Valley of Flowers

We are ready early and there's a glacier above us on the way to a towering peak. It is drizzling. I have had enough of rain gear for a while and decide to put it aside. We head towards the Valley of Flowers which is at 10,560 ft. One of us carries two cameras, a 5D Mk II and a 7D with a couple of L lenses. He pauses with his tripod by a bridge before we reach the valley. Some others follow suit and perch their camera on the tripod in turns to capture the scene while good light gradually streams into the valley. The mountain-sides clear out. Their slopes are green, streaked with streams and waterfalls. Their peaks have snow. Mountains permanently snowed over are visible behind them. We walk along the path, devoid of mules. There are far fewer people. It is mossy, green and wet, and the air doesn't have the unpleasant smells the previous day's path did. We hike up, cross rivers again, drink from clear streams and pass through mountains whose slopes are lined with flowers.

I dip my feet into the water and a red bird flies down to give me company. The skies are changing. Clouds float in from the lower reaches to hang with the peaks. The snow mountains will be hidden again. The valley is quiet. The sounds are of birds, insects, branches brushing against each other, flowers swinging with their neighbours and a roaring stream.

I meet travelers who aren't enchanted, a couple of girls who pluck a few flowers to carry with them, photographers who have managed to reach the right spots at the right time returning, a botanist camping in a cave, a couple of mountaineers and for me this is an alien landscape. I am happy to be away from the crowds. On the vast valley floor, there are giant rocks, scattered over, like remains left over from a meteor shower. I climb up and watch around me, until the curtain of grey clouds is gradually drawn over the landscape. I borrow a friend's macro lens and find its use too specific for my taste.

There are sadhus walking by. This is a good place to meditate. Some of them are camera friendly and make dramatic poses on the hills whenever a camera is pointed anywhere near them. One of them tries to get into conversation with a lady resting on her walk. She isn't impressed. The majestic landscape more than the flowers alone capture my imagination. The journey so far begins to make sense.

Our meal after, is adequately heavy and delicious.

Larger.