and thenthuk.
2. Illiterati Cafe
Its hard to describe Illiterati Cafe. Its kind of a feeling. maybe the most beautiful space i have ever been in. a space where all walls are book shelfs, a piano on your side. people from different parts of world are sharing a table, playing guitar and singing melodies you never heard of. I enjoyed my honey tea looking into the valleys and the snow in himalayas. Lochan took me there. We met ankur from there. he used to live there for a year. Lochan and ankur found their thoughts relatable, it was another rememberable moment watching them discuss music , art performance and how beautiful life is.
Before the full stop
There is no one who haven’t gifted me a smile at-least. I won’t say thank you, family is more than words. I will remember all those moments we have shared. I will spread the lessons of love you all taught me. Its all about happiness and sharing.
