Double humped camels & Lavender
Ladakhi food is a delight! I was filled with warmth on a chilly winter evening at Alchi's kitchen. The people here are as warm and delightful as their food. We enjoyed khura (deep-fried biscuit) with Kashmiri Kahwa (tea), mokmok (momos with a chutney), Pakthuk (Ladakhi thukpa), Khambir (Ladakhi stuffed sourdough bread), Chutagi (Ladakhi handrolled wheat pasta), and much more. However, my favorite was the apricot tea, unlike anything I've ever had before.
This meal took me back to my Ladakh trip in 2022. I miss Turtuk, a quaint little village across the Shyok river. Tiny stairs in the village wind their way into beautiful surprises. Most houses lacked electricity and were handmade by locals using mud and stones found nearby. The roofs were so low they resembled hobbit homes. Locals told me they did this to trap heat in the winters. Each house had its own vegetable garden/farm. This is because the village becomes landlocked in the winter due to heavy snowfall, necessitating self-reliance.
There was a funny-looking donkey running through the alleyways, scaring people, and cute little children with rosy cheeks. Apricot and walnut fields were everywhere. The locals were of Balti roots, as this area was once part of Baltistan, a region historically belonging to Tibet. It was later captured by Pakistan and then by India. Despite their history of sorrow and war, the people are extremely kind-hearted and welcoming. No matter how long I stayed in the village, it felt too short.
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Another unforgettable part of my trip was meeting the adorable double-humped camels in Hunder. They looked hilarious when they ran. Lavender, our furry little friend, trekked with mom and me and even saved us from a pack of barking dogs. Do you know why mom named him Lavender? This adorable little boy couldn't resist peeing on every lavender bush he encountered. I was surprised by Lavender's water intake; he was a healthy dog indeed!
Crispy Dosa
My day started with a surprisingly crispy dosa from Reddy Anna's canteen (which barely ever happens). After that we started off with a presentation on usable history of typography. There were quite a lot of discussions today. It was very interesting to observe how letterforms, leading and kerning changed over time and how legibility is a contextual concept, depending on what the people of that time were used to seeing. Later KR pointed out that most of the type designers went crazy with their experiments on the letters Q and Z. This is because these letters are barely used during writing.
Then we began learning about flourishes. They instantly gave a feeling of fluidity and springiness to the words. I also realised that making small changes in letters like italicising or condensing them can bring an instant change to the feeling it evokes. I also tried writing the word affliction and discovered different possibilities of connecting the f,f and l in it. I observed that in some instances these letters seemed like the letter m due to the law of pragnanz.
In the afternoon, I had a lot of fun trying to create words using the most random materials like water, empty plastic bottles, footprints, etc. (which led to a lot of judgemental stares from the ANU faculties). I also learnt how to form connections between a word and the material used to write it. I wish we had more time to explore thingletters. The day ended with learning how handmade explorations can be applied digitally in many interesting and practical ways. We also revisited the concept of visual correction. Finally, we took a chai break and sat down in the courtyard while it was lightly drizzling. Today was the perfect weather for chai and Maggi!
A Rainy Ride
Gray clouds in the sky made the green grass appear even greener. The weather was too good to stay indoors. I impulsively asked A if she wanted to go cycling outside the campus. She excitedly agreed. Neither of us owned bikes, so the search for bikes began! After a bit of searching, we managed to borrow two bikes. As I pumped air into one of the bikes, a mysterious brown liquid oozed out, which we later realized was rainwater. When I sat on the bike, I realized something was off. It was either too big or too small. As I rode, I noticed my knees were hitting the handlebars, and I even fell. It was too small for me! I began searching for another bike. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I finally found a beautiful Decathlon bike, which was perfect.
We finally rode outside the college, only to discover a flat front tire. We had to turn back again. On the way back, a chameleon appeared on the road in front of A's bike. She asked if it was an omen to return to the hostel. I suggested giving it one last try. I quickly pumped up the tire, and we continued.
We began cycling, and it felt like I was cycling into a cloud as the cold wind slapped my face. I got goosebumps on my arms and started giggling. We happily cycled along the beautiful road lined with yellow flowers and gray clouds. The rain started, but we continued to enjoy the ride. It took double the force to pedal because the wind was against us. After a short break, we reached the village. The map didn't show any water bodies. A asked me to choose a direction, and I intuitively chose straight. We pedaled through the pouring rain until we saw a huge lake. To our surprise, there were three lakes in total. We parked our bikes and enjoyed the beautiful weather.
As it grew dark, we began our return journey. The rain fogged up my glasses, my shoes were filled with mud, and the road was slippery. I asked A to ride in front of me as I could barely see. The return trip felt shorter for some reason. I felt alive and exhilarated, despite being drenched. After half an hour, we arrived back at the college, laughing uncontrollably. We entered the hostel soaking wet, my white cargo pants now brown and my shoes full of mud. I took a hot shower, and we enjoyed a meal of Maggi and tea while watching Modern Family. It was a perfect rainy day.
Home away from home
Some days, I miss home, the comfort of Delhi. I miss going wherever and whenever I want, alone, enjoying my own company. Strolling through random alleys to explore new cafes, buildings, or shops. I miss stumbling upon unexpected events, attending concerts and museums, and eating the best street food in the world. I miss traveling by metro and overhearing interesting conversations.
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However, sometimes I feel like Sakhamuru is home. I've never seen so many butterflies or a rainbow so vibrant that it seems photoshopped. Every sunrise and sunset here is more beautiful than what people travel miles to see. Daily, the sky dances with hues of pink, purple, and orange. It feels like time stands still on our college campus, as there are only two daily buses or expensive auto rides to get out. Swiggy and Zomato are barely functional here, except for the few dhabas that take ages to deliver food. So, whenever we crave delicious food outside our mess, the planning begins!
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Vijayawada is our go-to place for hanging out and eating good food, but getting there isn't easy. It involves gathering a group of people and splitting the auto fare so that broke college students can afford the trip. We carry a Bluetooth speaker and play songs on the way. The ride is long but incredibly scenic with farms, lakes, rivers, and banana plantations throughout, as we are literally traveling from the heart of a rural area far from the fast-paced city life. This ride makes me forget about how much I miss home as we admire the beautiful views, chat, and sing along to the songs at the top of our voices!
Tomato plants have personalities
"Tomato plants have personalities," I wonder aloud to myself. That's how a typical Sunday morning begins for me. Sundays are reserved for my hobbies, strange thoughts, and things that bring me joy. I pour myself a cup of tea, sit down, and choose a book for the day. Reading brings me satisfaction, and completing a book gives me a sense of fulfillment that I miss during the fast-paced weekdays. I'm a huge science fiction enthusiast. Fiction takes me away from reality and brings me a sense of calm. I usually finish a book every Sunday.
Afterward, I move on to gardening with my family, lovingly watering the various plants we grow on our balcony. As I watch my tomato plants grow, I smile to myself, imagining one as the funny one, another as the middle child, and yet another as the naughty one. I also glance at Kittu, the neighborhood cat lounging in a cardboard box, lost in its own world. Some of my best ideas come to me while gardening.
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Once we're all exhausted, we move to the kitchen. We have a ritual of cooking dinner together. I help Mom make spaghetti with pesto sauce, and we later enjoy it in the dining room. Then, we watch a movie together, lounging in the living room. That concludes my perfect Sunday.