TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 43

caps, not knowing how exactly a negative temperature would feel. Our initial prognosis was that it could be tolerable, but we soon changed our minds. As part of the training for the Chadar Trek, we took on three days of acclimatization, and in those days we shivered, some sobbed and many of us shopped. Leh’s market was vibrant, despite the weather and the people were as warm as the winds were cold. and Khambir. We took a minute break from our acclimatization to mingle and make jolly, and marvelled in the Ladakhi folks ability to be merry even through the harshest of winters. As we approached the date of the medical check up, the difficulty of the trek truly began to dawn on our minds. We had all known this was no easy feat and we’d taken on small prep tactics as part of our daily schedule to make ourselves The sun rose quick on day one of our trek, and we clambered aboard the vehicle which would drop us to our start point. The mood was energetic and lively within, and no doubt we were all reminiscing on the journey that we’d come for and our motivation for having made it that far. As we reached ShingraGongma, the winds made us all a bit frantic to begin our walk. We met our support team for the We joined into the spirit and kept ourselves busy and engaged with the beautiful culture around us. A lovely addition had been a visit down to the Choklamsar village where we were the special guests of Mr. Angchuk and his family. They served us a traditional ladakhi style meal of Momos, Chutaki more fit. But yoga, morning jogs, cold showers and pranayama were a matter of the past as we stood to get ourselves medically cleared.It was a moment of sheer joy when the entire group passed the test! One hurdle complete, we went to bed anticipating the next day’s adventure. very first time, and their happy smiles, perfectly piped black tea and hot maggi for lunch endeared them to us quickly. And so we walked on ice for the very first time. In the exhilaration of the beginning, we laughed collectively at those who slipped, helped each other up and reached Shingra in very jolly March 2019 Tourism India 43