Skip Delhi, Rajasthan & Manali. If you’re planning a trip to India, please go Uttarakhand!

Went for a trek called the Kuari Pass trek and due to an asthma attack, I couldn’t continue the trek and had to go back to the basecamp halfway. Instead of sulking in bed and crying about it, I decided to spend the rest of my days exploring Karchi, Tugasi, and Karchon Village(the nearby villages at the basecamp).

My oh my, what an experience that was!

Strangers invited me into their homes, made tea for me, and asked me to rest instead of walking around aimlessly. They made lunch for me, asked me to take part in their prayers at a temple, and everyone in the village, whether kids or adults, kept asking if I was okay or if I was lost. As a girl, never once did I feel unsafe at any time. I could easily go out for a walk, and people would just make sure that I was okay and safe. I even got invited to a wedding!

As a Malaysian, I’m not used to this warmth up there in North India. Maybe I have not been to many states, but after years of visiting so many different parts of India, the warmth, kindness, and care that I’ve received from the people in Uttarakhand truly touched my heart. It’s been two months and I’m still, STILL thinking about this trip, and I can’t get over it.

I’m planning another trek around September, it’s called Valley of Flowers trek, and one of the main reasons is so I can go back to Karchi basecamp again. I’m in love yall.