The Himalayas: Rooftop of the World
This entry is part of the July 2007 Collaborations Project at Rice Bowl Journals
Is there a particular, far away place you’ve always dreamed of going to, but for one reason or another you could never go? And once you got there, what would you do? What places would you see?
A Place That Has Intrigued Me
A couple of years ago I fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling to Europe. And my wife and I took our two boys, and we all had so much fun. Just the idea of traveling to another continent was so exciting and adventurous. To travel to countries and cities on the other side of the world… England, France, and Italy… London, Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome was literally a dream come true. We had such a wonderful time.
But, there has been a place that has intrigued me. And I have had dreams from long ago about this place. And even though I’ve never been there it’s still in my thoughts, and in the back of my mind.
Originating From A Dream I Had
I have always dreamed of traveling to The Himalayas.
And the dream is usually of me meditating in lotus posture in the snowy peaks of The Himalayas.
Well, you’re probably thinking (as I have)…
How would anyone survive several days of meditating in the snow in a distant, foreign country, let alone in the desolate heights of the Himalayan mountain range?
Well, Tibetan Buddhist texts have documented certain yogis being able to generate a lot of body heat through meditation and yoga techniques, and are able to miraculously withstand the cold and the constant snow. But, that’s another story for another time….
The Highest Mountain Range in the World
I have always had this feeling of traveling to that part of the world. And maybe it IS because there is something spiritual about the place. A certain reverence that beckons to many to trek the highest mountain range in the world.
There is a mountain in The Himalayas called Mount Kailash. Many say it is the holiest mountain in the world, and it has a connection to four of the great world religions.
A great mass of black rock soaring to over 22,000 feet, Mt. Kailash has the unique distinction of being the world’s most venerated holy place at the same time that it is the least visited. The supremely sacred site of four religions and billions of people, Kailash is seen by no more than a few thousand pilgrims each year.
Many have taken pilgrimages to this desolate part of the world. And the traditional route to take is a circular path around the mountain as documented in Wikipedia:
Every year, thousands make a pilgrimage to Kailash, following a tradition going back thousands of years. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bönpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km (32 mi) long.
Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day. This is not easy. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process.
I Would Go Trekking To Llasa and Kathmandu
Well, as you can see, this sort of trekking is rather hardcore and can last a month or more, depending on how one goes about it.
But I guess that feeling is there… and has been in my mind. How to get there? That is the big question.
I think that ideally, and with no obstacles such as time, finances and prior obligations… I would love to devote 6 months of my life to exploring the entire region of the Himalayas. And since it extends not just into Nepal and Tibet, but also into India and Bhutan, I would take a long journey throughout the entire region. And make sure I visit key places such as the monastery in India where the Dalai Lama resides, and also visit Kathmandu in Nepal. And if possible, journey to the Potala Palace in Llasa, Tibet.
But realistically speaking, I would have to take some mountaineering classes, start rock climbing and work on getting in peak physical condition. Once there I would need a couple of weeks to get acclimated to the high altitudes.
A Lifelong Dream
So, is my lifelong dream of trekking in The Himalayas a possibility?
That’s the thing… and it’s hard to say. As I get older it becomes less of a possibility. I wouldn’t be climbing to the top of Mount Everest, but if I were to somehow get the funds and time, I would plan to do the pilgrimage around Mount Kailash, and visit parts of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
As Walt Disney has said:
If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.
How prophetic…
My own journey to The Himalayas has begun with a dream… and the click of a mouse…
I pray that I may someday be afforded the opportunity to travel to that far off, distant land. That place I’ve never been to, but only in my dreams….
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