Experiences Inspiring Art- Yoshita’s Travel Story of Valley of Flowers
When Yoshita contacted them for the first time, she was a bit hesitant about trekking, wanting to know how the trails would be and what the preparations were. She did not have any specific trek in mind, as it would be her first trek, but she shared some criteria.
She wanted to see valleys and flowers, and she wanted to go for a beginner's trek that would be completed within a span of 5-6 days. She also wanted to explore the mountains of Uttarakhand.
They suggested she go for the Valley of Flowers trek. It was the peak season for this trek, and it met all her demands. Satisfied with the itinerary, she chose to book it. After the entire procedure and confirmation, they briefed her about the trip and gave her some tips for preparation.
First of all, she needed to practice walking and running with weight on her back. Then she was required to pace up her time and do some breathing exercises. While climbing, people often fall short of breath, increasing the time required to finish the trail. She heard all their suggestions and noted them down.
It was just a matter of time; the date of travel was only three weeks ahead, and she had very little time to prepare. But nonetheless, beginners need to be stubborn and determined, more than fit, to go on their first trek. And Yoshita had already taken the first step.
The shift in vision
Experiences can change an entire belief system. They can cause someone to absolutely hate one thing or unleash untapped potential. For Yoshita, it was the second option that had materialised.
She had always been scared that her clumsy nature would not be a great fit for any adventure sports. But if someone decides to change one truth about themselves, only they have the power to do that. She was sceptical at first, worried about whether she would be able to complete the trek or not.
And there was only one way to know, to start the adventure.
While she was being transferred to Govindghat from Ghangaria, the peaks of Uttarakhand had already won her heart. She was quietly excited to try something she had never done before. By then, her thoughts shifted from “How will I do it?” to “I will do it, no matter what.” This manner of challenging oneself is what inspires the beholder. In this case, they were proud to see her adopting such a positive attitude towards the journey.
One thing they considered themselves fortunate for was their on-ground trek support. With a spectacular range of experienced trek leaders, they knew she would have enough support on the trek.
An unforgettable experience
Yoshita met a ton of people on the trek. Along with her trek batchmates, she also had ample chance to interact with the locals of Govindghat and Ghangaria. She loved talking to the villagers and asking them about the regional folktales. She heard about the myths of the Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Sahib and some other tales that spoke of the valiant villagers against animal attacks.
Moving on, she took a special interest in the food served. Whenever there was a dish on the menu, she would ask the chef about the ingredients and the process of cooking. The chef was also a localite and was glad to share his knowledge.
The trek leaders were also very encouraging, patting her shoulder whenever she was thinking of giving up and motivating her to keep moving. And so she did, walking into the campsite with a smile on her face that reflected a sense of glory.
She thought, I could do this today! I could push myself this much. I will do it tomorrow as well.
The Valley of Flowers' beauty and the lovely trail also enchanted her. She loved her first experience of staying in camps and being close enough to nature to forget about Delhi’s fast-paced life.
Walking through pine and deodar forests, crossing bridges and valleys, and looking up to the stunning Nilgiri and Gauri Parvat, she was in awe. Being a content writer, she always believed that the main inspirations of any art form come from nature. It stimulates thinking.
She also believed:
We are surrounded by stories; every soul we meet, every place we go to, and everything we do comprises a story. You just need to know how to frame it with words and put it in writing.
The final turn
On the last night of camping in Ghangaria, she finally took out her diary and started to scribble something down. Probably thinking of how to start…she had so much to say yet wanted to do justice to the trip and her words. She realised that she could not express everything, but she understood which parts were essential to include.
And so she began to pen down her imagination.
On the final night in Govindghat, she contacted one of the trek leaders and shared her piece of writing. Surprised and impressed, he forwarded it to them, and they thanked her for all her love and respect.
She had written, “Thrillophilia’s services had truly been amazing. They turned me into a trek lover, and my story into a tale of transformation.”
And that was when they knew that travelling is not just about the reality of experiences, it is also about what one makes of them.
Read More: Thrillophilia Uttarakhand Trek Reviews