Long read Part 2/n. Sorry, I was busy with lots of work and didn’t get time for the 2nd part.
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What an evening it was, absolutely amazing and unbelievable. I reached there in just a few hours. Morning, I was at sea level in an overcrowded city with traffic and honking everywhere.

Finally, the last light of the sun faded away on the horizon and it was time to welcome darkness. I was tired and sitting just outside of my tent alone as my friend disappeared in the Changpa settlement. It was cold, but it was a peaceful place. Occasionally you could hear the bleating of the goats and sheep. They must have gone far away for grazing, covering some 20 kilometres and climbing hills which would not be an easy job for them as well.

Behind the dust cloud, I sensed a shadow of the person climbing down from the little slope. A little later, I could hear a whistle from the shepherd, causing the curious animals to leave me behind and start walking towards their pens. He came close to my tent, we exchanged Julley (greetings). I could not see his face clearly but I could sense his curiosity about me. He was possibly thinking “who was this guy that pitched his tent a little away from their settlement.” He nodded his head and went off whistling behind animals followed by a dog who also looked at me and smelled around. I am sure the dog was suspicious too about this new and unknown creature that was me. 

I was a bit puzzled as to why the goats came this close to my tent and I would find out the reason the next morning. By now my friend had emerged from the darkness and laughed at me, “What’s happening, buddy? Did you enjoy it?” he asked. Actually, I never noticed when he disappeared. We managed to cook and eat a very light dinner. I was sure about my friend that he will disappear again to meet his friends in this area as they just returned with animals. 

Travelling from almost sea level and no time for acclimatization, the first night at almost 14700 feet was not a pleasing experience at all. Having travelled to this area regularly and for a long time, I had an idea what I am going to experience with my head. I did run around in the evening really well in thin air as I didn’t want to miss any chance to take images and the weather was really good on me.

Now it was time for my body to pay the toll for what I did. It was just 7:45 pm and it was totally dark. Good night and I went inside my sleeping bag. Initially, I thought I would sleep really well as I was very tired, but altitude had decided to give me a tough time. I might have slept for an hour or a little more, I realised the dogs were on their duty and I was the suspect for them. Barking around my tent was their way of questioning the purpose of my visit to their territory. Or perhaps they were warning me to not even try harming any goat or sheep, that their gang was ready to take care of me if I did so. I tried to scare them away from within my tent but to no avail.

Slowly the effects of altitude started showing up on me, my head started spinning and it felt like someone was hammering me from inside out. But from the past experiences, I had an idea of how to manage. But little later there was absolutely no sign of sleep. Headache was there and I couldn’t do much as it was my first experience at such altitudes sans acclimatisation. 

I moved out of the sleeping bag and decided to step out of the tent. Finally, I gathered some courage and put on my down jacket and shoes. I zipped down the tent and came out. There was a song on my mind and that is my all-time favourite song.

“ये रातें ये मौसम नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा, कहा दो दिलों ने की मिल कर, कभी हम ना होंगे जुदा, ये रातें ये मौसम नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा”

ये क्या बात है आज की चाँदनी में, के हम खो गये प्यार की रागिनी में, ये बाहों में बाहें, ये बहकी निगाहें, लो आने लगा ज़िंदगी का मज़ा

ये रातें ये मौसम नदी का किनारा, ये चंचल हवा”

Nothing short of this was what I saw outside. It was cold and the temperature must be touching zero or more negative. But the wind had stopped and it was a clear sky without any clouds. I immediately realised what I was missing being inside the tent. And then I knew if I keep myself busy, I will forget about the headache and sleep can be managed anytime during day time too. That’s what I did. I went out to take pictures of my place with millions of stars around.

Before I go on with the next episode, please enjoy a few images.