India 1987

On the weekend I had an amazing evening - a reunion with people I trekked through the Himalayan Mountains with 20 years ago.  This trip was a life changing experience in many ways -

I achieved things physically in terms of altitude, effort and general fitness that I wasn't sure I could;
I saw the most amazing sights - massive snow covered mountains, vast plains, poverty, friendliness, faith, architecture to die for, curiosity and beauty;
I laughed until my sides ached;
I met people I will share a bond with for life;
I grew to appreciate how much I have

I travelled with 4 friends and met many more people through an organised Australian Himalayan Expeditions trek. 

The story is a long one but the group I ended up spending the most amazing  three weeks of my life with could not have been better if they were hand picked.  Enough people were booked in for two groups and we were 'sorted' in Kashmir - we knew that as far as one of the AHE staff was concerned that we were the B group - the less outgoing, less  outrageous, less loud mouthed party animals - well the last laugh was ours!!! The A group set of a day ahead of us and it became clear when we met them on rest days that they were not having a great time - too much in-fighting, jockeying for top dog position, bitching etc etc etc - whereas we went on our merry B team way and just clicked with each other from day 1.

20 years later a core group of us from Sydney, Wollongong, Torquay in Victoria and Hobart in Tasmania got together after having have stayed in touch on and off over the last two decades.  I am typing this with such a big smile on my face still - I love these people - they have made and still make my life a better place.  20 years is nothing - it was like it was yesterday - and we re now planning to go again in 2009 - to give us time to save and plan and for some of us (ie. me) to get fit again. It will not be the same trip - it will be a new trip, a new route and a new experience. I feel in my bones that it will be just as great

I had lost half my photos but have them back thanks to technology and generosity - I came home with a disk full of memories! Thanks Mark.

Here are some photo collages of the trip - this is only the first installment.  These collages cover the first week or so - when the 5 of us  went to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on our own and then flew up to Kashmir with the rest of the group and stayed in houseboats for a day. I have many more photos to sort and share - of the actual 3 week trek.  The time of my life.  I hope you enjoy the pics - taken with a Nikon FG 20 manual SLR camera and many, many rolls of Fuji film!

Comments

[Suzanne]

You are one remarkable lady.Thanks for sharing the pics, so interesting, so different. My daughter sent pics back from places in Morocco she visited a few months back (she's now back in London)- very different to Oz and so incredible.

[YvonneM]

Wow - it sounds like you had a fantastic time and made some wonderful memories (and friends) 20 years ago really isn't that long ago in the whole scheme of things ... good luck in the planning a second trip - that will be something to look forward to!

[Yvette Adams]

Hi Alison

Thanks so much for stopping by my bog and for your lovely comments. :)
I would love to have a fantastic trip like you 1987 one under my belt. It sounds like such an awesome trip with a great bunch of people.