Dear world that I love. World undergoing a remarkable period of change.
My arrival into India, into a new chapter of my existence, was synchronized with the world's arrival into a new era. Can I be grateful enough for how these 4 years aligned? 14'000 km, 18 countries, and every step of the way seemed planned by the gods, every border crossing, every offroad, every space to set camp, every gift and human encounter. Every moment of raw aloneness, of endlessly vast spaces that have reset my mind and brought me experiences I hadn't even dared to dream of.
May I spend the rest of my existence in thankfulness. My path to the Indian Himalayas is soon to be complete, where I can dedicate my time to serving, learning and supporting the practices that lead to a better life and a peaceful earth.
Waggah border, Pakistan-India. February 2020
Namaste
The border crossing was overwhelming. I fell into pieces at the wonder of actually being here. That line I had been dreaming of for 4 years, and always seemed to be more of a dream than anything else. Mother India... I hardly ever believed I would get there! But the world aligned for me. And did I really do anything? Let's hear it for the world!
Pakistan
Peace through Islam
It's been 5 months and it's been a lifetime. I am home. Every Pakistani dwelling is my dwelling, every man my brother, every kid running the streets my son, my daughter, my friend, but also my host. Yes, this culture has no age for hospitality. In no other country have I been been offered food by a 10-year old saying "it's on me, brother!"
But it was also a thrill, an unforgettable quest to cross the forbidden areas where I am told religious conflict lurks, areas controlled by the army and long closed to tourism. To my surprise I was given the greatest of honors and my mission for peace was revered by the authorities: they did everything to make my walk possible, providing men to escort me for a whole 18 days until I had crossed Chillas, Kohistan, and the entire region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Which, I might add, was of ethereal natural beauty.
It also meant 18 days of constant hospitality: being lodged, fed, and taken care of in every way, given a bed in police stations during the night and being invited to meals throughout the day. Now that being complete as well as my crossing of Pakistan, here I am in the city of Lahore, just kilometers away from the Indian border. India, the destination of this 4-year walk: my mission is on the brink of being fulfilled.
Northern Pakistan, December 2019
Paradistan
I didn’t know anything about Northern Pakistan. I didn’t know anything about anything Pakistan, really. And without actually going there, the misinformation many people get is some conservative Taliban-ridden country landlocked between Afghani terrorism and nuclear war threats with India. Luckily enough, I don’t dig that kind of news, so I stepped in with an open heart and open arms, ready to experience this thrilling new land first-hand.
In my arms came nothing less than paradise. The scenery, the people, the religion, the vibration in the air… every facet – paradise. I made my way from China through Khunjerab Pass – the highest international border crossing in the world – down to Hunza Valley, a place renowned for its peace-loving Ismaelis, so caring they wouldn’t hurt an ant, I swear! I fell in love with Hunza and stayed 2 months in one village – that’s as long as my visa would let me. Yes, the bureaucratic clock is ticking and I’m counting my precious days in this blessed land, how long can I settle down and how long do I need to walk the remainder of my way to India. So that led me to the current city of Gilgit, which I’ll have to leave quite soon as well.
So 3 months it’s been, a hundred villages, a thousand gleaming faces and even more cups of chai… yet it’s still paradise. Having camped all over the place, climbed all kinds of mountains, met people from every social class, background, and religious group, I now confirm with fervent conviction: the people are good! Nothing but good! Masha’allah!
Xinjiang Province
The China less heard of
Xinjiang province is one of the most censored regions in the world. Very little information comes out. This is China out of China, it is Muslim, it is Tajik-speaking, and it's the most remote part of this giant civilization.
It is in fact so remote that in recent years the central government has radically decided to make it more... central. What's exactly going on here is hard to imagine for our western minds - apart from those of us who might have lived in USSR. Or occupied Tibet, or North Korea... but on top of that, technology is now at its peak, giving a whole new scope to the level of surveillance.
