The Trip

From the majestic mountains of Himalaya to the perfect waves of Kerala. Our sabbatical from March to May 2023 turned into an incredible journey for which I’m truly grateful.

But there is also a shadowy side that remains unseen by the camera. On Instagram and YouTube, everything looks flawless. But that’s not the whole story…

“We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.” 

Traveling on the Indian subcontinent is not just about exploring places. It’s about discovering yourself. India is honest, intense and real, and it can act like a mirror to reflect your true self. Sometimes you like, and sometimes you don’t like what you see – in the world and in yourself…

Our journey began in Delhi, where we celebrated Holi, a vibrant and unforgettable experience. From there, we quickly headed to Nepal to embark on our trekking expedition around Manaslu, one of the highest mountains in the world. After finalizing our preparations in Kathmandu, our backpacks repacked, and all our mountain and snow gear ready, we set off. An adventurous jeep ride dropped us off at the end of the road, where our trek on foot began.

For the first few days, we trekked alongside the Budhi Gandaki River in the shadow of the Himalayan peaks, with each day revealing a new landscape and different climate zones. The initial days we spent most of our time trekking through forests and scrambling uphill. Then we caught our first glimpse of Manaslu and we encountered countless subtle traces of Tibetan influence along the way. Leaving the main Manaslu Circuit behind, we ascended to the Buddhist monastery at Punggen Gumba. This remote trail brought us even closer to the mountain and its surrounding peaks.

With the weather growing increasingly unpredictable, we had to adjust our plans. Teaming up with other trekking groups, we decided to tackle the challenging Larke Pass a day earlier than scheduled. At Samagoan monastery, a Buddhist ceremony blessed our journey, providing spiritual support. We then set off along a path toward Tibet, ascending to 4,235 meters for acclimatization before turning back for an overnight stay at a lower altitude. As we climbed higher, the weather became harsher and the air thinner—snow and icy temperatures made conditions very unpleasant. During our altitude training up to 4700 meters at Larke Pass base camp in Dharmashala, we encountered severe cramps. Nevertheless, we felt prepared for crossing the pass the next morning.

At 3:30 a.m., our alarm rang, and long before sunrise we set off. Watching the mountains emerge in the first light was so breathtakingly majestic it moved me to tears. Heavy snowfall—unexpected for the season—made our climb not only slower but significantly harder. We quickly exhausted our water supply. Our efforts to melt snow in our bottles using the limited sunlight resulted in only a few drops before the remaining snow refroze into ice.

At more than 5,000 meters, both body and mind were pushed to their limits. After over six grueling hours, we finally reached the Larke Pass, feeling utterly exhausted but immensely gratified by our achievement. However, the hardest part of our adventure was yet to come. As the weather changed, blue sky turned into thick fog, causing trail markers to disappear and waist-deep snow to disorient us. Our guides carefully searched for a safe path over the glacier. Occasionally, clouds parted, revealing brief glimpses of our surroundings. Hidden crevasses beneath the snow made us move slowly, with our guides leading cautiously step by step.

It wasn’t long before the physical toll became undeniable. As we were suffering from severe altitude sickness, we fought our way down the steep terrain. What should have been a 6–7-hour descent stretched into a tough 12-hour before we arrived in Bimtang, exhausted but still among the first to arrive.

Settling around a warming stove with hot drinks and food, we shared our personal experiences of a day filled with fear and uncertainty, but also overwhelming gratitude. Our guides mentioned that they had never encountered such a large amount of snow in this area before. In the following days, no one dared attempt another crossing of the pass. We soon learned that many groups behind us on the other side had been forced to hung on or turn back.

Despite the seeming impossibility, we had done it—we completed the Manaslu Circuit, covering 190 km with an elevation gain of 8,350 meters in 11 unforgettable days. What an incredible, unforgettable adventure!

We continued our journey to India, from the sacred city of Varanasi and spiritual Rishikesh to enjoying beautiful days riding waves in Kerala. A transformative 10-day Vipassana meditation experience became one of the most profound chapters of this trip, its intensity going beyond even the thrill of the Manaslu trek.

Later, we made our way to Indonesia, where we learned open water diving and swam alongside green turtles.

“The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.” —Jacques Cousteau

In total, our 85-day trip spanned 30,000 km across four fascinating countries—India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Singapore. This journey has been an inspiring adventure, and I am deeply grateful for every unforgettable moment along the way.