We were an interesting bunch. Me, my little sister, my mom, her two sisters, their two daughters, and my grandmother. 8 women, from 3 generations, on a trip across the northernmost parts of India. We were driving up, near the mountain peaks, when we stepped out of the car momentarily, to absorb the view.
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The rocky terrains of Kashmir are not for the fainthearted. On one side lies the face of a mountain, the other side is a sheer cliff, that drops so far below that you can’t see all the way down. The drivers steer the cars so fast that you fear your life at every turn. The narrow roads are so littered with stones, that you bounce up and down, praying that if you do live, your organs remain in the same places.
At the highest points, where crisp white snow dot the peaks, the air becomes so thin that breathing requires continuous effort, and the wind is cold and piercing. When you peer over the edge of the mountain, there lie the valleys far below, expansive stretches of shockingly green grass, only interrupted by the flow of sparkling blue rivers that meander through the landscape.
The enchanting combination of towering mountains, and lush glens give this area the nickname the “Switzerland of India”, and rightfully so. Never have I seen a place with such immense beauty, and a fascinating culture and rich history to accompany it.
The Kashmir conflict, a territorial clash between India and Pakistan over the region, has historically been a source of disagreements, battles, and war. Near the border of the two nations, I saw troops patrolling, walking in formation, protecting their land. This close to an infamous war zone, your heart can’t help but skip a few beats. The thought of the struggles, the bloodshed, the horrors that this place has seen – the thought alone is frightening. But not much further from that, scattered among the hills, were innumerable monasteries and Buddhist temples that rendered a sense of indescribable tranquility. That serenity seemed worlds away from the uneasiness of the border. For every harsh cliff, there was a gentle river. Where there were encapsulating chills up in the mountains, there was sunshine down below. What I saw, was peace and beauty, even within war and roughness. What I saw, in Kashmir, was the presence of hope, even within despair.
This place is a whole other dimension. Its beauty is surreal, its landscape is wondrous, and when I stood there, in the imposing mountains, I was merely a pebble on that treacherous mountain road, taking in the world below. 8 women, from 3 generations, stood there on that mountain. My grandmother was huddling her shawl in the cold, my sister was tugging on the arms of my cousins, my mom and my aunts were talking about the amazing view. I stood there, gazing into the earth and into the never-ending sky. I felt little, and overwhelmed. I was part of something bigger than me, something bigger than I could have ever imagined.
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1 Reply to “A Pebble on a Mountain Road”
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Great information. I love travelling and the winter holidays are best to go out with family and friends. there are many places in India for the best winter holiday. here is the list 5 Best Winter Holiday Destinations In India
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As per my opinion Mountains are the real beauty of any country but not only a particular country is the the natural beauty of World….. It gives feeling like we are in heaven.
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Wow, that’s a great list. The Free Tours By Foot sounds amazing and such a great way to explore a city. Have you guys ever tried indoor skydiving? It’s not cheap, but it’s a great activity for the whole family. Some of the centers even offer a Virtual Reality experience. With more and more tunnels popping up it’s become quite easy to find a spot nearby. For those interested check out dropzone.com/indoor/ . They’ve got a nifty tunnel finder.
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Hi There,
Thank you for putting together a list for Fall vacation. It is so informative and exciting. We love the nature! We should be planning a trip to Aspen Mountain, Colorado soon. The infographic on emergency is so well done and very handy for travelers.
visiting california is always enjoyable. thanks for sharing your feelings about california. Have traveled any other countries? I’ve been travelling for last 2 years and I would like to share some of my great experinces with you. do you accept guest post?
Everything in this blog is nice. Fabolous infographic and presentation also. I also want to go there for these types of rides which are shown in this blog.
First of all, you need to find out what type of vacation each member of your family prefers. At lunch, dinner, or watching your favorite TV show in the evening, try discussing your upcoming vacation together. Listen to suggestions from everyone, remember where you have already visited and, taking into account the interests of the child, try to choose the right direction. It should be borne in mind all the details: the possibility of excess spending, the size of the vacation budget, the presence of health problems, interests, hobbies and hobbies. If you are organizing a trip with your child, you will have a wonderful joint vacation!
NYC is a great place to celebrate Halloween, and good opportunities for celebrity sightings too!
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Thank you for sharing the Information and images… Its very good and I am traveling soon on this place
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The moon landing marked the culmination of America’s Cold War human spaceflight program and positioned itself as a global leader in science and technology. Apollo 11, the mission Armstrong and Aldrin flew with colleague Michael Collins, represented the U.S. accomplishing a seemingly impossible goal on a seemingly impossible timeline. Fifty years later, the world is remembering the historic mission and its impact on society and science, thanks to all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE.
I am also a collector of space memorabilia and I run a website dedicated to Space Exploration memorabilia https://www.space-collectibles.com . In fact, I leave in Paris, France. (Yes, that does mean I drink too much wine and eat too much cheese) . Since the age of 21, I became a big fan of Space Exploration as I studied in Cap Canaveral Florida, and worked with the engineers that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. So, this is perhaps the reason why I became a pasionate Space Collectioner of photos from the space race in the 60’s from Nasa and Soviet programs. I whish I could be in all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE
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Hey, Grandparents are the blessing of God to there kids and I am a professional travel agent of “Thia’s Travel Services” planned lots of successful tourism if you are planning or looking for more luxury trip and affordable tours with your friends and family feel free to keep in touch
Hey thanks for such a nice article, there is nothing better than getting away with the fam or group of mates into the wilderness and just relaxing while staring into those embers. I go camping regularly and I know you stated unplugged but if you dont play an instrument I highly recommend bringing along a nice loud Bluetooth speaker to jam away with all of you friends into the late night. That and beer ofcourse.
Thanks again and keep up the good work
Hershey is such a fun town to visit with so many family-friendly activities. We loved driving up to spend the weekend when we lived in Maryland.
Excellent post, Firsta! I enjoy reading about your travel experiences! Can’t wait to read your next blog post!
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Doing so saves money on your shipping costs. Most travelers are charged for gas as they are free. Tourists save money on car rentals and pay for their travels.