Travelling at foot's pace means I saw a lot, I learnt a lot, more than what I could possibly have hoped for... I lived a lot of crazy stories and had an awesome time. And for me the lesson was deep: to face every situation, no matter how complex, with all-encompassing love and clear vision, which is China's own ancient philosophy of the Tao.
On top of my parents towards whom I will always owe endless gratitude, I am a child of Tao. Tao brought me up, it made me who I am. It made me tolerant and peaceful, it gave me the gift of love towards all beings. It is thanks to Tao that I made it through such a place as Xinjiang province with open arms, an open heart, and the thrill of adventure - I loved every bit!
Xinjiang Province, China. September 2019
First steps in Western China
I've always loved China. Since my youngest years I had a special connection with this country and its culture. But this time I have to say, I saw another side. Quite a darker side, that we usually only hear about distantly in the news. Before stepping into Xinjiang Province, I had an idea what was going on, and so I took the firm resolution: no matter what happens, I will express love and love only towards the authorities and towards everyone I meet. This will transform what could have been a one-month unbearable struggle into a valuable spiritual practice.
And I passed! I still love the country in every way. I personally had a great time hiding from the police, sneaking behind security cameras and setting camp with no headlamp at midnight in ditches, eyeing police patrols from a distance. I had my healthy does of adrenaline! But I did go through the most oppressed society I've ever seen. What can I do, apart from bringing love? Adding a bit of light to the darkness and trust to the trustless. And hope. Because there is hope. A society based on a majority of unhappy people is bound to collapse, because no matter how glittery the top of the pyramid is, its base is flimsy. It's just a matter of time, it will all fall down.
So in the meantime, let's enjoy these 3000m high camels, let's wonder how the hell did they get here, lets bathe with yaks and breathe heavenly air in turquoise lakes surrounded by pristine white sand dunes, lets drink free soybean milk and eat bagfuls of fruit - because the locals, to be honest, are so amazingly kind-hearted that they invite you even with the risk of getting caught by the police. Yes, it's illegal, by the way.
Anyway I cannot describe the grandness of nature that no man can alter. Societies will come and go, but this will always be. Be blessed. So thank you for reading, and may you be as grand as the grandness of nature. I love you all.
PS: I should probably tell you I'm now finally in Pakistan, absorbing freedom by every pore and making my way through Himalaya's sacred beauty and smiling faces. I will be staying here a while - until I speak proper Urdu and become somewhat of a local.
Kyrgyzstan
This country embodies freedom. Never have I felt so unhindered to live however I choose. Instead of banning nomadism and making people live by law in properties with addresses, the state promotes it! They make it their national pride. Locals keep living how they always have, free as the wind, settling where they settle, the world as their backyard. And visitors can get a taste of what it feels like to be nomad.
I love this country.
Andijan, Uzbekistan. July 2019
Uzbekistan
crazy heat and sleepless nights
The world is evolving in many a positive way! When I was making my plans one year ago, I decided to go around Uzbekistan because its visa rules and border policies made it too complicated for me. But as I make my way down through Kyrgyzstan, good news arrives from fellow travelers. Uzbekistan is undergoing a serious liberalization and its borders are now open to foreigners, visa-free! Not only this allowed me to go through instead of the long way around, but I could discover some of its people and culture which I highly regard.
In fact, the people were so generous it was embarrassing. I hadn't even finished crossing the border and the first Uzbek man I meet asks me "Do you have any money?" I answer hesitantly "yeah, a bit..." "I mean, Uzbek money! Here is your first bill, as a welcome gift!"
And that was just a drop in the ocean of the immeasurable kindness I encountered there. And yet, my little bit through Uzbekistan was one of the most difficult. This was the hottest region of my trip, which, thanks to my ingenious planning, I happened to be crossing at the hottest time of the year. It was hot. The mid-afternoon sun almost had me pass out and I couldn't even consider going further. But I had to do my distance because the Chinese visa date is near, and missing it is not an option. So here was my plan: walk all night, walk half the day, and find a cool shady area in the afternoon to fit a bit of sleep into my life.
