It all started with the idea of writing a book about my learnings, experiences, and realizations throughout my journey. For that, I had to find a quiet place to keep my thoughts flowing. My initial thought was travelling to Goa but I realized that I would not find the vicinity of thoughts that I was looking for in a place as happening as Goa.
It then occurred to me that there is one place that can contain my thoughts that would later become a part of my book. I packed all the little bit of stuff that I had and decided to start my journey from Delhi. Hitchhiking has always been a great adventure and so I hitchhiked my way from Delhi to Kaza with some of the nicest people on the road. Just the thought of visiting Spiti Valley filled my heart with a never known before excitement and enthusiasm.
I have always loved the feeling of meeting strangers on the road, walking on uncertain paths and undertaking unknown escapades that were waiting for me on my journey to the exhilarating Spiti Valley. Is it the perfect place to write my book? I don’t know. Is it the place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime? Maybe, Yes. All I know is that I found the answer to my book in the amazing Spiti Valley and that’s worth remembering for a lifetime.
The beginning of my journey to Spiti Valley
In May of 2017, en route to my hitchhiking trip to Chennai, I came up with the idea of traveling to a place that would entertain the thought of writing my book. A certain person invited me to stay at their place in Spiti Valley after she read my post on Facebook. I made a bargain with her for my stay and meals in exchange for helping her with some marketing work.
I also collaborated with India Times and discussed with them about the journey that I was to embark upon. And then everything happened slowly and all at once, simultaneously. Before I could think a lot about my decision, I stepped foot into the resplendent valley of Spiti.
My plan was to spend the next 2-3 months in Spiti and work on my book. During this journey of pouring my words onto paper, I will also try to go on different treks in Spiti, taste the myriad delicacies of the valley and live on little means among the locals. It will be an experience I was certain that would leave a distinct mark on the journey of my book.
This is Aakash Ranison Signing off,
Keep Hitchhiking, #CrossHorizons!
![It’s just one bottle said 7.8 Billion People. - Aakash Ranison.
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Today, we produce about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. That’s nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. As per the UN Environment report 2018, around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute.
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In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away. And well, the next immediate question is - Where does all this plastic land up? Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. About 12% has been incinerated, while the rest — 79% — has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.
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India is one of the major contributors to this plastic menace. We as a country produce 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste every day, however, the larger problem lies in our inability to adequately manage this waste.
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We are unable to manage about 85%* of this garbage and the majority of this lands up in our lakes and rivers which in turn get merged into the oceans, threatening our marine life. Water and plastic pollution along with overexploitation and climate change have caused the extinction of 15 marine species, and currently threaten the lives of 700 more.
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With the aim to aware people and change the way we use plastic @jellyfishwatersport took the initiative to make the world’s first marine cemetery in kozhikode(Calicut), Kerala and invited me to drive the project.
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I am thankful to JellyFish Watersports & team[Kaushiq, Rubina, Rinzy, Prasad, Jishnu ] for giving me the opportunity to drive this project and thank you to the creative team[Tarun, Garima, Sangeeta, Aarushi, Prashant, Mubin, Nad, sorry I am forgetting any name.]
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This project not only allowed me to used the knowledge, skills & experience I had but gave me the opportunity to fail and learn. Thank you Kaushiq for putting your trust in me & love you @charliebuoy.](https://aakashranison.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
2 Comments
Akshita Agarkar
Hello sir!! You always inspires me. I’m your biggest fan. You’re my inspiration. I was always eager to know about your journey and when I read that , it was inspiring.
Millions of thanks for being such a inspiration.
Aakash
Hello Akshita,
Thank you so much for the love and I am really happy to know that my travel is inspiring you.
Keep in touch as I am coming up with more such inspiring stories here on my blog.
Love.