As usual, my Blackberry becomes slow and I am forced to save the message chat history of my Whatsapp chat with an old friend. Doing the said exercise, I remember the times when there was no chat history but a letter in hardcopy few pages long that used to be received every few weeks, and sometimes months. As we happened to change towns (due to my fathers transfer), the connectivity with old friends used to be only limited to these handwritten letters. Needless to mention, these letters were written only to a few special persons with which we needed to keep in touch. I also recall that whenever there was a long pause (about one month) in these letters...there was lots of anxiety. There are many a memories attached with these letters, and most of them are still with me which transports me back to those days and bring back the emotion and nostalgia attached with them. I can't say the same about the recently saved chat history.
A popular song by James Blunt goes ....' ....I'm sending postcards from my heart with love for a postmark and then.....you know that you make me feel like we've been caught like kids in the school yard again....And I can't keep it to myself..... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz0NV-HOT0M )
I don't know if postcards are even sent now as the telephone and mobile wave has totally changed the way we communicate. But as I see it, phones never could imagine to be in that league as that of the mundane letter where every word was carefully chosen to be there. Then came the instant e-mail and SMS and by the time we got used to it, social media was born. Thanks to it we have now degraded ourselves to such an extent that we are ending up poking each other on FaceBook. I sometimes just want to avoid technology and I see that I am not alone. The other day someone shared (regrettably via social media) this video http://blog.petflow.com/a-video-everyone-needs-to-see/. Some of the words of the said video goes - ' So look up from your phone, shut down the displays; we have a finite existence and a set number of days; Don't waste your life getting caught up in the net, because when the end comes, there is nothing worst than regret.' Its so true that everythings changed way too fast which is beyond the comfort of the postcard generation. While the rapid transition is increasing the size of virtual friends and keeping us hooked, its actually alienating us humans more and more.
As I mull over the subject, my hand involuntarily reaches out to the phone when I see a red blinking light on the phone which indicates yet another message received on the Whatsapp group. Or is it What..syappa ?
Ladakh is aptly called the "town of Qualcomm" and is one of the most unique and enjoyable regions in India. This vast and sparsely populated landscape is a dream come true for explorers from all over the world.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy an amazing cycling adventure in Ladakh, and let your adrenaline soar. This is a great opportunity for cycling touring enthusiasts looking for mountain adventures.
The Ladakh Bike Tour is a perfect combination of misty highlands, valley roads, and snow-capped mountains. Travel with your reliable people among all these fascinating sights and experience the magic.
Ladakh’s bike tour will take you to amazing places such as Manali, Jispa, Sarchu, Nubra Valley, Sham Valley, Pangong Lake, Leh, and more. Snow-capped mountains, lakes, and picturesque valleys while enjoying the exciting adventures of a lifetime.
The Chadar Trek or Zanskar frozen river trek is a winter trek in Zanskar Valley, Ladakh. The trek starts from Leh going through Shingra Koma, Tibb Cave, Naerak Camp concluding back in Leh. The 105 Km trek provides trekkers and hikers an amazing opportunity to trek on a frozen sheet of ice in subzero temperatures. The trek is operational during the months of January and February when the Zanskar river freezes into a solid sheet of ice.
ReplyDeleteLadakh has various treks and beautiful camping locations. What sets Ladakh apart for travelers is the Chadar Trek which is quite challenging yet mesmerizing owing to its scenic beauty. That one glimpse of the topmost sections of the Himalayas would certainly awe an individual because of its breathtaking view.
The temperature during the trek varies from around -5 to -20 degrees celsius and the trekkers would occasionally face steep rocks along with facing treacherous sections of the Zanskar River. While this trek would offer a lot of difficult challenges, to the maximum point of questioning oneself, one would find all the answers once you observe and become a part of the Mighty Himalayas. And trust us, it would certainly be a life-changing experience.