In the movie Kung Fu Panda, Tai Lung is surprised to see Po as the Dragon Warrior, and calls him a big fat panda. To this, Po replies that he is not a big fat panda, but THE big fat panda. We'll come to the relevance of the scene later, but just wanted to share that I trekked to Everest Base Camp (EBC). This blog post is not a chronicle of our 15 day journey (perhaps we will make a video in the days to come). Just thought would digitize few thoughts I had.
The Plan - Such a plan requires immense motivation and thorough planning. Hahaha. Just kidding. There is a very annoying video on the internet [Link] where people say "Kar lo" for everything, but never do anything beyond it. Many of our plans are like that. This was meant to be one such proposal. Affirmations were received, but we knew enough people would have surely backed out, and the plan would have been cancelled eventually. Registration? Haan Kar lo - there was a decent cancellation policy. Training? Haan Kar lo - we were doing morning walks, just needed to up the ante. Shopping was done in auto-pilot mode. Refundable tickets were made. Everyone was too occupied to think it through and be practical about it. The realization of what is happening finally dawned upon us when 20 people came to see us off at the Guwahati Railway Station. I asked Poonam, "Ab EBC plan ka kya karein?" There could only have been one reply, "Haan Kar lo".
An Unfit Guy Who Registered - A very dear friend allegedly used me as a benchmark in a public forum whose example people could take to register for the trek. "If the unfit guy can register, so can you." In order to save Minakshi from being trolled, I will not take that person's name. But if my case inspires people, so be it. Come on guys, push yourselves. You are better than what you/others think. Get out of your comfort zone, be it any sphere of your life. Find your own Everest.
The Stone Age Returns - After getting renal stones surgically removed twice before - the last being 7 months ago, another small one had resurfaced in my kidney just 10 days before my departure. I completed the trek carrying regular and emergency medicines after cajoling the doctor to give me a green flag. People bring stones from the EBC as souvenirs. I took one there, and brought it back.
Trek The Himalayas - This is not a paid promotion (this blog doesn't even have that reach), but Trek The Himalayas were exemplary in their service. At every step and at every halt, they went above and beyond. Thank you, Sukhram, Lukpa and the Team - you made our experience even more memorable.
The Gang - The plan was made with Vishal and Poonam. Abhishek surprisingly agreed choosing to fly from and to Houston. Poonam roped in Sumit and Nikhil, who in turn convinced Aditya. Aashish made a grand entry two weeks before the start. The importance of the Gang cannot be emphasized enough. We were the oxygen to each other, motivating one another, pulling them, clicking their pictures. It is difficult to envision if this quest would have been completed without the whole gang. Cheers to old friends, and new.
The Ones Who Missed Out - I missed you, Gunjan. There was not a single picture clicked where I didn't wish you were with me. I know that with proper training, you could have completed this. Please know that I carried love for you, and cognizance of your sacrifice to 18,000 feet.
Vivek, you rascal - you were the one who had sowed the seeds of EBC in me and Vishal 11 years ago. Missed you, you jerk. Ankur Bhaiya, Lalit, Roshni and Raghav - you had dangled with the thought of registering for some time. May you do it in the coming years and create your own stories.
The Experience - The magnanimity of what we had done while climbing up hit us when we were climbing down - we were left in self-awe of how we had ascended those mountains. The first 4000 mtrs elevation could have been about physical strength, but mental strength was equally important beyond that - and our group had such an important role to play in pepping one another up. I rue backing out of the Kalapathar excursion - perhaps that will be my "99.94" as far as this trip goes. I know I speak for all of us when I say that this will be an experience we will all look back with immense pride and fulfillment. As Poonam had pointed out, the tagline of the movie Lakshya fits perfectly for us. We know that we are capable of facing any challenge life has to throw at us. No matter what happens in future, we will always have EBC.
Just like our Ladakh saga, perhaps this trip will also have a spin-off story. Coming back to Kung Fu Panda - Guys, I am not an unfit guy who registered, I am THE unfit guy who COMPLETED the Everest Base Camp Trek.
