Blogs

Peter Matthiessen’s “Snow Leopard,” a renowned book on spiritual exploration in the Buddhist monasteries of the Himalayas, has reached its 40th anniversary since publication. His son, Alex, retraced that trek. Can one become an armchair Zen monk? It’s one of the questions posed by Peter Matthiessen’s great exploration, “Snow Leopard.” Among all the books I’ve read in my lifetime, especially in recent years, none has vividly captured Matthiessen’s acclaimed trekking journey, the “journey of the heart” to the ancient Tibetan plateau of Dolpo in the high Himalayas. Many believe this. Since its first edition in 1978, “Snow Leopard” has arguably inspired the paths of hippies and backpackers venturing beyond Kathmandu […]

On the longest day of last year, I visited what they call “the highest motorable road in the world.” But “road” might not be the right word. Nor is “pass.” Icicles hung from the mountainside, and along the winding path were memorials to soldiers who had “departed for heaven” after falling off the cliffs. The driver, with a red face and an indomitable spirit, crawled out of the rickety Toyota and began fiddling with the loose starter. This was not what I had hoped for at 18,350 feet. Pink fluid was leaking from the truck in front of us. It was hard to believe that 90 minutes ago, we had […]

In this delicate landscape, the eco-lodges of Ladakh continue to uphold a way of life. Here, we introduce five establishments that aim to provide eco-friendly, sustainable stays while addressing over-tourism and environmental degradation in this mountainous region. The Stok Palace Heritage Hotel in Ladakh, India, is still home to the Namgyal royal family, offering three suites to visitors. This 200-year-old residence stands as a testament to Ladakhi culture and art, nestled in one of North India’s most popular tourist destinations. PHOTOGRAPH BY HH JIGMED NAMGYAL By Charukesi Ramadurai August 28, 2023 Hotelier Rigzin Namgyal nostalgically recalls a time when only truly curious and adventurous people visited Ladakh. When this region […]

Have you ever tried to move penguins from Antarctica to the Arctic, or polar bears from the Arctic to Antarctica? This question feels a bit like fake news, but I’ll answer it anyway. It touches on my area of expertise, and I can’t ignore this kind of provocation. It’s an unfortunately reckless idea. However, regrettably, someone has already thought about it, at least regarding the polar bears. Let’s start from the beginning. Penguins are flightless birds, and in their environment, there are no natural land predators. They feel safe on land, and in Antarctica, nothing threatens them. But the situation in the Arctic is quite different. If penguins appeared in […]

Anthony Hopkins – “I am keenly aware that my remaining time on this earth is now shorter than the time I have already lived. To me, it feels like a child who has been given a box of chocolates. Initially enjoyed with delight, but as they dwindle, each piece savored carries a special taste. I have no time for endless debates on public policies, knowing nothing will change. Nor do I wish to engage with fools who refuse to act their age. I avoid gatherings where egos inflate and manipulators thrive. Envious individuals, fearful of losing their status, talent, or achievements, trouble me. Titles and positions are of no concern […]

Why Do We Love the Mountains? Recently, I took a short trip, surrounded by towering mountains. Each one inspired me, tracing the lines running down its face or simply sitting back to appreciate its mass. I pondered the same question throughout. Certainly, Everest is not the ultimate dream for me. Is climbing Everest a common goal for rock climbers? In my experience, even the average hiker rarely thinks about Everest. Climbers consider it a complete joke. Therefore, I hold a different opinion. Everest is not the ultimate goal, and in my view, it should never be. I think of myself as a mountaineer, but my ambitions are based on the […]

For $13,000, Brendon Grimshaw, an Englishman, bought a small, uninhabited island in the Seychelles (East Africa) and decided to make it his permanent home. He was under forty when he quit his job as a newspaper editor and embarked on a new life on his island. No human had set foot on the island for fifty years. But then, Brendon, along with a partner named René Lafortune, began to make their new home habitable. While René only visited the island occasionally, Brendon lived there for decades and never left. Over the span of 39 years, Grimshaw and Lafortune planted 16,000 trees with their own hands and constructed nearly five kilometers […]

What was the best thing about hitchhiking? I stood on the highway near the turnoff to Byron Bay, in northern New South Wales. I’d hitchhiked from Sydney over a few days and needed a lift for the last three kilometers into town. There was no rush. One shouldn’t hurry through Red Rock National Park. It was early December. Summer had arrived, and for a 21-year-old used to the cool climate of New Zealand’s South Island, the northern New South Wales summer was a revelation. The water was ten degrees warmer, and the air felt like it was floating. Two surfers in their late twenties from California picked me up. They […]

Eric Weihenmayer: What might be the most unbelievable feat accomplished by human will? Do you fancy yourself hardcore too? Keep reading. Imagine being a healthy boy. Then, one day, imagine losing your sight… at the age of thirteen. He came to know it as retinal detachment. A disease slowly robbing him of his vision. Most would likely crumble under such an unexpected blow. Curl up in despair, wouldn’t you think? But this man was different. It was merely the first trial in an unseen life. Wrestling, a primal test of strength and will, became his outlet. Through high school, he grappled, even competing in national championships. Yet, compared to the […]

Can a high salary compensate for a lack of job satisfaction? It’s possible. But in my case, it didn’t work out. I was a mountain rescue worker, and the pay was low. I worked in Norway, and even here, the pay for this job is low. Wanting to earn more, I ambitiously became the director of a major company’s Eastern European branch. With the right academic background, getting that job wasn’t too challenging. Additionally, I spoke Norwegian fluently and had a good grasp of Danish and Swedish, making it suitable for working in a Scandinavian company, mainly staffed in Poland. Financially, I became comfortable and made a lot of money. […]