Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership

Thad E Ginathom · 29th March 2009, 00:31

Very nice illustrated write up of, not just an adventure, but a whole experience.

Thought provoking.

Thank you

lejhoom · 29th March 2009, 15:08

It was a decade back that I went on a journey from Almora to Champavat. I don't exactly remember all the names of the places that the state transport bus took me. What I remember was the landslide that wrecked havoc all the way. It was mesmerizing as well as scary. Once I saw an entire hill, or rather half of it simply washed off. I tried to climb up to the top and managed to look down. One of the most dangerous activity I ever did. Usually the south-eastern monsoon makes it presence felt in the himalayas. What perplexed me, a southener, was the nonchalance on the faces of people near weather ravaged places. I believe only people in the mountains can muster that.
To enjoy the himalayas I would recommend anyone this route: Delhi-Almora-Pithoragarh.

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 30th March 2009, 12:48

Reminds me of the special stages of the Himalayan Rally. Nainital to Ranikhet via Pithoragarh and then onwards to Mussoorie. Landslides were very common.

-GT- · 31st March 2009, 22:11

Genesis:

Lovely narration, excellent photographs and a brilliantly honest analysis of the two gentlemen.

You do like kids - don't you?! The pics of those lovely innocent kids are fascinating; the "Sheperd boy" pic is an award-winner!! - how did you manage to capture that absolutely stunning expression on that beautiful face?!

Oh, by the way, the two consecutive photographs with the first one showing the man igniting the dynamite fuse and the next one without him appears that the man got vaporized in the explosion that followed!!

-GT-

genesis · 2nd April 2009, 10:10

@@GT: Thanks for the comments! The breaking of the rocks using explosives was quite a learning experience. The workers were so nonchalant about it.

Stuff the gunpowder, put in a fuse, take a long drag from a bidi and then run...

Here is a photo of the raw materials other than the bidi!

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-22_stoking_the_hole_web.jpg

Also attached are some pictures of village life captured as we waited

A water powered flour mill or panchakki

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-07_water_powered_flour_mill_web.jpg

Water mill operator

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-08_kumaoni_lady_in_mill_web.jpg

Weaving Baskets

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-09_basket_weaver_web.jpg

Another village belle

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-12_tea_stall_owners_daughter_web.jpg

@lejhoom: A picture to remind you of the road

Landslides In Paradise - Lessons In Leadership-24_road_to_munisiyari_web.jpg

manolin · 1st December 2010, 20:35

came upon this while looking up routes to munsiyari. beautiful da!

29th March 2009, 00:31	#16
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,988 Thanked: 26,371 Times	Very nice illustrated write up of, not just an adventure, but a whole experience. Thought provoking. Thank you
	() Thanks

29th March 2009, 15:08	#17
lejhoom BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 366 Thanked: 187 Times	It was a decade back that I went on a journey from Almora to Champavat. I don't exactly remember all the names of the places that the state transport bus took me. What I remember was the landslide that wrecked havoc all the way. It was mesmerizing as well as scary. Once I saw an entire hill, or rather half of it simply washed off. I tried to climb up to the top and managed to look down. One of the most dangerous activity I ever did. Usually the south-eastern monsoon makes it presence felt in the himalayas. What perplexed me, a southener, was the nonchalance on the faces of people near weather ravaged places. I believe only people in the mountains can muster that. To enjoy the himalayas I would recommend anyone this route: Delhi-Almora-Pithoragarh.
	() Thanks

30th March 2009, 12:48	#18
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,353 Times	Reminds me of the special stages of the Himalayan Rally. Nainital to Ranikhet via Pithoragarh and then onwards to Mussoorie. Landslides were very common.
	() Thanks

31st March 2009, 22:11	#19
-GT- BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chennai / Dubai Posts: 171 Thanked: 3 Times	Genesis: Lovely narration, excellent photographs and a brilliantly honest analysis of the two gentlemen. You do like kids - don't you?! The pics of those lovely innocent kids are fascinating; the "Sheperd boy" pic is an award-winner!! - how did you manage to capture that absolutely stunning expression on that beautiful face?! Oh, by the way, the two consecutive photographs with the first one showing the man igniting the dynamite fuse and the next one without him appears that the man got vaporized in the explosion that followed!! -GT-
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 10:10	#20
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	@@GT: Thanks for the comments! The breaking of the rocks using explosives was quite a learning experience. The workers were so nonchalant about it. Stuff the gunpowder, put in a fuse, take a long drag from a bidi and then run... Here is a photo of the raw materials other than the bidi! Also attached are some pictures of village life captured as we waited A water powered flour mill or panchakki Water mill operator Weaving Baskets Another village belle @lejhoom: A picture to remind you of the road
	() Thanks

1st December 2010, 20:35	#21
manolin BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Delhi/Cuttack Posts: 390 Thanked: 202 Times	came upon this while looking up routes to munsiyari. beautiful da!
	() Thanks