#goechala 10. The final day of any trek evokes mixed feelings in me. On the one hand there is the anticipation of what awaits you in civilisation, on the other is the last hours of enjoying the wilderness. I am no hermit and sometimes I yearn for a soft pillow, clean freshly laundered sheets and a mattress that I can sink into, hot showers, ordering food off a menu, and the occasional single malt. There are stories to be heard from the family and friends. And then there is my work which I enjoy. On the other had there is a certain stillness of the mind, the solitude, and the refuge of the wilderness, the mountains. I have learned to reconcile those two, but imperfectly. I feel lucky that I can, however imperfectly. I ponder on those questions as I walk up to and then around the #monastery at #tsoka. The water in the pond is still. Birds chirp and hop from one little island in the pond to another. The first rays of the sun fall on the mountains in the background. Sunlight begins to fill up the valley. I absorb the warmth and I feel a smile appearing on my face. I remembered the philosophy of the Buddha’s message, middle path - everything, but in moderation. I am contented. We begin our final hike to retrace the trail from Tsoka to Yuksom. It’s a long day of nearly 10 hours of hiking. The familiar routine of down to the bridge on the river, across and up again starts. It’s now quite warm during the day. The fog has deserted us. We are at the mercy of shadows. Cascades of green-blue water form inviting pools. Inviting, but out of reach. The tall peaks are gone. Layers of stout and curvy hills replace the jagged, sharp angularity. Unseen birds call, six chirps, each one louder than the previous. At first you don’t notice, then you count. And then you wonder if the bird can count. And then, why six? You see the first dogs in a while. Where there are dogs, human habitations are not far. Then the first fields and the colourful houses on the outskirts of Yuksom welcome you back to the world you left behind. We pass through a gang of kids playing football into the bustle of Yuksom Bazar. It is time to go home. #sikkim #hiking #himalaya #trekking #outdoor #yuksom (at Khangchendzonga National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/COsNbcKJY__/?igshid=l84wyhg3nh8z