The only problem was, a "cool area in the shade" was a long shot, and reality turned out a bit less cool and shady then my silly ideas. In the end, for 4 days I hardly slept, and would summon all my inner strength just to take the next step without closing my eyes and falling down. Once in a while, I would pass out on a rock at 3am and wake up an hour later, clumsily hurrying back onto the road with a yawn. Half of my time was thus spent in states of semi-delirium, ranging from relentless laughter to visual distortions to losing balance and nearly getting hit by traffic.
Does all this sound negative? It was not! It was the peak of the adventure, the climax, the ultimate challenge of mind and will-power. And it was fun. Plus, I would otherwise never have figured out that sleeping on a rock was more comfortable than a bed. Nobody told me! I blame the bed manufacturers. Anyway, this greatly simplified my life and where I define my comfort zone.
Too Ashu, Kyrgyzstan. July 2019
A Nomad Amongst Nomads
I can't describe how free it feels, back on the road, back in my element. Somewhat familiar yet thrilling and new: crossing Kyrgyzstan, making my first steps up the Himalayas. It is scattered with yurts, wild horses, and shepherds leading a nomadic lifestyle since thousands of years, who will give you anything they own if you just happen to walk by. It also means camping at 3200m in a storm, and waking up to the sound of horses joyfully neighing good morning.
Life is full of divine beauty and intense challenges. Definitely worth living! I rate 5 stars.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. June 2019
Final Bureaucracy
Today is an utmost day of specialness. For all of us North-Hemispherians,
it's the longest day of the year, the day with the most light, the night with the least night, and the summer solstice. To celebrate, allow me to offer you beautiful news in the form of 2 slips of paper glued to my passport. It may be mere paper, but it's more than mere paper: these visas for China and Pakistan were the most uncertain, as well as the most time, paper, brain, and money consuming of my whole trip. As of now, along with two feet, I have all that it takes to conclude this last bit of road, and make it to the Indian border.
Hallelujah! l'Hamdulillah! Hare Krishna! Om Nama Shivaya! Om mani padme hum!
Speaking of Hamdullilah, I happen to still be in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek. It's been an 8 month break from the walk, oh my god! But I highly enjoyed every sip of highly fermented horse milk, and also really loved my time here. I send you all the love and sacred energy for this sacred day and thank you for being there!
I'd like you to join me
For just one day, to see what life looks like in the shoes of a long-distance walker
Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. January 2019
Issyk-Kul in Winter
Here I am in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for a total of 5 months, before hitting the Himalayan mountain passes when the relaxed April weather will allow it. I love life's the twists and turns. This temporary sedentariness balances the fervor of my walk through Kazakhstan, and besides, who said sedentary can't rhyme with crazy?
Crazy is the best way for me to describe the New Year's retreat organized by my mom and Phillip Guruji, towards whom I cannot possibly express enough gratitude. Choosing the coldest time of the year to plunge into the coldest conditions - a nearly frozen high-altitude lake named Issyk Kul, surrounded by the Tian Shan mountains - the beginning of the Himalayas. On top of the everyday Yoga practice from dawn to dusk, we would cross the snow to take gradually increasing dips into the lake, starting at 5 minutes, then 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, and finally 20. The states this would put us in are hard to describe - psychedelic to say the least - and the deepest bonds formed between us as we sing, laugh, shiver and shake uncontrollably in a slightly worrying state that we come to appreciate.
And Midnight of New Year's was spent neck-deep in the lake, with a bottle of champagne (don't tell the other yogis), a heart full of joy and a sky full of light.
All that to say, happy new year to all, may this cycle start freshly, brightly, full of awareness and love, of appreciation, of love, of sacredness, of breathing, of love. May you be happy. I love you all!
