Journal entries from the Himalayas

The magic of the mountains

Hey friends

Greetings from Ashoka University, India!

In the past few days, I’ve travelled from the base of the snow clad peaks Himalayas to the colourful forts of the old desert kings of Rajasthan.

For this week, I’m sharing some of my journal entries from my time in the mountains. I rarely open my journals for others to read (I’ll be doing it with my book that’s coming out next year). But here, I give you a slight taste.

---

Nature and Wildlife

I was breathing in short, quick gasps. The cold air pierced my lungs and whipped through my hair. And before me lay one of the grandest vistas on the entire earth—the Greater Himalayas.

I was on the Kuari Pass Trek, a week’s long ascent along the northern edge of India. Just 50 km beyond was the land of Tibet. And around me was an unending jungle.

We started from the lower forests, camping in forest glades and making our way up. Along our trail, we passed through groves where the ghosts of old shepherds supposedly dwell. Overhead, the odd eagle or vulture flew silhouetted against the sun. Our trail was leaden with pine cones and leaves. From the trees, cicadas droned while birds burst into song. And ever now or then, the snow peaks peeked through the trees.

Just another trail in the Himalayas

In nature, I function on a different wavelength. I am both present in the moment and swimming in abstract thoughts. I think about my future—what I want my life to look like and what my priorities are— and I think about my present—about the thrush calling from the next hill or the bears that roamed those forests. It is a state of being that can only be compared to a spiritual awakening.

A light hail started to prickle my skin as the clouds darkened above. This was as I was descending from the summit. We all had to put on our ponchos. Suddenly, we’re the Fellowship of the Ring—a dozen trekkers walking in cloaks through the high meadows.

The higher reaches of the mountains were covered in meadows. But as you descend, you enter the alpine forests—the sprawling oak, pine and fir forests. This was straight out of Tolkien’s book.

There is something so intensely powerful about staring into the Himalayas. In their grandeur, everything is forgotten. God knows how long I stayed looking at those mountains.

PS: I even sketched one of the peaks, Mt. Dronagiri, which is one of India’s biggest mountains.

---

Here are some links I enjoyed this week

• How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset | Huberman Lab Podcast: This was the first time I listened to the Huberman Lab Podcast, and I can see why people like it. This was a good episode.

Postcard

Over the last weekend, I made a short trip to Jaipur, the city of kings, forts and red pastels. This is one of the most “Indian” cities I’ve been too—full of commotion, colours and great food. It is a photographer’s paradise, and it had me shooting for 2 days straight. I will share the subsequent work soon.

This man was a traditional musician I met on my travels, and there was something so magical about his presence.

Favourite Quote

Are we not part of this world? - Tauriel, The Hobbit

Have a creative, wild and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and I am an Artist, Photographer, Writer and Student of the Natural World.

Here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.

I would greatly appreciate it if you shared my newsletter and work with your friends. It really helps me out :)