With breakfast out of the way, we decided to ride up to the place called Mt Katao. As we headed out, we came up to this ancient war horse.
People here make do with simple things. Simpler the better. You aren't dependent on someone else to make things right if it goes wrong. Such as this truck. You could probably fix it yourself, given the time and space. Both of which are probably in plentiful supply around these mountains.
You also tend to wonder, if you actually "need" anything more. I reckon, living in such surroundings, your "wants" tend to automatically reduce. I think many of us confuse wants for needs. And that has got to do more with the environment we are in.
Mt Katao
Sure, you could want the latest gen iPhone. But what the heck would you do with it here? The internet is patchy at best, and even if the phone takes phenomenal pictures why would you even care about putting it up on Instagram unless you're running a business out of it - like a travel company or a homestay of some sorts? And why would you want the next best big adventure bike around here? Where would you even use the full potential of that engine? You would look like an odd cock for riding around something this expensive and flashy while the rest make do with simpler and cheaper transportation. You probably wouldn't even be accepted to be a part of the community. Truth be told, even the little KTM felt way too big and flashy in these parts.
But ride the same thing downtown in the city, and nobody gives you a rats ass. And so then, you think maybe I need a bigger bike...or a bigger car...or a bigger house. You lose sight of why you want it. You "just" want it. And then, you brood over it day and night. And slowly it turns into an obsession, a craving. All those marketing ads, facebook videos and instagram reels don't help much. The bombardment is way more than our puny minds can handle. And pretty soon, that want turns into a need.
So maybe, just maybe, moving to a place like this for a while will help you reconfigure what is really important in life. Things, things, and more things? Or good food, conversations with a loved one, a healthy balanced life, and plenty of time in nature?
I've been through this myself. The times I have found myself in remote places in the mountains, my mind is automatically quieter. I seem to be able to live with fewer clothes, less motorcycle farkles, and way less digital entertainment.
Katao Valley is situated at an altitude of 15,000 ft above sea level. With the panoramic view of snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, it is a rival to Yumthang in beauty. The valley is covered with poppy, primula and rhododendron. The month we visited however had none of these flowers blooming. I reckon that happens right after the monsoons. The roads that swept up to Mt Katao more than made up for this.
A military check-post is nearby as you climb up the towards the mountain. We half expected to be stopped there, because we had no permissions to visit. This valley sits right on the border with Tibet, now occupied by China. And things are always tense between the armies of India and China.
Luckily for us, the checkpost was deserted. We skipped past the barrier quickly, scanning the horizon for anyone who might stop us. Nada.
We sped up past the walls of snow and quite suddenly came up to the actual military base camp. One of the captains looked at us, quite shocked at how we made it past the checkpoint and wanted to know what we were doing there. After a bit of banter to and fro, we were offered water, chai, and anything else we might want. Ofcourse, photography was prohibited, which I respected. Obviously, we weren't allowed past that base station, though I do read in some places that with an active permit one can visit the actual Katao valley.
Anyway, it was time to celebrate with an ice pop for having made it this far!